Chapter Text
Xie Lian studied Lan Wangji’s face as they made their way through the Burial Mounds towards the Demon-Subduing cave.
From what he had gathered, this was not Lan Wangji’s first time visiting the Burial Mounds, but this seemed to be the first time he was truly absorbing everything around him. He watched as the familiar look of rage and pain fill his eyes when he stepped into the Demon-Subduing cave and truly took in the conditions that Wei Wuxian was living in. It was the same look that Xie Lian’s own husband wore when he was reminded of the eight hundred years the god had spent wandering.
“A-die!” a-Yuan cried out, rushing towards them from where he was sitting in his pile of blankets with Granny.
Wei Wuxian’s smile was blinding as he lifted his son into his arms. “A-Yuan! Look who I brought with!”
Hearing his cue, Lan Wangji stepped forward and into a-Yuans line of sight. Instantly, the little boy lit up with joy.
“Rich-gege!”
He nearly wiggled his way out of Wei Wuxian’s arms as Lan Wangji held out his arms to take the little boy.
“Hello a-Yuan. It is good to see you again,” the stoic man greeted, a barely-there smile gracing his lips.
“You and a-die aren’t mad at each other anymore, right?” the toddler asked, reaching out to grasp the end of Lan Wangji’s forehead ribbon.
Both men’s gazes softened instantly.
“Of course we aren’t, a-Yuan,” Wei Wuxian assured, reaching out to stroke his hand through his sons hair. “We just needed to talk about a couple things, we’re not mad at each other Yuanyuan.”
A-Yuan smiled, leaning into Lan Wangji’s embrace to nuzzle his head into his shoulder. “Okay!”
Hesitant to ruin the moment, Xie Lian stepped forward and placed a hand on Wei Wuxian’s shoulder. In a hushed voice he said, “I’m very sorry to interrupt, but we must discuss what should be done about the Dafan Wen, Wei gongzi.”
The demonic cultivator signed, pulling away from Lan Wangji and his son.
“You’re right, we should. Granny?” he called, turning back to the older woman. “Would you be able to watch a-Yuan for a bit longer while we talk?”
“Of course, a-Xian.” The older woman smiled, holding out her arms for the boy. Reluctantly, Lan Wangji handed him over, stepping back to be by Wei Wuxians side.
“I’ll get Wen Ning and Wen Qing,” Wei Wuxian offered, pulling back from Lan Wangji.
The remaining pair watched as he left with Granny and a-Yuan, and Xie Lian turned and sat to make himself confortable in his pile of blankets from the night before. Looking up to Lan Wangji, he gestured to Wei Wuxian’s own pile on the other side of the cave.
“I’m sure Wei gongzi wouldn’t be upset if you made yourself comfortable in his space. Please, sit.”
The young cultivator stared at him for a moment before sitting down on one of Wei Wuxian’s blankets. The pair sat in silence for a moment, but Xie Lian could sense that the other man had something he wanted to say.
Lan Wangji broke first.
“Xie Lian,” he started, then corrected himself, “Xie daozhang.”
“Just Xie Lian is alright!” the god assured, waving his arms. “Daozhang is my current compromise with Wei gongzi and the Dafan Wen so that they don’t keep calling me taizi dianxia. It’s been an ongoing struggle, my husband still calls me dianxia even after all this time.”
Lan Wangji tilted his head. “You’re married?”
“I am!” The god grinned, leaning forward. “Have you heard of the ghost king Hua Cheng, the Crimson Rain Sought Flower?”
To Xie Lian’s surprise, the young cultivator just nodded his head. “That explains why the two of you are often worshipped together.”
Before the conversation could continue, Wei Wuxian came barreling into the cave once more with Wen Qing and Wen Ning hot on his heels. Lan Wangji just shook his head, holding a hand out for the demonic cultivator.
Wei Wuxian allowed himself to be pulled down by Lan Wangji’s side, blushing profoundly. Wen Wing shot Xie Lian a smirk as she guided her brother to sit by the gods side.
“I hope the two of you didn’t have too much fun without us,” Wei Wuxian teased, poking Lan Wangji’s cheek.
“You wanted to speak with us, daozhang?” Wen Qing interjected, rolling her eyes at Wei Wuxian.
