Work Text:
Nie Mingjue remembers why he nearly never goes to sect events. They’re flashy, ornate and expect him to be social . But, he joined this one time, for his sworn brothers, for Jiang Wanyin. He’d been dragged to the Lotus Pier to attend a sect banquet by Meng Yao. He’d been made to sit at a low table with the other three men by Meng Yao. Hell, when the Jin leader poured them wine, they drank. The banquet is still busy, high level sect members walking around and chatting with one another while they politely ignore the four sect leaders sitting together and murmuring to one another.
“Sect leader Jin.” a rough voice breaks their peace. Mingjue only barely glances up to stare at the somewhat ornate boots stopping near him.
“Hello, Sect leader Nai.” the smallest brother says, all pleasant smiles and fluttering lashes. Don’t do that Nie Mingjue chokes down the urge to bark orders at him, he doesn’t deserve it . “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Can we speak in private? There was a matter that I forgot to resolve during our last meeting that I believe will change the terms of our agreement.” No . Mingjue almost grabs the Nai man when his eyes draw up to the troubled expression on his face. Almost. He has slightly more restraint than that. Don’t go .
“Oh, of course. Do you all mind? I will return shortly.” Jin Guangyao rises and straightens his robes, ignoring the looks his sworn brothers and Jiang Wanyin share.
“..... Hurry back.” the Yunmeng leader sighs. Mingjue has enough restraint left to stay quiet until the two diplomats leave, mask breaking into a sneer immediately. “....Didn’t even wait until A-Yao was even slightly drunk. What a bastard, I hope he cuts him with the sharp side of his tongue.”
“I do not envy him.” Lan Xichen nods, wringing his hands.
“Meng Yao scolded me before about doing business during parties.” Nie Mingjue snorts bitterly; “Looks like we’ll have to scold him when he gets back.”
“Play nice, please.” Xichen says with a soft sigh; “A-Yao has more to worry about than we do when it comes to diplomatic matters. He’s blossomed into quite the leader…”
“Mn. Certainly still throws a hell of a party though.” the Nie leader agrees with a nod. Plenty of meetings back when Meng Yao was still Meng Yao were turned into banquets. It saved him plenty of headaches. They fall back into the lull of familiar conversation, everything under the sun that wasn’t sect business. They’re foolish enough to let themselves relax, really. Mingjue should know better. He is reminded that their smallest brother still is not back when the slightest whiff of spiritual energy touches his core, straining his body as he tenses and snaps his head up.
It is a distant thing, whispy and barely there, and it puts the warrior ill at ease. His brothers too, it seems. Wanyin’s shoulders draw up tight and Xichen’s hands pause as they hold his teacup to his lips. It is so distant and small that the fact that they even noticed it is…. Disconcerting. They’re sharp and perceptive, but dulled by the buzz of alcohol, they all still noticed it. Just as the Nie sect leader is about to mention it, the moment he opens his mouth, it snuffs out, like a candle being pinched. Wanyin is already on his feet, chasing the whiff of leftover ‘smoke’ the spark leaves, already at the door to the hall when Mingjue and Xichen are getting up. They’re a flurry down the hall, following the ghost of a sensation. People rush out of their way, especially as Zidian traces purple sparks up Wanyin’s hand.
For a man his stature and thin muscular build, Jiang Cheng kicks the door at the end of the hall open with ease. How could I forget how strong he is? He idly wonders as the door creaks dangerously, threatening to come entirely off the wall. That’s not important though, no, not as important as the way the Nai sect leader drops Meng Yao to the floor from the grip on his neck. Not as important as the instantaneous roar of Zidian as the rat turns to run, the scream as the whip slices through his back and causes his muscles to seize. Meng Yao, seeming smaller than ever, drags himself away from the taller man. He prefers his left side as he moves, blood drips from his head as he cradles his mangled right hand to his chest protectively.
If Mingjue and Xichen weren’t so familiar with one another, they would have crashed into each other in their rush to their youngest brother. A flurry of white robes blocks Meng Yao’s view of the rest of the room (though nothing could block out the distinct cracks of a whip and Jiang Cheng’s yelling). With as much care as he can muster, Mingjue lifts the smaller man into his arms, ignoring the choked off whimper that leaves the other’s mouth. This… This is bad. This isn’t like Meng Yao. He may not be strong but Meng Yao is smart, agile, and always armed. How could this have happened?... He’s too soft his mind tries to tell him through the fog of panic, he’s not the same as before .
