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eleanorfenyxwrites · 3 years

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@evilteddybear requested: I always love a LWJ/WWX fic where the sect leaders, especially Lan Xichen, Nie Mingjue, and Lan Qiren, come to the Burial Mounds and see what it's like before attacking, try to negotiate.

Thanks for the request (and your patience in seeing it filled), hope you like it!

[Masterpost] [Ao3]

“Xiongzhang.”

“Wangji. I don’t like it any more than you do but it’s going to be the best solution for everyone.”

The weight of his brother’s glare is nearly a physical blow but Lan Xichen is used to it and stands firm. It helps that he can distract himself from the heat of it by focusing on the long trek down to the bottom of the staircase of Jinlintai. With Jin Guangyao busy for the afternoon Lan Xichen had offered to take Lan Wangji into the city for the day, though now he’s wondering just why he had though that would be a good idea in the first place. Now at least, he supposes, they have the excuse of going off to purchase paper fine enough to be suitable for an invitation for Wei Wuxian to attend his nephew’s one-month celebration.

“I will take him the letter myself,” Lan Wangji states, voice pitched low and steady. Though it’s an obstinate, unmovable tone that Lan Xichen has heard far too many times before, he can’t help but feel that it’s his duty to put up at least something of a token argument. He can never seem to argue with anyone but Lan Wangji, but even then he almost always ends up bowing out as gracefully as he can under the strength of his headstrong brother’s will.

“Wangji, it’s not safe…”

“Wei Ying will not hurt me.”

“I didn’t say that he would.”

“The Wens are not a threat.”

Lan Xichen sighs heavily and pauses as they reach a landing to close his eyes against the inevitability of his little brother getting to have his way. He always has until the day Wei Wuxian left with his band of Wens, and Lan Wangji has been doggedly pursuing him – whether Wei Wuxian is aware of it or not – ever since. He’s never done well with not getting precisely what he wants when he wants it, and Lan Xichen adores his brother and the fact that he’s grown up being given what few things he has wanted without much thought. However in this moment, for this situation, he can’t help but privately wish deep down that his brother knew how to practice the same sacrifice that Lan Xichen himself makes when it comes to those he wishes to protect.

“If you doubt me you may come with me.”

“Wangji-“ Lan Xichen cuts off with another sigh as his brother simply walks away, his piece said and his interest in the conversation clearly exhausted. They both know very well that he’ll do what he wants, and Lan Xichen will allow it. Which is why, in the end, it’s no surprise at all that Lan Wangji makes his way to Yiling with his invitation tucked safely in a qiankun pouch, nor is it particularly surprising that Lan Xichen has accepted Lan Wangji’s sort-of-bluff of an invitation to go with him. What isa surprise is that Nie Mingjue had elected to join them when he’d caught wind of where they were going and why.

“Mingjue,” Lan Xichen attempts to soothe now as the man in question paces back and forth in the confines of their room. In the interest of keeping the peace he had taken it upon himself to make sure that Lan Wangji got to have his own space, but any notions that Lan Xichen may have had about utilizing the relative privacy this arrangement affords to Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue have so far borne no fruit whatsoever. “I warned you that this would be a matter of patience, you didn’t have to come with us.”

“What? And let you both walk into the lion’s den? Of course I had to come.”

“Wangji and I are far from helpless, Mingjue, and he is certain that Wei Wuxian won’t harm us.”

“He’s the only one.”

“He’s not, I-“

“Xichen I will walk all the way back to Qinghe right now if you can honestly tell me that you’re completely and utterly certain that Wei Wuxian won’t hurt anybody!”

Xichen lets out an uncharacteristically audible sigh at that and fixes Nie Mingjue with one of his Looks that always make the man cave. “Even if I could meet those terms I wouldn’t want you to go back to Qinghe. It’s been too long since we’ve seen each other.”

“Can we stay on task here?”

“We are. We are waiting for someone to leave the Burial Mounds so that we may approach them in town rather than appearing threatening by attempting to infiltrate their settlement on the mountain. There is nothing to do now but be patient. What about our current activities are not on task?”

“We need to use this time to strategize. Plan. Things may go wrong. We may need to protect Wangji, he may need to protect either of us. We don’t know what we’re in for.”

“Mingjue.”

“Xichen.”

“This is not a battle, nor a war. We are approaching a young man – a young man Wangji trusts - who hasn’t done anything dangerous in a year so that we may invite him to a family event. Please sit down and relax.”

Nie Mingjue finally stops his pacing to turn a betrayed glare on Lan Xichen, but as with Lan Wangji he’s well used to absorbing Nie Mingjue’s frustration and neutralizing it with the soft, reassuring lines of his smile. Nie Mingjue has never been able to stay angry with him – or even near him – for longer than a few heartbeats anyway, and Lan Xichen watches the tension bleed from his broad shoulders with his next blustering exhale.

“Wangji believes that our presence may alarm the inhabitants of the Burial Mounds should we be allowed to enter their wards. You will need to remain calm in such a case so that we can show that we bear them no ill will.”

“Speak for yourself,” Nie Mingjue grumbles and Lan Xichen’s heart aches a bit for Nie Mingjue, so level-headed when it matters but so hot-headed when it shouldn’t. Nie Mingjue meets his gaze and then groans, covering his face with both hands and tipping his head back a bit as he says, slightly muffled, “Don’t give me that look, Xichen, that’s not fair. How do you always know how to get your way?!”

“It would be significantly harder to have my way if you didn’t know in your heart that I’m right. This is a delicate situation, Mingjue, we can’t let past anger cloud our judgement now. Wangji has been here before and he says that what’s going on here isn’t what everyone says it is. We’re only here to keep him safe on his errand and see things for ourselves, alright? Now is not the time to declare the continuation of Jin Guangshan’s blood feud with the Wens.”

“Yes, fine, fine! I’ll keep my thoughts to myself.”

“And no glaring.”

“Xichen!” Nie Mingjue manages an affronted look for only a scant moment before it too fades into grumbling acquiescence as he resumes his pacing. “Fine. As little glaring as I can manage.”

“Thank you.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I love you.”

“Xichen!” Lan Xichen laughs softly to see Nie Mingjue’s blush overtakes his handsome features, turning his entire face a lovely shade of red as he splutters his way through returning the infrequently-expressed sentiment and accepts kisses that thoroughly distract him from any lingering anger.

It takes two full days of waiting before Wangji suddenly stands and strides off right in the middle of their morning meal. The behavior is so unusual that Lan Xichen is instantly worried, though as he stands to follow – with Nie Mingjue hot on their heels – he relaxes ever so slightly to see that Lan Wangji is heading straight for a young man Lan Xichen recognizes dimly as Wen Qionglin. He reaches out instinctively to rest a restraining hand on Nie Mingjue’s arm when he feels the man tense next to him, but though the Ghost General looks a little wary upon spotting Lan Wangji he doesn’t look hostile. In fact, he looks as timid and soft-spoken as he had when Lan Xichen had seen him during the lectures in Cloud Recesses. The only hint that he can see that something is different than it was then is the pallor to his skin and, just barely visible through the curtain of his mostly-unbound hair, thin spiderwebs of black cracks on his neck that creep up towards the underside of his jaw.

It takes some convincing from Lan Wangji before Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue are allowed to approach, and then further convincing from Lan Xichen before Wen Ning agrees to let them all come up the mountain. He takes the invitation Lan Wangji presents with gentle, steady hands and holds it as gingerly as one would expect someone to hold little Jin Ling himself, and once again Lan Xichen finds his heart aching – this time for the cruelty of the world that always seems to touch the gentlest of souls.

The trek up the mountain is slow and hot, but the further they get from the town the colder things get. The sensation of the sun on his skin is still there, but it somehow brings him no warmth. The shade cast by the twisting, barren limbs of the trees seems wan and thin, and yet the chill he feels in their shadows reaches into his bones with clawed fingers of dread. The soil becomes loose and dusty under their feet and before too much longer he can feel resentful energy crawling along his skin, seeking weakness. That sensation, at least, passes almost as soon as he notices it and he realizes they must have passed through the wards. Things grow, if possible, even more gray and sere from then onwards, though by the time he can begin to hear sounds besides the wind through dead, hollow trees there are a few with some life in them. A few gnarled leaves on some of the branches in the underbrush, a few trees bearing small fruits.

They pass the first field for planting before they see anyone to till it, though the next field has a figure bent to their task. They sit up straight to watch them pass and Wen Ning offers a little wave to the figure who nods back, wariness etched into every line of their posture. Lan Xichen chances a glance at Lan Wangji to find him facing staunchly ahead, fist held behind his back and his eyes glued to the invitation in Wen Ning’s hand.

“Wei-gongzi should be tending to his field this time of day,” Wen Ning says in his typical soft stammer as they approach what seems to be the heart of the settlement. There are more people around now, all going about various agrarian tasks with varying degrees of vigor. Lan Xichen is about to ask what he means by field when he looks ahead again and spots it, shocking in the gray landscape around them – a bright green space dotted with soft pink petals, and a man in shades of black and grey bent over it with his trousers rolled up to the knee.

It’s clear that Lan Wangji is aching to go to him but they’re stopped before they can go any further by a small young woman suddenly in their way, her feet planted and her arms crossed over her chest.

“Wen-guniang,” Lan Wangji greets with a salute as Wen Ning offers a quiet, “Jie..”

“A-Ning. What are they doing here?”

There’s a beat of silence that Lan Xichen abruptly realizes it’s his responsibility to fill, despite this being Lan Wangji’s errand.

“Wen-guniang,” he greets with a salute of his own that Nie Mingjue copies at his side a beat later. “Wangji has an invitation to extend to Wei Wuxian, and Nie-zongzhu and I agreed to accompany him.”

“An invitation?” At her prompting, Wen Ning hurries to hold out the document itself for her to take, which she does with another skeptical glance at the three of them before she opens it to read the contents. Lan Xichen watches her face for some sort of reaction to the news that Wei Wuxian is invited to Jinlintai, but if she has any sort of feeling about it she does an admirable job of hiding it.

“Wei Wuxian!” she calls without looking away from them. Lan Wangji’s spine stiffens and goes miraculously straighter, as if Wei Wuxian’s name alone is enough to electrify. The man in question waves a mud-stained hand in their general direction without turning around.

“What is it, Wen Qing? A-Yuan is playing with Popo right now.”

Lan Xichen glances up at Nie Mingjue at that with a question in his expression though he knows Nie Mingjue likely doesn’t understand that any better than he does. Nie Mingjue isn’t even looking at him anyway, as it turns out. Instead he’s looking around what they can see from where they are – a crumbling stone structure built into the side of the mountain. Crude wooden huts made from the subpar lumber available in the twisting dead forest around them. Tired farmers in clothes that look one hard winter away from falling apart. And over it all the pall of death and decay that’s inescapable in the midst of a field that had once been, as the name suggests, nothing but a hill of bones and restless spirits.

