#jiang-zongzhu i think

[stiltonbasket]

Jiang Cheng is advising lxc on having a chaos bao? All of his experience with small Jin Ling has given him a lot of experience, and JueYing is driving lxc to distraction.

Jin Ling's chaos is very different from Jueying's, so Jiang Cheng tries to give Lan Xichen advice...and then goes "Oh No" because Lan babies on a rampage are nothing like baby Jiangs. D:

#asks #jc just goes ah yes! i can help! #lan wangji aka former chaotic lan baby: That Is What You Think Jiang-zongzhu #meanwhile wwx is blissfully feeding chickens with bee baby xiao-yu #and little orchid bao a-lan in her tiny swaddle on his back #chaos is coming to the wangxian household but not just yet ouo

[evakant]

obsessed with the seating arrangement <3

#today on things francesca decides to focus on instead of making the gifset she opened the episode for #untamed.txt #i had to cut out nie zongzhu very sorry beloved but this is not about you #you wouldn't think i make gifs/use photoshop by how i cut this one screenshot uh? lmao so grainy. this so bad #jiang cheng #lan wangji #lan xichen #wei wuxian #fra.txt

[sandumilfshou]

i love the idea of thinking about how much the disciples of yunmeng jiang love and respect their leader, the terrifying sandu shengshou that they are proud to serve under. the sect leader who was only a teenager when he had to take over in the middle of a war with only burned shells of buildings remaining, who built up the sect again with his bare hands (in some places literally, standing side-by-side with the disciples and local carpenters with a hammer in his hand, stripped to his skin and sweating alongside them), who successfully maintained the great sect name of yunmeng jiang despite having to raise it entirely from a burned husk.

jiang cheng who knows every single one of his disciples because he picked them up off the street and from villages they rescued from the wen and those who came to petition to be allowed to fight alongside them. disciples that jiang cheng trained personally in between skirmishes and battles during the sunshot campaign, who knows about all of their family members and hobbies and likes and dislikes, and personally trained some bad habits out of them.

and jiang cheng is oblivious to the fact that every single yunmeng jiang disciple would die for him, who are fiercely loyal and protective, who keep a sharp ear and eye out for anyone who might speak about sandu shengshou unpleasantly

all of the yunmeng townsfolk smiling at how the disciples follow their sect leader like little ducklings, how the disciples giggle when slj snaps and gets all angry because they know hes doing it from a place of protectiveness, know how hard jiang-zongzhu fights and has fought to keep them alive

i just. love jiang cheng earning the love and devotion of all his disciples to the point that he doesnt even know how much they love him

#mdzs #cql #the untamed #jiang cheng #sandu shengshou #jiang wanyin

[esoteric-oracle]

//long rambles ahead!

I think what really lingers with me about MDZS is that it's not a novel with a cathartic ending at all. It's a bittersweet story that leaves you slightly hollow. Yes, it's a beautiful and epic romance. It's a piece of social commentary interwoven with a love story and murder mystery. It's a cautionary tale. But it is also very much a tragedy. It's a story about being too late, second chances, and moving on.

By the time the truth of everything JGY and JGS did comes to light, it's 13 years too late. Everything that mattered has already happened. Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan are long dead. Jin Ling is still an orphan. Wen Ning is dead, and sometime in the future, his death will be permanent. Wen Qing was burned to death at the stake for no fault of her own. Nie Mingjue has already spent ten years in a no-doubt agonizing state of un-death, and Lan Xichen will have to bear the guilt of loving both Nie Mingjue and Jin Guangyao, and by doing so, forsaking them both. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng's once-close bond is irrevocably broken, and the woman who sowed the seeds of resentment when they were still children will never face the consequences of her vitriol.

People sometimes say MXTX was too hard on the side characters, and only gave the Wangxian a happy ending, but what stuck with me after finishing the story is how… sad things are. Yes, Wangxian finally get the happy ending they've deserved for nearly 20 years - but at the same time, it's not a happy ending where the people who've wronged them get the consequences they deserve.

Wei Wuxian will spend the rest of his life haunted by guilt and loss, over what happened to Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan, over the loss of the Wen remnants. The rest of his years won't even be lived in the body his parents gave him.

Lan Wangji will spend the rest of his years wondering if he'd chosen to stand with Wei Wuxian when it mattered - would his son have had to grow up without his birth family?

Nie Huaisang is left wondering if his brother had been a little less trusting and had never taken Meng Yao in as a Nie deputy, would his brother have died a less wretched death? Would he have been forced to stoop to ruthless machinations and manipulations to seek some semblance of justice?

Wen Ning will have to live with the knowledge that if he'd been a little less kind, if he'd let Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng die that fateful day - his family would still be alive. The Wens would've won the war; Wen Qing might've even succeeded Wen Ruohan.

No one really gets the ending they deserve. MDZS isn't a story where good people get happy endings, and bad people get their dues. Sure, Jin Guangyao's crimes are revealed and he faces the consequences of his actions. But what about the people who stood by and made him into a monster? If anything, the side characters and antagonists who survive get better than they deserve. The real villain of MDZS - society - will never face retribution. Those cultivators who always believed in their own bigotry and righteousness over and over again, will never face justice.

Do you think those cultivators and the public will ever feel any regret for the innocent people they condemned to death in their own prejudice and blind self-righteousness? Do you think the people who gathered at Nightless City to call for Wei Wuxian's death considered for one second that he was the biggest reason they won the war? When the cultivators who sacked the Wen settlement at the Burial Mounds threw the bodies of the Wens into the blood pool, do you think that was a sign of shame?

Do you think Jiang Cheng will ever regret leading a siege on a small settlement of innocent farmers? Do you think he's haunted by condemning to death the same people whom he owes his life to?

Do you think those people like Yao-zongzhu will ever feel an ounce of remorse for so easily believing rumours and hearsay, and spreading speculation and vitriol about innocent people?

Do you think that unnamed cultivator out there will ever lose a single minute of sleep over smashing in Wen Popo's head?

In the years that follow, Wen Ning will have apologized a hundred times for lives he did not take, crimes he did not commit, because of the name he bears. People, both in-universe, and even readers, will condemn him for actions he could not help, for doing the right thing. But did Jiang Cheng ever apologize for killing his family? Did the Jins ever apologize for their horrific treatment of people in the labour camps?

People will continue to demand that Wei Wuxian apologize for causing the deaths of their friends and family. But how is Wei Wuxian meant to do that? No one ever apologized to him for taking his family away. No one ever apologized for condemning the Wen Remnants to death for crimes they took no part in. The Wens were his family too.

There's so much potential for bitterness and corruption in MDZS. Instead of saving everyone, Wei Wuxian could've stood aside and let the people who tried to kill him die. MDZS could've been a story of succumbing to hatred and grief, but it wasn't. MXTX could've gone on and on about how society wronged the protagonist, but she didn't. The narrative is one of forgiveness and moving beyond past grievances. The story chose to close the story on a positive note. I truly love that aspect of MDZS, where MXTX leaves just enough room for hope and love at the end.

A-Yuan will finally get his closure about the family he lost as a toddler. Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian get their happy ending together after being separated by nearly two decades by war, miscommunication, cruelty, and death.

Wei Wuxian will never regret protecting survivors of an attempted genocide, because it was the right thing to do.

And Wen Ning will still stand in the way and take a fatal blow meant for Jin Ling, despite everything the Jins and Jiang Cheng did to the people he loved.

Because they chose love. Characters like Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning and Lan Wangji have the chance to move on and live a happier life because when they could've succumbed to hurt and fury and resentment, they chose to be kind and do the right thing. Wangxian get their happy ending because they learn to recognize the toxicity of the cultivation society's self-cannibalizing prejudice, and chose to pursue righteousness above personal benefit.

MDZS isn't a story about good people getting good things. Just look at what happened to Xiao Xingchen. There's really nothing satisfying or cathartic about everyone's fates at all. There's no promise about society facing the consequences of their mob mentality or Wangxian actually changing the world together. Even in TGCF, for all its makings of a love story, we get the promise of societal change once Jun Wu is deposed.

It has all the makings to be a tragedy or tale of vengeance of epic proportions - but instead, it's a love story. It's a story about making the best of what you've got, and staying true to yourself and your morals, even if that's sometimes a bitter pill to swallow. It's a story where everything that could go wrong went wrong, but the characters still managed to fight their way to a better ending by choosing kindness. At its core, MDZS is a testament to choosing compassion over cruelty no matter how tragic and hopeless life gets, no matter how long the journey gets. Even though the happy ending is more personal and only applies to the specific characters, even though we don't actually get the promise of their society becoming a better place - we still have the hope that Wei Wuxian's second chance brings. The hope that sometimes, no matter how cruel the world is, some people who deserve it still get their happy endings. That's what makes MDZS such a memorable work of art. That's why it stays with you.

#mdzs #wei wuxian #lan wangji #nie huaisang #jiang cheng #wen ning #musings #Can you tell I really love the narratives MDZS took? #tragedies #mdzs thoughts

[roxiusagi]

Sangcheng week Day 1 - Occasions

🪷 While a cultivation conference was being held in Yunmeng Jiang, the Jiang-zongzhu and Nie-zongzhu rested together. In the morning, Jiang-zhonghzu would cut off the sleeve of his robes, so as not to rouse his resting lover, not knowing that said man would flaunt the piece later for all to see. 🪷

lol this was supposed to a proper two-parter to tie in the point together more clearly and all but...... i just didn't feel like finishing this part ngl so all you get is a sketch hjdsh

also dont think too hard about why would JC go to the conference in the ruined robes or why didn't he take them off in the first place when going to sleep or how did NHS manage to get it together so quickly just. don't worry about that ok. plot convenience jfhkd

close-ups of the girlies. yes lines only cuz im lines lover and colours hater (more like failure lol dfhkjh)

OH YEA BTW for those who dont know ye this is obvs a reference to the emperor Ai of Han and the whole cutsleeve thing lol

#my art #sangcheng #sangcheng week 23 #sangcheng week 2023 #nie huaisang #jiang cheng #btw this is meant to be when theyre not rly being public and the others at the conference arent rly catching on #except for jin ling lmao hes like hold on a minute aint that yours- hfdjk #so its meant as more like. an inside joke between them more than public spectacle #but you can interpret it however you like :)

[spriteofmushrooms]

Lan Xichen loves his brother.

Meters away, Jiang Wanyin bends forward slightly to brush off the shoulder of one of his junior disciples. "Pan Fu, is this how you intend to meet Lan-laoshi?"

"No, zongzhu," the boy responds, all sweetness. His eyes are brightly innocent, which in a YunmengJiang disciple is a sure sign of mischief. Lan Xichen wonders if the junior intentionally rubbed dirt on his robes; affection for Jiang Wanyin seems to lead the afflicted down strange paths.

From Lan Xichen's side, jade creaks against metal in Wangji's grip.

Lan Xichen loves his brother. He does. However, he wishes Wangji was not here to greet the YunmengJiang disciples for the lectures.

As Jiang Wanyin straightens, the breeze catches his violet ribbons, ends fluttering near his waist. "GusuLan has expectations that you will all meet. Their methods are different than ours, and you will master them." He pauses, turning his head to meet the gazes of the whole group; his ribbons slide against his neck with the movement. "Am I understood?"

Some youths elbow each other and others giggle, but they all say, "Yes, zongzhu!"

"Disgraceful," Wangji whispers.

Jiang Fengmian had never escorted his juniors to the lectures. Why did Jiang Wanyin? Just to torment Lan Xichen? It seems unnecessary.