“The garden…” Xichen’s voice is calm despite everything. The garden…. The Jin healer! Meng Yao brings him everywhere! Mingjue rises too fast, too sharply for the man he’s holding, who coughs and grimaces at the motion. “Don’t worry, A-Yao, you’ll be okay. Everything will be okay.” Such promises would make Mingjue feel bitter, but coming from Xichen’s mouth, they feel more like predictions than promises, guarantees instead of reassurances. Wanyin stares at them for a moment, hand clutching his whip tightly before he turns and barks out “ Detain very single Nai sect member this INSTANT, shut down the fucking hall!!! ” With a voice like clapping thunder. The party in the main hall quiets near instantly and a nervous energy tints the air.
It’s almost a shame he won’t be there to see the aftermath, that Mingjue won’t be there to handle these bastards himself. Instead, he falls in step behind his second brother, long strides matching up easily as they duck out of the sect hall. Xichen should have taken Meng Yao, his robes would hide his state better. He pointedly ignores the stares from outsiders, instead paying attention to the way the Jin man attempts to curl into himself, though he never can. Every flinch or stretch causes the younger man’s back to seize in pain before tensing more .
Wanyin’s sanctuary, the tiny garden outside his home, is usually off limits, but no one is there to stop them from jumping the fence (though Meng Yao’s state makes him hesitate). Normally an intruder in the gardens would bother him, but the flash of soft golden yellow among the greenery soothes him slightly. He’s not supposed to be here . Wanyin will scold him later.
“Jin Yongliang!” Xichen calls with all the familiarity in the world, as he is wont to do, making the healer look up at them. The briefest moment of shock passes the healer’s face before it levels out into professional concern as he rises to his feet, brushing off his robes. “A-Yao is hurt! You must help him!”
“Yes, I will… I can’t leave you all alone for a moment, can I?” the teasing clearly misses its mark, but neither of them care to raise a fuss right now; “Inside, lay him in sect leader Jiang’s bed.” That’s… improper , Mingjue thinks as he kicks the door open anyways. Gentle jade hands draw the bed curtain back for him to lay the smaller man down.
“Da-ge….” Meng Yao’s voice is hoarse, bruises blooming across his neck.
“Hush.” Mingjue can’t bring himself to raise his voice, not right now. Not as Yongliang lays out his tools on the nearby table and approaches the bed with that chilling professionalism that has always raised the hairs on the warrior’s neck. He barely registers the frantic tone of Xichen’s voice as he recounts what they saw, barely registers the way Yongliang looks only at Meng Yao on the bed. He’s only dragged out of it when Xichen clutches his arm and pulls him away so their bulky frames do not block the bed. For all the gore and viscera Mingjue has seen, for all the wounds he’s had patched, he tries his hardest not to watch the healer’s actions.
The soft wisp of snuffed out spiritual energy rises from their youngest like a snuffed out candle, the gentle flicker of his spiritual energy completely gone. Compared to his own roaring fire and Xichen’s cool breeze core, Meng Yao’s has always been weaker, more fragile. But to be able to completely wipe it out… He suppresses a shiver and puts his hand over his brother’s. Everything will be okay. Yongliang has dealt with worse, right? He was around for the sunshot campaign, he’s definitely handled worse…
“I apologize for dirtying your bed, sect leader Jiang.” Jin Yongliang apologizes as A-Cheng approaches the bed. Xichen watches them both for a moment before his gaze is drawn across the bed to where Mingjue sits on the other side. Wasn’t today supposed to be a fun occasion? A-Yao’s parties are always so nice...How could this happen… He clutches his hands in his sleeves and takes a single deep breath.
“It’s…. It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” A-Cheng shakes his head and gazes over at the bed.
“Don’t let him use his hand.” the healer warns with a scolding tone; “It will pinch the nerve and damage how his hand rests naturally.”
“Right… We, we will keep an eye on him.” A-Cheng’s voice wavers, threatening to crack. They’d already spent the entire night apart, an entire sleepless, restless night away from A-Yao. The healer had kept an eye on their youngest the entire night and monitored him, only letting them in late into the morning. Honestly, the Lan man wasn’t sure if Yongliang is a heavenly gift or an absolute demon for it. At least A-Yao is wearing clean robes and is resting well. That much he can be thankful for.
Most of their time is them sitting quietly. Luckily for Xichen, he’s good at sitting still and being silent. Da-ge however…. He tried to meditate, though that fell through. He tried pacing, but there’s only so much room considering Jiang Cheng is already pacing about. By noon, the three of them end up perched on the edges of the bed, simply waiting. The restlessness has settled into their bones, even Xichen can feel it rattling his heart around anxiously. They can’t make conversation, it would potentially disturb their brother. They can’t leave , what if A-Yao wakes up?
