Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Madam Yu was in a rage as grabbed the thin wrist of the orphan boy her husband had brought home two months ago. The man had already shown infinitely more love for this brat than his own children, no, her children. The rumors were no doubt true, this Wei Ying was probably his and CangSe SanRen. She pulled him so that his face was inches from her’s, “What do you think your doing?”

“I… I just wanted,” the boy stuttered.

“You thought you would disrupt everyone’s studies?! Your always running that mouth of yours! God, child, do you not know how much trouble that you cause with that chatter of yours?  Your voice is obnoxious and loud! It would be better if you never spoke!” she let him go as her husband walked in.

“My lady? What is going on here?” Jiang FengMian asked, as the child scampered behind him.

“That brat you brought here does nothing but run his trap! That voice of his is so annoying! He can’t even speak correctly, repeating words and sometimes whole sentences! What’s wrong with him? At least the children I gave you can talk properly! Yet you still favor him!” she screamed.

Jiang FengMian placed a protective hand on Wei Ying’s head, “Yes, he has a bit of an impediment, but the doctors say he will get better with time. It is likely made worse by the stress of living on the streets and the sudden move. I do not favor him over YanLi or Cheng.”

“You don’t favor him? Then why did you have Cheng’s dogs removed? Why have you forced them to share a room? Why do you let him get away with his improper speech? I know why, he is really yours. Yours and that bitch’s! You love her not me and that’s why you favor him!” Madam Yu’s voice echoing and drawing attention of those around.

“My lady, that is quite enough. This is not the time or place.”

“Time and place! Ha! Have it your way, Jiang FengMian!” she fumed, turning fast enough her long sleeves smacked them.

Jiang FengMian closed his eyes for a moment before turning to the child behind him. “Wei Ying, you have done nothing wrong. There is nothing wrong with you. Talk freely,” he said carding through the boy’s hair. The boy stared at the ground not speaking. Jiang FengMian thought the boy would talk again once the storm passed, but Madam Yu praised his silence. The boy would not talk to anyone, but his brother and sister.

Chapter Text

Wei WuXian ran through the woods of Gusu, two jars clanking as he ran and a smile plastered on his face. He had been waiting for this since the day he learned that he would be studying at GusuLan’s Cloud Recesses. Gusu, after all, was known for its alcohol and he had sunk down to  Caiyi Town to get some. He held it up to the moon, Emperor's Smile, he couldn’t wait. He started to flip over the wall, when two feet landed softly in front of him.

“Those who return after nine will not be let in. Return outside and wait till seven,” the young man’s soft, yet strong voice said. Soft sandalwood wafting around them.

Wei WuXian pulled himself over the wall and sat cross-legged. He placed a finger on his chin as if thinking hard. Then he snapped his fingers, and held out a jar of alcohol. His smile shone in the dim moonlight. 

“What is that?” asked the young man dressed all in white. Wei WuXian only shook his hand beckoning him to take it. The young man in white then did, he looked at the bottle and sniffed it. “This is alcohol. Alcohol is forbidden.”

He made a ‘oh’ shape with his mouth and then chewed his lip, then he uncapped the bottle and tipped it to his lips. The sweet liquor danced on his tongue, it truly is the best liquor he had ever had. 

A sword swiped at him and he jumped back, dropping the jar. He pouted them tossed the newcomer a scowl. The newcomer in return tossed the other bottle and smashed it with his snowy white sword. Wei WuXian jaw dropped then he puffed out his cheeks in outrage.

They stood eyes locked for a moment, before the newcomer slashed his sword at him. Wei WuXian bent over backwards to avoid the blade and dashed around him. Wei WuXian drew his own sword to block his. They cross blades on the wall, till Wei WuXian managed to slip into the dead of night.

The next day was the first day of classes, Wei WuXian, Jiang Cheng, and Nie HuaiSang walked together. Nie HuaiSang turned to the others and said, “This place is not like Lotus Pier you know. There are a lot of rules that must be followed. Also there's one person you should not provoke.”

Wei WuXian made a gesture as if stroking a long beard, he had heard that the teacher of the classes had one. “Lan QiRen?” Jiang Cheng supplied. Wei WuXian nodded to confirm that was who he meant.

“No, his proudest disciple, Lan Zhan.”

Wei WuXian thought for a moment, then held up two fingers and the jade lotus on his bell strap.

“Is there another Lan Zhan than the one of the Twin Jades?” Nie HuaiSang asked, flicking his fan open.

Wei WuXian flourished his fingers a circle in front of his face, followed it by pointing up with his first finger. Then he curled it down. Nie HuaiSang recognize the first sign as the sign he used for Jiang YanLi, but he didn’t know why he would be using it now. Jiang Cheng sighed, “Have you known anyone in GusuLan not to be beautiful?”

Wei WuXian shrugged, nonchalant. Turning to walk to the classroom he spotted the one from the night before. He touched Nie HuaiSang’s shoulder and pointed at the boy their age walking into the class. Nie HuaiSang nodded, “Yes, that Lan Zhan.”

Wei WuXian smiled wider, and Jiang Cheng suppressed the urge to facepalm. “You already met him haven’t you?” Wei WuXian nodded. “What did you do?! We have been here less than 24 hours!” Wei WuXian bounced off towards the classroom. Jiang Cheng sighed, it would make them late anyhow. He would ask him later.

Wei WuXian bounced in and was struck by Lan WangJi. He hadn’t got a good look at him the night before, but now he could see Lan WangJi’s long lashes and golden eyes. He was beautiful, but his posture was uptight, straight as a board. Yet Wei WuXian’s heart still skipped a beat. Most of the seats around Lan WangJi were free. Without much thought, he took a seat next to him.

A tall but thin man walked in stroking his goatee walked in. He rolled out a sizable scroll, and began to read the rules in monotone. Wei WuXian began to doodle, thinking about how he might make a compass to detect evil. He had been thinking about it for awhile, water ghouls tended to be hard to track. He soon grew bored of that and Lan QiRen was still droning on.

His gaze traveled around the room. He briefly locked eyes with Jiang Cheng. He touched his finger beside his nose and turned it 90 degrees. Jiang Cheng resisted even the slightest flinch, even if it was true. This was boring.

The scroll being slammed into the table drew his attention back to the front of the room. Lan QiRen had a bitter smile as he spoke, “I was repeating the rules for your benefit because no one seems to read them, even if it is carved into the Wall of Discipline. Then you cannot feign ignorance. Even as I do this, not everyone cares to listen. Very well, we will move on.”

Wei WuXian was pretty sure everyone could have been considered in this category, but his fear that he was one being called out was confirmed when QiRin spoke, “Wei Ying.”

Wei WuXian stood his face was white as a sheet. His fingers drummed at his side as he looked up at the man. QiRen spoke again, “Let me ask, are demons, ghosts, and monsters the same?” A fake smile spread on Wei WuXian’s face shaking his head. Lan QiRen continued, “How so?” 

Wei WuXian bit the inside of his cheek to keep the smile, no one would come to his aid. Even if he did sign, it would not matter, only two people in the room knew them. His hand still twitched on instant at his side hidden by his sleeve. “You don’t know? Very well, let us try something else. What was the profession of the progenitor of the QingheNie Sect?” Quiet was all that followed. “If you do not care to be here, Wei Ying, get out!”

Wei WuXian nodded walking casually. Once he was down the hall he ran as fast as he could. He found a quite, secluded place. He curled in on himself, tears stained his face, his chest tight. He clamped a hand over his mouth, knowing if his cries were heard, he would be found in a pitiful state he wanted no one to see.

Chapter Text

After the class was over, Jiang Cheng went looking for his brother. Glancing in the trees and tops of roofs, looking for a red and black clad boy. He was realizing quickly, he should have followed after his brother. “Damn it,” he muttered. He let out a sigh when he saw Wei WuXian sitting in front of a pond. “Wei WuXian! There you are!”

He looked up, smiling weakly he waved as Jiang Cheng approached. “Are you ok?” Jiang Cheng said sitting at his side. Wei WuXian nodded. Jiang Cheng frowned, “Are we not alone?”

He made two symbols as a reply. Jiang Cheng, “Different one? Nie HuaiSang?” Wei WuXian nodded and pointed to a yellow and black clad boy dashing over.

“There you guys are!” the boy said bending over to catch his breath, “You took off so fast after class, Jiang Cheng.”

“Yea, I was tired of the class, That Lan QiRen,” he said turning back to Wei WuXian, “he wants you to copy from the rules, but he doesn’t even understand. You knew the answers, I know you do. You just couldn’t articulate them. I’ll talk to him.”

Wei WuXian shook his head, “Too much trouble. Won't copy.”  

Nie HuaiSang didn’t miss a beat, “I’ll copy for you! I’ll copy for you!” Wei WuXian cocked his eyebrows skeptically and tapped his ear twice with his first finger. “Old man Lan has a bad habit you see. He…” Nie HuaiSang flicked his fan open and coughed. Wei WuXian turned to see what had silenced Nie HuaiSang, spotting Lan WangJi giving them an icy glare.

Wei WuXian felt like he was being pulled in and bounded over making a rocking motion with his right hand. Lan WangJi turned and started to walk away. Wei WuXian chased after him, but he vanished behind a tree. Wei WuXian rolled his lip out pouting at Lan WangJi’s sudden disappearance.

“He hates you, it seems, Wei-xiong!” Nie HuaiSang said from behind his fan. “Lan WangJi would never do something so rude.”

“I wanted to apologize…” Wei WuXian signed.

“Might be too late for that, Wei-xiong!” Nie HuaiSang replied. Wei WuXian nodded  sadly, that might have been true.

That night Lan WangJi was patrolling around the dorms, it was not quite nine, but everyone was to return to their dorms by eight. He heard chatter from inside Wei WuXian’s and Jiang Cheng’s door. “What do you mean you snuck out and ran into Lan WangJi?” 

“You know that Gusu— that Gusu has good alcohol! So, I sneaked down to get some. When I was— when I was flipping over the wall, there he was! He said I would have to wait till seven to come in,” Wei WuXian said.

“Well you were back here before seven, so what happened next?” asked Jiang Cheng.

“Yea, he asked me what I was carrying. So I offered him a jar,” he said.

Jiang Cheng sighed, “You know alcohol is forbidden is Cloud Recesses.”

“Lan Zhan said that, too.”

There was a pause, “Blue Blue? Is what you are calling Lan WangJi now?”

“Yep! Lan means blue and Zhan means blue…” That was not the end of the conversation, but Lan WangJi had already broken the rule of eavesdropping. He would take his punishment for it, it was worth hearing the seemingly elusive voice of Wei WuXian.

Three days later after they had talked with HuaiSang, Wei WuXian learned what the old man’s habit was. His lessons were long and boring and he expected you to absorb every last thought. What Nie HuaiSang wanted was help on the exams. “Come on, Wei-xiong, if I make lower than a Yi, my brother really will break my legs! Stuff like telling direct and collateral lineages, main clans, branches… For us in big families that call anyone more two tier separation aunt and uncle… How am I to remember that for all the other sects as well!”

Wei WuXian sighed dramatically leaning back on the low stone wall he was sitting on. He let Nie HuaiSang sweat the possibility of saying no, but he really couldn’t, as Nie HuaiSang had already finished copying. He made an ‘o’ that fuildly became a ‘k’. Nie HuaiSang smiled brightly and saluting to him, “Thank you Wei-xiong!”

The test started out smooth enough, the quiet passing of notes, but it soon became a mess. Wei WuXian soon realized that everyone wanted in on the notes being passed around. It would have been fine too, if it wasn’t for their bad sneaking skills. Lan WangJi caught sight and a gust from BiChen sent notes into the air.

Lan QiRen wrote letters to all the sects involved with the cheating scheme. He also narrowed it’s source back to Wei WuXian. When word reached Lotus Pier, Jiang FengMian replied “Ying has always been this way. Punish him as you see fit, Mr. Lan” So punishment was decided on again.

“Sorry, even if I wanted to help I can’t,” said Nie HuaiSong, flicking open his fan. Wei WuXian touched the tips of his fingers to his forehead then drew he away into a ‘y’. “Because you have to copy Virtue and Conduct. While your copying no one can help either.” 

Seeing the confused look on Wei WuXian’s face, Jiang Cheng supplied.“He’s having you watched as well.” Wei WuXian visibly wilted, bending far forward and letting his arms hang limply. “You’ll be copying at the Library Pavilion, and reflect on your mistakes as you copy. I don’t think I have to tell you who will be watching you?”

Once inside, he started to copy. After only copying ten pages, he was dizzy with boredom. He could swear his soul would fly away. He glanced across the table at the youth sitting across from him. He was copying ancient texts that were ready to fall apart. Being this close, he could see the smooth contours of his face, and how pretty and soft his skin looked. He also thought Lan WangJi would look perfect in a smile, instead of the death scowl he always seemed to wear.

He pointed at the characters Lan WangJi had written. He smiled brightly, he flourished his hand in front of his own face. Lan WangJi paid him no mind. Wei WuXian pouted the set back leaning back on his palms. At least he was being punished for something he did this time, but how was he to survive the month of this, he would truly die of boredom!

Chapter Text

Wei WuXian flicked a ball of paper at Lan WangJi for the upteempth time. This time, though, it landed in Lan WangJi’s ink stone, cause ink to splatter. Lang WangJi looked up from his copying, some ink on his face. Wei WuXian covered his mouth with his hand suppressing a laugh.

Lan WangJi fished out his handkerchief to wipe up the ink. Wei WuXian bowed to him in apology. After a moment, he held out a note. WangJi took it and read the apology written on it. The beginning was somehow heartfelt, but the later half was not. Lan WangJi tossed the letter in the box that contained the Wei WuXian’s copying. “Copy it an additional time.”

Wei WuXian wrote on a sheet of paper, “Why?!”

“Because you feel no remorse. You forget the pain of the cut after it has healed,” Lan WangJi said never even looking up. Wei WuXian puffed out his lips and crossed his arms. Then he started to write “I’m sorry.” all across the page. 

Lan WangJi was not impressed by this either. “Copy the rules,” he said as he closed his eyes and took a breath. He picked back up his brush and continued. Wei WuXian, angry from being ignored, wrote a message to Lan WangJi. He didn’t even spare it a glance before crumpling it up and tossing it away, “Pathetic.”

After awhile of letters being tossed around the pavilion, Wei WuXIan plopped down fuming. He laid down and rolled around the mat. “If you won’t copy, then look at the wall and reflect.”

On the last day of his copying though, Wei WuXian was different. He had left his sword all over Cloud Recesses during his stay, but today he had walked in, slammed his sword down and started to copy. Lan WangJi thought he might have tired himself out, and decided to behave, but he was soon proven wrong. A short time later, he was handed a piece of paper.

Lan WangJi had figured it would be another of his dumb sayings, but it did not. Instead, it had a young man sitting upright, reading. It was realistically drawing of a boy, with long hair and an icy gaze. In his hair was a flower. Lan WangJi realized it was himself

Wei WuXian met his gaze when he looked up. A smile graced his face and he winked. Lan WangJi’s gaze was like daggers, “With how much time you waste, you will never be done with your punishment.”

Wei WuXian shook his head, pushing a stack of papers to him. The finished copies of Conduct and Virtue. Lan WangJi was quite shocked. Wei WuXian picked up the drawing Lan WangJi had discarded. He handed it back and pointed at Lan WangJi, indicating that it was his.

Lan WangJi begrudgingly took it and placed it on the table. Then he flipped open the book he had been copying. The moment he glanced at the pages, he threw it as if it was on fire. The book he had been coping had been a Buddhist text, but what he saw instead was naked figures intertwined. 

There was no need to guess who had switched the texts while Lan WangJi was distracted. The culprit, himself, made no attempt to hide it either. He rolled around on the ground, finding Lan WangJi’s reaction hilarious.

“Wei WuXian!” Lan WangJi raged, reaching for his sword, BiChen. Wei WuXian raised his hand and waved. Then he grabbed for his own sword. “What kind of person are you? Do you have no shame?” Wei WuXian shook his head. Lan WangJi continued, “You go outside! We have fought before.”

Wei WuXian blinked his eyes innocently, before going to pick up the book that Lan WangJi had thrown away. Lan WangJi beat him to it and Wei WuXian held his hands up in submission. Then he winked at Lan WangJi. “I.Will.Not.Read!!!” fumed Lan WangJi. An instant later spirit energy destroyed the detestable book.

Wei WuXian let his jaw drop in fake distress, and Lan WangJi was done with him. “Get lost!”

In that moment, Wei WuXian felt his heart skip a beat. A feeling he had never felt before surfaced in his chest, but he pushed it away, bowing deeply as if to say as you wish. He quickly jumped out the window, where he met Nie HuaiSang and Jiang Cheng. Wei WuXian and Nie HuaiSang were going over what just happened, Jiang Cheng sighed, “You have offended Lan WangJi. Death is all that awaits you. No one will bury your corpse.”

Wei WuXian wrapped his arms around him, “You always do! What’s once more!”

Jiang Cheng sighed, “Next time do not invite me.”

Back inside, Lan WangJi reflected on the strange boy named Wei WuXian.

In the morning, Lan WangJi walked to his brother’s room as soon as it would be appropriate to do so. He knocked on the door and waited for the door to be opened, “WangJi? Why have you come so early?” Lan XiChen stepped aside to let in his brother.

Lan WangJi walked in and took a seat at the low table. Lan XiChen followed suit waiting for his brother to speak. “Why would someone refuse to speak?”

“There are many reasons, WangJi. It could be that they are injured, or acting out, or even scared. Why are you asking, WangJi? Have you noticed someone you are concerned about?” Lan XiChen asked, voice steady.

Lan WangJi nodded, “He does not talk to anyone outside his brother. In the month in the Library Pavilion, he never spoke, but he had plenty to say. He wrote notes.”

“Oh?” Lan XiChen reflected for a moment. “Uncle said that there was a disciple who could not answer his questions and did not seem to care. Would they be one in the same?”

Again, Lan WangJi nodded, “I think he knew the answers.”

“Why is that WangJi?”

“He was doing something with his hand. It was deliberate, but I don’t know what it meant,” Lan WangJi said.

“What kind of thing?” Lan XiChen asked.

Lan WangJi hesitated, “Uncle asked, ‘Let me ask, are demons, ghosts, and monsters the same?’ Wei WuXian shook his head. Uncle continued, ‘How so?’ Wei WuXian made symbols.” WangJi imitated the ones he saw. They were imperfect because they were partly obscured by Wei WuXian’s sleeve.

Lan XiChen’s face soured, “Those are sign language. I am not familiar with them, but I suspect he answered uncle. Unfortunately, he probably suspected that he would not be understood. Rightly so, uncle doesn’t know sign either. That brings forward a question. Why were we not informed that one of the disciples has a disability?” 

Lan WangJi looked at his brother, “Hm.”

“WangJi, I will talk to uncle once he returns. He will want to know,” he said standing up. WangJi nodded also standing to leave.

Chapter Text

Wei WuXian slept with his sword at his side, but instead of being woken by Lan QiRen, he was woken by Nie HuaiSang. “Wei-xiong! You truly have luck! The old man has left to go to the discussion conference in Qinghe Nie. While he is gone, there will be no classes!”

Wei WuXian could not believe his luck and smiled brightly. His enthusiasm was killed when Jiang Cheng weighed in with, “You’ll still be punished when Lan QiRen returns, you know.” Wei WuXian stuck his tongue out at him with a sour face in reply.

The three of them walked, looking for something to do on their day off. Wei WuXian looked ahead pointing dramatically at two people talking. He held up two fingers then made a rocking motion with and open palm at his chest. Jiang Cheng sighed, “There is not two Lan WangJis.”

The two youths looked up to acknowledge the newcomers. Wei WuXian was struck by the two persons standing in front of them. They both were as beautiful as polished jade, the only difference was their expressions. One had the familiar icy glare, but the other had a soft  smile and gentle eyes, “And who might you be…?”

Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian both saluted. Jiang Cheng spoke, “Jiang WanYin and Wei WuXian of Yunmeng.” Lan XiChen faltered for a moment, that went unnoticed by all but Lan WangJi. Lan XiChen returned their salute.

Nie HuaiSang spoke timidly, “Brother XiChen.”

Lan XiChen turned his attention to Nie HuaiSang, “HuaiSang, I just came back from Qinghe. Your brother was asking after your studies. Will you be able to pass this year?”

Nie HuaiSang wilted and bit his lip, “I hope so…” He glanced at the brothers of Lotus Pier hopelessly.

Jiang Cheng felt some pity on Nie HuaiSang, “ZeWu-Jun, may I ask why you are going out?”

Lan XiChen nodded, “There is water ghouls. We were short on hands, so, I returned briefly to get WangJi.”

Lan WangJi spoke with an icy tone, “Brother, this affair needs our immediate attention. There is no reason to entertain this small talk. It is time to depart.”

Jiang Cheng saw mischief in his brother’s eyes, he was also looking to win face for Lotus Pier, “Would you take us along? We are quite good at hunting water ghouls.”

 Lan XiChen was not sure about taking them, especially Wei WuXian. Wei WuXian, though, was bouncing on his heels clearly wanting to go. His brother did not seem concerned in the least, and had said themselves that they had hunted water ghouls. Lan XiChen menatly scolded himself for discounting Wei WuXian on account of his disability “Many thanks. Do your preparations, and we will depart shortly.” He turned his attention to Nie HuaiSang, “Will you be coming as well, HuaiSang?”

Nie HuaiSang wanted to go as well, but being reminded of his brother, he cringed. If he failed this year, he would break his legs no doubt, he dare not goof off. “I’ll pass, I need to catch up on my studies.”

Wei WuXian bounded off ecstatic to be going and Jiang Cheng followed a bit behind. They were both going back to prepare. Lan WangJi turned to his brother, “Why are you letting them go. It is against the rules.”

“Maybe.”

“Brother, all they know how to do is joke about!” 

“They both have a good reputation in Yunmeng Jiang. It is likely they know more than joking.” Lan XiChen said. Lan WangJi gave his brother a look of disagreement. “You looked like you wanted for him to go. WangJi, if you wish to make friends with the head disciple of Jiang, you should not wait around. He will leave soon enough, and then it will be much harder. Do not take this time for granted.”

WangJi’s eyes grew wide for a moment and he turned away, “No such thing.”  He was about to say more, but Wei WuXian came bouncing back waving all the way. Jiang Cheng racing after. They mounted their swords and they were off.

The town that was being hunted was Caiyi Town. As they traveled by the waterway shops, Wei WuXian bought two jars of rice wine, giving one to Jiang Cheng. When He caught Lan WangJi looking on, he held out the jar he had to him, willing to buy him one as well. Lan WangJi turned his nose up, and Wei WuXian stuck out his tongue.

As they got farther from town, the houses and shops became less and less. Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian both had a boat and were racing to see who could row faster. They listened to the events of the area. Biling Lake had not been plagued by water ghouls in years. After all the people of the area lived on the water, drowning was uncommon. People had started to disappear along with boats. Lan XiChen had cast nets expecting to catch a handful of ghouls, but caught dozens instead. Moreover, when he had taken them to town he found many of them were completely unknown.

Wei WuXian glanced at Jiang Cheng, both puzzling over this. Jiang Cheng voiced their concerns, “Water ghouls are picky, they tend to stay were they drowned.”

“Correct. That is why I suspect this is no trivial matter. That is why I returned to get WangJi,” Lan XiChen replied, returning his gaze head.

Jiang Cheng thought for a moment, he heard a soft snap. He turned to his brother who patted his thigh before snapping again. Jiang Cheng turned fully to his brother, dog, that was the sign for his name. Wei WuXian smiled crossing his palm of one hand over the back of the other and parted them apart an arc. Jiang Cheng nodded and asked, “ZeWu-Jun, is the only thing you are using nets?”

“Yes, does Yunmeng Jiang use something else?”

“No, not really, I was just curious,” he replied. Again, Lan XiChen turned away with a nod. 

Wei WuXian on the other hand was grinning like the Cheshire Cat. He was known for diving in and dragging out water ghouls. It was dangerous, extremely effective, and most of all fun. The only thing stopping him at this very moment was the very real threat of getting lectured by Lan QiRen if word reached him. Seeing how he was already awaiting a lecture…

Wei WuXian frowned as he caught sight of Lan WangJi’s boat. He took a small object from his lapel, placed it two his lips. The whistle that sounded, caught Lan WangJi’s attention. As soon as he locked eyes with Wei WuXian, Wei WuXian kicked up water using his oar. He lightly jumped out of the way landing on his brother’s boat. Figuring this was just another of Wei WuXian’s games, he scuffed out the word, “Pathetic!”

Wei WuXian ignored it. He flipped the boat Lan WangJi was just standing on. Underneath now exposed, was three water ghoul. They were quickly subdued. Wei WuXian drove his boat away pretending to be interested in something else. Seeing the puzzled look in Lan XiChen and Lan WangJi, Jiang Cheng answered in his brother’s stead. “It was how far the boat had sunk in the water. Lan WangJi was the only one on it, but it was sunk in farther than ones with more than one disciple.”

“You two are experienced indeed,” Lan XiChen said, smiling.

Wei WuXian smiled, saluting to Lan WangJi in apology. Just then a disciple called out, “The net moved!” Wei WuXian bounced, ready for the action to start. They drew their swords, and attacked the hands attacking the side of the boat. It was over in an instant, Wei WuXian had already sheathed his sword. 

Lan WangJi turned his gaze to Wei WuXian. Meeting his gaze, he jumped over to the boat Lan WangJi was on. He held out his sword to Lan LangJi who glanced at the black and gold sword. He saw the characters on the sheath, “SuiBian.” His eyes narrowed, “Ridiculous!” Wei WuXian huffed.

“Get over it, Wei WuXian! It’s coming again!” called Jiang Cheng from his boat.

“There are more here!” called another disciple. Wei WuXian was watching the form below them, water ghouls were human, but this didn’t have a human form. It seemed to change form as well. Lan WangJi sent his sword out, but it pierced nothing. He gazed at his sword.

Before Lan WangJi could speak another disciple sent his sword out, but unlike Lan WangJi, his sword did not return. It was like it had been eaten by the lake itself. An older disciple spoke, “Why did you send your sword into the lake when the opponent was unknown, Su She?”

The disciple wilted under the scrutiny, “I saw Second Master Lan…” Su She realized how dumb this sounded, before he finished speaking. He should have known better than to send his sword out, he didn’t carry BiChen nor was he Lan WangJi.

Lan WangJi used his sword to pick up a piece of cloth from the water. Weu WuXian and Jiang Cheng came over. Both looked at the piece of cloth, it was not anything worth mentioning. “So it was a piece of clothing not water ghouls?”

Wei WuXian thought about it for a moment then looked at his brother, shaking his head, he touched his brother’s sword’s hilt. Jiang Cheng thought about it, “Cloth can’t eat swords, there must be something else.” Wei WuXian nodded.

During the brothers’ exchange Lan WangJi had turned his attention to the lake. They were now in the center and the water was dark green. “We need to go back!”

Lan XiChen eyed his brother, “Why?”

“We were lured out here!” he exclaimed. Just as he did the water began to swirl drawing them in. Everyone drew their sword, mounting them, except one. Su She had lost his sword to the monster. Wei WuXian tsked as he dashed to retrieve the young disciple.

Tendrils started to sprout from the water, grabbing at anything it could. Wei WuXian used SuiBian’s nimbleness to get to to him. Grabbing his arm, Wei WuXian pulled him up onto his sword. As they flew away, Wei WuXian felt a hair like tendril wrap around his ankle. He released the disciple and commanded SuiBian to keep going. Wei WuXIan was pulled down into the abyss.

Chapter Text

Pain spread across Wei WuXian’s shoulders and back as impacted with the surface of Biling Lake. He fought to keep the air in his lungs, as he was dragged down into its depths. He opened his eyes to see bodies and treasures floating around him in the slimy goop. It was eerily quiet as resentful energy swirled around him.

The dark energy began to invade his body, burning sensation traveling all over his body. He tried to get away, but his body was heavy, and crying out for air. He could no longer resist the need to breath in, and what little air was in him was replaced with gooey, resentful energy filled water.

Above the surface of the lake, the disciples had scattered, leaving only Jiang Cheng, Lan XiChen and Lan WangJi looking for Wei WuXian. The beast beneath the waves seemed to calm, but even after a minute Wei WuXian had not resurfaced. 

