Chapter Text
The morning started way too early, in Ouyang Zizhen's opinion. The two Lan were of course to blame. Jingyi in particular. For all that he was constantly being needled about being un-Lan like, he had the Lan sleeping schedule hardwired into his brain. Sizhui did too, but at least he had the decency of looking sleepy in the morning. Jingyi was always waking up with excessive energy that he, unfortunately, expended by waking everyone else up and chatting loudly at them about random stuff. To be truthful, Zizhen never really listened to those morning rambling, he was too busy not falling back asleep…
After a while they had all managed to get ready and fully awake and made Jingyi channel his energy in packing up the small camp. They were ready to leave the cave behind for good. They had a small hurdle at the tunnel’s entrance because Sizhui needed some support to walk still and it was too narrow for two people side by side. It was swiftly solved by having him hold on to the walls and being put between Jingyi and Jin Ling, leaving Zizhen in front to lead the way with Fairy.
It took them longer than the first time with Sizhui's injury slowing them down. But they finally saw the exit. At first they didn't see much, now unused to the brightness of the outside, but soon enough they could witness a very incongruous scene. There, just in front of them, were Jiang-zongzhu, Hanguang-Jun, Wei-Qianbei and Wen-Qianbei having tea in peaceful silence. They had an actual table with a proper tea set, cushions to sit on, and what looked like osmanthus cakes to snack on.
Baffled, Zizhen exchanged a look with his friends, none of them looked like they knew what to say to whatever was happening there. They hadn't expected anyone to be here. Even less some kind of tea party. The first to say something ended up being Sizhui, whispering to them, trying and failing to make sense of the absurd sight.
“Why does Ning-Shushu have a cup? He can't drink or eat anything…”
“Why are they even here?” Added Jin Ling to the growing list of questions they all had. “We were supposed to be doing this alone! No seniors to supervise or come to our help!”
Oh! He was pissed. Zizhen had to keep himself from making it worse by laughing at the ridicule of the situation. Jingyi did not keep himself from snorting. Before Zizhen had to ask himself whether it would or wouldn't be hypocritical to let Jin Ling reach behind Sizhui to hit Jingy, a loud and sarcastic, or maybe really annoyed, voice interrupted.
“Can any of you brats explain why the fuck it took you this long to come out of there?”
Then Zizhen barely had time to react. Jingyi blurted out that Sizhui was injured. This prompted Wei-Qianbei, Hanguang-Jun and Wen-Qianbei to go check on him. And then, Zizhen was betrayed, absolutely betrayed! His friends were terrible.
“Well I think your new nephew should report to you about that Jiujiu!”
Jingyi snickered. And Jin Ling pushed him in front of Jiang-zongzhu. Both used the distraction to go further away. Leaving him under Sandu Shengshou hard and slightly confused stare. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Zizhen relented and started his report of the night hunt and subsequent time trapped in the cave. He might have embellished a bit, but he wasn't about dry reports and all about telling a story. So really it wasn't his problem if he exaggerated a bit in some places…
Lan Sizhui had the vague wish to strangle Jingyi. Why would he say that out loud? Now, his family knew he was hurt and they will not leave him alone until he is healed. He didn't see what the others were doing after that because he was surrounded by Ning-Shushu looking concerned, Wei-Qianbei flitting around frantically and a worried Hanguang-Jun.
“I'm…”
“Aiya, my little radish!” Interrupted Wei-Qianbei, while squishing his cheeks. “What happened? Where does it hurt? Wen Ning, can you check him for injuries?”
“I'm fine, Wei-Qianbei.” He still didn't protest Wen Ning soft touch, his cousin starting to examine him and pushing his robes open, it was not only futile but also would worry everyone even more to try and stop it.
“Qianbei? Did you hear this Lan Zhan? Our very own son, one I grew in my own body! And I'm only Qianbei, not even Xian-gege anymore!”
“Mn. Truly preposterous.”
