#:))))))) come even remotely close to me with Lan Qiren and I WILL turn it into my justice for shufu agenda

[truly-morgan]

[Kinktober 2021: Student/Teacher + Sex Toy + Lingerie (18+)]

MingCheng + RenCheng + XueCheng | Mo Dao Zu Shi Modern AU 31-10-2021

Day 31: [Student/teacher] + [sex toy] + [lingerie]

Xue Yang wants his teacher Mister Jiang, so he tries seducing him. In his attempt, they are found out by Nie Mingjue and Lan Qiren. Jiang Cheng is now stuck in a misunderstanding.

====

The last class of the day was finally over and Jiang Cheng was waiting at his desk for everyone to be out, Xue Yang sitting in the back also waiting, looking smug. Everyone was stealing glances between them, wondering what xy had done this time for their teacher to ask him to stay after class. What had he brought to school for him to be asked to stay after class?

When everyone was out jc closed the door, taking the bag from behind his desk as xy stood on the other side of the desk. “What is all this?” jc asked as he took out one sex toy at a time, lining them up on the table.

“I didn’t expect jiang-laoshi to be this innocent” xy chuckled. 

At this the older man rolled his eyes, reaching for a remote in at the bottom. He jumped when he accidentally pushed the slider, xy suddenly yelped as his knee buckled under him, using the desk for support. Only once the sound of strong buzzing reaches his ears did jc realise what was happening, quickly shutting the toy down.

“Laoshi should really go easy on me~~” xy said, walking around the desk, erection pretty obvious through his pants, “Warn me next time, but keep going” he said, quickly trapping the man against the desk by pressing against his front, hand reaching for the remote.

“Xy quit messing around, I am being serious right now,” jc said. “Come on, let's play a little bit more” xy laughed as he grabbed the hand that was holding the remote, pushing against the button again, moaning against his teacher.

Jc was about to push him away, only to freeze when he heard the door open, realising he had not locked the door despite what xy had brought here with him. “Fuck” xy swore while hiding against jc as he realised people had come in, letting go of his teacher's hand. With this jc was allowed to shut it off again, pushing xy off of him. 

He turned rather panicked towards Lan Qiren and Nie Mingjue, unsure how to explain the situation that looked pretty bad right now.

The two men had come to see what xy had done this time, knowing he was giving him an especially hard time to jc. 

“What is happening here?” lqr asked calmly as his eyes landed on the row of colourful toys, making jc even more nervous as xy tried to act as if he was shyly hiding against him. “T-This isn’t what it looks like!” he quickly replied, “xy had these in his bag” he explained. “Teacher is so mean, throwing a-yang under the bus” xy mumbled loud enough for the two other teachers to hear him, making jc even more panicked. 

“Is it why you have the remote of a toy xy seemed to be having in on him?” nmj asked with an arched brow.

Jc tried to push xy away, feeling his hands shaking. He knew his life and career were going to be ruined with this, especially if it got out that he “had a relationship with his student and forced him to wear sex toy in his class”.

He tensed when he heard the door be closed and locked, “There is no need to be so panicked” nmj said as he approached, qr nodding at this. “I am sure we can come to an agreement here, I am sure xy also doesn’t want his dear teacher to be expulsed from the school right?” lqr said, as he stopped directly next to them, eyeing them both.

The two of them knew very well jc would never lay a hand on one of his students, but they wanted to play with him a little bit. 

Even xy got a bit nervous at this. He never wanted for his teacher to go to jail either!

“Why not let jiang-laoshi feel what he was doing to xy as repayment” nmj suggested as he picked up a toy. Jc glanced at it, a blush quickly creeping down his neck at the sight of the rather large toy.

“I-I can’t... we shouldn't” he tried to say, only for lqr to hum sadly, “Then I suppose we have no other choice but to-”

“Okay, okay, I-I'll do it” jc quickly said, grabbing lqr sleeve when he saw him move away. He looked down to the ground, missing the satisfied smile both older men had, and the sudden excitement in his student eyes.

“Then we shall start by undressing you” nmj said. Jc panicked again, grabbing his large hand by reflex, not daring to look at them. “Come on laoshi~” xy giggled, coming from behind to open the dark purple shirt, nearly ripping all the buttons off.

Then everyone got quiet when he was a bit more exposed, jc looking down ashamed and beat red.

A harness bra was nicely hugging his chest, a pretty purple lace flower hiding his nipple from them. Poking from his slack was the top of what was clearly panties, fitting with the bra. The three other men were looking at him, more than enjoying the view.

“I didn’t know a-cheng had such an interesting hobby” nmj finally commented, a large hand grabbing him by his small waist, pulling him closer, his bare back hitting the broad chest. This made jc feel things in the pit of his stomach. Good things. He liked those large hands-on him.

“Look at this, laoshi and I match~” xy commented as he pulled down his pants, showing his pretty black panties, skilled hands quickly undoing the belt as lqr held jc wrist, not letting him stop the young man. Soon jc was fully stripped, only leaving him in his lingerie.

“Such a pretty boy” lqr commented near his ear, making jc shiver and moan. “Will a-cheng be a good boy and let us punish him for being a naughty boy with his student?” nmj whispered against his ear.

Jc knew he should have been panicked again at the reason why they were in this situation, but this deep voice only made him melt even more against the two older men.

Soon he was bent over his own desk, a large vibrator being slid into him slowly. Xy would have never expected to enjoy his teacher being fucked by /his/ sex toy so much, looking at the way his teacher would simply melt under the hand of these two older men. Jc looked so pretty as he moaned and trusting back against the toy.

He moved to the other side of the desk, leaning on it to grab his teacher's face not wanting to be forgotten either. He didn’t care that this was really taking it too far, he wanted to be in the fun too.

So he kissed his teacher, jc letting a surprised gasp escape him before kissing back, forgetting who exactly was kissing him.

The kiss was broken when the vibrator was suddenly turned on, making jc moan loudly, a large hand coming to muffle his voice. “Don’t be too loud, we wouldn't want for the other teacher to see how sluty our a-cheng is”.

Xy pouted at the loss of his lips, kissing against lqr hands instead to try and make him take his hand away.

He decided it was not enough to simply wait, moving to the other side again, kneeling under the desk so he could pull his teacher’s hardened length from the lacy panties, taking it into his mouth. This only made the man even more vocal, especially as the toy was put on an even stronger setting. 

“I see we cannot keep you quiet, why don’t you take this into your mouth to help you keep quiet?” nmj suggested as he presented his dick to jc, the man not even hesitating to take it into his mouth when lqr took back his hand. “What a good boy you are” he praised, feeling more than hearing jc moan around him.

Jc was fucked and pleased like this, forgetting why this started, where this started and with whom he was doing all this. They tried every toy xy had brought with him, from large dildos to vibrators. He even had a sound!

“Please, give me the real thing” jc begged as he spread his already abused ass, presenting his twitching hole. He wanted a real cock inside of him. He didn't who it was, he simply wanted the real deal.“I supposed a-cheng was indeed a good boy, we can give it to him now” lqr said.

Jc moaned when the older of the three men finally put his dick into him, feeling as full as when the biggest dildo was into him. He was quickly reduced to a moaning mess as lqr trusted into him.

“I want it too” xy whined, as he went to kiss his teacher again, a bit surprised when he felt strong hands move him around. He was placed in front of jc, feeling his favourite teacher's cock against his ass, grinding against it when he realised nmj had pulled him where he wanted to be. 

He didn’t hesitate to let the cock slide into him, enjoying the even better moan coming from behind him now that jc was being pleasured from both sides.

“Our good boy is being too loud again” nmj commented, pulling the man into a kiss as he was fucking into another orgasm again, spilling inside his student this time who came soon after.

After this jc fell into nmj arms, feeling himself be pulled into his lap too, moaning as a cock was put into him again, lazily grinding inside of him. “We will fuck you until you pass out,” nmj said as he slightly bites his neck, “Isn’t that what a-cheng want?”.

“Yes, Yes! Please fuck me until I pass out, I will be a good boy, please fuck me more” jc moaned, not even hesitating anymore when xy came back to him again for more kisses, pulling him closer to him.

They didn’t go back on their words, fucking jc silly until he wasn’t even able to stand up anymore. Then he was cuddled by them, whispered sweet praises for his good work.

====

(here, have what I had in mind for jc lingerie😏, gotta enjoy our pretty purple grape into nice lingerie🥵🤪)

(for sure now it is a common thing for jc to be taken advantage of by his two colleagues, daring to put on lingerie even more often than he did before)

What if xy buys him pretty lingerie and toys for him to wear in class now they can match

Original - AO3

#tweet archive #mdzs #mo dao zu shi #allcheng #mingcheng #rencheng #xuecheng #nie mingjue #lan qiren #xue yang #jiang cheng #kinktober 2021 #teacher/student #nsft toy #lingerie #classroom nsft #modern au #nsft #cw age gap #cw dubcon

[hunxi-guilai]

I just think. That modern AU LQR is exactly the Asian parent that was always like "HMPH no pets allowed! No dirty animals in my house!" and then once LXC and LWJ go off to college he gets one of those little white dogs (you know the ones) and whenever his nephews come back the dog is coddled more than they ever were as children and they're just like :|

sldkfjsdklj okay anon but you recognize where that comes from and why it’s so hilarious right

parents get pets when their kids go off to college precisely because they miss their kids, so they find something else to take care of

and because pets don’t have to like, become productive members of society or make a living or otherwise carry the responsibilities of existing as beings with thought and feeling and aspirations and dreams and expectations and obligation, you can ruthlessly coddle a pet the way you maaaaybe shouldn’t spoil children

so like, modern AU single uncle Lan Qiren raising the Twin Jades is like, Constantly Stressed out of his mind, of course he’s not going to get a dog, he already has two boys (very good boys, mind you) to take care of and send to after school lessons and attend parent-teacher conferences for while working a full-time job, he doesn’t have the temporal or emotional bandwidth to take on a dog as well

but after the Twin Jades go off to college, he comes home every day to a thickening layer of silence settling in the halls like dust, and, well sue him, maybe he does miss being stressed out of his mind picking Xichen up from soccer practice and dropping Wangji off at his violin lessons while on the phone to his team at work

(maybe he misses his nephews)

so he does it! he gets a dog. it’s small and white and fluffy and everyone kind of looks at him oddly for it but she runs to greet him at the door whenever he comes home and settles down on the couch next to him while he reads and goes quiet and thoughtful whenever he puts a record on in a way that reminds him a lot of a certain nephew

(modern AU Lans have one of those fancy record players that can also link to Bluetooth and radio, and a collection of records that consist almost exclusively of classical music and like, some John Cage if they’re feeling spicy, you cannot change my mind about this)

(look, I simply wish for us to contemplate: single uncle Lan Qiren taking baby Twin Jades downtown to poke through the bins at a record shop when the weather is nice and before their lives get too busy)

anyways Twin Jades home from school on break, opening the front door to be greeted with the smallest fluffiest little white dog, and Lan Wangji is so surprised that his eyebrows move almost half a centimeter

Lan Xichen, of course, immediately starts cooing over the puppy-- “what’s her name, shufu?” “Migao” “...........”--but Lan Wangji’s face settles into something stonier than usual

over dinner Lan Qiren asks why, and Lan Wangji says something passive-aggressive like “if uncle did not approve of my boyfriend, he could have told Wangji directly”

and Lan Qiren is just “??? you leave for one semester and you have a boyfriend???”

and Lan Wangji is like “yes, it’s Wei Ying, who you disapproved of in middle school”

Lan Xichen watching from the side with his popcorn-eating smile

anyway Lan Wangji has made up his mind to dislike this dog on principle but then after dinner they are sitting on the couch with some gentle Ludovico Einaudi on, and the dog creeps its way into his lap and looks up at him like:

Lan Wangji fucking melts, you can see it in the microscopic softening around his eyes, and Lan Xichen is internally losing it over how cute this whole picture is

(Lan Wangji says that he merely respects Migao for her impeccable taste in music, since she, like him, appears to prefer Rachmaninoff over Tchaikovsky, but Lan Xichen is onto him)

tl;dr Lan Qiren gets a dog, Lan Wangji joins Jin Ling on the reconcile-Wei Wuxian-with-dogs agenda, and Lan Xichen wins everything

#:))))))) come even remotely close to me with Lan Qiren and I WILL turn it into my justice for shufu agenda #ask and ye shall receive #Lan Qiren #Lan Wangji #Lan Xichen #justiceforshufu #I knew I was hanging onto that gif for a reason

[robininthelabyrinth]

Spilled Pearls

- Chapter 29 - ao3 -

“In the future, you should send your children to the Cloud Recesses for me to teach,” Lan Qiren said. He was sitting with Wen Ruohan on one of the rooftop gardens in the Nightless City, watching the moon and stars from a pavilion placed there for that purpose; their bodies were pressed close together, and it felt as if they were far away from all the things that were familiar. “You and Lao Nie both, and naturally I’ll come visit with you often as well, bringing my nephew. Between the three of us, we might even be able to teach them how to be proper human beings.”

Wen Ruohan laughed in his ear and pressed his lips to his cheek – he had taken to kissing him at random, spontaneous, as if still overwhelmed by the fact that he now had the right to do it.

“I will,” he promised. “I agree, I think they’ll turn out better that way…you would really have me educate your precious little A-Huan?”