Jiang Wanyin's posture softens. Don't, Lan Xichen thinks wildly, but as usual his pleas go unheard. "Their food is also different, but they will feed you well. Don't go without because it's unfamiliar; although it takes time to adjust, be patient and eat well."

"Zongzhu, what if we're really hungry?" asks one of the girls. "Shen-shijie said they don't eat any meat at all, and she could barely stand without fainting!"

"Liang Min, how many times has Shen Yuxi tried to scare you and laughed when it worked? Each of you will get a small allowance for Caiyi Town each week"--several of the juniors whoop, but they quiet with grins when Jiang Wanyin turns to glare at them--"provided Lan-laoshi has no complaints of your behavior. Do not bring meat into Cloud Recesses, and under no circumstances are you to hunt or fish within their grounds."

One of the taller boys says, "Did anyone break the rules when you were here?"

"Yes," Jiang Wanyin says quellingly. "They regretted it."

The disciples look between each other, and Lan Xichen can tell that once again YunmengJiang disciples will test shufu's patience.

With a nod, Jiang Wanyin turns magnificently and starts walking toward the stairs, only to stop when he notices them. "Zewu-jun, Hanguang-jun," he greets with a bow.

One of his inner layers is bridal green¹. Bridal green. The hissed breath from Lan Xichen's side is, frankly, perfectly reasonable. Bridal green. Certainly, it's a fetching combination with violet and black, but does Jiang Wanyin not consider Lan Xichen at all when he makes his sartorial choices?

Lan Xichen returns the greeting while Lan Wangji burns quietly beside him.

Jiang Wanyin's eyes flick to Wangji and then, as if resigned to Wangji's rudeness, return to Lan Xichen. "I hope we weren't in your path?"

Lan Xichen smiles, although he can tell it isn't his best effort. "Wan--we wanted to walk up the mountain with you and your disciples."

With a polite acceptance, Jiang Wanyin moves to Lan Xichen's other side. When they move to walk together, though, Wangji stays put, only to follow immediately behind Jiang Wanyin.

When he was still a boy, Lan Xichen had made a habit of counting each stair any time he went up or down the mountain. He knows the number perfectly. Now, however, with Wangji hounding Jiang Wanyin, it feels as though there must be twice as many stairs as usual.

¹ Tang Dynasty brides wore green, which I think is very pretty and have decided to use for my mdzs works.

@runespoor7, I hope you enjoy what your comment and earlier ficlet inspired!

#pallas.rtf #mdzs #my writing #zhancheng

[bishy437]

Hii! I have been thinking about it for some time, but how would Sangcheng propose (Of they wanted to)? Who would propose to who and how?

Personally I think that maybe Huaisang would propose to Jiang Cheng by opening a fan which says marry me. But what do you think?

hello! ur idea is rlly adorable so i had to doodle it :'(

nhs: pls say yes or i'll cry jc: u idiot we r in public?!! answer is below cut! :

sooo i think this isn't an either or thing; i can see both of them proposing. I see nhs being sneaky and taking a practical approach like: *writes out an entire document highlighting the advantages of their union* "look at all the benefits of a marriage between us, Jiang-zongzhu!" when really he just loves jc and doesn't want anyone else to have him. He'd probably go to extreme lengths with a dowry or something to that effect to appeal towards jc's proper/businessy attitude. be on his best behaviour. for jc, i can see him taking nhs somewhere special to him in LP and asking him there. Maybe he commissioned a fan for him, (or maybe he tried his hand at painting one himself??) Pours his heart out to nhs, holds back a few tears and, "come live with me here at Lotus Pier" I could also see him syncing zidian to nhs after he agrees to the proposal 🥺

Edit: oooh also i see Jc making a clarity bell for nhs and presenting it to him ☺️

#answered #queenie199

[jiangwanyinscatmom]

I think it's interesting that everyone in MDZS never calls Jiang Cheng his milk name nor courtesy name, excluding Wei Wuxian, unless it's pointedly needed. There is something deeply depersonalized with how they choose to use Zongzhu, sect leader, a position before being known as a person. It very much does show how he is friendless and isolated from listening to others or making actual relationships out of his own dislike for most things and people. And they know it that they're able they able to get away with showing him the most bare and superficial "respect" because he doesn't care unless it's shallow enough to please him on a surface level.

#mdzs #mo dao zu shi

[wangxianficrecs]

💙 break by justdoityoufucker (orphan_account)

💙 break

by justdoityoufucker (orphan_account)

T, 2k, Wangxian

Summary: Wen Ning doesn’t hear everything, not at first. He can tell that Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao are speaking, within the temple complex, but he cannot get the specifics of what the men are saying until he presses himself closer to the rear walls. - Or, Wen Ning listens in. Kay's comments: What I love about Wen Ning as a character is that he's literally a sweet cinnamon roll, too good for this world too pure, but if you mess with Wei Wuxian, you should sleep with one eye open. Relateable king. In this story, it's Lan Xichen who messes with Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning is around to hear it aka the character assassination of Lan Xichen we all deserved. Also, rest in pieces Jin Guangyao. Also, also, another Wen Ning hit against Jiang Cheng that just hits right. Excerpt: “With the ways in which he looked and talked to you when he saved you and hid you in that cave, even someone who was blind or deaf could perceive his feelings, which was why my uncle was in such anger. Wangji was a model for the disciples when he was young, and a prominent cultivator when he grew up. In his whole life he had been honest and righteous and immaculate—you were the only mistake he made! And you say—and you say you do not know. Wei-gongzi, after you returned like this, how did you pester him and confess to him? Every night…every night, you had to—and you say you do not know? If you did not know, why did you do such things?” Suddenly, Wen Ning cannot continue to stand idly by. That Lan-zongzhu would blame Wei-gongzi for Lan-er-gongzi's actions— —oh, he has only felt this angry twice, the first when they killed a-jie in front of him, the second only the night before when Jiang Wanyin also had the audacity to blame Wei-gongzi for things he could not control.

pov wen ning, canon divergence, guanyin temple scene, bamf wen ning, protective wen ning, good friend wen ning, love confessions, pov outsider on lan wangji/wei wuxian

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

#Wangxian Fic Rec #The Untamed #Wangxian #MDZS #Kay's Favorite #Kay's Rec #February 2024 #break #justdoityoufucker (orphan_account) #teen #short fic <15k #pov wen ning #canon divergence #guanyin temple scene #bamf wen ning #protective wen ning #good friend wen ning #love confessions #pov outsider on lan wangji/wei wuxian #wen ning

[viterbofangirllovestheuntamed]

why just say the jiang have an unnatural tolerance for spice? why not all flavor? Poisonously bitter, super sour, ultra sweet, the burn of the strongest alcohol, the jiang adore the extremes of flavor and still have very discerning palates and people with iron stomachs are WIMPS compared to the stomach resilience of the jiang, it wasn't on purpose but a true jiang is next to impossible to poison (which definitely helped Jin Ling when he's in Koi Tower)

Despite knowing that they were in the deepest, most isolated safe room in Koi tower, Jin Guangtong couldn't help keeping his voice low. "Thank you for meeting us here. Your... services are greatly appreciated, we assure you."

His fellow conspirators ducked and bowed their heads in agreeing acknowledgements, which went ignored by their guest who sprawled on his cushion like a drunken commoner. "Glad to be here," he grinned, vaguely sarcastic. "What services did you have in mind, exactly?"

"The new Jin-zongzhu." Jin Guangtong didn't think beating around the bush would get them anywhere.

Their guest---blast the man for refusing to give his real name---blinked. "Wow, I didn't think you Jin were capable of being that direct. You want the brat snuffed, eh? Not gonna just use him as your figurehead? Seems like that'd be more your type of thing. What, did his spirit dog shit in your shoes or something?"

The handful of other nobles around the table started blurting out their complaints, heedless of order or dignity. "He's punishing bribery!" "Had my nephew executed for a harmless bit of fun with a servant girl!" "He's auditing the tax collection!"

Jin Guangtong cleared his throat. "The brat is, unfortunately, intractable. Comes from being raised by that asshole of an uncle in Yunmeng. I'm afraid the boy is... idealistic and unwilling to adapt to the realities of ruling such a large and complex network such as Lanling Jin."

Their guest nodded pensively, scratching at his jaw. "I can see your problem. I've got one more question, though. Not to be ungrateful for your admittedly generous payment offer, but why not do it yourself?"

"His lineage is extremely strong," Jin Guangtong sniffed. "The highest pedigree, which means that his golden core is exceptionally strong."

"Plus he's been trained by that paranoid maniac since he was toddling around that backwater swamp," someone to his left muttered.

Jin Guangshan threw a quelling glare over his shoulder, though of course, they had a point. Jiang Wanyin's training had been rigorous to the extreme due to both his and his nephew's insistence that the latter be able to wield the formidable Jin Zixuan's sword when he came of age. And since Rulan would be unlikely to match the sword's strength at first, those Yunmeng bastards had taught him to be deadly with a bow. Because apparently there was no kill like overkill at Lotus Pier.

And speaking of overkill. "We in Lanling Jin are certainly not... unfamiliar with poisons. However, between the strength of the boy's core and the inevitable wrath of Sandu Shengshou, it is imperative that the poison be untraceable as well as effective. Preferably something innocuous that can be chalked up as a tragic accident. A food he is allergic to, perhaps."

Their guest barked out in laughter. "Wait! Wait a minute... you said the kid was raised in Yunmeng, right? And you think he has a food allergy?!"

Jin Guangtong drew himself up in irritation, unnoticed by the cackling man in front of him. "I don't see why not! In fact, noble though our lineage is, our blood has always had a weakness to-"

"Look, look, I understand where you're coming from, I do!" the mysterious man wheezed. "It's just... well, I've spent some time in Yunmeng. In fact, I've even known some Jiang disciples. Frankly, I'm not sure anyone from Lotus Pier can be poisoned!"

"Ridiculous!" another voice scoffed.

"Look," their guest continued, still trying to contain giggles. "The only region that can even compare to Yunmeng for spice is Meishan, and the ruling family of Lotus Pier is half Yu. The whole sect is used to a flavor profile that could kill a Lan at fifty paces, and that's not even taking into account the dares."

Jin Guangtong blinked. "Dares?"

"Oh yeah," their guest drawled, somehow managing to lounge even more. "Those Rangers are insane. The butcher sect might run their people through a crazy level of training, but nothing and no one can survive crazy like a Jiang. They don't even train for it- it's just how they live. Those bastards challenge each other to lick poisoned toads for fun! They will eat anything that comes from the river, no matter how disgusting! And don't even get me started on the so-called 'twelve-day rule'..."

Jin Guangtong decided he didn't want to know. "But surely, as the Jin heir, Sandu Shengshou wouldn't have allowed-"

"Sandu Shengshou?" their guest scoffed. "The man who cobbled together then had to feed an army of massacre survivors and rogue cultivators? The man who spent the first decade of his rule rebuilding his home from a few burnt sticks poking out of---how'd you describe it?---a backwater swamp? The man with the bottomless stomach? Seriously-" he added, abandoning his slouch to stab an emphatic finger into the table. "That man can pack it away like nobody's business. I think his fucking legs are hollow or something...

"Anyway," he continued, lounging once more. "The point is that Sandu Shengshou's perception of what is and isn't edible is... flexible. Especially knowing his shixiong's penchant for supposedly intolerable amounts of chilies."

"Then how do you plan on killing Jin Rulan?" Jin Guangtong spat, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

"Oh, I'm not planning on killing Jin Rulan," their guest grinned, still scratching at his jaw. "I'm planning on killing you!"

