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Chapter Text

"...when we get to the nature reserve, be sure to stick with your pairs at all times, and definitely avoid wandering off on your own..."

As the teacher-in-charge nags at the class for what seemed to be the hundredth time, (F/n) taps you lightly on the shoulder. 

"You seem pretty out of it. You okay?"

"I'm okay. I was just thinking about the trip," you say, patting her hand reassuringly.

(F/n) shoots you a worried look, cautioning, "If you feel uncomfortable again, don't hesitate to tell me, okay? I'd hate for you to pass out halfway through the hike. You were most excited about this overseas school trip, after all. It'd be sad for your experience to be ruined."

"Don't worry, I brought medicine and plenty of water. I'll be fine," you reassure (F/n) one more time before pulling out the guide book you bought. "Anyway, I heard that the sights at the waterfall are absolutely breath-taking. Let's take some nice photos there later."

Unable to comment any further, (F/n) only nods in agreement at your last remark.

When the bus reaches the bus bay of the nature reserve, the teachers usher for everyone to alight. You naturally pair up with (F/n) as the tour guide requests for everybody to stand two-by-two. Afterwards, he begins chattering about the history and facts of the nature reserve while leading your group further into the area.

Currently, it is the month of December, and the morning air is cold and frosty. Now that your group has reached the big lake, which was the first checkpoint of the nature trek, the tour guide briefly explains the local flora and fauna before allowing the teachers to gather everyone for a class photograph. 

Somehow, you end up standing at the very back of the group. (F/n) stands in front of you, holding one side of the school banner. Behind you, the lake water laps gently against the shores, and though you stand a small distance away, an indescribable chill still seeps into your bones. Did any of the lake mist get into your clothes?

"Say cheese!" The tour guide grins as he snaps a photo with his camera.

The light flashes as everyone chimes out the same word. You smile awkwardly and raise your hand to flash a pose before an abrupt force tugs at your body, sending you toppling backwards. Just as you try to regain your footing, you feel something wrap around your neck and with barely time for a scream, you get dragged towards the ice-cold water of the lake. In front of you, you see the same weird restraints fix around another classmate's legs, and blood drains from your face at how unnatural and... hair-like the weird black tendrils look. Your body moves on its own as you stomp viciously on one of the black tendrils with a free leg. It loosens its hold on your ankle and completely lets go of your classmate, but you fall miserably into the water anyway.

Resignation chills the blood in your veins more than the water, and you cry in your heart at how futile struggling is. With every pull of the strange black tendrils, you feebly try to swim upwards to no avail. 

Oh well, at least you managed to save someone else from the same fate.

Your body weakening, you register that struggling has become useless. Perhaps this is your end.

You can hardly tell how long you spent in the water, but your eyes had already closed from exhaustion. Suddenly, your fingers brush a cold, metallic surface, and a sudden heat enters your body all at once, igniting your senses. You struggle again, and your fingers grip the metal you touched, and somehow, your mind registers it as the hilt of a trusty sword.

Revitalised, you swing the sword in the water, slicing apart the bindings on your limbs. Now freed, you feel as though the water is tossing you around mockingly like a rag doll, with how strong and dizzying the currents are. 

As if the heavens were answering your prayers, a warm hand suddenly grabs your arm through layers of soaked cloth. In a single, swift motion, you are pulled out of the waters at last, and you begin coughing vehemently, expelling the lake water from your lungs. Your vision remains clouded even as you open your eyes, and you feel someone hold you in a princess carry as a low and gentle voice whispers something that you barely heard. Someone gingerly removes the sword from your iron grip, and pats you gently on the shoulder. Behind you, another male voice hastily apologises and thanks you for saving them. Confused, you try to look over your shoulder, but the person holding onto you only tightens his secure hold on you.

"Please hold on, Young Lady Qiu. We are returning to land first."

"Many… thanks..." you manage to wheeze out, and the person carrying you silences you with a friendly hush. 

Strange. Did you just speak in... Mandarin Chinese?

"Ze...wu-jun?"

"You seemed to have regained your senses, Young Lady Qiu. That's good..." A man who you were damn well sure was a fictional character played by a celebrity was living and breathing right in front of you, and properly carrying you while balancing on a flying sword. Lan Huan, courtesy name Xichen, titled Zewu-jun, was dirtying his pristine robes with your lake-soaked clothing... which looked…

You wonder if you had taken any hallucinogens instead of proper medicine this morning before you left the hotel. Otherwise, how could you ever think to wear or even forget changing into such a beautiful set of ancient Chinese robes that looked like it came straight out of a certain web-series' set? How could you have suddenly appeared as a new character in the novel you were reading? How could the lake incident drop you into the world of Mo Dao Zu Shi, and its web-series counterpart, The Untamed?

Can you... fix all the misunderstandings and tragedies that have yet to occur?

"A waterborne abyss."

From behind the both of you, another voice, sombre and serious, adds in a few words. You peer over Lan Xichen's shoulder, and the presence of three other famous faces left you speechless. Behind the two of you stand a worried Jiang Cheng, a stone-faced Lan Wangji, and a pathetic pair in the form of Wei Wuxian and a dripping Su She. They were all faces from the live-action adaptation of the novel... but where's Wen Qing and Wen Ning? Weren't they present as well? Unless this was... 

Lan Xichen shakes his head, interrupting your thoughts as he murmurs, “Then, this is going to be difficult.”

Your face can't help but scrunch up in a mix of inexplicable emotions as you recall the fates of every key player present here. Suddenly snapping to attention, you quickly restore the neutral expression on your face and listen silently, pondering over their words as you feel Lan Xichen land solidly on the ground, having safely evacuated from the lake. The moment he does so, you awkwardly thank him once more and earnestly request him to set you down. You should not latch on to him for too long, since you are well enough to support yourself. The waterborne abyss did not seem to harm this body much. 

“Recently, has there been any place which suffered from a waterborne abyss?” asks Lan Wangji after mulling over it for a moment. 

From what you remember from the novel, once a waterborne abyss emerged, it meant that the whole body of water was turned into a monster. It was extremely hard to get rid of, impossible to remove unless every single drop of water was taken out, all of the people and goods which sank were fished up, and the riverbed was exposed to strong sunlight for a few years. Nevertheless, there was a method that could solve the immediate problem at the expense of others, which was to chase it to another river or pond and let it wreck somewhere else. 

Without a word, you focus on calming your heart. According to all adaptations of the story, didn't the waterborne abyss come from the Qishan Wen sect? You point towards the sky and the sun as your answer, since the symbol of the Wen sect was the sun. This should be obvious enough of an answer.

The other disciples register your input, and understanding flashes in everyone's eyes. If it was done by people of the Wen Sect, then there would be no result no matter what measures or criticisms would be dealt. That overbearing sect wouldn’t admit it and there wouldn’t be any compensation either. Strength meant power, after all, and at this point in the plot, Qishan Wen stood proudly at the pinnacle. In response to this injustice, silence fell over your new group. Liveliness returns when everyone boards new boats back into town. As 'Young Lady Qiu', you board your own boat, and take the time to properly look around. Caiyi Town looks exactly as it did in the web-series, but the absence of the Wen siblings in this story event means that the plot was following either the novel, the animation adaptation, or the audio drama adaptations. Your head swims. 

You squeeze some water out of your hair and clothing, being careful not to be immodest. If you acted out of character as a lady who, from your inferences, came from an illustrious sect that was, although not on par with the Five Great sects of the canon, was indeed famed enough to be well-known , who knew what torture would be inflicted upon you in the name of possession! Instead, you peer over the edge of the boat, intending to use the water's reflection to fix your appearance, but you almost double over in shock at what you see! Not only did your clothes miraculously change, but your face had also become one of a great—and extremely unfamiliar—Chinese beauty! What the heck is this development?! Do people transmigrate like this?!

You comb through your memories, and find that this body has memories of a childhood that you did not experience! Just then, another migraine surfaces just as a stream of unfamiliar memories flood into your brain, and you curse inwardly as you hold onto the side of the boat for support. What's with all of these headaches and developments, anyway? Are you going to cough out blood next? 

Qiu Qingwen. Your new 'life' belongs to Qiu Qingwen, the second daughter of the main line of the Luoyang Qiu sect. This sect definitely did not exist in the main works! The only mention of a medicine-practising group was Wen Qing's branch of Qishan Wen. How did this random, completely new sect appear in the story as formidable and well-known herbalists? More so, how did this young lady have almost the exact same personality as you from the modern-day? Does that mean that you can do the same? Moreover, this young lady was a treasured beauty with exceptional talents. Isn't this too smooth of a transmigration occurrence?

As the new memories meld together with your actual ones, your headache finally subsides, and you pick up a stray petal from the surface of the stream. Following the new memories you attained, you attempt to imbue spiritual energy into the petal to get a feel of your 'newfound' abilities, and an almost-childish excitement wells up in you as the petal stiffens, edges gleaming, before it disintegrates from too much energy.

You muse over your new identity, shaking your head at the high specs you had suddenly won. Shifting to a more comfortable sitting position, your hand rests on your sword, which had been rescued along with you. You unsheath it slightly, reading the seal script inscriptions at the base of the blade, marvelling at how your mind instantly translated the words even if you would not have understood it.  

'Su'yuan', meaning 'Long-cherished Wish'. A cry echoed in your heart at the irony of this name. It was true that at some point you loved the web-series and wanted to experience the thrill of a cultivator's adventures, you didn't mean it to be so literal!

You cast another look at the sword and the seal-script carved name, marvelling at the white and gold hilt and its iridescent blade. You have to admit, you were no sword connoisseur, but you can recognise that the craftsmanship of this sword was intricately beautiful. Touching the cold surface of the blade, you almost feel a phantom thrum, as if the sword still recognised you as its owner. 

Wait, as a cultivator, you are to be expected to fight, right? That's why you have a sword, right? Surely it would be strange if a prodigy suddenly became akin to a useless greenhorn! A wave of panic washes over you as you try to remember if you could solve this sudden problem. However, the only thing you can do now is to get a deeper understanding of the situation. Heavens, can you even hope to return home?

A cold sweat began to emerge as you started to worry. In this version, this Young Lady Qiu ran into the group of disciples heading to exterminate what they believed were water ghouls and requested to follow along. It was a chance to see what the male disciples were doing anyway, since men and women were strictly separated in the restrictive Gusu Lan. As she had dived in to save Su She when he fell into the water like the failure he is, the Waterborne Abyss had settled on devouring her instead, and the rest is history. 

This Young Lady Qiu definitely did not exist in any of the original works so... was your existence here an anomaly? What happened to the soul of the original Qiu Qingwen? Can you return home? However, even if there is much to consider and worry about, there is greater importance in trying to assimilate first. These questions can be answered and mulled over once your position here has stabilised. 

Your boat travels behind the others, and you spot Wei Wuxian cheekily flirting with the loquat sellers at the side of the stream. Watching the scene on a screen was one thing, but watching it live was another. Whether it be from your own personal curiosity or the fact that the melding of Qiu Qingwen's original memories with yours made you feel a strange sense of familiarity, you make the boat move faster so that you can get a clearer view. Suddenly, he turns around, and the two of you meet each other's gazes. Remembering the original's memory of how the two of you have already met in the beginning of this Gusu Lan lecture, you try your best to appear friendly.

"Young Lady Qiu, sorry I couldn't help you back there. Do you want a loquat as an apology?"

Facing Wei Wuxian's vibrant smile, you show a gentle smile as you nod graciously, "Well, if you insist, then I will accept your offer."

He grins childishly before throwing the loquat over, and you catch it with one hand, almost marvelling at how easily you had managed to capture it. He then returns to chatting to the loquat sellers. It seems that your reaction speed has increased dramatically. Is it a side effect of integrating with this body?

With how naturally you instinctively responded to Wei Wuxian, it felt almost as though the original had integrated with your personality. You pat down your robes, noting that the snow-white fabric has already dried. Still, a slight dampness remains in your hair along with the faint smell of lake funk, and you feel a longing for a modern-day shower.

The shock of crossing over into a fictional world slowly dawns over you, and your grip on your sword tightens. This all seems so... unnatural. Chewing on your lower lip, you focus on revising through both new and old memories, wondering if you can still return to your old life. 

Too engrossed in your thoughts, you fail to notice a gaze of curious concern from behind you...

Chapter Text

After returning to the Cloud Recesses, you bid goodbye to the testosterone-filled crowd and head to the female disciples' lodgings. With the strict separation of the two sexes in Gusu Lan, you estimate that the next time you'll see the main cast would be weeks later.

When you return, you head straight to your quarters, feeling exhausted and extremely homesick. Pushing open the doors, you trip over the doorsill in your trance. Just as you almost topple over, another girl in similar pink-patterned white robes catches you. You look up, intending to apologise for your carelessness when you stop and recognise her face from the web-series - as well as the original's memories.

"Ah, thank you, Mianmian."

Mianmian chuckles as she presses a hand to your forehead. "Is our family's Young Miss sick? Sorry I couldn't accompany you when you went out... What's gotten into you?"

You look Mianmian up and down, noting her similar appearance to the web-series, yet her different robes. The Mianmian of the web-series hailed from the Jin sect, but after considering that this world took on the plot of the novel while retaining the faces and appearances of the web-series, you are not as surprised. This Mianmian hailed from the same sect as you, as a daughter of a servant like in canon, but was 'your' childhood friend. Well, at least the pink robes and herb sachets tie in with this new sect.

A foreign feeling of comfort surfaces in your chest, and your mind recalls the image of (F/n) when you gaze at Mianmian's worried expression. Tears well up in your eyes abruptly, startling the poor girl.

"Qingqing, what happened?" Mianmian asks as she sits you down on the bed, and hands you a cup of water.

"It's nothing, it's nothing..." You laugh despite yourself, dripping the porcelain until your knuckles whiten. You instead opt to change the subject to recount what happened earlier. However, you omit any mention of crossing-over. From the few clips of 'exorcisms' you've seen on TV before, you can assume that it was more than a little painful. Until you figure out a solution to this... situation, it would be better to keep this secret to yourself.

"...what a loser! He only tries to copy Second Young Master Lan in everything but pales greatly in comparison. You didn't have to save him!"

After confiding in Mianmian, she pats you soothingly on the back before telling you to rest for the rest of the day. Lessons will only resume after Lan Qiren returns from Qinghe, so this is a free period for everyone. After Mianmian exits the room to allow you some alone time, you fall into an uneasy sleep.

A few days later, you take a leisurely walk around the Cloud Recesses’ forests with Mianmian. A definite boon of crossing over into an ancient world is that the air is much more crisp and refreshing than the modern world, and the light breeze that rustles the surrounding greenery provides you with a small sense of respite and comfort amidst your confusion. 

“Qingqing, are you really alright? It has been a few days, but you still seem so out of it.”

Biting back the urge to compare her concern with (F/n)’s, you take her hand in yours and pat it absentmindedly, replying, “Mianmian, I really am fine… I’m just… feeling a little homesick, I suppose. Nothing to worry about.”

“Ah, if that’s so, do you want some pastries? I made some of the small cakes that you and Young Master like to eat back home in Luoyang. I happen to have some now! Would you like one?”

Suddenly, the silence of the forest is immediately broken as a boisterous set of footsteps grows louder from behind.

“Mianmian, I want one!”

Startled, the two of you turn around quickly from the surprising entrance of a new voice. Stunned, you recognise the face in front of you to be Wei Wuxian! Behind him, two other figures whom you recognise as Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang come running over, chasing after him. They must have slipped out to play as well. Smiling slightly, you exchange nods of greeting with Wei Wuxian, feeling curious about this new unexpected encounter. Weren’t Wei Wuxian and Mianmian supposed to meet later?

Frowning slightly, Mianmian interrogates,  “Who are you? Why do you call me Mianmian as well?”

“I heard Young Lady Qiu call you Mianmian, so I thought that it’s your name. What, it’s not?”

“You can’t call me that!”

“Why not?” grins Wei Wuxian. “How about this: if you tell me your name, I won’t call you Mianmian anymore. What do you think?”

“Why do I have to tell you just because you asked? Before you ask for somebody else’s name, you should tell them your name first, shouldn’t you?”

“Sure, if you want my name. Remember, my name is ‘Yuandao’.”

While Mianmian silently pronounces the name ‘Yuandao’ a few times to herself, trying to figure out which family’s young master is this, you break into a chuckle. 

"A wordplay, huh? Nice reference, Wei Yuandao. Mianmian, this is Young Master Wei, the head disciple of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect. I met him when I descended the mountain a few days back." 

Hearing this, Mianmian stomps her feet in spite, sputtering, “Who’s yearning for you? You have no face!”

Wei Wuxian chortles brightly, eyes sparkling as he prepares another bout of teasing, but his words are cut off as someone clocks him on the back of his head. Looking behind Wei Wuxian, you see that Jiang Cheng has caught up with him, and has bowed towards the two of you, sighing, “I apologise on behalf of my shixiong, he is really a hopeless individual.”

Fighting to suppress your laughter, you pat your chest a few times in an effort to calm down as you smile, “No worries. It doesn’t hurt to have some fun outside of lessons. That must be Young Master Nie behind you, correct? Greetings, everyone.”

“Gr--greetings, Young Lady Qiu… and this young lady…” pants Nie Huaisang, having finally caught up to the two. 

“Are you young masters heading to the stream in the back mountain to catch fishes?” you ask, tilting your head in curiosity. 

“Aiya, why so stiff? Just Wei-xiong is fine, no need for such formalities!” laughs Wei Wuxian. “Yup, you’re right! Jiang Cheng and I are going to teach Nie-xiong how to catch fishes! Would you like to come along, Qingqing?”

“You--!” barks Mianmian, though her words are cut off with your hand on her shoulder. 

“It’s alright, it’s just a nickname, nothing to get worked up over,” you soothe Mianmian’s ruffled feathers at Wei Wuxian’s casual attitude. Anyhow, you find that being referred this way is a lot less uptight… especially from this great protagonist. Being referred to so formally by the great future Yiling Patriarch really puts a lot of pressure on you! Plus, a modern person would probably not care as much as a person of ancient times, so you let him address you casually.

Snapping out of your thoughts, you suggest, “Why not go take a look? Mianmian, I’m bored out of my mind. You should take the chance to let loose and have some fun now and then too.”

In the end, once the five of you reach the stream, the ones that do jump into the water and try to fish are Wei Wuxian, Nie Huaisang, and a growingly-accepting Mianmian who has taken it upon herself to catch a fish to cook for all the Luoyang Qiu disciples that had come for the lectures. Meanwhile, you watch the three splash about in the water while perched on a smooth rock by the banks, while Jiang Cheng leans against a shaded tree nearby. Somehow, though Jiang Cheng looks normal on the outside, you cannot help but detect a faint hint of dejectedness in his eyes. Hopping off the warm rock, you move to stand beneath the shade and beside Jiang Cheng as well.

“Young Master Jiang, are you not going to join them? Didn’t you come to teach Young Master Nie as well?”

Hearing your questioning tone, Jiang Cheng shows a smile that has a hint of self-deprecation as he replies, “There… isn’t a need for me to do so. Wei Wuxian is able to teach the two well on his own. He… he is a much better teacher than I am… like he is in many things. If I were to join, perhaps I may be overshadowed like always.”

“...How so? Both of you are from the great Yunmeng Jiang Sect and hence should have received the same teachings. How can he overshadow you? Why remain in the shadows... when you can shine as brilliantly on your own? I really believe that you can. ”

“I… is that so..?”

Faced with your genuine encouragement, Jiang Cheng averts his gaze, and you wonder if you said too much. However, it surprises you even more that Jiang Cheng had vocalised that to you… wasn’t he always a very guarded character? Why does he seem to be so… defenceless here?

“Actually, I’d love to learn how to catch fish too,” you offer, beaming at him in an attempt to comfort him. To assure Jiang Cheng of his own worth was always a wish you wanted to fulfil back when you were in the real world, anyway. Turning to look at how Wei Wuxian is supervising over both Nie Huaisang and Mianmian, you continue, “If I am not troubling you, can you teach me how? Of course, that… that is, if you do not mind...”

After a long pause, his gaze flits back to you, but under the shade, you seem to catch a faint colour in his cheeks. As if finally overcoming something in his heart, Jiang Cheng steps into the sunlight, turning back towards you as he mumbles, “...I do not… as long as you don’t mind me being your teacher.”

Unable to suppress a bright beaming smile, you follow him into the sun, and earnestly learn from him until the sunset spills a lovely golden glow in the water. Truly, time does pass when you are having fun, and you do end up catching two fishes, which is already remarkable for a beginner. It helps that you have such a focused instructor teaching you. However, Jiang Cheng is really too humble, as his face reddens so quickly after your simple compliment of “Young Master Jiang is really a brilliant teacher!”.

This day may have been a simple day of fun, but somehow, you feel that your mind and heart have calmed down somewhat. Perhaps taking a break and splashing about in the cool stream water has taken the tension and edge out of you…you feel thankful for your newfound friends.

Finally, Lan Qiren returns from Qinghe after another week and lessons resume. From the bottom of your heart, you are truly thankful for his classes, which help you familiarise yourself with all the strange new knowledge you have gained. Sometimes when you awaken, you still take a while to register where you are, and the fact that you can sleep and wake up in this world means that this is truly not a dream. 

This… is now your reality.

Chapter Text

On a quiet day, you sit with Mianmian by the inner pond with a borrowed guqin, plucking away at the strings absentmindedly when a few chattering female disciples walk by you

"Did you hear? Apparently, Jin Zixuan of Lanling Jin and Wei Wuxian of Yunmeng Jiang brawled within the Cloud Recesses!" 