“If I’m willing to entrust myself with you, why not him? Anyway, I can teach him music, and with the aid of the other teachers in my sect the sword in the Lan sect style, but you can teach him much more than that. You know how to look at the world and see it for what it is, and then bend it to your will, make it sing to your tune. He’ll be sect leader in the future; he needs to learn that, and you can teach it to him.”

“I can, and I will,” Wen Ruohan said, then thought for a moment and asked, “What does Lao Nie bring to the table?”

“Flexibility, mostly.”

Wen Ruohan barked out a laugh. “He certainly has that.”

He didn’t even sound bitter about it any more.

Lan Qiren smiled.

“In the meantime, I will handle the rest of it,” Wen Ruohan added, and Lan Qiren looked at him in silent question. “Come now, Qiren. Did you really think that I would allow you to remain caged in the Cloud Recesses your whole life?”

Lan Qiren paused. That was the sorest part of his heart, his most painful misery, but he didn’t think Wen Ruohan would bring it up casually. If anything, he was a bit more afraid of what Wen Ruohan might get into his head to do about it – there was very little Wen Ruohan wouldn’t dare.

“Da-ge –” he started warily.

“No, no,” Wen Ruohan said, lightly scolding. “Little Lan, be serious! I already rejected the opportunity to cage you here at the Nightless City, playing only for me, despite how much I longed to do so. I refused to do it – me, refusing myself – because I knew it would only make you sad. Do you really think I would allow other people a privilege that I have denied myself?”

Lan Qiren did not laugh, but he dearly wanted to. It might be the first time he’d ever wanted to laugh about his situation – not even Cangse Sanren had managed that. “Has anyone told you that you are extremely self-absorbed?” he asked instead. “Arrogance is forbidden. Do not be haughty and complacent.”

Wen Ruohan smirked back at him. “All true, little Lan, but don’t forget your favorite: Do not tell lies.”

Self-absorbed, narcissistic and arrogant, Lan Qiren concluded, and there was no helping it. It was clearly a terminal case.

He used his sleeve to hide his laughter.

“What are you planning, exactly?” he asked once he had recovered. “If you harm my sect, whether directly or indirectly by denying them my services, I would be even more upset than if you tried to lock me away in here.”

Wen Ruohan waved a hand dismissively. “Do you think me so incapable? I have already begun making arrangements. Discussion conferences may only be once or twice a year, being as they are tremendously irritating to arrange, but there’s no reason that we of the Great Sects should not recognize our greater duty towards the smaller sects, and not to mention our obligations to protect the mortal world –”

“You know that it exists, then?”

Wen Ruohan ignored him. “The resources of cultivation clans are limited, and the world large. There are many places which would benefit from aid that do not see any simply because they are far away or tucked in inconvenient places, and no sect lives nearby – naturally, it is our duty to fight evil no matter where it is encountered. Lao Nie has already agreed that it is critical that the sect leaders demonstrate our sincerity by fulfilling this duty in person, leading by example.”

Lan Qiren’s heart had already felt as if it were overflowing with warmth, and it felt even more so now, almost squeezed to pain by how much joy was there. More than he had known he could contain.

Bad luck in brothers, he thought to himself - but oh, he had such good luck in friends!

“I see,” he said, thankful that his usual neutral tone concealed how happy he felt. “And naturally, where you and Lao Nie go, Sect Leader Jin cannot be far behind in his eagerness not to lose out, and where three of the five Great Sects lead, naturally the rest cannot be far behind. So I, too, will be obligated to...what? Go out on night-hunts in inconvenient places?”

“The world is too large, and the number of cultivators too few – and at any rate, there’s no point in setting up a full night-hunt which draws in every person from a thousand li for a few paltry fierce corpses or a ghost or two. I propose, instead, that we would send cultivators out alone, in pairs or in small groups, to wander for a few months through the remote places in the world and clean them up. Then, at the next discussion conference, the Great Sects could jointly agree that whoever was most enterprising would receive a reward, and naturally, stories of various exploits could be exchanged – ”

“Ah. Another reason for young men and women to gather and boast of improbable exploits.”

“Think of it as giving them more opportunities to win glory,” Wen Ruohan said. “And stop talking down about ‘young men’; you are a young man. Naturally you are also qualified to go out to do such things. Required, even: if our Great Sects do not set a proper example, who will?”

“Mm. A proper example. Even if I coincidentally happen to spend more time playing music than hunting demons?”

Wen Ruohan’s eyes were bright. “Even so. And naturally, you could always bring along someone more powerful to do the demon-hunting for you…”

“How convenient.”

Wen Ruohan smirked. “Do you doubt that I will be able to make it happen, little Lan?”

“No,” Lan Qiren said, then added, honestly: “I think you could take over the world if you wished.”

“Naturally! But it would be quite irritating, I think, if I had to also ensure that both you and Lao Nie did not disapprove of my methods…” He paused, lips twitching. “By coincidence, while we’re discussing convenience, I was thinking that it would be dangerous to send all those wild and reckless young men out there without proper support. Surely it would be only reasonable to set up a few convenient places here and there, not so far away, to provide them with supplies and a place to rest and recover –”

Convenient places that would fly the Wen sect’s flag and spread its influence, Lan Qiren presumed. Lanling Jin would be furious – using wealth to buy influence was their favorite technique, and they resented other people copying it – and would immediately insist on establishing their own set of “supply stations”, and then the rest of them would have to catch up and make their own. Yet another expense, and the Great Sects would need to do more than most; it would probably wreck havoc with the Lan sect’s annual budget.

On the other hand, well the remote parts of the world really did need the help. One of the Lan sect’s newly recruited guest disciples had been talking about a place not far from his hometown that specialized in making coffin goods; it was, according to him, the most inauspicious place that could possibly be imagined…

Not a place anyone might want to go, unless they truly were intent on traveling.

Lan Qiren smiled once again. He thought he might never stop smiling.

“Indeed,” he said, trying to sound dry and rational. “Very coincidental. No one will doubt that this is nothing but a scheme to expand your reach and power, rather than any personal motive.”

Wen Ruohan did not answer, but instead, matching a smile of his own to Lan Qiren’s, pressed his lips against Lan Qiren’s once more.

After a little while of silence, Lan Qiren cleared his throat and asked, “Do you intend to tell people?”

He was not referring to Wen Ruohan’s plans for the future.

Wen Ruohan understood.

“In time,” he said. “As much as I would love to shout that you are mine and I am yours from the rooftops and perhaps have bulletins be posted to every town -”

Lan Qiren grimaced. It would be one thing if he thought Wen Ruohan was exaggerating for romantic effect, but unfortunately it would be just like him to engage in that level of over-the-top grandstanding.

“– but your position is not yet certain, and my reputation is too questionable. People would make assumptions and spread malicious gossip, and I – I would not harm you to please myself.”

“Sweet-talker.”

“It’s not sweet-talking when it’s true,” Wen Ruohan protested, although he was chuckling. “When you are more renowned as a teacher than a sect leader, when little A-Huan is old enough to have passed the worst stretches of childhood – then we will announce it, and let the rest of the world choke on it if they like. You, me, Lao Nie…hmm. Jin Guangshan will probably think we’re concealing a conspiracy and ask to join in.”

Lan Qiren gagged. “I refuse,” he said. “I don’t care if I’m not physically involved, neither you nor Lao Nie are allowed to even think about it. That man has visited so many prostitutes that one might be forgiven for thinking he believes that the road to immortality is paved with venereal disease.”

“…thank you, that was an image I did not require.” A pause. “Jiang Fengmian –”

“Remember when he punched me in the face in a fight over a girl I didn’t even want?”

“It wasn’t a serious suggestion.” Wen Ruohan chuckled once more and pressed another kiss to his cheek. “Some years ago now, I swore to your Cangse Sanren that I would do right by you. I ought to invite her here and show her that I’ve made good on it.”

“You haven’t made good on it.”

“I haven’t?”

“No. Such a promise is fulfilled through the keeping – if you want to do right by me, there is no one singular moment that would qualify, but rather a continuing obligation.” Lan Qiren smiled up at him. “I’m sorry, da-ge. You’ll have to continue to do right by me for the rest of our lives.”

“I will,” Wen Ruohan said, and smiled back. “It would be my pleasure.”

-END-

#mdzs #lan qiren #wen ruohan #my fic #my fics #spilled pearls

[inessencedevided]

Wei Wuxian enters the Underworld Chamber with several scrolls clutched in his arms, struggling to keep them all together but he is able to settle them down on a table next to the one that is holding his client with a great clatter. For a moment he entertains himself with thinking what the Second Jade who was known to be very rule abiding would say to his general … everything. He would probably have those straight, black eyebrows furrowed and reprimand him with a single word.

“Let’s see what we’ve got here, hm?”, he offers and sifts through his collection of scrolls from the library of the Lan sect. “Your older brother gave me access to some very interesting scrolls, you know?! Your sect is famous for musical cultivation, he told me that you were on your way to become the best guqin player, close to Lan Yi. Fascinating stuff, this. Inquiry. Talking to the dead through the means of music. Maybe this will help me before I use Empathy. Which is a method I invented.”

He does this a lot, chattering away at people to break the ice. There is not a lot of ice to break because the person he is talking to is dead but it still feels nicer than to be completely quiet. And according to ZewuJun, his brother is still here, so maybe he will feel less alone like this. So he shuffles over to the guqin that seems to have been repaired. There is still some brownish-red residue on the wood and he knows that it only can be one thing. Blood. “Alright. Let’s do this,” he says softly. Carefully, he follows the movements that are described on the page, lets the notes ring out, waits for an answer in the dark.

There is silence for a moment and he is afraid he played so badly that the ghost is somehow offended and doesn’t want to come. But then, suddenly, there is an answer. No unnecessary embellishments, played slowly so he can understand but still so beautiful that he knows who it is. Who it only can be.

Who are you sings the instrument and he makes an excited sound, shuffling even closer. Wei Wuxian he answers, carefully playing out the notes. Your brother. Asked for help. he answers haltingly. It is almost like learning a new language. I go through memories. Am I allowed? There is another moment of silence, then he swears the answer sounds almost surprised. Yes. You may, Wei Wuxian. He giggles and bites his lip. “Call me Wei Ying,” he tells the room before remembering that he should have used the guqin. The instruments sings out, completely unprompted. Wei Ying.

His grin threatens to split his face and he gets up, walking towards the body, taking in the serene face, the inky hair, the creamy skin. He really is a beauty. “Just a moment,” he tells him and pats his hand, walking to the door and calling Lan Xichen in, who comes without any further prompting. “He gave me permission,” Wei Wuxian explains and then hands the sect leader a Clarity Bell, a thank you from Jiang Yanli for helping her sect when it called for it. “Ring this when things get sticky or I do not wake up. It will call me back.”

ZewuJun nods, taking the Bell, settling in, watching them both with a worried expression but Wei Wuxian just smiles and kneels next to the body, taking his hands, noticing how cold and yet soft they are, callouses at their fingertips from playing the guqin. “Lan Wangji,” he whispers. “Show me. Show me what is keeping you here.”

The memories feel like the first snow beneath naked feet, dropping into a body of cold water but also like standing on a mountain and letting the winds rush by. They start with a little boy kneeling in front of a house surrounded by gentians, clad in the same white the whole sect wears. He is six at most and why this memory is shown, Wei Wuxian doesn’t know but he keeps concentrating, diving deeper. He sees a strikingly handsome teenager studying in the library, copying old scrolls, playing quin and sneaking vegetables to the back hills where white bunnies roam. The images flash by, a lecture with disciples from other sects, Wen Chao and his entourage arriving and making a scene.

One moment stands out. The same teenager who must be Lan Wangji catches a young female disciple roaming the back hills, a Wen from the red of her robes. He walks away with her and the scenery shifts. They are in a building that is most likely the home of the sect leader, ZewuJun and his brother who stands next to him, straight-backed and breathtaking. He can hear voices, hears them talking of something Wen Ruohan wants, that he will raze the Cloud Recesses to the ground for it. The Yin Iron. Part of it is hidden away here. They will need to prepare for the worst.

The scene shifts again, to Caiyi and Lan Wangji walking through the busy market, holding his sword in his hand, one hand in a fist behind his back like a proper gentleman. He can hear crying and both of them look for the source of it, Wei Wuxian constricted by the limited sight he has. It is little girl with braided buns, crying heartbreakingly next to a stall with animals made from colourful cloth.

The cultivator with the severe face and the countenance of a remote, snow-capped mountain, kneels next to her and hands her a bunny rabbit made from colourful cloth, just purchased apparently, waiting for her to talk. “I lost my gege,” she sobs and shuffles closer, hugging him, getting his white robes dirty. He does not seem to care, instead looks at her and gently lays a hand on her shoulder. “I have a gege as well. I would be scared if I lost him in the crowd,” he says and oh, his voice. It’s calm and deep, trying to settle the little girl. “Shall we look for him together?”

She sniffles and nods, taking his hand in hers, looking up at him in awe and Wei Wuxian can relate. After just a moment, they have found her big brother and the little girl runs to hug him with a shriek of delight. He can see the corners of Lan Wangji’s mouth tilt up into a soft smile, barely noticeable but it is there. He seems to be content with a job well done.

Another shift. They seem to come quicker now, more talk of the Yin Iron, someone he recognises as Lan Qiren taking stock of their most valuable scriptures, letting it be taken away. It is terribly busy but Lan Wangji is a mountain in a rushing stream, carrying what he can with his impressive arm strength.