Lan WangJi gripped his hands at his side. He decided Wei WuXian was not going to resurface on his own. He dove into the water, vaguely hearing his brother call after him. Once he was under the waves, he searched fervently to find the self sacrificing boy. He drove deeper until he spotted the limp disciple surrounded by resentful energy. He sent a blast of spirit energy forward and plucked Wei WuXian away before it could latch back on. He rushed to the surface, holding Wei WuXian by his collar.

When they broke the surface, Lan WangJi hoped Wei WuXian would come around on his own, but he did not. Lan WangJi headed for shore so that he could better examine the head disciple of Jiang. He was closely followed by his brother and Jiang Cheng. Lan WangJi laid Wei WuXian on his back. 

“WangJi, is he breathing?” asked Lan XiChen, panic sinking into his voice. Lan WangJi shook his head. Lan XiChen dropped to his knees, he pulled apart Wei WuXian’s robes. He placed a hand on either side of Wei WuXian chest. He sent a small burst of spirit energy into his chest to jumpstart his lungs. Wei WuXian started to cough and Lan XiChen rolled him onto his side to help him clear his airways. Lan XiChen rubbed circles into his back giving him encouragement cough up whatever he needed to and support in the form of spirit energy. Jiang Cheng and Lan WangJi stood between Wei WuXian and the other disciples like a privacy screen.

Jiang Cheng kneeled once Wei WuXian’s breathing had evened out, “You ok?” Wei WuXian nodded and everyone sighed in relief. Wei WuXian sat up under his own power with a grim expression.

“It’s a waterborne abyss,” said Lan WangJi, and Wei WuXian agreed with a nod.

Lan XiChen shook his head sadly, “Then this is going to be a challenge.”

Lan WangJi nodded, “Has anyone been plagued by a waterborne abyss?” Lan XiChen dare not speak it aloud as he pointed at the sun. Everyone’s face became grim, Qishan Wen had chased away their problem. After all, waterborne abyss are hard to remove. 

“How dare they do that… It will cause the people of the town endless trouble…” said a disciple.

“Let it drop. We will take care of it. Let us return to town,” Lan XiChen said softly. Su She brought SuiBian over and he bowed deeply to Wei WuXian, Wei WuXian received it from him as he scampered away.

Wei WuXian wasn’t quite stable on his feet, “You can’t fly like this, Wei WuXian. I’ll fly us,” said Jiang Cheng. Wei WuXian nodded, sheathing SuiBian. They flew back to town and got new boats. They passed out warnings to the people in town. 

Wei WuXian disappeared for a moment and came back with a basket of loquats. He gave one to Jiang Cheng. He went to get his whistle from his lapel, but it was gone. “Did you lose your whistle?” Jiang Cheng asked. Wei WuXian nodded.

Lan WangJi had turned at the sound of Jiang Cheng’s voice. Wei WuXian tossed a loquat at him and smiled. Lan WangJi turned around with a huff. Lan XiChen smiled, “That was nice of him.”

“Didn’t want!” Lan WangJi said walking to the other end of the boat.

When they returned, Wei WuXian was fairly steady, but Jiang Cheng could tell something was up with his brother. “Are you hurt, Wei WuXian?” he asked once they were in the dorm.

“I was— was thinking, why does no one use resentful energy?” he said avoiding the question.

Jiang Cheng stared blankly, “What is this nonsense?”

“When I was in the waterborne abyss, I felt its resentful energy. It should be usable?” he said.

“I guess, but that is the heretic path. You can’t walk it, no matter what,” he replied sternly. 

“Your right, why leave the broad well walked path, for a one plank bridge over a dark river. If it were that easy, someone would have done it. Let’s go to bed now.” he said laying down. He wanted to find a way to get rid of the waterborne abyss.

Chapter Text

Wei WuXian woke up abruptly, he jumped from his bed, startling Jiang Cheng who was already up. “Wei WuXian! What are you doing?” He didn’t pay him much mind, as he sat down at the table and started to write. Jiang Cheng looked over his shoulder, “What is this?”

Wei WuXian looked up, “I— I had— had an idea!”

Jiang Cheng looked at the few lines written on the page, “To get rid of the Waterborne Abyss?”

“Yes,” he beamed. After a few minutes of scrawling, he stood and walked towards the door.

“What are you doing?” asked Jiang Cheng.

“I need— need a map of Biling Lake.”

Jiang Cheng sighed, “That’s fine, but don’t you think your missing something?” Wei WuXian cocked his head to the side. “Your still in your sleepwear.”

Wei WuXian giggled, “Oh,” he said grabbing clothes and changing behind the privacy screen. Jiang Cheng gathered what Wei WuXian had started to work on. If not, they would be running between this room and the library. He had nothing better to do while Lan QiRen was away anyhow.

They walked to the Library Pavilion, well, Jiang Cheng walked, Wei WuXian bounded around. The spent a good portion of the day looking at maps and looking at books. “Young Master Jiang and Young Master Wei?”

Both boys looked up, “ZeWu-Jun!” exclaimed Jiang Cheng. Both scrambled to their feet to salute to him, “Sorry, for the mess, we will clean it up.”

“I’m sure you will. What are we researching?” asked Lan XiChen after returning the salute.

“Ah, Well, Wei WuXian had an idea about the Waterborne Abyss. We were looking into it. I’m not sure its a good idea, but it might work,” replied Jiang Cheng.

“Is that so?” asked Lan XiChen. He walked over to the table, “May I?”  Wei WuXian bowed his head slightly, holding his hand out open palmed. Lan XiChen looked over the papers. “This is interesting, chasing it into a smaller body of water would make it easier to deal with. That’s why you have pulled so many maps.” 

Wei WuXian nodded and Jiang Cheng spoke, “Yes, we were looking to see if there was a place that would be suitable within Gusu. The other option would be to build one, the work required would be high, but not as much as draining Biling Lake, and definitely not as disruption to the people in Caiyi Town. Caiyi Town’s people depend on Biling Lake after all.”

“This is good, as you said, this might work. With your permission, I will tell uncle about it,” said Lan XiChen. 

Jiang Chen’s face soured at the mention of Lan QiRen, but he glanced at Wei WuXian. Jiang Cheng may have helped develop the idea, but it was Wei WuXian’s. Wei WuXian smiled nodding, so Jiang Cheng nodded as well, “We would be grateful.”

Lan XiChen nodded back, “Young Master Wei, is your neck bruised?”

Wei WuXian’s hand flew to his neck, feeling the tender skin. Jiang Cheng was immediately looking over his brother. Jiang Cheng moved his hand away to better view the angry bruises peeking out from Wei WuXian’s collar, “What happened, Wei WuXian?!”

Lan XiChen had long abandoned the papers he was looking, getting up and coming over. Jiang Cheng had pulled his collar down some to reveal more bruising. “Young Master Wei, did this happen yesterday? Why didn’t you say something?”

Wei WuXian smiled guilty. Jiang Cheng fumed with worry, “This is why you distracted me last night? Why are you always hiding your injuries? No one is going to be angry or bothered.”

Wei WuXian looked away, as Lan XiChen spoke, “This is probably from the impact with the water, A trip to the cold springs would probably help.” Wei WuXian nodded, getting up saluting to Lan XiChen, before leaving.

Jiang Cheng started to gather up the papers and books to put them up. Lan XiChen spoke, “Young Master Jiang, is it normal for Young Master Wei to hide his injuries?”

“Kinda, he worries about troubling others. Troubling me or A-Jie seems to be fine,” said Jiang Chang as he shelved books away. “Unless it's really important. I wish he would trouble me about things like that.”

“I do not wish to pry, but does your brother not speak?”

Jiang Cheng’s motions paused, “I do not wish to be rude, but if your asking, do you not already know the answer?”

“Quite right,” said Lan XiChen. “Why were we not informed about this?”

Jiang Cheng, “I don’t know. Wei WuXian may have asked to not have it told. It makes people treat him differently. People don’t want to learn a language to talk to someone, but it’s hard to keep a secret.”

“I see,” he said softly. “Do you know why he doesn’t speak?”

“With all respect ZeWu-Jun, that’s not my place to say. Thank you for your help,” he saluted, as he took the books that need to be shelved to a different part of the library.

 Wei WuXian wandered to the part of Cloud Recesses where the Cold Spring was. His smile grew to see Lan WangJi in the Cold Springs already. His eyes were closed in concentration, and Wei WuXIan thought about leaving. Only a moment later, he stripped to his undergarments and jumped into the water. Lan WangJi’s eyes snapped open, “Why are you here?”

Wei WuXian smiled, then he crossed his arms over his chest and shivered dramatically. He bounced around from the cold. “Don’t bounce around,” said Lan WangJi.

Wei WuXian rolled out his lip with a pouting face. Lan WangJi was annoyed, “Don’t move.” He reached out to touch Wei WuXian’s shoulder, but saw the angry purple across his shoulders, and the anger drained away, “What happened?”

Wei WuXian smiled shyly, he took his palm, held it up, and let it drop to the water, causing a splash. The water splashed into Lan WangJi’s eyes, causing him to jump back angrily. Wei WuXian realized too late what he had done, as Lan WangJi’s voice rang out, “Get lost!” Wei WuXian pulled away quickly, dressed quickly, and ran off still soaking wet.

He threw open the door to his shared dorm. Jiang Cheng looked up from the book he was reading, “Wei WuXian? Didn’t you dry off?”

Wei WuXian closed the door as tears began to fall. He wiped at them, helplessly. This made Jiang Cheng jump up, “What happened?” Wei WuXian clang to Jiang Cheng, who held him at a complete loss.

“Uncle, welcome back,” greated Lan XiChen.

“Good evening, XiChen,” said Lan QiRen.

Lan XiChen nodded to receive the greeting, “I know you have just returned, but I wish to speak to you about Young Master Wei.”

Lan QiRen frowned, “Has he given you trouble as well?”

“Not Quite. Uncle, I believe there has been a misunderstanding. Let us talk inside,” Lan XiChen said, leading him inside. 

Lan QiRen followed and sat at the low table, as Lan XiChen brewed tea. Lan XiChen came and sat and passed a stack of papers to Lan QiRen, “This was given to me by Young Master Wei and Young Master Jiang. As uncle was told, a Waterborne Abyss has been found in Biling Lake. The boys came up with this plain get rid of the Waterborne Abyss.”

Lan QiRen nodded, as he read through the papers, “This is impressive. Well thought out, sound reasoning. Why doesn’t he show this in class?”

“The Young master is mute,” replied Lan XiChen, “At least partly so.”

“What?!” said Lan QiRen, composure crumbling, “Why were we not made aware of this?”

Lan XiChen shook his head, “I’m not sure. Young Master Jiang said that it might be the Young Master Wei requested it be kept from us, as it makes people treat him differently. Even so, Young Master Jiang did not seem sure of himself. WangJi said that Young Master Wei will speak to his brother, but no one else.”

“Hm,” Lan QiRen placed the papers on the desk, and stroked his goatee. “Then  I am at fault here, and I owe him an apology.” He took a sip of his tea, “But this brings another question, why does he not speak?”

Lan XiChen shook his head, “That I truly do not know, Young Master Jiang said it was not his place to say.”

“Hm, very well, we shall look into this. It is quite concerning,” said Lan QiRen.

“Thank you, uncle,” said Lan XiChen with a salute, leaving for the night. Lan QiRen turned his attention to the papers written by the boys, he had truly misjudged Wei WuXian.

Chapter Text

Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian went to class in the morning. Jiang Cheng was still worried about what had upset his brother the night before. Wei WuXian had pulled his pallet over to where Jiang Cheng was lying, but he seemed to have slept decently enough, so Jiang Cheng decided to leave it be. Wei WuXian would tell him if he wanted to, or at least he hoped he would.

After class, Lan QiRen spoke, “Wei WuXian, Jiang Cheng, I would like to talk to you both.” 

Jiang Cheng glanced at his brother, who was wringing his hands. Jiang Cheng walked to his brother’s side, “Is something wrong, teacher?”

“Not exactly, neither of you are in trouble rest assured,” Lan QiRen said, “This way.”

They walked to a meeting room were Lan XiChen was already waiting, “Young Master Jiang and Young Master Wei, please come in and have a seat.” Both boys did, sitting on the other said as Lan QiRen come to sit next to Lan XiChen. 

Lan QiRen, “Wei WuXian, I have misjudged you. XiChen brought me this,” he placed the papers on the table, “I’m quite impressed with you both. It was well thought out and quite frankly could work. I am sorry for the quick judgement,” he said. “I also did wrong by you, Wei WuXian. While there is no excuse; we were not made aware of your disability. For what I did during class, I am sorry,” he said, giving a more deep salute to Wei WuXian. “I will be accepting the punishment of copying lines for my actions.”

Wei WuXian blushed, he never thought anyone would humble themselves in front of him. He shook his hands quickly much too embarrassed.

“Wei WuXian, If I may ask, why was it kept secret?” ask Lan XiChen.

Wei WuXian smiled. He cupped his hands then moved them in front of his face. “He says he was embarrassed.” Wei WuXian made more signs, and Jiang Cheng continued to translate, “He thought that maybe he would get over it if he was in a new place. He asked father not to tell, he didn’t want to be treated different.”

“Young Master Wei, that is not the way to go about it. It causes more stress this way. I wish you would have told us. We can have you met with someone, she is very kind and helps with disabilities like this. We would love to offer her services to you, if you like,” said Lan XiChen.

Wei WuXian shook his head. “I wouldn’t want to be trouble,” Jiang Cheng said for him.

“No trouble,” said Lan QiRen, “Something of this sort should have been offered long ago. Perhaps Jiang FengMian did not know that this treatment existed, I wish it had been brought to my attention sooner, but it is of little consequence now.”

Wei WuXian was at a loss, he looked down at the ground and gripped his knees. He looked up touching his fingertips to his chin and brought them down till his open palm was face up in front of him. He repeated it a few more times, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Wei WuXian had just come back into Cloud Recesses, after spending the morning hunting. He glanced through the Magnolia blossoms, and saw Lan WangJi copying texts in the Library Pavilion. He climbed the tree face beaming as he came through the window waving to him.

Lan WangJi did not turn to see the nosy disciple that stood in the window. Wei WuXian came over leaning on the table, their faces inches apart, his eyes shining bright, begging for Lan WangJi’s attention. “Want do you want?”

Wei WuXian took his closed fist and rubbed it in a circle on his chest. Wei WuXian withdrew two little rabbits. One white as snow and the other black as coal. They kicked their legs trying to escape Wei WuXian’s hold. He put them on the table. The light one sat calmly content where he was sitting, lazily chewing lettuce that Wei WuXian gave it. The dark one, on the other hand, bounced around, spreading dirt around on the desk. He stepped into the ink, running around leaving little paw prints of ink. Wei WuXian snatched him up and started to clean the unruly rabbits paw. The red eyed rabbit fought against Wei WuXian. Lan WangJi thought the rabbit resembled Wei WuXian and a smile crossed his face.

Wei WuXian put him back on the table and gave him a piece of lettuce. The black rabbit bounced over to his companion and snuggled to him. Wei WuXian watched with wishful longing for such companionship, but who would someone without a voice? Lan WangJi’s smile disappeared watching Wei WuXian’s eyes filled with such longing. He was just about to reach out to him when a soft sound drew his attention. One of the rabbits was on top of the other.

Lan WangJi blushed, “They are both male…”

Wei WuXian turned to see Lan WangJi’s embarrassment and a soft laugh escaped the normally silent lips. It turned into the most innocent, light, happy voice. Lan WangJi’s blush deepened hearing it, it was just such a laugh, just such a voice. Before he knew it, it had grown quite and Wei WuXian was waving goodbye as he left the way he came, leaving Lan WangJi all alone again. The memory of the voice still filled Lan WangJi’s ears.

Half a month of quiet followed, Wei WuXian was flourishing and bright eyed. Jiang Cheng was glad to see his brother smiling and bouncing about unrestrained. He was never this happy in Lotus Pier, but nothing ever seemed to stay good for Wei WuXian.

In Cloud Recesses, there were hollowed windows along a long wall. The designs were intricate and designs, the playing of the instruments, flying on a sword, and beasts drew Wei WuXian’s attention. Lan QiRen was explaining the meaning of each carving and Wei WuXian listened on every word. The eldest and famous of the windows was of GusuLan’s founder, Lan An.

The founder was born in a temple, and grew up listening to the chanting of sutras. Because of this, he became a famous monk at a young age. At 20, he took the “Lan” from “qielan” as a last name and resumed his worldly life and became a musician. During his time studying cultivation, he met his “fated person” and took her as his cultivation partners. After his partner died, he returned to the temple and ended his life. The four windows were “qielan”, “xiyue”, “daolu”, and “guiji”. 

Wei WuXian looked over the windows and his attention hung on “daolu”. Cultivation partners. Two people that walked side by side, together. Such a distant dream, one Wei WuXian doubted he could achieve. Who would want him?

After the class had ended, the other disciples began to chatter about cultivation partners and of course what their dream cultivation partner would be, well known girls they would want to be theirs, someone asked, “ZiXuan-xiong, who do you think is the best girl?”

Wei WuXian drew his attention away and Jiang Cheng also looked. The boy in question was proud and regal looking. He had a vermilion mark on his forehead, his clothes were adorned with Sparks Amongst the Snow. This was the Young Master of LanlingJin, Jin ZiXuan.

“You better not ask him, he already has a fiance. He naturally would have to answer that she is.”

Jin ZiXuan’s lips twitched in disgust. The other boy spoke, “Oh, really? Which sect is she from? She must be talented!”

“Forget it,” replied Jin ZiXuan.

A wad of paper flew past the gossiping boys, everyone turned to see Wei WuXian with a deep scowl on his face. No one was use to seeing Wei WuXian this way. He caused trouble often, but with a smile. Jiang Cheng was also allowing this to happen.

“What do you want? Is it too hard for you to understand?” he retorted.

Wei WuXian shook his head, Jiang Chang spoke, “It’s not hard to understand. How could not be satisfied with jiejie?”

Everyone whispered to one another, understanding that they had stirred up a hornet’s nest. Jin ZiXuan’s fiance was Jiang YanLi of YunmengJiang. Jiang YanLi was the oldest of Jiang FengMian and Jiang Cheng’s older sister. Her personality was mild and her voice was smooth, but not memorable. Her appearance was only just above average, and she wasn’t astonishingly talented. Jin ZiXuan, on the other hand, was the polar opposite. He was the only legitimate son of Jin GuangShan, outstanding in looks and talent. Common sense said, with Jiang YanLi’s condition, they were not well matched. She was not even qualified. The only reason she was able to be engaged to him was her mother was from MeishanYu Sect and was friendly with Jin ZiXuan’s mother. The two madams grew up together, and they had a close relationship.

The Jin Sect was proud, and so Jin ZiXuan came by it honest. He had high standards, and he had never been satisfied with the candidate, but he was even more unsatisfied with his mother for choosing her for him. This had made him rebellious and spiteful at heart. He saw a moment to break out, “How about you ask me how I could be happy with her?”

Jiang Cheng’s anger flared as he stood.

Wei WuXian stood between the two, giving Jiang Cheng a look, making a quick sign with his hands, don’t . He then turned his deadly glare to Jin ZiXuan.

Because of the engagement Jin ZiXuan did not have high thoughts of the YunmengJiang Clan and disliked Wei WuXian even more. Jin ZiXuan’s pride made his blood boil, he was superior and did not deserve to be looked at in such a way. He blurted, “If she is so unsatisfied, tell her to get rid of this engagement! I don’t care for Jiang YanLi. If you care for her, why don’t you go and ask her father! He treats you better than his own son anyhow!”

Before Jiang Cheng could make a move, before Jin ZiXuan could react, a punch landed on Jin ZiXuan. Without much thought, Jin ZiXuan returned the punch. Lan WangJi, hearing the commotion, come in, he pulled Wei WuXian off Jin ZiXuan. Once Wei WuXian was pulled away, he turned away, knowing punishment was to come. It didn’t matter, he was a failure anyhow, at least he could defend his shijie and keep his shidi from trouble, that was enough.

Lan QiRen gave both boys a firm talking to and commanded them to kneel. As two prominent sects got into a fight, Jin GuangShan and Jiang FengMian were called and hastened to Gusu in the very same day. The talks had just started when Jiang FengMian said, “A-Li’s mother decided on the engagement, I did not agree. If neither is keen, then it is best not to force it.”

Shocked Jin GuangShan spoke, “What do children know? They can play around as they like. FengMian-xiong, you and I do not need to pay them any mind. It is not a good idea to go breaking engagements.”

“Jin-xiong, we can set the engagement for them, but we can not carry out the marriage for them. After all, it is them who must live out their lives together. We do not want them to be unhappy.”

Jin GuangShan had only agreed to the marriage as it was the will of Madam Jin. Jiang Sect was neither choice nor would it strengthen Jin Sect. It was proposed by the Jiang Sect and Jin Sect was the husband’s side and did not have as many concerns as the wife’s side. Jin ZiXuan had always resented his engagement. “Very well, FangMian-xiong, you may be right.”

Jin GuangShan stood to leave and Lan QiRen spoke, “Sect Leader Jiang, I have something else I would like to discuss with you, if you would stay a bit longer.”

“Is there something else Ying has done?” he asked as Jin GuanShan left.

Lan QiRen stroked his beard, “It has come to my attention that Wei WuXian is mute. Why were we not informed of his disability. Moreover, why is he not being treated?”

“A-Ying is shy about it, he asked it to be kept secret. We also thought it might be better for him to get past his impediment,” said Jiang FengMian. 

“That is not how you help a child who has difficulty speaking. It only puts undue stress on him,” said Lan QiRen, eyes narrowing.

Jiang FengMian looked down, “I see that now, I was wrong. I will take him home, so that he will not cause anymore trouble. He can receive his punishment for the fight there. We will also see out treatment.”

“I am not throwing him out of Cloud Recesses, and he is receiving treatment here. It is slow, but that is to be expected,” said Lan QiRen.

“I am thankful for that as well, but he has caused you so much trouble. I think it is time for him to be disciplined at home,” said Jiang FengMian, starting to stand.

Lan QiRen grasped at one last straw, “When did he stop talking, what happened?”

“Shortly after coming to be with us he had several run ins with some children his age. He has difficulty with his words, and they bullied him. I was unaware until he stopped talking. The children were disciplined, and I thought it would blow over, but it did not,” said Jiang FengMian leaving.

The stories he was given by Wei WuXian matched Jiang FengMian, he had hoped they would not. If they did not. then he would have a reason to prevent him from taking Wei WuXian with him, but they matched. There wasn’t much he could do, unless Wei WuXian asked to stay. Wei WuXian seemed close with WangJi, maybe, just maybe… He stood and rushed from the room, time was short.

At this time, Wei WuXian was kneeling on the path he was assigned. Unaware his scuffle had ended with his sister’s engagement broken, but he already suspected that he would be returning home. It was probably better that way. Jiang Cheng didn’t need him weighing him down. He shouldn’t have come to begin with, the YunmengJiang would not be in this situation.

Jiang Cheng come over, “You look to behaved, kneeling so properly.”

Wei WuXian smiled, giving a victory sign with a wide smile. His voice came out soft and light, “Of course. I am — I am use to kneeling. Jin ZiXuan is spoiled. I bet— I bet he has never kneeled before. I’m sure it is a— a sight to see!”

Jiang Cheng hung his head and after a pause spoke, “Father came.”

Wei WuXian nodded, “Did Shijie?”

“Why would she?  To see how you lost face for her? If she was here, would she not be at your side tending to you and bring you medicine?”

Wei WuXian sighed, “Too bad I didn’t let you hit him, but it’s better— better that you didn’t.”

“I would have, had you not stopped me.”

Wei WuXian smailed, “Asymmetrical suits him. You know, I should have— should have let you hit him. I just couldn’t help it.”

“You wish,” said Jiang Cheng, his words were bitter. His father would never come to another sect in a day for Jiang Cheng. Never. But for Wei WuXian here he was.

“You should go, Lan WangJi came by earlier, you will— will be in trouble if he catches you,” said Wei WuXian.

“Lan WangJi was here? He came to see you?”

Wei WuXian nodded, but didn't say anymore as Jiang FengMian walked over. “Ying, we are going home tonight. Go pack your things.” Wei WuXian stood with a salute.

Jiang Cheng turned, “He’s going home?”

“Yes, he’s caused enough trouble here,” said Jiang FengMian. Jiang Cheng wanted to say something, but he couldn’t go against his father.

Wei WuXian walked back to his room and started to pack what little he had brought to Cloud Recesses. He wasn’t surprised in the least that Jiang FengMian was taking him home. He had only been allowed to go on the condition that he kept out of trouble and no one finds out about his condition. He messed up on both. He threw his bag over his shoulder and walked out, Lan WangJi was standing in the door. Wei WuXian smiled waving hi to him.

“You’re leaving,” said Lan WangJi. Wei WuXian nodded. “You don’t have to leave, you can stay if you wanted.”

Wei WuXian’s heart skipped a beat, a lifeline was being offered to him. He need only reach out to take it, but he could not. He couldn’t bare to cause more trouble to Lan WangJi, Lan QiRen, and Lan XiChen. They had already done so much for him, he shook his open palmed hand and touched his finger to his chin before bringing them away. 

Lan WangJi’s hands gripped at his sides, he did not know exactly what was said, but he could tell it was a refusal. Lan WangJi spoke again, “It was uncle’s request that you stay, and I would not mind it.”

Wei WuXian shook his head this time. He could not go against his uncle. He looked away. Lan WangJi took Wei WuXian’s hand in his and placed something there. Looking at his hand he found a bamboo ocarina. It was easily held in one hand, the craftsmanship was beautiful. He looked from the instrument to Lan WangJi. “This is for you. You lost your whistle.”

Wei WuXian brought it to his lips and the sound echoed softly It was light and easily played with one hand. It was made to be played this way, in battle, as his voice. He brought it away from his lips looking at the small instrument, he saluted deeply to Lan WangJi. In that moment, he never wanted to stay somewhere more, but he could not bring himself to. He righted himself and placed the ocarina around his neck with the affixed string. He curled his first finger down, then interlocked his first fingers, then flipped which hand was on top. He then held up his first two fingers, one slightly more forward than the other, then rocked his wrist slightly. He quickly realized that the gesture had no meaning to Lan WangJi. He smiled, with another salute he turned to leave.

Lan WangJi had no choice but to let him go. He could not force Wei WuXian to stay. He knew in that moment he would regret not being able to convince him. Later, he would regret not being to answer the question Wei WuXian asked with a nod of his closed fist.

Chapter Text

Wei WuXian met his uncle at the gate, he spoke, “Another whistle? Did you make a friend here?”

Wei WuXian rubbed his fingers over the smooth bamboo of the ocarina. Lan WangJi would have paid so much for such a thing as this. Wei WuXian was unsure if they were friends or if Lan WangJi just felt sorry for him. It was such a nice gift, like none he had ever been given, but Lan WangJi was a part of a rich sect, it was probably pocket change to him. He shrugged his shoulders.

“I see,” said Jiang FengMian. “Are you ready to go?”

Wei WuXian nodded, mounting his sword. When he was overhead, he glanced back at Cloud Recesses. He could see people scurrying around, tears bit at his eyes. He didn’t want to leave, but the trouble it would cause if he stayed, the strife it would cause others to defend him, he would rather not bother.

“Wei Ying, let’s go,” said his uncle. He turned and flew behind his uncle back to Lotus Pier.

Arriving in Lotus Pier, he was met with his sister, who smiled happily to seem him. “A-Xian, how are you?” Wei WuXian held his hand up, fingers splayed out, he tapped his thumb to his chest a few times. Jiang YanLi smiled, “That’s good.”

“A-Li, go find your mother we need to talk,” said Jiang FengMian. Wei WuXian turned concerned as Jiang YanLi nodded. He trailed behind them, worried. “Wei Ying, go meet with the juniors, I’m sure they missed you.”

Wei Wuxian nodded and walked off, but as soon as they were out of sight he went to the family meeting room, and pressed his ear to the door. A soft voice spoke, “While in Cloud Recesses, me and Jin GuangShan spoke of A-Li’s betrothal.”

“What of it? Me and Jin ZiXuan’s mother decided on it when they were still children. Is there a problem?” asked Madam Yu.

Jiang FengMian gave a soft sigh before speaking again, “Me and Clan Jin have decided to rescind the betrothal.”