Nodding, Xie Lian turned to better face the four others in the cave.
“I have a proposal, if you are willing. It is the best and safest solution I can think of for the Dafan Wen, but please tell me if there is anything else you can think of.”
Wei Wuxian nodded, sharing a glance with the Wen siblings. “Hit us, daozhang.”
“Yesterday, I told you about the village that I have been living in for the past century. The people there are very kind, and have become used to having a god living amongst them to help with things. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if, say, a cultivation sect were to settle near my temple to help protect the area.”
“Daozhang,” Wen Qing gasped. “Are you certain?”
Xie Lian nodded, noting the gobsmacked look on Wei Wuxian’s face.“Puqi is small community, but they will trust anyone who I deem safe. You could come home with me and make a new life for yourselves in the Central Plains.”
Noting their shocked faces, Xie Lian backtracked. “Of course, the decision is yours and for each member of your sect to decide upon. I don’t expect you to decide right away.”
“All due respect daozhang,” Wen Ning stuttered. “But you’ve seen the state of the Burial Mounds. How would we be any better off starting over with nothing so far away?”
“My husband and I would help you, of course,” Xie Lian assured, resting his hand on the fierce corpse’s forearm. “My temple is on the outskirts of the village near the forest, there is plenty of space for you all to rebuild. The river is nearby, and there is plenty of work in Puqi for you all to take up while you establish yourselves. I will help with any necessary expenses and building, of course.”
Across the cave, Wei Wuxian let out a shaky breath. “Are you certain, daozhang? We’d be able to start fresh?”
“Yes.” Xie Lian nodded, smiling softly. “Please, take some time to think it over, speak with the elders. There is no need to rush an answer.”
The stillness in the cave was interrupted by Lan Wangji standing abruptly and swiftly exiting.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian called, jumping to his feet. Just as he was about to rush after him, he was stopped by Xie Lian grasping his arm.
“Wait here, let me talk to him.”
Wei Wuxian looked uncertain. “Are you sure daozhang?”
The god smiled. “Yes, I will handle this. You three stay here and talk, we will be back soon.”
The demonic cultivator nodded, stepping back.
With a final nod to them, Xie Lian exited the cave, closing his eyes to follow the energy of Lan Wangji’s golden core. Fortunately, he hadn’t gone far, just to the edge of the village near the clearing where Xie Lian had first met a-Yuan.
“Hanguang-jun,” Xie Lian greeted as he came to a stop beside the cultivator. “Are you alright? Wei gongzi was worried to see you leave so quickly.”
Lan Wangji didn’t answer, just turning his assessing gaze to Xie Lian.
“Come,” the god offered, un-phased by the blank glare, stepping back and sitting on a fallen log. He patted the space next to him. “Please, sit.”
After a moment of hesitation, the young cultivator did as he asked. His expression never wavered, carefully blank, but Xie Lian could feel the internal struggle he was facing.
“I take it you are opposed to the idea of Wei Wuxian and the Dafan Wen relocating to Puqi Village.”
Lan Wangji didn’t say anything, expression remaining carefully blank.
“I am, perhaps, not the best person to speak with you about this,” the god sighed, causing the young cultivator to shoot him a glance. “You are rather similar to my husband when it comes to those you love.” Xie Lian crossed his arms and tucked his hands into his sleeves. “I understand that you wanted Wei gongzi to return to your cultivation clan with you, but he turned you down. Is that correct?”
Lan Wangji only closed his eyes, face turning downward ever so slightly.
“He loves you very much, Lan Wangji. ” Xie Lian leaned back to look up at the fading colors of the sunset that were peaking through the trees. “It is not that he has no faith in you, rather he knows that your people would not welcome in those who he now calls family.
“Has he told you that he loves me?”
Xie Lian turned back to the young man. “No, but after being alive for so many years, one learns what it feels like to share a meal with a man stricken by affection.”
The god stood, keeping his eyes carefully trained on the cultivator. “He loves you, but he also loves a-Yuan and the Dafan Wen. To make him choose one or the other would be cruel.” Pulling one of the bamboo butterflies that he had bought for a-Yuan out of his sleeve, he places it on the log by Lan Wangji’s side. “Talk to him, Hanguang-jun.”