Yet another and the Cloud Recesses are burning. The disciples are running, many of them armed, some carrying instruments. Caiyi is in disarray as well, people barricading their homes, locking up their animals. Lan Wangji is making a sweep through town, his immaculate robes already stained with soot. The little girl from before runs towards him and hugs his leg, tearful and scared but she knows she is safe with the young cultivator. He gently pats her head and does the same to her rabbit doll.

Then, his face grows serious and he kneels down to look at her, reaching up and undoing his ribbon that falls into his hands, carefully tying it around her wrist. “Keep this safe. Go and take your brother, your parents and look for a grey mountain with yellow veins. This will give you free passage through the secret entrance. You will be safe,” he tells her gently and gets up. “Look for a man who looks like me but older. Lan Xichen.”

Another shift. This one seems to be the last. Lan Wangji is riddled with arrows, bleeding profusely, staggering but still standing upright. His forehead is bare, his hands around the hilt of his sword are bloodied but he carries himself with grace and sheer bullheaded stubbornness. What was that saying again? No matter how the wind howls, the mountain cannot bow to it. He is so very brave. Wei Wuxian can feel his need to protect the ones who are hidden in the cave behind him even at the cost of his own life.

He seems to have set his mind on something, following Wen Xu, even as another arrow buries itself in his back and a voice cries out “A-Zhan! No!”. A sharp crack, bones crunching. His leg is broken but Wen Xu is dead, staring into nothingness. Lan Wangji does not cry out, instead uses his sword to get up again, breathing hard, spitting blood but still, there is a defiant light in his eyes. Someone trips him up and he falls to his knees, his head held high, his guqin on the ground next to him, strings bloodied. As the sword finds its mark, Wei Wuxian does not look away. Dares not look away. Lan Wangji stays proud and brave until he crumples to the ground and stops breathing.

Ringing, silvery and gentle, pulls him out of the cold waters, guides him back into his own body. As he comes to with a gasp, he notices that he has been crying. He wipes his eyes and looks at the body in front of him, at this brave and stubborn man who died defending those he cared about. “You were so good. So good, Lan Zhan,” he whispers, the personal name slipping out as he squeezes the cold hands, looks into his serene face. “The best.”

He turns to Lan Xichen who looks like he has been crying as well. “He died with the deep wish to protect still ingrained into him. He wants to make sure you are alright. And… he is guarding something. I… you spoke of the Yin Iron.”

The way Lan Xichen pales is answer enough.

- 🍄 anon

(Part one for all who didn't read it)

Omg!!! You sent me through every feeling IMAGINABLE 🍄 anon 😭😭😭

That line about there being a lot of ice to crack made me laugh and then you just came at me like that with feelings about lwj dieing! Not. Fair. 🥺

And lwj + little kids = love :D

#🍄 anon #ask #undead lwj fic #that's going to be the tag now #because he's not a fierce corpse not really a ghost either so ... generally undead it is ^^ #the untamed #lan wangji #wei wuxian #wangxian #wangxian fic #cql #mdzs

[bloody-bee-tea]

Not just a vacation

peachy2peachy commissioned me for some merman Jiang Cheng and a totally overworked Lan Xichen, who is being forced on vacation and then falls in love. Thank you for your support and I hope you enjoy it <3

Lan Xichen is restless. He has never been away from his company for this long and just as he’s thinking it he realizes exactly what his uncle and Lan Wangji meant.

It’s been 19 hours. 

If he’s being honest Lan Xichen can’t even be called a workaholic at this point anymore, because there isn’t anything for him outside of the company and his work.

Lan Xichen isn’t even sure when he last slept in his own bed or when he enjoyed a quiet morning at home. His life is all about work. His office is more like a living-room at this point.

Lan Xichen reaches for his phone almost on instinct—surely a quick look into his mails can’t hurt anyone—but he stops himself right before his fingers can make contact.

He’s on vacation, Lan Qiren was very adamant about that. If Lan Xichen checks his mails then Lan Qiren will know—he always knows—and he will be disappointed. Lan Wangji will make his sad face and even though Lan Xichen can’t see it from where he is in the middle of the ocean, he simply knows it.

Better not to risk it.

Lan Xichen suppresses a sigh and sits back down on the bed. A glance out of the window shows him a blue ocean and an even bluer sky and he knows he should get out there and enjoy it. He did some research on Aitutaki of course, and while he has to admit that it’s objectively beautiful it’s also really remote and Lan Xichen already itches with the separation from his company.

Maybe his workload really is unhealthy, Lan Xichen muses, and then lets out a sigh before he gets back up again.

Time to see what this island has to offer.

It’s just as beautiful as it looked in the pictures he found online, and Lan Xichen has to admit that the quiet and serenity is already getting to him.

He finds a nice spot at the beach to lay down his towel and his head barely hit the sand before he’s drifting off to the gentle sounds of the water.

When Lan Xichen wakes up, it’s already dark. He sits up, slightly disoriented and definitely hungry, to look around and while the beach and the sea were already beautiful during the day, Lan Xichen finds it almost more beautiful now that there are only the stars to illuminate it.

He gets startled out of his thoughts when there’s a small splash and then a person seems to emerge out of the water.

Lan Xichen stays still and watches the shape for a few moments, expecting the person to leave the water at one point but when nothing happens, Lan Xichen gets worried.

“Hello?” he carefully calls out. “Do you need help?”

He seems to have startled the person because he can hear a “Fuck” before the head disappears again.

“Oh,” Lan Xichen whispers and walks closer to the water. 

Maybe the person went under when he startled them? Lan Xichen is about ready to throw himself into the water as well—how difficult can it be to find that person again—when the head re-emerges.

“Are you alright?” Lan Xichen asks, voice just barely loud enough to carry over the water, and when he’s met with silence, he worries.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asks again, already marching up to the water to save whoever is out there, but before he can, the person speaks up again.

“Do not get closer!” 

The words stop Lan Xichen dead in his tracks and he frowns.

“Are you alright?” he repeats and is relieved when the man seems to come closer.

“I am,” he reassures Lan Xichen and then there’s the strange splashing noise again, as if something bigger and more adapt to the water was with the man out there.

“Are you really? That noise—,” Lan Xichen trails off and the man lets out a sharp laugh.

“I really am. Don’t concern yourself with me.”

Unlikely, Lan Xichen thinks and walks closer again. He’s gratified to find that the man doesn’t move further away.

“That’s hardly possible when you take a night swim and startle the hell out of me,” Lan Xichen calls back and wonders if the prolonged distance from his company is making him rude already.

The strange man doesn’t seem to think so because he snorts out a laugh.

“Get back, stranger,” he calls out and Lan Xichen is about to tell him his name when the man suddenly disappears.

Lan Xichen waits a little bit longer just to see if he might show up again, but when it becomes clear that that won’t happen, he goes back to the hotel, where he is met by a frantically gesturing owner of the hotel.

“Sir, where have you been?” he’s asked immediately and Lan Xichen frowns before he points back.

“I fell asleep at the beach,” he gives back, much to the horror of the owner apparently.

“We don’t go to the beach at night! Strange things have happened, it’s not safe for you to be there,” Lan Xichen is told and Lan Xichen would agree with the strange things at once.

He doesn’t see how the man in the water poses a danger, but Lan Xichen is probably missing something.

“What happened?” he wants to know but the owner shakes his head.

“Not good for you to know, just stay away,” he advises him and then rather forcefully shoos him back into the hotel.

Lan Xichen doesn’t sleep much that night.

The next night Lan Xichen goes back to the beach. He keeps out of sight at first, hoping to catch the man unawares first, his mind still reeling from the research he did during the day. 

It’s probably not what Lan Qiren and Lan Wangji wanted for him when they sent him on this vacation, but Lan Xichen needs to know what’s going on here. The only thing his research turned up were tales of mermaid  and Lan Xichen is not ready to believe that.

Until he catches sight of a rather huge tail, flapping out of the water.

The sight of it startles a gasp out of Lan Xichen, apparently loud enough to be heard over the water, because he hears the same muttered “Fuck” carried back to him.

“It’s you again,” Lan Xichen calls out and he’s met with a silence that drags on for so long that he starts to fear the other man might have left.

“What the fuck do you want? Do you not know you’re not supposed to be here?” the man suddenly says, and Lan Xichen sees him swimming closer.

“I have heard,” Lan Xichen gives back and the man laughs.

“You just don’t care, huh?” 

Usually Lan Xichen would care very much about that; he is not one to break the rules and staying away from the beach at night seems to be a rather unspoken rule. But this is just too curious to let it rest.

“Would you believe me if I said I was worried about you?” he tries, taking some careful steps closer to the shoreline.

“Nope,” the man says and Lan Xichen smiles.

“Would you believe me if I said my family forced me on this vacation and I am already bored out of my mind?”

“Maybe,” the man answers and comes closer as well.

“My name is Lan Xichen,” Lan Xichen introduces himself and he’s pretty sure he catches a mischievous twinkle in the man’s eyes, barely visible in the dark.

“Good for you,” the man says and promptly ducks back under the water.

“Hey,” Lan Xichen calls out, stumbling forwards until his feet are fully submerged in the water and he only stops when the hem of his shorts starts to get wet.

Nothing happens, but Lan Xichen doesn’t move back, too intrigued to simply leave again, and his persistence is rewarded when the head pops back up.

Lan Xichen distantly notes that the head was too long under water for a normal human, but he tries not to dwell on it. How ridiculous that would be.

“You’re really annoying, you know that?” the guy grumbles and Lan Xichen gives him his best smile.

“I wouldn’t be, if you told me your name,” he sweetly says and watches how the head almost disappears into the waves again.

“Jiang Cheng,” Lan Xichen suddenly catches and his smile turns brighter.

“It’s nice to meet you, Jiang Cheng,” he says and going by the cold shower that runs down his back, Jiang Cheng is glaring at him.

“What do you want?” Jiang Cheng demands to know and Lan Xichen shrugs.

“I want to know why you’re in the water at this time of night,” Lan Xichen tells him and is met with a wicked smile, white teeth reflecting the moonlight and Lan Xichen is pretty sure he can see a fang.

“Why don’t you come closer and you can find out,” Jiang Cheng tempts him and Lan Xichen can hear his uncle’s voice, telling him just how monumentally stupid he is being, but his legs carry him forward nonetheless and it isn’t until he’s right in front of Jiang Cheng that he stops.

“What if I eat you now?” Jiang Cheng asks, but Lan Xichen is too mesmerized by the fins Jiang Cheng seems to have instead of ears.

“Holy shit,” Lan Xichen breathes out and immediately cringes at the curse word.

His uncle would be so disappointed.

“What, never seen a merman before?” Jiang Cheng boldly asks and flicks his tail—his tail—to splash some water at Lan Xichen.

“Can’t say that I have,” Lan Xichen weakly says, roaming his eyes over Jiang Cheng’s body.

It’s too dark to make out the colour of his tail, but it’s long and strong, shimmering even in the dark. Lan Xichen can’t see at which point tail meets torso, but Jiang Cheng’s chest seems entirely human, apart from the gills on his neck and the webs between his fingers. The fins on his head and his strangely shaped eyes mark him as definitely other than human but Lan Xichen only finds him beautiful.

“You really are a strange one,” Jiang Cheng remarks, and he leans close as if he’s inspecting Lan Xichen in turn, before he throws himself back and disappears into the water.

~*~*~

Lan Xichen spends his entire day at the beach, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jiang Cheng. It would make sense for him to only show up at night, but still Lan Xichen is holding out hope. 

And he’s being rewarded when he catches a purple glint on a strong tail, moving quickly away from the open beach. Lan Xichen follows Jiang Cheng into a small lagoon far away from other people.

“If you’re this trusting someone is gonna eat you eventually,” Jiang Cheng grumbles, but he seems pleased that Lan Xichen was looking for him.

Now that Lan Xichen sees him in daylight he realizes that Jiang Cheng’s tail is of the most wonderful purple, rich and deep, and Lan Xichen itches to brush his hands over it, but he keeps that urge in check.

“Many have tried,” Lan Xichen says with his best CEO smile, “and no one succeeded yet.”

“Ah, I see,” Jiang Cheng whispers and swims closer. “A shark on land. Maybe I should be careful that you don’t eat me.”

Lan Xichen’s mind takes dangerous turns at that, and he can feel his ears flush at how low Jiang Cheng’s voice dropped.

Jiang Cheng laughs at his reaction and Lan Xichen is mesmerized by that sound. 

“You’re staring,” Jiang Cheng accuses him when he notices and Lan Xichen doesn’t even care.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispers and now it’s Jiang Cheng’s turn to blush.

“Shut up,” Jiang Cheng grumbles out and Lan Xichen smiles wickedly at him.

“Make me,” he dares him and Jiang Cheng stares for a long time at him.

Lan Xichen wasn’t expecting to get hit by a wave of water, but it’s a very effective way to shut him up.

~*~*~

After that Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng meet daily in their small lagoon.

Lan Xichen isn’t sure what his uncle would say to that, but he’s not even thinking about his company or the work, so even though Lan Xichen is sure this wasn’t what Lan Qiren had in mind for him when he sent him on holiday, he should be pleased by this development.

Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng have shared a lot of details about their lives in the past seven days they have been meeting and by now Lan Xichen knows that he is in love.

With a merman.