Then his scratching fingers began pulling his own face off.

Jin Guangtong and his conspirators all recoiled in horror, a horror that increased one hundred-fold when their guest's discarded face revealed the damnable visage of Yiling Laozu himself!

The reborn master of demonic cultivation twirled the grotesque false face around on his finger. "Neat trick, isn't it? Picked it up from Xue Yang, of all people. Ah well; genius comes in all forms. Now!" He leveled a sinister smile at the gathered men as he raised a black flute to his lips. "Raise your hand if you wanted my beloved nephew dead!"

_____________________

Eventually, the screams faded away into gurgling, then silence. Jiang Cheng nursed a bottle of wine as he leaned against the secret meeting room's door, still glowing purple from his sealing spell. Some of those fuckers had really made a go at it, but none of these lazy Jin were a match for his own spiritual power.

After the silence reigned for a few moments, the wood against his back rattled with a brief knock as his brother's cheerful voice echoed out. "It's done, Jiang Cheng! You can let me out now!"

Jiang Cheng took another lazy swig. "What's the password?"

"Jiang-zongzhu is a little crybaby bitch who can't put his shoes on correctly," Wei Wuxian's voice snarked back, sounding decidedly annoyed.

"Nope, that's not it," Jiang Cheng answered, wiggling the bottle so that the sloshing liquid was audible. "Damn, this really is good wine."

"Jiang Cheeeeennnnnnggggg," Wei Wuxian whined from the other side. "You're so meeeeeaaaaaan! Making me do all the hard work-"

"You wouldn't let me kill them, you bastard! Said I had to keep my own hands clean even though they where plotting against my-"

"-while you lounge around drinking Lotus Pier's finest wine like a mean meanie who's mean!"

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes so hard he was pretty sure he got a good look at his own brain. "Gods, you really are three years old, aren't you..."

"Let me out, you asshole! You know my core isn't strong enough just yet!"

He considered the wine bottle in his hand. "Say that Yunmeng wine is better than Emperor's Smile."

A scandalized gasp sounded from behind the door. "You wouldn't!"

"What's the problem? It's true," Jiang Cheng shrugged.

"But Emperor's Smile is so delicate!" Wei Wuxian protested. "It's the perfect balance of-"

"Well I guess I'll just go and find someone who does appreciate Yunmeng wine..."

"Okay, fine! Bastard. Fine, Yunmeng wine is better than Emperor's Smile!"

Smirking, Jiang Cheng released the seal on the door. Wei Wuxian stumbled out of the room that now stank of blood and excrement. Jiang Cheng amiably held out an untouched bottle, which his brother grabbed eagerly.

The deviant spilled half the fucking bottle down his chin as the other half went down his gullet, but smacked his lips like a satisfied toddler. "Hits the spot," he crooned. Mischievous eyes locked with his. "Emperor's Smile is still better, though."

Jiang Cheng snorted. "Traitor."

"Barbarian," Wei Wuxian retorted loftily.

The two bothers clinked their bottles together and took simultaneous sips.

#lanling jin #wei wuxian #jiang cheng #jin ling #MOD'S STUFF #asks #prompts #ASK THE MOD #reconciliation fic #post canon #I'M BAAAAAAAACK! Real life has been nuts and a half but things are finally settling down so I'm trying to get back to my beloved hellsite! #UNHINGED YUNMENG DISASTER BOIS

[stiltonbasket]

prompt for the fem!wwx au: what about the fallout of jyl's broken engagement?

On the morning of Wei Wuxian's first day back at Lotus Pier, she wakes to the sound of raised voices in the audience room.

Squinting against the light, she stumbles out of bed and opens the sliding door to the corridor outside, where she finds Jiang Cheng hovering on the threshold of his own doorway with his arms folded over his chest.

"What's wrong?" she yawns, rubbing her eyes. "Is it bad news?"

"Bad news for Mother," Jiang Cheng mutters. "Fuqin just told her about A-Jie's engagement."

Wei Wuxian feels as if someone had thrown cold water over her. In the midst of her private delight that Shijie's betrothal had ended, she had not thought of how Madam Yu would take the news: and now, both she and Jiang Cheng are about to find out.

"Did Jiang-shushu tell Auntie that I..."

Jiang Cheng shakes his head. "No. I don't think it would have made much of a difference, but Father didn't say a word."

They tiptoe across the narrow bridge between the family compound and the audience chamber, hardly daring to breathe; and then, like a firework bursting on a dark, still night, they hear Madam Yu's shrill voice rising over Jiang Fengmian's.

"Who will she marry now?" she shouts. "Ouyang-zongzhu has no children, and all the other men in the Jin clan take after Jin Guangshan. How can I let her go to Lanling without Yuyan's protection?"

"I thought perhaps Lan Xichen might—"

"I knew it. You've had your eye on him since the year Zixuan was born, but that boy will do no good to any woman as a husband!" shrieks Madam Yu. "He has had no one but Nie Mingjue in his eyes since he was a child. What will become of our daughter now, Jiang Fengmian? Zixuan was the only man who might have suited her, the only one—and now, just because he complained about the betrothal, you—"

She takes in a great, heaving breath, and Wei Wuxian hears the thud of her heeled boots striking the floor.

"And now, thanks to you," she chokes, "I will have to watch as Wei Ying marries Lan Wangji—" Wei Wuxian winces, "—and as she becomes mother to the next Lan-zongzhu, whilst my child must settle for the heir to some backwater clan in Changlun, or a commoner—"

Jiang-shushu sighs.

"If I had not broken Yanli's engagement," he says quietly, "then you would have had to watch A-Ying live as she ought to do, in comfort and plenty with a husband who cares for her dearly, while our daughter lived in a gilded prison with a man who has made no secret of the fact that the very mention of her name is a burden to him. You would have watched A-Ying's children growing up without a care in the world, and A-Ying adored by the whole of Gusu Lan as she deserves—and all the while, our daughter, who used to weep whenever she trod on an insect in the path, she—"

He sounds as if he might burst into tears. "Could you bear it, Ziyuan? Can you bear to think of A-Li's children, growing up in Koi Tower, and hearing some relation from the branch clan saying that their father would never have wed their mother if their nainai had not forced him to accept her? Can you bear to think of our granddaughters watching Zixuan treating A-Li unkindly, and entering their own wedded homes with the belief that that same unkindness was due to them?"

Yu Ziyuan falters for a moment. "Yuyan would never let Zixuan treat Yanli that way. I have often thought that she loves A-Li more than she loves him."

"Then you are a fool," Jiang Fengmian says wearily. "Quan Yuyan might be your sworn sister, but she is Jin Zixuan's mother before all else. She knows that A-Li will be filial to her husband, and her in-laws, and she knows no other maiden would make a better mother for her grandchildren. Do you truly think that she would let A-Li go, if the choice was left to her?"

"I—"

"What does it matter if Quan Yuyan can ensure that A-Li is treated well?" Jiang-shushu asks. "Jin Zixuan does not want her, and she knows it. For the love of heaven, the entire Jianghu knows it—so how could you even think of asking to A-Li waste her life with him?"

Madam Yu must have opened her mouth to say something, but Jiang Fengmian cuts her off before she can make a sound.

"It does not matter if A-Li likes him. In fact, that makes matters worse," he says brusquely. "If she marries him, she will not leave him, no matter how unhappy he might make her. And I would rather keep her here unmarried all her life than watch her in pain.

"And then there is Jin Guangshan," Jiang-shushu continues, now sounding faintly ill. "I will not speak of my fears regarding him, but you are a woman, Ziyuan. Ought you not to understand them better than I?"

Madam Yu is silent for a long while.

"If you had such thoughts," she hisses at last, sounding very much like Zidian usually does in the midst of strangling a particularly fierce yaoguai, "then you ought to have spoken sooner, so that we could have found a better match before Yanli came of age."

"I made my thoughts known the year Jin-zongzhu tried to lay his hands on Li Shuai," Jiang Fengmian replies. "You were convinced that I was wrong, because A-Shuai was too young to understand what he might have done to her; but I know what I saw, and you still refused to change your mind."

A moment later, he turns and walks out of the room. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng exchange panicked glances before jumping off the footbridge to keep from being noticed; and after Madam Yu stalks off in the other direction, Wei Wuxian drags herself out of the shallow water under the bridge and makes a beeline for Jiang Yanli's room.

"Wait for me!" Jiang Cheng yelps, before cursing under his breath. "Wei Wuxian, for heaven's sake—"

But she does not slow her pace until she reaches her sister's bedroom and slams the door behind her, startling Jiang Yanli out of what must have been (judging by the look on her face) a very peaceful sleep.

"I'm glad you're not going to marry that stupid peacock," Wei Wuxian blurts out, the instant Jiang Yanli opens her eyes. "You deserve better, Shijie. Your husband ought to be the most honorable man in the world, and I won't stand for less."

Her sister's mouth twitches. "I'm glad you think so," she says mirthfully, reaching out to stroke Wei Wuxian's wet hair. "Who should it be, then?"

Wei Wuxian gulps.

"What about Lan Zhan?" she asks. "You could marry him instead of me, couldn't you?"

Jiang Yanli bursts out laughing.

"A-Xian," she gasps, "when we left Gusu, didn't you say that I ought to have a husband who loved me just as much as Third Shidi loves Li Shuai?"

"Well, yes."

"Then how could you possibly imagine that I might want to marry Lan Wangji?"

"But Lan Zhan is the best junzi in the world, in all ways. I'm certain of it," Wei Wuxian insists, ignoring the sudden ache in her chest. "He loves all things that are good and true, so why wouldn't he love you? I mean, he treats me well, and I make him carry my packages at the market and chase me all over Lufeng to keep dogs away while I'm running errands. I'm sure he'd treat you a hundred times better."

Her sister leans forward and rests her brow against Wei Wuxian's.

"A-Ying?"

"Hm?"

"You're a very silly girl, and I love you very much," she says tenderly. "Now go take a warm bath, or you'll catch cold."

Puzzled, Wei Wuxian drips her way out into the corridor and back into her own bedroom, where she finds a damp Jiang Cheng lying flat on his back on the rug under her window.

"No more peacock," he sighs, propping himself up on his elbows. "You know, I almost feel sorry for him."

"What? Why?"

"Because A-Jie could have made him the happiest man in the world, if he'd only given her a chance."

"I suppose so," Wei Wuxian says reluctantly. "But, Jiang Cheng—who do you suppose Shijie will marry now?"

Jiang Cheng puts his face in his hands.

"Not Lan Wangji, definitely," he mutters. "Did you really ask A-Jie if she wanted to take your place as Madam Lan?"

"Of course I did. Didn't you hear me?"

He looks at her in disbelief. "Really?"

Wei Wuxian nods.

"Lan Wangji has the patience of a bodhisattva," Jiang Cheng groans. "When it's time for your wedding, Wei Wuxian, I am going to laugh. Just wait and see."

#wangxian #the untamed #mo dao zu shi #wei wuxian #jiang yanli #jiang cheng #fem!wwx au #my fic

[poorlittleyaoyao]

Another A-Yuan lives at lotus pier au is literally wq asking jc to raise a-yuan. A solution I am surprised no one think about? In novel canon is understandable: wwx is much more resentful and the wen siblings don't know jc, but in cql we have meet cute chengqing! In the burial mounds we have two characters who don't care about others agency, and no one come up with 'maybe we, for a-yuan's own good- a kid can't be raised without food you know - we should ask jc to take him to lotus pier. We should do everything possible to give a-yuan the best life'.