“You have…guests.”

Lan Xichen looks ahead again in time to catch Wei Wuxian whipping around so quickly he nearly falls off his perch at the edge of his ‘field’ of lotuses, thriving right there in the middle of the Burial Mounds, against all odds.

“Lan Zhan!” he squeaks, looking utterly shocked to see Lan Wangji, let alone him or Nie Mingjue. “What are you-“

“Rich-gege!!!” A tiny voice suddenly cries and Lan Xichen is startled to see a small blur come running from the direction of one of the other fields to plaster itself against Lan Wangji’s leg.

“Hello A-Yuan,” he says softly, almost too softly for Lan Xichen to hear, and he drops his hand down from behind his back to pet the top of the boy’s head, smoothing flyaway hairs back from his little face.

“A child, Mingjue,” he whispers, though the volume can’t hide his horror. This is the ‘band of Wen rebels’ the Jin Sect is so afraid of? This is who remains as the target of their revenge and hatred?

“I see him,” Mingjue replies quietly, jaw working with a little flutter of the muscles in his cheek. “I see them.”

“Rich-gege Xian-gege said you wouldn’t come back but you did!! Pick up, please!”

Lan Xichen wonders if it’s possible for his eyes to go any wider as Lan Wangji reaches down without hesitation to curl his hands under A-Yuan’s reaching arms and, heft him up onto his hip where the boy promptly clings and lays his head down, seemingly content to hug and be held.

“Lan Zhan what are you – what are you all doing here?” Wei Wuxian tries again as he stumbles out of the mud of his pond to traipse across the space between them, cleaning his hands rather ineffectually on his robes hiked up around his hips. When he draws level with Wen Qing she holds the invitation out to him with a look in her eyes that Lan Xichen can’t quite decipher. It’s the first time she’s taken her eyes off of them since she had intercepted them, and Lan Xichen is a little embarrassed to realize he’s relieved to no longer be the subject of her sharp attention.

“They brought you this. You can go see your sister.”

“What?!” Wei Wuxian scrambles to open the letter, eyes flying across the page as he reads whatever it was Lan Wangji had written – knowing him it’s probably as bare-bones as possible, conveying only the necessary information and nothing else. It doesn’t take him long at all to look back up from the page with suspiciously shining eyes. “Is this real?”

“Mn. It was agreed upon.”

“Jiang Cheng agreed to this? And Jin Zixuan?”

“Mn.”

For an alarming moment Wei Wuxian looks like he’s in desperate need of a place to sit, but he rallies quickly and all of a sudden his smile is absolutely blinding, the way it had been once when he’d been a younger, much more carefree teenager coming to study in Gusu. When his smiles had turned Lan Wangji’s ears red and made him glare daggers through whatever poor wall or floor or passing disciple happened to be in his line of sight.

“Oh. Oh wait come in, come in, you’re making everybody nervous out here,” he says with a laugh that doesn’t sound..entirely genuine, but another glance around the settlement proves that he’s got a point. The Wens are all watching them now, tasks forgotten in the need to watch for approaching danger. “Lan Zhan sorry about A-Yuan, he probably won’t be willing to let go for a while.”

“No need.”

“Aiyah. Fine, fine. Come in. Wen Qing and Wen Ning, you too. Come on, let’s go,” he says and just like that Lan Xichen realizes with amusement that they’re all being shepherded into…a cave. It’s a spacious cave, the dilapidated remains of the palace built into the mountain, but it is still effectively a cave. There are tables set up in what’s clearly a communal dining area and Wei Wuxian bustles ahead of them to swipe some accumulated dirt from a couple of the benches before gesturing for them to sit.

“Ah Zewu-Jun, Chifeng-Zun, apologies for my manners,” Wei Wuxian says with a salute for both of them that Lan Xichen is quick to smile away. “We’re not exactly ah…equipped for visitors such as yourselves, I’m sure you understand.”

Lan Xichen takes a seat at the table between Nie Mingjue and Lan Wangji, who has now transferred the child clinging to him to his lap where the boy sits looking at the two strangers to him with wide, curious eyes.

“Xian-gege, Rich-gege brought friends this time,” he observes and earns himself an affectionate ruffle of his hair from Wei Wuxian.

“He did! And they’re very important friends so behave for Rich-gege, alright?”

“A-Yuan is better behaved than you are, Wei Wuxian,” Wen Qing retorts in what Lan Xichen is sure is meant to be their usual banter, though it comes out flat and, if he’s not mistaken, too stressed for the joke to properly land. Wei Wuxian doesn’t seem to notice, or if he does then he is still adept at charging through any sort of tension with his usual charm.

“So rude, Wen Qing, we have guests,” he says with a little flourish as he finally takes his robes down from where they’re hitched up and pats them into place where they belong. It becomes even more apparent how threadbare they are with the full length of them on display. He sits down quickly enough and the Wen siblings move to stand behind him, arms crossed protectively over their chests though rather than looking intimidating, as he’s sure other people would find them, to Lan Xichen they just look…afraid.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan says softly, and though Lan Xichen knows his brother well enough to know that there’s a whole thought tucked into those two words, he doesn’t know them well enough to know what those thoughts are. And that is strangely disconcerting, to realize that there’s an entire facet of his brother that he doesn’t understand anymore.

“Lan Zhan, not that I’m not pleased to see you, of course you know I am. But why are you here?” Lan Wangji flicks his gaze towards the invitation now stowed safely in the front of Wei Wuxian’s robes and the man rests a hand gently over it, though his resolved expression doesn’t waver. “This could have been delivered by post, or by messenger. The townspeople know Wen Ning, they would have gotten it to him if you had left it for us. Why did you come here in person? And - no offense Zewu-Jun, Chifeng-Zun, but..why are you part of this too?”

“Wei-gongzi,” Wen Ning speaks up softly, surprising everyone else in the room. “I don’t think you’ll be safe in Jinlintai.” It’s something of a non-sequitur but somehow the thoughts must be connected, and Wei Wuxian muster understand how they are judging by the way his entire demeanor changes into something much more alert.

Lan Xichen sighs softly as Wei Wuxian’s sharp gaze fixes on them, but it’s Nie Mingjue who speaks up first.

“Jin Guangshan wants your amulet.” It’s bold and barefaced in the way that Nies tend to be and though Lan Xichen is used to it, it still makes him feel a bit squirmy and anxious in the pit of his stomach to hear something so unpleasant laid out so plainly. Not that he’ll ever let it show, of course.

“Well he can’t have it. Next.”

“He thinks the Wens here are dangerous.”

“Clearly we’re not. Wen Qing, Wen Ning, and I are the only cultivators here. Besides, we’re barely feeding ourselves, let alone preparing to take on the Jins. Next.”

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji cuts in, and this agonized tone, at least, Lan Xichen recognizes.

He interrupts before they can begin any sort of argument. “Wei-gongzi. During the discussion of whether or not you should be present for Jin Ling’s celebration, Jin Guangshan presented concerns about both the amulet and Wen-gongzi. You can’t deny that these are valid concerns for those whom you consider to be enemies.”

“I don’t have enemies unless they make themselves my enemy,” Wei Wuxian shoots back, all trace of boyish excitement gone from his face now. “None of you were there that night in Qiongqi Pass. Did any of you even visit the work camps Jin Guangshan put the Wens in? Did you see, with your own eyes, the field of corpses they created because they knew that the cultivation world would turn a blind eye?” There’s ringing silence for a moment before he repeats his demand. “Did you?!”

“Wei Wuxian,” Wen Qing warns, low and quiet.

“If Jin Guangshan is so bored of watching over Lanling and sending his cultivators to protect the interests of his own Sect then by all means, create an enemy of me. I knew what I was doing when I took these people away and brought them here. I know what people say of me, and of the Wens, do you think I don’t? Words are nothing. Fear is nothing. But if someone acts against me and those I’m sworn to protect, can I not defend myself? Can I not defend them?!”

Lan Xichen curls his hands into slow fists on his knees under the edge of the table as Wei Wuxian makes a wild gesture in the general direction of the rest of the settlement, beginning to look desperate as he works himself up.

“You saw them with your own eyes. They’re just farmers, they’re just regular people, the kind that we’re supposed to protect! Popo plays with A-Yuan to keep him occupied while we work in the fields and Fourth Uncle makes wine from the fruit that grows here and everyone here is just trying to survive, yet you would rather see them all dead for the sin of having once been related to a man who has already been killed for his crimes?”

“Xian-gege,” A-Yuan says softly from his perch in Lan Wangji’s lap. Lan Xichen turns an agonized glance on him to find him reaching out for Wei Wuxian with one chubby little hand, his eyes still wide though now it’s with something like concern rather than the curiosity of before.

“A-Ning, take A-Yuan back to Popo,” Wen Qing instructs. Her brother obeys with a nod, reaching down for A-Yuan even as the boy tries to cling to Lan Wangji.

“Want to stay with Rich-gege!”

“I will come find you soon, A-Yuan,” Lan Wangji promises with something fierce and immovable in his eyes. “Go with Wen Ning.”

There’s a quick flutter of activity as the child allows himself to be carried away, and as Lan Wangji shifts his weight to get comfortable again Lan Xichen doesn’t miss the way he subtly positions himself a little closer to Wei Wuxian. It’s hardly noticeable, but it puts him on the same half of the table as Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing still standing behind his shoulder, and when Lan Xichen meets his brother’s eyes he knows precisely whose side he will stand on should it come to that.

He desperately hopes that it won’t.

“This invitation to Jin Ling’s celebration is a trap, isn’t it?” Wei Wuxian asks and unlike the boyish cheerfulness of before, or the anger of mere moments ago, his tone is now as cold and blank as the stones outside.

“No,” Lan Xichen protests, though it’s undercut significantly by Lan Wangji replying with a simultaneous (and much more convincing), “Yes.”

“Lan Zhan?”

“Jin Guangshan wants the amulet. He knows you will not miss a chance to see your family. He will demand you hand over your amulet and Wen Ning to show that you are no longer a threat to him, and if you refuse I do not know what he will do.”

“He just wants to destroy the amulet and the…weapon,” Nie Mingjue cuts in, gruff and clearly unhappy with the way things are going but it is, surprisingly, Wen Qing who rises to meet him.

“You can’t seriously tell me you buy that? That a man like Jin Guangshan can be handed something powerful and decide, out of the goodness of his heart, to get rid of it,” she snaps, eyes once again cutting and her hands clutched in her sleeves where her arms are crossed. “And that ‘weapon’ is my brother, who, in case you haven’t seen, is in full control of himself and his thoughts. He counts as one of us, and destroying him now would be to finish the murder that those guards at the work camp didn’t finish.”