Lan Xichen would laugh at the mere notion of this ever happening, but Jiang Cheng is very real, splashing around in their little lagoon and telling Lan Xichen about the hunts he has been on, and he is very lovable.

Lan Xichen isn’t sure if he ever even stood a chance.

He knows that their time together is running out; he is on vacation for two weeks and not a day longer after all.

But those are thought Lan Xichen likes to push far, far away.

He’d much rather think about Jiang Cheng.

“You really are beautiful,” Lan Xichen can’t help but say again as he watches Jiang Cheng float on the water, basking in the sun.

“And I already told you to shut up,” Jiang Cheng shoots back without opening his eyes but this time Lan Xichen won’t have it.

He slowly swims closer, sure that Jiang Cheng is tracking his every movement even with his eyes closed, and it’s not long before Lan Xichen reaches him.

Jiang Cheng never explicitly allowed him to touch the tail or any other part of Jiang Cheng, but they have brushed against each other occasionally, and Jiang Cheng never pulled away. Lan Xichen thinks it’s enough for him to take a chance.

“But you are,” Lan Xichen whispers and slowly reaches out to smooth his hand over the powerful tail.

The scales are mesmerizing and hard, and Lan Xichen could spend his days mapping out every part of them.

When Lan Xichen looks back at Jiang Cheng, he finds that the other is already looking at him.

“I’m not human,” Jiang Cheng says, flicking his tail as if to remind Lan Xichen of it, and Lan Xichen smiles at him.

“No, you’re not,” he agrees. “You are beautiful,” Lan Xichen says again and boldly moves his hand higher, over the line where scales meet skin and then further up Jiang Cheng’s chest, and then higher up still, skipping over the gills until he can cup Jiang Cheng’s cheek in his hand.

“What are you doing?” Jiang Cheng whispers and Lan Xichen guides him closer.

“I’m going to kiss you,” he mutters, briefly waiting for Jiang Cheng to move away from him, but when that doesn’t happen Lan Xichen closes the last bit of distance between them.

Jiang Cheng tastes like the sea and Lan Xichen knows he could get lost in it.

And maybe he will for the next seven days.

~*~*~

“I love you,” Lan Xichen tells Jiang Cheng four days later, sure of that by now, and even though it hurts he was prepared for the bitter laugh Jiang Cheng lets out.

“Don’t be stupid, Xichen,” Jiang Cheng says and pushes himself back into the water, leaving Lan Xichen’s side cold and bereft.

“I do. I love you.”

“Gods, Xichen, you’re on holiday here. This is my home. Where do you see this going?” Jiang Cheng demands to know and Lan Xichen has thought about that, turned around in bed all night, just thinking about that, and by now he’s sure he has the answer.

“I see this going everywhere,” he resolutely says and then reaches for the bag he brought. “I see you in my future, and I will not accept anything else.”

“You’re flying back in three days. There is no future for us,” Jiang Cheng argues and Lan Xichen is gratified to see that the thought seems to pain Jiang Cheng as much as it does him.

“There will be,” Lan Xichen decidedly says and then takes his phone out of his bag. “And I will prove it to you.”

He dials his uncles number, not even caring about the time difference, but it still takes barely three rings before his uncle picks up.

“Xichen, you’re on vacation, so this better not be about work,” Lan Qiren greets him and Lan Xichen smiles, his eyes never leaving Jiang Cheng.

“It is, kind of. I’d like to set up a remote work place. Here, on this island. Because I don’t think I’ll be coming back any time soon.”

There’s a very concerning silence on the other end of the line and then Lan Qiren explodes.

“Lan Xichen! What do you even think you’re doing! This is a vacation and not a way for you to get out of work indefinitely!”

“I know that, that’s why I want to work from here. Uncle, I met someone and I am not going to leave him.”

Lan Xichen can hear Lan Qiren take a few deep breaths before he presses out: “We’ll talk about this at a more reasonable hour for me.”

Before Lan Xichen can object to that Lan Qiren has already hung up on him, and Lan Xichen is left to stare at his phone, before he shrugs and puts it back into his bag.

When he turns back to Jiang Cheng, he finds that he is already staring at him.

“You would really do that?” Jiang Cheng asks. “Work from here? Just for me?”

“I love you. Of course I would. You can’t leave here, so I will come to you.”

“You’re an idiot,” Jiang Cheng decides as he swims closer and pulls Lan Xichen into a kiss. “But I do love you. And I’m coming with you.”

Lan Xichen needs a few moments to understand those words, and then he simply blinks at Jiang Cheng.

“You’re coming what now?” he dumbly mutters and Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes in that beautiful way he has, before he emerges from the lagoon.

On a pair of human legs.

“You really think if we didn’t adapt we’d still be around?” Jiang Cheng asks as he walks Lan Xichen back to the beach and Lan Xichen is more than willing to be led anywhere by Jiang Cheng.

“You can change your forms,” Lan Xichen mutters and his heart does a little flip when Jiang Cheng grins at him.

He does have the most beautiful smile.

“I can change forms. I demand ten weeks a year back here and you’ll have to meet my family.”

“Deal,” Lan Xichen says without hesitation, because he would give Jiang Cheng everything he has if he would ask for it.

“And you cannot change your mind about me,” Jiang Cheng adds, much more quiet this time and Lan Xichen pulls him into his arms.

“Never,” he promises. “I’m a true romantic at heart. There will only ever be you,” he whispers into Jiang Cheng’s now very human ears, and he knows it’s the truth. He can feel it deep in his bones that Jiang Cheng is it for him.

“Good,” Jiang Cheng mutters as he clutches at Lan Xichen’s shirt. “I’m sorry, I kept this a secret, I had to be sure first.”

Sure of Lan Xichen’s feelings and his devotion, Lan Xichen guesses, and he isn’t even mad about it.

“I understand,” he says and then tilts Jiang Cheng’s head back to kiss him.

Jiang Cheng meets him readily and that is the last they speak for a while. There are other things for them to do right now.

Now with a sequel!

{Buy me a kofi}  

#bt writes #commission #the untamed #mdzs #xicheng #merman!jc #falling in love #fluff #love confessions #first kiss #vacation

[gusu-emilu]

Cantatio: Chapter Fourteen

Ship: Lan Zhan / Wei Ying (POV Lan Zhan)

Summary: Lan Zhan and Wei Ying get some bonding (?) time with Song Lan.

Cloud Recesses AU, Canon Divergence, Rated T, No Warnings Apply - read on AO3

< Ch. 13 | chapter list

* * *

The guardian lion statue was animated by Baoshan Sanren?

“Impossible!” Lan Qiren shouted. “Are you sure you understood correctly?”

Song Lan clenched his fists. “I would not mistake that name.”

“The ancient recluse?” Wen Qing said. “How could she be here?”

“She can’t. She’s dead,” Song Lan snapped.

“Daozhang! “ Lan Qiren shouted. “You—you—how dare you reveal this? No one is meant to know!”

“What does it matter?” Song Lan’s cry echoed across the lake. The clear water shimmered with ripples that carried his voice to the end of the cave.

It faded to silence.

Baoshan Sanren…dead?

“I thought Baoshan Sanren raised disciples in a hidden mountain,” Jin Zixuan said. “And protected the world from the Yin Iron Amulet. Who’s been shielding us from the amulet’s power if she’s dead?”

Lan Qiren’s voice shook with fury as he pointed at the group. “This is not a matter to be discussed with junior disciples! You will tell no one of what you have just learned!” A cloudy glaze spread across his eyes. “How could this be, daozhang…could one of her disciples still be alive?”

Song Lan slowly rose to his feet. His voice was raspy and laced with choked-back tears. “Is it not a tenet of the Lan Clan to avoid speaking careless words? You know as well as I do that Baoshan Sanren’s disciples are gone. You witnessed one of those deaths yourself. I—I witnessed the rest.”

“Daozhang! Enough! You are the one speaking carelessly!”

Song Lan inhaled deeply and regained some of his composure. “I suppose so. Let us return to the Cloud Recesses. We will not reach any conclusions here.” His eyes strayed to the muddy robes of the young cultivators. “I suppose we must also impose some discipline on these adventurous disciples. I found another entrance to the cave and watched for long enough to observe the situation. Young Master Jin, Lady Wen, Young Master Jiang have—for the most part—committed lesser infractions. I will let Shifu handle them how he pleases. For Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, however,” his voice grew quiet, “I have special consequences I would like to administer personally.”

Lan Wangji’s heart sank. He tried to swallow, but the saliva clung in his mouth and clogged his throat. He had never been addressed this way by an elder outside his family.

He had never been in real trouble before.

And why was he being singled out like this?

Lan Qiren fiddled with his hands in disapproval, as if hearing his nephew’s name in that same sentence as Wei Wuxian was wholly preposterous, despite the fact that he had just been scolding Lan Wangji himself. “And may I ask what daozhang has in mind?” he said sharply.

“They will do something useful for the Cloud Recesses. I will explain once we return.” He looked over at Wen Ning. “And please, reward young Wen Qionglin. It took great courage for him to go against his friends’ wishes. He even urged me to step in while I observed the disciples fighting the guardian statue. He is a bold young man.”

Wen Ning’s face turned white. He seemed like he didn’t know whether to feel praised or frightened.

How long had Wen Ning and Song Lan been watching them? Why had Song Lan not come forward to protect them when they were in danger?

And Baoshan Sanren was dead?

Wei Wuxian seemed to have had similar thoughts. “Daozhang, why did you wait and observe us?”

Something inscrutable flashed across Song Lan’s face. If his expression hadn’t been strained with hidden anguish, it might have been something close to amusement.

“So I would know whose punishment to claim.”

* * *

They traveled through the forest back to the academy on foot because Lan Qiren did not trust Wei Wuxian to ride his sword—and he certainly would not let him tag along on someone else’s. They formed a small, haggard parade: the dignified swishing of Lan Qiren’s blue robes in front, the shadowy steps of Song Lan in back, and the muddy disciples paired off in the middle. After some sarcastic (but warm) remarks from Wen Qing, Lan Wangji found himself next to Jin Zixuan, who at least was silent company, unlike the spritely Wei Wuxian chattering to an apathetic Jiang Cheng behind him.

Lan Wangji’s thoughts darted around incessantly. At the back of his mind like a constant buzz was the feeling of Wei Wuxian in his embrace. It lingered on the skin of his palms like a phantom touch, gentle and prickly. And very unwelcome. It had flipped a switch in him, awakened some slumbering villain that wanted to respond to the innocent warmth he had experienced with…with…Lan Wangji did not dwell on it enough to know what, but it was not good.

But something else tormented his mind with greater intensity.

What kind of punishment did Song Lan have in store for him? Lan Wangji’s throat tightened at the realization that his rule-breaking had finally caught up to him. He had been shirking the Gusu Lan Clan code since his first accidental infraction the night he fought the monster beetle. How comfortable he had become with violating the tenets that structured his life since childhood. No, not comfortable. He was still haunted by guilt, frozen by hesitancy. But he had grown too familiar with standing at the border.

Then again…would he really have done anything different? He didn’t want to admit the answer.

A gnawing in his chest told him that his rule-breaking days were not quite over. Especially knowing what lay in the top room in the mingshi.

However, the loudest thought of all was—

Baoshan Sanren is dead.

No one knew how to find her secret mountain lair. No one even knew how to communicate with her. But for centuries, she had been a constant reassuring presence in the cultivation world, the melodies of her flute echoing across remote valleys from her hideaway where she trained disciples according to a strict ascetic code. She was the protector of half of the Yin Iron Amulet. She was the only force preventing the power-hungry Wen Clan from joining their half of the amulet to its counterpart and recreating an ancient, evil weapon.

When had she died? What had happened to her disciples? Where was the half of the Yin Iron Amulet she protected? This news almost made Lan Wangji afraid, as if a candle had gone out in his childhood bedroom. He understood why the revelation was kept secret from the world.

A sinking feeling in his gut told him that somehow, in a way he couldn’t explain, this was related to the corpse and the guqin that rested in the mingshi.

He and Wen Qing had another mystery to discuss.

A slick voice beside him. “Is what Wei Wuxian said true? About Lady Jiang?”

Lan Wangji turned toward the voice. Apparently Jin Zixuan was plagued by worries of his own.

Lan Wangji replied with a nod. Jin Zixuan looked away, his brow furrowed, contemplative.

Neither spoke again until they arrived back at the Cloud Recesses. Jin Zixuan was welcomed with praise and relieved embraces, and he actually talked to Jiang Yanli. She seemed guarded, but happier than she had been earlier in the day. Perhaps there was hope for the arranged couple, although Jin Zixuan still did not seem like a worthy match.

Meanwhile, Lan Wangji, caked in mud and shame, was not greeted with praise. He was greeted by a gruesome punishment he’d be forced to share with Wei Ying.

* * *

“Young M-Master—”

“Wen Ning, stop with the formalities! Call me Wei Ying!”

“Oh. Sorry. Um. Young Master Wei, Second Young Master Lan, I’m s-s-sorry for getting you in trouble.”

It was evening. The screeching of cicadas had been replaced by the chirping of crickets as slender clouds in the sky were painted scarlet. Lan Wangji had bathed and changed, and was now standing next to Wei Wuxian under a tree in the center of the courtyard that held the mingshi. Lan Qiren had already delivered a long-winded, red-faced scolding and ordered beatings for the two rulebreakers—then two extra rounds once Lan Wangji confessed to being out after curfew and swordfighting over wine with Wei Wuxian the night before.