Ahhhhhh, I love this idea! Bonus points if A-Yuan is accompanied by Granny Wen to care for him. (After all, JC did meet her briefly on the Yin Iron roadtrip! She's not fully unknown to him!) Who's gonna question the presence of a toddler and a sweet little old lady? Yunmeng was devastated during the war. Jiang Cheng can tell people truthfully that she and the A-Yuan are refugees from the war and not specify their region. Gosh, everyone says, Jiang-zongzhu is such a kindhearted young man beneath his hardened exterior, providing for this helpless little family! As a bonus, the world gets to see Jiang Cheng caring for an adorable child before he's a broken, lonely shell of a man who's lost everything he holds dear. His matchmaker rating skyrockets overnight. Wen Qing feels simultaneously gratified and aggravated, and she is embarrassed about both.

#saved this Ask for last because it is so wholesome and I want to end on a 🥹 note

[limitbreaker23]

A WIP game, I can do that, @fistfuloflightning <3 Let me annoy you with my Jiang Cheng/Lan Wangji post-canon wip. cql verse, because it gives me the great opportunity to have older Jiang Zongzhu deal with Xiandu Lan Wangji. To give Jin Ling an opportunity to attend the studies in the Cloud Recesses, Jiang Cheng takes on some clan leading duties for Lanling-Jin, supervised by the Chief Cultivator, most annoying esteemed Hanguang-Jun. Have an excerpt of Jiang Cheng trying to rail rile Lan Wangji up from the second chapter:

“This position requires a particular way of thinking.” “This position requires you,” Jiang Cheng said, looked steadily at Lan Wangji, not letting that glance slip away, leaning closer to feel those eyes on him, the tingle down his spine. Lan Wangji’s ears seemed red from this close. “Someone perfect, proper and particular. Someone setting an example.” In annoying others. “No one’s afraid you’ll ever go mad with power like some of your predecessors.” “Hmph.” “I keep a close eye on you, just in case,” Jiang Cheng said, voice quiet, distance between them too small to dare for more volume. Almost a whisper. Lan Wangji blinked and cocked his head to the side, watching him as if Jiang Cheng was about to slam his balled fist into his face. His ears red, his throat exposed like this, a vein pulsing invitingly. Perhaps he kept too close of an eye. “Don’t think I’m praising you. Gusu-Lan needs to hold some more competitions and conferences for you to keep up with your predecessors. I assume with Zewu-Jun in seclusion it’s too time consuming to organise anything and continue splitting his duties between you and your uncle.” Jiang Cheng grabbed the folded paper and pulled it out of Lan Wangji’s unexpectantly loose grip, stashed it within his sleeve. Nothing to waste time on here anymore now. He should bow and leave. “Competitions?” And Lan Wangji didn’t let him, pinned him straight to the spot with his stare. “Like?” Jiang Cheng leant back in towards those eyes. Fear was something for juniors after all. “Why ask for my opinion, Hanguang-Jun? Yunmeng-Jiang is not known for its hospitality, if I need to remind you.” Lan Wangji didn’t flinch away from his breath, didn’t blink for once. “I would not decline your opinion.” No one should suffer from goosebumps at such indifferent, cold words, and here Jiang Cheng was, being a fool. “We’d be here all night if the two of us discuss socialising.” A flutter of lashes. There it was, as hateable as always. “If only there were more hours in one day,” Jiang Cheng said. “If only.” Jiang Cheng smirked right at Lan Wangji, instead of bowing and leaving. “Clan Leader Jiang.” Lan Wangji turned further towards him, seemed almost hesitant for a moment. “Cultivation should not be neglected. Has your training suffered since you’ve taken on Clan Leader Jin’s duties?” Jiang Cheng closed his tired eyes for a moment, probably too long, and Lan Wangji looked at him with that softly furrowed brow again. Fucking strange question out of the blue. “Would you like a duel to test me?” “Meditate with me,” Lan Wangji said. “I was preparing to. Join me.” Jiang Cheng’s heart almost drowned that quiet, deep voice. He breathed out something akin to a laugh. Watched his breath leaving goosebumps on Lan Wangji’s pale throat. “I didn’t know Gusu-Lan practiced Dual –” He bit his tongue, Lan Wangji’s eyes growing wide, ears flaring crimson. Jiang Cheng almost jumped back, forced his body into a simple step, craving more and more distance, wishing those eyes to close. Rarely had he seen Lan Wangji’s eyes this large and open, never a better opportunity to judge their colour, and he really had no need to do that. “My cultivation is not yours to worry about. Xiandu.” He bowed deeper than necessary and couldn’t escape that wide-eyed look. Carved into his mind even with his eyes open. He forced his spine straight again and stared through Lan Wangji, who lowered his head into a bow in return. And Jiang Cheng turned before Lan Wangji could look at him again. Judge him. Blush at him. Fuck this. He dashed outside, hurried through the garden as fast as Gusu-Lan allowed and dodged those beds of blue flowers in his way. Felt like some stupid rabbit hopping through them. The cool evening breeze burning in his lungs, heart slamming into them, not allowing him to breath. Like some dumb fucking teenager. Embarrassing himself to his core that wasn’t even his and beyond. Jiang Cheng kicked the first pebble in his way down this mountain.

Who knows if this makes sense, it's a beloved moment to me. I love middle-aged cultivators being dorks. I have no writer friends in fandom, feel yourself tagged if you want to share beloved wips. *hides*

#my writing #chengzhan #zhancheng #cql #the untamed #lan wangji #jiang cheng #a plot bunny from my meadow of wips #xiandu shengshou #the wip document is called xiandu shengshou yes because I think I'm hilarious #lan wangji's kitty blink #jiang cheng's blue balls

[jaimebluesq]

I wish you would write a fic where...

Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang spending time together at some point before Huaisang goes to Gusu for the first time (can be before or after their father dies)

I always love me some Nie bros! I hope you enjoy this - I had a good chuckle writing it :D

(I didn't state it in the fic but NHS is about 13-14 years old)

~ ~ ~

“Nie-zongzhu?”

Nie Mingjue looked up from his papers at Elder Nie WuFong. “Yes?”

“This one was wondering if Nie-gongzi wasn’t a little too old to spend his days painting in your office. Would his attention not be better spent elsewhere? Perhaps studying battle strategies, or mingling with other boys his age.”

Nie Mingjue glared over at his brother, who had shifted down in his seat and only just looked up over the surface of his table. The last time Nie Mingjue had sent his brother to ‘mingle with other boys his age’, he’d walked in on two fourteen-year old boys stripping their outer robes off after losing to Nie Huaisang at a game of dice.

“While I appreciate the concern,” Nie Mingjue replied with a sigh, “I believe my brother’s time is best spent here with me.”

Elder Nie nodded and bowed before making his exit, closing the office door behind him. Nie Huaisang sat upright in his seat once again and continued his work of gliding a brush across his paper to shape the wings of a crane in flight. Nie Mingjue huffed and picked his own paper back up.

He grunted.

“What’s another way of saying ‘this sounds interesting, but we can’t afford it right now’?”

“Which sect leader?” Nie Huaisang asked without looking up from his artwork.

“He-zongzhu.”

His brother nodded. “Unfortunately, this year’s budget has not allowed us any leeway in pursuing new projects or proposals, however, I would greatly appreciate any updates you can give on its progress. If there is another way I can support this, then please let me know, and I shall see if in the future, we might find room in next year’s budget to assist in this endeavour.”

Nie Mingjue smirked at his brother’s way with words and wrote down what his brother had suggested, with only the occasional tweak to apply it to Sect Leader He’s request. He set his completed letter aside for the ink to dry and took up another piece of correspondence.

He groaned.

“Yao or Ouyang?” Nie Huaisang asked.

“Yao,” Nie Mingjue replied through gritted teeth.

“What does he want this time.”

“Nothing much,” Nie Mingjue tried to speak casually, “only to marry you off to his little sister.”

Nie Huaisang’s head popped up looking absolutely horrified. “Da-ge, you can’t be serious!”

“You’re right,” Nie Mingjue nodded. “I’ll write him back and accept immediately-”

“Don’t you dare!”

Nie Mingjue was no longer able to keep a straight face and he burst into strangled chuckles. His brother heaved a sigh of relief. “So, brat, how do you think I should respond?”

“Dear Yao-zongzhu,” Nie Huaisang spoke dramatically, “while I am honoured by your proposal, it is one we simply cannot accept. My brother is, unfortunately for such an alliance, the most cuttingest sleeve that ever was cut-”

“Didn’t I catch you kissing the cook’s daughter last week?” Nie Mingjue accused with a raised eyebrow.

“You also caught me with the captain’s son the week before that,” Nie Huaisang countered, “so technically it isn’t completely untrue. But if you don’t like that, you can always say... my didi is unfortunately on his deathbed after I forced him to go on a night hunt and he was cursed by a trickster ghost, and I could not possibly allow you to betrothe your sister to a dying man.”

“Since when are you a man?”

“It’s for the effect, Da-ge!”

“And what do we say when he sees you alive at the next cultivation conference?”

“That it was a miraculous recovery,” Nie Huaisang grinned. Nie Mingjue snorted. “Or you can tell him I’m already betrothed... maybe to Wangji-di or Xichen-ge?”

“You wouldn’t survive Cloud Recesses’ rules.”

“What about Jiang Wanyin?”

“You haven’t seen him since you were five – you don’t even know what he looks like now.”

Nie Huaisang nodded solemnly. “You’re right, he might have gotten too ugly to kiss even with a bag over my head.”

Nie Mingjue was tempted to throw a brush at his brother’s head... then he thought of something better. “You know, didi, I think you’re onto something. But you know what sect we should marry you into?” He waited until his brother looked at him with wide-eyed curiosity. “The Jin. They’re rich and they love artsy things like you do.”

Nie Huaisang tilted his head consideringly. “But Zixuan-xiong is already betrothed to Jiang Yanli.”

“I know.” Nie Mingjue made a production of pulling out a clean piece of paper. “Dear Jin-zongzhu, I believe it is time for a proper alliance between our sects. I would like to propose a formal betrothal between my brother and heir, and your nephew Jin Zixun-”

Nie Huaisang wailed and flopped back onto the floor. “If you even consider sending that, I’m going to run off and join a night hunt so I can let a yao gore me to death!”

“Would you really prefer death to marriage with Jin Zixun?”

“Yes!!!!”

“Always a critic,” Nie Mingjue smirked.

“But back to Yao-zongzhu’s sister.” Nie Huaisang stood up from the floor and brushed off his robes. “I think there’s a possibility you haven’t considered yet.”

“Oh?” Nie Mingjue watched as his brother approached his desk to grab sect leader Yao’s letter. “And what would that be.”

Nie Huaisang’s face turned more mischievous than a fox’s. “Marrying her to you! Dear Yao-zongzhu, I will take your sister for my own wife and we will have ten children so my didi no longer has to be my heir-” he dictated as he ran out of the room.

Nie Mingjue sat and shook his head at his brother’s antics.

And then he stopped.

His brother wouldn’t actually send such a response... would he?

He jumped up from his desk and ran out after his brother – just in case.

#nie bros #nie mingjue #nie huaisang #humour #ficlet

[symphonyofsilence]

Here’s an AU that’s been stuck in my head for a long while (it entirely fucks up the magic system of MDZS, and borrows two elements from SVSSS):

the instructions for the summoning ritual, from Jin Guangyao’s room to Mo Xuanyu’s hand, get mixed up. He completes the rituals. He’s sure he did everything right. Step by step. By all evidence, it must’ve worked. So why was he still alive & well?