A soft sound of shock left Jiang YanLi’s lips as Madam Yu spoke, “Why rescind out of nowhere?”

Jiang FengMian, “I used to think the feelings between A-Li and Jin ZiXuan were mutual, but that does not seem to be the case. Why force A-Li and Jin ZiXuan?”

“A-Li and Jin ZiXuan have met several times, and A-Li has feelings for him! Did that Jin ZiXuan say something? What do children know?!” anger raising in her voice. “Besides A-Li is a gem! Jin ZiXuan will see eventually! Me and his mother are childhood friends. MeishanYu and Jin ZiXuan’s mother clan are allies as well. Would it not benefit YunmengJiang to ally with LanlingJin?”

Jiang FengMian spoke critically, “We can set the engagement for them, but we can not force them to be happy. They do not need to be forced by their parents wishes.”

The room went deathly quiet, “You mean like us?”

“My lady, you know that is not what I meant.”

Madam Yu scoffed, “That Wei Ying stirring up trouble no matter where he goes!”

Jiang FengMian sighed, “What does this have to do with A-Xian?”

Madam Yu stuck the table hard with her hand, “What doesn’t it have to do with him?! He had to cause a ruckus and ruined A-Li betrothal. Would that have happened if he had not been there?! Ever since you brought him here you have been partial to him! If Jiang Cheng had gotten in trouble, would you have gone to Gusu in such haste? You would not have! This time it was A-Li betrothal, who knows what will happen next. Worry not, Sect Leader will be there to clean it up!”

“My Lady!”

“Mother, maybe it is best that it is broken. I do not believe that A-Xian would provoke Jin ZiXuan without reason. Thank you for your concern, but if he does not share my love, then there is no point. Let’s not fight over this anymore,” the soft voice of Jiang YanLi echoed out. She turned to leave giving a salute to both her father and mother. Opening the door, she had expected to see Wei WuXian outside the door, but there was no one.

Wei WuXian ran, it was the first he heard of his fight with Jin ZiXuan resulting in the ending of Jiang YanLi's engagement. He had only wanted to defend his shijie, but it seemed he had ruined her engagement for her instead. Even if he was a jerk, his sister still loved him, as much as he hated it. He always caused so much trouble for them.

He leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down. Lan WangJi had invited him to stay, maybe he should have. No, if he had stayed, he would have caused trouble. It was his uncle’s right to take him home. If he had asked to stay, it would have put Cloud Recesses in bad terms with Lotus Pier. 

He slid down the wall, curling in on himself. His chest tightened. He should have told Jiang FengMian he wasn’t Wei Ying. Then maybe he would have been killed on the streets, where he wouldn't inconvenience anyone with his existence. Small tears streamed from his eyes. He wanted to go back, he wanted Lan WangJi. He made him feel warm.

He didn’t know how long he laid there before there came a soft knock, “A-Xian? Are you there?”

Wei WuXian quickly stood up, and whipped away the tears in his eyes. He walked over and opened the door, with a smile across his face. He waved at Jiang YanLi.

She frowned seeing him, “Are you ok, A-Xian?” 

“I’m fine, tired,” he said.

“It was a long trip back wasn’t it?” she said coming over to the low table in his room. She sat down a basket and started to take out some bowls. “Come, let’s have something to eat, I’m sure your hungry after your trip.” He nodded coming to her side and sitting down as she made bowls of lotus root pork rib soup. “You don’t have to worry, Silly A-Xian. I’m not angry about Jin ZiXuan.”

Wei WuXian looked away, “But… I— I  made Shijie sad…”

Jiang YanLi smiled, “Since I was a child, mom has said that I would marry Young Master Jin and he will my husband. Although we have only met a few times, Young Master Jin is radiant and handsome. Few girls would be unimpressed, I guess. After thinking it over, actually I am not that fond of him. I do wish to be with them till I’m old and grey, but if our feelings aren't mutual...” She laughed then patted her brother’s head, “You started that fight because he said something, right?”

Wei WuXian looked down, “No, it was— it was nothing like that… I just thought— just thought he was annoying.”

“A-Xian, I grew up with you. You’re a trickster, but you would not have started a fight without a reason. Do not worry, A-Xian. You did nothing wrong,” she stood to go, once she packed away the leftovers. “Though Young Master Jin may be attractive, I want to see out my own true love. Heart to heat, till the end.” She saluted to her brother, which he returned. He smiled to himself. At least she wasn’t angry at him. He held on tight to the ocarina that Lan WangJi had given to him. There was at least those two that was on his side.

Chapter Text

Jiang Cheng came to Lan QiRen, who was surprised to see the boy on his doorstep. “Jiang WanYin.”

“Master Lan, I am very grateful to you for teaching me, but I’m going to return to YunmengJiang,” said Jiang Cheng head bowed in salute. 

“Your abandoning your studies?”

Jiang Cheng looked at the ground, “I need to go home. Wei WuXian got into trouble protecting me from trouble. I could have been the one that was punished, if he hadn’t punched Jin ZiXuan first. I should accept responsibility for that.”

“But it was not you who was punished,” said Lan QiRen, stroking his goatee.

He nodded, “Maybe not, but it’s unfair for me to take advantage of his sacrifice. If he cannot study here, I should not either.” He grew silent for a moment, “He has Jiejie at home, but there isn’t many people he can talk with or gets along with… so I worry. If abandoning my studies, means I can help my brother, then so be it. He is more important than classes.”

“What about leading your sect one day?” asked Lan QiRen.

“What about it?” fumed Jiang Cheng. “Even if I don’t learn all you have to teach, I don’t need to know everything. When I am sect leader, I will have people to advise me. My brother needs me, and being where I am needed is also an important part of being sect leader!”

“Jiang WanYin, that is a very good answer,” said Lan QiRen. “You are right, being where is needed is part of being sect leader. I feel many leaders have forgotten their families, or their duty. It is very hard to balance both, but you already see the need to. Jiang WangYin, I believe you will make a fine leader one day,” said Lan QiRen with a salute.

Jiang Cheng stood dumbfounded, before returning with a bow, “Thank you, Master Lan.”

“Give praise where it is due,” said Lan QiRen, “Now do you not have somewhere to be, Jiang WanYin?”

“Yes!” he said, “Thank you for your understanding!”

“Hmm,” he said as he watched the future sect leader dash off. If Jiang Cheng had turned he would have seen a small, approving smile on Lan QiRen’s lips.

***

Jiang Cheng arrived back in YunmengJiang around midday without any trouble. He had spent the whole flight thinking what he would tell his parents; he figured his father would not be happy, but let it go, but his mother, he wondered if he would ever make her proud. He sighed, what was done was done.

Walking along the raised paths of Lotus Pier, he found his brother sitting on the pier looking out at a lotus pond, “Wei WuXian.”

He turned lackadaisically, but jumped up seeing Jiang Cheng, he pointed at him, then moved his palms up in front of him in circles, then touched his temple with his fingertips then pulled away forming “Y” sign.

“Because I wanted to come back,” he said. “I would rather be here with my brother.”

Wei WuXian made a few signs, but couldn’t seem to make the sentence he wanted. He settled on, “Classes?”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. This is what I wanted, if I can’t study with you then what is the point?” he said with a huff. “We are brother’s aren’t we?”

Wei WuXian nodded his closed fist while nodding his head, with a smile. Then his smile vanished, “How will you explain to your parents?”

“It will work out somehow. Don’t worry about it. It will be fine,” Jiang Cheng said. 

Wei WuXian hugged his brother with a whisper, “Thank you, Jiang Cheng.” Jiang Cheng hugged him back.

“Wei WuXian, who gave you a new whistle? Was it father?” asked Jiang Cheng touching the well made trinket. Wei WuXian shook his head, touching his first two fingers to his thumb, before rocking his hand back and forward. “Lan WangJi gave it to you?” Wei WuXian nodded his fist.

“Jiang Cheng? Why are you here? You should be studying in Cloud Recesses,” said a harsh voice behind them. 

Both boys turned and saluted, “Mother,” said Jiang Cheng.

“Well, why are you here?” she said crossing her arms. “Did you do something to get yourself kicked out of Cloud Recesses?”

“I also fought with Jin ZiXuan. I am no better than Wei WuXian, just because I wasn’t caught, doesn’t mean I should be exempt from punishment,” said Jiang Cheng.

“Hmf,” the Violet Spider huffed. “So that boy got you in trouble too,” her eyes focused on Wei WuXian beside Jiang Cheng.

“He didn’t,” Jiang Cheng said stepping in front of Wei WuXian. “This is a choice I’ve made.”

The Violet Spider turned on heels and left. Jiang Cheng sighed, it went just as well as expected. Turning back to Wei WuXian, who was looking down and rubbing his closed fist over his chest, he spoke, “There is nothing to be sorry for, Wei WuXian. Let’s go inside and see Jiejie.” Wei WuXian perked up hearing this, nodding, his brother was always at his side.

Later that night, at dinner, no one spoke of Jiang Cheng’s sudden return. Jiang FengMian sat at the head of the table, apathetic it seemed. Madam Yu was stewing quietly. Jiang YanLi, Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian discreetly talked using sign.

Chapter Text

Wei WuXian walked quietly along the path, he had gotten separated from his brother and the rest of YunmengJiang while heading to Nightless City for a Discussion Conference. Wandering around the rocky crags, he wonders how he got so lost. He hadn’t come across anyone to ask either.

He continued to walk, if he was late, he would never hear the end of it. He then saw down a hill off the road a boy about his age practicing his archery. Wei WuXian smiled as he dashed down the way to the boy, but stopped short, watching as he drew back his bow. Wei WuXian watched as the arrow found its way into the center of the target. Wei WuXian clapped quite enthusiastically with a wide smile on his face.

The boy turned, wide eyed, dropping his bow, he dashed behind a large rock. Wei WuXian followed his movements with his eyes, scratching his head confused. The boy peaked out from behind the wall, “I-is there something you need, young master?”

Wei WuXian smiled, giving a nod. He pointed to the boy’s discarded bow. The boy looked puzzled at him, “You need a b-bow, young master?”

Wei WuXian shook his head. The boy thought for a moment longer, “Oh, are you looking for the discussion conference?” Wei WuXian nodded. The boy smiled, “I-I see. I can take you to it.” He said coming completely out from the rocks. Wei WuXian’s smiled brightened, touching his figures to his chin and bringing his hands away.

The shy boy smiled, “Your welcome…”

Wei WuXian looked over, eyes wide. He held his hands in front of himself with his first fingers pointed at each other, then moving them in small circles, followed by pointing at the young boy.

The boy smiled, holding his up his fist figure and thumb nearly touching, “I know a-a-a little. My sister taught me, but you c-c-can’t hear me can you?”

Wie WuXian shook his hand in front of him, he brought his fists up in front of him and down in a fast, then pointed at his ear. He bought his spread out fingers up, tapping his first finger to his chin a few times. Then holding one pointed finger up around his face and the other at his chest brought them past one another.

“Oh,” said the boys. Then his eyes grew big, “I’m Wen Ning, courtesy Qionglin. Nice to meet you!” He bowed slightly.

Wei WuXian nodded, as he took a stick to draw out his name in the dirt. Wen Ning looked over “Wei Ying, and your courtesy is WuXian?” Wei WuXian nodded. “Oh, we should get going!” Wen Ning and Wei WuXian walked toward the training grounds. 

When they arrived back a person in purple cam running, “Wei WuXian! There you are! Where were you?”

Wen Ning shrunk back startled by all the yelling, he turned to Wei WuXian for guidance, he saw the kindest and most happy smile. He rubbed his closed fist over his chest in a circle. Wen Ning spoke up, “S-s-s-sorry, I distracted him!”

Jiang Cheng looked over, “I doubt it’s all your fault. You brought him back.” Jiang Cheng grabbed Wei WuXian’s arm, tugging lightly, “We are over here, Wei WuXian.”

Wei WuXian let himself be tugged along, freeing his arm long enough to make two signs to Wen Ning. Wen Ning felt a blush come to his cheeks, Let’s meet again.  

Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng walked back towards the area the other YunmengJiang disciples. Jiang Cheng was giving him an earful for wandering off and getting lost. Wei WuXian saw cultivators all in white and searched for one. Finding him, he ran up to the young man, waving happily. Wei WuXian motions his hands as if straightening something unseen on his forehead.

Lan WangJi’s eyes grew slightly as he reached up to fix his forehead ribbon, but it was already fine. He threw a slightly dirty look at him. He quickened his pace to the rest of GusuLan.

Jiang Cheng come over, “You shouldn’t tease him. He’ll stop liking you.”

Wei WuXian sighed dramatically and used his figures to brush his nose twice.

“I doesn’t matter if it is funny or not, Wei WuXian! People will only put up with so much,” said Jiang Cheng. “Come on, we need to go lineup for the conference.”

They lined up in a row, with Wei WuXian standing out in the line of purple. They stood perfectly still while the opening ceremony was starting, but he found himself glancing over at Lan WangJi a few rows over. When he saw Wei WuXian’s eyes on him, he looked away trying to pretend he never saw him.

Soon they were released to start the archery hunt. Fierce ghosts had been let loose in the gorge, as entertainment, they were to go and hunt them down. Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian smiled at each other, the competition now on to see who could hunt down more. The brothers took off to start the hunt. When they were just out of sight, Wei WuXian looked over to his brother, “I’ll get more than you!”

“No way, Wei WuXian!” said Jiang Cheng. Both of them readied their bows, as mangled gray beings came closer to them. They let fly their arrows both striking their targets, causing the ghost to shoot up and explode in purple Lotus Pier motifs. Several more also followed from various places and in different clan motifs. 

“No, Wen Clan,” signed Wei WuXian.

“Yea, and it’s their conference,” said Jiang Cheng.

“Let’s go! We will win!” signed Wei WuXian. The brother took off taking out several more of the ghosts. Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng continued through the gorge, looking for more ghost to take out, just as Wei WuXian was notching his arrow, an arrow flew by, nearly hitting him . He turned to see Wen Chao.

“Hey, watch your aim! You nearly hit him! Also that was our prey!” shouted Jiang Cheng.

“If it was your prey, you should have shot it faster! It’s not my fault he was in the way!” scoffed, as he reached over to take more arrows from his man servant at his side. He readied to shoot three arrows from his bow. One hit a target, one headed off and hit nothing, the last headed towards another unsuspecting cultivator. Wei WuXian dashed off towards them, but would be much too late to do anything. Luckily, an arrow intercepted the stray one, and knocked it off course.

Wei WuXian followed the line of the intercepting arrow and saw Lan WangJi. He broke into a smile. After checking on the cultivator, he found Wen Chao had run off. Giving a sigh at coward’s choice to run away, he bounced over to Lan WangJi, waving happy to see him again. Lan WangJi nodded to the bouncy boy who stood before him. 

Wei WuXian stood there for a moment before again moving his hands like he was straightening something on his forehead. Lan WangJi clicked his tongue as he turned to go. He had enough of Wei WuXian’s antics. Wei WuXian reached out, to fix it for him, but it came off in his hand. Wei WuXian stared at the silk cloth with intricate cloud motifs. He never noticed how pretty the fine embroidery was. He held out the ribbon to Lan WangJi, rubbing his chest with his hand with a bowed head.

Lam WangJi ripped the ribbon away, and was long gone before Wei WuXian raised his head. Jiang Cheng came to his side, “Are you ok?”

Wei WuXian nodded his head. He smiled and started to walk, the competition was still going on. Jiang Cheng followed, keeping a close eye on his brother. Soon signal the end of the competition, and the brothers returned to the main ground. Some of the other disciples were whispering, “I heard Lan WangJi left the competition early.”

“I wonder what happened?” said another.

Wei WuXian’s face twisted looking over to GusuLan area. He saw Lan WangJi who was talking to his older brother. He looked away and to the ground. Jiang Cheng sighed, as a man with a scroll walked up to the stage.

“This concludes the QishanWen discussion conference. I will announce the highest scoring individuals. In first is YunmengJiang’s Wei WuXian. Next is GusuLan’s Lan XiChen, then LanlingJin Jin ZiXuan and lastly GusuLan’s Lan WangJi,” after reading out the names he gave some closing remarks, he dismissed everyone. People were whispering all around about how QishanWen had no winners, despite being the hosts. 

A few people came to congratulate Wei WuXian, he smiled and accepted their praise, but he was still sad, remembering the soft ribbon that once was in his hand. The ribbon he feared may have drove a nail between him and Lan WangJi. Jiang Cheng smiled sadly at him, coming to save him from the small talk, “It will be ok.” Wei WuXian nodded, as they walked, headed back to Lotus Pier.

Chapter Text

Yunmeng was abundant with lakes, the sect’s Lotus Pier was also built on a Lake. If one started at the end of Lotus Pier, after a short while of paddling, you would come to large lotus lake more than one hundred miles long. The wide, verdant leaves, and the velvety, pink blossoms brushed against one another. When the wind blew, they swayed as if nodding their heads. Amid the purity and grace there was also the naive sense of clumsiness.

Lotus Pier wasn’t other worldly or ethereal sects, shutting their doors and refusing commoners to come within a mile of the residence. No, instead the docker were right in front of the Lotus Pier was bustling with vendors selling lotus pods, water chestnuts, and pastries. Runny-nosed children could also sneak into the fields where cultivators practiced with their swords. They wouldn’t be scolded if caught; the disciples of YunmengJiang would even play with them. As such, Wei WuXian often played with children, they never questioned why their shixiong never spoke.

Wei WuXian often loved to shoot down kites with the children, disciples, and Jiang Cheng on the banks of the pier.

Jiang Cheng started at his own kite and occasionally glancing at Wei WuXian’s. Wei WuXian;s was far up above, but he still seemed to have no intention of drawing his bow. His hand was on his brow, shading his eyes from the sun, as he watched it travel farther up into the sky. Jiang Cheng’s eye drifted back to his own, it had nearly drifted beyond the area where he was sure he would hit it. He placed a white feathered arrow and let it fly. It pierced the painted kite’s monstrous eye, “I hit it!”

Jiang Cheng glanced over, “Your has flown pretty far out, you think you can hit it?”

Wei WuXian glanced over with a mischievous look on his face, he held his fingers to his thumb and flicked his wrist “That so?” Jiang Cheng watched as Wei WuXian jumped down from his perch, and took up his bow. He drew back the bow and let go.

It hit!

Jiang Cheng scrunched up his brows, and hmpfed. All the children put away their bows and ran off to gather up their kites and arrows. They would rank them based on how far the kite had gone before it was shot down. As normal the one that went the shortest distance was the sixth youngest shidi. The children laughed, and Wei WuXian was fairly sure sixth youngest shidi did it on purpose. His face was thick, so he didn’t mind at all. Wei WuXian’s was the farthest, next was Jiang Cheng. The children ran out to gather their kites including Wei WuXian's and Jiang Cheng’s. Once the children and disciples were out of earshot a soft voice spoke, “Your angry.”

Jiang Cheng turned to his side, “Yours always go farther…”

Wei WuXian giggled that rang like soft bells, “Your too afraid of failing. If you— if you don’t push your limits? How will— will you ever go past them? Put your mind to it, you’ll go farther than me— than me.”

“Wei WuXian…” said Jiang Cheng. Wei WuXian was watching as the children played from his perch. 

“Whose are these,” asked a scornful voice, and the boys cursed their luck seeing two slender women appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. Wei WuXian pointed at himself. 

“Honest one aren't you?” snorted the other maid. 

They parted and revealed a woman also clad in purple flowing robes head to toe, and a sword on her hip. She was rather beautiful with creamy white skin and delicate features, yet fierce all the same. The corners of her lips were somewhere between a smile and a frown. She sneered naturally, just like Jiang Cheng. She was cold as jade as she rested her hand on her sword. Her index was adorned with ring inlaid with amethyst.

Jiang Cheng straightened up, “Mom!”

The other boys, including Wei WuXian saluted to her. All, except Wei WuXian, said, “Madam Yu.” 

As wife to Jiang FengMian, Yu ZiYuan, she cultivated with him as well. She should have been called Madam Jiang, but she never took that name. Some said he didn’t take her husband's last name because of her assertive personality, but no one knew. She had came from MeishanYu Sect, ranked third in her clan and called Third Lady Yu. In the cultivation world, she was called “Violet Spider”. Many feared her, and were scared away by her very mention. Even after marrying Jiang FengMian, she had done as he pleased and even had her own living quarters away from Jiang FengMian. The women with her were her maids, JinZhu and YinZhu. They never left her side.

“Fooling about, I see,” said the Madam, “Come here, let me see you.” Jiang Cheng came to her side. Her long slender fingers gripped his shoulder, squeezing. Then she slapped his shoulder tightly. “No, improvement whatsoever. You are already seventeen, but you are still an ignorant child, fooling around all the time! Others may be splashing in the sewers, but you will be the leader of the Jiang Sect!”

Jiang Cheng shrank away from her stumbling; his head lowered in defeat. Wei WuXian bit his lip. “Wei WuXian, what trouble are you stirring this time?! You’re like this again! If you, yourself, do not seek progress, don’t drag Jiang Cheng down with you. You are a bad influence on him!” 

By the end of her talk, Wei WuXian was shaking. Jiang Cheng stepped between them, “Mom, don’t blame Wei WuXian. I wanted to shoot down kites with the others. It’s not like we don’t want to go off and progress, but the Wen Sect took over all the spots, and we are all but trapped in Lotus Pier. We can’t go out even if we wanted to. Isn't that what you made clear to father?”

Madam Yu smirked bitterly, “Well, this time it will not matter what you want, you’ll have to go.” She strode down the hall without another word.

The other children took off as soon as Madam Yu had gone. Jiang Cheng quickly turned his attention to his brother, who was shaking uncontrollably. “What do you need me to do, Wei WuXian?”

“H-h-h,” his words were all tied up, he wrapped his arms around himself. Jiang Cheng wrapped his arms tightly around his gege. The pressure helped Wei WuXian calm down and feel safe.

Jiang Cheng lowered them to the ground so they were sitting comfortably. “Your safe.” Wei WuXian nestled himself against Jiang Cheng’s chest, his figures tapping in time with Jiang Cheng’s heart. “I’m here, Wei WuXian.” They stayed tucked away for a long time.

Chapter Text

It would be later that night, they would understand Madam Yu’s words. It turned out that QishanWen Sect sent envoys to each of the sects, demanding them to send twenty disciples from each. They claimed that their talent was being wasted and underutilized. They were to comply in three days. Jiang Cheng’s eyes widened, “Did the QishanWen say that? Have they no shame?”

Jiang FengMian was sitting at the head of the table, “Watch your words and eat.”

There were five people in the grand dining hall. Everyone was gathered around a small rectangle table, with dishes of food. Wei WuXian kept his head lowered careful not to look up at all. He had wanted to go to bed, but he also didn’t want to worry his brother further by not eating. There was a soft tug on the corner of his sleeve, turning he saw his sister’s bright face, holding a bowl of freshly peeled lotus seeds. He smiled tiredly, taking the bowl with one hand said signing thank you with the other.

Jiang YanLi lit up with color. She returned to her task of peeling seeds; another bowl for Jiang Cheng. Yu ZiYuan snorted, speaking in cold voice, “Eat? In a few days they will be at Qishan, we don’t know if they will get to eat well or anything at all. Why not let them miss a few meals and let them get used to it?!”

The demand of QishanWen Sect could not be turned down. Based on previous precedents set by them, if any sect was to defy them, there would be dire consequences. The QishanWen would likely use their defiance to brand the renegade sect as “destructive” or “rebellious” and use it to wipe them off the map.

Jiang FengMian gave a lukewarm reply, “Why should we fret over it? No matter what is to come, why should we not eat today’s meal?”

Madam Yu fumed, not having any patience left, she slammed her hand down, causing Wei WuXian to jump. Both siblings reached out to their brother, to comfort and assure him of his safety. Madam Yu continued, “I’m fretting? Of course I’m fretting! How are you so indifferent? Did you not hear the messenger the Wen Sect sent? A mere maid servant does not hold her head above me! Of the twenty we are to send, we must send at least one from the clan. What does that mean? I means we have to send someone from our family. It means between A-Cheng and A-Li, one of them must be included! How each sect trains their disciples— how it their turn to meddle?! This sending people for them to play with— they are using them to hold it against us!”

Jiang Cheng sighed, “Mom, don’t get so angry. I’ll just go.”

Madam Yu spoke with scolding hot words, “Of course you will go, or should we send your sister?! Look at her, still peeling lotus seeds for other people. You are not someone’s servant, but the mistress of this clan!”

Jiang FengMian raised his hand, “My lady.”

She turned to him, “What, Jiang FengMian, something I said? Don’t like the word servant? Let me ask you— Jiang FengMian— do you intend to make him go? Or is that eyesore of a child to be allowed to stay safe here, while you send your actual blood as a hostage?”

“It is up to him. He does not have to go, if he does not wish,” said Jiang FengMian.

Wei WuXian looked up he pointed his first fingers out and moved his hands in a small arch. Jiang FengMian arched his eyebrow, “What is it, Wei Ying?”

Wei WuXian repeated the sign, before continuing with more. Jiang FengMian looked to Jiang Cheng, who knew very well what his father wanted, a translation. They never tried to learn how to communicate with his brother. “He says he will go, it’s something he can do, even if he is not a part of the clan,” said Jiang Cheng gripping his fist tightly.

Madam Yu laughed harshly, “How wonderful! He can choose to go if he wants to. He can stay safe here. But A-Cheng has to go, no matter what we do! Raising this servant’s child, giving him such options, how kind of you Sect Leader Jiang!” 

Her heart was full of resentment. She wanted to let out the rage that continued to build within her, even if it hurts people, even if it made no sense. Jiang FengMian spoke, “My Lady, you are tired. Why don’t you go and rest?”

Jiang Cheng still sat and looked up at her, “Mom…”

Madam Yu looked at him and mocked, “What do you want me to do, Boy? Should I hold me tongue like your father? You really are an idiot. I’ve told you many times before, you will never be able to surpass the one sitting beside you, not in all your life! Not in cultivation, night hunting, or even shooting down kites, you’ll never surpass him! It can’t he helped. Who could change the fact that your mom is worse than another’s? Worse it is then! I told you countless times not to fool around with him, yet you are always helping and caring for that useless child.”

Wei WuXian stood, booth siblings watched their brother sign, before he walked away. Jiang Cheng started to relay his words to his parents, but Madam Yu spoke up first, “I don’t care what he has to say!”

Jiang Cheng stood, “You should, he said, ‘I wish I was good enough to be a replacement for Jiang Cheng, but I am not, I will go to protect the others. I'll leave first.’” He walked off to check on his brother.

Jiang FengMian spoke, “Tonight I will count off eighteen more. You will depart together the day after.” 

Jiang Cheng nodded in response. “Yes, father,” he never turned to face them. Jiang Cheng found his brother in his room, asleep. Jiang Cheng brought his pallet and laid down beside him. The next day they would leave, there was no telling what would be before them, but they would have one another.

Chapter Text

The next day before the disciples were to depart, Jiang FengMian gave his expectations of them, “The disciples of YunmengJiang Sect will are not as weak to crack under the waves of the outside world.”

Jiang YanLi came to see them off, staying with them and stuffing their pockets with snacks. Giving them packs of food, she was terribly worried that once they were in Qishan they would starve. She handed each of her brothers bags lotus seeds, “Take care of one another.”

Wei WuXian smiled and nodded. Jiang Cheng spoke, “Yes, A-Jie.”

Both brothers, along with the other disciples, arrived in Qishan, in the sector of the indoctrination, within time that had been set. There were a number of other disciples of other sects. It didn’t matter if the sect was big or small, all had to send people. All of them were juniors, and many of them knew each other. In different groups, the juniors conversed quietly, but none seem to be in an agreeable mood. Wei WuXian glanced around the juniors and spotted people all in white. He pulled on his brother’s sleeve and pointed.

“GusuLan, huh? I guess it’s to be expected. Try not to make trouble with them, it no time to be teasing them, Ok, Wei WuXian?” Wei WuXian nodded to his brother’s words, but he had noticed something further, that all of the people from GusuLan looked pallid and worn out. Lan WangJi looked especially pale, but still as frosty as normal. It distanced him from the rest of the groups. Wei WuXian wanted to go and see what had happened, but he shouldn’t be messing around, so he refrained.