An uncomfortable silence drops in the wake of her anger and in it Wei Wuxian rises slowly from the table to stand next to Wen Qing, his arms crossed over his chest as well. Lan Xichen can’t help but flick a cautious glance at the hand closest to the flute tucked into his belt but at least for the moment it doesn’t seem like he’ll be reaching for it.

“If you’ve come as nothing more than Jin Guangshan’s messengers then I’m taking you right back down the mountain, one way or another. I’m protecting these people, and that is not up for negotiation. You can tell Jin Guangshan that yourself.”

“Wei Ying-“

“Lan Zhan this isn’t directed at you. It’s them.”

Lan Xichen blinks slowly as he realizes that Lan Wangji’s subtle positioning hadn’t gone unnoticed by Wei Wuxian after all. Or, he supposes, it’s equally likely that Wei Wuxian simply trusts Lan Wangji. Despite their differences, their arguments, it’s possible that Wei Wuxian sees now how ardently Lan Wangji wants him to be safe. How far it seems he’s willing to go to ensure it.

“So what’s the deal, if we leave you keep Wangji here as leverage?” Nie Mingjue barks. Lan Xichen’s eyes go wide as he abruptly realizes he’s lost all control of this conversation and it is heading in a dangerous direction much more quickly than he could have expected.

“Lan Zhan is free to come and go as he pleases, he won’t hurt us. He allowed you to come here with him this time so I assume he trusts you to do the same. But if seeing the truth is going to do absolutely nothing to change what you want and what you’ll help Jin Guangshan accomplish in wiping the Wens off the face of the earth then we’re done here, and you will not be welcome back.”

Lan Xichen can’t deny the dread settling thick and heavy in the pit of his stomach, and only a small portion of it has to do with the resentful energy in the air. Wei Wuxian has proven himself time and time again as a formidable opponent, and while Lan Xichen doesn’t think that it’s necessary to see him as an enemy he knows that the majority of the cultivation world would disagree. It’s plain to see, though, that even should that be the case there’s no force on earth that could turn him aside from the path he’s on. He said it himself – his purpose now is to protect the Wens, and if the cultivation world sees that as a reason for him to die alongside them then he will.

“We’ll help you,” he promises. Rash, perhaps. Uncharacteristically sudden of him, perhaps. But it’s actually not really, in the end. Lan Wangji has been worried about Wei Wuxian ever since that banquet in Jinlintai and his disappearance with the Wens later the same night, and so Lan Xichen has been worried about his brother since the same moment. And not only that, but he still remembers Wei Wuxian as he had once been. Where now it seems everyone wants to paint him as a devil, as an evil mastermind, as a cruel and power-hungry tyrant amassing an army of the dead, all Lan Xichen can see is a young man whose heart has always been kind, who cultivates with evil things he can’t understand but who’s using it to keep a group of helpless people safe. It is not such a sudden change of heart for him to wish to see everyone around him treated well and fairly.

“Xichen,” Nie Mingjue says, startled by his declaration, but Lan Xichen puts a hand on his knee beneath the table, a silent promise to explain himself later.

“We’ll help you. The Lan Sect. What do you need?”

Wei Wuxian is staring at him, mouth hanging open rather comically, and so it’s Wen Qing who speaks up after a moment though Lan Xichen can see in her eyes that she doesn’t trust him yet.

“Food. Blankets for A-Yuan and for the elderly at least. And we want to be left alone.”

“These are the only demands you have?”

“What else could you possibly offer us, Zewu-Jun?”

“Fertile land,” Lan Wangji supplies, eyes beginning to alight with the first dangerous edges of hope. “Protection. Homes.”

“In Gusu?” Wei Wuxian cuts in to ask. There’s weight behind that question, a hostility, but when Lan Wangji looks at him all Lan Xichen can see is his desperation.

I want to bring a man to Cloud Recesses, his brother’s voice echoes softly in the back of his mind. Bring him there and keep him safe.

“It would not have to be permanent, necessarily,” Lan Xichen supplies, hand tensing a little more on Nie Mingjue’s knee when he feels the man shift restlessly beside him. “But it could be. None of this should have happened to you and your family, Wen-guniang. Will you allow the Gusu Lan to begin attempting to make reparations?”

Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing look at each other but whatever passes between them in their glances is beyond Lan Xichen’s comprehension.

“I will think about it,” she replies after a moment and Wei Wuxian turns on his heel to put his back to the rest of them, effectively hiding whatever expression he makes in response. “Come back in three days.”

It’s a clear dismissal and so Lan Xichen stands, Nie Mingjue at his side. Lan Wangji doesn’t move, his eyes fixed firmly on Wei Wuxian’s back, but he doesn’t seem to be included in the dismissal anyway. Wen Qing simply leads them to the doorway again where Wen Ning is standing patiently on the steps outside, likely to keep any eavesdroppers away.

“We’re escorting Zewu-Jun and Chifeng-Zun back to town,” she informs him and he falls in quickly at her side.

“Where is Lan-er-gongzi?” Wen Ning asks with a concerned glance over his shoulder. “Is he alright?”

“He’s fine. He and Wei Wuxian might finally be ready to stop acting like they don’t want to be together,” she replies so flippantly that Lan Xichen is suddenly grateful for Nie Mingjue’s hand at his elbow as he stumbles ever so slightly on the uneven terrain in response.

“O-oh,” Wen Ning stammers out and Lan Xichen is abruptly sure that if it were still possible he would be blushing. “Well that’s nice I suppose. Is Wei-gongzi going to go to Jin Ling’s one-month and see his sister?”

Wen Qing glances back at them at that, though what she’s measuring them for Lan Xichen isn’t exactly sure. “Whose idea was it to have him there?” she asks with a raised eyebrow.

“Wangji’s.”

“Oh yes then I daresay he’ll go no matter if it’s a trap or not,” she remarks so dryly that she actually gets a chuckle out of Nie Mingjue, which is startling to say the least. Lan Xichen looks at him, trying to gauge what he’s thinking, but he’s got his expression carefully locked into stern, unreadable lines. They continue on in silence down the mountain and back to their inn in the town. Only when the Wen siblings have departed and he and Nie Mingjue have retired to their rooms does he unbend enough for Lan Xichen to see that he’s deep in thought.

“Do you think Jin Guangshan truly means to destroy the amulet?” Nie Mingjue finally asks when Lan Xichen has waited him out long enough for him to speak his mind.

“In all honesty no, I do not. At least not right away, and power corrupts. We already know he is a man of vices, it’s no secret that power is one of them.”

“Can you really offer the Wens land and protection without consulting anyone else? The elders, your uncle?”

“It will have to go through more official channels I suppose to actually begin the movement – we’ll need to send resources to keep them clothed and fed while travelling and cultivators to keep them safe, after all. But yes, that is something I can offer them. I will make my case to the elders with what we saw here today, Wangji is my witness, and you could be too. They’re nothing but humble citizens who simply bear the curse of an unfortunate name through no fault of their own. So many Wens have already paid the ultimate price for what Wen Ruohan has done. There’s nothing and nobody in this last remaining group to be so afraid of that they must be eliminated. The only part that should worry the rest of the sects is that Wei Wuxian is at the helm, but their fear of him is slightly misguided as well. I believe once Uncle and the rest of the elders know the truth they will allow such peaceful people to live and work in Gusu.”

“Hm. Well alright then, the Nie will support you.”

That pulls Lan Xichen up short and he stares at Nie Mingjue with undisguised shock. Nie Mingjue at first only raises an eyebrow at him, but after another moment he exhales sharply and shakes his head as if bedeviled by a fly.

“I still don’t like the Wens but I can’t in good conscience lead them to the slaughter. If you want to protect them, then protect them. And I’ll protect you. Maybe we can finally take Jin Guangshan down a notch or two in the process, I definitely won’t be opposed. Nor do I think Jiang Wanyin will take much issue with it either, not if it can get him his brother back. And we already know Jiang Yanli will support anything that repairs Wei Wuxian’s reputation, and Jin Zixuan will support anything that makes Jiang Yanli happy. I’d say the winds are in our favor if we act too quickly for Jin Guangshan to counter it.”

Lan Xichen can still only blink as Nie Mingjue finally cracks his expression to smile ever so slightly and offer him a wink.

“You should have agreed to strategize with me days ago, none of this would have been so surprising, I thought it may become an option. Now it’s just up to Wangji to talk Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing into agreeing.”

“I believe he will find it in himself to be persuasive, and Wen Qing at least is quite sensible. I believe she understands their position well and knows that it is not sustainable for much longer. Or that even if it were, it would be better if their people could get the care and treatment they need to thrive, not just to survive. I believe they’ll agree.”

“Well we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Lan Wangji doesn’t return once during the three days Wen Qing asked for them to wait. On the morning of the fourth day Wen Ning returns for them to bring them back up the mountain where they find Lan Wangji kneeling in the dirt with A-Yuan perched happily in his lap chattering away to Wei Wuxian, who is sitting far closer than necessary to listen as the rest of the Wens bustle around them, hurrying from field to field at a much quicker pace than mere days ago. Wen Qing meets them again at the entrance to the main clearing, arms once again crossed over her chest as she eyes them up like a hawk studying its prey.

“We accept. We’ll all come to Gusu with everything we can carry to start things anew.”

And just like that Lan Xichen gains a new branch of his family in the most unlikely of places.

#the untamed fanfic #Wangxian #Nielan #Lan Xichen #Lan Wangji #Nie Mingjue #Wei Wuxian #Wen Qing #Wen Ning #Prompt fill #I hope this works!#@ everyone who's sent in a request over the last couple of weeks:#I see the requests I promise and I'm trying to come up with stuff to write haha #It's been a busy couple of weeks

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amedetoiles · 4 years

Text

ok but it’s honestly hilarious that anyone thinks jc actually hates wwx in cql

let’s look at all the facts

wwx comes back to life after being dead for 16 years and what does jc do the moment he figures it out?

pours some tea, throws it without drinking a single drop in true dramatic angry grape fashion, yells A LOT, with tears, “YOU DIDN’T GO TO LOTUS PIER AFTER YOU CAME BACK”

die! in! a! fire! threats

and then... sticks a child on him?

lmfao what?

wwx, literally known to be a genius, jc who gREW UP WITH HIM and knows he’s a genius, and jc’s idea of a guard is their idiot 16 yo nephew? who can wield zidian? who he didn’t inform that this is the infamous wwx who got his parents killed? and then takes literally the entire yunmengjiang core with him to find wen ning? aND the freakin dog leaves the room too???????

lmfao ok jiang cheng ok

wwx prances across the country with lwj without a mask on and nobody in the world knows that wwx has returned because jc didn’t tell anyone

lqrstrokesbeard.gif

wwx fucking waltzes into jinlintai and jc is a huge bitch about it but still doesn’t tell anyone mxy is actually wwx

all of lanlingjin is going after wwx, meanwhile jc is literally the most passive person ever, already has his arm up to block the fire butterflies before wwx even throws it, and doesn’t take out his sword even once LMFAO ok this is the man who threatened to burn the fuck out of wwx ok

jgy makes wwx take off his mask and jc’s face is like ‘FFS I TELL NO ONE AND YOU STILL GET FCKIN CAUGHT?!’

lwj declares his love for wwx in front of the entire cultivation world with fifty swords pointed at them and jc is honest to god like ‘this bitch is taking my brother again’ (but also like so sad? and envious? bc lwj is standing where he can’t?)