Miles away, in an inn in Dafan Mountain, Wei Wuxian wakes up in a body that’s wearing all purple. And has Zidian on his right hand. Panicked, WWX calls: “Jiang Cheng! Jiang Cheng!” and jumps up to find a mirror. He knows he hasn’t possessed Jiang Cheng. So why would he be in his body? all the while he keeps frantically calling Jiang Cheng’s name.

It takes several moments for JC to come to himself...as much as he COULD come to himself when he's lost control of his own body, & hears WWX’s panicked voice in his mind. All of this could have just been a sleep paralysis or something (except that he knows he wasn't sleeping. He was doing paperwork)...but then he hears his own voice calling his own name as his body takes the liberty to jump up & start searching the room.

Then comes the answer to WWX’s frantic calling from inside of his mind: “Wei Wuxian?!”

WWX lets out a breath of relief: “Ah...thank fuck! Jiang Cheng! You’re alive!”

JC answers furiously: “AND YOU COULDN’T STAY DEAD WHILE THERE WAS A MEMBER OF THIS FAMILY STILL ALIVE! YOU HAVE TO PERSONALLY COME BACK FROM THE DEAD TO CHANGE THAT!”

“If you’re still alive, then why am I here?!”

“WEI WUXIAN! YOU DARE TO POSSESS ME AND THEN ASK ME WHY I’M NOT DEAD ENOUGH?!”

“FFS! I didn’t possess you, Jiang Cheng! Would I be like THIS if I had possessed you?!”

“well then, use Zidian!”

“Use Zidi-Jiang Cheng! WTF! Don’t be so rash! beating ME with Zidian would be beating YOU with Zidian!”

“HANG ME with Zidian if it would get you out of me!”

“get me out of-...?OH! Ooooh! You’re right! Zidian does do that!...wait...how do you use this thing?”

WWX finally gets Zidian going (and is lucky that JC stops him before he fries them both with too much voltage within his first few seconds in JC’s body). and it doesn’t work. they’re still stuck.

WWX can’t think of any reason why this would have happened.

at the Mo Manor, MXY comes to the conclusion that perhaps he has summoned the Yiling Patriarch, but not into his own body. He has let him lose and now Yiling Laozu is seeking revenge for himself! MXY thinks that the person Yiling Laozu would most likely want to seek revenge upon would be his murderer and brother, Young Sect Leader Jiang. He has to inform him that his life is in danger. But with what he hears of Jiang-Zongzhu’s attitude toward demonic Cultivators, and people who even utter Yiling Laozu’s name, he doesn’t dare to approach him with the information that he not only has performed a demonic ritual specifically to summon the Yiling Patriarch, but he has put Jiang-Zongzhu’s life in danger, too! But on the other hand, if WWX doesn’t fulfill MXY’s wish. MXY’s soul might be forever destroyed, never to get reincarnated! Finally, after giving it much thought, MXY decides that he can try approaching his nephew, Jin Ling, and tell him that his Jiujiu might be in grave danger, and if they see WWX, tell him to come to Mo Village, and then MXY will run before JL comes for his life & JC even sees him, and he won’t be there for when JL tells these to his uncle. So, taking Lil’ Apple, he gets on his way to Dafan Mountain.

WWX is convinced that he can do a very good JC impression. But the problem is that at all times, it seems like Jiang-Zongzhu is doing a Jiang-Zongzhu impression. And also he’s holding back laughter. JC keeps nagging him in his head. when they’re not fighting (which is rarely. But fighting 24/7 in your own head, even for them, gets exhausting), back into the habit, WWX finds ways to tease and annoy JC. In his first life, he was exactly one (1) cm taller than JC, and he never lets it go. He takes any opportunity to say that “If I was in my previous tall body...” “If I had my 0.03125 chi...” “Life from down here...”.

JC’s head disciple, whoever they are, is WWX’s new nemesis. they’re his new JZX. Poor thing has no idea why they’re suddenly so out of favor with Jiang-Zongzhu. They were fine an hour ago. they think that Jiang-Zongzhu might just be in a bad mood. But no, they’re the only one getting this treatment. Others even say that Jiang-Zongzhu behaves lighter than usual. Occasionally, WWX snaps back at others with one of JC’s zingers™️ & then they temporarily forget the angst & drama between them as JC is like “You know what would have been better?” and WWX either agrees & is like “Oh, you should have said it back then!” or insists that his comeback was better. either way, they keep coming up with better and better comebacks for the next hour. When they’re trying to sleep suddenly one of them comes up with a very good one.

It doesn’t take 3 seconds for JL to realize that that’s not his Jiujiu. WWX explains to him that he too has no idea wtf he’s doing here (while JC in WWX's mind sneers that this would imply that he has any idea what he’s doing at other times) & he’s really trying to find a way out of his uncle’s body. He wisely withholds information about who he is. And also acts as a messenger between JC & JL. Who first and foremost, tells the brat to get a grip! Everything is under control. (It’s not)

During the night- hunt, When one of the sect leaders was going on about something that didn't interest LWJ, he thinks he saw Jiang Wanyin rubbing his nose in thought. Which is something that he has never seen him do. BUT YOU KNOW WHO DID?! It does happen that 2 people who are close to each other would occasionally pick each other’s habit. But 13/16 years after Wei Wuxian’s death?! Unlikely! The next weird thing he noticed is that when Sect Leader Yao was talking, he’s sure he saw Jiang Wanyin trying to hold back laughter in the exact same way that WWX used to do. Then, when he turns to sneak a peek at this peculiar behavior again, he catches Jiang Wanyin already looking at him, but not in the way that a Jiang Wanyin would ever look at LWJ. And! For a second it looks like he’s going to break into a smile but then he immediately looks away. And it doesn’t just end there. When one of the sect leaders that LWJ has seen talking to JWY hundreds of times before goes to talk to him, for a second there is a blank, confused look on his face as though he doesn’t recognize him. So, when LWJ catches him sneaking out of his room at the inn at night, suspiciously holding a flute in hand, he follows him. (it’s optional whether the flute is Chenqing or not. ‘cause, on one hand, I don’t know if JC would carry Chenqing with him at all times, so I think it would be in the Lotus Pier, but on the other hand, he did carry WQ’s comb with him everywhere. so...)

he didn’t know JWY could play the flute. or would if he could. he follows him to the depth of the woods, where there’s no one else but them. then, JWY starts playing the flute. it’s two or three songs that LWJ doesn’t know but have familiar compositions. And then, he plays a familiar one. Suddenly the leaves rattle and there comes a sound of chains and a man with the pale face of the dead, disheveled hair & wearing all black approaches. it’s the ghost general! a few moments of astonishment on JWY’s face pass and then he examines the ghost general and pulls something out from behind his head. But what’s more, is that he starts arguing with someone that is not Wen Ning who stands silently. LWJ catches sight of Zidian crackling for a short second on his hand. and then he hears clearly:” Jiang Cheng! CALM DOWN FOR A SECOND WOULD YOU?! Don’t you think it’s strange that Wen Ning is ALIVE when he should have been dead over a decade ago?! Don’t you want to get to the bottom of this?!”

LWJ thinks he knows what’s happened. he’s so overcome with the newfound knowledge that he slightly moves and straightens himself. his guan touches some leaves and the noise catches WWX & WN’s attention. WWX quickly sends WN off and then he turns to go, too. As he goes he erases any doubts that might have been about Jiang Wanyin being possessed by starting to sing in a quiet voice. he reasons “Well, Jiang Cheng, it’s either pretending that you were singing OR looking like you were talking to yourself AND the ghost general! Which is it gonna be?” and “Jiang Cheng! You’ve got such a nice voice! why do you never sing? I’m not gonna stop singing!”

WHY WAS THE UNIVERSE TESTING LAN WANGJI!! IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANYONE! ANY RANDOM PERSON! WHY WOULD HE COME BACK IN JIANG WANYIN'S BODY?! LWJ would see JWY & his blood would boil! He who had never had a single problem with his own brother in his life had the Cain instinct toward his brother-in-law. He would see WWX's expressions on JWY's face and he could SEE WWX behind JWY's face & his heart would miss a bit & the sun would shine brighter for a second before it registered that the expression is on JWY's face. It looks wrong and weird & it would give LWJ cognitive dissonance.

At Dafan Mountain, the Juniors think that Jiang-Zongzhu has had a qi deviation when he takes the time to explain to them how he figured out what the dancing maiden is, even engaging them in the conversation, while frantically searching for the young mistress. 

when he finally gets to Jin Ling and has to save him, WWX of course goes to hastily make a bamboo flute, but then he suddenly sees Zidian on his hand. JC yells inside his head to use it. But it’s only after he turns it into the lightning whip that he realizes he doesn’t really know how to use it. That spinning around and exactly hitting the target or using it as a lasso without wiping out everyone else in a close radius or even hitting yourself and controlling the voltage really needs practice, “Wrap it around her and pull. Wei Wuxian! what are you waiting for!” “How do you use this thing!”. Panic is creeping inside when he suddenly blacks out. and when he comes to himself, he’s standing over the shattered statue on the ground, Zidian in hand and around the statue, as the dust slowly settles. except that HE’s not the one standing! Jiang Cheng is! WWX is not the one controlling the body! JC has taken over by sheer protective Jiujiu power.

For the very first time, Jin Ling lights up when he gets a scolding from his uncle. ‘cause yeah that’s definitely his uncle!

And it’s here that they realize that JC can take over the body, too. And new war wages on.

Both of them know that WWX needs to take over the body to do his investigations and dark magic stuff on what's gone wrong that they’ve ended up like this, and what can they do to fix it. And that JC needs to take over in political and overall sect leader situations. And because demonic cultivation is harmful to body and mind, and WWX, JYL & JZX have all already died because of WWX’s demonic cultivation, WWX would really rather not risk Shidi’s life, too. So as much as WWX enjoys finally being able to fight with a sword again if the situation gets too serious, he agrees that JC would better be able to fight, both because he can use Zidian and, WWX is out of practice with the sword (But he starts to practice with both sword and Zidian. and he's LIVING! Even though JC would greatly amuse himself with WWX’s fails at wielding Zidian, he would give him helpful tips, too.) But both of them would say that “Once you take over, you’d never give control back to me! I’m not giving it to you!”

LWJ unnecessarily rushes to protect the Yunmeng bros thrice. 2/3 time he meets JC’s incredulous rage. One time it’s a very impressed and grateful WWX, LWJ just quietly follows them around to help in any way he can anytime he can. JC is super annoyed, and suspicious that LWJ knows. and WWX is stressed ‘cause LWJ knows both of them. How long can he fool him? Until LWJ finally calls “Wei Ying” and everything makes sense.

Since WWX is currently residing in his Shidi’s body, LWJ is spared the emotional torment of thinking that WWX is abusing and making fun of his love and devotion by harassing him.

On the other hand, WWX is made bluntly aware of LWJ’s feelings for him from the very first moment their eyes linger on each other for 0.05 seconds via JC’s very helpful gross-out, screaming, scolding, furious, outraged, and indignant commentary. “STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!” “STOP GIVING HIM SMILES AND HEART EYES LIKE AN IDIOT, WEI WUXIAN!” “OKAY, THAT’S ENOUGH LOOKING INTO PEOPLE’S EYES! TIME-OUT!” “I SWEAR IF YOU TAKE ONE MORE STEP TOWARDS HIM!” “I SWEAR IF HE GETS ONE CHI CLOSER!”

things like jumping down a tree in Yunmeng to see if LWJ would catch him are definitely out of the question, but not even making heart eyes at each other is without its obstacles with JC screaming in his head. (while WWX insists that they’re NOT making heart eyes. They're just making eye contact. Shut up, JC!)