Lan Wangji did not mention entering the mingshi.

After their backs were battered and aching, Lan Qiren reluctantly left them in the hands of Song Lan, who now stood with the animated guardian lion at the foot of the watchtower. Wen Ning, who had been quietly following Song Lan around since the professor had praised him, was slumped before Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian with his hands wrung.

“Don’t worry about it!” Wei Wuxian said. “It’s not a problem at all! You’re just as daring as we are to disobey your sister and get help for us. That’s what I like to see.” Wei Wuxian winked and elbowed Wen Ning on the arm. “We would’ve gotten in trouble anyway, trudging back to the Cloud Recesses with half of us covered in dirt and blood and a lion at our tails. I’m used to getting punished by now.” He smirked. “Not Lan Zhan, though. Maybe Mr. Goody-Goody does want your apology?”

Lan Wangji did his best to tune out Wei Wuxian’s childish giggle. He politely shook his head at Wen Ning.

Wen Ning departed, and Song Lan walked over to the two disciples.

Wei Wuxian bowed. “Daozhang! What will our punishment be? I’m actually kind of excited for it from all the suspense you’ve kept us in.”

Shameless, Lan Wangji thought.

Song Lan scanned them with that cold expression like icicles, although it seemed softer than usual. “How long have you two been acquainted?”

Lan Wangji raised his eyebrows. Why would he ask such a question now?

“Oh, only a few days!” Wei Wuxian said with a grin. “We didn’t meet until we were here in the Cloud Recesses. But now we’re roommates, and best friends. Isn’t that right, Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian slung his arm around Lan Wangji’s shoulders and tugged him closer.

Lan Wangji’s entire body tensed. He stared at the ground as warmth surged through him.

“Only a few days?” Song Lan asked.

"Yep!”

Song Lan’s eyes brightened. There was almost fondness in his expression, as if he were looking at a trusted belonging he had carried for many years. “Rather remarkable, to be acquainted for such a short time and already make quite the team.”

Wei Wuxian beamed. “Wow, you hear that, Lan Zhan? We’re such great partners that even the daozhang notices! How lucky are we?”

Song Lan paused. That hint of hazy sorrow crept around him again. “Lucky indeed.”

Lan Wangji studied the pebbles at his feet. This was the courtyard were Wei Wuxian had spilled Emperor’s Smile last night. He remembered how exhilarating their swordfight had been, how sweat had beaded at their temples from the challenging parry, how the sweet fragrance of wine followed them as they leapt across the rooftops. The red stain had long since been cleaned from the white gravel of the courtyard, but in Lan Wangji’s mind it was still there. It might be there for a very long time.

Lucky?

Not lucky. Unfortunate, to have met his match in both wit and skill!

“Daozhang,” said Wei Wuxian, “I thought you were going to punish us? Are we off the hook?”

“I have not forgotten.”

“Oh,” Wei Wuxian said, eyes downcast.

“Come with me,” Song Lan said.

With sore backs from their beatings, they limped after him to the bottom steps of the mingshi, where the guardian lion waited beside its stone podium.

“I am going to teach you how to de-animate a guardian statue.”

“De-animate? As in put it back to sleep?” Wei Wuxian asked.

“Correct. The process does not require anything near the spiritual energy needed for animation, but it is much lengthier, and much more emotionally taxing.” He narrowed his eyes. “Although, perhaps nothing will exceed the struggle Young Master Wei faced in the pixiu.”

Wei Wuxian gaped at him. “You—you know what I did?”

Song Lan gave a small smile. “I suspected. I only needed to recover the pixiu from the forest to confirm.”

“Is that why I’m being punished?” Wei Wuxian crossed his arms. “What about Lan Zhan? I don’t really see why we’re being treated differently from the others.”

“Yes, that is part of the reason. As for Lan Wangji, he is head disciple. Is that not explanation enough?”

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian exchanged glances. Something about this did not sit right. Song Lan had ulterior motives for isolating them—whether helpful or harmful, it could not be determined.

“Daozhang…what happened to Baoshan Sanren and her disciples?”

Darkness entered Song Lan’s expression and soon spilled over the two disciples. “I should never have let that information slip from between my teeth. We shall not discuss it again.”

“Okay…” Wei Wuxian rubbed his chin. “Then if she’s dead, how did she animate the lion?”

“I do not know. We shall not discuss her death.”

“…Who else knows she’s dead?”

“No one,” Song Lan said tersely, “and I will not hesitate to silence those who do.”

Wei Wuxian flinched. He looked down and dug the tip of his shoe into the pebbles. “My mother was taught by her.”

This surprised Lan Wangji. Wasn’t Wei Ying the son of a Jiang Clan servant?

Then he realized—Wei Changze—Clan Leader Jiang’s head servant had eloped with Cangse Sanren, a rogue cultivator who was one of only two disciples to ever leave Baoshan Sanren’s hidden mountain. Cangse Sanren and her husband had been dead for over fifteen years, and Baoshan Sanren’s other disciple Xiao Xingchen had disappeared. If what Song Lan said in the cave was true…then Xiao Xingchen must be dead as well.

The corners of Song Lan’s mouth tightened, etching lines into his skin. “I’m sorry.”

Wei Wuxian gave an empty smile. “The Jiangs raised me well, though.”

There was hesitance in his voice. Thinking back on Alchemy & Medicine class with Yu Ziyuan, Lan Wangji wondered how much Wei Wuxian meant those words. It was no secret that Yu Ziyuan had a fraught relationship with her adopted son. The blows she gave him in a classroom surrounded by other disciples was already enough to scar, never mind the effects of enduring a lifetime of what worse things she may do in private.

“I once knew someone who was acquainted with your mother,” Song Lan said.

Wei Wuxian perked up. “Really?”

“Yes. He said that she was…” He seemed to search for the answer in the clouds. “Headstrong, might be the word.”

“Haha! I’ve heard!”

Song Lan’s eyes twinkled. “She is likely the reason Lan Qiren harbors such a strong distaste for you.”

“Wait, really?”

Uncle has many other reasons to dislike Wei Ying, Lan Wangji thought.

Song Lan tilted his head, appearing amused. “I’m surprised you do not know why.”

“Well…the Jiangs never told me many stories about her.”

That made sense. Jiang Fengmian was rumored to have been in love with Cangse Sanren before his arranged marriage to Yu Ziyuan. It was likely that Madam Yu forbade mention of the woman in her house, unless it was by her own vitriol.

“I have spent most of my life outside of these lands,” Song Lan said, “but even I have heard the stories of the pranks that Cangse Sanren played on Lan Qiren. Notably, that she once cut off his beard.”

Wei Wuxian burst into laughter. Lan Wangji twinged his lips and straightened his posture, thinking back to the Trans-Himalayan nonsense about Lan Qiren in class.

That’s the part where Tran and Sim each grab one side of Lan Qiren’s moustache, Wei Wuxian had said before the classroom erupted into giggles.

Yes, Cangse Sanren sounded just as intolerable as her son, and just as disrespectful of Uncle’s facial hair.

Wei Wuxian rubbed his eyes, teary with laughter. “That’s amazing! What a bold move! I would’ve had the best mom!” His laughter cut off abruptly. His smile remained, but it was hollow again. He looked down.

A lump formed in Lan Wangji’s throat. Despite Wei Wuxian’s shamelessness, with every layer of this soul that peeled back for Lan Wangji to observe, he felt more and more drawn to him. They both knew what it was like to lose their mother at a young age. What other sorrows did they share?

“Daozhang, who was your friend that knew my mother?” Wei Wuxian asked.

Song Lan frowned, then turned away to stare at the horizon, where the sun was lowering in the sky.

A long silence passed. Finally, they assumed that he would not answer. They headed toward the statue podium, upon which the lion was now waiting.

“A good friend.”

They faced Song Lan again. For once, Wei Wuxian did not seem to know how to respond. The three cultivators stood motionless as the crimson sunset caressed their cheeks, a bit of Song Lan’s frosty demeanor seeming to melt beneath it.

“This is the best kind of friend,” said Lan Wangji.

Song Lan nodded. “Indeed. Shall we begin de-animating the guardian statue?”

“Do we have to? I kind of like him.” Wei Wuxian approached the lion and patted its head. His face lit up. “Wow, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, come here! Come pet him! He’s purring!”

Lan Wangji stepped forward and placed a hand next to Wei Wuxian’s. It was true. The stone beneath his palm was vibrating with a gentle hum.

“Mn.”

Wei Wuxian snickered. “You know, Lan Zhan, you purr too when you’re happy. Like a big burly stone-faced kitten. You two could be siblings.”

“Ridiculous.” Lan Wangji removed his hand and strode away to stand next to Song Lan.

“Haha! But really, Daozhang, do we have to put him to sleep?” Wei Wuxian said. “Why not keep him alive? Why not animate the spirits in all of the statues?” He ran his fingers over the lion’s carved mane. “They’re intelligent, kind, powerful. They could live with us in the Cloud Recesses. They could protect us and be our friends.”

Song Lan seemed to truly ponder this suggestion. Then he sighed. “Some spirits are meant to leave us. They walk alongside us, yes, but not in this world.”

“…Oh.”

The two disciples stepped into formation around the guardian lion, kneeling at its feet, with Song Lan at its side.

“So, how do we do it?” Wei Wuxian asked.

“The spirit will perform most of the work,” Song Lan said. “But it will need your assistance. Guardian spirits are formed from protective intentions gathered over many years. These prayers are still present, but they need to be remolded with the help of new ones. If many cultivators laid hands upon the statue at the same time, a simple focus from each person would be sufficient. However, there are only two of you. To obtain strong enough protective intentions, the spirit will put you through a trial.”

Lan Wangji glanced up. “Of what?”

Song Lan frowned. “Explaining it to you will not make you any more prepared. Just…just remember that none of what you will experience is real.”

That did not sound promising.

“Place your hands upon the statue and reach out to its spirit. It knows what must be done. There will be no need to communicate.”

They nodded, then laid their hands on the cold, rugged stone and waited for whatever fate the spirit had in store for them.

* * *

Thanks for reading! These chapters (and more to come) can also be found on AO3!

Tumblr chapter list

#mdzs fanfiction #the untamed fanfiction #mdzsnet #mdzs #the untamed #cql #mdzs fanfic #the untamed fanfic #cql fanfic #wangxian #wangxian fanfiction #wangxian fanfic #lan zhan #lan wangji #wei wuxian #wei ying #song lan #song zichen #emilu talks #cantatio

[merakilyy]

Lan Qiren Meta + Bonus Parenting Headcanons

Hi @chezaru​​! Tumblr is being weird and apparently I type too much for them to let me respond to the ask directly. The robot overlords are confusing idk. But anyway. Some disorganized thoughts on Lan Qiren!

(This is also an expansion of some of the thoughts I stated here.)

A lot of my thoughts on Lan Qiren come from this article breaking down what it means be be righteous (雅正) in accordance to the Lan Sect’s motto. The article is in Chinese so I’ll just sum up some of the major ideas first:

***

~It fundamentally refutes the idea of Lan Wangji as the “black sheep” in the Lan Sect 

~It assumes Cloud Recesses has a highly collective intrasect environment. Children are raised not just by the parents, but by the entire Sect. 

~The Elders raised Wangji and saw him grew up and didn’t have the heart to hurt Wangji, even after he escaped with Wei Wuxian into the cave. Western fandom especially tends to see the elders as strict, conservative disciplinarians who are rigid in their beliefs to the point of hypocrisy. This meta refutes that. It’s unreasonable that Wangji, no matter how strong his cultivation, would be able to stand on his own against 33 seasoned cultivators. So, contrary to popular belief, the elders allowed Wangji to injure them so they would not have to harm a child of the Sect.

~Lan Sect rules are not about what is literally written, but the spirit of the rules. This also makes sense given that when you have 4000+ rules, some rules are bound to contradict one another. And, many rules are quite vague. Eg. “sneering for no reason is prohibited.” Where is the line that justifies sneering? There is none because the idea is not “don’t sneer for no reason,” the idea is “don’t be unnecessarily rude.” In many of the rules, there is room for interpretation and it is this interpretation that is valued over the literal inscription of the rules. 

~Basically, they are not good people because of the rules. They are good people because they are good people. The rules guide them to make good judgement, but good judgement does not comes from following the rules to a T.

~So the function of 雅正 (to be righteous) is internal, not performative.

~It is this internal clarity that makes Gusu Lan “innocent” (the word used is 纯真; 纯/chun = pure, clarity, genuine, practised and 真/zhen = true, real, genuine, clear)

~There is also a long history of Lans being deviant and rebellious. In CQL, there is Lan Yi who invents guqin battle techniques. They are also the only Clan to have been led by a female cultivator. Even Qingheng-jun who is....consent issues galore. He clearly went against orthodoxy by marrying a murderer, but still remains in Cloud Recesses. His punishment is self-imposed, not enforced by the Sect. So there are a lot of rules, but they aren’t pedantic. There is leeway, as seen in Lan Yi, but only within reason, as demonstrated by Qingheng-jun.

~Like his ancestors, Wangji also deviated from the straightforward path but his sect accepted his unrepentant love for Wei Wuxian in the end.

~In the end, Wangji gets what he wants: to live with Wei Wuxian in Cloud Recess. But he only gets this because the elders and Lan Qiren allow him to.