Xie Lian stood, brushing the dirt from his robes. Sparing one last glance at the young cultivator, he began the short walk back to the main settlement in the burial mounds.
Settling himself near the fire, Xie Lian took it upon himself to tend to the flames and chat with the elderly folks who were gathered nearby. After nearly an hour, everyone except for him had retired to their homes for the night. Staring into the flames, Xie Lian smiled, thinking of all the nights he had spent with San Lang like this when they were babysitting Guzi.
The gods silence was abruptly interrupted by grinning Wei Wuxian rushing towards him. Xie Lian smiled at the young man, beckoning him closer.
“So…” Xie Lian grinned. “I take it you and Lan Wangji kissed and made up?”
“Xie daozhang!” Wei Wuxian shrieked, swatting his arm.
“Well, did you?” Xie Lian laughed, dodging his hand.
Wei Wuxian sat down near the fire, ducking his head in an attempt to hide his blush from the god. “We did. Lan Zhan has decided to come to your village with us.”
“That is wonderful news.” Xie Lian nodded his head, patting the young mans shoulder. The pair sat in silence for a while, just enjoying each others company.
Stretching, Xie Lian shifted to face him. “I can see that the two of you have known each other for quite some time, how long have you been together? A-Yuan seems to know him rather well.”
“We were together for some time before everything went to even more shit than before, a-Yuan didn’t enter the picture until after. We officially got together just after the Sunshot Campaign ended. There was a night-hunt hosted by the Jin sect on Baifeng Mountain. Even though I was blindfolded, I managed to take out one-third of the demons on the mountain, which caused quite the disturbance with the Jin clan. My brother in law wasn’t happy with me at all,” Wei Wuxian chuckled. “Of course, he wasn’t married to my sister at that point.”
“That is very impressive, Wei gongzi.”
“Thank you. But, during the night hunt, I was in the woods on my own playing chengqing. I was still blindfolded, so imagine my surprise when someone appears out of nowhere and starts kissing me! In my shock, I ripped the blindfold off, only to see Lan Zhan in front of me, pinning me to the tree.” He chuckled again, tucking his knees up to his chest. “After everything was over I all but hunted him down and made him talk to me about his feelings. We never officially ended our relationship, but I wasn’t quite sure where we stood with each other for the past few months.”
Xie Lian smiled, reaching over to rest a hand on Wei Wuxian’s knee. “Well, I am very happy that the two of you were able to work things out.”
“Thank you, daozhang.” The young cultivator smiled. “I’m sure that there will be much more of the two of us to discuss in regards to our relationship, but we will take things as they come.”
“Has he agreed to take on a parental role for a-Yuan?”
Wei Wuxian nodded. “Yes, that was one of my conditions for him to come to your village with us. Of course, I was also worried about him leaving behind his clan and family, but a-Yuan already sees him as my special person, which makes Lan Zhan special to him. I’m very grateful that he was understanding of my need to put my son and his well-being first.”
“He is a good man,” Xie Lian agreed, leaning forward to add another log to the fire. “Is he watching over a-Yuan right now?”
Wei Wuxian laughed, quickly clapping a hand over his mouth in an attempt to muffle the sound. “Oh gods, no. It’s past Lan Zhan’s bedtime, he’s dead asleep. The Lan’s have a very strict sleep schedule. A-Yuan is staying with Granny.”
The god snorted, quickly burying it in his hand. “That does sound like something that Lan An would implement.”
Wei Wuxian stared at him for a moment incredulously. “You knew Lan An? The founder of the Lan sect, Lan An?”
“I did!” Xie Lian smiled, leaning forward again. “I will admit, I did not quite put the pieces together that the Lan sect what his legacy until today.”
“Tell me, was he as much of a stick in the mud as his descendants are?”
Xie Lian chuckled again, curling his arms around his knees once more. “He was very particular about things. He had a lifestyle that worked for him, so he must have assumed it would work for the rest of his clan.”
“That’s one way of putting it,” the young man snorted. “I studied in the Cloud Recesses during my time as a disciple. It’s safe to say I’m not cut out for the Lan lifestyle.”
“It definitely isn’t for everyone.”
“For most people you mean.”
The pair chuckled together, settling back into a comfortable silence as they both watched the dying embers in the fire.