Soon, MXY arrives at Dafan Mountain and finds JL, who is arguing with the Lan Juniors and Ouyang Zizhen and wants to talk to him privately. JL snaps that he doesn’t have anything with MXY to talk about privately. If he has something to say, say it here. And MXY thinks that it’s better actually. The Lan kids are good kids. If JL wants to eradicate him after hearing what’s happened, they’d stop him. So he tells his tale. when it’s finished, all of the Juniors just gape at him. MXY turns his head and freezes when he sees Sect Leader Jiang staring aghast at him with Hanguang-Jun by his side. all the wide eyes of the Juniors turn from MXY to Jiang-Zongzhu. As expected, Zidian starts to crackle on his right hand. But then, very unexpectedly, his left hand holds his right hand and tries to stop him. Not the way Jiang-Zongzhu usually stops touching Zidian and calms himself down. But he looks like he’s actually fighting himself! Then, JL who finally knows WWX is inside his uncle’s body jumps up and says: “You,,,!” but he can’t do anything to WWX without hurting his Jiujiu. But all the Juniors know that JL would never shout at his Jiujiu like that, they think they finally know what’s with Sect Leader Jiang’s “qi deviation”. that...actually...explains a lot.

MXY pales and starts to run, but is caught by WWX. WWX asks him what he’s exactly done. MXY explains the ritual step by step. WWX can say what drafts have mixed up to result in this. But he has no idea what to do now. because those drafts were never supposed to mix up. he guesses that the reason he’s in JC’s body must be related to his golden core that is inside JC. But he can’t say that to him. He instead tells JC that it must be due to...some unfinished business between them, to which JC replies that his unfinished business with WWX is that he hasn’t finished WWX. MXY then starts to beg WWX to take revenge for him because otherwise both MXY and WWX’s souls would be forever destroyed. Never to get reincarnated. Hearing this, JC panics. And immediately decides that they’re gonna get that goddamn revenge. At worst, they’ll get stuck together in his body until one of them dies and the other gets the body for himself. Of course, he would bring up a thousand excuses for why he agrees with this revenge plot, instead of telling WWX that he’s scared for his soul. It’s here that the Lan Juniors ask if MXY is talking about his aunt and uncle and cousin. Upon his affirmation, they tell him that they’re already dead. And explain what’s happened in the Mo Manor with the cursed hand. WWX is curious about that hand thing. But JC says that the GusuLan Sect gotta be able to handle one angry hand. It’s none of their business. He’s got a sect to run. The Lans say it’ll be good if they can visit and take a look. JL is kinda curious, too. But he’d never agree with WWX on any matter. So, he feigns extreme disinterest. “What about Young Master Mo?” Lan Sizhui asks. “What about him? Doesn’t the lunatic inherit the leadership of the Mo clan?” JC thinks. But doesn’t say anything, because he’s very, VERY crossed with MXY. To his surprise, nobody else points this out. The Lans decide that they’re taking MXY to Gusu to give him another chance at cultivation.

Days later, WWX bullies JC every second of every day to the point that he decides to let him have a look at the accursed angry hand. He’s extra bitter because he knows that WWX’s excitement has less to do with the hand, and more to do with seeing Hanguang-Jun.

They get there with JL and some of the Jiang Disciples. After that, when the hand points in a direction, and WWX guesses that’s where we should go, JC says that that’s where “the Lans” should go. “we” are going to Qinghe to night hunt. Here was your fucking angry hand! you had your look! we’re going now!

and so they do, they depart at the same time as LWJ. Awkwardly for JC & LWJ, & To WWX’s delight (AND LWJ’s), it turns out that they’re going the same way for the first few miles. And the next few miles. then it turns out that the hand was pointing to Qinghe. Of course, JC thinks that even if they were crossing the narrowest road in the world only two could pass, and there was no other way, and all around them was on fire, no contact with Hanguang-Jun would still be necessary. But WWX & LWJ beg to differ. WWX annoys LWJ every chance he gets (or creates. these moments annoy both JC & LWJ, and LWJ might not be as fun as he used to be, but JC doesn’t disappoint. So WWX doubly enjoys himself), while JC avoids him like the plague. So one-moment LWJ is definitely-not-getting-hit-on-by-WWX-shut-up-JC! while another moment he comes face to face with a very disgusted and annoyed JC who immediately takes his leave. And those moments when JC & LWJ suddenly find themselves gazing into each other’s eyes are THE MOST AWKWARD and cringe-inducing moments ever. LWJ wonders if the universe is testing his love by making WWX come back inside JWY’s body. And thus, the poor YMJ head disciple is not the only one who gets whiplashes from seemingly one purple man.

LWJ only gains some face with JC when he helps them save JL from inside the wall of the soul-eating stone castle. and then immediately loses that face when he takes the liberty to examine the curse mark on his leg. JC decides that WWX has disgraced him enough for a day- or a lifetime, and starts fighting with him over controlling the body. once the fight starts, it doesn’t stop until they reach NHS’ inn, when they pause to see exactly where they are WWX seizes the moment to take control of the body. But after the door opens for him to see NHS, he realizes that it was really better if JC had control of the body because NHS knows both him & JC. He might doubt things. But WWX has some specific questions to ask NHS and has his own interrogation method. It won’t work if JC has to pause every second for WWX to dictate to him what to ask. NHS wouldn’t be scared. Well, that and WWX can’t just now hand the body to JC after such a hard-won victory.

NHS already finds it strange that MXY who was supposed to be WWX left the Mo Manor without even seeing the cursed hand. Could it be that MXY in his letter wasn’t clear enough about who are exactly the targets of his revenge? but he read MXY’s journal and it seemed clear. NHS doesn’t remember Wei-Xiong to be so dense. could it be that he was so uninterested in returning to life that he wanted to destroy his own soul? MXY going to Lotus Pier and the CR was expected, but what wasn’t expected was him not being on the mission to Qinghe with HGJ. Likewise, Jiang-Xiong following JL to the stone castle wasn’t unexpected, and his meeting with HGJ there wasn’t out of the realm of possibility either, but what was strange was that, since when had HGJ and Jiang-Xiong grown so close? Jiang-Xiong has visited the CR! he came with HGJ to Qinghe from the CR! NHS was sure that before, neither of the two would piss on the other if the other was on fire. But now they were sitting here, talking in complete harmony. strangely. Jiang-Xiong helps himself to a drink in the middle of the conversation and HGJ gives him another drink when that's finished?! Very odd. Also, Jiang-Xiong’s scowl looks forced. As if he has to remind himself to scowl when previously scowling came as naturally to Jiang-Xiong as breathing. He's pretty sure he saw the slightest shadow of a cold smirk once, which was not something that Jiang-Xiong would do. He felt like he saw him stopping himself from doing that again. And he looks more cold than furious as Jiang-Xiong would have been. And the interrogation method and the way of talking are familiar, but not Jiang-Xiong’s. He also shows interest in NHS’s fans, which Jiang-Xiong would never do. Most people assume that Jiang-Xoing is very confident, not NHS though, he knows that is a mask for his extreme insecurity, but even people who believed that he’s confident, seeing him now, would understand what confidence really looked like. And it didn’t look like Jiang-Xiong. After leaving them, NHS eavesdrops for a few seconds, and as expected hears HGJ arguing with WWX over letting him examine a curse mark apparently. What he doesn’t expect to hear is HGJ also arguing with JWY!-with a very different tone- over the same thing! He then hears Flute-playing from the room, and he knows he's fucked. His plan would never fall into motion with Jiang-Xiong & Wei-Xiong occupying the same body! If WWX said let’s go right, JC would say no we’re going left even if his destination was at the right and there was no road on the left! NHS has to do some quick thinking. During his research on how to bring back Wei-Xiong, he had read something about a certain “The Sun and Moon Dew Flower Seed” which would grow a body for a homeless soul. NHS doesn’t know how WWX is going to extract his soul from his shidi’s body while making sure that he won’t hurt JC or it won’t be JC’s soul, or both of them transferring to the new body. But he trusts he will find a way. Growing the body will take time. But NHS thinks that either by that time, they have trapped JGY, or if they haven’t, well at least they will then. in the meantime, Huaisang will do what he can to speed them up. So, NHS will visit Er-ge crying that a vicious ghost has appeared in Qinghe and NHS remembers that he has previously read about the way to deal with it in a book in the CR’s library. and when he made it to the library, he will slip in the book about “The Sun and Moon Dew Flower Seed” among the other books. If all goes according to plan, soon WWX and LWJ will have to visit the library to find the method that JGY has used to kill Da-ge. They’ll find the book then. NHS is pretty sure that HGJ is even more eager than WWX to separate him from JC.

JC already has to get on board with the goddamn wanker hand investigations since WWX claimed that the only way to remove the curse mark was to find all the pieces of the corpse, and if the curse mark wasn’t removed it would kill once it reached the heart, but things get really personal for JC when one night, they can’t sleep with Fairy’s constant barking, and on the morning, they hear a scream, and turns out that somebody has nailed a dead cat at the top of JL’s door. Somebody is deliberately messing with JL, and all JC knows is that he now has a corpse to nail at the top of some door. 

So the group of WWX/JC, LWJ, WN, the Juniors but now with the addition of some mouthy YMJ disciples to cause even more pointless arguments with LJY and JL, and MXY who now has made some small progress at cultivation and made some friends with the Lans embarked on their investigations. JC and WWX have to split time between JC’s sect leader things and WWX’s detective things, but WWX would be damned to cut his sleep short. So, no matter how late into the night JC wants to stay awake and how soon he gets up and starts screaming at WWX, WWX is going to get his 9 hours of sleep, and like it or not, so is JC. And they don’t always fight. Mostly they fight, but sometimes they just bicker. And reminisce, and help each other make fashion choices. Sometimes it’s just “Oh, that bakery is still there?” “Yeah. It’s that kind baker’s son now.” “Oh, that kid grew up!” Or “What happened to that water ghoul that that grumpy farmer preferred to us?” or “You know eating what would be just perfect now?”(whether WWX finds a mahogany woman comb in JC’s things and never stops pestering him is optional)