"What?! Is this true? What sparked this?"

"I heard that Young Master Jin had said something insensitive about his fiancee and Young Master Jiang, and you know how defensive Young Master Wei is over his shijie and shidi. Apparently, Young Master Jin's face has been beaten black and blue! It almost seems asymmetrical now."

"Oh, poor Young Master Jin..." 

As the conversation trails off with the girls moving to a different area to sit and chat, you place your hands on the strings, stilling the melody. From the sheltered pathway walks a few attendants garbed in Lanling Jin's golden robes, with their peony motif emblazoned on their chests. Before they can approach you closely, Mianmian steps forward, blocking you.

"What business do you have with my lady?" 

The attendants bow quickly, startled by her words. 

"Apologies for disrupting you, young ladies. This lowly one was sent here by our Sect Leader Jin, in hopes for Young Lady Qiu to tend to Young Master Jin's wounds."

"Oh, of course. I trust that he is... in need of my expertise after what happened," you comment dryly as you keep the guqin away. You remember the arrogance of his words in all the adaptations that you have read, and you weren't pleased with his behaviour. "Sorry, Mianmian. May I trouble you in bringing the guqin back for me? I will be right back." 

Mianmian nods understandingly before sending another dirty glare at the Jin attendants before leaving with the guqins. You gesture towards the attendant as you say, "Please, lead the way."

...

The attendants weave through empty hallways, chattering that since you could not decide on a method of compensation the Jins will remember it as owing you a favour, before gesturing to an empty courtyard where Jin Zixuan must be in.  You nod in acknowledgement before stepping into the room, your medical kit in tow. When you spot Jin Zixuan kneeling on the ground, you kneel down beside him and begin unpacking your medical kit. Rolling your eyes, you take out a hastily-fashioned cloth ice pack, chilled by a talisman, and hold it in front of the swollen face of the arguably-poor guy. This is what happens when you fight a protagonist, you suppose.

"Press this to the swollen parts of your face. It'll limit the swelling."

You press the cloth into his hand. Grumbling to himself, Jin Zixuan obeys, wincing a little as he presses the cool cloth to his face.

You suppress the urge to kick him while he’s down. Both the guy's face and ego are bruised enough.

After the swelling on Jin Zixuan's face goes down, you take out a few medicinal salves and leave it in the hands of a nearby Jin attendant. Scribbling down a prescription and instructions on a slip of paper, you remind Jin Zixuan one last time about precautions before taking your leave. As you step out of the door, you hear a soft and begrudging 'Thank you." from the kneeling boy. The attendant that spoke earlier thanks you as well before you leave the area.

You exit that hallway with your lighter medical kit hanging in the crook of your arm. After walking a few steps, you make a turn and spot another kneeling figure. Oh, that must be Wei Wuxian, and he's accompanied by a frazzled Jiang Cheng.

"Young Master Jiang. Wei… Wei-xiong," you greet politely.

"Young Lady Qiu! What are you doing here?" Jiang Cheng asks, surprised. 

"I just returned from treating Young Master Jin," you reply genially, walking closer to them. "Do you need any treatment too?"

"Me? Get bested by that Peacock? Hah! He barely got a few hits in--! Ow, Jiang Cheng!" Wei Wuxian smirks triumphantly before Jiang Cheng socks him in the shoulder. After rubbing the sore spot, he brightens up, turning to you as he asks, "So how pathetic did that guy look?"

You sigh, rearranging the sparse items in your basket. "He had been sulking with a half-swollen face for a while when I arrived. You really... did not hold back." 

Wei Wuxian doesn't even try to suppress the bright grin on his face, evidently proud of his achievement. Suddenly, his eyes spark with alertness, and he reminds the two of you, “You should go. You don’t need to stay with me. If Lan Wangji comes again, you’d both be caught by him."

Jiang Cheng is somewhat surprised as he queries, “...Lan Wangji? Why did he come? He still dared to come and see you?”

Smirking, Wei Wuxian replies, “Yeah, I also thought that he should be praised for having the courage to see me. He was probably told by his uncle to check if I was kneeling properly.”

"...Were you?" You ask curiously.

Wei Wuxian laughs, “Oh, I was. After he was some distance away, I found a stick and started to dig in the dirt. There’s an ant hole there that I went through tons of trouble to find. When he turned his head, he saw that my shoulders were shaking, and he definitely thought that I was crying. He even came back to ask me. You really should have seen his expression as he saw the ant hole.” 

"Wei-xiong... you're really..." You cradle your head with your free hand. To your exasperated sigh, Wei Wuxian chortles heartily.

Jiang Cheng sighs before speaking, “Anyway, you should get lost and go back to Yunmeng as soon as possible! I don’t think that he wants to see you ever again.”

"Then we'll leave first... Wei-xiong."

After the two of you leave Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng lets out another big sigh. Absentmindedly, you stick out a finger and poke the wrinkling between his brows. 

"Young Master Jiang, it isn't good to frown so much, you're too young to get so many wrinkles on your face." Smiling, you prod at his eyebrows teasingly before you withdraw your hands. 

"I--! ...If Wei Wuxian wasn't so troublesome I wouldn't have to frown so much," Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes as he delivers a brusque answer. You chuckle, amused at how tsundere he is. The fics do not lie. 

“Anyhow, I heard about why he brawled with Young Master Jin anyway. He said some very insensitive things about Young Lady Jiang, I heard," you say, "I've heard that Young Lady Jiang is a lovely person. Someone should give that Jin Zixuan a good beating now and then to make him wake up and see his blessings... er, I guess someone did." 

"Much to the chagrin of two sect leaders, he did," snorts Jiang Cheng. However, his expression holds no harshness, instead betraying his inner feelings of thinking that Jin Zixuan deserved it too.

Like this, Jiang Cheng's scowling lessens significantly, and the both of you strike up a conversation about the Yunmeng duo and their many past escapades of bullying Jin Zixuan, which you find new and quite... entertaining. Jiang Cheng walks you all the way to the entrance of the female disciples' quarters before leaving, face red as a beetroot. As you bid him one last goodbye, you cannot help but notice his strange complexion. Turning around, you walk into the quarters, the image of a seemingly-flustered Jiang Cheng burned into your mind.

...

Wei Wuxian was expelled in the same fashion as the canon works. 

Although the Gusu Lan lecture was arguably boring without the presence of the boisterous protagonist, it was informative enough that you could familiarise yourself with this world's deeper lore. 

As you bid your newfound friends goodbye, you and Mianmian head to the river pier in Caiyi Town, where your transport back to Luoyang is waiting. As the boat sets off, you stifle a yawn and lean your head on Mianmian's shoulder. The fragrance of the trademark Luoyang Qiu perfume sachets cling to Mianmian's clothing, and every breath you take makes you feel more at ease. She always carried more than you, so the herbal perfume lingers more on her than you.

"Qingqing, are you tired?"

"Yeah. Wake me up when we reach Luoyang?"

"Fine. I'll wake you up if my shoulders get stiff, though!" Mianmian lightly pinches your cheek before allowing you to get comfortable. Whispering your thanks, you drift off into a light sleep.

As homesick as you were, Mianmian was a constant that always calmed you down. Moreover, she is the only canon female character who actually survives to the end of the story, so you don't have to worry about saving her or anything. Women in such male-focused stories typically serve as disposables anyway. Mianmian already has one of the best fates in the canon as a female character...

...Which brings the topic to you. As an anomaly in this story, what does fate have in store for you?! Sure, your knowledge from the works can help you predict some events, but how far can that help you..?

The journey took quite a while, but you finally make it back 'home' to Luoyang. Mianmian leads you by flying sword back to Luoyang Qiu's headquarters, the Jingsi Palace. Once again, you feel a sense of misplaced nostalgia as you take in the sights. 

A magnificent palace connected to the castle town and a vast field of medicinal crops, Jingsi Palace is every bit of the prosperous 'capital' of Luoyang Qiu that your inherited memories remember. A strong disconnection nags at your gut, as conflicting feelings of unfamiliarity and nostalgia clash in your heart. With an indescribable discomfort nagging in the back of your mind, you let Mianmian lead you through the town and to the main entrance of the residence, where 'your' family awaits.

Qiu Qingwen's original memories helpfully aid you in identifying the new faces standing at the entrance of the Palace. Right in the centre of the welcoming group stands the original's older sister, named Qiu Suyin, 'your' mother and the current sect leader Qiu Yufeng, and 'your' six-year-old younger brother, Qiu Yi. The original's father is nowhere to be seen, having died five years before your crossing over. 

"Second Sister!" With an excited shout, 'your' younger brother barrels into your arms as a cheerful greeting.

You peel his arms from your waist and pinch his cheeks lightly, sharing a giggle with him before turning to the rest of the welcoming group. 

Dipping your head, you salute along with the rest of your entourage. 

"Mother. Sister. We've returned."

Feels weird calling these... people your family. You almost feel that you're betraying your real family back home.

"Welcome back, A-Wen. I hope Gusu Lan's lecture has been informative for you. Has Qiren-xiong been well?" Qiu Yufeng beams as she strokes your head lovingly.

You almost feel guilty that this affection is not truly meant for you. Even with the original's memories, can you say that you're really her daughter? Snapping out of your reverie, you nod quickly in response.

"Ah, as much as I'd like to continue speaking with you, you must be tired from the trip home. Come, I'll have the servants prepare dinner in a while. You should rest in your quarters and freshen up first."

Qiu Yufeng's next words are a godsend, and you feel yourself let out a sigh of relief. 

You retreat back into your quarters, letting Mianmian guide you as usual, though she never walks ahead of you. Gratitude wells up within you for Mianmian, with how much help she's been for you this past month.

...You have to repeat to yourself that you have been Qiu Qingwen for the past month now, not (Y/n) (L/n). Your grip on your sword, Su'yuan, tightens all the way until you bid Mianmian goodbye and lock yourself in 'your' room. 

Taking a seat in a room that looked like it came straight out of a movie set is weird, but seeing all the personal touches, with leftover unfinished paintings and slight clutter on the writing desk, makes you feel all the more alienated. You set Su'yuan down on the stand by your bed and lean against the frame. Although you napped all the way on the journey 'home', you still feel drained.

Thinking to refresh yourself with a bath, your memory helpfully supplies you with directions to a lake behind the Palace where you can bathe, and you begin sifting through the closets for some clothing when a series of knocks sound from your door. You stop what you're doing and answer the doors, and invite your visitor, Qiu Suyin, in.

"A-Wen. I didn't get to talk to you earlier, but I'm glad you're back," Qiu Suyin speaks softly as you prepare a seat for her. "Are you okay? You've been acting strange ever since you returned."

"I'm alright. No need to worry." 

You don't offer a longer response. If you do and it turns out to be uncharacteristic, it'll only stoke her suspicion further.

"I'll take your word for it, then," Qiu Suyin trails off. Feeling slightly awkward, you take the initiative to switch the topic, clearing your throat as you ask, "More importantly, the atmosphere seems... heavier than I remember. Did something happen while I was gone?"

"Qishan... no, I shouldn't. Regardless... whenever you go out, beware of any Wen sect cultivators. There has been some... trouble, lately. Just be careful, okay?"

Leaving behind these enigmatic words, Qiu Suyin leaves with a quick goodbye.

Chapter Text

You pass your days practising medicine skills and cultivation, and after your mother accepts your appeal to allow you to enter seclusion within the week you returned, you hide in your room to cultivate, avoiding everyone in the family. From your knowledge, nobody prominent dies within the months following the Gusu Lan lecture, so you lock yourself in your 'home'. Taking this time to organise the thoughts in your head along with feeling more attuned to this body, you spend a month in secluded cultivation.

The months in seclusion pass in the blink of an eye, and you exit your room with a pep in your step. You almost feel your senses sharpen and your movements become more fluid, and an itch to explore the scenery and sights properly arises from your newfound agility.

According to the original's memories, there is a secluded lake a few li behind the castle town, surrounded by a lush forest abundant with spiritual herbs. An old hut sits by the lake shores, and the original has many pleasant memories hiding and playing in the hut with her sister. You make the decision to head over to the hut and the lake to unwind, appreciating the privacy. The palace is too... bustling.

You reach the outskirts of the castle town after stopping to buy a few snacks. Slipping into the surrounding forests, you let the original body's muscle memory lead you to the lake. Out of the blue, a bright flash erupts from the corner of your eye. Unsheathing Su'yuan on instinct, you point the end of the blade at the source, and your eyes nearly bulge out of your head in shock.

Is that... Meng Yao carrying a barely-conscious Lan Xichen?

Meng Yao, bearing the same wide-eyed look you remember so clearly from the web-series, trembles before your blade, Lan Xichen and a crumpled, burnt, and used teleportation talisman in his hands. With soot covering Lan Xichen's typically-pristine robes and a charred bag tied to his back, you don't need to rack your brains to realise which point of the plot you are in now. 

The Cloud Recesses must have burnt down. 

"Young Lady Qiu! You're the second young lady of Luoyang Qiu, correct? This... this humble one means no harm, please..." Meng Yao's voice is a strangled wheeze, and you come to the conclusion that his strength is barely holding up, as a smaller man carting a bigger man who is also unconscious and loaded with two swords, a xiao, and precious books and scrolls presumably from the now-burnt Library Pavilion of Gusu Lan. Not to mention, you did not need to refer to your studies to know that the teleportation talisman must have run his spiritual energy dry. He does not seem to be armed as well. This man is currently as dangerous as a baby rabbit, although his web-series counterpart was one formidable antagonist. Maybe you can…

"You are..." You reply, lowering your sword hesitantly but refusing to unsheathe it. 

"This humble one is Meng Yao. I... I serve the Qinghe Nie sect."

You sheathe your sword completely before bending over to help them. 

"I think I know what happened. Young Master Meng, please do not be alarmed, I mean no harm. Did the Qishan Wen Sect do this?"

“...Young Lady Qiu, ju—just Meng Yao is fine…” mumbles Meng Yao, surprised by your respectful address of him. “Young Lady Qiu is correct. The Wen Sect attacked the Cloud Recesses, and Zewu-jun is currently…”

"I will help you. Please, let me lead the way." The only refuge you can give the two men is the dilapidated hut you were thinking of visiting so you offer that as an option. Meng Yao eagerly nods in gratitude. 

Luckily, the hut is not far from where they had teleported to, so you manage to bring them there fairly quickly. Nudging open the bamboo gate with one foot, you bring them into the threshold and into the bamboo hut, where a single bed stands in the corner of the room. The hut barely qualifies as a house, with the entire building serving as the bedroom and study, and an outdoor kitchen in the gated yard. Surprisingly, the hut is not dusty after months of disuse, but it only reminds you to report to 'your' family to leave the hut alone during this period.  

"Apologies for the messy state of things. I wasn't expecting visitors." You sound almost sheepish as you help Meng Yao place Lan Xichen on the bed. 

"No, we should apologise for implicating you in this... Thank you for allowing us to take shelter in your hut," Meng Yao responds almost immediately, his tone grateful and apologetic.

You nod in acknowledgement and busy yourself with sifting through the wooden cabinets for any medical tools you can use. The two men obviously look battered, and although the works do not delve too deeply into this side of the plot arc, you can tell that whether or not Meng Yao had any ulterior motives, he had still spent quite a bit of effort saving Lan Xichen. While musing over this, you locate an empty bucket and a mortar and pestle. 

You ask Meng Yao to settle Lan Xichen onto the bed properly and remove his singed outer robes, and you head to the lake and fetch some water. When you return into the compound, you begin boiling the water to disinfect it and take the time to remove the herbal perfume sachet from your waistband. You sweep some of the clutter off the desk and take the cinnabar and talisman paper to draw a quick cooling talisman. After the water boils, you take it off the heat and cool it with the talisman. With how heavy and a tad bit awkward the air in the hut feels, you clear your throat and decide to break the silence by chatting with this future antagonist.

"Meng Yao... correct?" At your query, he nods, almost afraid of your next words, but is evidently surprised when you continue, "Again, it must have been hard on you. Come, please help me ladle some of this water into the bowl over there, and bring it over to Zewu-jun. I'll clean his wounds for him. In the meantime, would you like to eat something? I had brought a few snacks for my... practice here, but you can have some."

Meng Yao does as he is told, but as he sets the filled bowl of boiled water beside Lan Xichen, his voice is full of apprehension as he mumbles, "Is Young Lady Qiu... not going to bring up my origins..? Mock me for being a prostitute's son..? Surely... surely you have heard how Sect Leader Jin had cast me out."

"It isn't my business to remark about anything that isn't what I see before me, and I think you are a very capable person to bring Zewu-jun this far from the Wen troops. It may seem superficial coming from me, but I think a person’s worth is from their merits, not their birth. Now come, please hand me the perfume sachet and the tools on the table."

Your words and modern thinking shock Meng Yao greatly, for he is stunned into a momentary silence.

"I—Yes... that...is true in a sense, I suppose. I...I'll fetch the items for you, Young Lady Qiu. Please give me a moment." You hear Meng Yao's voice through the open door, and he appears soon after with the items you requested for him to bring. 

After preparing a quick salve from the herbs you have on hand, you pull a stool over to Lan Xichen's bedside and begin scrutinising his wounds. You make Meng Yao undress Lan Xichen's top as well, and you nearly flinch at the burns and slashes on his chest and arms. The Wen forces must have done a number on him when he defended the Cloud Recesses. You grab the hem of your clean coral-pink outer robes and rip off a strip of cloth, startling the man beside you, as you dip the cloth in the water. After ensuring that the cloth is as clean and optimally damp as possible, you hand it to Meng Yao so that he can help Lan Xichen. 

"Please help wipe him down, I'll return to Jingsi Palace and get some supplies," you instruct Meng Yao before grabbing your sword from the desk. You leave by flying sword to hasten the pace, and swipe a few bandages, a spare herb sachet, and two sets of spare male disciples' clothing from the storerooms before you return. Fortunately —and surprisingly— you do not run into any Luoyang Qiu disciples in your journey to and from the hut.

You manage to rush back just as Meng Yao finishes wiping down Lan Xichen, who has more or less awoken. You shoo Meng Yao off and shove the clean clothing in his hands and a separate piece of cloth to wipe with, telling him to wash off in the lake. Your sect's already-inconspicuous symbol has been removed from the clothing on your way here, so it will not be forcing them to wear another sect's colours. He barely manages to get a few words of protests in before you push him out of the door and towards the lake. 

Now that you're alone with Lan Xichen, you scrutinise his injuries carefully. With the majority of his injuries being from sword slashes and burns, you take care in applying the healing salve and ointments you have before using the bandages you brought to dress his wounds. Lan Xichen flinches slightly whenever you graze a particularly deep cut, his vision remaining unfocused. 

"Young... Young Lady Qiu...?"

"Yes, it is me, Zewu-jun. It is a pity that we did not meet in better circumstances. Please, stay still and let me finish my treatment."

Lan Xichen relaxes, finally recognising you. You finish your treatment and prop his head up with a cloth pillow, noting his flinch as your hand accidentally grazes a wound on his nape. Muttering an apology, you rise from your seat and pick up the bowl of bloody water and cloth strips for disposal.

"Please excuse me for a moment," you say before disappearing into the backyard. Pouring the wastewater into the little herb garden in the yard, you pour a little more clean water over it before starting the fire again. You burn the bloodied cloth in the fire, watching the flames dance. 

"Young Lady Qiu." You hear Meng Yao's voice from behind you, and you stand up from where you were squatting to face him. Dressed in the coral red robes of your sect, you feel almost apologetic that they have to wear colours so similar to Qishan Wen's red. 

"I apologise if the clothes do not fit, I just grabbed what I assumed to be your sizes. The clothes were ready-made, after all." You mutter apologetically as you set the empty bowl aside. 

"No no, it's a good fit! I just... we are forever in your debt, Young Lady Qiu." Meng Yao bows deeply, his hands in a grand salute.

Panicking, you lift his arms, stopping him from bowing any further.

"It's nothing much. I only hope that everything will pass smoothly," You say despite yourself. You know best what will happen in the future, and it is anything but smooth.

Casting a look at the sky, you watch the sun begin its descent into the clouds. Peeling your hands from Meng Yao, you press the spare herbal sachet you brought into Meng Yao's hands.

"Tie this by the gates of the compound, it'll deter beasts from roaming nearby. Well, I best be going. I have some leftover medicine and some money in the cabinets, I trust that you can help attend to his wounds. There's also a coat hung up near the door, so wear that if you need to head into town. This is where I bid goodbye for now. Please take care, Meng Yao."

"Thank you for your help and hospitality, Young Lady Qiu. Truly, we are in your debt." Meng Yao bows again, and you salute him back before hopping on your sword and rushing 'home'.

Chapter Text

On your way home, you sink into a contemplative silence again. It is strange that you managed to take so much stuff from the storerooms without running into anyone. Where did everyone go?

You return to your quarters and decide to stay in and rest before thinking of your next course of action. The atmosphere in Jingsi Palace remains thick with tension, and the mood only turns more solemn as news of the Cloud Recesses' burning officially reaches Luoyang. 

Another month passes, with you jetting between the bamboo hut and your quarters undetected, and under your watch and aid, Lan Xichen recovers. On this day, you return from the hut as per usual, but this time there is an unmistakable ominous feeling in the air as if something terrible and... plot-relevant will happen soon. Just as you take a seat by the desk for some reading after a bath, the door flies open, shocking both you and the person who opened it. Oh, it's 'your' older sister. 