Then someone appeared before them, telling them to gather around a tall platform. A few of the Wen Sect disciples chided, “Silence! All of you quite!”

The person that stood on the platform was only a few years older than them. His chest was puffed out and he stood proud. His features were lacking, and hardly crossed with the word handsome. Everything about him seemed greasy, from his hair to his personality. This was the youngest child of the QishanWen Clan, Wen Chao.

Wen Chao really loved showing his face. He flaunted himself in front of the other sects in quite a number of events. Behind him was two people, one was a woman with a slim figure and glamorous looks. Her only fault was a black mole above her lip, it sat in an awkward place and seemed to invite people to dig it off. On his right was a tall, broad-shouldered man, appearing in his twenties, the air around him cold.

Standing well above the crowd of young cultivators, he easily looked down before them. He seemed quite pleased with himself, he waved his hand, “Now, one by one, hand over your swords.”

Mumbling and chatter erupted from the people below. Someone protested, “Swords should always be at a cultivator’s side. What right do you have to take our swords?!”

Wen Chao fumed, “Who said that?! From what sect are you?!”

The man who had spoken up now was afraid to speak. The crowd below finally quieted down and Wen Chao was satisfied. “It is exactly because of people like you that I am here. You know nothing of conduct, compliance, or humility. That is why I will indoctrinate you so your cores don’t rot away. You’re already so audacious. If the customs of the other clans aren’t straightened, those will try and climb above the Wen’s head.”

All knew that Wen Chao asked for their swords with ill intentions. The Wen Sect was like the sun at high noon and all of the other sects were treading on quickly melting ice. No one would dare to defy. Everyone feared what would happen if they caused Wen Chao any displeasure, so they could only bow their heads and submit. 

Jiang Cheng held his brother’s arm, who shot him a look. “Don’t do anything, Wei WuXian. Do you see the man beside him? That is Wen ZhuLiu, The Core Melting Hand. A servant that is kept by Wen Chao’s side. Don’t provoke him.”

Wei WuXian raised an eyebrow. Jiang Cheng sighed and explained further, “Core Melting Hand, it is said he has a special power and aided the tyrant before…”

The two looked straight ahead as they talked and the Wen Sect’s servants came their way, then they were silent. With confidence, Wei WuXian unstrapped SuiBian and handed it over. He glanced to his brother who was going the same. Then Wei WuXian looked over to the GusuLan Sect, he almost expected that Lan WangJi would refuse to hand over BiChen, but he complied. He still wore a sour face that was fiercely cold. Wei WuXian felt much sorrow in handing over his sword and watching the two dear people to him hand over theirs. It left them all defenseless. If it was just him, it wouldn’t be such a bad thing, his death would mean very little, but his brother and Lan WangJi… That worried him deeply.

The mockery that Madam Yu had made became prophecy. While being “indoctrinated” by the Wen Sect, the food was terribly bland. All the snacks that Jiang YanLi had loaded them down with were taken away. None of them had practiced inedia. Things were becoming difficult. 

Also the so called “indoctrination” included the only handing out copies of “Quintessence of the Wen Sect”, which was full of quotes and teachings of the Wen leaders and best cultivators. Everyone had to keep one on their person and memorize them. Wen Chao had somehow came to stand above all of them in just a single day. He’d given speech after speech and demanded cheer and applause. During night hunts, he would take disciples and make them stand in the front lines as cannon fodder. Making the scout out the path, distract the beasts and demons, and then swoop in at the last minute to steal the prey that hand nearly been taken out by others. If there was anyone who he was displeased with, he would pull them out and scold them in front of everyone. He also disliked those who had humiliated him at the archery competition. Lan XiChen wasn’t here, but the other three were prime targets for him to show his power to.

The one that suffered the most was Jin ZiXuan. He grew up coddled in his parent’s hands. He had never had to put up with so much humiliation in all his life. If not for the other LanlingJin disciples to stop him and that Wen ZhuLiu was not going to be easy to take care of, he would have taken out Wen Chao on the first day; even if it had cost his life. On the other hand, Lan WangJi seemed absolutely indifferent, as if his soul had already left his body. It greatly worried Wei WuXian, but he was unable to get close Lan WangJi. As for the abuse to Wei WuXian, he would let Wen Chao say what he liked.

Today, like normal, the group was roused from their beds and rounded up like livestock. They were heading on a night hunt to a place called Dusk Creek Mountain. As they headed up the mountain, the branches over head became thicker and the silence became unnatural. Any bird cry or buzzing of beetles were deafening. They were soon met with a creek gurgling water with maple leaves. It broke up the tense atmosphere of the mountain. Giggling and laughter could be heard ahead of them.

Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng were signing insults back and forward about the Wen-Dogs. Wei WuXian turned and saw figures clad in white behind them, Lan WangJi. Lan WangJi was moving at a slow pace and was towards the back of the line. Wei WuXian wanted to talk to him, but Lan WangJi had been avoiding him. Wei WuXian, now this close to him, noticed that Lan WangJi was favoring one of his legs. Before he even knew it, he had slowed down till he was walking side by side with Lan WangJi. He pointed at his injured leg, worried about it.

Chapter Text

Lan WangJi looked straight ahead, barely sparing a glance in Wei WuXian’s direction, “Nothing.”

Wei WuXian pouted rolling out his lip, he grabbed his sleeve. Giving a fierce look Lan WangJi, he bent his hand 90 degrees and moved it fact across his face. Lan WangJi looked puzzled at Wei WuXian. Wei WuXian, becoming frustrated, pressed his foot lightly against Lan WangJi’s leg, causing him to flinch. 

Wei WuXian was just about to help Lan WangJi, so he could put weight on Wei WuXian as a crutch, when he became distracted but a soft sent that found his way to his nose. Glancing around, he looked for the looked for the source of the soft sent. Noticing that Wei WuXian stopped pulling at his sleeve, he followed the young man’s gaze. He found Wei WuXian looking at a group of girls. At the center was a girl with a pale scarlet chiffon. She was pretty from behind, she was also the one Wei WuXian was looking at.

“MianMian, your perfume sachet is truly something special. After I wore it, bugs stopped bothering me. The sent is nice too. I feel much more awake,” said one of the girls.

The girl called MianMian was soft, “Inside is medical herbs. It can be useful in many ways. I still have a few, do you want some?” she asked her friends.

Wei WuXian was started to walk over, she had said it had medical herbs, maybe something to help Lan WangJi’s leg… But the thought of having to try and ask for one from her, it made him shiver. He looked at the ground instead, but seeing Lan WangJi’s leg, he took a deep breath and walked over. The girls looked puzzled at the young boy who had appeared behind MianMian. Their looks caused her to turn, “Can I help you?”

Wei WuXian pointed at the sachet in her hand. She was puzzled by this, “You want a perfume sachet?” Wei WuXian nodded. MianMian gave pause, it wasn’t everyday that a teenage boy came asking for a perfume sachet, and it truly confused her. She thought about it for a bit longer, he must have overheard their conversation. “Oh, you want it for the herbs…” she whispered. Wei WuXian nodded. MianMian smiled, “Ok.” She handed him one of the decorated pouches.

He smiled brightly accepting the sachet with a bow. He returned to Lan WangJi and held out the sachet to him. When Lan WangJi gave him an odd look, he pointed at Lan WangJi’s leg and gave a soft smile. Lan WangJi didn’t take it, so Wei WuXian took his hand and placed it there. Lan WangJi looked away, flustered by his kindness. Wei WuXian started to walk again, catching up to his brother, knowing he was probably bothering him.

Jiang Cheng felt a tug at his sleeve and turned to his brother, “I wonder what is wrong with Lan WangJi? His leg is hurt…”

Jiang Cheng sighed exacerbated, “You always have to worry about Lan WangJi? Can’t you worry about yourself. There is no telling what that idiot When Chao is planning, parading us up and down Dusk Creek Mountain. The last time he made us into flesh shields.”

One of the close disciples, hearing Jiang Cheng say something about Lan WangJi, piped up, “Did you guys not hear? Last month, Cloud Recesses was burned down.”

Wei WuXian stopped in his tracks, shock clearly written on his face. Jiang Cheng though had been had heard similar tales from others, but he had yet to hear about Cloud Recesses, “Was it the Wens?”

The disciple hesitated, “In a matter of saying. It can also be said that the Lans burned it down themselves. The oldest child of the Wen Clan, Wen Xu, went to Gusu. He accused their sect leader and forced them to burn it down to ‘be reborn by firelight’. Just like that, the other worldly paradise was burned to the ground. Sect Leader Lan was gravely injured and we don’t even know if he is alive…” The disciple's thoughts trailed off, “The first place the Wens ordered burned down was the Library Pavilion. Lan WangJi resisted so they broke his leg. Then he was dragged out here, without any rest. I feel sorry for him.”

Wei WuXian looked behind him, he hadn’t thought much about it, but he hadn’t seen him walking around. Wen Chao had been scolding them, but even then, Lan WangJi had been unwilling to fight. As someone who valued conduct over everything else, he naturally wouldn’t have let anyone see his injury. 

Wei WuXian started to walk towards Lan WangJi. Jiang Cheng reached out, “don’t you think you’ve done enough? I don’t think he wants you hanging around.”

Wei WuXian smiled softly, “It’s ok, even if he hates me, I want to help him!”

Jiang Cheng sighed as he watched his brother start to walk off, but before he could go, Wen LingJiao approached them. She was the other servant that Wang Chao kept at his side. How she served Wen Chao, no one had to ask. She once the maid to Wen Chao’s principal wife. With her look, she got into his bed after just a few glances her mistress. As one's position elevates, the blessing do as well, even one “YingchuanWang Sect” had appeared. Even for all that, her cultivation was weak, and she couldn’t use high level swords. She only carried a long branding iron, that could burn without being heated. It would give a nasty bruise to whoever it touched.

Holding it up to them, “Young Master Wen told you to search for the entrance, what are you doing whispering??” They didn’t know if they should laugh or frown at the fact that even a maid had gained such power by crawling into a man’s bed. 

Someone to the side called, “I found it! I found the cave!”

Wang LingJiao didn’t have time for the whispering disciples. She rushed over, took a look, and beamed, “Young Master Wen, Look the entrance!”

It was a cave at the base of an old banyan tree, whose trunk that was as large as three men, and probably bigger than the entrance itself. It was covered in tangled undergrowth, fallen branches, rotten leaves. It was nearly unnoticeable, but once noticed it was eerie and seemed to lead into hell, if not for the cold air rushing past as they were forced down and down.

The only sound was the crunch of pebbles and the slosh of mud. The descended deeper and deeper as Wen Chao barked, “Go, everyone get down there!”

Jin ZiXuan couldn’t hold back his frustration, his voice as chilling as the air, “You brought us here saying we are hunting a beast. That, may I ask, What kind of beast it is? Informing us would help us coordinate our efforts, we wouldn’t be so confused this  time.”

“Inform you?” Wen Chao stood, pointed to Jin ZiXuan then himself, “How many times do I have to tell you! You serve me! Can’t your little minds remember? I don’t need you giving me suggestions! I am the only one that gives commands! I am the only one that can defeat the beast!”

Wang LinJao scolded, “Didn’t you hear the Young Master. Get going!”

Jin ZiXuan was closest to the edge and he grabbed a thick vine and started to climb down. For once, Wei WuXian could relate to the pampered child. He also rather deal with whatever beast was down there. Suddenly, his world swam as he felt a shove. He was tumbled down, coming to a stop on his side, once at the bottom. He laid stunned and confused. 

“Wei WuXian!” Jiang Cheng called, rushing down the ledge, followed by Lan WangJi. The one that made it to his side first, was Jin ZiXuan as he had already started down. 

Wei WuXian was still trying to figure out how he was suddenly at the bottom of the ledge. Jin ZiXuan touched his shoulder, “Wei WuXian.” Wei WuXian was dazed from his brain being rattled in his skull. Seeing him trying to sit up, Jin ZiXuan helped him up. By then Jiang Cheng and Lan WangJi were rushing over. Jin ZiXuan moved so his brother could be at his side.

“Wei WuXian, are you ok?” Jiang Cheng asked, looking over his brother, who nodded. He made a few signs. Jiang Cheng, “You were pushed.” 

As if to answer, Wen Chao called,”Keep moving! You’re not moving fast enough! I’ll push more of you down if you don’t hurry!” Disciples scampered down the thick vines, all on edge and scared they would be pushed down.

Wei WuXian stood somewhat off balance, steadied by Jiang Cheng. He plastered a smile on his face. The others were relieved that the ledge hadn’t been too far, and he was not terribly hurt, just scratched up and rattled.

Wen Chao came down last, once he knew this far was safe. He floated easily down on his sword on the wide cave, with Wang LingJiao in his arms. Jiang Cheng whispered spitefully, “Hopefully, whatever we are hunting is small and harmless. If a ghoul or beast flips out here… It would be hard for us to escape. Nearly impossible if the vine breaks…!” The whole group was thinking the same. People would glance back once they came, it was far away.

Wen Chao leaped off his sword, “What are you doing standing around? Do I need to teach you a lesson? Go!” The children were effectively chased into the cave.

Since there was a need to scout ahead the Wen’s provided them with a few touches. The ceiling was high above them and untouchable by light. Wei WuXian paid attention to the echos, which grew eerie. There was something foreboding about this cave and Wei WuXian figured they were already a hundred feet down.

They people in the front and back were the older disciples with the younger ones between them. That way the younger ones were protected and older ones could keep an eye on the juniors. No one knew how long they walked before they came to a deep pool of water. 

The pool was large enough to be considered a lake if it was above ground. It was filled with pitch black water. The dripping of water off the stalactites only made shivers run up everyone’s spine. Stone islets filled the water. 

There was nowhere left to go.

Even though there was nowhere left to go, they still did not see the prey they were to hunt. This made everyone even more paranoid and scared. “Find someone and hang them up. Let’s see if blood will lure it out,” Wen Chao said nonchalant, after all beats loved blood.

Wang LingJiao smirked, pointing a scrawny finger, “How about her?”

Wei WuXian followed her finger, the girl in Wang LingJiao’s sights was the one with sachets. Although her choice seemed random, there was a reason she had chosen her. MianMian was one of the few girls here and had been harassed by Wen Chao a few times, and had only been able to suffer in silence. Her face brimmed with fear at being chosen.

Wen Chao remembered he hadn’t gotten his way with her yet, “Her? How about someone else?”

Wang LingJiao looked wronged, “Why someone else? Don’t tell me you would miss her?”

Wang LingJiao loosened her tight cloths and the lecherous Wen Chao melted. He cast a glance to MianMian, she was not part of the Jin Clan and would make good bait, as the clan wouldn’t miss her. Wen Chao smiled, practically drooling, “Nonsense, why would I miss her? Do whatever you want JiaoJiao!”

MianMian realized quickly, if she was caught, she was as good as dead! She tried to run, but people backed away from her. Wei WuXian twitched, but Jiang Cheng had him held firm. She realized two people didn’t move, she took shelter behind them. Those two were Lan WangJi and Jin ZiXuan.

Mian Mian shivered with fear as the servants of Wen Chao came to tie her up, but the two didn’t intend to move, “Move!”

Lan WangJi stood with indifference.

Wen Chao hissed, “Why are you standing there? Can’t you understand human speech?! Or is it you want to be a hero?”

Jin ZiXuan lifted a brow, “Is that enough? Using us as fleshy shields wasn’t enough? Now you want to use a human as bait?” Wei WuXian was surprised Jin ZiXuan did have nerve.

Wen Chao sneered, “Are you rebelling against me ? Let me warn you! I have been tolerating you. If you don’t hang her up now, none of the people from your clans will return alive!”

Jin ZiXuan huffed and refused to move. Lan WangJi also looked as if he had heard nothing and was simply meditating. However one of the GusuLan disciples had been initiated by Wen Chao’s words and grabbed her. Lan WangJi struck him in the side and gave him a more than imposing look, the meaning clear, it truly was a shame that GusuLan taught you.

The disciple backed away. Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng exchanged looks. Both knew what the other was thinking. There was no way this would end without blood. Wei WuXian reached into his breast pocket as Wen Chao shouted something and the “Core Melter” readied to fight. He brought the small wooden object to his lips. Jiang Cheng covered his ears. The next moment a loud ear piercing note ran out of the overblown ocarina. Everyone cringed, was the spirit energy imbued note reverberated off the walls. Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng took advantage of startled air to throw stones also imbued with spirit energy at Wen Chao, the “Core Melter”, and anyone else they could get in their sights.

Wei WuXian rushed forward, knocking Wen Chao’s sword from him and holding it to his neck. He landed on one of the islets. Everyone’s eyes fell on Wei WuXian holding Wen Chao in his grasp. He was begging for his life. Then the islet started to move. “Wei WuXian! Get away from there!” Jiang Cheng called. Wei WuXian had realized it too, it wasn’t an islet. It was the shell of a giant beast, whose bloody red eyes were looking at him!

Chapter Text

Wei WuXian froze, met with the bloody red eyes staring at him. He scarcely took a breath, standing as still as humanly as possible. All of the disciples were stumbling away from the water, except Lan WangJi, Jin ZiXuan, Jiang Cheng, and Wen ZhuLiu. The beast had been woken by Wei WuXian jumping onto his back.

The islets were one giant tortoise. If it had been in Lotus Pier it’s shell would have taken up all of the training ground. Three men could not have reached around its crown. The head was long and winding neck extended long away from its body, much like a snake. It’s mouth was full of crisscrossed, yellowed fangs. The long slits in its eyes moved as if it was trying to focus on the object that had landed in it's back

Maybe it has the eyesight of a snake, too, though Wei WuXian, if  we stay still…

Without warning, two streams of water vapor blew from its nostrils Maple leaves from the water were stuck to its nose, and this was likely it’s way to itch them away. Wei WuXian didn’t move, but Wen Chao was scared for his life, and didn’t see the point of remaining still, he called out to Wen ZhuLiu, “Why aren’t you helping me!? Come save me right now! What are you waiting for?!”

Jiang Cheng cursed, “That idiot!”

The beast was provoked by the wiggling, noise worm on it’s back. It parted it’s yellowed fangs and lunged at them. Wei WuXian flicked his wrist and Wen Chao’s sword flew towards where the snake's core might be. Much to his dismay, the sword bounced off the beast’s blackened scales, sending sparks as if it had collided with iron. It fell into the water with a plop. The creatures' eyes were drawn by the glowing object, that still grew even under water. Wei WuXian took his chance and ran down the creature's leg with Wen Chao, Please let this islet be an islet!

Jiang Cheng called out over everything, “The Core Melter is coming!”

Wei WuXian landed on the islet and turned on his heel. Seeing large hands looming over him, he thrust Wen Chao out of the way, throwing his arms out to defend himself. He could feel a dark and ominous aura latch on to him, seeming to suck something out of him. Wei WuXian drew back from the darkness and retreated to the shore, sad he lost his hostage. 

The Wen Sect was readying the bows they kept on their backs. The arrows fell like rain on the beast. It seemed like it was a fierce battle, with the sparks going everywhere, but in reality, it wasn’t doing much other than scratching the beast scales. Looking to his side he saw a Wen disciple struggling to pull the bow back to the full draw. Wei WuXian snatched the bow away and pulled two more arrows from the disciple’s quiver. He set them all in the bow and pulled it to fullest, bow string whining in protest. Just as he was about to let his arrows fly, there was a cry full of terror.

Wang LingJiao chasing after MianMian with her branding iron. Two of her servants were pinning her down and the third was holding her face still. The tip of the iron sizzled as it grew red hot, and she was lowering it to the face of the young girl. Seeing this, he adjusted his arrows’ aim and let them fly.

Each of the three arrows struck true, taking out each of the servants. They never even had a chance to cry out as they fell to the ground. Before the bowstring had even stopped vibrating, Wang LingJiao had retrieved the branding iron and was going after MianMian, grabbing her by her hair and holding her up.

Having no other option, the other disciples either fleeing or shooting arrows, he ran to protect her. Striking away Wang LingJiao’s hand on MianMian’s hair and using his other to strike her in the chest. She heaved up blood from the blow and fell back.

Wei WuXian smell of burning clothes and skin wafted up to his nose. He glanced at MianMian and, while she still looked terrified, she looked unharmed. That was good… Pain was etching itself into his chest, near his heart. There was also a strange heat. He reached up to touch the tinder skin, Oh, I’m the one who got burned… His thoughts were slow to catch up with what happened, as the pain mounted he gritted his teeth, but he couldn’t hold back a pained cry.

Meanwhile, Wang LingJiao was writhing in pain and coughing up blood. She had, after all, been hit full force by Wei WuXian. As soon as she hit the ground, Jiang Cheng went for her skull. Wen Chao called out, “JiaoJiao, JiaoJiao! Get her back, save her!”

Wen ZhuLiu seemed to almost sigh, as he dash forward, fending off Jiang Cheng. He tossed her over his shoulder and ran. When he was back at Wen Chao’s side, he tossed her at his feet. She scrambled into Wen Chao’s arms sobbing. Jiang Cheng had chased behind them with a terrifying expression. The disciples were in a frenzy as the giant tortoise started to move it’s claws onto the shore. Wen Chao called out, “Retreat, retreat!”

The Wens that served him, who had been fighting so fiercely for him, immediately followed orders, jumping on their swords and flying off. Wen Chao, who had lost his sword, stole the nearest person’s sword and flew off with Wang LingJiao in his arms. Jin ZiXuan called out, “Stop fighting! Let’s go!”

The others didn’t want to fight anyhow, especially something as big as a bolder. They ran to where they came from, but they all became crestfallen. “They cut the vines! How can they get away with that!” Jin ZiXuan fumed.

One of the younger children said, “It’s alright, even if we can’t get out… My mother and father will come and find me! They will definitely come.” 

A few more of them agreed, but another said, quivering, “They are still at Qishan undergoing indoctrination…. They won’t even know where to look for us and the only people who do will just lie… There is only so long we can stay down here…”

Jiang Cheng had gone to check on Wei WuXian. He seemed a bit out of it, but he perked up hearing them talk about a lack of food, he stole his chance to make a joke, “Jiang Cheng, here a bit of cooked meat!”

Jiang Cheng was aghast, “I guess you're fine, if you can joke!”

Lan WangJi’s golden eyes looked at the brothers, then at MianMian. She stood behind them at a loss, bawling her eyes out. She wrapped her arms around herself, “I’m sorry, so sorry!” Wei WuXian stood and got closer to her till he was inches from her face, giving her a goofy smile. She wasn’t sure what to do with the expression he was giving her. He waved his hand in front of his face as if to say not to worry over it.

Lan WangJi’s gaze lingered on Wei WuXian, as he interacted with MianMian. He turned back to the pond, where the beast laid. In the commotion the tortoise had returned to his slumber.

Jiang Cheng looked up, “Young Master Lan, the beast is still in the pound.”

Lan WangJi looked over his shoulder with an icy glare, “Returning to the pound. There is a way out.” Wei WuXian walked over, giving him a quizzical look. Lan WangJi only let his eyes linger on the cute expression on Wei WuXian’s face. Looking at the pound, he spoke, “There are leaves in the water.”

Wei WuXian puzzled over the statement, before his face lit up, touching his fingers to his chin and bringing his hand into his other palm. There were some maple leaves on the pool, they had bothered the giant tortoise as well. There were no maple trees in the cave or near the entrance of the cave, only the banyan tree, but the maple leaves were bright red and fresh. They had been in the creeks along the mountain though.

Jiang Cheng also realized it, “There must be an opening that feeds into the pool from the outside!”

A timid boy spoke up, “How can we know? Even if there is an opening, it could only be tiny, barely a slit in the rocks.”

Jin ZiXuan also frowned, “And there is a beast watching over the pound.”

Wei WuXian smiled looking at Jiang Cheng, he knew that glint in his eyes, he wanted to say this was a bad idea, but it was the only idea. Jiang Cheng scratched the back of his head, “I guess we are going for a swim.”

“Are you crazy?” asked Jin ZiXuan and Lan WangJi eyed Wei WuXian with shock.

“Well, I don’t see anyone offering up a better idea. Me and Wei WuXian are the best suited, we grew up in Lotus Pier. We have hunted on the water and probably the strongest swimmers. Also we know how to hunt in the water. Unless someone else wants to, right now, it's the only chance at getting out,” Jiang Cheng said. 

Jin ZiXuan looked conflicted, but also couldn’t dispute what had been said by Jiang Cheng. Lan WangJi looked to the ground not impressed with the idea that Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian would be swimming around with that beast. Jin ZiXuan spoke, “The younger ones should go and hide, while the older keep watch.”

The younger children were ushered back while Lan WangJi and Jin ZiXuan stood slightly in front of them. The brother’s looked at each other, “Which one will be the distraction, and which one will look for the opening?” Wei WuXian smiled as he headed for the water. He waited into the water without making much of a disturbance of the water, before he disappeared beneath the water. Jiang Cheng followed behind him. They both swam attentively, but shortly after they dove the tortoise’s red eyes locked on the brothers. 

Wei WuXian broke away from Jiang Cheng, swimming close to the beast to catch it’s eye. He swam to the surface, just off the shore, he bit his figure drawing blood and drawing a crude inscription on his hand and slammed his hand to the ground, conjuring flames. The beast seemed mesmerized by the flames. Wei WuXian continued to keep the beast eye, waiting for Jiang Cheng to return.

After a few minutes Jiang Cheng returned, “There’s a way out! There is a hole down there big enough for six people to fit through at a time!” Wei WuXian smiled and nodded to Jiang Cheng. “Everyone, break into groups, those who can swim find someone who can’t. We will go down in sets.”  

About the time he finished speaking the flames died down, Wei WuXian took a few steps away and made a bigger flame. “Wei WuXian! What are you doing?! Get over here!” Wei WuXian shook his head, with his unoccupied hand, he pinched his figures to his thumb and drew them away from his face. Jiang Cheng saw the children at his side, “I’ll be back for you, Wei WuXian!” Wei WuXian smiled, but then pain shot up his arm. He looked at his arm and saw an arrow there. He was baffled how it got there, did someone misfire? It didn’t matter, he pulled the arrow from his arm, but then, as the blood trickled down his arm, that was a bad idea. The creature went into a rage, lunching at Wei WuXian.

Suddenly, Wei WuXian’s world tilted. Lan WangJi had pushed him out of the way, and the beast had latched onto Lan WangJi’s leg. It dragged him away, and Wei WuXian chased after him, throwing himself at the beast. He shouldn’t have been able to compete with the strength of a beast, but if he let go Lan WangJi would be pulled into the beast’s shell. He couldn’t let that happen. The jaws were separated just enough that Lan WangJi fell into the pool below. Once he was free the strength that Wei WuXian vanished, and it’s jaw snapped shut, that sounded like boulders being crushed.

Wei WuXian fell into the pool, gathering Lan WangJi with one arm and swimming with the other he swam for shore. Once he was on shore, he ran with Lan WangJi on his back, “Put me down!” Wei WuXian just kept running looking for a hide away as the creature roared, making blood rise in their throats. Dunking into a spot too small for the beast, he realized his right hand was covered in crimson blood, No, Lan WangJi’s leg was hurt again… was his only passing thought.

Chapter Text

“What have you done!?” said Jiang Cheng as he held the disciple that had hit  Wei WuXian with his arrow by his collar.

The disciple struggled to get free as Jiang Cheng lifted him from the ground, he didn’t know why, but now his brother was trapped and hurt. The the disciple had hurt him, “Why did you do it?!”

The disciple floundered as he fought to get away, “I… I didn’t mean… to… I just…”

“You just what?!” screamed Jiang Cheng.

“Jiang WanYin, we need to go get help if we expect to save those two,” said Jin ZiXuan. Jiang Cheng let go of the disciple, who fell to the ground in a heap. He walked away angrily. Jin ZiXuan only spared the disciple a glance, “Only you know your intentions.” Jin ZiXuan said as he walked off, trailed behind by the juniors.

Wei WuXian let Lan WangJi down as carefully as he could. His leg hadn’t fully healed to begin with, and now he had been bitten by the beast’s fangs and soaked in water. Lan WangJi’s white clothes were dyed red with blood smears everywhere. Rows and rows of puncture wounds from its teeth. He couldn’t stand, falling to the ground as soon as Wei WuXian let go.