~To allow Wei Wuxian to exist in Cloud Recesses, the Lan Sect has to be more inclusive than we typically see them as.

~Despite everything, Lan Wangji still wants to return to Cloud Recesses because it is home to him.

~This is also my favourite explanation of Jingyi’s Jingyi-ness. Rather than Wangji (and possibly Xichen) singlehandedly creating a space for Jingyi, that space already existed. I don’t think Jingyi is as much of a black sheep as people portray him as because you don’t grow into a Jingyi if everyone is constantly yelling at you to follow rules. CQL Jingyi is plenty sassy, even in front of Lan Qiren, and Jingyi isn’t stupid! He was born and raised in Cloud Recesses, he knows when he is pushing several of the rules and he knows that he has the leeway to do so, and that Lan Qiren will not stop him (within reason).

~”Be righteous” is how the Lan motto is translated in English, but it’s....not exactly what it is in Chinese.

~In Chinese, it’s  雅正.  雅/ya = elegance, graceful and 正/zheng = positive, correct, straight, just. 

~Notice how the two parts of the motto contrast one another. Ya is outward, something that dictates how you act. Zheng is internal, determined by your actions and attitudes. Zheng is the foundation of Ya.

~The meta ends with this beautiful line: 所谓的“雅正”，家族交出来，体雅是表象，心正才是更本。Now to ruin it in translation: “Each configuration of “righteousness,” as taught by the Sect, is outward physical elegance built on the foundation of a moral heart.”

~TLDR: Rebelliousness is a function of Gusu Lan, not an anomaly.

***

Onto some fun headcanons!

~Lan Qiren has personal issues with Wei Wuxian because of his mother, but he is more horrified by Wei Wuxian because Wei Wuxian has all this potential and then uses it to go down the heretial path?? Blaphemous. All that ability, all that work, only to throw it all away? Wei Wuxian is incredibly competent and Lan Qiren begrudgingly respects that competence. What he can’t stand is Wei Wuxian’s lackadaisical attitude towards his cultivation.

~In novel canon, Lan Qiren accepts Wangji and Wei Wuxian’s marriage. He definitely still has issues with Wei Wuxian for being a mass murderer, a demonic cultivator, for desecrating the dead, etc. Also for his general Wei Wuxian-ness. But Wei Wuxian is nothing is not incredibly competent and Lan Qiren eventually softens towards Wei Wuxian because of that competence. Once Wei Wuxian starts using that competence to be useful to the Sect and not just to be as annoying as possible, he gets Lan Qiren’s approval. 

~Secretly, of course. Lan Qiren would qi deviate before saying nice about Wei Wuxian to his face.

~I totally wrote a fic on Lan Qiren publicly defending Wei Wuxian heheh

~Cloud Recesses is only so big and Lan Qiren can’t avoid Wei Wuxian, even if he is never trying to seek him out. Plus, Wei Wuxian has this way of being in the most inconvenient place at the most inconvenient time.

~We all agree Wei Wuxian is a terrible cook. But, is he a bad cook because he adds too much spice, or he is a bad cook because he’s a bad cook? He did manage to cook congee for the ducklings in Yi Cheng without any fatalities. so I’m inclined to believe the former.

~Lan Qiren definitely thinks Wei Wuxian is a terrible cook, especially after hearing about how Wei Wuxian burned a hole in a pot.

~But Wei Wuxian is Wei Wuxian and even if he can’t be trusted with spices (or anything remotely resembling seasoning), he can make plain congee just fine. 

~Lan Qiren eats this congee and it’s a perfectly good congee. Ideal thickness, light taste, no spices, slides down the throat smoothly and pairs perfectly with his dried zhacai (pickled mustard; a super common Chinese side dish). He asks who made the congee, expecting it to be Sizhui. He chokes when he is told Wei Wuxian is the cook.

~Lan Qiren knows how to be a good parent in theory. He’s just terrible at putting it to practice.

~Jingyi’s parents, when he was still a terrible toddler wreaking havoc everywhere, went to Lan Qiren for desperate advice like “why is our child such a terrible Lan???”

~But Jingyi isn’t actually Lan Qiren’s kid so he actually gives good advice. “Give him a toy, he’ll tire himself out for his nap,” “Let him crawl around, just cover sharp objects and table corners,” and “give him a crushed peach as a reward for walking across the room”

~But he doesn’t know how to talk to Xichen or Wangji as family. He loves them both dearly -- obviously he raised them, but they’re also good nephews!! Questionable taste in men aside, they are excellent nephews! He just doesn’t know how to talk to them outside of official sect business.

~Especially with Wangji, He kind of did declare Wangji’s husband a heretic, a traitor, was unnecessarily cruel to Wei Wuxian, stopped Wangji from helping Wei Wuxian. And there’s that whole discipline whip thing.

~Which, to be fair, did end up saving Wangji’s life. Raising his sword against Sect Elders and one’s own family is an act of treason punishable by execution. But Lan Qiren can’t just execute his own nephew....he has a heart, even if no one believes it

~33 discipline lashes from the discipline whip is very harsh and Lan Qiren won’t pretend otherwise. But he could gamble that Wangji’s core is strong enough to pull him through. Because the odds of a living, resentful Wangji is better than a dead Wangji.

~They never talk about this. There are a lot of things they don’t talk about.

~Even before, Lan Qiren isn’t a bad parent. He just has no idea how to put his ideas of parenting into practice. He knows what a good parent looks like, he just doesn’t know how to be one.

~So he hides behind the rules because the rules can’t go that wrong, right? Right???

~Lan Qiren is lowkey jealous of Wei Wuxian for knowing how to be affectionate. He definitely thinks Wei Wuxian is too open with his emotions, but he is envious that Wei Wuxian and Wangji are open to each other in a way that Lan Qiren never established with either nephew. They are loyal in the filial manner of juniors to their elders, but Lan Qiren isn’t exactly close to his nephews. 

~In his ongoing attempt to be a better uncle, he ends up getting advice from Wei Wuxian about emotions.

~It’s not like he can go to anyone else. And, well. That congee was really good.

~Turns out Wei Wuxian can brew the perfect pot of tea, too.

~Offensive. That Wei Wuxian is so competent and the least emotionally repressed person in all of Cloud Recesses.

~Eventually, Lan Qiren begins to understand why Wangji is so attached to Wei Wuxian, even if he still can’t stand to be in the same room as Wei Wuxian for longer than 15 minutes. 

~No matter how much he might no longer hate Wei Wuxian, he prefers their interactions in small doses and spaced out.

~But he does learn to bond with Wei Wuxian over cultivation theory. Annoyingly, Wei Wuxian is just too useful to continue to despise. 

#mdzsnet #mdzs #mo dao zu shi #cql #the untamed #lan qiren #tbh I'm already writing this #I have a lot of feelings okay #and I love character studies #lqr is a terrifying Asian parent #but I also think he deserves better #he's still kind of a terrible uncle but he's doing his best!! #It's not entirely his fault that no one in his family knows how to be human #Except Xichen

[this-solaris-life]

In Your Arms

So, I wanted something soft but also kind of sad. So here’s to the moment in Walking Into Your Love au, where Jin Ling goes to Paris after Jingyi’s parents abandon him. @ruensroad - Thanks for listening to my idea! :D 

He’s stupid. He’s so freaking stupid. He should have known this would happen. Yesterday was too good to be true. How could he have missed the signs? Wasn’t being twenty three too old to be falling for the same tricks?

Jingyi took a deep breath trying to dampen down the wave of anger but also stave off the rising panic. His hands already slightly shaking. He was in a whole different country. Thirteen hours by flight away from home. He closed his eyes leaning back to let his head hit the hotel room headboard. His parents were supposed to fly him back home and now...

“Sir?” The reception desk man’s voice cuts through his thoughts.

“That’ll be all thank you.” Jingyi replied with a crack in his voice, before ending the call. He tossed the cordless phone onto the bed beside him. He pulled his legs up to his chest while his hands moved to cradle his face. He let out a shuddering breath before dropping his hands. He started breathing in and out just like Dr. Ziyi had taught him during their sessions. This was not the place to have a panic attack. 

After what felt like an hour of just breathing and meditating, Jingyi opened his eyes and started thinking. He needed to get back home but how? He didn’t bring the funds with him to be able to fly home because he thought they were taking him home. His next option was the most obvious. Suzhui. He knew that his best friend and many ways brother, would be more than happy to buy a ticket home. But that also meant Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji finding out. He loved them both and knew they loved him, but Wei Wuxian would be on an overprotective warpath. 

He bit his lip as he thought of Jin Ling. He let himself flop onto his side with an exasperated sigh. It would be embarrassing but how could this situation not be? They were supposed to be friends and for everything that's happened between him. The man has never judged him. But this was weak. A weakness that only his adoptive family knew about. Jingyi drew his knees in. Letting him know about this was truly opening his heart to the man he’d come to adore and desire. 

“I shou-” Jingyi started rationalizing out loud till his phone started ringing. He reached over seeing that it was in fact Jin Ling. 

“Hey-“

“You missed our video chat this morning. Fairy and I got worried.” 

“No, I was just..” he paused wondering how to word what had happened. 

Oh, I’m sorry I worried you both, but here I am just freaking out because I let my parents fool me again. I let them talk me into a family vacation only to leave me in a different country. When I could have stayed home and spent the week with you and Fairy. 

“Jingyi?”  Jin Ling called to him stirring him from his internal tirade. 

“Yes…”

“Have you eaten yet?” Jin Ling asked, his tone soft. 

“No…” Jingyi answered honestly. 

“Then I want you to get up and take a shower. There’s this cafe that has the best chausson aux pommes and they’ll have the tea that you like.” Jin Ling stated. Jingyi could feel the other smiling as he spoke. 

“Is that some kind of snail? Wait... you’ve been here?” Jingyi tried to joke but found himself wincing. Of course the man would have been to Paris. He’s the CEO of Koi Tower Industries. They have a branch here. 

“Yes, when I was in high school. I spent a year there.  My jiujiu thought it would be a good experience for me since I wanted to run the company.” 

“Oh.”

“Yeah, hold on a second,” Jin Ling said before the line went silent that made Jingyi check to see if the other had hung up for how long he waited. “Sorry about that. Now, get up and go take a shower.”

“How do you know that I’ve not already done that?”

“Because you would have called us afterwards. Remember?” 

Jingyi pouted but also blushed. He couldn’t believe that he’d gotten so predictable that Jin Ling noticed. Well of course he would notice. Jin Ling was more perceptive than he was normally given credit for. 

“Jingyi get into the shower.” Jin Ling pushed again. 

“What’s the rush it’s not like your…” he paused as it dawned on him why he kept pushing for him to get dressed. He quickly sat up. “...are you here?  Oh my god, please tell me you’re not here because of me?”

“I was craving chausson aux pommes.” Jing Ling chuckled.

“You’re not serious.” Jingyi asked, his tone incredulous. 

“I’ve gone to Japan for less.”

“For what?” 

“You’ll have to be dressed and ready to have breakfast with me to find out.” Jin Ling answered before hanging up. Jingyi sat there on his bed staring at his phone with his mouth gaping like a fish. He was like that for a few minutes before he got another text reminding him to shower. 

Jin Ling grinned as he laid the phone down on his desk in his office. He turned to look out at the view from his window. The view being one of the reasons he loved being at this branch. Memories of the past coming to him. He’d had a good time here and would be forever grateful to his jiujiu letting him come to this country. 

His phone gave off a bird’s tweeting sound. He reached for his phone seeing that it was an alert from Jingyi’s mother’s account. She was tweeting about some church in Germany. He rolled his eyes unfollowing her. Since he no longer needed to follow her account to see when they’d abandon Jingyi again. This would be the last time he’d let this happen.

He was glad that he’d heard Sizhui’s dad ranting to his husband about Jingyi’s parent’s habit of abandoning him. No matter the place. When he’d joined them for dinner the night before Jingyi’s flight. Wei Wuxian had vented that he was worried about the trip. That maybe they should go with him just in case. 

That’s when he made the decision to use his own jet to fly ahead to Paris after he’d taken Jingyi home. He wasn’t going to let him be stranded. Plus he knew that Jingyi’s parents had told Jingyi they’d use their private plan to bring him back to visit Lan Qiren from Sizhui. So, that night he told Jingyi that he’d be wrapped up in back to back meetings while he was gone. He’d felt guilty for lying at first but now he knew what he did was right. He looked up as Rayne stepped into his office breaking him from his thoughts. A folder in her hand. 

“Is everything ready?” He asked hand extending to take the folder. 

“Yes, sir.” She answered. 

“Good.” 

The two of them had a good breakfast together at the cafe. Jin Ling had looked really good when he’d arrived. His hair down and in a braid over his shoulder. The brown leather jacket over his white t-shirt and dark wash jeans with converses. The most dressed down he’d seen him in a while. He realized that he mostly seen the man in suits or gym clothes from going to the gym with his jiujiu or evening runs.

After breakfast, Jin Ling had taken him all over Paris sightseeing. It’d been fun but he knew it would have been even better if Fairy could have been with them. Which made him message Sizhui, who said he was the one watching the beautiful puppy while they were gone. 

“I’m so tired.” Jingyi yawned hours later, standing in front of his hotel room with Jin Ling. He’d honestly had a great day despite how it started. Jin Ling had given him the perfect distraction and treated him to great food all day.