"Ah, A-Wen is done with her secluded cultivation? That's good, that's good... Please, follow Sister to the main hall, Mother has something to tell all the disciples." After saying so, Qiu Suyin rushes out of the door, and you immediately follow, seeing how frazzled she is. 

You reach the main hall, where most of the inner disciples have already gathered. Qiu Yufeng sits at the front of the hall on her elevated seat, expression grim. 

"...The Wen Sect has demanded all of the sects to dispatch at least twenty disciples each to Qishan so that they could let 'experts' teach them properly. The twenty disciples that are sent must include a disciple from the main clan. They... they are to set off within three days," Qiu Yufeng announces, her voice laden with heaviness. Chattering immediately emerges from the crowd, and you spot Mianmian standing not far off, so you and Qiu Suyin move over to stand beside her.

"Qingqing..." Mianmian murmurs, taking your hand in hers worriedly.

You meet her gaze, unable to say anything. You know it only goes downhill from here, and this is arguable Mianmian's most dangerous event in the story. No matter what, this is an event you must attend. After giving her hand a squeeze, you let go and walk forward, saluting deeply as you say, “Mother, daughter is willing to go as the clan disciple.”

“I—! If the second young miss is going, I’m going too!” shouts Mianmian, rushing forward to bow deeply beside you.

Seeing this, Qiu Yufeng purses her lips, her grip on the armrests of her head seat tightening. Frowning, she narrows her eyes as she warns, “A-Wen, let it be known that Qishan Wen’s youngest young master will be spearheading the Qishan lectures. With his… unsavoury reputation…”

“Daughter earnestly requests to go,” you press. “Apologies for my rudeness, Mother. A-Yi is still young, and Sister is your foremost heir. If Mother worries that he will have unsavoury thoughts toward me, we can always spread the rumour that I have been horrifically disfigured during my seclusion! Once I show up veiled and 'ugly', he will lose interest in me.”

“A-Wen… this… won’t this negatively impact your reputation? In the future… how will you marry?” Qiu Suyin speaks up, her eyebrows furrowed.

“A-Wen believes that current matters take precedence over matters that will be in the far-off future. Mother, I… I am the clan disciple with the best conditions to attend.”

Announcing so, you bow deeply towards Qiu Yufeng amidst the echoing whispers of the crowd. Among them, some step forward, offering to go with you to fill up the numbers. 

With a heavy heart, Qiu Yufeng can only sigh, massaging her temples as she mutters, “...Fine, I agree to this. A-Wen, Mother is truly happy to see you be this matured and thinking for the sect, but remember, do not endanger yourself. Qishan is full of villains, and you know we have deep enmity with the Wens. I have already lost a husband to them… I do not wish to lose a child as well.”

Keeping your head bowed, you kowtow once more, loudly thanking Qiu Yufeng, though your mind is filled with many different thoughts... as well as the faintest vestiges of the original's memories. 

Seems like there’s more to this new sect that you had initially imagined. You might have to sift through the original’s memory deeply once more. 

Within the time that the Wen Sect had set, you and your fellow Luoyang Qiu disciples arrive at the appointed sector of indoctrination located at Qishan. It looks every bit as daunting as it was in the web-series, and you cannot help but feel a chill run down your back. Your lips quiver under the veil your mother tied around your face — a precaution against famed... perverts from Qishan Wen. It feels uncomfortable and you wished you could get one for Mianmian as well to protect her, but you were all rushed out so soon that nothing could be done. Right before you left, your mother had a rumour spread that your face had been unsalvageably ruined in a freak accident, hoping that this could protect you from the lechers of Qishan. 

A number of disciples came from each sect, whether large or small. All of them are juniors and disciples of your batch. Among the hundreds of people, quite a few of the disciples knew one another from previous events. In groups of threes or sevens, everyone converses quietly, none of their faces agreeable. It seemed that they were all gathered here using not the most pleasant of means. Any gazes towards your veiled face sparks whispers, and you hear fragments of the rumour that your mother had spread. This feeling of being gossiped about isn't pleasant, but honestly, who would prefer actual harassment to a few unsavoury rumours? You cast an uneasy look around, and spot some Gusu Lan disciples as well, looking worse for wear. Right, to their knowledge, their sect leader had died and Lan Xichen was still missing. 

As the Luoyang group falls in line with the other gathered disciples, you find yourself standing near Lan Wangji. His face is especially pallid, and if you look closely, he seems to be favouring one leg over the other. Right, the Wen troops broke his leg.

As much as you want to tell him his brother is safe and sound in Luoyang, eyes and ears are everywhere in Qishan, and it is risky to chat right in front of all of those armed Wen disciples. Before you can stew in this dilemma any further, somebody shouts out commands from in front of everyone, ordering all of the disciples to gather into proper formation before a tall platform. A few of the Wen Sect’s disciples come over and yell for everyone to pay attention. You look away from the Lan Sect and unwillingly turn towards the source of the noise.

The person on the platform isn’t too much older than your current age, appearing about eighteen or nineteen. Chest puffed out, he appears as greasy and cocky as how he was portrayed in the web-series. This is the infamous Wen Chao. Almost on instinct, your hold on your sword tightens.

Behind him stands two people, flanking his sides. On the left is a glamorous girl, her stature slim. With long brows, large eyes, and lips of fiery red, the only blemish was the black mole above her upper lip, and you immediately recognise her to be Wang Lingjiao, Wen Chao's coquettish mistress. On the right stands a tall, broad-shouldered man, surrounded by an air of coldness, and you recognise his expressionless face to be Wen Zhuliu, the man who would shatter Jiang Cheng's core. 

Exactly as you remember, Wen Chao demands everyone to surrender their swords in his arrogant manner, and Mianmian doesn't even stifle a gasp as another disciple protests, "Swords should always accompany those who cultivate. Why do you want us to hand over our swords?”

Protests are immediately quelled as the Wen troops raise their imposing swords while Wen Chao berates everyone. Wen servants immediately come forward, ready to take your swords. Su'yuan thrums in your hand, as if unwilling to part with your palm.

However, you bite the bullet and surrender your sword. Seeing that you have handed your sword over, the rest of the Luoyang Qiu disciples follow suit. Mianmian sends you a reluctant glance, and you shake your head, requesting her not to stand out. You cannot suppress your scowl, however.

The beginning of the Qishan indoctrination arc is as boring as the story describes, with bland food, taxing labour, and being tasked to memorise Wen values. Everyone present is treated to be lower than the Wen servants, being placed on front lines in night hunts and berated whenever Wen Chao felt like it. Wang Lingjiao took exceptional delight in your supposed disfigurement, not hesitating to mock you for your 'downfall'. Every time Mianmian wanted to jump to your defence, you can only force out a bitter laugh and make her stand back. At least you can focus on protecting Mianmian as much as you can. 

You stick close to Mianmian and your fellow Luoyang Qiu disciples, and it did not help that Wen Chao, whether on purpose or by pure coincidence, had taken sheer delight in having most of the disciples from Luoyang be female. His disgust and disappointment were hard to hide when you had shown up instead of your beautiful older sister, and his comments of "Shameless. So Luoyang Qiu sent their disposable disfigured daughter instead, huh?" almost sent Mianmian into a murderous rampage. 

Today, as usual, everyone was hustled awake by the Wen Sect’s disciples again. Like a group of livestock, everyone was ushered to Dusk-Creek Mountain, where you stew in trepidation over the coming plot event, the Xuanwu cave event.

The deeper you are led into the forest, the heavier your heart feels. Aside from the sounds of leaves and footsteps, no one dared to make too much of a ruckus. You walk with the Luoyang Qiu disciples that you managed to group with, along with Mianmian, in the middle of the group as a banner of pink. 

After a while, the group reaches a creek. Scattered throughout the gurgling water are maple leaves that float along, and you note that the Xuanwu cave must be nearby. Telling Mianmian to walk ahead of you, you tell her that you want to scrutinise the area a little. She initially wants to protest, but seeing how solemn you were, she acquiesces, only mumbling, "If you insist, Qingqing." 

While you plot silently to yourself, you hear two unmistakable voices behind you. Turning around, you spot Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng walking right behind you while muttering insults at the Wen-dogs in every way possible. You meet Wei Wuxian's eyes, and he quickens his steps a little, matching paces with you. Jiang Cheng follows up soon after.

"Ah, Qingqing!" Wei Wuxian greets you cheerfully

"Oh, Young Master Wei, Young Master Jiang. A pity we didn't meet under better circumstances." You dip your head in greeting, your veil fluttering a little in the breeze.

“How are you these days, Qingqing? Doing good?" Wei Wuxian grins until he looks at your veil and realises what he just asked you. 

Jiang Cheng smacks his shixiong's head, mortified. 

"Things can be better. Is everything fine in Yunmeng?" You answer quickly before Jiang Cheng can combust in embarrassment. However, you are only met with a heavy silence. Feeling their gazes on your veil, you realise that the two boys are staring, unfathomable expressions on their faces, and you almost feel bad about deceiving them. You gingerly touch your veil with one hand, while waving dismissively with your other. You opt to change the subject, not wanting to speak any more about yourself. In a small voice, you force out a chuckle, murmuring, "This is only a small matter, but yes, how is everything in Yunmeng?" 

"...Everything is fine, Young Lady Qiu. Thank you for asking," Jiang Cheng replies, keeping his iron grip on Wei Wuxian. You can almost see a vein bulge out in his forehead, and a thought strikes your mind just as Wei Wuxian turns around and sees a figure clothed in white. Following your gazes, Jiang Cheng also spots Lan Wangji walking not far away from the three of you. 

Due to his slow pace, Lan Wangji is still walking at the back of the line. Although he is trying his best to walk as normally as possible, one can still see that his right leg steps on the ground lighter than his left, as though any form of pressure cannot be applied to it. You remember that he has been passing the day in constant pain, working with a broken leg, while simultaneously worrying for his brother and clan. 

Seeing this, Wei Wuxian begins slowing down his steps. Sensing that he might want to bother Lan Wangji, you quickly take out a folded letter and a small white bundle from your sleeves and shove it into Wei Wuxian’s hands. Faced with his curious and surprised look, you hastily whisper, “Please hand these to Second Young Master Lan, these items concern the missing Zewu-jun. Since you are obviously heading over to speak to him, please pass this to him.”

After hearing that this is not a love token but rather a significant and heavy message, Wei Wuxian nods obediently, excuses himself quickly, and completely slows down so that he is beside Lan Wangji. Walking shoulder to shoulder with him, he starts pestering Lan Wangji according to the plot, and you only let out a soft sigh of relief when Wei Wuxian finally hands Lan Wangji the items and whispers some inaudible words. With the herbal sachet hidden and bundled up in a piece of Lan Xichen’s salvaged Lan Sect robes, hopefully the two will have an easier time fixing their wounds when they face the Xuanwu of Slaughter later. Taking this chance to speak privately to Jiang Cheng, you turn to him, face grim as you think about the coming decimation of Lotus Pier.

Chapter Text

"Young Master Jiang, forgive me for speaking out of turn but... I feel like there will be something... terrible... that will happen in the near future. I'd just like to advise you to keep your guard up against any Wen visits... ah, no, please forget what I said, my apologies."

Just as you cautiously warn Jiang Cheng, you just so happen to make eye contact with Wang Lingjiao’s spiteful glare. Fearing that she might hear your ‘prophecies’ and snitch about them to Wen Chao, you quickly stop your words and avert your gaze.

Jiang Cheng furrows his brows at your words, curiosity piqued. However, before he can reply or ask about your enigmatic warning, a familiar fragrant breeze suddenly wafts over, and you feel a coming headache at what is about to happen. From behind you and Jiang Cheng, Wei Wuxian turns around and looks to the side, eyes immediately lighting up. Seeing this development, you give up on warning Jiang Cheng about the Lotus Pier decimation. You quickly excuse yourself, feeling a variety of conflicting emotions as you rejoin the Luoyang girls, who are currently walking together along with some girls from other sects.

Amidst the other sect disciples' praises of the Qiu Sect's perfume sachets, after everyone has exchanged greetings with you, Mianmian smiles with pride as she responds, “Inside of the sachet is filled with minced medicinal plants. It can be useful in quite a lot of ways, and it's a speciality of Luoyang Qiu. I’ve still got a few here. Do any of you want one?”

Naturally, the fragrance on Mianmian would be stronger, since not only is she standing in the middle of sachet-armed Luoyang disciples, she also makes more of them as a hobby, so unlike you who only carries one at all times, she always has multiple.

You see Wei Wuxian sweeping over to the girls' entourage like a foreboding gust of wind, and you instantly remember the story again. 

 Rubbing your temples, you stand closer to Mianmian and send Wei Wuxian a warning look. Right... you have a long, long day ahead. 

As Wei Wuxian closes the distance, he cheerfully pipes up, "Mianmian, save me one too.”

You cannot help but roll your eyes at his cheeky words. Mianmian turns around as well, face incredulous, before her face flashes with recognition. She huffs, “Ah, it’s you again! Why do you want a perfume sachet? Are you some young maiden?”

Wei Wuxian rumbles with laughter as he shrugs, “No, what I'd like the accompaniment of a young maiden. But… I’d hate to break up this lovely group of girls, so how about just giving me the young maiden’s perfume? So, will you give me one?”

Rolling her eyes exaggeratedly, Mianmian exasperatedly throws a perfume sachet over to him. After admiring the perfume sachet, Wei Wuxian chirps out a happy ‘Thanks, Mianmian!” before sauntering back to Jiang Cheng and earning a chop to the head.

Well, at least he's now equipped with the necessary herbs for later.

The girls chatter amongst themselves, obviously fawning over the protagonist's charm, while Mianmian folds her arms in indignance. An outer Qiu Sect disciple boldly asks, “Second young miss, Mianmian, how did the two of you meet that young master?”

"We met him at the Gusu Lan Sect’s lectures a few months back. It's a long story..." you wave your hand as you speak, shrugging. Beside you, Mianmian nods, backing up your words. 

However, the other girls' eyes brighten, sensing more gossip, and you can't blame them. Everyone was carted off to Qishan and forced into this boring and tedious work, so entertainment was scarce. Moreover, everyone here is still teenagers, and they're already forced into such uneasy times, so your sympathy moves you to indulge them.

You briefly explain what happened, omitting any taboo mentions, and the girls hang on to your every word. As you open your mouth to continue the story-telling, you are cut off by some Wen servants, who scold your group for chattering. From the corner of your eye, you spot another servant come over to scold the boys' group when you see a face that should not be there.

What is Nie Huaisang doing here? Was he supposed to be present in this part of the arc?

After the servant leaves, Wang Lingjiao approaches the gathered disciples. You suppress the urge to beat her up right there and then, and step in front of Mianmian protectively instead, blocking her from Wang Lingjiao and the branding iron she holds in her hand. 

“Young Master Wen told you to search for the entrance, so what are you doing, whispering amongst yourselves?” Wang Lingjiao's words are pompous and airy, her voice as sleazy and sticky as a cheap prostitute's. 

At such a time, even a mere maid who had earned her position by crawling into another’s bed can gloat with such arrogance before proper disciples. Everyone has this thought in their minds, but no one dares to voice it out, warily watching the branding iron she holds in her hands with eyes large as saucers.

Thankfully, before you can say something you regret, someone shouts, "Found it!", and you can't tell whether it is relief or trepidation that washes over you. Beside you, Mianmian places a comforting hand on your shoulder. 

"Qingqing, I don't know why you've been especially tense lately, but it's okay, I can protect myself. Don't put yourself between me and the Wens, you're drawing too much unwanted attention on yourself."

"You know me, I'll be fine." You grow a little tired of having to reassure the people around you all the time, but it is their way of showing that they care, after all.

Wang Lingjiao ignores your group upon hearing that disciple's exclamation, hurrying over to Wen Chao's side instead. Having rushed over, she looks over the entrance, then beams as she shrills, “Young Master Wen! They found it! The entrance!”

After pushing aside the rotten leaves and mud and cutting away the gnarled roots on a patch of dirt, a dark, eerie hole is revealed, leading deep underground. A chilling, cold air emanates from the seemingly-bottomless hole, sending chills down everyone's back. Good heavens, you're expected to climb down there yourself?!

Hurrying over, Wen Chao is visibly ecstatic as he commands, “This must be it! Quick, everyone, get down there this instant!”

Jin Zixuan is one of the first few to finally crack as he snarks coldly, “You brought us here, saying that we’ll be hunting a beast. Then, if I may ask, what sort of a beast is it? Informing us beforehand would allow us to cooperate with more efficiency so that we wouldn’t be as confused as last time, you know?”

Wen Chao strides over, appearing insulted as he first points at Jin Zixuan and then at himself, sneering “Inform you? Ha, just how many times do I have to make myself clear for you to remember? Don’t get it wrong. You are only the cultivators who serve me. I’m the one who gives the orders. I don’t need others to tell me their suggestions. I am the only one who directs the battle and commands the troops. I am also the only one who can conquer the beast!”

Placing great emphasis on the words ‘only one’, his annoyingly lofty voice and arrogant tone evoke both laughter and hatred within the ones who listen. You almost gouge your ears out, cringing from his slimy tone. Once again, watching such scenes live really adds to the... realistic feel of everything. It was entertaining in fiction, but absolutely insufferable to sit through in real life. 'Conquer the beast' ? Then stop lazing around while everyone else has to wear the damned beast down like cannon fodder first! As you think of a million ways to lampoon him in your mind, your hands remain hidden in your sleeves, anxiously rubbing the carved stone token you have hidden there. Today will be the beginning of all of your plotting for the past few months. You cannot let this event go poorly.

“Didn’t you hear what Young Master Wen said? Get down there, quick!"

Jin Zixuan stands at the very front. Holding back his anger, he lifts the hem of his robe, grabs one of the thickest vines, and jumps into the endless hole without any hesitation. Quietly, you take the initiative and step forward, following behind Jin Zixuan. It is best not to stir up trouble so soon, not when utter chaos will unfold in a matter of hours.

After descending slowly, you finally touch solid ground. Wen Chao shouts a few things from above, and you once again recite in your head not to kill him prematurely. Having ensured that it was safe underground, he flies easily down, sword under his feet and Wang Lingjiao in his arms. A while after, the disciples and servants also land one by one. The gathered disciples all hang around each other, fear clouding their expressions as everyone surveys this dingy place.

Jiang Cheng whispers, “Hopefully the prey he wants to hunt this time won’t be anything too difficult. I don’t know if there are any other exits here. If the ghoul or beast flips out inside of here, such a long vine might break in half and it’d be hard for us to even run away.”

The rest of the group is thinking the same thing. You can't help but look up at the small, white spot that was the entrance. Having knowledge of the future, you already know that the only way out for everyone on your side is to swim through the water. Ever so insidiously, waves of dread begin creeping into you, raising goosebumps on your skin as you look about the dimly-lit cave.

Wen Chao leaps off his sword once he reaches the bottom, barking, “What are you doing just standing there? Do you need me to teach you what to do? Go!”

Chapter Text

Your group currently scouts in front, and far out of the Wen dogs' listening range. Seeing as everyone else is watching you with round, curious eyes out of curiosity about what happened to your face — well, most everyone, since the Lan disciples are dutifully walking forward wordlessly. However, Lan Wangji appears to walk more stably, since you made Wei Wuxian pass him medicine and inform him that his brother is alive.

Curiously, Wei Wuxian walks closer, asking, “Qingqing, what really happened to you?”

“I… just had people spread the rumour, in actuality, I…  wait, do you guys see that?" You begin to answer him, but interrupt yourself when you spot something reflecting the torch lights. 

Your group returns to staying on high alert, the previous lighthearted mood vanishing without a trace. Before everyone is a deep pool of water, and you know that this pool is where the Xuanwu of Slaughter slumbers. With eerily black water and stone islets of all sizes protruding from the surface, the pool appears even more sinister than the set of the web-series.

There is no other path before you. However, even though the path is at an end, your group still hadn’t found the prey of the night-hunt. Everyone — except you — didn’t even know what exactly it was. Everyone’s hearts fill with uncertainty, still stiffly maintaining their vigilance.

As he hasn’t seen the beast that he is expecting, Wen Chao begins to rattle off irritatedly. After cursing a few words, those dreaded words finally come out as he smirks and announces, “Find somebody, hang them up, and let out some blood to lure the thing out."

Wang Lingjiao answers almost immediately, pointing to the small crowd of girls. You don't like where this is going. With her nasally voice, she orders, “How about both of them?”

Oh shit, is she pointing at you too?

Wordlessly, you shield Mianmian behind your body. 

"Don't be outrageous, wench. One is enough." Your voice is icier than you expected as you feel yourself shift into fight-or-flight mode, and Mianmian trembles behind you, face brimming with fear.

Seeing that Mianmian was one Wang Lingjiao chose, Wen Chao does not suppress his expression of pity as he reiterates, “This one? How about someone else? Plus, the veiled one is from the main clan of her sect, even if her appearance is one of a waste's...”

Wang Lingjiao looks as though she has been wronged, whining, “Why someone else? I choose these two. Don’t tell me that you’ll miss them, especially the unveiled one? One's a servant, and the other's a disfigured spare. Luoyang Qiu won't miss much, right? They can't find any trouble with us, right?”