(sidenote: please have bonus lxc on the side giving the softest fanboy sigh like yes baby brother you go baby brother protect your man)

jiang

‘i

hate

wwx’

wanyin

let’s not forget iconic exasperated younger sibling eye roll at siege of burial mounds take 2

meanwhile the hall of jc tears in exhibit cql46 is open for viewing

also this face jc makes when he’s angry yelling again but then wwx starts bleeding

HE FUCKING KEPT CHENQING FOR 16 YEARS AND IT DOESN’T EVEN SQUEAK WHEN WWX PLAYS IT BECAUSE JC PROBABLY CLEANED IT EVERY SINGLE DAY

bruh

bRUH

anyway tl;dr jiang cheng still loves wei wuxian with every fiber of his broken angry grape soul. thanks for coming to my ted talk.

#the untamed #mdzs #wei wuxian #jiang cheng #mdzs meta #陈情令 #yunmeng shuangjie #!mine #!meta #i took a break from writing yunmeng shuangjie to scream yell about yunmeng shuangjie here #i love my idiot brothers #they're so stupid #but they love each other so much #long post for ts #i should probably put some of this under a cut #i love (1) fashionable angry grape

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hunxi-guilai · 4 years

Note

Hello! I saw this bts of the directors explaining to wyb and xz about the whole mdzs plot, and i was confused because they kept saying that lwj wasnt in love with wwx yet during the nightless city battle - that he was neutral about it all - but i always thought lwj already had feelings for wwx, which was why he kept trying to bring wwx back to gusu. In that sense, when do you think lwj fell in love with wwx? Was he really neutral during the battle at nightless city?

hi anon! again, an excellent question that I’m going to answer by referring you to @pumpkinpaix‘s iconic meta, which I read early on in my CQL fandom days and was very formative for how I personally read and understand the development of the wangxian relationship in CQL. Also, this meta features the line “Lan Wangji falls in love like a lightning strike,” which is one of those lines that I read and my brain was like “so you’re going to have that memorized from now until forever” and honestly I’m not even mad about it.

Because it’s such a good line??? And it’s so true??? Because Lan Wangji falls in love with all the swiftness and irreversibility of a lightning strike, but what follows after is the burning -- the slow conflagration of embers smoldering for uncounted years against wind and rain, a long-burning fire that becomes both the flame and the ash to Wei Wuxian’s phoenix.

Exactly when Lan Wangji begins conceptualizing his feelings as romantic love remains an open question, I think; maybe he already knew by the end of that first summer in Cloud Recesses. Or maybe, when they meet in a sunlit forest and Lan Wangji asks who he is to Wei Wuxian, he’s still searching for the words to describe what impossible, confusing, confounding man means to him. He might know for certain when he turns to his brother on the steps of Jinlintai and says I want to bring someone back to Cloud Recesses, knowing full well that his brother will immediately make the connection, see the parallels, and understand all the implications of what Lan Wangji isn’t saying. Or perhaps, while walking away from Wei Wuxian on the path leading out of the Burial Mounds, he’s still trying to de-tangle the storm of emotions in his heart -- his duty to his sect, his devotion to Wei Wuxian, the restrictions of societal expectation and the heavy weight of choice.

Regardless, I think we can all agree that Lan Wangji's devotion to Wei Wuxian begins early and deepens swiftly into vast, unplumbed depths that even Lan Wangji is afraid to discover. Whether you want to call that love from the beginning is up to you.

I do think that what that behind-the-scenes discussion is getting at, though, is how pivotal the second siege of Nightless City is to Lan Wangji, and the way he understands their relationship. Wei Wuxian’s death clarifies Lan Wangji in a way that nothing else has been able to. It doesn’t add or subtract from Lan Wangji’s existing emotions and feelings and frighteningly deep devotion, but it dramatically re-calibrates his world, highlights his priorities in stark, undeniable order. If Lan Wangji had any doubts in his mind as to whether or not he loved Wei Wuxian, watching his soulmate tumble into the abyss erases those doubts. If he was ever muddied, confused about what choices he should make -- sect duties or Wei Wuxian, broad and sunny path or single-plank bridge -- he is absolute, crystalline, ice-clarity in this moment. Nothing could be worse than losing Wei Wuxian, he comes to understand, in the precise moment he loses Wei Wuxian. And therein lies his particular tragedy; therein lies his regret. That he didn’t stand with him at Nightless City. That he didn’t stand with him sooner.

Which is why, after Nightless City, Lan Wangji no longer hesitates to declare whose side he’s on, regardless of who he must fight. He saves A-Yuan; he makes a futile, meaningless stand in the empty shell of a former home in the Burial Mounds. He challenges his uncle while having his back flayed open. He is firmly, unquestionably, unflinchingly on Wei Wuxian’s side, even if Wei Wuxian isn’t there to see it.

He spends the next sixteen years mourning, hoping, and atoning in equal measure. Now that he understands the magnitude of what he’s lost, he’ll never hesitate again.

#all of which is to say #I don't think Lan Wangji was 'neutral' exactly #I think he was confused and torn and wasn't sure whose side he should be fighting on #or if those sides even conflicted with each other #I still think the best word to describe what Wei Wuxian's death did to Lan Wangji is 'clarification'#because after Wei Wuxian dies Lan Wangji goes #'oh. oh I understand now'#'he was everything to me'#'and I lost him'#ask and ye shall receive #wangxian #Lan Wangji

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ouyangzizhensdad · 4 years

Note

I find it really sweet that WWX thinks of LWJ's comfort, while LWJ thinks of WWX's. Since what LWJ does for WWX has been noted multiple times by several ppl repeatedly, but I keep remembering the time when WWX thinks that LWJ hasn't eaten in the past few days and goes with him to take lotus seeds to eat and the time when he thinks to stay with LWJ at an inn because he's with LWJ. And when he says he will eat his cooking even it's just a pan with a hole in it. And LWJ reciprocates in caring too.

It is clear from MXTX’s three novels that she loves CPs that are equally protective and tender toward each other.

You’re right, we need to make a compilation of all the protective and tender things WWX does for LWJ in the novel. Here are my contributions:

WWX getting angry whenever someone suggests anything mean about LWJ

WWX worrying about LWJ’s safety Yi City before being reminded that LWJ is going to be fine bc he’s a peerless badass

WWX placing a bandage over LWJ’s cut during the Second Siege

WWX worrying about getting LWJ’s clothes dirty

WWX worrying about LWJ not liking the food because he’s not finishing it but it was just because LWJ wanted to keep talking with WWX and he couldn’t eat while he talked 🥺

WWX drinking wine in LWJ’s stead when he’s being pressured by LZX.

WWX asking WN to go back when Drunk LWJ seems upset by his presence.

WWX playing his flute just for LWJ because LWJ asked him to do it in Drunk 1 (in a deleted chapter of the original version of the novel)

WWX going along with LWJ’s antics in Drunk 2, and WWX being scared that he’s making LWJ do something against his will (until it becomes very clear that drunk LWJ wants to play too!)

WWX getting all the warm water for LWJ’s bath in Drunk 3 so that he doesn’t have to go to bed dirty (and washing his face in Drunk 1)

WWX telling LWJ not to leave Jinlintai with him because of what it would do to his reputation even though he wants nothing more in his heart than to have someone stand by him 🥺

WWX realising at Guanyin Temple that LWJ might still misunderstand his words and get hurt, and so he gives him the most sincere and transparent and effusive love declaration ever

#anon ask #wangxian #wwx #wei wuxian #lwj #lan wangji #Anonymous

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missholland · 4 years

Text

WangXian VS The World

We all remember the final confrontation with Jin Guangyao happening throughout the final 3 episodes of The Untamed. This is where the biggest secrets were revealed and WWX’s name was officially clear.

As much as I love watching JGY manipulating everyone with words until his very last breath and Nie Director finally coming out as the ultimate final boss, somehow I was left just a teeny tiny bit underwhelmed. Why? Because this whole arc with so much talking has to follow the incredible confrontation at Burial Mounds arc in episode 44 and 45.

Has this beautiful man ever failed us before?

The Untamed writers are absolute genius in foreshadowing events. The key here is to put episode 44-45 in comparison with what happened in episode 32-33: the infamous bloodbath at Nightless City. Let’s look at the similarities: literally all major clans’ cultivators were in one place together, publicly shitting on WWX without knowing they were all played like ‘puppets’ by JGY, WWX playing flute, LWJ slaying baddies to clear the way for his man. Both times, there were random faces talking about how they hated WWX, prompting our dense-in-love antihero to go ‘Urmm... who da hell are you?’.

Dig a little deeper, back then at Nightless City, WWX was under a lot of influence from Yin Iron and it messed pretty hard with his temperament. Being accused of a bunch of stuff he didn’t do, his response was quite negative - laughing, crying, provoking, actually killing a guard in front of everyone’s eyes.

16 years later at Burial Mounds, his expression is completely different: calm, clear, challenging others instead of provoking, and let’s not forget his cheeky wit that we all fell in love with!

You’d think ‘Man, only if he did that back then’. Well, if he did, we would not have the latter top-notch 17 episodes to finish the series. He honestly could not anyway, not just because of Yin Iron’s influence, but also having to walk that lonely path alone i.e. WWX vs the world. It’s no longer the case in episode 44, because LOOK AT HOW POWERFUL THIS SCENE IS:

WangXian vs the world, and not even LWJ’s Grand Master could get him back to stand with the mainstream. What comes after this is a series of diss by the righteous cultivators aiming right at our Hanguang Jun. Still, LWJ did not flinch even for a second. His commitment and determination to stay by WWX’s side is stronger than everything, even the so-called orthodoxy. WWX, now empowered with the trust and support from his soulmate, slowly unfolded the dodgy events and exposed Su She’s motive. The whole solving murder mystery bit inside the Demon-Subdue palace was outstanding: WWX’s smart tactics, LWJ’s silent aids whenever his man needs, Su She losing his shit, Lan Qiren’s annoyance toward the ‘evil’ man who corrupted his nephew, Lan babies’ loyalty with WangXian, everyone’s reactions throughout the big reveal.