Wei WuXian looked at the wound. They needed to bind the wound, he looked around and found some smaller branches and he rubbed some grime from the branches. He looked around, then with a smile he reached out and snatched Lan WangJi’s forehead ribbon. With a swift flick of his wrist he had used the ribbon to tie up the wound. “You!” Lan WangJi exclaimed. Wei WuXian pointed at himself, but his attention was drawn to drawstrings peeking out of Lan WangJi’s lapels. Wei WuXian reached into Lan WangJi's lapels and fished it out, pulling the sachet open to view its contents.

Lan WangJi was annoyed at Wei WuXian, as a smile grew on Wei WuXian’s face. Wei WuXian looked up and put the sachet aside as he lunged at him, pulling apart Lan WangJi’s robes, revealing his snowy white chest. Lan WangJi fought against Wei WuXian, who had him all but pinned, “Wei Ying! What are you doing!?”

Wei WuXian smiled cheekily, as he stood back up and reviled his own chest as a courtesy to Lan WangJi. Wei WuXian’s chest was youthful, though it seemed a bit thin. Then Wei WuXian made a move to pull down Lan WangJi’s trousers. Lan WangJi tried to pull away, but he was flat out exhausted and coughed up some blood. Wei WuXian pulled away and tapped acupressure points to help him cough up the black blood.  

Lan WangJi felt the irritation and annoyance lift from his chest. He felt lighter and more at ease. Had Wei WuXian noticed the gloom and pain that had gathered in Lan WangJi chest and purposely tried to scare and annoy him so that he would release it? He had also given him the sachet as well. He looked over to Wei WuXian who was picking through the sachet, “How did you…?”

Wei WuXian looked up with a smile, Lan WangJi thought there was something about that smile that didn’t belong on Wei WuXian’s face, something incredibly sad. Wei WuXian returned to his work on Lan WangJi’s leg, gently packing herbs from the sachet onto his leg. Lan WangJi didn’t like Wei WuXian wearing a sad smile. He also didn’t like the brand that glared with angry blisters. It no doubt was causing Wei WuXian pain, but he ignored it like it was nothing. Lan WangJi reached for some of the herbs and pressed to the Wen brand.

Wei WuXian gasped at the sudden pain on his chest. He looked quizzically at Lan WangJi. He tapped his thumb to his chest, away from the brand, with an open palm. Only a few seconds later he realized that Lan WangJi had no idea what he was trying to say. Wei WuXian finished with Lan WangJi’s leg and stood that smile still painted on his face. He sat down beside from Lan WangJi.

They sat in the quiet for a long while, Wei WuXian took out the ocarina and started to play softly. It was a short repetitive tune. Lan WangJi was about to tell him to stop, when he realized what Wei WuXian was doing. It was the music language like what was done when playing Inquiry . “Are you angry?” he asked.

“Yes,” said Lan WangJi.

Wei WuXian’s tune changed, “Why?”

Lan WangJi glared at the harsh blisters peeking out of Wei WuXian’s robes, “If you know it would hurt why did you do it?”

Wei WuXian paused, “I didn’t want her face to be scared. She would have lost her eye.”

Lan WangJi’s glare became more fierce, “Instead you became scared. It won't ever leave your skin as well!”

“It’s ok if I’m scared…” the tune told him. “I have plenty of scars. I wanted to protect her.” Lan WangJi went quiet hearing this. “Are you angry because you like her?”

“Ridiculous!” he said harshly, pushing Wei WuXian. Wei WuXian  yelped feeling pain in his arm where the arrow had pierced it. 

Wei WuXian pulled away from him, going to sit farther away, “I know I’m the most ridiculous. I’ll go sit over here.” Wei WuXian pulled his legs to his chest and laid his head down. He knew he only annoyed Lan WangJi, and should just leave him alone, but he wanted to be friends with Lan WangJi. He had been so kind to him in Cloud Recesses, but that was probably only because he felt pity for him. Guess it was to be expected…

“Thank you, Wei Ying.”

Wei WuXian perked up, a big smile lit up his face. “You’re welcome! Thank you as well!” Wei WuXian bounced back over sitting down beside him, forgetting the pain once it was over, and the fit that Lan WangJi had thrown a bit ago. He loved so much to be around and with others.

Lan WangJi was glad to see Wei WuXian bounce back and smile a true smile, one that reached his eyes. “What do you think that creature is?”

Wei WuXian placed a finger to his chin, then drew a character in the air, tortoise .

Lan WangJi nodded, “There is a divine beast that takes the form of a tortoise.” Wei WuXian nodded, drawing more characters in the air. Lan WangJi nodded in reply, “XuanWu. The XuanWu or the Nether XuanWu, was the combination of snake and a tortoise. It was a water god that ruled over the North Sea. It was known as the God of the Northern Sky."

Wei WuXian thought about it for a few minutes, but frowned. He drew out his ocarina again, “That doesn’t make sense. How can a god look like this? It has fangs and eats human flesh.”

Lan WangJi nodded, “It’s not a proper XuanWu. It is semi-completed as a result of failing to raise to divinity and transformed to a yao. In other words, it is deformed.” He glanced at Wei WuXian, who nodded to indicate he was still following. “I read about it in an ancient text. Four hundred years ago, there was a ‘fake XuanWu’ that appeared in Qishan. It was quite large and consumed live humans. They called it the ‘XuanWu of Slaughter’. While this is larger than the text, this should be the one.”

Wei WuXian nodded, following the story so far. He moved his hand in front of him to tell him to continue. There was more to this story, like why wasn’t it defeated then?

Lan WangJi nodded, “A few cultivators joined alliance and prepared to kill it, but it was a winter day thick with snow and unusually cold. Then it disappeared, and it was never seen again…”

Wei WuXian understood what had happened, it went into hibernation.

Chapter Text

Wei WuXian sat back on his hunches thinking about what he was just told. “So it slept for four hundred years?”

“Hm. That seems the most logical. The records say that wherever it appeared, the humans it ate ranged from a few hundred to whole villages and even cities. The few times it rampaged, it consumed at least 5000,” Lan WangJi said softly.

Wei WuXian nodded as he thought about it. It seemed to like to take humans back into its shell and savoir them slowly and at it’s own pace. It is possible it horded too much food back then and even now hadn’t eaten everything. Wei WuXian looked over, “Speaking of, have you practiced inedia? We can last three or four days, but after that our energy will run low…”

It wouldn’t be a bad thing, if Wen Chao’s people left them alone. If they waited a few days help could come to get them, but at the same time, trouble could come as well.  It was doubtful that Wen would come to their aid, but they could definitely add fuel to the fire. YunmengJiang and GusuLan were the only other sects. If they hindered them, it could definitely take twice that time.

Wei WuXian went back to drawing a map on the ground. Looking it over, GusuLan was closer to Dusk-Creek  Mountain. “Gusu is closer. They will probably arrive first, but even if not Jiang Cheng will bring YunmengJiang. He’s crafty and clever, the Wen Clan won't stop him.”

“They won't come,” Lan WangJi’s voice was worn and barely a whisper, as his eyes looked at the ground. “Cloud Recesses burned down.” 

Wei WuXian felt his blood run cold, as his grip tightened on the ocarina. Wei WuXian remembered what the disciple had said, with all that had happened it had slipped his mind. Cloud Recesses, the other worldly sect, was gone. The next words that left Lan WangJi’s mouth, caused his heart to skip a beat, “Father is almost gone, and brother is missing.”

Wei WuXian looked up, as his heart raced, and blood pounded in his head. He had never thought the sect leader was so badly wounded to be “almost gone”. It could also be that Lan WangJi had just learned himself. Even if the sect leader lived in seclusion most of the time, minding nothing of the outside world, he was his father, and he was dying. His brother was also missing. On top of it all, Wei WuXian had gotten him trapped in a cave with a giant beast and him, his least favorite person.

Wei WuXian stood quietly walking over to the small fire where the robes were dying, he smiled feeling they were dry. He came back over and dropped his under robe over Lan WangJi’s head. Even though his under robe was nowhere fit to be near Lan WangJi, having touched Wei WuXian’s body, it was cleaner than his grimy robe. Lan WangJi loved to be clean, and he deserved that.

He sat down beside him, his voice trembled out, “You— you know, this— this isn’t— this isn’t Cloud Recesses… You— you can cry here… No one will— one will know…” Wei WuXian knew that there were only a few instances when a Lan was allowed to cry. He didn’t remember his parents that much, much less their deaths. He couldn’t imagine what it was like. He wanted to provide as much comfort as he could, he gently placed his hand over Lan WangJi’s. Staring straight ahead, as soft sobs escaped from under the robe.

He sat for a long time, just being a presence for Lan WangJi to latch on to. Lan WangJi soon fell asleep. It was no wonder really, he had to be tired. He carefully pulled the robe off of Lan WangJi’s head and tucked it around his shoulders. He dabbed away the tear stains on his cheeks. He curled up a bit away with his outer robe and fell asleep.

Over the next few days, they conserved their energy the best they could. Lan WangJi’s leg was healing well. Lan WangJi had returned to his own self and Wei WuXian was happy for that. Wei WuXian pretended not to have seen or heard anything, and stopped bothering him, having peaceful, but lukewarm interactions.

They scouted around the pool, The XuanWu had taken the bodies back into its shell. Wei WuXian had gone searching for the hole Jiang Cheng had spoken of, but he could only search around for about 30 minutes before he attracted the attention of the XuanWu. He wondered if it was hidden by the beast’s giant warship-like body.

They gathered anything that could be used as a weapon. They found just over a hundred arrows, thirty bows and just over 10 iron rods. Lan Wangji examined the bowstrings, flicking his finger across it and getting a metallic twang. After all, it was a weapon used for beasts and demons.

Lan WangJi tied the lengths together in a long cord and examined it closely. He curled it into place, then with a flick of a wrist, the cord flew out and wrapped itself around a rock. With a small thug the cord sliced through the rock, leading the top to tumble to the ground. Retrieving the cord, he examined the damage.

Wei WuXian was really impressed, this was cord assassination. He had read about it during his time in the Library Pavilion. According to the texts, it was created by the granddaughter of the founder of the GusuLan, Yi Lan. Naturally, she was the third leader of the GusuLan. She cultivated the seven string guqin. Her qugin was special and could be dismantled and reassembled in seconds as well as strings joined into one cord. One second she could be playing faint melodies then the next cutting through flesh and bone. Lan Yi created this technique for assassinating dissidents, and she was often criticized for this technique. Even GusuLan had mixed feelings about her technique, but Cord Assassination was no doubt one of the strongest and most versatile abilities available in GusuLan. 

“We should breach it from within.” said Lan WangJi. “It’s shell may be hard, but the parts protected by the shell are not.”

Wei WuXian nodded. They couldn’t wait much longer if they were going to make a stand. They were getting close to the limit of time before they would start to fatigue greatly. Wei WuXian turned away. His heart pounded in his chest, a few nights ago he had seen Lan WangJi at his weakness and spoken out of desperation to comfort him, he couldn’t know if Lan WangJi would make fun of his voice, but… “We should— we should attack from the inside. From what I know, Cord Assassination— Assassination would not be good— not be good in such a confined space— as the turtle shell. Your leg is also— also still not healed.” He felt light headed and like his chest might explode as he stood in the silence.

Lan WangJi, “Do you have a thought, Wei Ying?”

Wei WuXian nodded, calming down some, his voice shook less, “Listen to this.”

Wei WuXian swam through the water, carrying a bundle of arrows and iron rods. and into the XuanWu of Slaughter’s shell. It was still partly above water, flipping over into the pool inside the shell, landing with a soft and slushy thud. The ground he was standing on was made of rotten mud and things he doubted be wanted to think about, based on the smell alone. It was rancid but sickly sweet. It reminded him of a fat dead rat he once had found at the edge of the lakes of Yunmeng. He was glad he didn’t allow Lan WangJi to come to this hellish place. Lan WangJi valued being clean over all else. Wei WuXian pinched his nose and trudged farther in.

The XuanWu snored as Wei WuXian held his breath. After only three steps, the sludge was already over his knees. Within the muck there were a few lumps. Reaching down to touch them, he found it fuzzy. Strangely, it reminded him of human hair, probably because it was, he reasoned. Feeling around, he found a boot that was connected to a rotting leg. Apparently, the beast wasn’t one much for cleanliness, clearly not a Lan…

Wei WuXian continued to crawl around in the people slug, he was already so dirty, what was a bit more at this point. He wiped his hands on his pants and kept going. The snores of the beast were getting louder. The air and corpse sludge had become thicker as well. As he walked he felt around, as expected the further back the scales and skin of the beast were thinner and more fragile.

The sludge had risen to his waist and most of the corpses were still intact, more like a corpse mound. Wei WuXian reached around his back to pull the the rods and arrows out, but found them caught on something. He continued to pull and try and free them from whatever had them caught, they came free with a clang. He paused for a moment and when nothing came of the noise, he let out a soft sigh, looking for whatever had caught them. It was something made of metal, and it would be really nice if it was a spirit sword of decent make.

He reached out and found the object to be long and rusted, but screams echoed in his head. Cold chills ran though his body. He released the object. The resentment in this object was so strong! What was this thing to have so much resentment inside it?

An orangey red glow cast out Wei WuXian’s shadow. Illuminating the pitch black iron sword. It pierced through his shadow where his heart would be.

Wait…  he thought,  I’m in the shell of the XuanWu… where was the light coming from?   Wei WuXian spun on his heels and was met with the blood red eyes of the beast. He just realized it had gotten quiet, and the beast had stopped snoring. The XuanWu flashed it’s criss-crossed yellow fangs at Wei WuXian, then giving a monstrous roar.

Wei WuXian took the full brunt of this attack, being only inches away from the creature. His eardrums felt as if they would explode, and his body hurt from the sound. While he was still stunned the beast lunged at him, but Wei WuXian kept his wits about him and stuffed the iron rods into his fangs, preventing them from closing. 

While the beast was struggling to close its mouth, Wei WuXian shoved one of his arrow bundles deep into the beast’s tender flesh, deep enough that even the feather fetching had sunk in. Under the pain it tried to force its mouth shut and curved the iron rods. Wei WuXian continued to shove arrows into its flesh. In all of his life, since the day it was born, it had never been at such a disadvantage. It’s snake-like body writhed in pain, smashing around and causing the sludge of bodies to move. Wei WuXian fought against the current of the muck that was heading to the XuanWu’s mouth. He was doing good till his hand found the sword and the screams erupted in his brain.

Wei WuXian’s momentary lapse in his concentration, caused him to slip into the monster’s mouth. Seeing it was going to close its jaws, Wei WuXian stuck the sword into its tongue. He gripped on tightly, if he let go he would dissolve in stomach acid in an instant! The beast tried to swallow him to no avail till it shot out of its shell. It had never been stung inside of its shell and tried to get away from whatever it was that was hurting it. Lan WangJi had long but positioned his cord at the opening of the shell and was waiting for it to emerge. As soon as it was out, he pulled it tight.

Having been attacked both inside and outside its shell and being unable to come or go, it thrashed violently. It was a deformed beast and never made it to being divine, as such, not all that bright. It had gone completely insane, under the pain. One was stuck in it’s mouth and the other strangled it with a cord, cutting into its flesh.

Lan WangJi held the cord tightly not letting up. He could not, he did not know where Wei WuXian was, but if he let the monster live he would be worse off. He refused to think Wei WuXian was already dead. He did not let up for six hours.

The vital region of the beast had nearly been parted from the rest of its body because of Lan WangJi’s cord. He had overexerted his strength, his palms covered in cuts and bruises, but it did not stop him from jumping into the bloody water. He swam as fast as he could to the beast, “Wei Ying!” he called. 

He heard nothing from the mouth of the beast and that made his heart leap. He refused to believe Wei WuXian was dead. He pried to the beast’s mouth, with no leverage though, it took longer than expected. He was met by the pitch back sword and around it was Wei WuXian, clinging to the dull, curved blade. Lan WangJi pulled Wei WuXian to him, as the sword fell into the water, sinking into the depths.

Holding Wei WuXian to himself, he called for him, but he didn’t stir. He patted his face, begging whatever God or Goddess would listen to let him still be alive, “Wei Ying!”

Wei WuXian came back to life, thrashing in the water, still in the fight with the beast. Lan WangJi tightened his grip on him, “Wei Ying, it’s ok! It’s dead!”

Wei WuXian’s gaze was unfocused, and he cling weakly to Lan WangJi. Lan WangJi didn’t like how dazed Wei WuXian was, lazily looking around in the dark, nothing seeming to catch his gaze. He quickly took him to shore. He tried to get Wei WuXian on his feet once they were to shore, but his legs crumpled out from under him. Lan WangJi lifted him into his arms and laid him against a rocky wall. “Wei Ying, stay awake, you have a fever.”

Wei WuXian shook his head, he was too tired, he just wanted to sleep. His eyelids were too heavy, they kept falling shut no matter how much he forced them open. He felt some warm spirit energy being passed into his body. He tried to pull away as Lan WangJi should save his strength, but his body didn’t want to listen to him. “Sing… to— to keep me—- keep me awake…” He wasn’t sure why he asked, he just thought it would be nice if Lan WangJi would sing for him. He didn’t think he would, but Lan WangJi’s voice softly compiled.

The soft melody was pleasant and nice. Wei WuXian listened to his voice as it dipped and grew with the melody. Closing his eyes, he felt warm and safe. This feeling conjured a long forgotten memory of someone giving him a hand drum toy when he was a child. “Lan Zhan… What’s the name—- name of…” his thought hung in the air as he fell asleep. So rry, Lan Zhan...

Chapter Text

Lan WangJi turned when he heard Wei WuXian struggle to speak again. It was just in time to see him dip sharply to the side. “Wei Ying!” He  rushed to keep him from falling over. Pulling Wei WuXian to his chest, he cradled him, calling his name over and over, but Wei WuXian wouldn't wake. Heat was radiating off of Wei WuXian, his fever was worse.

“I’m sorry…” he said softly laying Wei WuXian down and pulling apart Wei WuXian’s robe, revealing his chest. It was glistening with water and sweat; raising and falling with his shallow breaths. The brand on his chest puffy and swollen; covered in the fowl water. He pulled the robe off his shoulder to find an equally angry wound on his arm from the arrow. 

Lan WangJi’s heart skipped a beat, with each wound. He needed to clean his wounds, but they were both covered in grime and bloody water. A few days ago he had disregarded his own wounds in favor of caring for Lan WangJi. “Wei Ying…” He brushed the hair out of Wei WuXian’s pale face. He pulled him into his lap, taking his non-injured arm into his hand, pouring in a slow steady stream of spirit energy into him. “Wei Ying, please…”

Time started to blur together, as Lan WangJi forced himself to stay awake. Wei WuXian was sleeping fitfully, often whining and squirming about. Lan WangJi tried to soothe his pain by giving him any spirit energy he could, but Wei WuXian was getting weaker. He could scrounge up less and less energy to give to the fevered boy. But nothing prepared him for when Wei WuXian grew quiet and still. Wei WuXian’s voice wasn’t loud, but his presence was bubbly and warm. but now Wei WuXian had been drained of even that. 

Lan WangJi constantly found himself looking for Wei WuXian’s pulse, scared that it would stop. He was met with the same thready pulse, for which he was grateful, as long as he was still breathing, his heart was still beating, he was still there. He hoped with all his might, that Jiang Cheng or Jin ZiXuan or whoever, as long as they were friendly, would come soon. His father was dying, no, by now he was probably dead. His brother was missing, his fate unknown. He leaned down and touched his forehead to Wei WuXian’s fevered one on his lap, “Please, Wei Ying, I can’t lose you too. Please…”

He leaned back trying his best not to fall asleep. His eyes were so heavy, and despite himself, his body gave in to the exhaustion. His dreams were muddled and confused, making no sense. He had no idea how long he was out, it could have been moments, it could have been days. When he did wake, he panicked, looking for Wei WuXian’s heartbeat. He was relieved to find a thready pulse, then he realized what woke him, there was noise of rocks being moved. People had come.

“Do you hear that, Wei Ying? Someone has come. You’ll be ok.” Lan WangJi laid Wei WuXian down on the ground. There was still a chance that the people on the other side of the rocks were hostiles, but he truly hoped not. He didn’t know how he could fight them off if they were.

As the last rocks fell away, people in gold and purple came through. Lan WangJi’s body relaxed, Jiang and Jin. Jiang Cheng had made it back with help. They looked around with caution, wrinkling at the foul smell of rotting flesh. Jiang Cheng rushed over spotting  Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian, he kneeled over his too still brother, “Is he…?”

“Alive,” said Lan WangJi.

Jiang Cheng nodded, lifting his brother into his arms. Jiang Cheng was exhausted himself, but he gave him some spirit energy. “What about the tortoise?”

Lan WangJi, “Wei WuXian killed it.”

So many emotions crossed Jiang Cheng’s face, but he lifted his brother onto his back, so he could carry him via sword. Jin ZiXuan came over and helped Lan WangJi mount the sword he was using to go up the cliff at the opening of the cave. Above Jiang Cheng was cleaning his brother’s wounds the best he could. Once he was done, he turned to Lan WangJi, “Thank you for caring for my brother. We will be heading back to Lotus Pier, you are free to accompany us there, if you wish.”

Lan WangJi looked at Wei WuXian, he wanted to go with him, but, “Thank you for your offer, Jiang WanYin, but I must return to my sect.” Lan WangJi saluted him. 

Jiang Cheng returned the gesture, before reaching for a sword, and placing some supplies in a Qiankun bag “Please take this, it isn’t much, but at least you won't be defenseless or hungry.”

Lan WangJi received the sword and bag from Jiang Cheng, “Thank you.”  He spared a glance in Wei WuXian’s direction, he seemed much better now that his injuries had been tended to. He was in safe hands. Lan WangJi left, and so did the rest, they parted with Jin Sect at the border. Jiang Cheng baring his brother back to Lotus Pier.

Wei WuXian still didn’t hear the song’s name clearly was the first thought that ran through his mind when he woke. He blinked his eyes repeatedly, confused not seeing the dark cave or Lan WangJi’s pale, but handsome face. Instead he saw kissing faces drawn on his headboard back in Lotus Pier. He glanced around, his eyes from Jiang YanLi reading a book at his side. She looked up from her book and saw Wei WuXian lazily looking around, “A-Xian!”

His voice crackled some as he spoke, “Shijie.” He managed to get into a sitting position, despite feeling extremely weak. “How did— How did I get back?” he said looking around, “Where is Lan— Lan WangJi? Jiang Cheng?”

The door opened and Jiang Cheng came in, carrying a porcelain jar, “I’m here, Lan WangJi was heading back to Gusu.” Jiang Cheng turned back to his sister, “I brought the soup you boiled, sister.”

“Jiang Cheng, why did it take so long to get back? It should only take— only take five days to get to Dusk Creek Mountain from Yunmeng!” asked Wei WuXian.

“Yea, and I had to come from Dusk Creek Mountain to Yunmeng, find people to come back, then return. Once I was back, I had to find the banyan tree and dig you out! All the while watching for any Wen Dogs. You're just lucky, Jin ZiXuan came back as well, or it would have taken a lot longer to get to you! Where’s your gratitude?” said Jiang Cheng with a huff.

Wei WuXian drew back a bit realizing his mistake, “Why— Why didn’t Lan WangJi correct me?”

“You annoy him quite a bit, he probably just didn’t catch it.” said Jiang Cheng crossing his arms.

Wei WuXian smiled, “True!” Then he looked away, “So— so Uncle Jiang didn’t send anyone after me?”

Jiang Cheng gritted his teeth, “No, he said that one person wasn’t worth the risk.”

“That’s true…” said Wei WuXian.

“It’s not!” Jiang Cheng yelled.

Wei WuXian giggled, “Thank you— Thank you, Jiang Cheng. For— For saving me and for that.”

Jiang Cheng blushed slightly, looked at the ground, “Yea, well…” 

“What about Lan Zhan? You said — You said he went back to Gusu,” said Wei WuXian seemed worried. Jiang YanLi was ladling out the soup into bowls for them and passing them around. It was a lotus root and pork rib, easy on Wei WuXian’s stomach and also his favorite. Wei WuXian thanked her.

“He said he needed to get back to Gusu,” said Jiang Cheng, picking at the food in the bowl.

“By himself…? But…” Wei WuXian looked concerned, but ket it drop. Time passed in silence, as they ate. Jiang YanLi picked up the dishes once they were done and excused herself.

 “Did— Did the Wen Sect return our swords?” Wei WuXian asked.

“I believe father asked, but they are too busy celebrating killing the XuanWu,” said Jiang Cheng.

“Funny, they— they didn’t kill it, Lan Zhan did,” said Wei WuXian.

Jiang Cheng looked up, “Lan WangJi said you did.”

“I guess— guess I help, but he was the main one. I chased it out of its shell, but he— he’s the one that— that used chord assassination on it for six hours.”

Jiang Cheng nodded, “Father was surprised to hear that you killed it. He wasn’t impressed that I didn’t kill it.”

“So what— You saved the disciples and you— you saved— me. That’s pretty note— note worthy. You should— should be proud!” said Wei WuXian.

Jiang Cheng looked away, “Yea, but when will father be proud?”

Wei WuXian watched his brother, knowing his heart longed to impress his father, “Uncle Jiang is hard— is hard on you because he wants— he wants you to be a good leader.”

“It’s not that he is strict with me, he just doesn’t like me, like he dislikes my mother.” 

That was difficult to refute. The whole cultivation world knew that Jiang FengMian and Yu ZiYuan cultivated together since they were young. They also knew that their personalities did not mesh, him mild and her harsh. They had very few interactions, and when CangSe SanRen came down from the mountains and made friends with the young sect leader; everyone thought she would be the next Lady Jiang. That was not to be, MeishanYu Sect proposed an alliance though marriage. 

The Sect Leader was before Jiang FengMian was interested in the alliance, but Jiang FengMian didn’t want it. He did not like her conduct or her manners. Jiang FengMian refused her a handful of times, but few factors made sure that he married Yu ZiYuan. First, was MeishanYu relentless, pressuring Jiang. Next, Jiang FengMian was young, and had little say or power to lean on to stop it. Lastly, CangSe SanRen rode off into the sunset with Jiang FengMian’s most loyal servant, Wei ChangZe. At that point, Jiang FengMian gave in, they were married soon after.

Ever since they were married, they were an unfortunate pair. They lived apart and held the most unfortunate conversations. No one could see the benefits of their paring, other than the strengthening of the two sects. The sandpaper-like relation between the two wore each other down to nothing and often caught the Jiang children in between. Their distaste for one another, should have never been taken out on them, but it happened all the same. Jiang YanLi, did not catch as much as Jiang Cheng did. In most respects, she followed expectations, mild and restrained, like Jiang Sect should be. But Jiang Cheng…

“I know I don’t have a personality like a Jiang Sect Leader should!” he said, venting his anger. “In his eyes, I don’t deserve to be sect leader. I don’t understand the motto, either!” Jiang Cheng punched the wall in his rage.

Wei WuXian stood weakly, taking his hand making sure there was no damage, “So what if there— if there is a motto! Who said you— you have to be like former leaders! Do you think that every— every leader since YunmengJiang was created was the same? Even GusuLan had an outlier leader. Who can deny Lan Yi’s talents or leadership, and she— she was an assassin. You don’t have to be like anyone— like anyone before you!”

Jiang Cheng was stunned into silence, that was never an option that was presented to him. It seemed kinda simple when Wei WuXian put it that way. Wei WuXian clapped his shoulder with a smile, “When you are— When you are Sect Leader, I’ll be your subordinate, like our fathers before. So what if Gusu has the Twin Jades, Yunmeng will— will have Twin Prides! No one can say you don’t deserve to be Sect Leader, not even— not even you! I’ll beat up anyone who says— who says different!”

“Who are you going to beat up? Look at you, can barely stand!” Jiange Cheng said, pushing him lightly. 

Wei WuXian laughed, “You have a point! But I— but I can still take you!” He jumped wrestling with Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng wrestled back, laughing as well, both smiling brightly.

Chapter Text

Wei WuXian was pinned easily by his brother, the laughing dying away, “Right! What about Lan Zhan?! Did he l— leave a message? What— what about his brother? And — and what about his sect?”

Jiang Cheng sighed letting Wei WuXian up, “Did you really think he would leave you a message? You’re probably lucky he didn’t stab you. Lan WangJi returned to his sect to help Lan QiRen. Lan XiChen still has not been found.”