“Well then go inside and get some sleep. I have some more places to show you tomorrow.” Jin Ling smiled tiredly at him. 

“Where are you staying?” Jingyi asked as it suddenly dawned on him Jin Ling had mentioned earlier. 

“I’m staying in the suite at the-“

“Don’t you dare say branch office. That’s just sad, A-Ling” Jingyi frowned with a sigh. 

“It’s just—“ Jin Ling stuttered at the nickname. 

“Across town and it’s almost midnight. You’re not going to drive across town to sleep at your work place. Just stay here with me. The bed is big enough for the both of us.“ Jingyi offered giving him, his best version of puppy eyes as he opened the door. A look he’d noticed worked on Jin Ling from him sometimes. He gripped Jin Ling’s wrist pulling him into the room before the other could turn for the elevators. 

“I’ll take the couch.” 

“Bed.” Jingyi countered pointing to the king sized bed that looked like it could sleep four people. “We are adults not animals.” 

“So what’s your excuse for sleeping on mine in my office at home?” Jin Ling asked, eyebrows raised playful in curiosity. 

“Oh you mean the cloud like crafted lounging place?” Jingyi asked, grinning because they both know the answer. 

“Yes.” 

“Simple. Because it actually comfortable. That thing is not comfy. Speaking from someone who knows.” Jingyi answered giving the couch a disgusted look. 

“Whatever, I think you need some sleep.” Jin Ling chuckled “Don’t you normally go to sleep around nine?” 

“Oh shush.” Jingyi playfully snapped as he went to the drawers of the dresser pulling out a pair of extra pajama pants and soft t-shirt to sleep in. He handed them to Jin Ling to be able to change into. So he wouldn’t have to sleep in his clothes he’d worn today. “Here, if you want to take a shower.” 

“Thanks”. Jin Ling said taking off his jacket, tossing over the arm of the couch before taking the clothes. 

He was perched on the edge of the bed flipping through the channels when Jin Ling stepped out of the bathroom. His felt his mouth run dry. Jin Ling had his hands up in his hair with the towel drying it. He was shirtless wearing the navy drawstring cotton pajama pants. Though, his golden eyes focused on purple the blooming lotus on his left sun kissed pec.  

“Uh the shirt didn’t fit.” Jin Ling said bringing his attention back to Jin Ling’s face,”So I left it in there for you.” 

“T-thanks.” Jingyi said snapping his mouth shut before tossing the remote on the bed. 

“Enjoy your bath.” Jin Ling called after him as he headed into the bathroom to shower. If he took a little longer than necessary he wasn’t going to explain himself.

When he finally emerged from the shower. Jin Ling had the television turned off, the curtains drawn, and laying on the side of the bed not directly underneath the vent. Jingyi watched the slow rise and fall of his chest. So, he assumed the other was asleep. 

He was wrong. 

“Are just going to stand there or are you going to come to bed?” Jin Ling asked, tone sluggish like he was about to actually fall asleep. 

“Uh...Yeah.” Jingyi said,  stumbling over his words as he headed to his side of the bed. He laid down on his side with his back facing Jin Ling. Just as he got comfortable and about to fall asleep when his phone vibrated. He opened his eyes to see the phone screen was lit up. Jingyi reached out grabbing his phone to check out who it was.  

The joy of the day slipping away like sand in an hourglass. The notification was from his mother’s instagram account. She was updating her account with pictures of her’s and his father’s vacation spots. And she posted a photo that she tagged him in. However, he wasn’t in the photo. He’d been cropped out and a filter with a frame added to hide it. Jingyi’s throat tightened as his heart ached with an all too familiar pain. He tossed his phone back onto his nightstand. Not caring when it slid off falling to the plush carpet floor. He rolled onto his back letting out a shuddering sigh as he stared up at the ceiling. Jingyi shut his eyes when he felt the familiar burn of tears threatening to form. 

“What’s wrong?” Jin Ling asked making Jingyi jump. Jingyi didn’t realize how close that the other man was. He opened his eyes, turning his head to find out that Jin Ling was an arms length away.

“N-nothing.” He replied,trying to keep the cracking out his voice, but he knew that he’d failed when he heard Jin Ling huff in disbelief. 

“What can I do?” Jin Ling asked sounding more awake than before. 

“Can I have a hug?” Jingyi asked after a few minutes of internal debate. 

Instead of answering him, Jin Ling moved closer before moving an arm over Jingyi’s stomach. Jin Ling gripped his side rolling him towards him. Jingyi allowed himself to the movement so that he was facing the other man. That same arm wrapping around him. He didn’t want to look the other in the eye. So he leaned down tucking his face into the crook of Jin Ling’s neck and shoulder as he wrapped an arm around Jin ling’s waist. Jin Ling pulled him closer leaving no space between. 

The scent of his soap on Jin Ling’s warm skin and Jin Ling’s hand gently rubbing his back lulling him to sleep before he can even thank him. Jin Ling smiled feeling the other fall asleep in his arms. He pressed a soft kiss to the top of Jingyi’s head before adjusting his arm to keep him close as he too let himself go to sleep. 

#walking into your heart au #jinyi #Jingyi always deserves better from his parents #jin ling #lan jingyi #wei Sizhui #the untamed #Sorry if there are any errors #I just hope that you enjoy it!

[onlyonewoman]

 Modern AU Lan Xichen sings along to this in the shower when he’s home alone and with a darn good singing voice too, I might add. He is, how ever worried anyone would hear him and is certain he’d never get over the embarressment. Unce Qiren once came by unexpectedly and spent exactly 16 horrifying seconds frozen on spot by the door wondering if Xichen’s home had been invaded by robbbers on ecstacy carrying soundtrack with them and then he heard the unmistakingly smoothe sound of his newphew’s “where there’s so much spaaace” and Lan Qiren is still getting occasional nightmares of his oldest Jade bewitched by this sorcery.  Wangji heard it once too, and after googling the lyrics in solitude and perhaps listening a little more to PSB:s songs than he’d planned, he stopped worrying about how brother would react to Wangji coming out of the closet. Wei Ying accidently found the song on Xichen’s playlist when the poor man was away shopping and had forgotten his phone at Wangji’s place and immediately put in on while dancing like a maniac and - actually not on purpose - turned Wangji on because hiprolls are hiprolls, after all. Xichen was very worried Meng Yao would find the song but then one morning when Xichen just came out of the shower (not singing), he stepped right out to the sight and sound of his boyfriend going all out sing-along dancing queen to it while making breakfast. Together! *grabbing the coffee pot* We will fly so high! *filling with water* Together! *pouring in the maker* Tell all our friends goodbye! *putting in the filter* Together! *adding the coffee while snapping hip to the right* We will start life new! *pressing the button* Together! *dramatic spin on the floor* This it what we’ll gonna do!  Together! *moving a chair* We will love the beach! *climbing up said chair to reach the coffee cups* Together! *elegant jump down* We will learn and teach! *putting cups on table, giving chair a butt with very juicy butt* Together! *dramatic hand gesture* Change our pace of life *opening fridge to take out congee* Together! *using soy milk carton as microphone* We will work and strive! *hip butting the frigde door close* I love you! *throwing kiss at picture of Xingchen on said door* I know you love me! *spinning around with spoons for congee* I want you! *suggestive hip roll*  How could I disagree? *dramatic back bend* So that's why! *grabbing knife* I make no protest! *playfully cutting fruit* When you say! *far too suggestive butt shaking* You will do the rest! *SQUEALS* because: Xichen has grabbed that juicy ass with force, turned his boyriend around and lifted him onto the counter, all but tearing that dressing gown off (knife safely chucked away) and even if literally none of them finds this song even remotely sexy, the fact that they just found out they both love it non-ironically is VERY sexy and they’re just disgustingly in love and they will sooo use this as their “exit from the altar” song during their wedding.

#lan xichen x meng yao #the hell is the shipname??? #lan xichen #meng yao #pet shop boys #cheezy boyfriends #modern au meta #sorry not sorry #but i couldn't let go of the mental image of meng yao making brekkie while swaying hips to this masterpiece #the untamed #not even remotely sorry #but still

[misaki-yunyun]

For @klashta-neali,

Xiyao

-Everything burnt down-- And Lan Xichen has ran away, leaving no explanation for his younger brother or uncle.

-Lan Xichen wasn't one to regret, but it pained him to remember that he left Lan Wangji to suffer alone (No, not alone, but Lan Qiren was far too strict on them even though Lan Xichen knew he genuinely cared for himself and his younger brother) as their home was burnt down.

-But then, even for the tragedy that happened to their home, escaping to Yunping was something he came to think as one of his best choices.

-Why? Because he met him there; a youth dressed in plain robes, a young, handsome and attractive face shining on him like the sun itself.

-Lan Xichen soon learned his name was Meng Yao (even though he was the one alongside his brother called The Twin Jades, the name ‘Jade’ was a fitting name for Meng Yao in his mind) and he helped him hide from the authorities in Yunping.

-Meng Yao lived and worked at the brothel there, and he seemed fearful if Lan Xichen would disapprove of him being at… such a ‘dirty’ place, specially because he was a cultivator, an immortal!

-But Lan Xichen didn't mind in the slightest, rather, he was worried that Meng Yao was helping him so much and he couldn't do much in return.

-Meng Yao was starry-eyed. Not only was he the most beautiful looking man he had ever met, but also the kindest.

-After being looked down at and belittled for so long for being a prostitute’s son, Meng Yao felt like Lan Xichen was a blessing from the heavens; he never once had even remotely treated him bad and genuinely saw him as an equal.

-For Meng Yao, that was the best reward he could ever ask for.

-(Albeit he had to admit Lan Xichen was rather useless in any kind of chores he tried help at. Meng Yao never thought someone could tear their own clothes accidentally through arm strength alone. But aside from that, he looked at everything with wonder at the Brothel, even at the simplest things, as if he never saw all that before.) (“Young Master--” “Please, you don't need to call me that. Meng Yao is more than enough.” “I find it disrespectful to not refer to someone who risked himself so much with equal respect, but if it is your wish, I won't question it. But, look at this comb I found isn't it pretty--”)

-(Of course, Lan Xichen returned it to its owner, a medium-ranking prostitute with light eyes and high cheekbones, but he was so impressed he just had to show it to Meng Yao, who was amused at this display of… child-like curiosity. He almost wondered if all the immortals were like that, but-- Lan Xichen was Lan Xichen, so of course he was who he was.)

-For Lan Huan, Meng Yao was someone to be admired, no matter the circumstances of his birth.

-He was a hard-working youth with bright eyes and a brilliant mind, someone that could see so much more than the dirty floor of the Brothel he had always to clean (not that Lan Xichen found it dishonorable by any means; Meng Yao was capable of things Lan Xichen couldn't and knew much, even if they were simply or meaningless in Meng Yao’s own opinion. But Lan Xichen had said that no knowledge was meaningless and Meng Yao become silent for a few moments, only to then smile and say he was right), and Lan Xichen wanted to help Meng Yao, not simply because he was indebted to him, but because he liked him.

-Lan Xichen liked, because how could he not? Meng Yao was gentle, kind, fierce, strong-willed and smart-- but it was not a friends or siblings’ like, no, it was different.

-His brotherly love for Lan Wangji was much stronger, he was his younger brother he watched grow up and cherished since an infant after all, but the feelings he had for Meng Yao were different, but no less beautiful.

-Lan Xichen found himself staring dreamily at Meng Yao’s face, when he washed clothes, or when was speaking, or when was smiling joyfully, or when he was laughing freely, rather than the reserved chuckle he normally used.

-Lan Xichen knew there was something… strange with this, at the way his eyes followed Meng Yao’s figure or when his eyes would became half-lidded in fondness as his cheeks would be dusted in a light pink.

-He didn't particularly care. If Meng Yao was the one, man or not, son of a prostitute or not, why should he push those feelings aside? He was more than glad in being a part of Meng Yao’s life, even if briefly, even if he would eventually just become just a memory.

-He didn't want to abandon Meng Yao, no, not at this point. But he would eventually have to, his Sect, his brother and uncle were waiting, after all.

-It hurt, to have to choose, but he had only been with Meng Yao for such a short time in his life (for he was a cultivator, and years were nothing than a small time, and so were months), and he had been at his Sect his whole life until then.

-Surely, Meng Yao knew this. But… did he notice his romantic feelings for him? Meng Yao was a perceptive person, after all.

-But Meng Yao ever did notice, then he never once spoke about it, always meeting his eyes in a lightly fashion and blinking, asking if there was something wrong.

-Lan Xichen would calmly smile and say no, there was nothing wrong.

-Accidentally taking a sip of a cup must have been a… bad idea, perhaps. The (in)famous Lan’s (almost non existent, to be entirely fair) tolerance to alcohol was inconvenient in a situation like that.

-Of course, Lan Xichen thought it was water, but even that was enough to make him drunk.

-It was night, stars shining brightly on the sky, moon round and silver as it gave its light to the darkest of the places.

-So, when Meng Yao walked in after a while and saw a dozing, oddly cheerful Zewu-Jun with fair cheek pink, he didn't held back his thoughts.

-“A-Yao…” “Zewu-Jun? Just what…?” “Don't worry!!! I am alright, alright!!!”

-To say Meng Yao was confused was a given, but soon his confusion turned in amusement.

-“Are you…” “Hey, hey!!! A-Yao, I think you're beautiful!!!” “... What did you say?”