At Jinlintai, with the information JGY got from Yi City via Su Minshan, this whole new bestie situation between WangJi and Sect Leader Jiang, and rumors about Sect Leader Jiang’s recent strange behavior, he would probably guess what’s happened. And things wouldn’t have been so easy for JGY with JC being WWX instead of MXY. He can’t just accuse Jiang-Zongzhu of conspiring against him and go for an attack, hoping that WWX would go on the defensive and without a weapon would pick up Suibian and unsheathe it, so JGY can pull an uno reverse card. Because he and Jiang-Zongzhu don't have any previous grievances or any problems at all. In fact, they have a very good relationship. Jiang-Zongzhu supports LanlingJin Clan’s interests because that would guarantee JL’s future. And he's usually careful not to cause diplomatic incidents with other sects. He doesn't have many enemies. And JGY can’t just attack Jiang-Zongzhu without causing a full-blown war among the sects. And JGY’s heir, JL would get a lot of unnecessary burns here. And anyway, that would be a really pointless attack, because JGY’s pretty sure that Sect Leader Jiang doesn’t even go to bed without Zidian and Sandu on him. Why would he draw Suibian? (and that’s if anyone even gets to the sect leader before being torn to shreds by his disciples). and asking the others to hand in their weapons before entering his room would look too much like an ambush. The crowd would turn against him without even getting into the room. JGY could still frame some other sect leader that he’s had problems with, but fabricating evidence would take the time that he isn’t sure he has on his hands, and without evidence, a war among sects would begin. So. JGY instead of attacking JC, explains to the audience that he’s been shocked to have recently heard of Sect Leader Jiang doing some unorthodox method of cultivation that is way beneath him and is especially far from the righteous, venerable Jiang-Zongzhu who so openly despises these abhorrent methods and has opposed them for years and that JGY had some manuscripts of a spirit summoning rituals that he’s noticed are now missing. He remembers that his brother MXY has caught sight of them. But the thing is that different pages of different copies are missing. So if MXY has indeed done the ritual to summon WWX, it must have gone wrong. JGY then explains that he’s been holding his tongue and waiting for further evidence because he would never want to jump to conclusions and tarnish the honorable Sect Leader Jiang’s impeccable reputation. But now, with someone clearly plotting against the Chief Cultivator and the Jin Sect in general, the honorable Sect leader Jiang must understand that the safety of Jianghu is at stake. There’s a simple way to find out if Yiling Laozu has committed yet another crime against the great YMJ Clan and has possessed the brother he’s betrayed. If Jiang-Zongzhu can’t pull Yiling Laozu’s sealed sword out of its sheath, then JGY wholeheartedly apologizes for his insolence and puts an immediate stop to the outrageous rumors going around about the noble Jiang-Zongzhu’s involvement in Demonic Cultivation. Cornered like this, whether JC unsheathes the sword, or refuses to do so, both would give them away. The YMJ sect, JL, LWJ, and JC act very offended and put up resistance. In the end, LXC intervenes by saying that if Jiang-Zongzhu will honor them with a visit to the CR, the GusuLan Sect has methods of checking for possession and for exorcism by music and all. both SMS and JGY strongly suspect him of bullshitting. JGY does his “looking from under his eyelashes at Er-ge and batting his eyelashes like a Disney princess” thing and tells him “But Er-ge, how is this necessary when such an easy method is right here to put our minds at ease once and for all right here?” But JC continues to be offended and says that there is no way he’d do this demeaning thing. So, off to the CR, it is.

Luckily for them, they find the book NHS has planted there and WWX thinks he can find a way to transfer his soul to the new body without hurting JC. Unluckily for everyone else, Jiang-Zongzhu is really pissed and is giving everyone a hard time. Unluckily for JC, LWJ & WWX are really hitting it and LXC is wingmanning.  

The Burial Mounds happen pretty much the same. except that JC will still have his meridians at max power (This time, JGY visits the CR to ask about the progress of the Lans investigations and claims that WWX has already put his evil plan in motion when he got caught), and when WWX does his spirit-attracting flag thing both he and JC can kick ass with Zidian and Sandu, and let’s say they Dual wield with Suibian that LWJ brought with him. and also lots and lots of confusing switches between JC and WWX happen in the middle of the conversations. some might have lots of “who exactly am I talking to RN?” moments but those who even once had talked to JC know that the one who is permanently scowling and is in constant bitch mode, is Jiang-Zongzhu.

JC is definitely still very hostile with WN and MXY. Especially WN. But now that he had to constantly put up with them for a long while because of WWX, he’s used to them being around. He’s still hostile and they know to avoid him when he’s in control of the body, but it’s toned down. Like, it’s less “hostile towards a nemesis” situation and more “hostile towards a loathed neighbour” one. But on the night of the Guanyin Temple, when he feels things starting to get heated between LWJ and WWX, JC wrestles with WWX and can take control from him for a few moments enough to call WN and MXY to their room. then the four of them sit awkwardly in silence in a row staring at the wall in front of them. There’s a lot of tension between LWJ & WWX, any attempts at conversation by MXY are met with complete and embarrassing failure and he ceases trying, and JC and WWX fight in their minds. In the end, the atmosphere is so thick that they decide they might as well go to raid the temple right now.

JGY and LXC clearly don’t expect WWX to have been sleeping with LWJ while he resides in his brother’s body, and furthermore, he arrives with LWJ, so that conversation doesn’t happen. the fight with JC also doesn’t happen since he’s already there. Also, when Fairy comes and WWX hides behind LWJ, he does the thing that he usually does when Fairy is nearby, or he hears dogs barking, which is to leave the body to JC, and when JC sees LWJ protecting him from Fairy he's like “what do you think you’re doing?” and they start fighting and so, too busy fighting among themselves they don’t really talk that much with JGY. with that time saved when JGY tells SMS that they’re leaving after he’s done mentally scarring WWX and JC, he doesn’t have to go back to seal LXC’s powers again. He just says bye-bye to LXC and JL, and then to MXY- who was really worried for JGY when he got infected by poison and is very sad about what's happening to JGY, and still clearly hero-worships him but doesn’t look obsessed like before- he says: “Xuanyu, I’m glad you’re still here.” and leaves. MXY smiles. Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng really wishes that he could look at Wei Wuxian.

LXC, LJ, and NHS didn’t get the closure they wanted. LXC needed answers. NHS needed San-ge dead. But both of them know that it's impossible to find one small man who's excellent at hiding in Dongying. But just in case, they both start quietly learning Japanese.

When all the shitstorm is behind JGY and he has time to think, he puts the puzzle pieces together. Inside the coffin was Da-ge’s sewed-together body. Who would have the most motivation to want to bring down JGY AND put Da-ge’s body in place of his mother’s? Who had the power and resources to get this much information about his past and bribe people? Who was the one who distracted him in the discussion conference so Qin Su could get that letter? Who was the one who was at Guanyin Temple that night without any reason?

So, a while later, LXC receives a letter that tells him to beware of Nie Huaisang. He’s not who he pretends to be. The letter also contains a list of people who may cause trouble for Jin Ling’s position as the Sect Leader of LanlingJin, inside and outside of the sect. It also has instructions for how to deal with them. and some general instructions for JL.

This kind of letter is nostalgic for LXC. With a now very bittersweet feeling, it reminds him of the Sunshot campaign. He really needs to see A-Yao. there are so many things left unanswered. After LXC does something about this information, he decides that the Sender’s address on this letter is his best lead. He decides that he’s going to Dongying.

NHS had guessed that if San-ge wanted to get in touch with anyone it would have been LXC. So he had LXC under watch. When he realizes that Er-ge wants to travel to Dongying, he says that he too, could really use a vacation, so why not go together? And before LXC can object, he invites himself and gets on board. And every step of the day he follows LXC like a shadow. LXC’s pretty sure that NHS doesn’t wake up at 4 A.M. So, one day he goes to visit the address on the letter as soon as he wakes up. As he had guessed, JGY isn’t there. LXC starts asking after JGY every day before NHS wakes up. Or at moments when he thinks NHS is momentarily distracted. But to no avail. LXC has to keep up the appearance that he’s really enjoying a vacation in Dongying. and no one is as adept at enjoying a vacation as NHS. Their hobbies are really different, but they’re able to compromise and meet each other in the middle. And it isn’t...not fun. Annoying or boring sometimes. But overall nice. With their search for JGY going nowhere, It’s truly turning into just a nice vacation. On the other hand, JGY hears from his sources that a cultivator in white, with a forehead ribbon, who looks like he’s ascended from heaven, who is with a dandy with impeccable fashion sense is searching for him. JGY doesn’t know why LXC would come to look for him with NHS. Could it be that he also wanted to kick his ass? As long as they’re together he can’t show himself to LXC. So he keeps them under watch closely via his sources. And eventually sees that LXC is really trying to shake NHS off himself, and only asks after him when NHS isn’t nearby, and his efforts seem sincere. But JGY still can’t risk going to see LXC since he’s sure that even when it seems like NHS is looking the other way, he’s watching LXC. He’s sure that he even has put means to eavesdrop in LXC’s room, and some people at the inn they’re staying at must spy for NHS so JGY can’t meet LXC when he’s having his morning routine while NHS is sleeping. One day, they finally give up on finding JGY and decide that they’ll go back home after the festival they’ve heard will soon be held. At the festival, NHS sees some fans that he deems exquisite works of art. LXC says that while NHS is looking at the fans, he’ll go to see the concert since he's greatly interested in the folk music of this new country and what kinds of instruments they play. After the performance, LXC talks to one of the musicians, and they invite him backstage to see the instruments up close if he wants. LXC goes and hears a yamatogoto playing. It’s a familiar tune. He approaches the sheer screen curtain behind which a figure is playing the yamatogoto. He pushes the curtain aside, and the person turns around. And smiles, as he always does “Hello, Er-ge. You wanted to see me?”

LXC gets explanations & some sort of closure. A-Yao tells him that as much as not seeing LXC will pain him, their visits will endanger JGY. Because NHS will now never be off JGY’s, and so by extension, LXC’s tail. Even now he must be already growing suspicious of LXC’s prolonged absence. And Lan Xichen’s first impulse is to say “What if I stay with you and we hide together? We’re good at this. It’s good. Remember?” But with all the things he’s learned recently, he’s not really sure. On the one hand, he realized that the A-Yao he knew and loved never existed, on the other hand, today when he finally saw him again, his heart pounding, he thought HE DID! HE’S HERE! RIGHT HERE! There was nothing they couldn’t work through. There was nothing that could diminish the joy of just hiding away somewhere from the world with A-Yao. As long as A-Yao was here, they could solve everything else. He might not have been the A-Yao he knew, but he was the A-Yao he loved. All versions of A-Yao, known and unknown, are A-Yaos LXC loves. It scares and assures him both at once. It didn’t matter if a part of LXC couldn't forgive him. Even that part preferred his company to most this world had to offer. But then again...no. He doesn’t know how much he can trust his own judgment anymore. He knows he needs time to think. But if he really gives it thought, he knows that he won’t arrive at the same conclusion once he takes his duty to his sect, and the burden he would place on Wangji who is now finally happy and carefree with WWX into consideration. When A-Yao asks: “Er-ge…you haven’t said anything.” He answers: “I don’t know, A-Yao. I’m not sure about anything anymore…nothing but one.” “And what’s that?” “It was...it was good to see you.” And so, LXC takes A-Yao’s yamatogoto, and to NHS he pretends that he’s been talking to a master of the art and is now going to start playing the yamatogoto. If NHS catches him deep in thought, it’s because he’s trying to get the hang of the new instrument. And maybe find a way to cultivate with it. Still, NHS is suspicious. In the end, just before NHS and LXC leave for China, NHS carries a murder attempt at JGY. It fails. An encounter between them is inevitable. But they just drink tea together and are very passive-aggressive. threatening each other with polite smiles and humor. Even complementing each other.

As long as they both live, they’ll always play cat and mouse. both of them are always going to attempt to murder each other and bring the other’s downfall. Both of them will continue to fail now that the element of surprise is gone. Sometimes they will just have tea and a nice, intelligent, dangerous passive-aggressive conversation. Neither of them will ever win but after a certain point, neither of them will want to. It won’t be so much about the eventual victory as it is about the game. If the other is gone, who will be so clever, so strategic, so familiar, so adept at the game and so wholeheartedly into it to play with them? and after all this time, if they’re not playing, then what are they going to do? What will they do with so much peace on their hands?

When LXC returns, he’ll tell others what they need to hear. (’Cause unlike SOME people he doesn’t withhold necessary information from people who have relevance to the subject), and he’ll have the “WWX GET A GRIP MY BROTHER LOVES YOU!” talk with the aforementioned WWX, too.