She lets loose her coquetry as easily as opening a weak wooden floodgate, and Wen Chao instantly appears to be over the moon with delight, half of his heart already melted. You feel his eyes rove over the two of you and sense the greasy cogs working within his skull. Surely he is contemplating whether to string up the pretty one or the important one! Well, with how Wang Lingjiao is insisting for the both of you to be strung up while rubbing her chest all over his arm, Wen Chao forces out a laugh and says, “Nonsense. Why would you think that I’ll miss her? Do whatever you want. Everything is up to Jiaojiao!” 

As the Wen servants approach you, you pull your sharpened silver hair stick out of your hair, letting your ink-black hair cascade down your back in one smooth motion. Doing so, you bite out, "Don't touch me with your filthy hands. There is no need to be strung up, the beast will smell it all the same. I'll do it myself. Don't touch Mianmian." 

You pull back your sleeve, revealing the snowy skin of your forearm and tighten the grip on your hair ornament. It's okay, right? Surely you have a transmigrator's halo! That's what every transmigrator has, right? Clenching your teeth, you prepare to drag the pointed edge of the hair stick into your arm, but you feel someone pull your hand back from plunging the stick into your arm, and you spot someone else dart in front of you and Mianmian protectively. 

You look up and see Jin Zixuan grabbing your arm. He tightens his grip and you flinch, dropping the silver hair stick which clatters on the ground. In front of you and Mianmian stands Lan Wangji.

"Do not interfere. The Wen sect will not treat this lightly. Turn back while you still can," You hiss at the two boys.

Lan Wangji remains wordless, but Jin Zixuan does not let go. 

"I owe you enough from the last time, and the many times before," Jin Zixuan snaps back, unwilling to surrender you to the Wens. Well, the original host did patch him up quite a few times… no, quite frequently… in the past, so that must be what he is referring to. Gratefully, you send him a firm nod.

The Wen Sect’s servants, stopped from tying you both up, see that the two do not intend on moving, so they shout, “Move to the side!”

Lan Wangji remains silent with indifference, but you also get the vibe that he is thankful to you for helping his brother.

Seeing that the situation isn’t good, Wen Chao snarls, “Why are you standing there? You can’t understand human speech? Or do you want to save the damsels in distress?”

Jin Zixuan raises his brows, shouting back, “How unreasonable can you get? It wasn’t enough for people to be flesh shields for you, and now you want live humans to bleed for you to use as bait?!" 

Wen Chao points at you four, yelling, “Are you rebelling against me? Let me warn you, I’ve been tolerating you for a very long time. Right now, hang those wenches up with your own hands! Or else none of the people from your sects can expect to return!”

Jin Zixuan sneers, refusing to budge. Lan Wangji also appears as though he heard nothing, so motionless that he seems to be meditating. The tension is enough to make you want to throw up.

However, one of the Gusu Lan disciples on the side has been trembling as he listens to Wen Chao’s threatening words. You catch sight of him just as he rushes over, grabbing Mianmian to tie her up. Lan Wangji’s brows stiffen as he immediately strikes the disciple to the side. Although he didn’t say anything throughout the whole process, the way he is looking at the disciple is more than imposing. What such a look meant is clear to everyone present — it truly is a shame that the Gusu Lan Sect has taught a disciple like you!

Recognition flashes in your eyes and you remember that the erring disciple is Su She, the very loser that the original intended to save from the Waterborne Abyss way back then!

"Neither I nor the Luoyang Qiu Sect have never harmed you before, so why..." You stare at Su She with despairing eyes. You never expected that he was that pathetic, even after he was the exact reason why you're trapped in this world! Jin Zixuan loosens his hold on your arm, seeing that you appear distraught. 

Su She’s shoulders tremble as he backs off slowly, unable to face the others’ eyes.

Enraged by the resistance, Wen Chao snarls, “How dare you! Kill them!”

A few of the Wen Sect’s disciples unsheathe their swords, rushing toward the four of you. You are all at a loss in terms of both weaponry and sheer numbers, and after the past days of being constantly on the move, you are all in quite a bad state, and that does not even count in Lan Wangji's injured leg! Still, the two boys do not relent, and you remain rooted to the spot with Mianmian, unable to move. The adrenaline has already subsided, and your mind runs at a hundred miles per hour as you constantly recall the progression of the story. At this point, you are borderline hyperventilating.

Watching his subordinates fight with the two, Wen Chao looks as if his mood has improved as he spits, “Talking back to me— what did you think you are? People like you really do deserve to be killed."

A cheery voice suddenly interrupts from the side, smoothly agreeing, “That’s right. All those who oppress others and do evil while relying on the power of their clan should be killed. Not only that, but they should also be beheaded for tens of thousands to revile so that those to come would beware of this sin.”

Hearing this, Wen Chao spins around, snapping, “What did you say?”

You watch Wei Wuxian feign surprise as he grins and continues, “Do you need me to repeat it? Sure. All those who oppress others and do evil while relying on the power of their clan should be killed. Not only that, but they should also be beheaded for tens of thousands to revile so that those to come would beware of this sin. You heard it this time?”

Hearing this, Wen Zhuliu seemed to ponder over this, slowly realising Wei Wuxian's underlying motives as he glanced at him. Wen Chao, however, erupts into a rage, roaring, “How dare you say such absurd, outrageous, and pretentious words!”

Wei Wuxian first lets out a soft ‘pfft’, then immediately bursts into unbridled laughter.

To Mianmian's confusion, your shoulders visibly slacken as you loosen your tense stance. Beside you, Jin Zixuan tries to stifle a short laugh as well to limited success.

Under everyone’s shocked eyes, Wei Wuxian laughs so hard that he becomes out of breath, clutching Jiang Cheng’s shoulder as he wheezes, “Absurd? Outrageous? I’d say you’re the one who’s all of those! Wen Chao, do you know who was the one that said those words? I’m sure you don’t, do you? Let me tell you. This was said by the most, most, most famous cultivator of your sect, the one who founded the entire thing, Wen Mao! You dared to say that one of your ancestor’s remarks are absurd and outrageous? Well said, very well said! Ahahahahaha…”

Wen Chao’s complexion switches wildly between red and white as Wei Wuxian adds, “Right, what was the accusation given to those who insult famous cultivators of the Wen Sect again? How should they be punished? I remember that it was execution, right? Yes, very well, you can go die now.”

Unable to hold himself back any longer, Wen Chao unsheathes his sword and lunges at Wei Wuxian. With that, he foolishly leaves Wen Zhuliu’s range of protection, much to Wei Wuxian's delight. 

Wen Zhuliu evidently did not expect Wen Chao to be so stupid, so he does not react in time. The smile by Wei Wuxian's lips does not falter at all as he attacks almost instantaneously. In a split second, he snatches Wen Chao's sword and reverses the situation, subduing Wen Chao with just one move instead!

One hand gripping Wen Chao, Wei Wuxian leaps a few times and landed on one of the islets above the pool, keeping his distance from Wen Zhuliu and the other Wens present. With his other hand, he presses the sword onto Wen Chao’s neck, warning, “Nobody move! If you’re not careful, I might just decide to let some blood out of your Young Master Wen!”

Panicked, Wen Chao shrieks a hasty “Stop moving! Stop moving!” command. 

The disciples surrounding the four of you finally cease their attacks. With that ever-present smile, Wei Wuxian cautions, “Core-melting Hand, you’re not moving either! You know how the temper of the Wen Sect’s leader is. Your master is in my hand. If he loses just one drop of blood, then not one of the people here should hope to live on, including you!”

Wen Zhuliu puts his arms down as expected. Seeing that the situation has come under control, Wei Wuxian opens his mouth as if to speak when the entire ground below him suddenly trembles and shakes.

Wei Wuxian immediately goes on guard at once, shouting, “Jiang Cheng! Is it an earthquake?"

"Get off the islet! IT'S NOT A PIECE OF LAND!"

Chapter Text

At your shout, Wei Wuxian realises this as well, but he still dares not to move! The ‘islet’ moves quickly toward the shore, and the approach of this foreign beast incites formless tension among the crowd of cultivators in the cave. Aside from Wen Zhuliu, Lan Wangji, Jin Zixuan, Mianmian, and you, everyone else staggers backwards. Just as everyone expected that the underwater creature will flip out at any moment, it abruptly stops in its tracks.

The dormant beast has obviously awakened from Wei Wuxian jumping onto its back. Remaining where he is, Wei Wuxian stays still, Wen Chao still in his grasp.

Above the dark water that surrounds the ‘islet’ are a few maple leaves of an unusually bright shade of red, slowly floating by, which you recognise from the creek above. Below the leaves, within the depths of the pool, lurks something reminiscent of a pair of glowing bronze mirrors. The bronze mirrors then grow larger and larger, nearer and nearer. Dragging Wen Chao, Wei Wuxian jumps back just as the surface below his foot shakes and suddenly begins to rise quickly. The ‘islet’ rises into the air, extending its full imposing figure. The large, coal-black head of a beast, atop its head a couple of maple leaves, soars out of the water!

You think to yourself that the web-series CGI really did the Xuanwu of Slaughter so dirty. Face to face, this Xuanwu looks positively terrifying. 

Mianmian tries to drag you back, but you push her into the crowd, shouting, "Don't worry about me! GO!"

Under the screams of varying pitch, the beast slowly turns its head around, staring, with its massive eyes, at the two humans on its back.

The round head of the beast appears rather strange, similar to both a turtle’s and a snake’s. It sounds and looks ridiculous from a screen, but here in real life, it looks every bit like the horrifying behemoth it is. Simply looking at its head, it’d be more like a gigantic snake, but looking at its body, which has largely risen out of the water already, it seems more like a…

You catch Wei Wuxian whisper, “… What a large… tortoise…”

From what you remember from the novel's description, the beast had the eyesight of a snake as well — not too good. As long as the people on its back don’t move, maybe it won’t be able to notice. Everyone on the shore watches on in trepidation, and you take the chance to refasten your hair and prepare yourself for an upcoming scuffle. 

Suddenly, two streams of water vapour shoot out of the beast's hole-like nostrils. The maple leaves that had been floating in the water happen to be near its nose, so the beast probably only did so as they were itching it. Wei Wuxian is still motionless, standing as if he was a statue, but the slight movement apparently scared the life out of Wen Chao.

“Why aren’t you helping me yet?! Help me now! What are you waiting for?!” Disregarding the sword by his neck, Wen Chao screams toward Wen Zhuliu, who is still standing at the shore.

“That idiot!” You hear Jiang Cheng curse through clenched teeth.

Among the two strange things before its eyes, one suddenly started twitching like a worm and let out ear-piercing sounds. Provoked by this, the beast's snake-like head pulls back quickly before immediately springing up. It bares its yellow and black fangs viciously as it lunges for its back!

Unable to hold back, you yell, "Watch out!"

Wei Wuxian hears your warning a little late, as he flicks the sword towards where the beast's heart should be.  However, as it is covered in black scales, the head of the beast is as hard as armour. As though the sword hit a piece of iron, the blade sends off a trail of sparks with a loud ' clang' before it plummets into the water. The beast hesitates as if confused by the sudden attack. Its large eyeballs turn down to look at the slender sword that glowed even when it sinks underwater. Grabbing the opportunity, Wei Wuxian leaps into the air along with Wen Chao onto one of the other islets. 

“Watch your back! The Core-melting Hand is coming!”

Wei Wuxian spins around, reacting to Jiang Cheng's exclamation, only to see a pair of large hands loom over him without a sound. Involuntarily, he strikes out to fend against Wen Zhuliu’s attack but instinctively pulls back quickly. Wen Zhuliu uses the chance to snatch Wen Chao away, landing back on the shore. Wei Wuxian follows them, cursing under his breath all the way. All of the Wen Sect’s disciples and servants aim at the beast with their bows and arrows, raining arrows over the beast’s scales and its shell. Although the battle appears to be quite intense with the number of sparks that fly with every failed arrow, in reality, it has no use! The arrows do nothing more than scratch the beast’s itches and agitate it further. 

As the battle rages on, you hear a cry behind you, and you instantly regret pushing Mianmian to 'safety'. How could you forget that Wang Lingjiao took this time to give orders to three servants to brand Mianmian! Two of them brutishly hold Mianmian in place, clenching her face, while the other raises the branding iron in his hand and thrusts it toward her face!

Luckily, Wei Wuxian follows the direction of the novel as he shifts the direction of the arrows and lets go of the string. The three arrows shoot out at once and hit each of the three people. Without making a noise, they fall back onto the ground. Yet, Wang Lingjiao suddenly grabbed the iron that had fallen as well. Gripping Mianmian’s hair, she again shoves it toward her face! 

“WAIT!!”

...In the novel, it was easily accepted that Wei Wuxian managed to save Mianmian, but realistically, he cannot rush to her side fast enough, being on the other side of the cave. A serene resolve settles over you as you lunge forward, reaching just in time to grab the middle of the branding iron with your non-dominant hand. Unfortunately, the heat on the metal remains on the uncovered metal rod, burning your palm terribly as you force the iron away from Mianmian's face. The strong stench of cooked human meat rises in the air, and your mind blanks out from the overwhelming pain. You lose control over your hand from the sheer agony and you inadvertently let go as the flesh sizzles, tears brimming in your eyes.

Amidst the pain, you snap briefly out of your stupor and send a stream of spiritual energy into your unscathed dominant palm and send out a strong push, sending her flying back a short distance. Unable to continue, you drop to your knees, your burnt hand twitching. Not to hold it in any longer, you let loose a few soft whimpers. Your brain zeros in on nothing but the pain.

Still, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. With sheer vehemence of a beast-like witch, Wang Lingjiao manages to claw at your face before she stumbles backwards, ripping off your veil with one smooth motion as if intending to claw at your face in vengeance. At this moment, your perfectly-healthy face is revealed to the crowd. Wang Lingjiao takes further offence to this somehow, grabbing the fallen iron and trying one last time to attack! Before you can consider allowing your other hand to be branded by her iron, you watch a black-clothed figure dart in front of you, taking the blow for you.

"Wei Wuxian!" You burst out just as both him and Wang Lingjiao fall onto the ground, his scream wrenching your heartstrings. The smell of cooked human flesh lingers in the air, and you know clearly that the source of this stench is both you and Wei Wuxian. Once again, you feel as if you're once again forcefully slapped with reality. This isn't a world with fictional characters. They are real, living, and breathing. As if in a shock, you remain on the floor, hair dishevelled.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Wei Wuxian. I thought I could..." Tears begin streaming down your face in steady lines as you apologise profusely. Mianmian pulls at your uninjured arm, also crying.

Wang Lingjiao flies back, blood spurting everywhere, and wails as soon as she hits the ground. Jiang Cheng’s palm flies toward the crown of her head, ready to end her life. Panicked, Wen Chao screeches, “Jiaojiao! Jiaojiao! Quick, get Jiaojiao back here!”

Wen Zhuliu frowns slightly. He remains speechless as he hurries over, fends off Jiang Cheng, and carries Wang Lingjiao back, tossing her at Wen Chao’s feet. Wang Lingjiao throws herself into his arms, still retching blood as she bawls her eyes out. Wen Chao sees that Jiang Cheng's bloodshot eyes have an extremely terrifying expression as he advances towards Wen Zhuliu. The rest of the disciples have also been battle-excited, and there is still a gigantic beast inside the pool, the front-left claw of which has already stepped onto the shore. Wen Chao finally begins to know fear, squealing, “Retreat, retreat! Retreat right now!!”

Those who serve him have already been holding it up with much effort for a long time, painfully waiting for him to give orders of retreat since a long time ago. Hearing those words, they hop onto their swords and fly away at once. Wen Chao’s sword was thrown by Wei Wuxian into the water, so he just grabs someone else’s and leaps onto it with Wang Lingjiao in his arms. They disappear within the blink of an eye, retreating like dogs with their tails between their legs. All of the disciples and servants follow closely behind him, disappearing upwards.

“Stop fighting! Let’s go!” Jin Zixuan shouts, snapping everyone to attention.

No one intended to continue the fight anyway, especially against the beast that is like a mountain of boulders. But as you all arrive at where the hole was, you find the vine that you all had previously used to climb down is severed, lying on the ground like a dead snake.

Jin Zixuan fumes, “Those dog-thieves! They cut off the vine!"

The hole is a little more than thirty feet above your heads, its blinding white light hurting the eyes. Not long afterwards, half of the light withers. At last, pure horror befalls the entire group as everyone reaches the same conclusion.

In despair, someone cries out, “They’re blocking up the entrance!” 

Chapter Text

Just as the youth finishes speaking, the rest of the white light disappears. Deep underground, all that is left are a couple of burning torches, igniting the young, hesitant faces. Nobody has the energy or spirit to say anything.

Cradling your wounded arm, you try to keep your voice as even as you can as you force out, "I saw fresh maple leaves in the water... At the bottom of the pool, it’s likely that there’s a hole connected with water from the outside. That would’ve brought in the maple leaves in the forest creek. The only way out is... to swim in the pool."

Mianmian had already used your own perfume sachet to treat your hand as best as she could, but you are fairly certain that the use of your non-dominant hand will be minimal in the future. The pain has yet to subside, and you chew on the inside of your mouth to bite back your groans.

A while later, Jin Zixuan’s cursing broke the dead silence, “That hell of a couple can really do such things, can’t they?" 

One of the boys murmur, “It’s alright even if we can’t get out… My father and mother will come to find me. If they hear of this, they’ll definitely search for me here.”

Immediately after, somebody replies in a quivering voice, “They must think that we’re still undergoing indoctrination at Qishan. How could they possibly search for us… Besides, after the Wen Sect’s people ran away, they definitely won’t tell the truth. They’ll definitely make up some excuse… And we can only stay down here…”

“We can only wait down here in the cave… without any food… along with a beast…”

As Wei Wuxian hears the 'without food' comment, he tries to lighten the conversation, joking, “Jiang Cheng, there’s a piece of cooked meat here. You want to eat it?”

Jiang Cheng snarks, “Get lost! You really haven’t learned your lesson, have you? Just what situation do you think we’re in? You don’t know how much I want to sew your lips together.”

Mianmian holds onto you, at a loss as to what to do. Tears stain her face as she continues to sob, hands clenching your dirty sleeve as she cries ‘I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry’ over and over again.

Wei Wuxian plugs his ears, sighing, “Hey, stop crying, alright? Your lady and I are the ones who were burned, not you. Don’t tell me that you want me to cheer you up? How about you cheer me up? Okay, enough, Jiang Cheng, stop carrying me. It’s not like my leg is broken."

"Alright, don't cry, Mianmian... We haven't died, see?" You wave your hand and try not to flinch, and you quickly use your other hand to wipe away her tears.

While you are busy consoling Mianmian, the others erupt into a discussion from the words you spoke earlier regarding an exit. 

Someone mumbles in a timid voice, “But… How do we know if the hole is large enough to let people through? What if it’s really small and it’s only a slit?”

“And the beast is still watching stubbornly over the pool," frowns Jin Zixuan.

Wei Wuxian lifts the lapel of his robe, one of his hands fanning at the wound under his clothes as he says, “If there’s hope, then let’s move. No matter what, it’s better than waiting for our parents here and doing nothing. So what if it’s watching over the pool? We can just lure it out.”

After some negotiation, a while later, your group hesitantly returns to the shore. Hiding in a hole within the cave, you quietly peep at the beast. 

Most of its body is still soaked in the pool. However, just as you think this, the long body of a snake extends from its turtle shell, approaching the shore. It opens its jaw and softly clenches a Wen servant's corpse between its teeth before it shrinks back, dragging the corpse back into its dark, castle-like shell. It almost appears as though it wants to savour it in there. Gross. 

Wei Wuxian wordlessly tosses out a torch. It crashes into one corner of the cave. The sound is especially exaggerated within the dead silence of the underground, clattering with a loud echo. The head of the beast slides out of its shell at once, thin pupils reflecting the eagerly burning torch. Instinctively attracted to things that give out light and heat, it slowly extends its neck out, falling for the distraction.

Behind it, Jiang Cheng noiselessly dives into the water to scout for the way out.

The surface of the water doesn’t even do so much as to crease. Everyone stares at the water, glancing at the beast at times. Seeing that the large beast head is still hesitantly circling around the torch, debating between approaching or not, everyone’s hearts tighten in trepidation.

Suddenly, as though having finally decided to get a taste of what this really was, it moves its nose close. The neck of the beast shrinks away at once, having been seared by the flames. Two streams of water vapour shoot out with rage from its nostrils, putting the torch out. 

At this point in time, Jiang Cheng barely swims out of the water and takes in a deep breath. Sensing that its territory has been intruded, the beast turns its head and plunges toward Jiang Cheng.

You slap down a fire talisman, igniting a tall flame a few feet away from Jiang Cheng. The beast changes targets, distracted by the sudden heat flare. 

Jiang Cheng uses the opportunity to climb ashore, shouting, “There’s a hole at the bottom, not too small!”

Wei Wuxian barks, “How small is not too small?”

“About half a dozen can pass at a time!”

“Everyone, listen up. Follow Jiang Cheng and swim into the underwater hole. Those who aren’t injured watch out for those who are, those who can swim watch out for those who can’t. Half a dozen can pass at a time, so nobody rush. Now, go!”

As soon as Wei Wuxian finishes speaking, the flame that previously sprouted slowly dies down. He backs off ten-or-so steps into another direction, then hit the ground with his palm, letting out another bout of fire. The beast’s golden eyes appear reddish through the light of the flames. Burning mad, it waves its limbs and climbs toward the fire, dragging above it its mountain of a body.

“What are you doing?!” Jiang Cheng rages.

“What are you doing?! Get them down there!” Wei Wuxian counters almost immediately.