What makes me enjoy this arc a lot more than the final 3 episodes is the action. OH. MY. GOD. As soon as WangXian flew out of the palace and landed in the middle of Burial Mounds’ ground like absolute gods, I actually became convinced NOTHING else in the world mattered anymore. Yes, we already saw LWJ pushing people out of WWX’s way before in episode 32, but this time, their connection and flawless collaboration is simply invincible. Just recall the moment WWX playing Chenqing with red eyes and tears on his cheek, versus the moment when he confidently plays the bamboo flute next to Lan ‘protect my man, engaged!’ Wangji.

As usual, LWJ did not talk much in this arc, but his contribution is instrumental in assisting WWX. Unfortunately, it’s not really the case in the final arc at Guanyin Temple as his role seemed to be reduced greatly. In true WWX fashion, he sacrificed himself for the ‘irrelevances’ (in Jiang Cheng’s words), even though they have literally been chanting for him to be killed. But does it matter to him? I can comfortably say ‘Nope, screw it’. Because just in the previous episode, after learning about what LWJ endured over 16 years waiting for WWX to return, he already established that in this life, having LWJ as his soulmate is enough, he will listen to his heart with a clear conscience. Without LWJ’s love and devotion, I’m certain the tragedy in episode 32-33 would repeat itself.

Arhhhh so beautiful!

That’s my take on what I consider the best final showdown in The Untamed. These days I don’t really rewatch episode 48-50 in detail, apart from WangXian entering Guanyin Temple and the last struggle between JGY and LXC. But episode 44-45 is definitely my feel-good go-to storyline. It’s a grand unspoken upgrade of LWJ’s declaration of commitment in episode 42 when WWX’s identity was revealed in Jinlintai. It truly gives me a massive feel of satisfaction.

#wei ying #wei wuxian #yiling laozu #lan zhan #lan wangji #hanguang jun #wangxian #the untamed #chen qing ling #mo dao zu shi #favourite episode #thoughts #xiao zhan #wang yibo

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bloody-bee-tea · 4 years

Note

wow, i am. Super invested in that au where lxc steals jc away to the cloud recesses to get away from his parents. i would seriously love to see the arrival in cloud recesses and jc reuniting with wwx (and lwj) (possibly as "the end" for the writing meme?)! but if you can't, then that's okay, i get it and there's no pressure; i just wanted to let you know that i love that au a whole lot. thank you so much for writing it

You have no idea how happy it makes me to know that you’re invested in that series. I did write the arrival part, though it’s certainly not the end, and it got rather long. It’s 4k, so you can either read it here on AO3, or watch out for the read more.

Previous part

The nextmorning is quiet. Jiang Cheng still can’t believe that Lan Xichen is willing totake him back to the Cloud Recesses, but he pulls Jiang Cheng close as he stepsonto his sword again and they are definitely not flying back to Lotus Pier, so.

“Are youokay?” Lan Xichen asks him when Caiyi Town is already looming at the horizon.

Jiang Chengbelatedly realizes that he’s shaking again, and since he’s still wrapped in LanXichen’s cloak he can’t even pretend it’s because of the cold.

Jiang Chengdoesn’t know what’s going to happen, to him and to Lan Xichen for taking himaway, and it scares him.

“Don’tworry,” Lan Xichen gently says, because he has been far too understanding withJiang Cheng so far. “It will be okay.”

Jiang Chengscoffs at that, more desperation than anything, because he can’t see yet howanything will turn out okay.

Madame Yu ismost likely already rallying the troops and Lan Xichen might want the best forhim, but even he won’t be able to convince his uncle to let Jiang Cheng stay.

“It willbe,” Lan Xichen says again, briefly tightens his grip on Jiang Cheng and thenthey are already going down, the stairs up to the Cloud Recesses right beforethem.

Jiang Chengthinks it’s stupid that no one is allowed to fly into the Cloud Recesses, but he’sdependent on their goodwill to even house him for a little while, so he doesn’tsay anything.

“Can youmake it up there with your back?” Lan Xichen asks, and he reaches out again,clearly wanting to check Jiang Cheng over, but Jiang Cheng tilts away from him.

It might bethe first time Madame Yu has used Zidian on him, but it’s not the first time hehas been punished and he doesn’t want Lan Xichen to see the evidence of that.Besides, it’s really not that bad. His back is still mostly numb, but he knowsthat he’s not bleeding, so there is nothing Lan Xichen can do anyway.

“I’llmanage,” he presses out, because he doesn’t want to lie to Lan Xichen, notafter he has been so incredibly kind to him, but he also doesn’t want to admitthat he’s not sure his legs will carry him all the way up.

Lan Xichen heldon to Zidian for a long time, and he doesn’t complain about it either, eventhough his hand must hurt as well. Jiang Cheng is not about to appear any weakerthan he already has.

Still, LanXichen stays close behind him, hovering almost, and Jiang Cheng grits histeeth. He will not swoon right into his arms. He’s stronger than that.

They areonly halfway up the stairs when someone comes rushing down towards them. JiangCheng barely has the time to lift his head before Wei Wuxian gathers him up ina hug.

“Careful,” LanXichen admonishes, “his back is hurt.”

“It is?”Wei Wuxian says and frantically turns Jiang Cheng around to look for himself.

“Stop that,”Jiang Cheng hisses, but he can feel his eyes burning and he doesn’t protestwhen Wei Wuxian pulls him into his arms again.

“I’m soglad you’re here,” Wei Wuxian breathes out and Jiang Cheng clings tighter tohim.

He hasmissed his brother.

“How didyou know we were coming?” Jiang Cheng mutters into his robes, but it’s not WeiWuxian who answers him.

“Unclewants to see you,” Lan Wangji says from behind Wei Wuxian and every ounce ofwarmth leaves Jiang Cheng.

Of courseletters, and declarations of war, travel faster than two people. Madame Yu hasalready informed Lan Qiren of Jiang Cheng’s misgivings.

Jiang Chengpulls away from Wei Wuxian and takes one good look at his brother. He seemshappy, looks healthy and well, unburdened in a way he never has been at Lotus Pierand Jiang Cheng is happy for his brother.

Really, heis.

As long asno one knows how horribly envious he is of him, it’s all okay.

“It will beokay,” Lan Xichen says as he steps up and curls one gentle hand around JiangCheng’s wrist. “There is no need for you to worry.”

That’s easyfor Lan Xichen to say, Jiang Cheng thinks bitterly and then feels ashamed. LanXichen has been nothing but kind and supportive, even before this whole messhappened, and he doesn’t deserve Jiang Cheng’s ire.

“It reallywill be okay, Jiang Cheng,” Wei Wuxian adds, and Jiang Cheng has to swallow afew times, so he doesn’t break out in tears then and there.

Wei Wuxiannever understood the kind of pressure that was on Jiang Cheng, didn’t realizethat his antics and playful displays of his abilities made life just that muchharder for Jiang Cheng, so of course he thinks it will be okay.

It was easyfor him to just walk away. It’s not quite that easy for Jiang Cheng.

Wei Wuxiankeeps on chattering the rest of the stairs, catching Jiang Cheng up on thingshe has missed, and while Jiang Cheng has dearly missed his brother’s presencein his life, it’s just too much right now.

Jiang Chengknows it’s unfair, he knows, but allhe can see is that Wei Wuxian thrived and carved out a place for his own in theworld while Jiang Cheng crumbled under the burden at home.

“Noise isforbidden in the Cloud Recesses,” Lan Wangji reminds his husband as soon as theystep through the gate and Wei Wuxian’s mouth closes with an audible click.

Jiang Chengwould tease him about being whipped, but he’s too relieved that Wei Wuxian isfinally silent for him to disturb the newfound peace.

Plus, hecan’t just go around breaking rules, not now. Especially not now. Heneeds to endear Lan Qiren to him somehow, otherwise he’ll be kicked out soonerthan he fears.

Lan Wangjileads them on, and while Wei Wuxian sticks close to his husband, he looks backat Jiang Cheng with concerned eyes more than once.

Jiang Chengis an angry person by default, his temper quick to flare, but even he knows hisbrother doesn’t deserve the anger bubbling inside him.

But allJiang Cheng can think about is that Wei Wuxian had ample opportunity to get himout of Lotus Pier himself, if he was so damn concerned about Jiang Cheng, andyet he did nothing. So what right does Wei Wuxian even have to look at him likethat.

Jiang Chengstays behind Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, keeps some distance, and he’s surprisedto find that Lan Xichen stays right by his side.

It seemslike he wants to say something, his gaze heavy on Wei Wuxian but in the end, hedoesn’t say anything and instead just rests a reassuring hand at the small of JiangCheng’s back.

Jiang Chengbitterly wonders how fast Lan Xichen will put distance between them again whenLan Qiren tells him he has to leave. Jiang Cheng can’t imagine that Lan Xichenwill stay by his side then.

Lan Qirenis already waiting for them, a letter from Madame Yu in front of him on thetable and he waits till all of them are seated before he fixes Lan Xichen witha stern glance.

“What doyou think you’ve been doing?” Lan Qiren asks him, and he doesn’t even spareJiang Cheng a glance.

“What youhave taught me to, uncle,” Lan Xichen respectfully replies, and he doesn’t seemoverly worried at all.

“Tell mewhat happened,” Lan Qiren demands from Jiang Cheng then and Jiang Cheng canhardly find his voice.

He nevercould handle stern and disapproving authority figures.

“The letter—,”he eventually gets out, but Lan Qiren interrupts him, to the clear surprise ofLan Xichen.

“I knowwhat the letter says. I want you to tell me what happened.”

Jiang Chengopens his mouth, but nothing comes out. He can’t tell Lan Qiren what happened,can’t say it in front of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji.

He can’tadmit to how weak he is.

Lan Xichenlightly grabs his wrist again, and something in Jiang Cheng immediatelyunclenches a bit.

“Uncle, Ican tell you what happened,” he says, and Jiang Cheng bows his head down,trying to hide how grateful he is to Lan Xichen.

It is stillhard, so damn hard, to listen to Lan Xichen tell his uncle what happened backat Lotus Pier and Jiang Cheng can feel the shame burn on his neck and ears.

He’sstronger than that. He should be stronger than that.

“JiangCheng,” Lan Qiren addresses him once Lan Xichen has stopped talking. “Has thisbeen the first time?”

Jiang Chengfreezes in his seat. He can’t admit that it’s been going on for years, can’tsay that out loud, because then it makes it real;if he lays it out into the world he can never take it back, can’t pretend thateverything is alright ever again, and he just can’t do it.

But he alsocan’t lie to Lan Qiren. Lying is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses.