-Meng Yao was fairly shocked, but not because of someone praising his looks (no, he was self-aware enough to know his face was handsome enough even if it didn't do much for him), but because Lan Xichen of all people said so. After all, no looks could ever surpass those of Zewu-Jun’s, surely, and why would he acknowledge it, at all?

-“You know, I really like you!!! I don't want to-- to leave you!!!” “Ah…” “Will A-Yao forgive me? Surely, someday, I will return to you, if I live--” “Don't say that. You will live.” “...Yes.”

-Lan Xichen suddenly looked strangely down. Meng Yao wondered if the alcohol was making him feel strange, because now he very sure the other was drunk, but... how much did he drank to reach this point…?

-The evening passed in silence, then, and Meng Yao helped Lan Xichen reach the bed.

-Meng Yao thought it better to not comment about the previous night when morning come and Lan Xichen woke, offering him some herbs to help with possible hangover.

-Lan Xichen smiled and said it was fine, but Meng Yao insisted.

- “Young Master Meng…” “I told you, Meng Yao is alright and---”

-Didn't you call me A-Yao last night?

- “???” “... No, it's nothing.” “By looking at your eyes, it doesn't seems to be nothing. Tell me, are we not friends?” “It’s…”

-Meng Yao shook his head.

- “Please, don't concern yourself over it, Zewu-Jun. It's nothing important, really.”

-Lan Xichen didn't look convinced (Meng Yao swore there was a hint of sadness in his eyes), but let it go, if just for now.

-“I thank you for all of your help and time, Youn- Meng Yao.” “No, I should be the one to thank you. All the time I spent with you is something I won't ever forget in this lifetime.”

-Lan Xichen smiled, eyelids lowering in half-fondness, half-sadness.

-“I am glad to have met you, Meng Yao.” “... Call me A-Yao.”

-Lan Xichen blinked, then looked back at the youth, hair half tied up in a ponytail (so short in comparison to Lan Huan’s own waist-length hair) and robes in the colors of plain brown and slight grimy white.

-Lan Xichen placed the smiled back on and walked towards Meng Yao, taking the other’s hands on his own two and covering them, almost in a confession-like fashion.

-“... A-Yao, meeting was like a blessing to me. Never I knew someone like you before and I won't know someone else in the future. I… have to leave now, but I will return to you, one day. So, for now, have this.”

-Lan Xichen placed a white jade stone on Meng Yao’s hands, then took one of his hand and covered the stone with it.

-“I am aware it is not much, but if you ever can, it will grant you passage to the Cloud Recess.”

-Lan Xichen helds the other hands tightly, shutting his eyes for a moment. Then, he let out a breath, smiling (always the friendly, approachable smile, but this time there was something different about it, something… more passionate), Lan Xichen brought Meng Yao’s hands to his lips, then kissed then tenderly.

- “A-Yao… I won't say those words now, but in the future, I promise I will pay you back.”

-Meng Yao’s eyes widened, and he could only observe as Lan Xichen slowly let go of his hands (calloused and somewhat rough from all the housework he did at the brothel), and turned on his heels, painfully slowly parting their ways then as Meng Yao could only watch Lan Xichen’s back, figure fading aways as he moved on.

-Meng Yao let one of his arms fall to his side, his other hand tightly gripping the stone Lan Xichen had gifted him with, but he smiled.

-Meng Yao raised the hand close to his chest, mumbling words only himself could hear then.

-“Zewu-jun, I am eternally grateful to meet you.”

-He was the reason he decided to ally himself to the QingheNie Sect and raise himself to become someone worthy to be with Lan Xichen, even if it just one of the reasons.

I hope you can enjoy it! ^^''

#xiyao #lan xichen #lan huan #meng yao #jin guangyao #misaki writes #headcanons #can it be considered so though #mdzs #mo dao zu shi #grandmaster of demonic cultivation #the grandmaster of demonic cultivation #founder of diabolism #i feel like it turned out more canon compliant tbh #i need to work on my writing huh

[antiquecompass]

Since Ao3 looks like it’s having some issues today, also posting my Day One ZhuiYi week Ficlet here.

Ficlet: Bigmouth Strikes Again from the To Celebrate a Simple Life post-canon collection

Many things had changed since that pivotal year when what was supposed to be a simple night-hunt at Mo Manor upended the entire Cultivation World. There were the obvious things, like the upheaval of the Cultivation Clans hierarchy; the changing of sect leaders; Hanguang-Jun becoming Chief Cultivator; the fall of the Jins and their rise again under Jin Ling’s (and Sect Leader Jiang’s) guidance.

And then there were the smaller things: marriages among their friends and fellow disciples; becoming senior disciples and having their own students; Zizhen also becoming a sect leader; Sizhui taking on more responsibilities as he became the official heir to Gusu Lan.

Some things hadn’t changed. Lan Jingyi was still deeply in love with his best friend. He was still afraid of ghosts. He was still punished like a Junior whenever Lan Qiren felt like it. (Or to use him as an example. By sheer repetition and practice, no member of Gusu Lan had perfected the ‘keeping the ends of their forehead ribbon off the ground while doing handstands and writing out their sect rules’ quite like Jingyi and Lan Qiren used his stance and stamina as a measurement to which all Juniors now aimed to achieve.) Senior Wei was still responsible for getting more rules added to the Wall of Discipline. There were still rabbits in the back hills and the Cloud Recesses remained a mostly tranquil place best suited for learning, music, and meditation.

There was one change that Jingyi absolutely despised. Because of Sizhui’s responsibilities, and because of Jingyi’s place as a Senior, their time spent together night-hunting had been cut down to nearly nothing. Jingyi honestly couldn’t remember the last time it had just been the two of them, or even the two of them leading a hunt of other disciples. He missed Sizhui, missed curling up next to him, stealing his body heat, sleeping under the stars. He missed their dinners in random taverns in the most remote corners of their world. He missed their secret moments in dark corners, soft touches and deep kisses exchanged during what little time they could find alone. He missed having someone at his back he absolutely trusted, who he could fight beside and know their movements would be equally matched, who he could communicate with and not say a word. He missed Sizhui’s musical speaking voice and commanding tone while barking out orders and those laughs he only reserved for Jingyi. He just missed him. 

Being stuck with Lan Qiang, of all other cultivators in their sect, didn’t help matters. They’d never gotten along. Lan Qiang had always been jealous of the fact that despite Jingyi’s lower marks, he was favored by their teachers. He’d often questioned why and how Jingyi maintained his close relationships with the elders of their clans. And his even closer relationship with Sizhui. 

It wasn’t Jingyi’s fault that Lan Qiren had adopted him as a sort of grandson after his parents died during the burning of the Cloud Recesses. It wasn’t his fault that his teachers had encouraged his blunt manner of speaking, citing the Lan Sect’s own principles that silence and  false modesty would go against Jingyi’s true nature and character. And it certainly wasn’t Jingyi’s fault that Sizhui had picked him as his friend back when they were small children. So Jingyi truly meant it when he said Lan Qiang was the most insufferable Lan to appear in at least six generations.

Jingyi considered his opinion sound, since no one, not even Zewu-jun himself, had ever disputed that claim.

“Maybe the Elders wanted him gone so they could finally discuss Sizhui finding a cultivation partner?” Lan Qiang loudly asked.

“Gossiping is forbidden,” Jingyi said, not taking his eyes away from the tree line in front of them.

“It’s not gossiping, it’s speculation. Sizhui is more than old enough, and it is normal to be concerned over the future of our sect.”

Sizhui already had a cultivation partner, or rather one impatiently waiting for their official wedding date. He was right here. Stuck in a forest. With an idiot and a gaggle of children.

Jingyi knew they should’ve eloped. 

“Pay less attention to your mouth and more attention to your ears,” Jingyi said. “We need to find out what’s causing the deaths among the villagers.”

In Jingyi’s opinion it was most likely an animal and not a ghost based on the injuries The townsfolk--and Lan Qiang--had insisted differently and now Jingyi was stuck in this forest on this absolute waste of time. Of course Jingyi’s sound advice, years of experience, and basic grasp of the fact ghosts didn’t impale people like boar’s tusks, was overridden by the fool leading this hunt with him.

Jingyi had a real fear he was going to die before he even got the chance to embrace Sizhui as his husband. And it would all be because a certain vocal group of clan elders continued to drag their feet and punish Sizhui for being born a Wen and refusing to abandon his only living blood relative and Jingyi for being born Jingyi. 

A loud growl sounded from the west.

“I told you it was a demon,” Lan Qiang said.

“You said it was a ghost,” Jingyi said. He pulled out Senior Wei’s newest version of his compass. It revealed nothing. 

“Defective,” Lan Qiang said with a sniff. 

Sizhui made him promise not to start any fights in front of the Juniors. Not when they were so close to getting that certain group of elders to cave. Jingyi was to stay on his very best behavior.

Another growl. One that sounded distinctly like a boar and not a ghost or demon or fierce corpse.

“That way,” Lan Qiang said, sword already out, leading the group directly into what was probably the poor animal’s den.

Jingyi took a deep breath, resigned himself to the future injury he knew was coming, and followed them if only to save the fools from themselves.

**********

“Jingyi, you’re bleeding!”

Sizhui’s shocked voice was nearly as loud as the sound the doors had made when Jingyi shoved them open.

Yes, yes he was bleeding. He’d bled on the forest floor. And he’d bled flying on his sword back to the Cloud Recesses. And he’d bled on the mountain path and the entire walk to the conference chamber. He’d bled on every single night-hunt since he’d been separated from Sizhui, and while he’d gladly bleed for Sizhui until there was nothing left in him, he wouldn’t do the same for Lan Qiang and his merry band of Junior idiots.

Lan Jingyi was done.

“Yes, yes I am,” Jingyi said, not caring how shocked and outraged some of the elders looked. “Because, once again, even though I’ve requested not to be paired with disciples who have no practical working knowledge of the world, I was sent off with someone who should never leave the Library Pavilion. Because, once again, my orders were dismissed by an arrogant little fu--”

“Jingyi,” Sect Leader Lan warned.

“Apologies, Zewu-jun,” he said, bowing his head. “My experience was dismissed by a certain disciple who needs to relearn a few of our more valued lessons. Such as listening to those with more experience in a dangerous situation.” He cut his eyes to the small group of thrice-damned elders. “Still, none of this would happen if I was no longer separated from my cultivation partner.”

Sizhui pressed a hand to his side, using his energy to stop the bleeding.He nodded at Jingyi’s words. “We’ve been patient waiting for you to pick the date of the ceremony,” he said. He raised his head, voice and eyes gone cold. “We will follow the examples of our direct elders if one is not agreed upon soon.”

A rumble of disagreement came from the group of the elders responsible for holding up their public, official, marriage ceremony for so long. 

Sizhui and Jingyi had been respectful. They’d been patient. But at this rate, Jingyi really would be dead before he could even enjoy his marriage bed.

Lan Qiren held up his hands to silence the room. “We will not have an elopement again,” he said, eyes cutting to both of his nephews.

Zewu-jun gave his typical serene smile. “As stated before, I did not elope, just married in the manner of the Jiang sect.”

“Alone,” Lan Qiren said.

“Jin Ling was present,” Zewu-jun argued.

Lan Qiren turned to the grumbling elders. “Pick a date. The invitations will go out tomorrow.” His eyes turned to the open doors of the chamber. “Since our entire sect now knows.”

Jingyi turned around and found a group of slack-jawed Juniors staring at them.

He turned back to Sizhui. “I swear that was not my intention.”

“I already told my fathers that if they seperated us on one more night-hunt I was kidnapping you.”

“I offered to help,” Senior Wei said. 

“No more elopements,” Lan Qiren repeated. He nodded at Jingyi. “You are dismissed. Sizhui, tend to his wounds. And send in Lan Qiang.”

“Gladly,” Jingyi muttered. Despite it all he still gave his elders a respectful bow.

He leaned on Sizhui, ignored the shocked Juniors, smirked at a stammering Lan Qiang, and held his head high as they left the conference chamber.

“Is that a boar?” Sizhui asked.

“I offered to leave it with the villagers, but they insisted we take it as payment. I made the kids carry it back,” Jingyi said. “Damn thing almost ran me through.”

“It didn’t?” Sizhui asked. “Then why are you bleeding?”

“Because Lan Qiang doesn’t know how to use his sword.” He laughed. “In more ways than one, I’m certain.”

“Jingyi!” Sizhui chastised, but Jingyi knew his Sizhui well. He could hear the laughter in his voice. He brought Jingyi to their chambers; the two rooms had once been divided, but with Zewu-jun’s pointed helpful comments and official permission, they had long ago removed the wall between them.

“Sizhui,” he said as he watched him prepare their bath.

“Yes?”

“We’re finally getting married.”

Sizhui paused and then looked at him, his beautiful face overtaken by a blinding smile. “Yes, yes we are.”

“I love you,” Jingyi said.

Sizhui came to him, arms outstretched, and carefully pulled him into a kiss. “I would hope so. Now that everyone in the sect knows.”

“I didn’t mean to,” Jingyi said.

“You never do,” Sizhui said. He led him to the tub. “Now, come here. Let me properly see to that wound. You’re not dying on me now.”

#long post #fandom: the untamed #fic: to celebrate a simple life #zw2019 #sort of double posting here since the ao3 link is on the other post #my ridic writing