The beast has already been successfully lured out of the water, creating an opportunity for the others to escape. Jiang Cheng clenches his teeth as if fighting a dilemma, before shouting, “Everyone, come here. Those who can swim alone, stand on the left; those who can’t, stand on the right!”

From the corner of your eye, you spot Su She picking up one of the bows that the Wen servants left behind. He stands at the very edge of the group while you are at the very front, hence having quite a distance between the both of you, but there is a clear path for you to watch exactly what he is doing.

Reaching out your hand, you instantly yell, "You! Put the bow down!"

As if shocked, Su She jolts and his hand lets go of the arrow, but because he has turned towards you, the arrow flies the short distance between the two of you and plunges into your shoulder!

Letting out a scream, you stagger backwards, Mianmian rushing over to your side to help you.

"...Mianmian, I'll be right behind you! Go now!" You command while glaring at Su She, feeling as if the whole world is against you right now. Mianmian hesitates but thankfully obeys your command, slipping into the water.

Perhaps he had originally wanted to hit the beast’s vital spot with just one shot to save some of the face that he had lost, but he never expected it to turn out like this. Face paler than ever, he throws himself into the water and flees as fast as he can like a coward.

“Wei Wuxian! Get over here!” Jiang Cheng rushes Wei Wuxian, who has been scoping out the other side of the cave.

“I will!”

Jiang Cheng still has three disciples who can’t swim beside him, along with you who has an arrow sticking out of you. Wei Wuxian rushes over, intending to help you pull out the arrow, but it causes blood to splash onto the shore! The two of you realise in horror that the scent of blood provoked the beast. Its neck suddenly grows in length faster than ever and its fangs open wide! 

Before both of you can think of what to do next, you feel somebody push the both of you to the side.

Lan Wangji has pushed you both out of the way.

With this opportunity, the jaws of the beast close, biting down cruelly on his leg with an audible crunch. Lan Wangji’s face still remains expressionless, save for a slight frown. Afterwards, he is immediately dragged away!

Judging from the size and the bite strength of the beast, it can easily sever a person from the waist into two pieces. Fortunately, it seems that it doesn’t like to eat broken ones. Its monstrous neck slithers again, intending to drag Lan Wangji into its shell to savour him. Its shell is extremely hard, impenetrable by any blade. If it successfully drags Lan Wangji inside, then he will never come out again!

"Jiang Cheng! Get the others out now! I'll be right back!" Wei Wuxian breaks into a sprint, only turning around to shout this to Jiang Cheng. Just as the head was about to shrink inside, he throws himself over, clinging to one of the teeth on its upper jaw. Jiang Cheng acquiesces, sweeping you in his arms and grabbing the other disciples before diving into the water. The cold water stings your wounds vehemently and you can't help but let slip a soft whimper.

As you close your eyes and hold your breath, you hear Jiang Cheng's soft voice, reassuring, "You'll be fine, Young Lady Qiu. I'm here."

Chapter Text

You break through the water's surface, finally heaving yourself onto dry land. Your wounds continue throbbing, and you are fairly certain that your injuries are borderline infected by the musty water. Unable to look at the gruesome burns but knowing not to bandage it, you hide it deeper in your sleeve. The pain only helps you stay awake, fueling the adrenaline in your veins.

Everyone else has already disappeared, probably leaving the rest behind to run home to their families. In the end, the only people left by the creek's banks are Nie Huaisang, Jiang Cheng, Mianmian, and you. As Mianmian helps you to your feet, you stroke her head, deep in your thoughts.

Yeah, screw following the plot. 

Taking the carved stone out from your sleeve, you trace the sun engraving on the token before breaking it in half with a quick crack. You had sacrificed your sleep to secretly work on this token while in captivity, and before you left, you had already briefed Lan Xichen and Meng Yao before you left for Qishan. They would understand your message.

A broken sun. The Sunshot Campaign.

You press the halves into Mianmian's hand before placing your good hand on her head.

"Mianmian, I need you to pass these stone halves to the two men living in my lake hut. You can trust them. Tell the man in the forehead ribbon these words, 'Sunshot Campaign'. He will understand what I mean," you instruct Mianmian, before turning to face everyone, announcing, "Everyone, please help me spread the rumour that I have died in the Xuanwu Cave."

"What? Wh...why?" Nie Huaisang asks, wringing water out of his robes.

"I can't return and give Qishan Wen an excuse to exterminate our sect. If I died, Qishan Wen can't use this transgression for extermination, not in this pre-war period when surface-level diplomacy still exists. They can only burn some wings of Jingsi Palace out of spite, but they cannot pursue full extermination since a Luoyang Qiu disciple of the inheriting line did die under their watch."

Jiang Cheng nods thoughtfully, while Mianmian looks absolutely horrified. 

"How... how can I face the sect leader..." Mianmian cries.

"It has to be done this way. Tell her to find Qinghe Nie and Gusu Lan. Don't bother wasting resources on a funeral, we are approaching times of war. Go now, Mianmian, before it's too late."

"What about Yunmeng Jiang, Young Lady Qiu?" Jiang Cheng suddenly speaks up from beside you. 

Swivelling around to face him, you give him a meaningful look, replying, "I have separate arrangements for Yunmeng Jiang, which is why I request for you to take me there with you. I... won't be returning to Luoyang.

"Everyone, I apologise for being so demanding but please... I beg everyone to trust me. Believe it or not, I swear that I know what will happen in the future, and I need everyone's help to correct fate. If we don't, I know that Yunmeng Jiang will be reduced into nothing but ashes, like it or not. There isn't much time. It sounds far-fetched, but I've been planning this for months. I need to see it through. If this goes well, I swear on my name that I will owe everyone here a great favour. Young Master Nie, I need you to return to Qinghe and convince your brother to join forces with Gusu Lan. I know that he will not take Qishan Wen's oppression lying down. Zewu-jun is returning, and we have already amassed quite a force. The Wen sect needs to be stopped."

The other three people stare at you, dumbfounded, as you pant from unloading so much information. Now that this is your reality, naturally, it would be better to strike while the iron is hot. Nie Huaisang fastens his ruined fan to his waist, nodding.  

"I understand, Young Lady Qiu. I-I'll also do my best to spread that rumour that you're dead! I wish you the best of luck!" After saying so, Nie Huaisang disappears into the forest.

Mianmian casts one last look at you, indignant tears in her eyes. 

"Go, Mianmian. I promise I'll explain everything to you in due time."

With a firm nod, Mianmian grips the stone halves tightly before turning around and disappearing into the forest. Finally, you are alone with Jiang Cheng.

You then finally double over in pain, unable to keep up your strong front now that Mianmian is absent. Clutching the wound where Su She had shot you, you see more blood oozing out of the wound, creating a bigger splotch of murky red on your coral robes. Hastily, you press it, trying to apply pressure to the leaking injury to little effect.

"Young Lady Qiu!!" Jiang Cheng gasps, catching you just as you stagger a few steps backwards. " We need to stop the bleeding and treat you first before we leave!"

"No! We... we can't waste any more time. I can't use my hands nor muster the strength right now... seal my acupoint to stop the blood flow, please. We have to keep moving. I apologise for being such a burden." You remember Jiang Cheng sealing his bleeding with an acupoint on his chest when Jin Guangyao stabs in the finale of the plot, so he should be able to help you here.

Face red as a ripe tomato, Jiang Cheng reluctantly does as instructed, at least slowing the blood flowing out immensely, before the two of you set off for Yunmeng on foot.

After taking a few steps forward, you remember to use your good hand and rip a length from your robe, tearing clean off the Luoyang Qiu symbol at the hems. You fold the cloth haphazardly before asking Jiang Cheng to tie it around your face until it only leaves your eyes uncovered. After you are done with your disguise, you remove your silver hair stick, snap it in half, and toss it into the creek water along with your leftover empty perfume sachet. This should be enough of a sign that shows that you have disappeared into the water.

"Alright, we can set off now," you nod with satisfaction. 

"Then excuse me, Young Lady Qiu," Jiang Cheng mutters before looping your good arm around his shoulders, supporting you. 

"Many thanks."

At the time when you had broken out of the cave, the sun had just begun to set. After walking for quite a while, the sky has already descended into a canopy of black, painted with small, twinkling white stars. However, much of this natural beauty is obscured by the thick leaves of the trees in the forest of Dusk-Creek Mountain, as well as the overall eerie atmosphere of the whistling night wind and the occasional scratching noises and growls from distant wildlife. With both of your swords confiscated by the Wens at the beginning of the indoctrination period, neither of you can make your way to Yunmeng on a flying sword. Jiang Cheng and you, both haggard and hunched together to support each other, trudge on in the darkness to avoid alerting any nearby cultivators and pursuers. 

Since your body’s cultivation is quite high, the wounds have already begun to close ever so slowly. However, the fatigue built up from the stressful days in the Qishan indoctrination has left you worse for wear. This, coupled with how your hair is flowing down with nothing to hold it in place, makes you look like a pale ghost. However, Jiang Cheng must be sensible enough not to comment, despite being so infamously sharp-tongued in the original story.

Now, it has already been three days since you had left the Xuanwu cave. Without stopping for rest, food, or even water, both of you are already on the brink of collapse. Though your cultivation bases made it easier for you both to endure the thirst and hunger pangs, without achieving inedia, your bodies still needed energy to function. Since you were injured more severely than Jiang Cheng, you are much weaker than him currently, so you walk with the support of both Jiang Cheng and a large tree branch you picked up along the way. 

To stay alert and awake, the both of you chat about anything and everything, with you mostly retelling snippets of memories of the original’s childhood mixed with random vague memories of your own to find something to say, as well as adding in snippets of warnings and plans of what measures you want to use. Speaking of hope makes the dreary, dark, and frankly-creepy forest feel less bone-chilling. Slowly, your words change from reminiscing about the past to looking towards the future. 

“...After we get back to Lotus Pier, I’m going to tell Madam Yu about the Wens’ future dastardly acts, and I’m going to get some treatment for this damned injury.”

“After we get back to Lotus Pier, I’m going to gather some forces to break Wei Wuxian and Second Young Master Lan out of that musty cave.”

Jiang Cheng and you continue to list things you want to do upon your return back to Lotus Pier, ranging from serious and proper matters to simple things like “I’m going to take a bath.” or “I’m going to drink my sister’s lotus root soup.”. 

When it is your turn to list another wish, you begin to feel drowsy, mumbling, “After we get back to Lotus Pier, I’m… I’m going to make sure no one dies…”

However, you do not finish your sentence. Losing strength in your legs, you trip over a protrusion on the ground and stumble, dropping the large tree branch you were using as a walking stick for the past day. Surprised, Jiang Cheng grabs onto your arm to stabilise you, accidentally jostling the arrow wound on your shoulder. Thanks to the sudden jolt of pain that rang through your mind from that impact, your head momentarily clears. However, momentary clarity does not mean renewed strength. You are still exhausted.

Jiang Cheng lowers you onto the ground so that you lean against a tree, urgently rushing, “Young Lady Qiu, you can’t sleep, look at me! Don’t close your eyes!”

“Hah… I’m sorry for being a burden, Young Master Jiang… I… Give me a moment...”

“Eh? What’s two young people doing huddled in the wilderness— ah, the lady’s injured! Hey, are you two okay?”

Even with the haze in your mind, you still look up at the source of the new voice with apprehension and as much alertness as you can muster. Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng swipes the branch off the ground and raises it defensively as if it were a sword, trying to fend against the newcomer. Shielded by his wide back, you cannot help but feel even more guilty. At this rate, Jiang Cheng might take longer to return to Yunmeng with you as baggage.

As the figure draws closer, you can see the visage of a round-faced woman, her apple-like face in an expression of surprise and worry. Judging from the woven basket tied to her back and the number of various leaves and flora in it, you can guess that she is a herb-gatherer, possibly from a nearby village. If that is so, then that means that you can finally have an idea of whether you are near Lotus Pier yet!

In contrast to your hopeful eyes, Jiang Cheng is much more wary, glaring at the woman as he cautiously growls, “Who are you?”

Chapter Text

In contrast to your hopeful eyes, Jiang Cheng is much more wary, glaring at the woman as he cautiously growls, “Who are you?”

Faced with his open hostility, the woman does not falter one bit. Instead, she unties the water container tied around her waist and offers it to you both. Without a shred of fear or caution, this woman must merely be a simple villager. Anyway, with the current state of you and Jiang Cheng, it is not like you both can threaten her, a healthy and robust middle-aged woman, in any way. 

“This youngster, I don’t mean you and your wife any harm. Here, have some water, I have not drunk from this container yet. The poor girl looks like she’s about to die from dehydration! Are both of you refugees from the Northwest? My village is nearby, the two of you can hide there if you like...” 

As the ruddy-faced woman continues to yammer on, Jiang Cheng glances between the offered water container and her multiple times before hesitantly accepting the water container with thanks. With his back turned to you, you can hardly see his expression, and even when he turns around, the bright sun overhead casts a backlight over Jiang Cheng’s face, significantly masking the crimson on his cheeks, though the redness on his ears are very, very visible. After sniffing the container for any poison, he finally uncaps it and hands it to you, making you drink first. Though you try to refuse and make him drink instead, you end up losing under his stern gaze, and you obediently take a few grateful gulps of water. 

As Jiang Cheng brings the container to his lips, you take the initiative to use the identity offered by the woman, gratefully thanking, “Madam, I… my husband and I —”

Jiang Cheng chokes on his water.

“—extend our deepest gratitude for your help. We… we were forcibly taken from our home in Yunmeng and only managed to break out with much difficulty recently… if it isn’t too much… may I know where we currently are?”

“My village is located on the outskirts of Nanzhang. Oh, you poor things,” sighs the woman in a sympathetic voice. In her eyes, a sense of empathy and sadness can be seen, as if she understands your struggles. “From the dried blood and wounds on you, you must have had such a hard time… were you harmed by cultivators or bandits? You are severely injured! Come, this aunty still has some herbs and medicine, I can help you dress your wounds.”

At least you are out of Qishan. You are almost at your destination.

“No need for that, Madam,” you smile as assuringly as you can, “We are really… really pressed for time. We have to go back to our… village as soon as possible.”

The woman eyes you up and down, before removing the herbs basket strapped on her back. After sticking her hand in and rummaging around, she pulls out a bag of mantou and a few herbs. She stuffs the mantou into your hand, frowning as she murmurs, “You two should eat something and rest, still. How can you make it back home if you’re dead? The missus should have some treatment, at least. Look at what happened to your palm…”

“Many thanks for this benefactor’s concern.”

In contrast to how friendly you are, Jiang Cheng refuses to let down his guard, asking, “Why are you helping us?”

The woman smiles, a tinge of nostalgia in her eyes. Shrugging, she busies herself with crushing the herbs from her pouch before helping you apply it on your arrow wound. While Jiang Cheng looks away, ears tinged blood-red, your eyes remain rooted on the woman, examining the light wrinkles on her face. Only with careful scrutiny do you notice a light slash scar on her cheek, possibly left behind by a missed sword slash.

“It isn’t a new thing for cultivation clans to always cause collateral damages in their fights. I was also a refugee in the past, oppressed by some great cultivators in my old town. Only with much difficulty did I come to my current village,” the woman chuckles softly. “From the deep injury on the missus, you must have experienced something similar… This is all this old woman can do for you, I hope you can make it back home safely.”

Hearing this, Jiang Cheng’s expression softens slightly, pursing his lips as he nods. Bowing his head, he salutes the woman, sincerely muttering, “Thank you.”

“I wish you good fortune.”

...

Following the original plot, it takes five days for you and Jiang Cheng to finally reach Lotus Pier at 5 am in the morning on the fifth day. Even with the rest stop you two managed to have, you still reach Lotus Pier on time thanks to the extra supplies providing both of you much-needed energy.

Without even stopping for a rest, Jiang Cheng leads people to search for the Xuanwu Cave again, while you stay behind upon Jiang Cheng's insistence for you to avoid overexerting yourself.

The Yunmeng doctors treat your wounds as best as they can, but as you had expected, your non-dominant hand has been burned beyond saving, and only time will tell if you can recover full use of your hand. To Jiang Cheng's horror over the matter, you could only reply, “It is only a consequence of my actions. I don't regret it... in fact, maybe if I use physiotherapy it may heal.”

With a severely regretful and grievous face, Jiang Cheng had departed for the Xuanwu Cave with a heavy aura.

"Young Lady Han, Madam Yu will meet you tonight. For now, please rest well in your room. Please inform us if you need anything. That will be all." After bowing to you, one of the Jiang clan attendants closes the door to your room before leaving you alone. 

Taking a seat in front of the desk, you prepare a piece of paper and begin to write in Qiu Qingwen's neat calligraphy. It is currently 9 in the morning, and you stay in your guest room until about 2 pm in the afternoon. You pen down the proceedings of your plan step by step and make markings here and there on the layout map of Lotus Pier that Jiang Cheng gave you, and only set the brush down after you complete the last footnote. Your hand bumps into the metal mask Jiang Cheng had prepared for you, and you stare at it, expression tense. You have long changed into the grey-purple clothing the attendants had prepared for you upon your return, and you had your old, bloody, and tattered Qiu sect robes burned. As requested, there is no sect symbol on the clothing, with only an inconspicuous crane motif embroidered on the lapels. You hear that Jiang Yanli did the embroidery herself.

Taking a deep breath, you fasten the simple metal mask onto your face, revealing only two steely eyes and your lips. It covers your face from your eyebrows to just over your nose, masking your eye-catching appearance when you should be dead to the cultivation world. With half of your hair tied up in a simple topknot with a white ribbon, the impression you give off in this appearance is intimidating enough. Perhaps it will give you the confidence you need to convince Madam Yu later. You'll only have a few days at most to prepare for the Wen assault. If you want to change things, you have to start here, in Lotus Pier.

In the span of a few months, you have switched through multiple identities, from (Y/n), to Qiu Qingwen, and now to Han Xiaowen, a rogue cultivator who will spearhead the Sunshot campaign. This is merely a hastily-made identity, however, and you will shed this identity off soon enough anyway, either after Qishan Wen is taken down, or after Luoyang Qiu joins the Campaign proper so that you can return. After that, hopefully, the merits you will earn in the campaign will give you enough rights to take the Wen remnants for yourself to save Wei Wuxian the trouble, in turn saving the lives of the innocent Wens, Mo Xuanyu, and hopefully even Wei Wuxian himself.

Just as you stand up, intending to practise your sword with your one good hand, someone knocks on the door. You open the door for them, and to your surprise, in comes Jiang Yanli with a tray of soup. A hint of excitement betrays your stoic face as you breathe in the smell. Is that...?

"I hope I'm not bothering you, Young Lady Han... I thank you for helping my brother return from Qishan safely. I heard that you have not left your room since you returned, so I brought you some soup for your lunch."

"Thank you very much, Young Lady Jiang, I apologise for causing you trouble. Please, come in and have a seat."

Jiang Yanli watches you fondly as you eat, chuckling at how your eyes shine with bliss behind the cold mask. You engage in some light conversation with her, and hearing Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng's childhood stories from the famous shijie herself lightens your mood a little.

"Young Lady Han, sorry if I'm being insensitive... but why are you wearing a mask to hide your features?" Jiang Yanli asks, curious.

"I'm hiding from the Wens, so I have to conceal my face, otherwise they'll recognise me. Do feel free to address me however you like, I believe I am younger... ‘Han Xiaowen’ is actually an alias as well, but I can't divulge who I am yet."

"...Ah, I see. If it’s alright, I’ll call you Xiaowen if you call me Yanli,” smiles Jiang Yanli, though the light on her face falters minutely as she murmurs, "You must have suffered a lot to be here. I heard that you're a rogue cultivator who got forced into the Qishan indoctrination to fill the numbers for a sect, so it must have been hard... To lose the use of your hand at such a young age..."

You shake your head, sighing, "Well... you're not wrong, but it's okay. The world is so big. There will be time to look for a cure when we defeat Qishan Wen. Speaking of which, Yanli...jie, remember to stay safe no matter what, okay?"

Jiang Yanli nods, before picking up the tray and the empty bowl. With a gentle expression on her face, she nods, "Alright. I shan't disturb you any further. Rest well, Xiaowen."

You bid Jiang Yanli goodbye, adding her to the list of people you need to save. Such a lovely lady shouldn't be sacrificed in the name of plot! Plus, the soup was really good...

You pick up the spare sword that Yunmeng Jiang had lent you, feeling the weight in your palm. It feels... strangely different. Empty, almost. Your sword is still in Qishan Wen, stored in a dusty storeroom, you presume. You tie the scabbard to your waist and head outside the room, intending to vent your frustrations.

As you cut down another practice dummy, you stab the sword into the ground so that you can wipe away your sweat. It truly is troublesome to practise sword-fighting with only one hand, but you'll have to make do. Thankfully, the original's body is lithe enough for the movements you need to make to compensate for your hand. You silently apologise to the original for marring her body like this.

Taking a seat on the raised ledge, you take a sip of water from the water gourd you had prepared. At this point, it isn't hard to realise that in the following months, you will have to kill, or at least severely injure people in the upcoming war ahead. Even if they were from the Wen sect, surely not every Wen clansman is a true Wen-dog. They are merely soldiers. Pawns. They have families to return to. As a 21st century soul, can you even do it?

Do you have a choice? ‘Kill or be killed’ is pretty much the main theme of this setting. The Wen forces certainly did not think to spare any Yunmeng Jiang disciples in the works.