“It’s thefirst time she attacked me with Zidian,” Jiang Cheng finally settles on,because it’s not a lie, and it’s an answer to Lan Qiren’s question.

Lan Qirenhums and strokes his beard, scrutinizing Jiang Cheng all the while, and hewants to melt into his seat, wants to just get up and run, but he forceshimself to sit still. He knows what Lan Qiren will eventually tell him, but hehas to hear it from him.

Jiang Chenghopes he can make it to Jinlintai before Madame Yu finds him.

“You can’tsend him away,” Wei Wuxian suddenly speaks up but is immediately silenced by ascathing glance from Lan Qiren.

Of coursehe can send him away. He has to if he wants to avoid a fight with Madame Yu, JiangCheng knows that. He wonders why Lan Qiren even made him sit through this, whenthe outcome is so clear.

“Xichen,you know better than to cause an incident like that,” Lan Qiren reprimands him,and Lan Xichen respectfully bows his head, though he still doesn’t seem overlyworried.

“What doesshe want?” Jiang Cheng finally speaks up, rather rudely, he is aware of that,but he needs to know what he has to expect once he leaves the Cloud Recesses. “Whatdid she say in the letter?”

Lan Qiren takesthe piece of paper into his hand and scans the contents again, though JiangCheng is sure there is no need for that. He definitely knows if Madame Yupromised him a war or not.

“Shedemands for you to be immediately handed over, or she will no longer recognizethis Clan as a friend. She promises to come here and drag you out personally,no matter who she has to cut down in the process,” Lan Qiren says, and it mustbe her words.

Jiang Chengdoubts Lan Qiren would phrase it that way.

“Then shegoes on about how much you still need to be taught,” here he stumbles over apassage and Jiang Cheng knows what’s coming.

Madame Yualways has the punishment meted out already.

“Five whipswith Zidian for daring to defy her, five for daring to leave, and ten formaking her lose face.”

Jiang Chenggoes cold at that, the blood rushing in his ears loudly; he can barely hear thesharp inhale from Wei Wuxian, can barely feel the slight increase in Lan Xichen’sgrip on his wrist.

Jiang Chengcould barely stand being hit by Zidian once. He will not survive twenty hits.

“She offersto discipline Xichen, too,” Lan Qiren goes on and it’s that that finally joltsJiang Cheng out of his shock.

“That won’tbe necessary,” he says, completely detached from himself.

He gets upon shaky feet and pushes Lan Xichen’s hand off him in the process.

“I will betaking my leave. Thank you for indulging me for so long,” he presses out and ignoresWei Wuxian’s outraged noise.

He cannotallow Lan Xichen to be hurt, again, just because he is too weak.

“Sit down,foolish boy,” Lan Qiren snaps at him and Jiang Cheng’s legs crumble underneathhim like his strings have been cut.

“Uncle,”Lan Xichen softly admonishes him and scoots closer to Jiang Cheng as he puts asoothing hand back on Jiang Cheng’s arm.

Lan Qirendoesn’t apologize, but he does take a deep breath before he speaks again.

“You willdo no such thing,” he tells Jiang Cheng and his voice is a fraction softer thanbefore.

Or maybethat’s just Jiang Cheng’s imagination.

“JiangCheng, you’re going to stay here,” Wei Wuxian helpfully chimes in, and JiangCheng blinks at him.

He can’tstay here. Madame Yu will come to get him. And she will not stop just because afew other disciples get in her way.

Jiang Chengcan’t do that to them.

“I can’t stayhere,” he gives back, though he wishes for nothing more.

At least hegot a day of reprieve from Madame Yu’s anger. It has to be enough.

Jiang Chengfights tears back again, because Madame Yu will not allow him to come to theCloud Recesses again, and he knows it. This is the last time he sees this placeand it hurts him more than he had expected.

“Of courseyou’re going to stay here,” Lan Qiren decidedly says and completely takes JiangCheng off guard with that.

“What?”

“There isno way that dreadful woman will get her hands on you again,” Lan Qiren goes onand Jiang Cheng thinks this is the most emotional he has ever seen him.

“She won’ttake no for an answer,” Jiang Cheng tries, because he needs them to understand.

Madame Yuwill come here with the intent to fight if Jiang Cheng isn’t handed back toher.

“She willhave to,” Lan Wangji says, and Jiang Cheng is so surprised his mouth dropsopen.

“We willnot allow her to hurt you again,” Lan Xichen tells him and slings his armaround his waist. “She won’t get another chance to ever do that again.”

“She willfight you,” Jiang Cheng still says, even though he melts into Lan Xichen’s armaround him.

“Let hertry,” Lan Qiren says with a decisive nod. “It’s the perfect opportunity to giveher a piece of my mind.”

Jiang Chengcan do nothing but stare at him.

“I’m not apart of this clan,” Jiang Cheng still protests, even though he just wants toaccept what everyone is telling him, gods, does he ever, but there is stillthis fear lodged inside his chest.

The fearthat they will come to think of him as a burden, will come to resent him forwhat they did for him and then kick him out eventually anyway.

“Whateveryou’re thinking, stop it,” Wei Wuxian tells him, and comes over to his side to slightlypunch his shoulder. “I love you and they care for you, and there is nothingthat will change that.”

Jiang Chengwonders where Wei Wuxian learned to hone in on the root of a problem that quicklybut he’s too busy brushing the tears out of his eyes to question it.

Lan Qirenclears his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the amount of emotions that arebeing displayed and Wei Wuxian sends a sheepish grin his way that almost makesJiang Cheng laugh.

“Uncle, ifthat is decided, we should get Jiang Cheng to the healer,” Lan Xichen speaksup. “He did get hit with Zidian after all.”

“Right,”Wei Wuxian gasps. “I remember how much that had hurt,” he says and rubs his shoulder,but Jiang Cheng lowers his head.

Wei Wuxianhadn’t gone down after one hit, and Jiang Cheng has some difficulties swallowinghis shame down.

He alwayshas been too weak.

“Dismissed,”Lan Qiren says, without regard to Jiang Cheng’s inner turmoil and Lan Xichendoesn’t hesitate to get him out of there.

“Brother,”Lan Wangji says as they pass him, clearly noticing Wei Wuxian’s dejected face,but Lan Xichen doesn’t stop.

“Later,” hepromises as he guides Jiang Cheng away from them.

Jiang Chengwonders if there will ever be a time again when he doesn’t appear weak andhelpless in front of Lan Xichen.

“I don’t needa healer,” Jiang Cheng protests when they are out of earshot from the others. “It’snot that bad.”

He’s notlooking forward to having to explain the other scars on his body.

“It wouldput my mind at ease if someone checked you over,” Lan Xichen says, though hedoesn’t insist on dragging Jiang Cheng there.

Jiang Chenghas never been to a healer after his mother’s punishment; she always claimed itwasn’t necessary. He feels even weaker, now, that apparently it is necessary.

But hestill let’s Lan Xichen bring him to the healer. It’s better not to stir up anymore trouble than he already has.

“Lan Yi,”Lan Xichen greets the elderly woman and she immediately fixes him with a sternlook.

“Do nottell me you got bitten by that donkey again,” she says, and Jiang Cheng isfascinated to watch Lan Xichen blush slightly.

“Youpromised not to bring it up,” Lan Xichen reminds her, and Lan Yi tuts at him.

“And youpromised not to get hurt again. What is that?” he asks with a nod at Lan Xichen’shand.

Jiang Chengstartles to see that it’s bruised, but of course it is. Lan Xichen held on toZidian for a long time.

“I am sosorry,” Jiang Cheng mutters and tries to step away from Lan Xichen, though hewon’t let him.

It stilldraws Lan Yi’s eyes to him.

“Is hisinjury your fault?” she demands to know, and Jiang Cheng shrinks in on himself.

“It is not.Lan Yi, be gentle, he has been hurt as well. I want you to check him overfirst,” Lan Xichen tells her, and Lan Yi immediately seems more approachable.

“You’re hurt?Where?”

“His back.You would do us all a favor if you could examine him.”

“Oh, shushyou. Come here, young man. What’s your name?”

“Jiang Cheng,”he replies, and he can see the look Lan Xichen and Lan Yi exchange at that.

“Do youwant Xichen to stay?” she wants to know, and Jiang Cheng immediately shakes hishead.

He doesn’twant him to see just how weak Jiang Cheng is, and always has been.

“Out then, Xichen.But don’t go too far, you’ll be next with that hand,” Lan Yi says as she shoosLan Xichen out again.

“Now, robesoff, let me have a look at that back. How did you get hurt?” Lan Yi asks as shegets a few pots ready, her back turned to give Jiang Cheng time to undress.

“Zidian,”Jiang Cheng whispers and Lan Yi goes still for a second.

“Isn’t thatMadame Yu’s weapon?” she asks, and Jiang Cheng only manages a weak nod at that.

“Alright,boy, let me see,” Lan Yi says, and suddenly she sounds more like Jiang Cheng’sgrandma than a stern healer.

He turnsaround, shows her his back, and he’s holding his breath. It’s the only reasonhe hears the soft, surprised intake of breath from her.

Jiang Chengsees her reach out and he hunches in on himself, draws his shoulders up untilthey almost touch his ears, and it hurts, but he can’t bear this otherwise.

“The skinis not broken,” Lan Yi says after a long moment and then gets a salve out. “I’mgoing to put that on your back, okay?” she asks, and Jiang Cheng is so patheticallygrateful for that question, he can only nod.

“Is thiswhere Xichen’s injury comes from, too?” she asks as she gently slathers the nodoubt already fully formed bruised on his back with a strongly smelling salve.

“Yes,”Jiang Cheng admits and Lan Yi nods.

“Good,” shesays and Jiang Cheng wonders what about the fact that he got Lan Xichen hurtcould possibly be good. “I always knew that boy would make the right choice.”

Jiang Chengfrowns, but he doesn’t comment, doesn’t want to argue with someone, yet again,and so he just stays still until Lan Yi is done wrapping his back up.

“I can giveyou something for the scars,” she gently tells him, and Jiang Cheng freezes up.“It won’t make them disappear, but they should smooth over a bit.”

“Thank you,”Jiang Cheng presses out and Lan Yi gently pats his shoulder.

“Getdressed, we’re gonna bring Xichen back in,” she tells him and Jiang Chengrushes to obey.

“Please,don’t tell him,” Jiang Cheng mutters, as he wraps his robes back around him andLan Yi gives him a small smile.

“Of coursenot. It’s your story to tell.”

Jiang Chengnods, though he doubts he ever will. It’s not a story that should be told.

“How is he?”is the first thing Lan Xichen asks when he gets back in and Lan Yi immediately reachesfor his hand.

She sucksin a sharp breath when she examines his hand and forearm.

“He willheal. For how long did you hold on to that whip?” she wants to know and LanXichen squares his shoulders.