Just as da-ge seems to consider stepping out, the youngest’s eyelashes flutter before his eyes draw open slowly. It only takes a glance for Xichen to know A-Yao is only barely awake. His eyes are foggy with sleep, pain, and medication, they do not sharpen even as he wakes up more fully. No relief nor recognition flashes across the tiny man’s face as he gazes blankly at them. An undignified squeak leaves the youngest’s lips when he opens them to speak. The dark bruises across the fragile skin of his neck are stark against his pale skin. The Jiang leader rises from the bed and crosses the room to pour their nearly empty jug of water. It’s likely room temperature now, but A-Yao doesn’t seem to care when Jiang Cheng returns and helps him drink. For such a fierce man, A-Cheng is so gentle….
A pale hand wrapped tightly in bandages reaches out towards them, patting around before it finds Xichen’s knee. A-Yao can’t see very well … The familiar feeling of cool silk must register to their youngest, since he lets his hand rest fully on Xichen’s knee. The second noise A-Yao makes is a pained - but slightly less embarrassing - squeak.
“Shh, it’s okay. We’re all here.” Xichen speaks first. He’s the calmest out of all of them (he thinks). His voice a gentle stream, the cool rain. It does not falter not break. He does not falter nor break. One of them has to be strong, and he has already bore the burden of being his brother’s strength. If A-Yao tries to get up and do something reckless, though, I may grow angry…
“Sorry…” Once A-Yao’s throat works and is clear of blood of phlegm, he speaks in such a soft voice to them, a pitiful whisper.
“It’s not your fault. Not this time at least.” Mingjue’s lack of tact is excusable right now, especially considering the fact that A-Yao will likely not remember this. He’s going to be all poison and fangs when he wakes up fully… A-Yao is going to be so angry with himself when he’s fully back to himself, he knows. Xichen can only hope that they are still around to bear that burden for him.
It’s a reason for them to visit though, a reason for the brothers to stay longer at the Koi tower. With his low cultivation, A-Yao’s hand will take months to heal, he will have to have an assistant for quite a while. His ribs only a few weeks to a month. The gash on his head (over his scar) can be healed easily with spiritual energy. The Lan knows their youngest brother though. None of this will stop him. Even after his fever, even after his heart has softened, he is still so industrious.
Life here is strange, Jin Guangyao thinks. Xianxia China is dangerous, hostile, and beautiful. The Koi tower is more of a nest of vipers than any zombie infested cave ever could be. He’s lucky he’s always been such a keen diplomat and advisor in his own world. He’s lucky he had the excuse of a lingering fever to allow him to learn everything he needed to know. He’s lucky he humored Lan Xichen and read those dumb xianxia novels he loves so much. No amount of reading could have prepared him for the clothes though. There are so many styles of robes! So many, in fact, that every sect leader wore something completely different from the others! His own wardrobe was vast in style but lacking in color. Whoever that Jin Guangyao was, this Jin Guangyao is thankful, since it means he can wear whatever he wants most days (so long as he wears the proper amount of layers).
Some differences are more poignant than others. This Huan is… harder than his own. A kind and sweet man cut against the rough edges of life into something more protective and wary (though still kind in his own right). Paler, more muscular, taller, and most importantly, dressed in flowing white mourning robes. He’s just like a character his own Huan would make for D&D. Ethereal in his beauty and fierce in his strength, this Lan Huan is powerful, important, and expected to be perfect. As such, he excuses the doting behavior. It’s how er-ge relaxes. He dotes and fusses and shows all his affection through simple notions.
This Nie Mingjue is… almost the same as the one at home. Rough, protective, commanding and downright rude. That seems to be the core of the warrior’s being. This Nie Mingjue is taller though, broader but also more lean. He doesn’t have any of the fat over his muscle that his da-ge has. He can’t imagine cuddling this one, it would be like cuddling a stone wall! Not that this Mingjue would allow it… Probably.
He hadn’t known Jiang Wanyin in his own world, only vaguely aware of him in the peripheral of their little group. This Wanyin is terrifying, though. He’s lucky the original Jin Guangyao had such a good poker face! Every time that thunderclap voice rang out, every time electricity danced across his skin, he had to fight against his instincts to flinch or hurry away. This world has too many handsome men to count, really, but Jiang Wanyin is in another class of his own. If Er-ge is the melting of winter to spring, the cool refreshing breeze, then Jiang Wanyin is distant lightning and the dangerous churning tide. He is wonderful to watch at a distance, but makes one’s heart race close up.