Evening rolls around, and you soon find yourself prostrating in front of Madam Yu in the main hall of Lotus Pier, your metal mask and the rolled-up notes you made this morning at your feet. Her two attendants, Jinzhu and Yinzhu, flank her sides, expressions stern and unyielding.

"So, care to tell me why has the illustrious second young miss of Luoyang Qiu come back from the dead to visit my Lotus Pier?" Madam Yu is as intimidating as the works portray her to be, and you have to focus on the image of a massacred Lotus Pier to keep your resolve and not bolt for the door.

Madam Yu quirks an eyebrow, running a finger on Zidian. Her silence is a wordless confirmation that she has given you permission to continue, so you take in a shaky breath and open your mouth to speak.

"During the Qishan indoctrination, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng of Yunmeng Jiang have defended my Luoyang Qiu's honour against the Wens' oppression, and I strongly believe that the Wen-dogs will seek vengeance upon Yunmeng. Not only will they seek vengeance by most likely requesting punishment for and a severed limb from Wei Wuxian, but they will also demand Lotus Pier to become a supervisory office of the Wen Sect through the ramblings of a lowly Wen mistress. Should you disagree, the conflict will escalate into Yunmeng Jiang's decimation. I am certain that they will visit within this month."

Madam Yu continues rubbing Zidian casually as she replies, "What a detailed foretelling. And what makes you think I will not acquiesce to the Wen Sect's demands?"

"Certainly, I do not dictate your actions, but to submit to Qishan Wen as a supervisory office would be akin to allowing Qishan Wen to absorb Yunmeng Jiang into their control, and I trust that you would not stand for this."

Madam Yu's eyes sharpen, and her grip on her seat's armrest tightens. 

"That is true... but why should I trust you?" 

"What benefit do I gain from informing you of coming danger? What losses will Yunmeng Jiang incur from protecting themselves from the Wen Sect? They will come sooner or later, they will come whether Wei Wuxian stirs up trouble or not. They will come, as long as Yunmeng Jiang stands. That is why we must strike first and meet them head-on." You raise your head and meet Madam Yu's gaze with a resolute one of your own.

Slowly, Madam Yu closes her eyes, as if in deep contemplation.

"Final question. What makes you think that I will not wait for my husband to return from his night hunt before making a decision? Why did you specifically request for an audience with me and not the Sect Leader?"

As hidden as it is, you detect mirth in her voice, and you grin, knowing well that you have her convinced, and you say, "Does one of the masters of Lotus Pier require the other to dictate her every move?"

"...I like you, girl. Tell me more about your plans."

You rise to your feet, smiling brightly as you swipe the scrolls from the floor. 

"I don't suppose you have gunpowder, do you?"

Chapter Text

While Jiang Cheng is gone for the next two days, you spend your day with Madam Yu in her study, discussing strategies and future defence measurements to take. While Madam Yu is standing properly, looking over the table with an expressionless look on her face, you speak more actively, using your able finger to trace parts of the map. With your heavily bandaged hand positioned behind your back, the posture is slightly awkward, but with the pain that still persists, you have no other choice but t tread lightly around the handling of your injury.

Tapping the frontier of the Yunmeng Jiang territory map with a finger, you softly say, "This area in the northwest has a relatively open water body. I would recommend amping up the defences at the bays close to headquarters in case the Wens use this route to launch any... unsavoury advances. Here, here, and here, will be the likeliest directions of which the Wens will attack. Your expanse of water routes will be advantageous for them to encircle Lotus Pier. Madam Yu, Lotus Pier has a barrier array installed for emergencies, correct?"

Madam Yu frowns in contemplation, before remarking drily, "You seem to know a lot about our defences."

"No no, I've let Madam Yu see a joke. I tried my best to familiarise myself earlier today to make up for my unfamiliarity of your territory," you crack a small smile, retrieving your hand from the map. Turning your head to stare at the map, you continue, "It is better to have a few more people who are prepared. Even I am uncertain when they will come, but I do know that they will. After Young Master Jiang returns with Young Master Wei, this one would recommend more regular upkeep and inspections of the array, and greater focus in preparing weapons and the readiness of disciples for an external attack. It is also highly probable for the Wens to snake in under the guise of diplomacy, before attempting to harm us from within or calling for reinforcements. It is a perilous time for the sects under the Qishan Wen Sect's longstanding oppression, so we should always be on our guard."

"It seems a little overboard, but seeing your seriousness, I will give it some consideration." Making an impressed hum, Madam Yu folds her arms, strict eyes boring right into yours as she responds, "What would you need gunpowder for? Fireworks?"

Eyes sparkling, you nod, "It can be, if you think about it in a way. I've made a prototype in the nearby forest, Madam Yu can inspect it firsthand if you'd like."

Stepping away from the desk, Madam Yu quirks her head, gesturing for you to lead the way. You quickly leave the table and open the door for her after re-attaching your mask on your face, perfectly performing the guise of a subordinate following her master. Seeing her surprising compliance and acceptance of your input, a small spark of hope ignites in the depths of your heart.

...

In the early morning of the third day, Jiang Cheng's entourage finally returns with Wei Wuxian in tow. You receive him along with Jiang Yanli at the Lotus Pier docks and help attend to his wounds while he is still unconscious. Still in a fever and nursing several other wounds, Wei Wuxian looks worse for wear, but alive nonetheless.

Since you only have proper command over one hand, you instruct Jiang Yanli to do the hands-on work for you, and her learning capabilities for first aid impress you. Maybe you should ask Madam Yu if she is interested in letting Jiang Yanli come to Luoyang to learn some medicine after all of this blows over.

Yes. You intend to save as many people as possible.

Now that the treatment has wrapped up, you let Jiang Yanli watch over Wei Wuxian's sleeping form while you step outside. Two Yunmeng Jiang messenger hawks perch on your arms, letters strapped to their legs. You press your forehead onto theirs one by one, whispering, "Luoyang, Lan Xichen. The Unclean Realm, Nie Mingjue."

After whispering so, the hawks quirk their heads, as if understanding their tasks. With a short command, you jerk your arms, sending them flying into the skies. With this, the preparations are complete. The rest is up to you and Madam Yu. 

Just as you send the hawks away, Jiang Cheng enters the courtyard, a tray of white porcelain bowls and cutlery in tow, and spots you watching the hawks fly off, deep in thought.

"Young Lady Qi— no, Xi...Xiaowen, what were you doing?" He asks, curious.

"Sending letters to Gusu and Qinghe. It's time we fight back against Qishan oppression." Saying so, you smile slightly before setting your hands back down. This might be the last time you will see such a pure Jiang Cheng. It... wouldn't hurt to take a few more looks.

"I... see," Jiang Cheng nods slowly, still evidently curious about your actions, as well as your complicated gaze. He must have already seen you in Madam Yu's office almost every hour of the day, strategising something with his mother.

Right before you turn around to enter Wei Wuxian's room, you halt your steps, gaze wavering, before turning your head to face Jiang Cheng once more. In an almost-regretful tone, you quietly murmur, "Young Master Jiang, it is best for you to stay on your guard. I cannot tell you what will happen next, but regardless, can you promise me that you'll keep your head held high?"

Jiang Cheng initially wants to question you further, but when he registers the forlorn look on your face, he lowers his head and nods. Suddenly, he jerks, as if remembering something. Balancing the tray on one hand, he uses his now-free hand to pull an ornately-carved wooden hair stick from his sleeve. Presenting it to you with an outstretched hand, he murmurs, "A-actually I... I just remembered that I haven't given you this."

"'Given'?" Quirking your head in confusion, you take the hair stick and stare at it as you admire the pretty craftsmanship. 

"I saw this and bought it when we were all back in Gusu, but I just... kept forgetting to give it to you. I saw it and just... thought that maybe you might like it, since you always had a special ornament in your hair," Jiang Cheng stammers, face gradually reddening. 

Enjoying this rare moment of a shy Jiang Cheng, you recall how in the web series, Jiang Cheng had given a comb to Wen Qing when he had a crush on her in that version. Just as the thought pops up in your head, the colour on your cheeks deepen as you beam in gratitude, smiling, "Thank you, Young Master Jiang... sha-shall we enter now? I believe they're still waiting for us."

"A-ah, yes, of course."

As the two of you walk to the door, you hear Wei Wuxian's voice chattering for Jiang Cheng. Hearing his name, Jiang Cheng cannot resist stepping forward and barging in.

“What are you shouting for?” snarks Jiang Cheng, before he turns to Jiang Yanli, stating, “Sister, I brought your soup over.”

Jiang Yanli takes the jar over and ladles the contents inside of it into a bowl. While Wei Wuxian is on the bed, you lurk behind Jiang Cheng's tall frame as you hear Wei Wuxian say, “Jiang Cheng, you bastard, come over here!”

“Why would you want me to come over? You wanna kneel down and thank me?”

“You got here after an entire seven days! Did you want to kill me?!”

“Huh? You were killed? Then who’s talking to me right now?”

“I’m sure it only takes five days for you to go from Dusk-Creek Mountain to Yunmeng!” 

While watching Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng banter, you meet Jiang Yanli's gaze and shake your head, a light chuckle slipping from your lips. Jiang Cheng turns around, and Wei Wuxian spots you behind him.

"Uh... You are..?" Scratching his head, Wei Wuxian asks.

"You've already forgotten your benefactor? How were the herbs in the sachet I gave Lan Wangji?" You chuckle, slowly folding your arms.

"Oh, Qi—" 

"Ah, Wei Wuxian, this is Han Xiaowen, a rogue cultivator. I'm sure you remember her, she was in Qishan with us, following the uh... Chen Sect." Jiang Cheng hastily interrupts, his hands subtly pointing at Jiang Yanli who currently has her back turned to him. 

"You can just refer to me as Xiaowen. Right, I need to tell you something... the... Young Lady Qiu Qingwen has 'perished' from her wounds in the Xuanwu Cave, and she did not make it out alive. I think you... should know about this," you add on, pointing at your mask as Jiang Yanli hands Wei Wuxian a bowl of soup. Wei Wuxian nods, understanding your implicit meaning. Not bad for a dense protagonist. He can understand such underlying meanings but can't see Lan Wangji's pining spanning almost two decades. Impressive.

Before he can reply, Jiang Fengmian steps inside. You step aside and salute him, muttering "Sect Leader Jiang." as Wei Wuxian puts down the bowl, cheerfully greeting, “Uncle Jiang!” with gusto.

“Sitting is fine," Jiang Fengmian smiles at Wei Wuxian after acknowledging your greeting.

A doting look on her face, Jiang Yanli wipes Wei Wuxian’s mouth and chin with a napkin before walking happily out with the bowl in her hands. Jiang Fengmian sits down where she had been sitting and looks around the room. You almost see his eyes linger on where Jiang Yanli's soup was sitting a moment ago.

“Father, are the Wen Sect’s people still not returning the swords?” Jiang Cheng asks.

“They have been celebrating for the past few days," Jiang Fengmian replies, shaking his head.

“Celebrating what?”

“That Wen Chao had single-handedly killed the Xuanwu of Slaughter.”

Hearing this, Wei Wuxian almost rolls off his bed, shouting, “What? The Wen Sect killed it?!”

“Or what? Did you think that they’d give you credit?” sneers Jiang Cheng.

“Those Wen dogs are talking nonsense, they have truly shameless. Lan Zhan was clearly the one who killed it."

Sensing that this conversation has no room for you to enter, you excuse yourself and leave Wei Wuxian's room politely. When you reach the end of the courtyard, you spot Madam Yu walking past the entrance.

"This one greets Madam Yu."

"Ah, it's Qiu girl. Why are you at this part of Lotus Pier?" Madam Yu feigns surprise, but you still see her eyes peering right over your shoulder and into Wei Wuxian's room. She can hide it and deny it all she wants, but three of the people she cares for are currently in that room, and one is still recovering from wounds. 

"Replying to Madam Yu, Wei Wuxian has returned to Lotus Pier, and I stopped by to check on his injuries. He did take a blow for me back in the cave, too," you respond, your tone mild. 

"Hmph. Enough about that rascal. How are the plans coming along?"

"I have already assembled a few trump cards, and your disciples have been training and resting well for the upcoming battle. Everything is done with the intentions of reducing losses. I also recommend relocating some of the Jiang sect's important treasures and heirlooms to somewhere safer, I have no doubt that the Wen-dogs will find every opportunity to pillage whatever they can."

"...You are thorough in your preparations, Qiu girl. If only A-Li could have a fraction of your... no, if my foolish son could have someone like you by his side as a wife... As a mother, I will be able to be at ease," A smile rises to Madam Yu's face as she comments.

Seeing your face redden with great speed, Madam Yu suddenly laughs, and you are surprised at how... genuine it is. 

"Why so serious? I was only teasing. Well, no matter. Regarding the plans, I will find time to inform Sect Leader Jiang later today. Rest assured, we will not let Qishan Wen stomp over us. Not without a fight."

You bid Madam Yu farewell as she walks past you and into Wei Wuxian's quarters. You watch her back for a moment, expression tense, before turning around to leave.

Everything will fall into place soon, after all. There is no time to dally, and you still have much to do.

You spend the next week restlessly in Lotus Pier, drilling the disciples with Madam Yu and strategising with her by day, and corresponding with your allies outside Yunmeng by night. 

The following night after the day Wei Wuxian returned, one of the hawks you sent out returns with a new letter on its foot, tied with a pink ribbon and an extremely small pouch. You stroke the head of the hawk and feed it a treat you prepared before removing the letter from its claws. 

'To Qingqing:

How are you holding up in Yunmeng? I hope you are well. Sect Leader Qiu and everyone else are heavily distraught by the 'news' of your passing. Young Master is especially horrified. He refuses to leave your room at all these days. As much as I want to tell them you are safe, I know that this is part of the plan you've been fretting over since the Gusu Lan lecture. I don't know what you discovered when you went to Biling Lake, but it did change you, even if it was just a little bit. I'm not your childhood friend for nothing, right? Anyway, I passed your token to the two gentlemen in your hut. Before they left, Zewu-jun handed me this pouch and told me to send it to you. In this pouch is one of Gusu Lan's signature flares. 'If your predicted situation occurs and reinforcements are needed, fire the flare into the sky', is what he said. I don't know what it means, but I assume that this is of great importance to you. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours. 

Please return safely. I miss you. 

Mianmian.'

You keep the pouch in your robes securely and reread the contents of the letter one last time before tossing it into the flames of your room's brazier. After dismissing the hawk, you flick your sleeve, extinguishing all the lights in the room until only the silver moonlight illuminates a silver of hidden exhaustion on your masked face.

Chapter Text

"Qiu girl, your prediction does have some semblance of truth in it. The scouts told me that Wen troops have been spotted entering Yunmeng yesterday."

You walk beside her along the halls of Lotus Pier. Behind the two of you, Jinzhu and Yinzhu are armoured as you requested, flanking her sides. The other Yunmeng Jiang disciples lie in wait, prepared for battle under their normal purple robes, especially after seeing the Wen-dogs knock on their door. Jiang Fengmian had left earlier today after a disagreement with Madam Yu earlier today, and you could not stop him, especially with your current identity as a mere rogue cultivator shadowing Madam Yu. With one less strong cultivator in your forces, you can only pray that he will return just in time to fight alongside Madam Yu and you. 

"I try my best. I expected the Wen troops to come sooner or later. It's good that we are prepared," you reply.

Nodding, Madam Yu looks forward, frowning at what you presume to be concerning Wen advancements. Her face only turns darker when a sudden commotion erupts in the training fields up ahead, and without a word, both you and Madam Yu walk briskly towards the source of the disruption.

Striding over to the group of disciples, she scolds, "Why the noise? Can’t I have just one day of peace and quiet?!” 

Full of urgency, Jiang Cheng cries out, "Mom, the Wen Sect’s people are here. Our youngest shidi was taken by them!” 

“You all were shouting so loudly that I heard everything from inside. So what? He was taken away, not killed, and you’re already so worked up. Are you still what a future sect leader should be? Calm down!”

As Madam Yu finishes scolding Jiang Cheng, she turns to face the gates before the training fields. About a dozen of the Wen Sect’s cultivators, dressed in their signature red sun-decorated robes, enter one after another. Behind these cultivators, a woman in vibrant clothes walks inside with deliberate steps. You keep your expression impassive upon recognising her face, the new scar on your palm experiencing a phantom throb.

Wang Lingjiao, who was stricken by Wei Wuxian so hard that she retched blood, has come for vengeance. With a simpering smile, the woman walks down the stairs of the main gates, crooning, “Madam Yu, I’m here again."

Madam Yu displays no expression, as though saying anything extra to her would dirty her mouth. Wang Lingjiao sashays forward, her irritating expression still fixed in place on her painted face.

Only when the younger woman stands before her does Madam Yu speak, “Why did you take away a disciple of my Yunmeng Jiang Sect?”

“Take? You mean the one I took outside? That’d be a long story. Why don’t we take our time to talk about it after we sit down inside?”

Madam Yu’s face grows even colder.

A servant, without neither notification nor request, has such a daring audacity to stroll through the gates of another sect and demand without any hesitation to go inside and ‘talk about it’ as if she were the owner of the place! From the corner of your eye, you catch Madam Yu's Zidian-wearing hand twitching a few times.

“Talk about it after we sit down inside?” Madam Yu's voice is dangerously still.

“Of course. I didn’t have the time to come have a seat inside the last time I came to give out orders. Please.”

Although Madam Yu’s face is covered with ridicule, her tone dripping with sarcasm, she still replies, “Sure, then, why don’t you go inside?” 

You follow behind Madam Yu and Wang Lingjiao, matching paces with Jiang Cheng. He sends you a worried look, and you shake your head and flash him a smile that does not reach your eyes.

...

Wang Lingjiao really does walk inside the main gates as if she already owns Lotus Pier.

However, although she said that she wanted to sit, she makes no show of intending to sit obediently. Instead, she saunters with curiosity around Lotus Pier in a circle, louding sharing unwarranted criticism everywhere as she clicks her tongue, “Lotus Pier really is quite nice. It’s so big. It’s just that all of the houses are a bit old... All of the wood is of poor quality. The colour is so ugly. It’s not bright enough... hey, Madam Yu, you aren’t a good mistress at all. Don’t you know to decorate the place a bit? Next time, hang up some more red curtains. It’d only be prettier that way.”

Walking along the path, she points around as if Lotus Pier is her own back garden. Madam Yu’s brows twitch erratically with every comment, and you swear that you catch Zidian crackling to life for a brief moment.

After they have finished the tour-esque walk into the main hall, Wang Lingjiao finally stops her chatter. Without anyone’s invitation, she takes her seat at the head table, looking around as if waiting for something. Seeing that nobody is going to serve her, she suddenly slams the table with a frown, demanding, “Where’s the tea?”

Although Wang Lingjiao is enveloped in lustre in expensive, colourful robes and jewellery, her mannerisms show nothing greater than what a backwater wench can exhibit. Madam Yu sits down one seat lower, on the same level as you. The wide hems of her robe and sleeves spread out, making her figure appear to be even more slender, her posture even more graceful. Jinzhu and Yinzhu stand behind her, both wearing light smirks of ridicule on their faces.

“There is no tea. Get it yourself if you want any.” Yinzhu speaks up, folding her arms. 

Wang Lingjiao widens her eyes, shocked as she gasps, “Don’t the Jiang Sect’s servants ever do anything?”

Jinzhu follows up, saying, “The Jiang Sect’s servants have more important things to do. Nobody ever needs others to do things like pouring tea. They’re not crippled.”

Wang Lingjiao eyes them up and down, gaze full of condescension as she sneers, “Who are you?”

“My personal maids.” Madam Yu replies coolly.

“Madam Yu, your Jiang Sect really is outrageous," Wang Lingjiao speaks with disdain, "This isn't proper. Even maidservants dare to interrupt a conversation in the main hall. Servants like this have their faces slapped in the Wen Sect.” 

“Jinzhu and Yinzhu aren’t the usual servants. They’ve been staying with me ever since I was young. They’ve never served for anyone aside from me, and there hasn’t been anyone who can slap them. They can’t, and they don’t dare to,” replies Madam Yu icily. 

“Madam Yu, what are you talking about? In a prominent sect, there has to be a clear distinction between the superior and the inferior for it to be not in chaos. Servants should be what servants ought to be," 

Upon hearing Wang Lingjiao's oily words, Madam Yu remains silent with an impassive look on her face. From the side, you see that she appears to deeply consider the phrase ‘ servants should be what servants ought to be ’. Glancing at Wei Wuxian, she nods slowly, responding loftily, “That’s right... but let's go back to the main focus of this conversation. Just why did you take the disciple from my Yunmeng Jiang Sect?”

"Madam Yu, it’s best if you draw a clear line between yourself and that brat. He has hidden intentions, but he’s already been caught red-handed by me and transferred to wherever he’ll be taken care of.”

Madam Yu raises a brow, questioning, “Hidden intentions?”

“What hidden intentions could our youngest shidi have?” Jiang Cheng blurts out.

“I have proof. Bring me it!” With a triumphant grin, Wang Lingjiao waves a Wen disciple over. One of the Wen Sect’s disciples strides over, handing over a torn paper kite. Wang Lingjiao shakes the kite, declaring, “This is the proof.”

From the side, Wei Wuxian laughs, “The kite is just the everyday one-eyed monster. What proof could this be?”