“For aslong as was necessary,” he gives back and Lan Yi softens again.

Jiang Chengis gonna get whiplash from her emotional flexibility.

“Good,” shedecides and then slathers the same salve onto Lan Xichen’s arm before she wrapsit up, tighter than she had Jiang Cheng’s back.

“You willnot use that arm for two days, at least,” she sternly instructs Lan Xichen whonods obediently, and Jiang Cheng presses his lips together.

Two days. LanXichen got hurt enough to be indisposed for two days.

“Stop that,”Lan Xichen gently admonishes him and brings Jiang Cheng back out of histhoughts. “It’s not so bad. She likes to make it sound worse than it is.”

“If it’snot so bad, what are you still doing here?” she says and pushes Lan Xichen outof the room. “Don’t come back here until you’re bleeding,” she calls after himand Jiang Cheng can’t help the small smile when Lan Xichen’s laughter driftsback in.

“Gladly,”he calls back and then puts his head back through the door. “Let me show youyour room.”

“Okay,”Jiang Cheng agrees and respectfully bows to Lan Yi.

“None ofthat nonsense,” she says and swats his arms. “I want to see you in two days,with him. Do not get hurt again until then.”

“Thank you,”Jiang Cheng gives back, damn well knowing that he can’t promise that.

Not ifMadame Yu is on her way here.

Jiang Chengwalks towards the guest quarters, where he and his siblings had stayed duringtheir lessons here, but Lan Xichen steers him towards the hanshi.

“You’re nota guest, Jiang Cheng,” Lan Xichen gently reminds him. “Until we have prepared apermanent room for you, you’re going to stay with me, if that’s okay. WeiWuxian offered, too, but I wasn’t sure you’d want that.”

Jiang Chengimagines it, staying with Wei Wuxian and his husband, in their home, and he shakes his head.

“No, you’reright. Thank you,” Jiang Cheng tells him and is slightly taken off guard by LanXichen’s big smile.

“I hope you’llfind everything to your satisfaction,” Lan Xichen tells him and Jiang Chengstares at him, astonished.

It’s notLan Xichen or his hosting skills who will be found lacking, Jiang Cheng knowsit, and he can only hope it takes Lan Xichen a while yet to realize that JiangCheng is more trouble than he’s worth.

But fornow, he’ll take it.

Next part

#bt writes #bt answers #anon #xicheng #abusive parents #self-worth issues #angst #hurt/comfort #no on-screen abuse #protective lan xichen #the untamed #Anonymous

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cinnamonandpancakes · 4 years

Text

Thinkin about the Yi City Crew (as you do) and idk, I think the tragedy (in CQL) for LWJ in particular is seeing these cultivators who he took notice of (he knew their names! when they met! he doesn’t like people this is very unusual!) reduced to this terrible fate where one’s soul is shattered and the other is a living corpse doomed to walk the earth forever and how that mirrors him so completely.

WWX’s soul was presumed lost! He was left to uphold their promise together and raise their son alone! Song Zichen doesn’t even have a son! He just has a bag holding the shattered remnants of the man he was going to spend his life with, who he cruelly pushed away and spent the rest of his life trying to find and make amends and then had to watch kill himself as he realised he’d killed his dearest friend (soulmate). Idk it’s Tragic in a different way to the MDZS Yi City.

There IS something incredibly tragic about WWX missing meeting his shishu and being the reason for his demise due to his demonic cultivation but the tragedy there is of Missed Connection. The CQL tragedy is of connection brutally ripped away and that just gets me more, especially in relation to LWJ whose whole life is filled with these connections that are brutally severed, beginning with his parents and then continuing through almost everyone he’s ever cared about or admired.

In the book I liked the Yi City arc, don’t get me wrong, I love Xue Yang as a villain and it’s a great lil section but I think having that point of connection beforehand where the reader already knows the people involved makes it that more emotionally impactful. After all, let’s be real, Yi City is mainly a plot vessel to explain how Empathy works so it doesn’t need to be explained later with Nie Mingjue’s head with a lil bit of angst sprinkled on top.

Also! WRT WWX, Xiao Xingchen isn’t just a name! He opens that coffin and it’s someone he knew! Someone he respected and whose opinion he cared about! Someone to whom he’d expressed a wish to emulate! There’s a particularly angsty blend of CQL and MDZS where WWX is still the First Demonic Cultivator but he knew Xiao Xingchen before his death and he’s slapped in the face with the knowledge that if he hadn’t messed with this cultivation then his shishu whom he greatly admired would probably still be alive, another on the list of people he cares about whose deaths he indirectly caused.

I think there’s a blend of canons that I think I’d like best where the Yin Iron arc doesn’t happen, but Wen Qing and Jiang Yanli and Wen Ning still go to the lectures and WWX and LWJ still go nighthunting together after the lectures and they still meet XXC and SZC out doing their thing, baby faced and wide eyed and they all express their wish to leave politics behind to just help people. (The don’t fight Xue Yang because I think it’s funny when he’s Baby)

Then they get called back to go to the Wen Cultivation Conference and they thrash everyone at archery because power couple (ribbon shenanigans are more along the lines of WWX trips and pulls it off and LWJ goes bright red and freezes, it’s v awkward) [[JC sees WQ at the competition and does the best he’s ever done]].

Then the Wens do their ‘we’re banning nighthunting’ and CR burns and Indoctrination happens. Xuanwu cave, LWJ bites WWX as in MDZS because that’s hilarious. Lotus Pier as in CQL except Yanli is sent to Meishan because fuck Lanling. WWX becomes CorpseMan a la MDZS because all the giggling female corpses is Gross but also like such a Look, WWX accepts help a la CQL because I like the vibe of LWJ trying and failing to bring his crush back from the clutches of Evil.

Idk if I’d keep the Shooting at Wens thing from the pheonix mountain hunt? on one hand it demonstrates how everyone is scared of the Jins now (and that scene where wwx shoots 5 arrows is hot) but on the other I don’t that no one would speak up?? and I don’t think the Jins would want to be Conspicuously Evil so soon??? Blindfold yes, no kiss tho because I found the ‘LWJ punches trees when angry’ aspect of it annoying and I’d rather have a heartfelt talk about being soulmates (could have a sexy scene of LWJ walking up and taking off the blindfold and declaring WWX doesn’t need to prove himself to Jin Zixun)[[maybe an almost kiss before yanli appears]]

Qiongqi path: Wen Rescue as in CQL because that shit hurted but Wen Ning would Definitely Be Dead a la MDZS. Burial Mounds Life happens. [[JC refuses the comb from Wen Qing ‘what use would I have for it?’ he says]] There is no second flute, WWX lost control and Jin Zixuan is dead at his hand and his hand alone. Wen Qing and Wen Ning go to turn themselves in alone. [[Wen Qing leaves the comb in a tree stump where later a small boy will shelter as his home is destroyed around him]] WWX loses control at Nightless City, JYL dies, WWX jumps off a cliff. LWJ, wounded and heartbroken, takes his stand at the Burial Mounds, trying to protect WWX’s people after hiding A-Yuan in Cloud Recesses [[A-Yuan has the comb, years later Jiang Cheng will find him reminiscing and will have to leave the room to cry angry tears]] LWJ is incapacitated and punished. The Wen Remnants are killed and thrown into the Blood Pool.

16 years pass. 16 long years.

Mo Xuanyu summons back a Wei Wuxian who wanted to die but one who hoped against hope the Wen Remnants hadn’t been murdered after his death. A Wei Wuxian who regretted letting himself die without making sure they were safe. (A Wei Wuxian who had to find out he had failed when he arrived in the Burial Mounds to rescue the juniors). [[A Wei Wuxian that looks like Wei Wuxian and Mo Xuanyu combined]] In this canon they find body parts, a la MDZS. They share inn rooms with the knowledge of what they had meant to each other and how in the end it hadn’t meant a thing. They go to Yi City and find a boy, barely older than the juniors, playing house with the bodies of their friends, the ones they wanted to be like. WWX is reminded of all he put LWJ through when he jumped off that cliff. It is no wonder LWJ drinks that night.

Koi Tower happens, right? Idk it’s got to happen at some point. Probably CQL canon if only because I know that one better? I don’t think there’s much difference between the two for this bit.

At the second siege of the Burial Mounds the bodies in the blood pool come to their rescue. Wei Wuxian is horrified. ‘How could you let them do that!’ LWJ stays silent. (‘What else could warrant 33 lashes of the discipline whip’ he will whisper later, drunk off a single cup of wine.) ‘The honourable Hanguang-Jun was in seclusion after you died.’ Jiang Wanyin will say in his best sneer. Lan Qiren says nothing. (’I tried, I tried but it wasn’t enough’)

After the Burial Mounds they return to Lotus Pier. The revelations happen. [[Jiang Wanyin is horrified for more reasons than Wei Wuxian realises. No wonder Wen Qing could not accept his help after what she had done to him]]

Guanyin Temple bores me for the most part, JGY is allowed to monologue for far too long. I like the idea of them confessing at the most awkward time but at the same time it drags out JGY’s monologue even longer and that shit took like 4 episodes in CQL and it Dragged. I skimmed most of those chapters in the novel. JGY and NMJ’s body end up in a coffin trapped under a statue in the image of JGY’s dead mother. Probably have the iconic novel line where JGY is like ‘I hold LWJ’s life in my hands’ or w/e because that’s kinda hot. [[WWX comments to LWJ about how in the ancestral hall they’ve already done most of their bows, LWJ short circuits, JC asks if WWX would like his wedding planning books from when they were kids, WWX short circuits because ‘you KEPT THEM???’ ‘yeah dumbass, you’re still my brother even if I hate you!’]]

There’s that cute scene in CQL where WWX touches LSZ’s ribbon and they hug and cry, keeping that. LWJ and WWX kiss because I Said So and then also have sex because the UST is killing me (but not in front of LSZ, after he’s gone off to travel with Uncle Ning) They handfast but LWJ has to go be interim sect leader while convincing his brother to come out of seclusion and wwx decides to go try and set his demons to rest. LXC demands to be allowed to plan Wangji’s wedding as a stipulation of starting to return from seclusion. Wangji wisely does not mention they already consider themselves married.

[[Wen Qing is found in the cells of Jinlintai. JC tells her that he forgives her. She tells him she still can’t marry him, she has broken her oath as a healer. He lets her go.]]

[[2 years later she turns up in Yunmeng with her brother and her nephew in tow and suggests he join them on their latest night hunt. It’s not love, but he’s beginning to realise he can move on from her. Jin Rulan is disconcerted to find his uncle smiling the next time he visits.]]

[[For some reason, Sect Leader Yao is appointed Chief Cultivator. Everyone is appalled but a surprising amount gets done in order to avoid letting him talk too long.]]