Sizhui observed his parents' interactions with fondness and caught the light amusement in Hanguang-Jun's eyes. It didn't take him long to join the dots. This was the perfect opportunity to divert his parents' attention from his injury and onto softer things.
“I shall call you A-Niang then.”
“Lan Zhan! Do you hear that? I'm no woman, how can I be anyone's A-Niang?”
“Sizhui is right. Wei Ying is a good mother.”
“Lan Zhan! How could you? So cruel to your feeble husband…”
Not wanting to let it escalate into relentless, shameless flirting, Sizhui interjected in the play fighting.
“If A-Niang wishes to be called something else, I could call him Poor-gege?”
“Bullied! I'm being bullied by my own family… Wen Ning, you're the only one who is always nice to me…”
“Thank you Wei-gongzi.”
These words marked the end of the examination, allowing Sizhui to redress.
“I'm done with A-Yuan’s examination. He has a barely scarred over wound to the side, three broken ribs and in consequence his energy is depleted. He should not fly on his own, rest a lot and see a doctor once back home. His friends did a good job taking care of him, there is no trace of infection.”
Hearing that made Sizhui feel ashamed and embarrassed. He wasn't sure if it was the dry professional opinion or his parental figures’ presence. He just wanted to bury himself in the ground (or in a pile of bunnies, that would do too) for a while. He didn't pay much attention to Wen-Shushu dismissing himself after patting his head, and happily let his A-die and Baba hug him and promise him some nice family time while he would be on leave from sect duty due to his injured ribs.
Once Wen Ning was done with assessing Lan Sizhui's health, Jin Ling signaled to him that he wished to talk. After all that was now or never. Wei-Qianbei was occupied and Jiujiu was as well. Once the Wen joined him, he took a breath, trying to organize the words he wanted to say.
“What can this one do for you Jin-zongzhu ?”
The question cut through Jin Ling's growing panic. Of course Wen Ning would have noticed his awkward silence, and being the most polite corpse in existence he would gently prompt him to talk. He scowled a bit at the thought of needing that, but he also finally felt ready to say what he wanted.
“Nothing. I wanted to… thank you… for checking on our supplies and teaching us a bit about healing, it was helpful. I'm also sorry… for how I treated you until recently…”
Jin Ling's face was burning red, he couldn't look at Wen Ning after that. He cringed even harder when he suddenly remembered a conversation he had had with Wei-Qianbei years before, when he thought it was his Uncle Xuanyu talking to him. Thanks fuck the man didn't witness this, Jin Ling was pretty sure he would have simply passed out on the spot if Wei Wuxian teased him about it. And he would have, no questions there.
“I'm glad to have been of help.”
Jin Ling raised his head. Wen Ning had the tiniest smile ever, but was radiating happiness. Maybe that was why people were saying “thank you” and “sorry”.
“But please do not worry about your past treatment of me. It was understandable, Jin-zongzhu.”
How? How was he looking so earnest and sheepish saying that? Jin Ling had no idea how someone had ever looked at Wen Ning and decided that Ghost General was an appropriate title.
Before he got lost in thoughts again, Jin Ling received a headpat. It was nice. And embarrassing. But also very comforting. He didn't get that often in Jinlintai. He also probably wouldn't accept it from anyone outside of the people here now. Flustered even more, he decided it was time to end the interaction.
“You can call me Jin Ling. Just not when there's other people than friends and family.”
He turned away. This was enough feelings for like a week. Still he heard one last thing before joining back Jingyi to observe Zizhen reporting to Jiujiu.
“I will Jin Ling. You can call me Wen-Shushu should you ever wish to.”
Not looking back, Jin Ling still nodded to acknowledge the offer, warmth filling his chest and face.