“Do you think I’m blind? Look carefully,” Wang Lingjiao snarks, jabbing at the kite. The nail of her index finger, painted red with the mace of nutmeg, points here and there on the drawings, as she presumptuously analyses, “What colour is this kite? Golden. What shape is the one-eyed monster? Round.”

“And so?” You glare at her, unable to keep your silence.

“So? Haven’t you realized yet? Golden and round — what does it look like? It's obviously a sun!” Under everyone’s gaping mouths, Wang Lingjiao continues proudly, “Out of so many designs, why did he make it a one-eyed monster? Why did he paint it golden? Couldn’t he have made it any other shape? Why isn’t it any other colour? Are you going to say that this is a coincidence? It's definitely not, of course! He must’ve done it on purpose. Shooting down such a kite is actually implying ‘shooting down the sun’! He wants to shoot down the sun! This is a great disrespect towards the Wen Sect. Isn’t this a hidden intent to rebel?"

Watching how she performs such a far-stretched theory while being so full of herself, Jiang Cheng finally gives up on enduring, firing back, “Even though the kite is golden and round, it’s as different from the sun as it can be. Just how are they similar? They aren’t similar at all!”

Right as Jiang Cheng says this, Wei Wuxian follows up immediately, sniggering, “Then, according to you, you can’t eat tangerines either. Aren’t tangerines also golden and round? But I’ve seen you eat them many times before, though?"

“So, such a kite is what you came here for today?” drawls Madam Yu, ignoring how Wang Lingjiao and Wei Wuxian trade vicious glares.

Wang Lingjiao lets out an airy laugh behind perfectly manicured nails as she twitters, “Of course not. Today, I’m representing the Wen Sect and Young Master Wen to come here and punish someone. On Dusk-Creek Mountain, Wei Ying, this brat, made rude remarks when Young Master Wen was fighting with the Xuanwu of Slaughter, causing many disturbances. He made Young Master Wen tired, almost losing to the beast—he even lost his sword!”

Hearing how she is weaving black into white with her made-up stories, Jiang Cheng breaks into a short, incredulous laugh. You almost cough up a mouthful of blood as well at how absurd it is to hear this up close and live. This woman really is... something else.

“Luckily, the Heavens blessed Young Master Wen. Even though he lost his sword, he was able to safely take down the Xuanwu of Slaughter... but this brat cannot be tolerated any longer! Today, I’m here under the orders of Young Master Wen. Madam Yu, please punish him harshly and make him an example to the rest of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect!”

“Mom…” Jiang Cheng begins.

“Shut your mouth!”

Watching Madam Yu’s reaction, Wang Lingjiao is quite pleased, continuing, “Wei Ying — if I remember correctly — is a servant of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, isn’t he? At the moment, without the presence of Sect Leader Jiang, I’m sure that, Madam Yu, you know what’d be the best to do. Or else, if the Yunmeng Jiang Sect insists on defending him, it’d really make people suspect… if certain rumours… are really true...”

Sitting at the frontmost seat where Jiang Fengmian always sits as the head of the clan, the unruly Wang Lingjiao giggles coyly, covering her mouth as if she were a cultured lady. Madam Yu shifts her gaze, her face dark.

Picking up a certain insinuation in the wench's tone, Jiang Cheng fumes, “What rumours?!"

Seeing as the teen beside you is on the verge of lunging forward to straightforwardly attack, you quickly extend a hand in front of Jiang Cheng, stopping him being acting rash. With wide eyes tinged with worry and anger, Jiang Chang glances at you, but you shake your head to dissuade him.

However, just as the room falls into a standstill, Madam Yu suddenly stands up and strikes Wei Wuxian with her whip!

“Mom!” Pulling himself out of your grasp, Jiang Cheng lurches forward, trying in vain to protect his shixiong from his mother. Alarmed, you lunge forward too, pulling him away just as Madam Yu flicks her whip once more!

Face dyed with crimson anger, Madam Yu steps forward. Zidian sizzles in her cold hands. having turned from its shining ring form on her finger into a deadly, blazing lightning whip. With a deathly glare, she shouts, “Jiang Cheng, stay out of the way, or you’ll be kneeling too!”

Wei Wuxian struggles to get up, pushing against the ground as he shouts, “Jiang Cheng, move over! Don’t worry about me!”

Madam Yu lashes out her whip again, forcing him back onto the ground. She grinds her teeth together, snarling, “…I’ve already said long ago that you… this unruly thing! You would definitely bring trouble to the Jiang Sect, sooner or later!”

You use all the strength in your body to restrain Jiang Cheng from helping Wei Wuxian, your hand thrumming with pain from the exertion of holding a man much taller and heavier than you back.

"Let go!" Jiang Cheng struggles against your hold, but when his eyes lower and he catches sight of the sheen of sweat on your brow, his movements come to a stop.

Helplessly, you shake your head again, unable to voice anything.

Wei Wuxian clenches his teeth as he suffers, unspeaking and unmoving. Your mind drifts back to the stellar acting from the web series as the actor jolted from phantom strikes, but here, Wei Wuxian is enduring real, solid lashes from the crackling and cruel Zidian. This is real life. This is no longer fiction. The pain he is suffering is as real as the loose grunts of pain that ring in your ears.

Wang Lingjiao watches on with a smile on her face. After Madam Yu finishes with the brutal onslaught, she retracts Zidian at once. Wei Wuxian lies crumpled on the ground, quivering from the pain. Every cell in your body screams to help him, but you know that you cannot afford to do that right now, not when Wang Lingjiao is watching over everything.

“...It’s over?” Wang Lingjiao asks, surprised.

“What did you think?” Madam Yu snorts.

"That was it? Just like that?” 

Madam Yu raises her brows, scoffing, “What do you mean, ‘that was it' ? Which level of spiritual weaponry do you think Zidian is at? Having had the beating, he won’t heal even after next month. It’d be enough for him to savour!”

“But there’d come a time when he is healed, wouldn’t there?” Wang Lingjiao presses.

Unable to bear this any longer, Jiang Cheng rages, “What else do you want?!”

“Madam Yu, since it’s a punishment, you must make him remember it for the rest of his life and regret it for the rest of his life. Only then will he dare not to make the same mistake again. If all that he got was a few whips, he’d be jumping around again after a while of rest. Then what sort of punishment would that be? Boys his age are the easiest to forget the pain of the injury after they have recovered. There’d be no use at all!" whines Wang Lingjiao.

“What do you think, then? Chop off both of his legs so that he can’t jump around again?”

Wang Lingjiao flicked her wrist dismissively as she giggles, “Young Master Wen is kind. He wouldn’t do something as cruel as chop off both of his legs. If only his right hand is chopped off, then he wouldn’t ever care about this again.”

This woman is doing nothing more than shamelessly flaunting her connections. With the support of Wen Chao, she clearly seeks revenge for the strike that Wei Wuxian had given her in the cave at Dusk-Creek Mountain! Since the other person who struck her was not only a clan disciple of her sect but had also already 'died', she can only vent her frustrations on the only available one left.

Madam Yu glances at Wei Wuxian through the corner of her eye, as if seriously mulling this over. 

"Cut off his right hand?”

“That’s right.”

Circling Wei Wuxian, Madam Yu begins to pace as if actually considering such an idea. Jiang Cheng fights out of your grasp before crashing to his knees, hovering over Wei Wuxian as he begs, “Mom, Mom, please don’t… The things aren’t how she said it to be at all…”

Seeing as Jiang Cheng is so protective of Wei Wuxian as a person who does not know that he will not be harmed, you give up on holding him back. Instead, your gaze inadvertently flits to Wang Lingjiao, blazing with hatred as you remember her evils from the Qishan indoctrination period.

"Oh, and this wench you have behind you, Madam Yu! Why do you keep an ugly masked servant behind and allow her to sit on the same level as you? Once again, you really have no concept of the distance superiors have over their inferiors!"

Wang Lingjiao casts a dirty look at you who is standing by Madam Yu, as if the fact that a masked girl standing in her presence is insulting enough. Well, with her bad history of unveiling your unmarred face, perhaps she developed a hatred for masked people? You look different enough from when you were in Qishan, with a different and simpler hairstyle, a whole different style of mask, and grey robes with a purple waist sash, so she definitely cannot recognise you. At most, you're only another one of Madam Yu's maidservants.

“Madam Yu, think this through. The matter at hand, the Wen Sect will definitely get to the bottom of it. With his hand chopped off for me to bring back, it’d be good enough an explanation, and the Yunmeng Jiang Sect would be fine. Or else, the next time when Young Master Wen asks, things wouldn’t be so simple anymore!”

A cold light flashes through Madam Yu’s eyes. Her voice is eerie as she commands, “Xiaowen, stop standing around dumbly! Close the doors. Don’t let the others see the blood ."

Remembering the plan you hatched with Madam Yu, you dip your head.

"Of course, Madam Yu," You mutter, an intentional hesitance in your voice. 

You stand up and bow deeply to Madam Yu before walking towards the doors. As you turn your back to the group, you make eye contact with the Jiang Sect guard outside and bob your head twice as if in dejection. After ensuring that the disciple outside has caught your signal, you push the great doors shut. Right before it closes, you see him nod solemnly. The light on the ground disappears as well as the door closes, giving the hall a sense of ominous tension.

Chapter Text

Terrified by how compliant you are being, Jiang Cheng appears as though he is going to be scared to death. He hugs his mother’s leg, pleading desperately, “Mom? Mom! What are you doing? Please don’t cut off his hand!”

Wang Lingjiao claps her hands together, excitedly cheering, “Madam Yu, I knew that you must be the most obedient subordinate of the Qishan Wen Sect! Somebody, hold this brat down!”

“There is no need.” Saying so, she waves a hand toward you. Jinzhu and Yinzhu stand behind you, their hands behind their backs, secretly armed. You walk over, making eye contact with Wei Wuxian the whole way. 

To his knowledge, Wei Wuxian only knew that you were plotting something with Madam Yu, but he didn't know what you were planning. Seeing the assuring and determined glint in your eyes and your subtle nod, he slackens, as if resigning himself to his fate.

“Oh, so you’re having your ugly maid hold him down? That’d work too," Wang Lingjiao chirps.

“Mom! Mom listen to me! I beg you! Don’t cut off his hand! If Father knew…”

It was all fine until Jiang Cheng mentioned Jiang Fengmian. The second he mentioned him, Madam Yu’s expression changes at once, shouting, “Don’t talk to me about your father! What could happen if he knows? Could he kill me?!”

“Madam Yu, I just admire you so much! It looks like that from now on, in the supervision office, we’ll get along well as well!” Wang Lingjiao beams.

Madam Yu pulls back her leg and her violet dress hem, which Jiang Cheng had been clutching. She turns around, brows raised as she repeats, “Supervisory office?”

Wang Lingjiao smiles as she continues, either oblivious or ignoring Madam Yu's rage. “That’s right, supervisory office. This is the second matter that I came to the Yunmeng Jiang Sect for. The new supervisory orders that came from our Qishan Wen Sect, calling for supervisory offices to be built at every city. From now on, I declare that Lotus Pier is the supervisory office of the Wen Sect at Yunmeng.”

Jiang Cheng’s eyes turn red as he screams, “What supervisory office?! This is my sect!!"

You meet Madam Yu's eyes, nodding solemnly.

Another one of your predictions has become accurate.

“Madam Yu, you must discipline your son properly. Since hundreds of years ago, all of the sects have been under the Wen Sect. In front of the Wen Sect’s envoy, how could he say things like your sect and my sect? I had originally been hesitating. Lotus Pier is so old and it had brought out quite a few dissidents, so could it really take on the heavy responsibility of being a supervision office? But seeing how obediently you followed my orders and how your personality suits my taste, I’ve still decided to give this great honour to…” 

Before she can finish her sentence, Madam Yu strides over and gives her an echoing, satisfying, slap.

The slap is shocking both in sound and in force. Wang Lingjiao was slapped with such force that she falls to the ground with a loud thud. Blood gushing out of her nose, she widens her eyes.

The few of the Wen Sect’s disciples within the main hall are alarmed at once. All of them unsheathe their swords. With a wave of Madam Yu’s hand, a brilliant ring of purple light shoots out of Zidian. A large portion of the disciples collapses immediately.

With all her elegance, Madam Yu walks toward Wang Lingjiao and looks down on her. Suddenly, she bends down and grabs Wang Lingjiao’s hair. Pulling her up by her tresses, she gives her another slap, seething, “How dare you?!”

Oh, it's happening.

Madam Yu has been enduring this for too long. Right now, her face is twisted into a horrifying expression as she advances toward Wang Lingjiao. Face swollen, Wang Lingjiao begins to scream. Without holding back at all, Madam Yu gives her another slap, cutting off her ear-piercing scream. She shouts, “You look at its owner before you hit a dog! You barged into my sect, and you want to punish my person in front of my face? What a thing you are, how dare you be so undisciplined?!”

As she finishes, she threw Wang Lingjiao’s head to the side. Like she considered it dirty, Madam Yu fishes out her handkerchief and wipes at her hands. Jinzhu and Yinzhu stand behind her, faces bearing the same smile of disdain as she has. Wang Lingjiao covers her now-swollen face with shaking hands, cheeks stained with tears as she gasps, “How… How dare you do something like this… Neither the Qishan Wen Sect nor the Yingchuan Wang Sect will let you go!”

Madam Yu tosses her handkerchief on the ground before kicking her over, cursing, “Shut up! Such a scum of a wench—my Meishan Yu Sect has roamed the cultivation world for hundreds of years, and I’ve never heard of some Yingchuan Wang Sect! Of which gutter did this menial sect crawl out?! Is it full of things like you? And you dare mention the superior and the inferior before me? Then let me teach you what superiority and inferiority mean!"

Saying so, she lifts her foot, and your eyes sparkle with the intensity of a thousand suns as you finally indulge yourself once. This moment is simply too iconic.

"I am the superior , you are the inferior ! ”

On the side, Jiang Cheng is already in the middle of helping Wei Wuxian up. Watching the scene unfold, both of them are shocked speechless.

Behind the mask, you cannot help but break into a cheery smile.

Madam Yu looks behind her, signalling Jinzhu and Yinzhu. Both reveal their longswords and circle the hall. With fast, merciless moves, they kill all of the Wen Sect’s disciples within seconds! Wang Lingjiao watches this all unfold, realising that it’d soon be her turn.

“You… Do you think that you can silence me? Do you think Young Master Wen doesn’t know that I’m here today? You think that he’ll let you go after he knows about this?!” She threatens with the last of her strength.

Yinzhu sneers, “You sound as if he has let us go already.”

“I’m close to Young Master Wen, I’m the closest one! If you dare do anything to me, he’ll…”

Madam Yu gives her another slap, mocking, “He’ll do what? Cut our hands or our legs off? Or burn down our residence? Or lead thousands of people to raze Lotus Pier to the ground? Build a supervisory office?”

...Well...

Before Wang Lingjiao can scream for Wen Zhuliu, you kneel beside her quickly and seal her meridians with a few silver needles, stopping her from speaking with paralysis. 

"Still want to call for Wen Zhuliu?" Your voice shocks even yourself with how gleeful it sounds.

"Well, we can silence you this way."

With one foot on Wang Lingjiao’s wrist, Madam Yu unsheathes her sword. Just as the blade is about to fall, it suddenly bounces away.

Fate is inevitable in the end, as the doors fly open.

Chapter Text

The doors to the hall have already been blown apart, and a man of a tall physique barges inside. Wearing black clothes with red accents, the man has on him a grave expression. Without a doubt, Wen Chao’s personal guard, a cultivator of very high level, Wen Zhuliu has arrived. 

“Core-Melting Hand?” Madam Yu questions, activating Zidian with a flick of her wrist. 

Wen Zhuliu’s voice is ice cold as he greets back, “Violet Spider.”

One of Wang Lingjiao’s hands is still under Madam Yu's foot. Her features look twisted, tears and ruined make-up smeared all over her face from the pain. As much as she wants to scream, you had already stopped her with paralysis. Until those silver needles are taken out, she will not be able to move.

Madam Yu recalls how you addressed the Core-Melting Hand before and snorts, “Wen Zhuliu? Core-Melting Hand, isn’t your original name Zhao Zhuliu? Your surname clearly wasn’t Wen, but you wanted to change your surname no matter what. Everyone’s rushing like ducklings. Is the surname of those Wen-dogs really that precious? Turning back on your ancestors—how laughable!”

Wen Zhuliu remains unswayed, seemingly indifferent as he states, “Each serves their own master, so please excuse me.”

Zidian flies out as Madam Yu shouts, “How pretentious!”

However, Wen Zhuliu’s large hand grabs Zidian without any concern!

Madam Yu has been holding an intent of killing since long ago, not only wanting to destroy all of the Wen-dogs but also in caution of Wen Zhuliu. The energy flow she put in is definitely at more than maximum power, yet Wen Zhuliu has grabbed it without any difficulty!

Within the years of it being in use, Zidian had never met such an opponent. After it had been grabbed, Madam Yu pauses for the slightest moment, as if confused.

You run your sword through Wen Zhuliu's stomach and he lets go of Zidian, which crackles crazily. Strangely, the older man's eyes widen minutely as he returns your gaze, but you barely have time to react as he leaps backwards to create distance. 

Wen Zhuliu doubles over, blood dripping all over the wooden floor. However, as he falls beside Wang Lingjiao, he swipes a cylindrical Wen signal flare from her and fires it! Light shoots out of the cylinder. Along with a sharp whistle, it rushes out of the wooden window and explodes in the sky outside.

"Second plan!" You yell just as Madam Yu nods at you. You hurdle over Wen corpses to bolt out of the main hall, shouting, "Start the barrier NOW! Do not let the Wen-dogs into Lotus Pier! The others, evacuate the civilians!"

The Yunmeng Jiang disciples you had been training for the past few weeks immediately hop to action, and a barrier of purple envelops the land. As you stare out into the horizon, you see Wen flags atop warships looming close. They prowl outside, slamming into the barrier with assault weapons and explosives.

You turn back and run back into the main hall, returning  to the sight of Jiang Cheng on the ground, coughing up blood. Wen Zhuliu must have hit him like in the novel. Seeing that Jiang Cheng was injured, Madam Yu roars. The light over Zidian grew in intensity, becoming almost white in colour!

Wen Zhuliu is blasted into the wall by Zidian’s sudden eruption. Jinzhu and Yinzhu pulled out two long, sizzling whips from their waists as well, and begin fighting Wen Zhuliu. With the opportunity, Madam Yu picks up Jiang Cheng and you help Wei Wuxian up before the four of you rush out of the hall.

"Ho... how long have you been planning this?? And with Madam Yu?!" Wei Wuxian wheezes as you lug him towards the pier.

"Getting her to cooperate with me was the first thing I did when I reached Yunmeng. Did you think I dared to slack here while you boys were off being valiant elsewhere?" 

You all rush onto the utmost pier. You have stayed in Lotus Pier for long enough that you know that its actual pier always has a few small boats docked in it, to be used by the Jiang Sect’s disciples for roaming within the water. Heaving, both you and Madam Yu toss these two grown teens into the boat and jump in after them. Holding Jiang Cheng’s hand, Madam Yu helps him regain his senses.

“Mom, what do we do?” Jiang Cheng's voice is full of fear. You don't think you've ever heard him be this scared before in this life.

Madam Yu barks, “What do you mean what do we do?! Can’t you see yet? Seems that Qingwen was right after all, they did come here prepared. Today’s fight couldn’t have been avoided. Soon afterwards there’ll be herds of those Wen-dogs arriving. Leave first!”

“Then what about Shijie? Shijie went to Meishan the day before yesterday. If she comes back…” Wei Wuxian pipes in.

“Why else do you think we sent her away?” Madam Yu glowers, “Shut your mouth! It’s all because of you little…!”

Faced with this, Wei Wuxian can only stay quiet. Madam Yu takes off the Zidian ring and stuffs it onto Jiang Cheng’s right index finger. Shocked, Jiang Cheng can only breathe out, “… Mom, why are you giving me Zidian?”

“I’ve given it to you, so it’ll be yours from now on! Zidian has already recognized you as its master.”

Confused, Jiang Cheng asks, “Mom, won’t you be leaving with us?”

Madam Yu stares at his face. Suddenly, she embraces him and kisses his hair a few times. With him in her arms, she murmurs, “...Good boy.”

Jiang Cheng has never been hugged by his mother like this, much less kissed. His head is buried in her chest but his eyes are wide open, not knowing what to do. One hand holding him, Madam Yu grabs Wei Wuxian’s lapels with her other hand as though to strangle him to death. Through clenched teeth, she speaks.

“…You damn little brat! I hate you! I hate you more than anything else! Look at what our sect has gone through for your sake!”

Jiang Cheng hurries to ask, “Mom, Qi-Qingwen, won’t you be leaving with us…?”

At this point, the two boys don't even call you by any aliases anymore. Devastated, they call you by your given name. Madam Yu lets go at once, pushing Jiang Cheng onto Wei Wuxian while you shake your head, a poignant smile on your lips.

The two of you hop back onto the dock. The boat rocks side to side amid the water of the river. Realisation finally dawns upon Jiang Cheng, and you can see it in his eyes with the way his veins are bulging on his neck and forehead.

A grim battle will happen. As the mistress, Madam Yu can’t flee, yet she worries about her child. Perhaps entertaining a selfish wish, she can only let these two escape first. As for you, Wei Wuxian defending you and Mianmian was what spurred this attack, so by staying back to defend this place, you can count it as returning the debt.