#the untamed #long post #this got long and very off topic #and also kinda cracky #but lbr is it a me post if it's not crack of some kind #forreal tho there were 100% bits I think I could have made flow better with a little bit of work #I think the Yin Iron is kinda clunky as a plot device and honestly did not realise there was a second flute in CQL until people complained #I think the Yin Iron COULD have been done better #but I think it wasn't really fleshed out enough in planning and was just used as like #a macguffin #which sure that's cool #but I think Yin Iron would have worked better if they'd changed the tiger seal plot a lil #and the way they shuffled Xue Yang about was kinda dumb

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drwcn · 4 years

Note

Think lan zhan and jiang yanli could be friends like wei ying and wen qing are friends? If they had the chance I could see it. Totally imagining lan zhan being bewildered at first, but than actually seeing why wei ying loves his sister so much. Also totally see them silently judging idiot people together and working together to keep wei ying mentally safe. Yanli teaching him how to cook and things about her brother.

YAS！ LWJ and JYL judging people together is Mood. I will die on this hill.

(and bc i hate sleep, i got inspired by your ask and wrote this brain vomit from my btsf!verse that no one asked for, and yet i shall shamelessly impose on the world. It’s a different take on jiang yanli chewing out jin zixun and lan wangji being there and being generally awesome. )

Jin Zixun is causing a scene.

Again.

In broad daylight in the middle of one of Jinlintai’s gardens no less. The Jins had planted lovely peonies, which are all in bloom now. Jiang Yanli had intended to enjoy them for an hour or two, but it seems her morning plans are about to be ruined. What she initially dismissed as a minor nuisance is quickly becoming an irritating fixture in her life. She has half a mind to be rid of this no good Jin cousin for good, and for that matter, she can count a good number of people who would oblige her.

Standing toe to toe with Jin Zixun, Wei Wuxian is shaking with fury from whatever the other man had said. Not that anything even remotely tasteful has ever been produced by Jin Zixun’s mouth. It’s only productive function is eating, as that seems to be the only time he’s quiet and therefore marginally tolerable.

Jiang Yanli already feels a headache looming just from the reminder of his mere existence.

Lan Wangji is the first to notice her. He has one hand wrapped around Wei Ying’s wrist and another around Bichen’s sheath, pressing it across Jin Zixun’s chest to deter him from taking another step closer. Upon seeing her entourage approaching, he steps back and bows respectfully.

“Sect Master Jiang.”

Like wise, Jin Zixun reluctantly gives a half-hearted bow. She ignores him. For now.

Remembering himself, Wei Wuxian flinches and quickly follows suit. “Zongzhu.” He greets her quietly. [zongzhu = sect master]

He doesn’t call her shi-jie anymore, at least not in public.

Since the day she declared herself Sect Master of Yunmeng Jiang, A-Xian has been on his very best behaviour. Every word, every conduct, has strictly been adherent to what is expected of someone in his status and station. But Jiang Yanli could only frown. True, he is her left hand man, her lieutenant, her zuo-hufa, but he is firstly her brother, and she will not stand for him being pushed around by some second rate cultivator just so she could be spared “conflict”.

Turning her head slightly over her shoulder, she makes a small motion for Binghu (冰湖) and Shuangxue (霜雪) to stand down. Dealing with a gnat like Jin Zixun is too menial a task for upstanding cultivators like her personal guards. No, A-Xian is her brother, so Jiang Yanli will deal with this herself, and those who crosses her will only ever be sorry.

“A-Xian, what’s going on?”

“Nothing, zongzhu. A minor disagreement is all.” Clearly lies.

Jiang Yanli looks to Lan Wangji. The younger man does not let go of his betrothed’s wrist, but he does lower his eyes out of deference to her. “Zhangjie, Jin Zixun-gongzi suggested that your brother Jiang-gongzi should be disqualified from tomorrow’s hunt on account of his unorthodox cultivation method. He said that he who could not protect his own golden core has no place amongst cultivators.” [zhangjie = a formal way of saying older sister]

Zhangjie. Rather bold of him to call her that, seeing he and A-Xian are not yet legally wed. But perhaps his choice of words is deliberate, used to remind her that Wei Wuxian is not just her subordinate, but her family. She’d be offended if the gesture isn’t so genuinely endearing. Lan Wangji is a quiet one, but so fiercely protective of Wei Wuxian. Out of this wretched war and all the underhanded maneuvers she’s been forced to take, nothing has pleased her more than this marriage alliance that she and Lan Xichen arranged.

“Lan Zhan…” Wei Wuxian frowns and admonishes him quietly.

“I spoke the truth.”

Jiang Yanli casts Jin Zixun an aloof side glance, then says, “Perhaps I have confused the rules. Clarify for me, Wangji, is spiritual cultivation required for the hunt tomorrow?”

“No.”

“Does cultivation affect the participant’s performance and ability?”

“No. Not if they follow the rules of conduct.”

“The Hunt is a strictly skills based competition is it not?”

“It is.”

“Well then, I think that settles that. A rather simple mistake, Jin Zixun-gongzi, but I wouldn’t fret too much if you didn’t remember. This has been trying times for us all.”Jiang Yanli’s smile is bright but scorching, like the desert sun.

Colour rises in Jin Zixun’s cheeks. He turns up his nose and huffs, “Has Yunmeng Jiang fallen so low that there’s no one left but deviants, servants, and women?”

Wei Wuxian starts towards him, fully intending to throttle the man, but Jiang Yanli calms him with a gentle hand. Unflustered, she turns her full attention to the Jin cousin. The smile on her face does not dim, but her eyes are glacial.

“Deviants, servants, and women. It’s true. We are that. But what can be done? It is unfortunate that there’s not enough reliable cultivators to count on, that even deviants, servants, and women must be forced to take up arms against a tyrant. How tiresome that we must not only fight our own fights, but you cultivators’ fights too.”

“How dare you -” Jin Zixun bristles, which is about as intimidating as an angry ferret, in Jiang Yanli’s considered opinion.

“Shall I remind you when you led your troops into enemy territory last winter in a bullheaded attempt to boast your ego, whose squadron came to your aid when you were trapped, starving in the snow? Whose food fed your men’s bellies, whose blankets and tents warmed your bodies in that storm?” Jiang Yanli does not raise her tone, but holds nothing back. “And who, after you so pitifully grovelled, omitted your incompetence from the report to your uncle and Sect Master.”

“I -” Jin Zixun darkens from red to purple, unable to come up with a single word of refute. Typical.

Jiang Yanli plows on.

“If we deviants, servants, and women are not befitting polite company and the gentlemanly sport of hunting, then you sir, with so little grace and gratitude for the people who saved your life and the lives of your kinsmen, are not fit to even stand in our presence.” She takes a step closer, forcing him back. “You’re right. I am a woman, but Wei Wuxian was raised along side myself and Jiang Cheng, as close to us as flesh and blood. That you have called him a servant is untrue and a grave offence, which I will not accept. So remembering that, Jin Zixun-gongzi, you will apologize to my brother, Yunmeng Jiang’s zuo-hufa Wei Wuxian. Immediately.”

It is Jin Zixun’s turn to shake, too humiliated and furious to say a thing. It’s clear that he’d rather the ground swallow him than apologize, but as servants and disciples start to crowd around them, whispering and pointing, it seems he has no choice. Jiang Yanli is still a sect master, and Wei Wuxian is a much respected hero.

“Apologies, Wei-gongzi.”

“What’s going on here?” Behind Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, Jin Zixuan and Qin Su can be seen making their way towards them from the other end of the lang. The latter of the two dips in a proper courtesy of a gentlewoman, but the former only manages an awkward cultivator’s bow without meeting Jiang Yanli’s eyes.

“Nothing that needs to worry you, Jin-gongzi. Just a small misunderstanding, all cleared up now. Is that not so, Zixun-gongzi, Wangji, A-Xian?”

“Barely a tiff.” Lan Zhan lies with a straight face. Wei Ying says nothing.

Jin Zixun forces himself to nod once.

Jiang Yanli quickly forgets that such a person ever existed. Stepping up to the two that just joined them, she offers her usual sweet smile. “I don’t believe I’ve had the opportunity to congratulate you both on your upcoming nuptials. Such wonderful news! Qin-meimei, Madam Jin has asked me to consult on the design of your fengguan, I hope we shall see more of each other so I can make better judgement of your preferences.”

Qin Su blushes. “Jiang-jiejie - eh - Jiang-zongzhu, you tease me! There’s been so much to do lately, we’ve not had time to send out the invites. I - Congratulations to your family too, Hanguang-jun, Wei-gongzi.”

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian return her well wishes politely, though somewhat with a stiff back. Jiang Yanli internally frowns, wondering perhaps things aren’t going as well she is led to believe… A matter she needs to think on later.

“Well, I must be off now. I wish I had the endurance of a cultivator, but alas the summer heat is somewhat getting to me. Do enjoy the peonies though, Qin-meimei, Jin-gongzi, they are lovely this year. Wangji, A-Xian, come.”

Jiang Yanli leaves the garden at a leisurely pace, her head held up high, followed by her brothers and her entourage. As she turns at the round archway, she spares a discreet glance towards Jin Guangshan’s son and his future bride, a pairs of unfortunate siblings trying to fit into each other’s lives and unknowingly heading towards a disaster.

She decides to let that one stew a little longer. For now no real damage is done - Jin Zixuan is far to awkward even if Qin Su finds him handsome. The marriage won’t go through; she’s not so cruel that she will actually let that runaway carriage go off the proverbial cliff. However, the key to every offensive strike is timing, and now is not the time to reveal the truth to them. As long as Madam Qin is medically incapacitated, the secret holds, and she will stay that way for a while yet. Jiang Yanli muses that she rather likes the landscape now the way it is, and longs to see the day Jin Guangshan and Qin Cangye gets what’s coming to them.

1. zongzhu = sect master2. zuo-hufa = the “zuo - left” hand man of the sect master. Their function is to serve and protect the sect master, as the word hufa literally means protector. 3. Binghu (冰湖) & Shuangxue (霜雪) - YJL’s bodyguards. Binghu means ice, lake, Shuangxue means frost, snow. 4. zhangjie = a formal way of saying older sister.5. lang = A long, belt-like structure, Lang, the covered corridor is a roofed passage usually with low railings and long side benches. 6. meimei = younger sister. jiejie = older sister. When used in conjunction with last names, this is a way for women who are familiar with each other to address each other. I7. fengguan 凤冠 = it’s the term for the headpiece that brides wear on their wedding day.

#cql #the untamed #jiang yanli #dark!jiang yanli #sect leader jiang yanli #wangxian #btsf #engaged!wangxian #arranged marriage wangxian #i have no idea why the read more is malfunctioning and making this post so long #again #corie replies #corie fics

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