How was he supposed to know he would endear the man to him so easily!? All he did was show Jin Ling genuine affection and suddenly the storm cloud stuck to him! Jin Guangyao is sure this isn’t how the timeline is supposed to go, that Jiang Cheng - oh god the man demanded he be called by his given name - was supposed to be single. Many rumors circulated about the sect leader being alone because of his personality, and Guangyao could understand that, but it turned out the Jiang leader is so needy! He is so deficit in affection and attention that he became inbearably sticky! (It made Yao wonder how badly the man has been treated throughout life that any genuine kindness makes him so desperate, like losing it would kill him.)
If he’s dating these three, does that mean he has a harem? He’s a big important politician in Xianxia China, he’s rich beyond compare, and he has 3 men willing to fall to their knees for him. This is definitely a harem. Not that he minds ! These three are so much stronger than him! They can protect him! And they’re all very attractive men. Wouldn’t this leave three sects without an heir? Do they cultivate immortality in this world? Would he even be able to, with his weak core?
He’s snapped from his thoughts by the sharp echo of (presumably purple) boots on his immaculate floors. Jiang Cheng is the only one who walks with such violent purpose. How does he walk so heavily on the carpeted floors that it still is audible? He watches as the taller man rounds the corner and almost crashes right into him. The hems of those purple robes flutter as the taller man stumbles back from him. A-Cheng’s eyes trace down his figure before snapping back to his own eyes.
“Sorry.” he bites out, leaving A-Yao with the distinct feeling that something is wrong. They’ve been treating him so fragile since the party…. Jiang Cheng particularly.
“It’s quite alright, A-Cheng. Are you well?” Yao asks in turn, giving one of those pleasant smiles he always uses. The Jiang leader’s face twists unpleasantly and he shakes his head.
“I’m fine. Your hand ...” Right. Why would Jiang Cheng be able to hold a normal conversation? He’s clearly not a social person. Ugh.
“It is healing well.” The Jin man lets a chuckle bubble from his chest, because really, no matter how sticky and awkward Jiang Cheng is, the genuine concern is touching. And silly. His hand being damaged won’t kill him. Really, most of Jiang Cheng past the bluster is charming. It’s part of why he likes him in return.
“Is Sect leader Jiang here for business?”
“No. I am… Just, just here to check on you.” it looks like it pains Wanyin to admit it, though he pushes to continue; “.... Wanted to see you.” How touching. Was Cheng lonely? How could he be, the Lotus Pier is so lively and familial…
“Well, this Jin Guangyao’s schedule is free. He will happily entertain his guest.” That’s polite and proper enough, right? A-Cheng’s eyes soften to him and he gives a single, jerky nod. Excellent. His turn is perhaps a bit too sharp, his ankle jolts with slight pain in protest. Before he can stumble, though, a jade hand catches his arm and steadies him. That hand… “Ah, Er-ge, I wasn’t expecting you here.” He looks up at Huan’s kind face and relaxes. How the sun itself seems to shine in those deep brown eyes is beyond him, but they draw him in so easily.
“I wanted to see how A-Yao is doing. It has been some time since I last visited.” Er-ge says. What is his definition of ‘some time’??? He was here not even two weeks ago!
“Well, A-Cheng is here for a visit as well, it will be fun to entertain you both.” Polite but warm to his er-ge. It just feels right to act in such a way to him, afterall.
“Da-ge is here as well but he’s out in the garden.” Er-ge says like this isn’t getting absolutely ridiculous. All three of them are here! At the same time!!
“Excellent, we can take tea in the garden today then. It is lovely outside, afterall.” he starts to walk, brushing past his er-ge.
“Does your ankle hurt, A-Yao?” Xichen hurries to keep up with him, gently taking his arm in hand.
“No, it’s quite alright. It just hurts if I turn too fast.” It’s easy enough to wave off, especially since Lan Huan believes him so easily. The other man nods and gives him a sunny smile before turning to focus on their surroundings (like he hasn’t spent so much time in the Koi Tower in the past month). Yao startles when arms wrap around him though. He lets out a terribly undignified noise and flails before latching onto Jiang Cheng’s neck when the lotus man lifts him. An arm tucked under his thighs to hold him up (like a toddler, he might add) and an arm around his back to keep him steady. He pointedly ignores the giggle Xichen lets out at the sight.
“You should be more careful! You’re too careless!” The lotus snaps at him and continues walking. This is…
“This is highly inappropriate, A-Cheng! Please let me down.” Guangyao knows begging won’t do him any good, but it’s worth a try. Once Jiang Cheng sets his mind on something - once he gets past his own pride - he cannot be stopped.
“Stop squirming before I drop you!! Can’t you sit still?!” A-Cheng’s voice raises into its usual boom, a sharp contrast to his previously awkward gentle tone. Well… He’s trapped now… Great.