Wei WuXian felt his heart drop into his gut, “What about— what about the Sect Leader?”

After a long pause, then Jiang Cheng spoke, “He passed away.”

Wei WuXian felt his heart skip a beat as Lan WangJi’s tear-stained face came to mind. His tears reflected back the light in the dark cave of the XuanWu. Now those pains that Lan WangJi had feared, came to pass. “How… How was Lan Zhan?”

Jiang Cheng looked away, “How could he be? I asked him to return with us to regroup, but he refused. He returned to his sect. Based on how his father was, he should have known what was to come.”

Even if Lan WangJi had expected it, it wouldn’t make it any easier. Instead of being with his father, he had been stuck with Wei WuXian in a tiny cave, with a monster. That was my fault, Wei WuXian thought. “What— what about Lan XiChen?”

“When Sect was going to burn down the library Pavilion, right? That would mean the loss of countless ancient books and scores. The Lan Sect managed to save some. Probably gave them to Lan XiChen to run away with them to hide.That’s what everyone thinks.”

Wei WuXian looked up at the sky, focusing on the wood grain of the ceiling, “This is— this is so gross…”

“Yeah, the Wen Sect is so gross.”

Suddenly, the room that was solemn was filled with ruckus as junior disciples rush into the room, “ShiXiong!” 

“ShiXiong! You're alive now again!?” said the youngest disciple. Wei WuXian cocked an eyebrow as to question the assertion that he had died at all.

“ShiXiong, I heard you killed the beast that was over 400 years old? Did you?!”

“Well, what I really want to know is, how did you survive for so long without food? Have you been practicing inedia without us?”

“How big was XuanWu? Was it bigger than Lotus Lake?”

“ShiXiong! You spent a whole seven days with Lan WangJi from Gusu. How did he not pound you to death?”

Their questions came in droves, and Jiang Cheng was not surprised his brother entertained them. Wei WuXian loved children and tended not to turn them away. He thought their questions should always be answered, and never to turn them away, or undermine them. They should always be given time, or else that fire would die, the fire that made children so precious. Jiang Cheng also thought the fact they ever questioned Wei WuXian’s muteness helped. Some of them may not have been so young, but they knew no different, Wei WuXian had never spoken.

Jiang Cheng smiled watching his brother wasn’t really that badly hurt, but too foolish to take care of his wounds or rest. He still commanded the horde of children just fine without a voice using his whistle. Once they were quiet, he was able to answer their questions, with Jiang Cheng’s help. 

After all that had happened with the indoctrination, the other disciples were returned to their sect, and surprisingly, Wen Chao did not retaliate right away. Madam Yu issued an order that Wei WuXian was not to leave the Compound of Lotus Pier, not even to play on Lotus Lake. He was left with nothing more to do than to shoot down kites day after day. With this the only thing to do day in and day out, people soon become bored of the game. Wei WuXian even let Jiang Cheng win a few times. After the last round one day, Wei WuXian sat down throwing his bow aside. 

“Are you done so early today?” asked Jiang Cheng. Wei WuXian nodded, touching his nose and twisted his figure. Jiang Cheng sighed, “Yea, that’s true.” 

The younger disciples had gone out to collect the kites, “You don’t have to stay here with me Jiang Cheng.”

“Then who would keep you out of trouble?” asked Jiang Cheng. 

Wei WuXian smiled brightly. The moment was soon broken by the cries of the boys coming running back, “ShiXiong! ShiXiong! Something terrible has happened!!”

Wei WuXian jumped to his feet at their urgency, and Jiang Cheng turned, looking them over, “What’s wrong? Wait, where is sixth ShiDi?”

“That’s what’s wrong! Someone took our ShiDi!”

Both brothers were taken aback. “Taken away? Taken where? By who?” asked Jiang Cheng as Wei WuXian picked up his bow.

The boy answered, “We don’t know!”

Wei WuXian walked over and touched his shoulder to offer some comfort as Jiang Cheng spoke again, “Speak clearly, what happened?”

“When we went to get the kites, one had gone far away! We went over to retrieve it. And came to about a dozen people, all from Wen Sect. There were disciples and servants and a young lady leading them! She was holding the kite with the arrow through it. She asked us who it belonged to!”

Another disciple then spoke, “It was Youngest ShiDi’s so he said so, and the woman got angry and ordered them to take him away!”

The brothers looked at each other, both no doubt thinking the same thing. Jiang FengMian was away, he had left this morning to protest the fact their swords still had not been returned. Was the Wen here to attack while the Master of Lotus Pier was away? Or worse even to negotiate something, while the more level headed leader was away and Madam Yu was in charge?

Another boy spoke, “We asked why they were taking him away, and they said he had committed treason. We couldn’t do anything so we came back…”

“What? They couldn’t even give a solid reason?” Jiang Cheng raged.

Wei WuXian brought this figure to his lips, silencing his brother, who was unsure why he should be quiet. He made quick signs to his brother, “Give them nothing to hold against us.”  Wei WuXian touched his finger to the spot above his lip. 

Jiang Cheng nodded and looked at the disciples, “Did she have a mole above her lips?”

“Yes!” the boys said.

“Wang LingJiao! That…”

“Why all the noise? Can’t I have some peace for just one day?” asked a cold voice from behind them. It was Madam Yu, who was striding over in her violet robes. JinZhu and YinZhu were still dressed with armor following behind her. 

Jiang Cheng ran over to her, “Mom, the Wen sect took the Youngest ShiDi!”

She crossed her arms, “I know, you all were talking so loudly, I could hear it inside. So what? He was taken away, not killed. Keep your head, you’re the future sect leader. Calm Down!” She dropped her arms and turned as she finished. Across the field, the Wen Sect cultivators, dressed in their sun-clad robes, entered one after another. Behind them a woman in extravagant clothes entered. She was graceful, and she was entrancing as well. Yet, she was clad in practically in a jewelry store and all of the things her husband gave her: it really demolished her charm. It was indeed Wang LingJiao, she had been stricken so hard by Wei WuXian she had wrenched up blood.

“Madam Yu, we meet again.”

“Why did you take my disciple?” Madam Yu said straight faced, not saying more than she had too, as if it might dirty her.

“Take?” she asked, taking her time to think about it, “Oh, you mean the one I took outside? That is a long story, maybe we should take the time to talk about it inside.”

Wang LingJiao, a servant without standing, without notification or request, had the gall to walk through the gates without any hesitation, “Talk about it.” Madam Yu’s face grew cold. The figure that held Zidian twitched and the veins on the back of her hand rose, “Talk about it once we go inside?”

“Of course. I didn’t have the time the last time I was here giving orders.”

Hearing the word “orders”, Jiang Cheng snorted coldly. JinZhu and YinZhu’s expressions were angry as well. In light of this, Wang LingJiao was the favorite of Wen Chao, they could not afford to offend her. Madam Yu’s voice dipped in sarcasm, “Sure then, why don’t you go inside?”

Wang LingJiao gave her a smile, going inside. Though she wanted to sit she did not. Deciding instead to roaming around Lotus Pier giving her opinions:

“Lotus Pier is really is big and nice, but the houses are a bit strange”

“All the wood is black. That color is ugly, just not bright enough.”

“Madam Yu, you really are a bad mistress. You really ought to decorate more. Next time hang up more red, it would be prettier that way!”

Wang LingJiao walked along the path, pointing out things she considered less than beautiful; as if this was her personal garden. Madam Yu’s brows twitched at every one of them; Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian were sure she might kill someone.

After they had finished the tour and arrived at the main hall, without anyone’s invitation, she sat at the head of the table. She sat content for a while, but seeing no one would serve her, she slammed her hands down, demanding, “Where is the tea?”

Although Wen LingJiao was enveloped with luster, he manners had no courtesy at all. She acted like a moron and disgraced herself like a buffoon. Having spent this journey with her, no one was quite surprised. Madam Yu on the other hand, sat down one seat lower, with her hems spread wide, making her look even more slender and graceful. JinZhu and YinZhu stood behind her, both with light smirks on their faces.

YinZhu replied, “There will be no tea; if you want it, serve yourself.” 

Wang LingJiao’s face soured, “Don’t the Jiang Servants do anything?”

“Jiang servants have better things to do. You don't need someone to pour you tea, you are not crippled,” JinZhu snapped back.

Wang LingJiao frowned at them, “Who are they?”

“My personal servants.”

Wang LingJiao gave an amused laugh and spoke in disdain, “Madan Yu, your Jiang Sect really is outrageous. It can’t be the case that mere servants can interrupt conversions in the main hall. Servants like that get slapped in the Wen Sect.”

Madam Yu replied with no hesitation, “JunZhu and YinZhu are not mere servants, they have been with me since I was young. They have served no one but me and there has never been anyone who COULD slap then, little on those who would DARE to.”

“Madam Yu, what are you talking about? In such a prominent sect, there must be a clear distention be those who are superior and those who simply are not. If this was not the case there would be chaos. Servants should be what they are.”

Madam Yu glanced at Wei WuXian, the son of the servant and should be one himself. He should have been her son's servant, not his brother, and certainly not what her husband made him to be, “That’s right.”

Without missing a beat she continued, “Why did you take YunmengJiang disciple?”

“Madm Yu, you should cut ties with this so called disciple of yours. That brat has hidden intentions, and he has been caught red-handed and has been transferred to me.”

“Hidden intentions?”

Jiang Cheng blurted out, “What hidden intentions would ShiDi have?” He started to step forward, but Wei WuXian grabbed his hand, shaking his head.

Wang LingJiao signaled to her servants, “Bring the proof to me!” One of the servants brought forward the youngest ShiDi’s kite, “This is proof!”

“How is that proof? That is a one-eyed monster kite?” fumed Jiang Cheng.

“Do you think I’m blind?!” The nail of her index finger, painted red with the mace of nutmeg, pointed here and there on the kite, “What color is it? Golden. What shape is it? Round.”

“And so,” asked Madam Yu.

“So? Madam Yu, haven’t you realized? What is golden and round? The Sun!” Under everyone’s confused and gaping stare she continued, thinking herself triumphant, “Why did he choose a one-eyed monster? Why did he choose to paint it golden? It could have been any shape or color, yet he chose these. Are you going to say it’s coincidence? It isn’t. He did it on purpose. So that he could ‘shoot down the sun.’ This is a great insult to the Wen Sect. How is that not hidden intent!?”

Jiang Cheng’s temp rose with her ridiculous theory, “So what, it's round and golden? It's still nothing like the sun!”

Madam Yu spoke again, “Surly you have not come here for a kite.”

“Of Course not, I came here, representing Young Master Wen, came to punish someone.”

Wei WuXian’s heart skipped a beat and his arms fell to his sides. His eyes grew wide, It’s my fault…. , he thought. Jiang Cheng grabbed his hand. 

Wang LingJiao pointed at Wei WuXian, “On Dust-Creek Mountain, this brat made rude remarks to our Young Master Wen when he was fighting the XuanWu and tired him. He almost made him lose and he did lose his sword!”

Jiang Cheng laughed as she spun black and white into twisted lies. He tried to draw his brother closer, but his brother was frozen in place as the lies continued. “How lucky that Young Master Wen is blessed by the Heavens! Even though he lost his sword  he was still able to defeat the XuanWu! This brat can’t be tolerated any longer! Today, I am here under the orders of Young Master Wen, Madam Yu, punish him!”

Jiang Cheng spoke, “Mom, you must know she’s lying.”

“Shut your mouth!” Madam Yu said.

Watching Madam Yu’s reaction, Wang LingJiao drove the final blow, “Wei Ying, if I remember correctly, is a servant of the YunmengJiang Sect, isn’t he? As Jiang Sect Leader isn’t here, I’m sure you know what would be best to do, Madam Yu. If YunmengJiang insists on protecting him, I think it would make people think, well make them think certain rumors are true… Hee Hee.” 

Wei WuXian looked away, as his heart raced. He knew exactly which rumors the servant referred to from Jiang FengMian’s seat. They argued over that very rumor often. Madam Yu’s gaze turned dark and turned on Wei WuXian. Jiang Cheng caught in between, “What rumors?!”

Wang LingJiao giggled more and more, “You don’t know? How could you not? The rumors say that Wei Ying is more than just your ShiXiong, but your DaGe. Wei Ying’s mother is Sect Leader’s old flame...”

Jiang Cheng was reeling through those thoughts when his brother lurched forward, and the smell of burning clothes met his nose. He was pulled forward slightly, as he was still holding onto his brother, but Wei WuXian had pulled away before he could pull him down. He turned to see the lighting and his mother wielding her whip on his brother, “Mom!”

“Move Jiang Cheng! Or you will be kneeling too!”

Wei WuXian righted himself and pushed Jiang Cheng away. Wei WuXian smiled in a way that broke Jiang Cheng’s heart. Madam Yu brought down her whip again, forcing him back down, “Did I not say… That you… you unruly thing! You would bring trouble sooner or later!”

Wei WuXian gritted his teeth as she brought down the whip on his back. He endured dozens of heavy strikes of the whip. It numbed his body with a pain he had never known, he didn’t know if he could bear it, but he had to. If he did not bear it, it would never satisfy the Wen Sect.

Wang LingJiao smiled as she watched. Madam Yu retracted ZiDian glaring at the troublesome child. Wei WuXian swayed and Jiang Cheng tried to go to his aid. “Don’t help him!” said Madam Yu as JinZhu and YinZhu held him as he struggled. Wei WuXian swayed a while longer before he pitched forward.

“It’s over?” 

Madam Yu turned and snarled at the little servant girl, “What do you think?”

“What do you mean that’s all?” she said with a disappointed face.

Madam Yu raised a brow, “What kind of weapon do you think ZiDian is? It will take over a month for him to heal, it’s beyond enough for him to savoir!”

“But what of once he has healed? What will remind him then?” she asked innocently.

Jiang Cheng, still Fighting against JinZhu and YinZhu, cried out, “What more do you want?”

“Madam Yu, since it is a punishment shouldn’t he remember it for the rest of his life? After he has rested and healed he will be back to jumping around and making a ruckus. He should remember it for the rest of his life, regret it the rest of his life. He will forget the pain once it healed. That’s no good.”

“What then? Cut off both his legs so he can’t jump around.”

She smiled, “Master Wen is kind and would never be that cruel. If you were to cut off his right hand, this will all be solved and forgiven.”

Madam Yu circled around Wei WuXian as if considering. Wei WuXian was helpless, both from shock and pain he was going nowhere. Jiang Cheng broke free of JinZhu and YinZhu and threw himself in front of his brother, hovering over him protectively, “Stop this, mom! You must know she isn’t telling the truth! She just wants revenge for being bested by Wei WuXian in Dusk-Creek Mountain!”

“Are you saying I’m fabricking?” said Wang LingJiao, raising her voice.

On his stomach, Wei WuXian’s head swam. It took him far too long to understand that she didn’t even know what wards she was using. She had meant fabricating, but didn’t actually know the word’s pronunciation. She had been an uneducated maid; it was natural that she didn’t know more complicated words. She would rather look the fool and try to use words she didn’t know; than only use smaller ‘safe’ words. Wang Ling Jiao, unaware of her social faux pas, continued her speech, “Madam Yu, think it though, this matter will defiantly be taken care of, either now or late. Cutting off his hand will solve everything, and next time this mater might not be that simple anymore.”

With cold eyes and an eerie voice, Madam Yu issued her orders, “JinZhu, YinZhu, close the doors tight, let no one see the blood.” 

The maids followed with a bow and a resounding, “Yes!”

Wei WuXian felt true fear. This thoughts circling, She really is going to cut off his hand? I guess that's what I deserve, what I've always deserved. I brought ruin on YunmengJiang. Maybe, this is how I make amends to her and her family for being here, for ruining everything.

Jiang Cheng was also filled with fear, continuing to try to shield his brother, “Mom! You really can’t mean to do this… Please…!”

“Madam Yu, I knew you must be the obedient servant of QishanWen. Hold down the brat!”

“There is no need,” JinZhu and YinZhu came over to Madam Yu’s side as she spoke.

“Oh, your maids will work too.”

“Mom! How could you? If father knew…!”

He was cut off, “Don’t speak of your father to me. He could do what? Kill me?! I think he has done enough of that!”

“Madam Yu, I truly admire you! For the looks of it, me and you will get along fine when this is a supervision office!”

Madam Yu turned, “Supervision office?”

“That’s right! That is the second reason I have come here. QishanWen has orders to have a supervision office in every city, and I have decided on Lotus Pier,” the pieces fell into place, that’s why she had talked as if Lotus Pier was her own.

Jiang Cheng was alarmed by this, but he was more worried over his brother, who didn’t seem to be listening to anything anymore. He wiped away tears that were leaving out from his brother’s eyes, hoping he would be ok.

There was a resounding sound echoing through the room, Madam Yu had slapped Wang LingJiao. It had such force it had caused her to spin around before collapsing to the ground. Blood poured from her nose. Wen disciples unsheathed their swords, but with a flick of her hand she was welding ZiDian again. With elegance, she strode over to her, and pulled her up by her fair, “How dare you!?”

Madam Yu’s patience had finally snapped, she slapped her again to silence her screaming “You look to the owner before you hit the dog. You barge into my sect and want to punish my person in front of me!? How are you so undisciplined?” Madam Yu threw her aside as if she was dirty. Taking out a handkerchief, she wiped her hands. JinZhu and YinZhu stood behind her with small smiles.

Wang LingJiao rolled on the floor, tears streaming down swollen cheeks. “How… how dare you! Neither QishanWen nor YingchuanWang Sect will not let this go.”

Madam Yu tossed her handkerchief to the ground, “Shut up! Such a scum maid. My MeishanYu Sect has roamed the cultivation world for hundreds of years, and I have never heard of some YingchuanWang Sect. Which gutter did such a sect crawl out of? Is it full of inferior things like you? You spoke of superior and inferior? Let me tell you something I am the superior and you simply are not!”

Jiang Cheng was trying to help him brother up, but they were unprepared for what was to unfold.

Chapter Text

Madam Yu looked to her maids, who understood immediately, unsheathing their long swords and killed the Wen disciples in the room. Wang LingJiao saw that she would soon find herself on the end of their swords, and she panicked out, “Do you think that you can just silence me? Do you not think Master Wen doesn’t know I’m here today? Do you think he will just let it go?”

YinZhu sneered, “You sound as if he already has.”

“I am the closest one to Master Wen. The closest! He will do anything for me! He’ll…”

Madam Yu smacked her again, “He’ll what? Cut our hands and legs off, burn down our residence, or raze Lotus Pier with thousands of soldiers to the ground, or build a supervision office?”

JinZhu came up beside them with his sword at the ready. Wang LingJiao’s eyes filled with fear as she tried to get away, using her feet to push herself away, “S— Somebody… Help… Wen ZhuLiu! Help me!”

Madam Yu’s face hardened, with one foot on Wen LingJiao’s wrist she unsheathed her own sword and brought it down. It was bounced away. 

Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng both turned to look. The doors to the room had been blown apart, and a man with a tall physique barged in. He donned black clothes and had a dark grim expression, it was indeed Wen Chao’s personal guard, a man with strong cultivation, Wen ZhuLiu.

Madam’s Yu’s held ZiDian across her face having lost her sword, “Core-Melting Hand?”

Wen ZhiLiu’s voice was cold, “Violet Spider?”

“Wen ZhuLiu help me!” begged Wen LingJiao, still trapped under Madam Yu’s foot, tear’s smeared all over her face.

“Wen ZhuLiu?” Madam Yu Snorted, “Core-Melting Hand, Isn’t your surname Zhao? It certainly was not Wen, but you wanted to change your name no matter what. Is that surname of the Wen-dogs really so precious? You would turn your back on your ancestors— how laughable!”

“We all serve our own masters,” he said indifferently.

“Wen ZhuLiu! Do you see what she’s done! Why are you sitting around chit-chatting with her? Kill her now! Didn’t Young Master Wen tell you to protect me? Save me now, or I will denounce you to Master Wen!”

Madam Yu ground her heel into Wang Ling Jiao’s wrist, earning her a wail from her. Wen ZhuLiu, on the other hand, knit his brows. He protected Wen Chao on Wen RuoHan’s orders. He never much cared for Wen Chao. His character was nothing short of horrible, yet there were worse circumstances. Wen Chao had ordered him to protect and serve Wang LingJiao. She was shallow and conceited and cruel at heart, and he disliked her as well. Despite this, he could not go against Wen Chao and by extension Wen RuoHan.  She also loathed him and ordered him to not appear in her sight, unless called for. This had nearly led her to lose her life. If he did nothing, when Chao would fly off the handle and refuse to let this go, which would incur the wrath of Wen Ruohan. He charged forward, “Excuse me.”

ZiDian flew out, “How pretentious!”

Wen ZhuLiu reached out and grabbed the whip without concern. ZiDian in whip form was covered in spiritual power controlled by its welder. It could be fatal or of no consequence. Madam Yu had been holding with an unmatched killing intent for a long time now, wanting to kill Wen-dogs and out of caution of Wen ZhuLiu. It was long but at full output, and it had been grabbed so easily, this had never happened!

Madam Yu faltered just long enough that Wang LingJiao slipped away from her. She pulled a small cylinder from her robes and lit it. She shot it out the window, “Come… Come here… Everyone!” she called.

Though the pain, more panic rose in Wei WuXian. He pushed Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng looked at him. “Stop her! Don’t— let her send off more!”

Jiang Cheng nodded, getting up and lunging in the direction of Wang LingJiao, but before he could make it that far he was distracted by the fight between Madam Yu and Wen ZhuLiu. It seemed he might get the upper hand, “Mom!”

He heard the whistle of another firework signal go off and turned to pin down Wen LingJiao. She was quite easy to subdue, with little cultivation and small physique, knocking her out. He turned back to the fight between his mother and Wen ZhuLiu who was now concerned with the state of his fallen charge. He caught an opening in Madam Yu’s form and charged forward. He pushed Jiang Cheng to grab Wang LingJiao and Madam Yu grabbed Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian and ran. Many disciples had gathered in the yard, “Go get dressed and get ready for a fight.”

With the two in her hands, she went to the pier. She threw them into the boat, before stepping in herself. Jiang Cheng looked to her, “Mom, what are we going to do?”

“What do you mean we? Don’t you see? They came prepared and there was no avoiding this fight. Soon there will be hordes of those Wen-dogs.”

Wei WuXian looked dazed as Jiang Cheng continued, “What about A-Jie? She went to Meishan yesterday! If she comes back…?”

Madam Yu could only glower about the whole affair, her eyes drifting to Wei WuXian, who shrunk under her gaze. Her gaze snapped back to Jiang Cheng as she placed ZiDian on his index figure, “Why are you giving me ZiDian?”

“It’s been given to you, it’s yours from now on!”

Jiang Cheng’s brows furrowed, “You’re not coming?”

Madam Yu stared into his face for a long time before she drew him into her arms and kissed his crown a few times, “Good boy.” Jiang Cheng had never been so fiercely loved by his mother, as if she would protect him from everything. His face was buried into her chest and his eyes were wide.

With her other hand, she pulled Wei WuXian up by the lapels. “You are a damned brat. I hate you, I have always hated you. Look at what you have done.” 

Wei WuXian looked away as much as he could being held the way he was. His chest heaved as she spoke. They were, all at once, unceremoniously thrust back into the boat. She could not leave, but in a single moment of selfishness, she would save her son. Jiang Cheng tried to stand to leave the boat, but ZiDian wrapped around them as if a rope of lighting, “What are you…?”

“Don’t make such a fuss. ZiDian will let you go when you are safe. If anyone attacks you, it will protect you as well. Don’t come back, instead go find your sister Meishan!” she then turned to Wei WuXian, “Wei Ying! Listen to me and listen well! You will protect Jiang Cheng, even if it costs your life.” Wei WuXian looked away and gave a slight nod.

After this she cut the rope that held the boat to the dock and kicked it into the river.with the fast winds, water currents, and her strong kick they had soon drifted far into the waters. Jiang Cheng called out, “Mom!” Even as he called desperately to her, she did not turn. With her sword in hand, she returned though the gates of Lotus Pier.

Both of them struggled against ZiDian, but they made little progress. Jiang Cheng cursed and begged it to let them go, Wei WuXian, on the other hand, knew they could not get free. “Jiang Cheng… It won't work… We— we have to calm down.”

“How can I be calm? That bitch got off signals and is going to bring a siege to Lotus Pier!” said Jiang Cheng, he fought against the binds, desperate to get away.

Jiang Cheng looked up and caught a glance of a boat coming back into Lotus Pier. “Father, Father!” he called trying to get his attention. 

From the boat, he gazed across the waters and spotted them. He had the disciples row them closer to the boys, “A-Cheng, A-Ying? What happened here? Is this some kind of game?”

“Father, you have to let us go!” exclaimed Jiang Cheng.

“That is your mom’s ZiDian, I don't think…” he said as he brushed his hand over the ZiDian. Much to his surprise the weapon became a ring and wrapped itself around his hand. It was no doubt Mada Yu’s weapon and while it could hold multiple masters, on one would have thought Jiang FengMian would have been recognized as a master. “What is going on? Why are you wrapped up with ZiDian?”

“Today the Wen Sect came and mother picked a fight with Core-Melting Hand! They seemed to be calling in even more reinforcements! We have to go back and save Lotus Pier!” Jiang Cheng exclaimed.

“Core-Melting Hand…?”

“Yes! We have…” but before he could finish his thought a purple light sparked and they again were wrapped up by ZiDain. “Father!?”

“I’ll go back, you two need to go. Do not return to Lotus Pier. As soon as you are on shore, Go to Meishan and find your sister and grandmother.”

Jiang Cheng kicked the side of the boat, “No! Let us go!”

Jiang FengMian smiled, “I will go back and find the Third Lady.”

Jiang Cheng pulled against the bind of ZiDain, “No, we can go together!”

Jiang FengMian stared long into his eyes before standing, “Be Well, A-Cheng. A-Ying, protect him.” 

“Wait! Father!” but then they were left to float down the river. They didn’t know how long they floated down the river, before ZiDain tightened around his Jiang Cheng’s finger. They had screamed and yelled the whole way and their voices were hoarse. Wei WuXian’s back stung and hurt, but they both paddled back along the river. They could not abandon everyone there.

By the time they had made it back it was late into the night, and the gates were closed tight. The light of the full moon danced on the water and the lanterns of the nine leaf lotus adorned them. It was as if nothing happened, but that was what made turmoil in the heart. Both of their hearts pounded and neither dared to move. Tears swirled in Jiang Cheng’s eyes and he shivered.

Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian paddled quietly to the shore. There was an old willow tree that grew there. It had always grown parallel to the water with its long branches touching the water. They used to walk down the trunk and sit on the end and fish. They docked the boat behind the willow and climbed onto the shore. Wei WuXian easily climbed the wall before pulling Jiang Cheng up.

They stalked the world within, with every moment their hearts sinking.  On the training field there were dozens of rows of people lined up. All of them had robes with blazing red suns. Aside from those who stood, there were also those who were laying on the ground.The ones on the ground had been moved to the northwest corner on the grounds. One seemed to be examining those of the Jiang Sect that lay there.

The boys searched the figures, tears in their eyes. They saw many they knew. They didn’t want to think about it. They didn’t want to know if that was Jiang FengMian and Yu ZiYuan, or if that thin boy that laid on top of them was their youngest Shidi. The boy who was looking over them seemed to have picked up on something and turned. 

Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian both ducked, but not without seeing what they looked like. The oy was about their age and had delicate features, and a pale complexion against his dark black eyes. He wore the sun and flame robes, but not imposing in the least. He seemed gentle and familiar to Wei WuXian. Based on his robes, he was a young master of the Wen Sect.

Chapter Text

Wei WuXian felt his heart skip a beat, he didn’t see them right?

A cry broke through Wei WuXian’s thoughts, from the other side of the wall. It was followed by a man's voice, cooing over her, “Don’t cry. Your face is all smeared.” Both Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian snapped to attention, It was Wen Chao.

Wang LingJiao sniffed, “How could anyone like me if my face is all smeared?”

“How could they not? No matter how JiaoJiao looks, I like her.”

Wang LingJiao’s voice wavered, “I am so, so scared… Today, I thought… I was so close to being killed by that bitch, and I wouldn’t get to see you ever again… Young Master Wen… I…”

Wen Chao's voice grew quiet, muffled even, “Stop talking Jiao Jiao. It’s ok now. It’s a good thing that Wen ZhuLiu protected you.”