Jingyi was bored. His best friend was busy getting fussed over by his parents, yes his parents, no matter that Sizhui didn't dare call them as such at least he never did in front of him. Jin Ling was having what looked like a heart to heart with Wen-Qianbei, and as much as he wanted to spy on Young Mistress Jin, he was also conscious that it wouldn't be very nice. So, he was bored. Even Fairy had left him alone, she had learned to make herself scarce in Wei-Qianbei’s presence. Boring but necessary, seeing the Yiling Patriarch jump in Hanguang-Jun’s arms was way less funny when it was out of genuine terror.
Looking around for distractions, he finally saw a worthy one: Zizhen's report to Jiang-zongzhu. He approached discreetly, staying out of view but not of earshot. Most of it felt like a more interesting version of the last few days. It would be dry if Zizhen wasn't such a good storyteller. Truly, if he ever wanted to stop cultivating and leave his place of heir of the Ouyang Sect to any of his siblings, he wouldn't have a hard time finding a job with skills like that.
“...and that's when Jin Ling and I found the exit with Fairy’s help! After that, we had to make the trip back to our camp, only one light talisman left on us to light the way, passage narrow and floor hard under our feets. Once there we didn't waste time packing and starting our move, conscious of the limited time until supplies ran out, it left us no time to celebrate the good news. Thankfully, we made good progress, despite Sizhui's injury making us stop for a meal and some rest in the cold space, I'm unsure if we would have made it through the night without huddling for warmth together, Fairy’s soft and warm fur chasing the chill permeating us.”
Jingyi was internally dying of laughter, this was so unnecessarily dramatic. It was great! He would love it if every night hunt report was like this. Unfortunately, Ouyang-zongzhu didn't let Zizhen come with them as often as all of them wished.
“And then come morning, after a swift breakfast, we got ready for the last leg of our journey! We walked again through the dark and narrow tunnel, time passing slowly until we saw the light of day and the glorious presence of our seniors, Jiujiu!”
Did? Did he? Did Zizhen call Jiang-zongzhu ‘Jiujiu’? Did he have a death wish? Well, seeing his red and mortified face, he most likely did not. Nonetheless, this was a dangerous slip of the tongue. Jingyi tried to see what Jiang-zongzhu thought of it. And the man was stunned at first, then showed a vicious scowl and purplish red face, before letting out a breath and looking very tired suddenly, something of a resignation but not one given with pain. The face of a man who felt defeated and was not mad about it. Jingyi, in the privacy of his mind, surmised that it was not a feeling Sandu Shengshou was familiar with.
“That's Jiang-Shushu to you, brat! Be more concise the next time you report to me.”
Jingyi didn't get to hear Zizhen's answer.
“Holy shit! I didn't think Jiujiu would react like that!”
Jingyi fell on his butt and looked at Jin Ling with all the annoyance he had in him. He hadn't seen or heard him approach! How dare he be that sneaky!? Now, he had missed Zizhen's reaction and Jiang-zongzhu had put back on his usual resting scowl. The conversation was over.
Soon after that Sizhui was freed from fussing. Sort of. He was still held by his elbows as if he was about to break like porcelain. And then everyone was there, they all got a swift check up by Wen-Qianbei despite how much they insisted it was unnecessary. Their spiritual energy was deemed sufficient to fly at the exception of Sizhui's. Which was a non problem because Hanguang-Jun was the best and was definitely able to lift both husband and son on Bichen and said as much. Wei-Qianbei said something about it bringing back memories, maybe one day he'll know what that meant, after all Sizhui had agreed to try and ask him about his childhood.
The flight back to Cloud Recesses after their goodbyes to Jin Ling, Zizhen, Jiang-zongzhu and Wen-Qianbei was uneventful, the former three in the direction of Yunmeng and the latter following by foot. They reported everything factually, Sizhui won a stay in the infirmary and Jingyi got smacked by a book because his mom was mad he ‘let that sweet boy get injured! I swear Jingyi you would forget your brain if they weren't stuck inside you.’. He chose to understand it as his mom missing him dearly.