Finally, the body that has grown from “The Sun and Moon Dew Flower Seed” in the likeness of WWX’s previous body is ready for WWX’s spirit to attach to it. But by this time, JC, unfortunately for him, has already acquired: 1)an extra group of ducklings that consist of Lan Jingyi who takes any chance to roast him but is the only worthy opponent in JC’s league of sass game, one Ouyang Zizhen the poet, and Lan Sizhui who is really a good kid but with the minor bug of being the son of Hanguang-Jun and also a Wen, and WN's beloved cousin at that, and 2)three frienemies in the forms of one Hanguang-Jun, a fierce corpse that has killed his BIL, and a clinically insane former Demonic Cultivator. The aforementioned former Demonic cultivator has now made some progress in cultivation under the teachings of Lan Qiren and with huge effort and helps from the Juniors and with enough motivation in such a healthy environment. He also bagged himself a nice, good-looking, loyal, supportive, totally smitten Lan boy. And JC finally brought himself to remind him that he’s actually the leader of the Mo Clan now and by now somebody has most definitely usurped him. If he wants to take back his clan. now is already late. (But not impossible)

It will take a few years for WWX to wake up in his new body. He decides not to say goodbye to the Juniors, Wen Ning, and Lan Wangji. But Lan Wangji doesn’t need to be told anything. He knows Wei Ying. He’s lost him before for 13/16 years, and now he’s going to lose him again for another 5 years. It’s a painful goodbye that even Jiang Cheng doesn’t interrupt. Lan Wangji stays with Wei Wuxian and helps him with his guqin through tears that block his eyes as Wei Wuxian plays a strangely soothing tune on his flute until one last breath of Wei Wuxian in Jiang Cheng’s body leaves him and the melody stops. The flute almost falls from his hands but even as he collapses Jiang Cheng grasps it, and Lan Wangji catches him before he falls and puts him on a bed, then he quickly gets himself to the Sun And Moon Dew body in the soil. It takes a short while for Jiang Cheng to wake up. and he’s still dizzy and weak from feeling Wei Wuxian’s soul leaving his body, it was like a death by proxy, but it doesn’t stop him from getting up and dragging himself to where the new body in the soil is. Lan Wangji & Jiang Cheng keep vigil in that garden for 5 years. Lan Wangji almost all the time but Jiang Cheng as much as he can. When Wei Wuxian wakes up, he opens his eyes to Lan Wangji. And for the first time, that beautiful, beautiful face is full of emotions. Upon seeing him, Lan Wangji is sure that he can never look away. They can finally kiss. Lan Wangji has tears in his eyes. 

It doesn’t take long until WWX sees JC. He beams at him. One of his sweet, familiar, bright smiles. And the smile in return comes so naturally to JC that he doesn’t even notice to stop it, and trying to stop it would have been trying to stop the breeze from going its way. JC’s eyes shine in a way nobody has seen in years. With every fiber of their being, both brothers want to hug each other. But both of them assume the other doesn’t want them to. So they just stand staring and smiling at each other in suspense. Until WWX ruins the mood with a “life from up here” joke. JC gives Chenqing back to him.

In a moment of carelessness, WN upon seeing WWX’s new body happily exclaims: “And with a new golden core, too!”

and JC is like: “...wh-?”

***

Now that we took “The Sun and Moon Dew Flower Seed” from SVSSS, let’s take the Dream Demon, too.

The Yunmeng siblings had already reconciled without officially reconciling the way all siblings always do. By having to put up with each other 24/7. But the Golden Core reveal fucked things up severely again. WWX didn’t know where he stood with JC anymore. After JC’s mental breakdown, WWX didn’t know what to say to him or do when he sees him again. so he avoided seeing him after that.

The Dream Demon shows the worst moments of one’s life from a third-person perspective.

So, seeing the day WWX and JC were on the run after the fall of the Lotus Pier, and a teenage WWX went shopping, from a third-person perspective, the Current Wei Ying can see that a Wen Patrol marched into the street, Jiang Cheng caught sight of them, and quickly hid somewhere. Even knowing that these events belong to the past, WWX lets out a breath of relief. But then, the Wens saw WWX, and they started to slowly close in on him. WWX thinks “How on earth did I survive this?!” it was then that a violet shadow darted past them. All the wens ran after him.

WWX watches in horror. He's so shocked and horrified that his brain is slow to catch up. “Jiang Cheng you Moron you hid in such a good place nobody saw you why would you come out and run in the open you freaking idiot?!” But then it clicks for him. WHY WOULD HE RUN IN THE OPEN, INDEED?!

WWX has a complete meltdown. He drops to his knees in the middle of a street that is now empty of people who had faces, wide-eyed and shivering, while his mind whirls. He spent all these years thinking that JC had left him behind, but he had put him before himself! Before their sect! But…Jiang Cheng’s sacrifice was completely in vain! Wei Wuxian made it so! Jiang Cheng got tortured in his fallen home swarmed with enemies next to the hanged corpses of his freshly murdered parents, hearing tales of how they died from Wen Chao, only for Wei Wuxian to lose his golden core and die a short while after anyway! But of course, Wei Wuxian would give up his golden core for Jiang Cheng. Even now, he would do that. That’s something he mourned, but never regretted. But even though he never blamed Jiang Cheng for what he did in extreme grief, he would be lying if he said that he never thought how things would have gone had Jiang Cheng not gone back for his parents’ corpses. But just now WWX found out that he would lose his golden core anyway! Either at the hands of Wen Zhuliu, probably along with his life, or for Jiang Cheng. At least now it rests inside his shidi, used to rebuild their sect and protect their nephew! But Jiang Cheng is the shidi! He’s younger! His parents had explicitly asked WWX to protect & take care of him! How dare that brat decide to protect Wei Wuxian?!

WWX sits there going through the five stages of grief as he cries, shouts, and curses. The more he gets entangled in his emotions, the more he gets drowned in the dream. Just when it reaches critical levels and the risk of him dying there gets high, he suddenly notices current time Jiang Cheng standing there looking in bewilderment at the faceless people walking in the familiar street in front of him. “What brand new fuckery is this, Wei Wuxian?” He looks at WWX kneeling there with wide, red-rimmed eyes and tears on his face as if he sees nothing out of the ordinary with him. WWX has summoned JC into his dream with how strongly he’s thought about him.

Of course, JC knows the street, and by how devastated WWX looks, and how he’s dragged him into this, he thinks he knows the scene, too. He itches to repeat WWX’s own words to him “It’s all in the past. Don’t think about it anymore.” But he holds his tongue. He hates seeing WWX like that. He wants it to stop. But doesn’t know what to say. Until he realizes that there is nothing to say, really.

So he just goes to where WWX is fallen on the ground, holds out his hand to him, and says: “Wei Wuxian, Get up!”

He says it with a casual, easy reproachful tone as if Wei Wuxian is being lazy and sleepy on an early morning when they’re supposed to get to their classes. Or they have to clean their room before Madam Yu shows up. He says it as if it’s all as simple as that…and maybe, maybe it is. Maybe it is all as simple as that. They just loved each other to ruins. As simple as that.

So they both finally realize “I loved you completely. And you loved me the same. That’s all. The rest is confetti.” And Wei Wuxian takes Jiang Cheng’s hand and gets up with his help. (mirroring that scene in the meadows when WWX tries to pull JC up and JC disagrees.)

Hand in each other’s hand, they look at each other. As Wei Wuxian’s feelings untangle, all around them the scene shatters. Wei Wuxian finally knows that Jiang Cheng wants him to hug him. He did back then when Wei Wuxian came back in his original body, too. And even before that. So. Wei Wuxian pulls Jiang Cheng into his embrace. At first, he doesn’t get any response, but then, tentatively, Jiang Cheng’s hands wrap around him, too. And then, he hangs on to Wei Wuxian fiercely as if his life depends on it. Wei Wuxian knows that soon, they, too will disappear and he will wake up. So he clings on to Jiang Cheng tighter, and Jiang Cheng clings to him tighter in return. Wei Wuxian whispers: “I’m sorry, and thank you.” But before Jiang Cheng can say anything, he disappears in Wei Wuxian’s arms. And Wei Wuxian wakes up. He wakes up to a world in which he’s more loved than he thought he was. To a world where somewhere out there, he has a brother who cherishes him more than dear life. But then again, he’s always had.

#mdzs #cql #the untamed #mo dao zu shi #chen qing ling #mxtx #wei wuxian #wei ying #jiang cheng #lan wangji #lan zhan #wangxian #mo xuanyu #jin ling #nie huaisang #jin guangyao #meng yao #lan xichen #xiyao #wen ning #yunmeng shuangjie #yunmeng bros #twin prides of yunmeng #mdzs au #mdzs fanfiction #at first I was like I should write this as a proper multi-chaptered fic on ao3 but then I thought #nah it’ll join my endless pile of never-written fanfics I’ll just write the not!fic here #& I got carried away and now it's longer than the multi-chaptered fanfic would have been! #the grandmaster of demonic cultivation #my two cents

[spriteofmushrooms]

jiang cheng / luo binghe? perhaps? can you imagine?

The thing about Jiang Cheng is that he notices and acknowledges all of his disciples and would, I believe, be scrupulously fair to them; at the same time, he very obviously loves Jin Ling the most. Luo Binghe's desperate need to be acknowledged by shizun and only shizun stemmed from SJ's encouragement of bullying, harsh punishments, unequal treatment, and disintegrating mental stability. He went from being grateful that someone chose and wanted him to craving affection from the one person who hated him the most.

With Jiang Cheng, he would have the chance to become grateful, to want to prove himself. But Jiang Cheng isn't constantly qi deviating, he wasn't born a slave, and he wouldn't see himself in white lotus Luo Binghe. He would see Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian, the boy Jiang Cheng spent his childhood shielding from his mother. Wei Wuxian, brilliant and charming. Wei Wuxian, lost to demonic cultivation.

I think YMJ does have inner disciples, which Luo Binghe could easily become since he's such a strong cultivator. I can never decide on if Jiang Cheng has direct disciples (other than Jin Ling for certain techniques) in canon, but if a mini Wei Wuxian joined, I could see Jiang Cheng choosing many different options.

Does he want to save some version of Wei Wuxian? Does he want to keep a close eye on this Wei Wuxian copy? Direct disciple. Luo Binghe is already 50% obsessed.

Does he want Luo Binghe to be surrounded by the shidi and shimei that Wei Wuxian lost? Does he think that he dragged Wei Wuxian down, or that Wei Wuxian left with the Wens to get away from him? Does he recognize how unfair it is to look at a boy and see Wei Wuxian like how Jiang Fengmian saw Wei Changze and Yu Ziyuan saw Cangse Sanren? Inner disciple. Luo Binghe has a possibility to imprint on a martial uncle instead.

But if Luo Binghe is an inner disciple who wants to prove himself worthy to zongzhu, and he notices that Jiang Cheng seems to keep watch over him? If he can compare how zongzhu fusses over Jin Ling with how zongzhu maintains a distance between them? If he tries to get close to Jin Ling so that he can get closer to zongzhu, only for zongzhu to be cold with him for the first time? As if Luo Binghe isn't good enough for his nephew?

Yeah, I can imagine Jiang Cheng and Luo Binghe.

#pallas.rtf #mdzs #svsss #hi anon #bingcheng #? #jc deserves someone who is obsessed with him and lbh deserves to play YMJ classic Bolt of Brutality #also i think it would be funny for lbh and wwx to meet and try to tear each other apart #WHO IS THAT OTHER DOG. HOW DID HE GET IN HERE