“You are still mentioning him?” she huffed. “I hate him! If not for him, I wouldn’t have suffered so much, he arrived much too late! Even now, my face hurts so much…”

Wen Chao seemed not to mind listening to her complain, “It won’t hurt, so let me touch it. You may not like how slow he was, but you mustn’t challenge his talent. His cultivation is really high and Father hopes to use him for another few years.”

“So what?! What if he is a talent?” her voice sharp as she spoke, “There are so many talent’s under the Wen sect… thousands at the very least! What would happen if he was gone?”

Wen Chao chuckled at her. She wanted him to punish Wen ZhuLiu on her behalf. No matter how he cared for Wang LingJiao, he would not be punishing his personal guard for her sake. After all he had stopped many attempts on his life. She again huffed, “Look at him, he is just an arrogant subordinate. Back there, I wanted to slap the Yu Bitch, and he wouldn’t even let me! Now she’s just a corpse! He looks down on me, and looking down on me, is like looking down on you, doesn’t it?”

Luckily, Jiang Cheng couldn’t get a proper hold on the wall to scale it. Wei WuXian grabbed his lapel. Both of them had eyes full of tears, that rolled down their faces and to the ground. Wei WuXian remembered the argument that Madam Yu and Jiang FengMian had. Their last words to one another had been those of hate. He wondered if Jiang FengMian had gotten to speak to Madam Yu one more time. Yet another thing he had ruined. He had caused this by provoking Wen Chao.

“It’s just how he is, quite odd. Something about ‘death over humiliation’. He was the one to kill her, so what's the point of talking about it now?” Wen Chao’s voice drifted over the wall yet again.

“That’s right! What hypocrisy.”

Wen Chao was happy to have her agree, and Wen LingJiao continued, “That bitch had it coming . After all she forced a man to marry her with the power of her sect! What did it even accomplish in the end? He still didn’t love her. She had been abandoned for over 10 years with people laughing at her from behind her back. She didn’t even know how to restrain herself and kept being arrogant. How it turned out must be karma.”

Wen Chao questioned, “Really? Why did Jiang FengMian dislike her.”

As far as Wen Chao was concerned as long as a woman looked fair there was no reason to dislike her. Only ones to be cast aside were those who were average or wouldn’t sleep with him. Wen LigJiao answered, “Isn't it obvious? That bitch was so aggressive. She would brandish a whip and slap people. She had no manners at all. Jiang FengMian had been burdened even after he had married her. He is such an unlucky man.”

“That’s right, everyone should be like my JiaoJiao, obedient and gentle, only caring for me.”

Wang LingJiao giggled. Wei WuXian shivered at the words, so vulgar. He did not know if Jiang FengMain hated Madam Yu for those reasons, but he did know why he did not love her. That reason was simple, he loved another, his mother, CangSe SanRen. Jiang FengMian possibly had a child with her as well, who would be himself. He could not know if that was true, the only person who could know for certain, was gone. Regardless of which was true, it would have been better if he was never born, then such a rumor could never have come about…

He was pulled from his thoughts as Jiang CHeng tried to pull away and another voice entered on the other side of the wall, “Master Wen, over 2400 treasurers have been counted and are being categorized right now!”

“Well done, well done! We should have a feast. We should make use of everything.”

Wang LingJiao giggled once again, “Congratulations Young Master Wen on taking Lotus Pier!”

“What Lotus Pier? Change the name, take down any door with the 9 petaled lotus, and replace them with the sun of QishanWen. JiaoJiao, dance for me your best song!”

Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian couldn’t listen any longer, and flipped over the wall of Lotus Pier. The laughs and glee of those in the yard of Lotus Pier echoed in their heads, cutting them open from the inside out. They had been running for a long time when Jiang Cheng turned around to head back. Wei WuXiang grabbed him, wrapping his arms around him, “W—what are— are you doing?”

“I’m going back!” Jiang Cheng said, struggling.

“No!” Wei WuXian tightened his grip.

“No? What do you mean no? My parents are still there! Where would I even go?” 

“They are dead Jiang Cheng! They— They were killed! All that— All that waits for you there is death!” 

“Then death it is! If you are scared of death, then get lost!” said Jiang Cheng.

“I’m not scared of— scared of death. I am scared of losing you! Jiang FengMian and Madam Yu asked me to look after you,” shouted Wei WuXian.

“Shut up!” then after a moment Jiang Cheng asked, “Why?” He pushed Wei WuXian down onto the ground, straddled him grabbing his lapels. “Why did this happen? Why did you save that Lan WangJi?!” 

In his grief he needed someone to blame and with no one else there, he took it out on Wei WuXian. His hands gripped around Wei WuXian’s neck. Wei WuXian pulled at his arm. “Why do you always have to be the hero! How many times did I tell you not to start trouble? Lan WangJi and Jin ZiXuan can just die! All of those people could just die! What do they have to do with us ? With our sect ? Why did this happen? Why?”

Wei WuXian had stopped trying to fight against Jiang Cheng. He felt Jiang Cheng’s tears on his face. If Jiang Cheng wanted his life, maybe that would be good enough, Jiang Cheng certainly deserved to have it. Wei WuXian felt light headed and tired. Something snapped in Jiang Cheng and he released Wei WuXian. Jiang Cheng buried his head in his brother’s chest, “I want my parents…” Jiang Cheng knew in his heart of hearts that it was not Wei WuXian’s fault, but he had been taught by the best to take out his anger and pain on others. He knew no matter who he begged for his parents, he would never get his wish.

At some point in the night, Jiang Cheng hand cried himself out and drifted off into sleep. It had been a restless sleep. He came to slowly and in a haze, hoping that he would wake in his bed in Lotus Pier. That everything that had happened was just a terrible nightmare. As he blinked away sleep, he saw the morning sky and trees. Sitting up slowly, it was painfully obvious it was no dream, it was real.

He glanced around, eyes landing on Wei WuXian, who was still sleeping. Jiang Cheng looked at his brother before trying to wake him. “Wei WuXian, wake up,” he shook his shoulder, but he did not stir. Jiang Cheng tried to shake him awake again, but that’s when he realized the heat coming off of Wei WuXian’s body, a soft sheen of sweat covered him. Jiang Cheng quickly set up Wei WuXian and looked at his torn robes from ZiDian. The skin peaking out was angry and red, and no doubt the cause of his fever. 

Jiang Cheng panicked, this was bad. If he didn’t tend to the wound on his brother's back, what would happen? Would he lose his brother too? Would the last thing his brother knew was his anger? “Wei WuXian, please wake up… please…” he begged, he didn’t know how to treat these wounds. What could he do?

Then Jiang Cheng’s blood ran cold as he heard a rustle in the bushes. They were only a mile away from Lotus Pier, they were far from safe. He turned and was met with red and white robes of Wen Clan.

Chapter Text

Jiang Cheng stood defensively in front of his brother. He bared his ZiDian, cracking with lighting. The young disciple stepped back, not reaching for a weapon, even though he had a bow and a sword. 

Jiang Cheng snapped his whip narrowly missing the boy, “Get back Wen-dog!”

The young disciple fell flat on his butt, raising his arms to protect his face, “P-p-please, I just want to h-h-elp. I didn’t come with Wen Chao… I’m from a branch family… and Young Master Wei needs medical attention…”

“Why should I trust a Wen!?”

“Y-young Master Jiang, I… You probably don’t remember… but we met at QishanWen Discussion Conference. I-I, Young Master Wei was nice to me…” he said trembling. “I… not many people are nice to me… I saw you last night and I thought… maybe I could…”

Jiang Cheng lowered his guard, “You saw us and didn’t tell anyone?” The teen shook his head. He was the young boy they had seen the night before. If he had wanted, he could have called for reinforcements, called for people to catch them, and claim a prize. Instead he was here, not brandishing a weapon, claiming to want to help.

He racked his brain, the disciple had said they had met at the discussion conference a while back. The archery competition, there had been a Wen Disciple that had brought his brother back… then and now there was something about the Wen disciple that reminded him of his brother. He heard a soft moan and his attention snapped to his brother, covered in a glossy sheen and pained expression.

“Young Master Jiang… my family are doctors, we can help him…” The young disciple said peeking out from behind his arms.

Jiang Cheng looked back at the young disciple, “Who are you?”

“O-oh, I am Wen Ning, courtesy QiongLin…”

Jiang Cheng noticed a soft smile on Wen QiongLin’s face, yes he and his brother had the same smile, often a bit unsure, but reassuring nonetheless. ZiDian wrapped itself back around his figure. He ducked down to pick up his brother, “Lead the way, Wen QiongLin.”

Wen Ning scrambled to his feet, “Yes!” Wen Ning led Jiang Cheng to a small boat that he had prepared. Jiang Cheng laid his brother down in the small cabin. Wen Ning started to clean the angry skin of Wei WuXian’s back. “This will do until we make it to Yiling. M-m-my sister is a better doctor than me.”

Once he had done what he could for Wei Ying, he turned to Jiang Cheng, “Do you have any wounds?”

Jiang Cheng looked at him then looked away, “I’m fine.”

Wen Ning nodded, “I see.” 

The small boat fell quite as they drifted along. Jiang Chang just stared at his brother as he laid on his belly. Wen Ning was patting away sweat on Wei WuXian’s forehead. Wei WuXian seemed to be resting easier. Jiang Cheng pressed the heel of his hand to his head, he felt tears trying to bubble up into his eyes. A hand was placed on his shoulder, “Young Master Jiang? Are you sure you are ok?”

Jiang Cheng looked up, “My home was burned and my parents were killed… how can I be ok?”

Wen Ning looked away, “Yes… S-sorry, your right.” He grew quite for a moment, “It’s ok to cry. I-I won’t tell anyone and it will be a while yet till we get to Yiling.” 

“I have to be strong,” he said softly.

Wen Ning wrung his hands, “Crying d-don’t make you weak. Not crying doesn’t make you strong… I mean, well, if you cry all the time that's not good either, but never crying is no good too. And no one can be strong all the time… Lotuses don’t bloom all year right? W-why would you expect the same from yourself?” 

Jiang Cheng found himself staring at the boy, his mother had always said he must be strong, his father always said to achieve the impossible, yet somehow… Neither of those things made sense. The flowers didn’t grow year around did they? There was no one out there trying to convince them that they should. Tears overflowed his eyes for the second time in two days. These, though, were not like the last ones. These seemed to free him, he cried for his parents, for his sect, and for all that he lost. It was more than that as well, he cried for all the times he couldn’t, for all the times he had to be too strong. He cried loud wails. Wen Ning can and sat at his side with a sad smile, rubbing his back as Jiang Cheng whipped in vain at the tears that didn't seem to want to stop. By the time they arrived at their destination, he felt lighter.

When they arrived, Wen Ning called several servants over to help them dock the boat and to get around back of the large compound. Jiang Cheng carried his brother on his back, they passed by many closed doors that had many different conversations going on. “Where is this?”

“This is… I mean…” the boy stuttered out.

“What do you mean! This is the supervision office at Yiling! What sect did you take over to get this supervision office?!”

“It’s not like that! I promise… this is a supervision office… but it's under QishanWen's rule… so it’s the last place they would look for you… I-I-I haven’t turned you in before now, and I don’t intend to…” Wen Ning said opening a door to a room with a bed and a few other things. Jiang Cheng nodded, he was still unsure, but he had come this far, minus well believe in that. He laid Wei WuXian down on the bed carefully arranging him so that not to hurt the wounds on his back. Then the door opened again.

“I have been looking all over for you, you better have an expl..antion…” said a woman’s voice. Jiang Cheng turned to face her backing up to protect his brother. He stared at her about to summon ZiDian, as the deadlock continued. The woman was darker skinned and she had soft features, but had a scowl of arrogance. Red flames licked at the sleeves and collar of her robe. She was the same rank as Wen Chao.

The three of them stood as still as death, daring each other to move with the sheer tension of the room, but just as Jiang Cheng was going to attack, hurried steps came down the hall. She slammed the door shut, “Office leader Wen, is everything ok?”

She spoke with indifference, “Yes, my brother has returned. He is feeling unwell again. Don’t wake him. Let’s go, we can talk on the way.”

As the footsteps tread away Wen Ning let out the breath he had been holding, “She’s… She’s my sister…”

Jiang Cheng glowered at him, “Wen Qing is your sister?”

Wen Ning nodded, “My sister… she’s really powerful…” 

This was true, Wen Qing was not a child of Wen RouHan, but a child of his cousin. It was said that he was close to this cousin, and on top of that, she was skilled in liberal arts and medicine. Because of this, she was also favored by Wen RouHan, and often accompanied him to banquets and events. If Jiang Cheng scratched his brain long enough, he would also recall hearing that she had a rather unimpressive brother. 

Wen Ning smiled in a sad way that somehow pulled at his heart, the same why Wei WuXian’s some how did, “She’s really impressive, I’m really not…”

Jiang Cheng relaxed, “I don’t know, you dared to sneak us in.” There was a soft moan from the bed behind him, Jiang Cheng turned to see his brother try to get up. Jiang Cheng placed his hand on his shoulder, “No, don’t move around.”

Wen Ning walked hurriedly, “If he is awake, then I will get some medicine for him.”

Wei WuXian’s eyes darted around, trying to figure out where he was. “It’s ok, we are safe. Well, maybe… no worse off at least… The boy who you were with at the Wen Discussion Conference. He brought us here.”

Wei WuXian nodded, curling into himself. Jiang Cheng tried to prevent him from doing that, “No, you will pull at your wounds.” 

Wei WuXian looked up at him with distant eyes, he signed, “Should have left me.”

Jiang Cheng felt the guilt bubble up, “I’m not leaving you. You are my brother. I let my anger get the best of me. I shouldn't have hurt you, or blamed you. I’m sorry, and you don’t have to forgive me.”

Wei WuXian didn’t say anything and Jiang Cheng nodded, accepting his silence. Wen Ning came back with a bowel of medicine, “Hello, Young Master Wei, this medicine should help you heal and easy your pain.” Wei WuXian didn’t move to take the medicine or do anything, just stared off into nothingness. “Young Master Wei? Can you hear me?” He looked to Jiang Cheng for guidance.

Jiang Cheng sighed, “Wei WuXian, you need to take medicine so you can heal.” Jiang Cheng reached out and carded through his hair. He looked up for a moment before looking back down at the bed sheets. “Wei WuXian…”

The door opened again and the woman from before walked back in, “Wen Ning, what were you thinking?”

“Sister!” 

“Oh, now you are calling me sister? Since when have you become so bold? So this is why you were asking about Yunmeng. How full of yourself have you gotten? If Wen Chao finds out he will tear you limb from limb, and not even I can stop that!”

Wen Ning was pale as snow, “But sister, Young Master Wei and Jiang…”

In a stern voice she continued, “I won’t say anything too harsh because you did it out of gratitude. That’s a good reason, however, if they stay here too long they will be found. You left suddenly and returned just as suddenly, meanwhile, Wen Chao lost them. Do you think Wen Chao is that much of an idiot? They will come here eventually. I’m in charge here and this is your home. What do you think will happen if they find out? Think more carefully!”

She explained this all and minus well had said to them, “Get lost, and don’t cause us trouble.” Jiang Cheng really didn’t like this anymore than she did, and if he had his way, he wouldn’t have been here. He turned to look at his brother, who was injured and unwell. Jiang Cheng had played a part in the empty eyes his brother had, more than he like to admit, and he needed care for ZiDian’s burns. Care he knew he could not provide…

Wen Ning spoke, “B-but, the Wen Sect people…”

“Don’t. What the Wen Sect does, is not what we do. We are not responsible for the wrongdoings of our sect. There is a beginning to all debts. I am the office leader in Yiling, but I was ordered to this position. I am a medic and apothecary, I have never killed anyone, nor will I. I have no blood of the Jiang Clan on our hands.” The room grew quiet for a long bit, then she looked at the medicine that Wen Ning had made, “What have you made? Brew it again.” She tossed herbs at him.

“Does that mean we can stay?”

Wen Ning nodded, “She is a doctor as she said, she can’t not help. I-it’s not like her.” 

Wen Qing huffed as she started to leave. “I’ll look at his wounds more tonight, once work is done and I will not be missed.”

Jiange Chang nodded, “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet, if we are found out we all will have our heads on a platter.”

Chapter Text

Jiang Cheng stayed at his brother’s side for most of the day, trying to coax him into eating or drinking something, with little success. He did drink some water and take some medication, soon enough he was drifting to sleep. Jiang Cheng sat back unsure what he should do.

“Young Master Jiang, I’m sure he will be ok. Young Master Wei is just tired and hurting, it’s not odd for his appetite to be lacking,” said Wen Ning, coming to sit beside him.

Jiang Cheng looked away, “He survived being trapped in that damn cave with Lan WangJi, so I’m sure he will… but…”

“But what?”

“He will never trust me again… nor should he…” said Jiang Cheng, his head in his hands.

Wen Ning looked down playing with his hands, “I don’t know, you’re his brother… I’m sure…”

“What’s that matter? It didn’t matter when I tried to strangle him… How can he forgive me?”

“Stop you’re whining, if you’re serious about earning his forgiveness, then stop mopping about. Prove that you deserve it.” 

Both boy’s heads snapped up, standing in the doorway was Wen Qing. She strode over and started to work on Wei Ying. “These are from ZiDain, aren't they?”

Jiang Cheng nodded, “That woman demanded my brother be punished for defacing Wen Chao and the Wen Sect with the false XuanWu. Mother she….”

“I don’t really know if it is a consolation or not, but these could have been much worse. Based on what I know about ZiDian and the Violet Spider, she didn’t use her full power. Had she, he would have been much worse for wear, if not dead,” said Wen Qing softly as she worked.

“Mother still did it. Even if she didn’t use her full strength… She still hurt him. I should have stopped her,,,” he said.

Wen Ning reached out and touched his hand, “You can’t take all the blame, Young Master Jiang,”

Wen Qing sighed, “He will heal but it will take some time. Though, It will most likely scar. Even with a cultivator's core, the damage is too severe to imagine that it will not.”

Jiang Chang nodded, “Thank you Lady Wen.”

“Like I said no need for thanks, I’m not doing this for you, but for Wen Ning,” she said leaving.

A few days later, Wen Ning returned with a small qiankun pouch. Wen Ning smiled sadly as he handed it to Jiang Cheng, “What is this?” He slowly opened it, reaching in tentatively, he pulled out his father’s guan. He sat it down on the table and pulled out two Jiang Cleansing Bells.

“It’s all my clansmen could escape with. I— I’m sorry they couldn’t escape with more. They have also been t-trying to make sure the Jiang Sect’s bodies have been offered proper rights when possible…”

Jiang Cheng held them close, this was the final nail in the coffin, as tears streamed down his face. His parents were truly gone. He had known this, somewhere in his heart of hearts, but now there was no denying it. Guilt slipped in as well, how could he care for his parents, when they had done so much hurt to him and his siblings. How could he care at all?

Wei WuXian reached out and grabbed Jiang Cheng’s shirt tail, Jiang Cheng turned. I' m sorry,  he signed.

“You idiot, it’s not your fault,” he kneeled at his bedside carefully hugging him.

After a moment, Wen Ning spoke again, “Wen Chao went to MeishanYu seeking you and Young Mistress Jiang.”

Jiang Cheng looked up and nearly jumping up, “Did they find her?!”

Wen Ning shook his head, “N-No, she had already been retrieved from MeishanYu. Second Young Master Lan d-dispatched disciples to retrieve her, and you as well. She has been received safely in GusuLan. MeishanYu was able to thwart Wen Chao and drove him off for now. Second Young Master Lan also left Cloud Recesses, presumably to look for the young masters of YunmengJiang.”

Both brothers had feared they would hear their sister had been killed, or worse. They both felt relief wash over them, “She’s in Cloud Recesses?” Wen Ning nods. “Lan WangJi is looking for us?”

“That is what I think,” said Wen Ning.

Jiang Cheng looked dumbfounded still, “It’s not like he owes us a debt or likes us.”

Wen Ning nodded, “Maybe not… but I think… maybe he doesn’t want to see anyone else killed… H-his brother is still missing… and… I don’t think he dislikes Young Master Wei… A-after the discussion conference in Qishan, h-h-he came looking for Young Master Wei… But YunmengJiang had already departed.”

“Why would he be looking for Wei WuXian?” Jiang Cheng asked.

Wen Ning shook his head, “I d-don’t know. Something happened during the contest, that’s why he left early… maybe that…? I had come to see Young Master Wei too…”

Wei WuXian sat up, making a baffled sound. His mind spiraled, “He couldn’t have…”

Jiang Cheng was also taken aback to learn that Lan WangJi would have come looking for Wei WuXian. Wen Ning, on the other hand, rushed forward to lay Wei WuXian back down in the bed, “Young Master Wei, you will make your wounds worse.” He was easy to coax back down onto the bed.

Wei WuXian signed, Why.

“Why what Young Master Wei?”

Why would Lan Zhan be looking for me?

“I— don’t know… I just know he looked very upset to know— that you had already gone…” Wen Ning checked the bandages looking for any bleeding, finding none he asked, “Is there any pain?”

Wei WuXian shook his head. Laying back, his hand found the ocarina that hung around his neck. Lan WangJi had given it to him, hadn’t he? At that time, he had thought maybe they had been friends, but by the next time they had met, it seemed perhaps he had given it to him out of pity. He hadn’t made it any better by accidentally pulling off Lan WangJi’s forehead ribbon, but maybe he was just angry about it and in a bad mood during the conference? Of course he had been in a bad mood during the incident in the cave… He didn’t know, but now he wanted to run to where Lan WangJi was.

“Wei WuXian?” Jiang Cheng asked worried, brushing a hand through Wei WuXian’s hair.

Wei WuXian looked over to Jiang Chang, I’m fine, just tired.

Jiang Cheng nodded, unsure if this fully true, but it was likely to be at least partly true with his wounds, “Then rest you dummy.”

Wei WuXian nodded, curling up some as Wen Ning pulled a blanket up over Wei WuXian, who was already drifting off to sleep.

Chapter Text

Wei WuXian was still sleeping when Wen Qing returned to the room, “He’s sleeping, hm?” Jiang Cheng nodded at her words, “That’s good.”

“I guess so.” He paused, “Is it true that Lan WangJi found YanLi?”

She nodded, “So it would seem. Wen Chao certainly didn’t find her, and he is irate about it. You will have to go soon.”

Jiang Cheng grimaced, “What?! He can’t travel like this…!”

“Wen Chao is starting to suspect there is someone hiding you. No, I doubt it was Wen Chao that came up with that, it was probably Wen Zhuliu. Either way, it doesn’t matter, you can’t be found here. I will not risk my family.”

“I see…”

“You should leave as soon as possible,” she said standing, “They say the Second Master of Lan has been looking through the forests here in YiLing.”

Jiang Cheng’s eyes light up, “I see, Lady Wen. We are in your debt.”

“I already told you, this was never about debts. I am a doctor to leave someone to die when I can help, it goes against the oaths I took.”

“Regardless, my brother would no doubt be dead.”

“Whatever, leave right before dawn, with any luck, you can outrun Wen Chao and meet up with Lan WangJi,” she said.

In the morning, Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian left before the Wen siblings returned to the room. While Wei WuXian was still hurt, he had recovered quite well under Wen Qing’s hand. They walked through the woods following not fair from the trails. It was clear that people had been all over the mountains searching them. People were definitely lurking about, both friend and foe.

“Jiang Cheng…” said Wei WuXian softly.

“What is it? Are you hurting?” Jiang Cheng turned to see a smile he never wanted to see. It was the face Wei WuXian always made right before he did something incredibly, horrendously stupid. “Whatever it is you're planning, Wei WuXian, so help me.”

“Jiang Cheng, Lotus Pier— Lotus Pier needs you. I— I promised to protect you…”

Jiang Cheng’s heart jumped into his throat, “We need you as well. Whatever you are planning, just stop. We will find Lan WangJi.”

Wei WuXian looked to his side for a moment, “They want me.”

“Stop, Wei WuXian…” but the next thing he knew the edges of his sight were burning. “What…?”

Wei WuXian caught him as he fell and hid him in a bush. He took out a sheet of talisman paper that had runes already written on it. He released it and it flew up into the sky. Wei WuXian went in the opposite direction as the talisman went. Then he blew his whistle over and over as he ran, knowing he would draw the attention of the Wens. That was the hope to give as much time for Lan WangJi to reach Jiang Cheng, as long as that was the case, well then that's fine.

“It’s Wei WuXian!”

“Catch him! Wen Chao will reward us!”

Arrows flew by him, he dodged them best he could. Pain shot through his back, he was unsure if it was an arrow or his wounds were reopening, but that didn’t matter, he needed to keep running. There was barking somewhere behind him, which urged him on weaving through the trees, but it didn’t take long for his vision to start to blur. Searing pain shot through his leg, he fell to the ground.

He tried to kick away the dog that had latched onto his ankle, but before he could, people grabbed him up. He tried to fight back weakly, but he was tired, and the world went black.

“Wake up!”

Searing pain shot through Wei WuXian’s head. His eyes blinked sluggishly, as he was hit again across the face. His eyes slowly focused on Wen Chao who was standing over him. Wei WuXian looked back at the ground, then around them. Where am I?

“Wei WuXian! You will look at me!”

Wei WuXian looked up, he smiled, he was the only one here, Jiang Cheng was probably safe then… good.

Pain across his face again, “Bastard! How dare you look at me like that!” Wei WuXian spat some blood, he must have bit his tongue, everything hurt, it was hard to tell. “Do you know where we are?” Wei WuXian didn't, his brain was swimming. “This is the Burial Mounds. What do you think? How well will you fare down there? Especially without your core.”

Wei WuXian looked over and found that the Core Melter was here. He had to get away, The hands holding him weren’t really holding onto him that strongly, probably because they didn’t think he could get away. In an instant, he kicked off of the person holding him, hurling himself at the cliff edge. Without much thought, he threw himself over the edge, he wasn’t going to get away any other way, he was going over with or without a core. He figured he had a better chance with a core. He plummeted down. He felt sharp pain then nothing more.

Chapter Text

Fingers stilled on the guqin, it had been a month and not a soul had seen Wei WuXian. Lan WangJi had spent every moment he could, calling out to the spirits. A month ago, he had followed a tracking talisman, penned in Wei WuXian’s hand, and found a heavily sedated Jiang WanYin. On the other side of the mountain they had found a scuffle, no doubt where Wei Wuxian had been attacked and taken. Jiang WanYin had woken up begging Wei WuXian not to go. Which was proof for what Lan WangJi already knew, Wei WuXian had set Jiang WanYin to be saved, at the risk of his own life. His hands tightened around his robes, How could he just vanish?

A hand came to rest on his, it took every ounce of self control not to pull away, “Second Master Lan, it’s not your fault no one has seen him.”

He looked at the Young Mistress of Jiang, she was very kind if not a bit too tactile for him. Another young man’s voice came from behind him, “No, that idiot did exactly as he wanted.”

Lan WangJi couldn’t disagree with the angry young leader of YunmengJiang, but if he had gotten up earlier, somehow found them before Wei WuXian was able to knock out his own brother… Jiang WanYin had offered him a chance to return with them to Lotus Pier; he should have gone. His brother was still missing, his father was still dead, his Uncle, it had brought his Uncle some comfort to know Lan WangJi was safe. Was that comfort worth Wei WuXian’s life? Would it have even mattered if he was there during the Burning of Lotus Pier? He hadn’t made much of a difference up till now, it was foolish to think his presence in Lotus Pier would have turned the tide. 

“I won't forgive him for dying.”

“Jiang Cheng…” said Jiang YanLi as she stood, “We can’t give up hope…”

Lan WangJi gently wrapped up WangJi, and stood as he lifted the instrument onto his back, the siblings could bicker more if they wished, but Lan WangJi wanted none of it. Jiang YanLi would probably never lose hope save she saw his body or WangJi summoned his soul, and Jiang Cheng, Lan WangJi was not sure if he thought his brother was alive. They followed Lan WangJi out every night, they bickered every night, and Lan WangJi just wanted his brother and Wei WuXian. 

He had asked the spirits of his brother as well. They told him nothing about XiChen either, but his soul did not come when beckoned. The Wen’s had not boasted they had caught him or killed him, so he could only hope. He had much more hope in his brother being alive, but nothing was sure. No, there was one thing that was sure, war was brewing, reaching a fever pitch.

“WangJi.”

Lan WangJi turned, “Uncle.”

Lan QiRen stroked his beard, “I see, the spirits had no news, then?”

Lan WangJi looked to the ground, “No.”

“I see. Xichen could have beckoned the spirits not to tell his location, but…”

“It was unlikely Wei WuXian could do the same.”  

Lan WangJi’s hands gripped the thin air, “Uncle, is there such a place that spirits cannot seek out?”

“Hm. Perhaps. I’m sure there are places even the spirits would not go for fear of being trapped themselves. That being said, if the spirits fear to go there, then I do not know if the living could escape still alive.”

“Uncle.”

“WangJi, I do not know if Young Master Wei lives, but I also know he must be strong, to have lived as he did for so long. So if there is someone who could live in a place that even the spirits fear, then it is Young Master Wei. XiChen is strong as well, we can only hope they will return to us.” Lan QiRen said as he started to walk away, leaving Lan WangJi with his thoughts. 

He walked into his room. The time was approaching 9 pm, so he readied himself for bed. His mind drifted, wondering if such a place could exist. A place did come to mind, a place that spirits could not escape. The Burial Mounds. Once one entered, you never escaped, not even spirits, but if that was where Wei WuXian was, could he even be found. WangJi had been near the Burial Mounds once, the darkness and resentment there, could anyone even survive? For a month?

Lan WangJi sat on the edge of his bed, he stared at his forehead ribbon in his hand. At the Wen Discussion Conference, he had reacted badly to Wei WuXian pulling off his forehead ribbon, feeling he didn’t understand it’s meaning, but now he would have given anything to hand it to him, to ask to tie it around his wrist, to be soulmates, to be more. Cultivation Partners, yes, he would give anything to get the chance to ask Wei WuXian to be his cultivation partner.  

A drop of water was soaked into the headband, ah, he was crying. Wei WuXian had told him it was ok to cry in the cave because it wasn’t Cloud Recesses, but what made Cloud Recesses so damn special? Why should he cut off all emotion, even in the JingShi which was his home? He laid down and curled around the ribbon, till he fell asleep.

There was a knock at his door. It was not yet 5 am. He sat up, blinking his eyes; they were blurry and still filled with unshed tears. He rubbed them away as another knock came to his door, “Second Young Master, this one is sorry to disturb you so late, but we thought it appropriate to wake you.”

Lan WangJi smoothed down his hair and tied his ribbon around his head and threw on his outer robes before opening the door. The disciple outside must have been on night watch, and that set him on edge, had the Wens been spotted in Gusu? Was war coming to his doorstep? He glared at the young disciple hoping they would speak.

“This one is sorry… b-but First Young Master Lan, he has returned to Cloud Recesses…”

Lan WangJi’s heart skipped a beat, “Where?”

“At the front gate, this one thinks The First Young Master was being taken to his room.”

Lan WangJi wasn’t sure if he thanked the night watch disciple or if he had just pushed past him as he walked as fast as he could justify not running. He came to his brother’s door, he heard his brother’s hushed voice. He knocked at the door, “Enter.”

Lan WangJi opened the door and there sat his brother, “Brother…”

“WangJi, I’ve missed you. I’m sorry it took me so long to make it back.”

Lan WangJi felt tears bite at his eyes all over again. He stumbled into the room, kneeling in front of his brother as if he was a figment of his imagination. After a long moment, he hugged his brother, “Welcome back.”

“I’m back, WangJi. I’m sorry to worry you so.” Lan XiChen said, rubbing his brother's back, “How long has it been since you clung to me?”

Lan WangJi didn’t know and he didn’t care. He didn’t want to let go, but he slowly pulled away, noticing there was in fact another person in the room. He glared at the intruder, unsure of this person. He immediately didn’t care much for him, he could not say why, but before he could wonder about it longer a voice interrupted his thoughts, “XiChen.”

“Uncle,” both brothers greeted, and the intruder also saluted to their uncle. Lan QiRen’s eyes narrowed on the other in the room.

“Uncle, this is Meng Yao. He helped me while I was on the road.”

“Hm,” Lan Qiren stroked his beard, “I see. Then he is welcome. I will have a room prepared for his use…” a small smile crossed his face, “I am grateful that you are ok, XiChen.” He gave him a quick hug before going on his way.

Lan WangJi sat quite for a while longer, “I will take my leave, brother. I am sure you are tired.”

“Yes, good night, WangJi. It is good to see you again.”

Lan WangJi nodded, standing. He walked slowly back to his room, exhaustion slipping into his bones. Hope was also sneaking in, XiChen had returned so, could Wei WuXian still be alive somewhere? He looked up at the stars, and he hopped.

Chapter Text

Lan WangJi left Cloud Recesses not long after his brother’s return. The young man whom Lan XiChen had returned with, Meng Yao, had filled the spot that Lan WangJi once held at his brother’s side. He had been so worried about his brother yet it seemed he had no place with him any longer. It brought thoughts he rather not deal with, and so, he went to QingheNie, Nie MingJue was leading a force to take on QishanWen. He did not know if he wished to fight, but was clear to him, he would not find Wei WuXian from the confines of Cloud Reccesses.

As he packed to leave his Uncle came to him, “WangJi.”

Lan WangJi bowed to him, “Uncle.”

“So you plan to go looking for Young Master Wei?” he asked, coming to sit at the low table. Lan WangJi only started to brew tea for them, his silence was all Lan QiRen needed. “I will not stop you, WangJi. I already know you only returned as you did to deliver the Young Master and Mistress Jiang. Also for my sake, as XiChen was still missing.”

Lan WangJi sat down across from his uncle, after he had poured tea for both of them. He did not speak. “WangJi, you need not explain yourself to me, nor anyone else. It is true that I'd wish you would stay far from the front line, but there is nothing I can do or say that would keep you here. I will not hold you by force. I have long learned that is a mistake.”

Lan WangJi’s eyes widened, he had thought his uncle would oppose him leaving the safety of Cloud Recesses. He guessed that technically he did oppose him leaving, but he offered no reasons to convince him not to leave. “Uncle…”

Lan QiRen raised his hand to stop him, “WangJi, I have done you so many wrongs. No, it was not just you, your brother, your mother, your father, my brother… If I could go back in time, change things, I’m not sure what I would do, but impressing your mother and father, was it really the right thing? Keeping you from them, I now know, certainly wasn't. You were hurt by her passing.” Lan QiRen took a hair pin from his sleeve, “This belonged to your mother. XiChen has already received your father’s guan, as the next leader of Cloud Recesses. I thought this appropriate to pass to you now.”

Lan WangJi took the hairpin into his hand. It was a simple hairpin with worked metal in the shape of gentians. If he reached back into the very edges of his memory, he could remember his mother and by extension, this hair pin. His heart turned painfully as he held this. “Thank you, Uncle.”

“Hm, do be careful, WangJi. I hope our next meeting will be much warmer and not somber, if we are lucky, another will be at your side then,” Lan QiRen finished his tea and left. Lan WangJi left when morning came. He knew him and Jiang WanYin would without a doubt end up in the same place, he left without telling the Jiang Siblings.

He traveled by sword by day and called for Wei WuXian’s soul by night. So many souls flocked to Lan WangJi, each longing for something so that their soul could move on. He wished he had the time to grant them all, but that wasn’t possible, there was always another soul who wanted something and if he took time to grant them all, he would never make it to Qinghe. He would have to spend more time with the spirits and help them move on once all was done.

As he neared Qinghe, he could tell war had been waged here. The small villages and camps that were in shambles or even worse raised to the ground. Lan WangJi stopped at every one he could to play “Rest” for the souls of those who had died. Lan WangJi wondered what was this all for? What was right and what was wrong? Was he really better, he would take lives just as well? Did he have any choice?

When he arrived in Qinghe, he was greeted by a young Nie disciple, “Second Young Master Lan,” he said with a bow, “Master Lan sent word that you would be arriving here in Qinghe. Master Nie is away at the front lines, but Young Master Nie is here.”

“Hm,” he said softly as he followed the young disciple into the Unclean Realm. To his memory he had never been here, not even when his brother was visiting Nie MingJue. It was simple in a way but also different, though Lan WangJi could not tell how. He met Nie HuaiSang in the main meeting area of the Unclean Realm. 

“Lan WangJi,” he said softly from behind his fan before bowing to greet him. Lan WangJi followed suit. A glimmer crossed Nie HuaiSang’s eyes, “Welcome to the Unclean Realm, you must be tired after your trip.” Without giving him time to answer he started to lead him off, “Come I’ll take you to your room.” Just outside the main room Nie Huaisang deflated a bit. He really wasn’t meant for this, why had his brother left him in charge. 

They walked along the halls to what WangJi assumed were the guest quarters. Nie HuaiSang stopped short in the empty halls, “So, is it true you found Jiang Cheng, but not Wei WuXian?” Lan WangJi nodded with a hmm. “I see. So I guess you will also head to the front lines?”  Again Lan WangJi nodded and Nie Huaisang nodded back. “I don’t know, I really don’t know, is this going to be worth it in the end?”

Lan WangJi couldn’t say himself. Nie HuaiSang spoke again, “When Lan QiRen sent word that Lan XiChen had returned, he also said that he was sure you would head here.” After a pause he continued, “Anyhow I should let you rest, I’m sure you will be leaving as soon as the morning comes. I will have some food brought.” He had started to walk away and Lan WangJi had started to enter the room, “Hey, Lan WangJi, can I ask you a favor? Can you watch my brother’s back for me? I know, I am asking a lot, but I can’t do it… We both know I can’t weld a saber.”

“Nie HuaiSang.”

“Hm?”

“I will do what I can.”

Nie HuaiSang smiled softly without turning to face Lan WangJi, “Thank you.” He walked away leaving Lan WangJi to have his meal and prepare for bed. As he laid down to sleep, he thought he heard Wei WuXian’s soft giggle. He sat up and looked around the room. He was the only living person in the room. He wondered if he would ever hear that soft bell-like sound from Wei WuXian’s lips.

Chapter Text

When the morning came, Lan WangJi woke up with it. He prepared for the day making the bed, then he changed into his clothes. Tying his forehead ribbon in place, he laid out WangJi, knowing it would be a while longer before anyone from Unclean Realm would wake. He did not try to call for souls using “Inquiry”. Instead he played the gentle sound of “WangXian”.

It was a few hours before anyone came to bring him his morning meal. When he greeted the young disciple smiled, “Second Young Master Lan, I brought you your meal. Second Young Master Nie hopes you will enjoy your meal.” Lan WangJi received his food, but the disciple stood there a bit longer. “If this one can say, the piece that Second Young Master Lan was playing was truly beautiful.” Lan WangJi’s face soured some, the disciple gulped, “I’m sorry whatever this one said, I’m sorry.” he bowed then scampered off.

Lan WangJi sat down eating the food. It was very much like food in Cloud Recesses. Lan WangJi stared at it, his brother did come to see Nie MingJue. Did he make accommodation for his brother? They were sworn brothers, so maybe so. Did Nie HuaiSang have it prepared for him, or did the cook just know? He wasn’t sure, he wasn’t sure of much of anything anymore. So he ate, he didn’t want to think too much. When his did his thoughts always ended up spiraling around.

Once he was done, he made sure the room was speckles and started to leave. He came across Nie HuaiSang as he neared the edge of the Unclean Realm. He flicked his fan open, “Leaving already?”

“Hm.”

“You weren’t even going to say goodbye? How rude,” Nie HuaiSang pouted. “Though I guess it's not a surprise. At first I thought you hated Wei WuXian, but it’s not like that is it?” Lan WangJi narrowed his eyes on him, Nie HuaiSang continued, “If you're going to stand at his side, if you want him to understand your intent, you will have to tell him with every part of your being. I’ve known Wei WuXian for a long time. My brother shipped me off to Lotus Pier a few times in the hope I’d train with them. It didn’t work… But that’s not the point, I learned something from spending time with him, he doesn’t think he is worthy of being loved. He definitely cares for you Lan WangJi, but you will have to convince him of his own worth.”

Lan WangJi’s eyes widened, “Do you…?”

“Do I what?” Nie HuaiSang smiled and giggled, “Do I love him? No, not at all in the way you do. I just can see how I could have been like him, had my brother been more cruel to me, or actually taken my art supplies and the things I made. I was lucky though Brother still hounds me, but it’s because he cares, he wants me to be successful by his standards, but he still sees value in the things I like even though he doesn’t quite get it. I hoped being around Lan XiChen might help him understand, and it did to some extent… but now I’m rambling.” He started to walk back to the Unclean Realm, “We both have places to be, right?”

Lan WangJi mounted his sword and left the Unclean Realms Compound behind. On the edge of QingheNie, he came to the camp. People were scurrying to and fro, and it was not hard to find Nie MingJue. “Lan WangJi, Welcome! What has brought you all the way out here to the front lines?”

Lan WangJi was quiet for a moment, “I have something I need to find.”

“Oh, is that so?” he asked. “What could you be hoping to find out here on the front lines? Pride? Glory? Fame?” Lan WangJi didn’t reply to the Master of QingheNie, who in turn only sighed. “You don’t have to tell me, as long as it doesn't get in the way, then who am I to question you.”

Lan WangJi nodded, he wouldn’t know how to answer him anyhow. He didn’t know if he could flat out say he was looking for Wei WuXian. Nie MingJue watched Lan WangJi for a moment longer, before he spoke again, “You studied talismans.”

“Hm.”

Nie MingJue beckoned Lan WangJi to him, “What do you make of this?”

Lan WangJi received the talisman from Nie MingJue and his heart skipped a beat. The talisman made no sense to him, the strokes all wrong and it was drenched in resentful energy. Those things though meant very little as he stared at the hand writing. He recognized it, he used to watch the owner copy rule upon rule, in the Library Pavilion of Cloud Recesses, what seems like so long ago. “Where... was this found?”

Nie MingJue crossed his arms, “They have been found in destroyed Wen-Dog camps.”

“Wen Camps?”

“Yes, whoever is using those talismans has been picking them off one by one. The place is decimated.”

Lan WangJi looked up desperately, “I need to go there.”

“Oh? Do you recognize that talisman?” 

Lan WangJi shook his head, “No, but seeing where it comes from could help me understand what it does.”

Nie MingJue nodded, “Hm, yes, that does make sense. I can have some people accompany you to one of the ruined camps.” He said before calling more people over and giving them orders. Lan WangJi felt swept along by hope rising in his heart, but he dared not speak his thoughts aloud, as he was led to the camp.

As Nie MingJue said, it was raised to the ground. Everything was burned out, but there weren't any corpses around. When he inquired about this, the disciples said there weren’t any found. He wandered around the camp and the strange talismans were plastered everywhere. The more he looked at them, the more he came to think they might have been drawn in blood instead of cinnabar. Why would anyone use blood? Why would he use his own blood? Where was he hiding? Why didn’t he just come home?

“Second Master Lan?”

“Hm?”

“Well, this one was just worrying as you were just staring off into space for a very long time.”

“Hm,” he said softly, walking away from the ruins. He needed to get back. The one he was looking for was not here, so the only hope he had was to be at the place he would next strike, for that, he needed to see maps of the locations of previous attacks, find a pattern, hopefully find Wei WuXian.

Chapter Text

Lan WangJi poured over the maps of destroyed Wen Camps. Lan WangJi had yet to see a pattern to which camp would be hit next. Every few nights, a new camp would be attacked, never leaving a body or anyone alive, and plastering the compounds with talismans. Many of the people in the camp celebrated their destruction, but Lan WangJi could not relate. 

“Lan WangJi!”

Lan WangJi looked up from his work to see his next problem, dressed in purple, standing in the door. He tried to return to his work, hoping against what he knew, he might just go away. “Lan WangJi, how dare you leave me in Cloud Recesses!”

“I owe you nothing,” he said, not even looking up.

Jiang Cheng fumed, since he had been found, his anger seemed to grow everyday. Lan WangJi figured he felt he had failed, and it frustrated him, but there was more to it than just that. He had lost his whole clan, his parents were dead, and his brother was missing. Lan WangJi remembered when his father died, and his brother was missing. 

Jiang Cheng slammed his hand down over the documents, “Listen to me!”

Lan WangJi reached into his lapels and withdrew the talisman. He held it out to Jiang Cheng. “What’s this?!” Lan WangJi only looked back to his work. Jiang Cheng stared at it, after a few moments more, “This is Wei WuXian’s handwriting!”

“Hm.”

“Where did you get it?” Jiang Cheng asked.

Lan WangJi looked up, “They were found in the destroyed Wen Camp.”

“Wei WuXian is destroying Wen Camps?” Jiang Cheng asked, his voice dying off.

Lan WangJi looked away, with a grimace he nodded, “That’s all I can figure as well.”

“No that… that can’t be right?”

Lan WangJi looked at the maps, “These are the places that have been destroyed, if we can figure out where he’s going…”

“Wen Chao, where is he? I’m sure that’s who he will be looking for. After all that is who raised Lotus Pier.” 

Lan WangJi nodded, he had thought of that, but he wasn’t sure himself where Wen Chao might be. Even as he poured over the maps, he hadn’t gleaned anything from them. Jiang Cheng had also fallen deep into maps. “He’s bouncing around a lot, but mostly in the same area… Wen Chao must be in this area…” Jiang Cheng looked around, “There,” he said softly. “Wen Chao is there.”

Lan WangJi looked at him, eyes narrowing. Jiang Cheng crossed his arms, “If I was playing cat and mouse, I’d want him to know that I know where he is. It might look random, but he's getting closer and closer to this spot. I’d say that will strike soon. He has a lot of patience, but he only has so much.”

Lan WangJi looked at him shocked, “How do you figure?”

Jiang Cheng smiled bitterly, “Because when we played hide and seek as children he would look under bushes and in trees spiraling closer and closer to us. There was no doubt he knew where we were, but whether it was to tease us or to draw out the game, this is what he did.”

Lan WangJi thought about it, it did make sense. Wei WuXian did like to tease, but would he really tease like this? Making people fear for their lives? He couldn't know what had happened in the time he had been gone? Lan WangJi could only hope he would confide in him when he found him. He stood, if that was really where he would appear next he needed to head there.

“Hey! Wait, I’m going with you!” Jiang Cheng called after him, running to catch up. Lan WangJi sighed. “Don’t sigh at me! You would still be pouring over the maps without me.” 

Lang WangJi sighed again, this was true though, “Hm.” They were like oil and water, but even water and oil could be made to mix. Their love for Wei WuXian was just the right emulsifier. They both mounted their swords and flew close to the compound that Jiang Cheng had theorized he could come to next. They flew low to the ground and under the cover of trees. It would all be for naught if they were spotted and captured.

When they arrived, night was just starting to fall, based on the number of people outside guarding the compound it was indeed true someone of importance was residing here. Neither of them spoke to one another. Then just as the sun fell beyond the clouds, a note pierced their ears. The ground seemed to shake as the long forgotten dead rose from the ground.

Chapter Text

Jiang Cheng looked at Lan WangJi, who was also looking at him, “What is this?”

Lan WangJi shook his head, to raise this many dead was unthinkable. The air was thick with resentful energy and piercing music carried over the groans of the dead. “Jiang WanYin, can Wei WuXian play dizi?”

Jiang Cheng’s breath hitched, “Yes, though he never plays in front of others… I’ve only heard him play through the walls. You don’t think…?”

Lan WangJi shook his head, he could not be sure who had raised the dead, but also who else could it be? Someone had taken down numerous Wen camps, and it seemed the answer to how was now becoming clear, but that only gave way to the why. Why was Wei WuXian using fierce corpses? 

The fierce corpses seemed to pay them no mind as they ran alongside them. They seemed to only be interested in those dressed in the Wen Sect colors. Inside the compound there was desolation unlike what Lan WangJi and Jiang Cheng could imagine. The corpses were tearing apart Wen cultivators, devouring them. The screams of panicked people overlapped with the moans of the dead and they couldn’t help stare.

The dizi music had stopped, then soon after was a cry that pierced the air, “SPARE ME! I’M SORRY… STOP…”

Both looked at each other, then took off towards the cries. They threw open the door and from where the screaming was. A man was practically trying to climb the wall to get away from the young man crouched over him. The young man’s hair was a ratty mess and his robes were torn and filth covered to a point it was hard to tell he was wearing YummengJiang robes. Lan WangJi took a step forward, “Wei Ying…”

Hearing his name the young man turned, it was indeed Wei WuXian, but at the same time not. His eyes met Lan WangJi’s, they were blown wide and soulless, his cheeks were hollow like it had been a long time since he ate. He seemed uninterested in the newcomers, starting to turn away back to whatever he was doing to Wen Chao. Wen Chao, “WEN ZHULIU! KILL THEM!”

Lan WangJi and Jiang Cheng heard footsteps behind them. Both Immediately retreated farther into the room, seeing it was Wen ZhuLiu. Wei WuXian played a piercing tone and Wen ZhuLiu was struck by a female ghost with long red nails from behind. In the moment that he was distracted, Jiang Cheng used ZiDian to wrap around The Core Melter’s neck and pulled. The smell of burnt flesh wafted into the air, and a sickening crack followed as the Core Melter fell to the ground twitching.

Wei WuXian laughed as he returned to what he was doing, Lan WangJi saw something shine in the lifted hand. Lan WangJi rushed forward and grabbed his wrist, “Wei Ying, stop.” His voice was gentle, hoping to free him of the trance he seemed to be in. Wei WuXian screamed trying to pull away as resentful energy poured off his body. Wen Chao ran, but Jiang Cheng easily took him down, before trying to calm down his brother.

Lan WangJi had made Wei WuXian drop the piece of glass he had as a weapon and let him go. Jiang Cheng tried to get closer to him, but he only backed away, fear and anger written on his face, much like a cornered animal ready to pounce. Lan WangJi lowered himself, “Wei Ying.” Once Wei WuXian focused on him, Lan WangJi’s long fingers moved. “You and I are friends.”

Wei WuXian shook his head, “No!”

“Yes.” Lan WangJi signed to him. He wanted to answer the question Wei WuXian had asked him before he had left Gusu. He could help but think if he could have answered it then, maybe things wouldn’t be as they were. QishanWen would have still attacked, but maybe he couldn’t be trying to convince Wei WuXian not to torture someone, even if they had deserved it.

Jiang Cheng joined him, speaking out what he said as he signed, “Come home, we can figure out everything else then.” Wei WuXian seemed unconvinced. “Wei Ying, A-Jie is waiting to see you.” 

Wei WuXian made a strangled sound as large tears rolled down his face, which were made even more apparent by the streaks left on his dirty face. He slid down the wall and landed harshly on his bottom. Lan WangJi was at his side in an instant, and up close he could see the deep exhaustion in Wei WuXian. Before he could really examine him farther, Wei WuXian latched onto him burying his face in Lan WangJi’s chest. He was caught off guard, but slowly came to wrap his arms around the fragile form. 

Jiang Cheng came over as well, kneeling down he carded though the tangles of hair on his brother’s head, “You’re safe now.” The noise outside had died down, and with a peak outside revealed not a body left. It seemed the dead had buried themselves. “Let’s go before the Wen-dogs get reinforcements here.” He looked down at his brother, he was probably not in the headspace to fly, he also seemed firmly affixed to Lan WangJi. “Lan WangJi, can you fly with him?”

“Hm,” he said slowly and carefully, standing so as not to startle Wei WuXian. He started to pull away as if to say he could walk, but Lan WangJi only drew him closer to him, “It’s ok, Wei Ying. Rest.” Wei WuXian had not been carried so lovingly and carefully in his recent memory, he heard the soft beating of Lan WangJi’s heart, he tried not to think about the fact they were soon in the air. The anxiety building, he was sure if he had anything on his stomach he would have vomited. 

They were soon back at the camp, they took him to the medical tent. One of the doctors quickly came over to check on him. It took a good long minute to get Wei WuXian untangled from Lan WangJi. The young doctor was gentle and did not push Wei WuXian. Wei WuXian had several bruises and cuts. His core also seemed to be very weak and almost non-existent, but she decided that it was likely from the resentful energy and exhaustion. She would monitor it along with the rest of his wounds. 

Lan WangJi and Jiang Cheng prepared a bath for him. Once he was clean, they got him a bowl of congee and brushed through the tangled hair. Luckily it was not as bad as they had feared. Wei WuXian did not eat much, but a lot had happened so they called it a win. Lan WangJi had found a few nice blankets and he suspected that they were probably misplaced from a higher officers tent, but they were in the general claim so… Well, what they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them and would keep Wei WuXian warm. Wei WuXian was drifting before he had even been situated on the palette. Wei WuXian signed to them, “Thank you.” Jiang Cheng humfed, waving his hand, but Lan WangJi smiled and signed back, “You’re welcome.”

Chapter Text

Over the next day, Lan WangJi stayed at his side as he rested. He played “Cleansing” and “Clarity” as Wei WuXian reasted. His rest, Lan WangJi suspected, was not entirely restful. The sounds of soldiers coming and going roused him from his light sleep. Jiang YanLi would soothe her brother back to sleep anytime he woke. She had been shocked to see her brother in such a shape, he had always been easy to arouse at the sign of any danger, but now his fight or flight was working overtime.

Lan WangJi decided to hang silencing around the room to help keep outside noise, just that, outside. He gently felt along his meridians and lower dantian, despite his playing and Wei WuXian resting, they were stagnant. He replaced Wei WuXian’s arm under the blanket. He then smoothed down WeiWuXian’s hair.

“Still no better?” 

Lan WangJi looked up to see Jiang YanLi looking back at him. She had just come back for the medical units. She had become skilled in basic first aid, and had been a great help there. Lan WangJi shook his head. Jiang YanLi looked over at her brother, she wished she could do more, but matters such as this were beyond what she had skills to manage. ”Lan Er-Gongzi, do you think healers in Cloud Recesses would have skills in this area?”

Lan WangJi stared at Wei WuXian, would they be more able to care for him in Cloud Recesses? He couldn't really be sure, but also being here wasn’t doing him any good. Nothing they had tried there had made little difference. At the very least, it would be farther away from the fighting. “Hm, perhaps.”

Jiang YanLi nodded, “I see. I will go talk to A-Cheng.”

Lan WangJi nodded, left alone with Wei WuXian, he sat at his side. His thoughts wondered, what had happened in the time Wei WuXian was missing? His core was definitely there, but it felt so flimsy, like it wasn’t pulling together. Driving away the resentful energy was proving difficult as well, he didn’t want to push any harder with Wei WuXian in this condition. “Wei Ying.”  

“Lan WangJi,” said a gruff and tired voice.

“Jiang WanYin.”

Jiang Cheng stood with his arms crossed. Lan WangJi wasn’t surprised, Wei WuXian was his little brother, and they had just got him back. Jiang YanLi had suggested taking him back to Gusu and Jiang Cheng could not come with. Though Jiang Cheng’s face softened seeing his brother. “Do you really think they could help him in Gusu?”

Lan WangJi met his gaze, “Chances are better. We aren’t making noticeable progress here. Moving him will introduce stress, but Wei WuXian is unwell in a way that normal medic would not be trained in, specialists in Gusu may have more luck, he is also familiar with them.”

Jiang Cheng nodded, short and curt. “He did get along with them…” He recalled their time in Cloud Recess, yes he did like the doctors and healers. He was always tuned into the world around him. It made since, a place that Wei WuXian felt safe would help him relax, and by extension heal. 

Jiang Cheng clicked his tongue, but Lan WangJi let it slide, his choice held his brother’s life in the balance. He remembered the time his brother was missing, the frustration and desperation he felt. Jiang Cheng let his hands fall to his sides as he walked to his brother’s side. He took a long look at him, he touched his brother’s cheek. He had to take the chance, because Lan WangJi was right, if Wei WuXian stayed here he would waste away. He touched his forehead to his brother’s, “A-Xian, please, just get better.” After a moment, he turned to Lan WangJi, “I’m interesting my brother to you, Lan WangJi. Please take care of him.”

“Hm,” he said with a slight bow. He stood getting things together, he wanted to leave as soon as possible. Lan WangJi thought he heard Jiang Cheng mutter out a thank you. Jiang Cheng was needed here as a sect leader, and he had entrusted him one of his only family members left. Lan WangJi couldn’t afford to fail not only because of his love and care for Wei WuXian, but for the love and care of his family who could not be at his side.