Knowing that there’d be immense danger after you all part, Jiang Cheng is terrified out of his wits. He stands up and tries to leave the boat as well, but currents suddenly shoot out of Zidian! A rope of purple lightning ties the two tightly to the boat, immobilising them.

Alarmed, Jiang Cheng shouts, “Mom, what are you doing?!”

“Don’t make such a fuss. It’ll loosen up when you’re somewhere safe. If anyone attacks you on the journey, it’ll protect you as well. Don’t come back. Go to Meishan straight away and find your sister!” After Madam Yu finishes speaking, she turns to Wei Wuxian and points at him, commanding, “Wei Ying! Listen to me! Protect Jiang Cheng, protect him even if you die, do you understand?!”

“Madam Yu!” Wei Wuxian's voice is hoarse.

Madam Yu rages, “Did you hear me?! Don’t talk nonsense to me, I’m only asking you — did you hear me?!”

"Yes, I did! Madam Yu is staying as the Madam of Lotus Pier, but you, Qiu Qingwen! What about you?! What are you doing, still standing beside Madam Yu?!" Wei Wuxian roars.

A small smile tugs at the corner of your lips, your sword still clutched in your hand.

"All that Mianmian and I owe you, I will return it all to you here. Please… after you depart, do not return ." After saying your piece in a soft voice, you rest a hand on Madam Yu's arm, saying, "I will leave you three for your farewells."

Letting your hand fall to your side, you take a few steps away from the trio and turn your back on them before you pull out the blue signal flare the hawk brought you. Aiming towards the sky, you fire it into the grey-blue clouds, watching a giant blue symbol bloom above the purple barrier of Yunmeng Jiang. Hopefully, with this flare, the reinforcements will arrive in time. 

You turn around, having fired the flare, and watch Madam Yu cut off the rope that leashed the boat with her sword and kick the side of the boat hard. Along with the kick, the boat carrying the two boys drift yards away at once. With a few spins, it sails quickly yet steadily toward the centre of the river.

From afar, Jiang Cheng wails, “Mom!”

You stand beside Madam Yu, sword in hand, watching the small boat disappear. Perhaps this might be the last time you see Jiang Cheng as a simple, protected young master.

Chapter Text

After the boat is far into the distance, the two of you return to the gates of Lotus Pier, where the Wen forces await. When you return, Jinzhu and Yinzhu are still battling Wen Zhuliu, and the two of you immediately hop in to give them backup.

As you fight, you realise that you completely forgot about Wang Lingjiao! Just as you turn around to bark at someone to check on her, you spot your silver needles lying on the floor just as the purple barrier begins collapsing! 

Fate is mocking you, you realise. However, you feel nothing but resolve running through your veins. Lotus Pier must not fall today!

As the barrier falls apart, you cannot even afford to stop and watch the Wen troops zero in on Lotus Pier while you're busy fighting Wen Zhuliu alongside Madam Yu. 

"Yunmeng Jiang will not fall so easily to the Wen-dogs. Attempt the impossible! Charge! " 

With this shout from Madam Yu, the Yunmeng Jiang disciples erupt into a loud, echoing battle cry. 

Perhaps sensing that the Wen reinforcements have arrived, Wen Zhuliu hops on the defensive, evading Madam Yu's attacks to sweep Wang Lingjiao over to the Wens. Turning to the impending wave of Wen disciples, you send a prayer to the heavens above and flick your sword before charging forward. When you fight, your body moves on its own accord, guided by muscle memory. Despite only being able to fight with the sword with one hand, you hold your own, relying on the adrenaline rush to distract you from the injuries, both new and old, from making you falter. 

When your sword cleaves through the first Wen cultivator that attacks you, you feel scared. The weight of taking a life bears heavily in your heart, but you cannot stop now.

Even if a cultivator has greater strength than the average mundane person, your cultivation isn't high enough to not feel lethargic. After fighting past a wave of Wen-dogs, you already start feeling exhausted, yet the hoards of Wen disciples are endless. You take in laboured breaths, panting heavily with every strike as the Wen troops keep coming, as you try and ignore the heavy smell of blood and ash in the air. From the edge of the pier, you finally see a welcome sight as screams begin erupting from the frontier. 

Giant plumes of dust erupt along with large waves as your bomb squad pulls through, finally ready with the bombs you hastily made throughout these months. This took weeks of trial and error, and only a few nights ago did you finally produce a successful prototype of a proper strong grenade and brief the disciples. The bombs, enforced by runic carvings on the bamboo tubing, leave large explosions that sink some unlucky Wen ships into the murky waters.

"Qingwen! Are you sure you don't want to join Yunmeng Jiang? You don't even need to marry into our sect!" 

At Madam Yu's yell, you laugh loudly as you swing your sword around, pleased with your work.

Remembering that you are technically still dead to your current identity’s family, you laugh, "Why not? If my family doesn’t want me anymore, I’ll join!"

"My lady!" 

Abruptly, you and Madam Yu hear a familiar voice, and you kick aside a Wen-dog to yell, "Sect Leader Jiang! Did you run into the boys on your way here?"

Throwing himself into battle, Jiang Fengmian replies, "How did you know?"

You decline to reply, only smiling forlornly as you flick the blood off your sword. Your grip is slick from the blood of your victims, and you are pretty sure that your empathy has been shut off in your mind for you to cut down so many Wen troops with relative ease. Without taking the time to rest, you pull a grenade out of your overcoat and uncork it with your teeth before throwing it over to the front of the next wave of Wen forces, watching them shriek as their front lines become clouded with a large explosion.

"Why did you come back?!" Madam Yu barks as she cuts down a Wen-dog that was gunning for her husband.

"I couldn't leave my lady behind," replies Jiang Fengmian, voice even as if he isn't fighting a battle of life and death.

Now that the two stars have assembled here, you can only pray that your final trump card will arrive on time.

They have to.

...

In an hour, countless Wen-dogs and Yunmeng Jiang disciples have already fallen, Wen banners waving in the wind on the shores. The more you stare at the scene, the more you realise how much you loathe the colour red. Your muscles burn from exertion and your face and mask are already sticky with blood. Looking upon the sky, you remember that it only took two hours in the original work for the Wen-dogs to take over Lotus Pier and massacre Yunmeng Jiang. Having fought for an hour or so, Madam Yu and you are peppered with wounds and slashes, and exhaustion is beginning to catch up to the two of you. Your arm throbs from a few gashes and you feel exhausted, but otherwise, you are fine. Jiang Fengmian is holding up his own, cleaving down Wen forces with his sword. 

In this battle, the only sounds are of warcries, the clashing of swords, and the sounds of death. There is no dramatic orchestra music in the background. There are no dramatic cutscenes or timeskips. You fight endlessly through this hellish hour, and the only music you hear is the rhythmic drumming of your own heartbeat. With every corpse you step over, every disciple you cut down with your sword, every bloodied slash you gain on your arms and back, this jarring scene that looked as though it came out of some over-dramatic action movie is your reality.

Here, however, thanks to your efforts, the Jiang Sect was already prepared for such a battle, and a sizable dent in the Wen Sect forces had already been made. As much as you want to leap forward and behead Wen Chao, you know that Wen Ruohan will crush the still-budding rebellion immediately to avenge his fallen son. You look towards the horizon, meeting the gaze of an advancing Wen Zhuliu. Here he comes.

Just as you swing your sword, your hand falters a little from the built-up lethargy, and Wen Zhuliu's palms loom over. Before he can strike you, however, you hear, "Xiaowen, move aside!"

Forcing your tired body to twist, you dodge just as a sword flies right past your cheek and plunges into Wen Zhuliu's shoulder! He staggers for a moment, giving you ample time to leap backwards and out of his reach.

However, before you can take a breather, he lunges forward towards Madam Yu again, as if the previous blows were nothing! Palms crackling with red energy, Wen Zhuliu grits his teeth and advances once more!

The world around you seems to slow down, as you watch Jiang Fengmian rush over in front of the two of you. As if watching some sickening movie, your mind imprints the image of Wen Zhuliu's palms connecting with where Jiang Fengmian's core would be, before he flies backwards, slamming into the ground as his sword flies out of his hand!

Enraged, Madam Yu meets Wen Zhuliu head-on, battling him after unleashing a guttural cry that you have never heard before. You rush to Jiang Fengmian's side, face pale and cold. Barely dodging the attack of an advancing Wen disciple whom you believe to be his canon killer, you feel a sharp pain shoot up your back as you turn and knock his newly-bloody sword with yours. From the violent jerk, the hairstick holding up your hair — the very hairstick Jiang Cheng had gifted you when Wei Wuxian had woken up — clatters onto the floor. The Wen disciple stumbles, and his foot lands on the forgotten wooden stick, snapping it into two. 

Clenching your teeth, you flick your wrist, adjusting your hold as you cleanly slice that Wen disciple’s head off his shoulders! With the threat now dispatched, you fall to your knees and grab Jiang Fengmian’s forearm, desperately feeling for a pulse.

Jiang Fengmian's core is gone, but the man still lives! 

Spotting a Yunmeng Jiang medic you trained, you wave him over, shouting, " Sect Leader Jiang is still alive! Get him to safety now!"

Saying so, you charge forward into the battle again after watching a few disciples come to rescue an unconscious Jiang Fengmian.

The battle rages on, giving you both no time to panic. Furious fires, coupled with the blood of Wen and Jiang alike, paint the once idyllic Lotus Pier a harsh crimson. Having endured quite a few slashes, you're frankly surprised that you can still keep going. With more Yunmeng Jiang disciples falling from Wen blades, the Wen-dogs' forces almost seem endless. Where the hell are your reinforcements?!

Just as you think this, you hear a panicked yell from one of the Wen soldiers. 

"Ze-Zewu-jun! With reinforcements—!"

"Xiaowen! Was this the trump card you mentioned?!" Madam Yu asks, surprised.

"Yes! I wasn't sure whether they'd make it in time, but yes!" 

Meeting the eyes of Lan Xichen who is standing right in the front of the fleet, you wave your injured hand, laughter bubbling from your throat.

"Zewu-jun! Haven't seen you in a while!" You try your best to shout. 

Lan Xichen chuckles as well, recognising your voice, before turning back to command his troops.

"Assist the Yunmeng Jiang Sect in this battle against the enemy. Charge!"

Chapter Text

In the end, the Wen-dogs won the battle. 

The forces Lan Xichen brought were just enough to extract the surviving Yunmeng Jiang disciples from Lotus Pier. The Wen cheers are grating on your ears, and hopefully they will continue their hubristic attitude so that they won't quell the campaign yet. Wen Chao will not inform Wen Ruohan of the losses. His pride will not allow it. Instead, he will only claim Lotus Pier and announce that the Yunmeng Jiang Sect is no more to be lauded as a vanquisher.

Under a screen of smoke you created from an array of explosives, you let out a throat-rending shout, putting all your efforts into your acting performance as you scream, “Fuck, we’ll… we’ll avenge Sect Leader Jiang and Madam Yu! What they’ve done will not be in vain, we can’t— ugh!”

You cut yourself off with a genuine coughing fit as a very-much-alive Madam Yu snatches your arm and grabs you before taking off on her sword.

As you all escape under the cover of the smoke-filled night, you stare blankly at the damage of Lotus Pier which is engulfed in flames and Wen banners from Madam Yu's sword as Madam Yu supports you. Your borrowed sword had already broken from the battle earlier, and you left it behind in Lotus Pier with Jiang Fengmian’s forgotten sword. You wonder if the boys will interpret it as if you and Jiang Fengmian had died.

"This is your idea of success? It looks more like a defeat," Madam Yu hisses, though she doesn't let go of you. Behind you, Lan Xichen is supporting an unconscious Jiang Fengmian. He is unconscious and core-less, but at least he's still alive! Although the battle was lost, at least you managed to save those two... just barely...

"It's a... it's a strategic withdrawal... not a defeat... Originally, you and Sect Leader Jiang died—!" You manage to force out these words amidst your coughing fit. When you pull your torn sleeve away, you notice the fresh wet blood coating the fabric what was used to block your mouth.  

In these two hours, your old wounds have reopened, and since you are weaker than Madam Yu, you sustained more injuries than she did. Feeling extremely dizzy from your blood loss, you droop your head, finally feeling all the stinging pain and fatigue after the adrenaline fades.

"Alright, alright. Don't strain yourself now! I haven't even asked you how you knew so much," Madam Yu says, turning around to check that Jiang Fengmian is alright.

"...One can say that I'm... cursed with 'foresight', so to speak," you smile bitterly, wiping blood off your lips with your charred sleeve. "I have seen things... seen the burning of Lotus Pier… variations of your corpses ... too many times to count."

Madam Yu falls silent. She only keeps her arms around you, and from the direction that you are heading, you know that this is far from Yiling, so the boys won't even know whether you are all alive. The two of you remain silent, and you close your eyes, not wishing to think about it anymore.

…

Ow.

You crack open your eyes, finding yourself beset with bandages. Your throat feels scratchy and dry, and a headache pounds in your head. Your fingers twitch, and stinging pain runs up your non-dominant arm. Looking around blankly, your eyes only focus after a while and you look around, realising that you are staring up into a war tent's interior. Ah, right.

The moment your brain registered that you were safe from the (' lost ') battle of Lotus Pier, you immediately collapsed from your months-long exhaustion. Frankly speaking, it was already commendable that you could stay alert up until this point in the story, but...

How long have you been unconscious? Have the Wens decided to push forward their attacks? Has Jiang Cheng lost his golden core yet? What day is it? You force yourself to sit up, grunting with exertion as you endure the profuse aches all around your body. Your chest feels constricted by a thick layer of bandages that wrap around your entire torso, and you feel a surge of pain running around your back from where a Wen soldier slashed you. 

Suddenly, a figure clothed in violet rises over, gently helping you sit up properly. You squint, eyes focusing on the person who helped you.

"Yanli-jie... why are you here?" you rasp.

"You fought valiantly, Xiaowen. You should rest a little," Jiang Yanli bows her head as she speaks, handing you a bowl of water. "Thank you for saving my family."

"...But… but Lotus Pier—!" A cough forces itself out of your throat, and you almost choke on your own blood.

"You have already done us a grand grace, please don’t get too agitated. It's not good to be so angry when you are still unwell!" Jiang Yanli replies quickly, urging you to drink. You oblige.

After you gulp down the water, you haphazardly wipe your lips as you hastily ask, "How long... how long have I been sleeping?" 

Jiang Yanli puts down your empty bowl before replying, "It has been four days."

"Four days?!"

You rip the blanket off of you and scramble out of the bed. Your dishevelled hair falls over your face, and you comb it out of your eyes frantically when you realise that you're unmasked!

Aghast, you turn slowly to look at Jiang Yanli.

"Here's your mask," Jiang Yanli hands you a clean metal mask, and you take it from her, dazed.

"You must have had a reason for faking your death, but I'll keep quiet about this. The other men are currently right outside your tent, so it would be best to dress properly before rushing out. Here, I'll help you," says Jiang Yanli with a smile.

You look down at yourself and realise that not only is your hair untied, but you are also only wearing your inner robes, and the top half is still dangling around your waist, with only bandages covering your chest. With bandages covering your torso, arms, and even your fingers, you feel like a mummy. Face burning from embarrassment, you nod sheepishly and let Jiang Yanli help you change into a set of clean clothing.

"...Yanli-jie, after this war is over, can you call me by my real name?" you ask as Jiang Yanli helps you tie your waist sash for you.

"What’s wrong with Xiaowen? It sounds more intimate," Saying so, Jiang Yanli helps you fasten your metal mask on your face.

You smile wistfully. No one here knows your real name… and perhaps no one will. Instead of saying anything else, you only nod along, going along with Jiang Yanli’s attempt at cheering you up.

Jiang Yanli leads you out of the tent, and you are surprised that you can walk on your own after such a hellish battle. Cultivators sure are scary!

It is currently daytime, and judging from the position of the sun in the sky, it appears to be barely midday. Cultivators clad in Qinghe Nie robes number in the majority, their impressive sabres strapped on their backs. Amidst the crowd of greyish-green robes, blue robes are mingled in the crowd. A warm feeling of satisfaction blooms in your chest as you spot a few familiar purple robes. At least Yunmeng Jiang survived. Your actions impacted this world.

Finally, Jiang Yanli brings you to the central tent and excuses herself to leave. Squaring your shoulders, you part the curtain with your hand and enter. The interior of the tent is sparsely furnished, with only a bench, a lamp, a large table where a strategic map of the land is placed. A few pins are placed at where major war fronts are placed, and your mind helpfully tells you what the locations mean. Nie Mingjue's Baxia is propped on one side of the table, and Nie Mingjue himself is the only person in the tent, standing in front of the map.

"Greetings to Sect Leader Nie. Apologies for my long absence," you greet, bowing your head. Your arms hurt too much to salute properly and you rather not bow than give a half-assed salute.

Nie Mingjue rushes over and helps you up, saying, "No need for the grand greeting, Young Lady Qiu! You have my admiration for your valiance and wit!"

You straighten your back but keep your head lowered. Although Nie Mingjue can be counted to be within the same generation as you, he is still a sect leader. As you walk deeper into the tent, the first thing you ask Nie Mingjue is "Where are Madam Yu and Sect Leader Jiang?"

"Sect Leader Jiang is still in a coma in the healers' tents. Madam Yu is still tending to him." Nie Mingjue helpfully answers.

Placing a hand on the table to support yourself, you raise your gaze to meet Nie Mingjue’s, a foreboding feeling in your gut as you slowly ask, “What happened to the Luoyang Qiu Sect?”

"I don't think this is a piece of news that is best heard from me, but... the Wen-dogs attacked Jingsi Palace after your mother refused to submit to them. Wen Xu personally beheaded your mother two days ago in the attack... My men only managed to save your brother and some Qiu Sect disciples from the chaos."

You freeze. You stop scrutinising the map, a sinking feeling broiling in your gut. All blood seems to drain from your face, and you stare blankly at the map in front of you. Your limbs freeze up, and you let the words repeat themselves in your head. 

They weren't your real family, but the memories you inherited from the original Qiu Qingwen when you crossed over replay in your mind. Unknowingly, your eyes fog up with tears.

"...And what of my sister?" you try to keep your voice even after a long pause, though a foreign rage is broiling within your head, making you feel giddy with anger. This is strange. Is this the original owner's feelings?

"Her body has not been found, nor has she been spotted at all. We have declared her missing, and a search party has already been scheduled to depart today. Wen Xu has burnt down Jingsi Palace. Following the line of succession of Luoyang Qiu, you are the next eligible heir."

You stand, rooted to the spot, in a daze. Shortly after, a laugh filled with incredulity, then rage, then despair leaves your lips, and your head spins so much that you stagger forward, leaning your weight on the table. Beside you, Nie Mingjue purses his lips.

Eyes focusing on the red pin stabbing into Nightless City, you continue laughing despite yourself, involuntary tears streaming under your mask down your cheeks. Nodding, you force vicious words through clenched teeth, lowly growling, "Good… good. Wen Xu... just. You. Wait."

Chapter Text

"Sect Leader Qiu."

You look up from the spread of documents and maps on your table and lock eyes with Mianmian. She enters, a new stack of reports in her hands. It has been a week or so since you stepped up as Sect Leader Qiu, and you have shed your fake identity. With a white mourning sash around your waist, you change the Qiu Sect colours to silver and grey, refusing to see even a single article of red in your field of vision if it was not blood. Your only surviving relative, your brother Qiu Yi, is currently safely in Gusu along with Nie Huaisang. Until your sister returns, you have to take over this position. 

Although Nie Mingjue is still named as the leader of the Sunshot Campaign and you as his co-leader, you stood on equal grounds with the brusque man. While he took charge of the front lines, you mostly ensured stability within the main camp and oversaw strategising meetings and important medical procedures, although you do fight on the actual battles at times — albeit rarely. After this front stabilises, you plan to depart and launch a new battlefront in other areas to expand the attacks against the Wen Sect.

Half of the surviving Luoyang Qiu disciples have been moved to the current Hejian front, and the other half dispersed across the fronts of the campaign, where they serve as army doctors and also recruit more disciples. Mianmian, having returned to your side a few days ago, has been promoted to your right-hand man. 

"Ah, Mianmian, you came at the right time. Thanks for your trouble, you can put those on the table over there..” Looking back onto your paper, you write a few numbers down. As you turn the pages on the casualty report you are working on, an empty despair settles in the pit of your stomach at how every number on the tinted paper pages represents the conclusion to every real person. 

“Sect Leader Qiu, perhaps it is better to take a rest? You’ve been handling everything behind the battlefield for days without any sleep…”

“Are you not going to call me Qingqing anymore?" Barely looking up from the documents on the table, you let out a small sigh.

"...Qingqing,” Mianmian eventually gives in, muttering, “I... I just wanted to tell you that... I managed to tell the previous Sect Leader that you were alive... before the Wens broke through the castle town. She... passed with no worries. She does not blame you."

Your brush hovers over the paper, dripping ink splotches on the report that you were previously writing. You set the brush down and give her a bittersweet smile. 

"Thank you."

When night falls, you finally exit your tent, hearing news that the search parties that were sent out have retrieved an important figure. Leaving behind the completed stacks of paperwork on your makeshift desk, you leave the tent, sword strapped to your back. 

As you reach the front gates, you spot a familiar face. As if on cue, he looks up as well and locks gazes with you. He looks worse for wear, but from how he was found alone, Wei Wuxian must have...

"Qingwen?" Jiang Cheng greets you, his voice hopeful.

"She's Sect Leader Qiu to you!" A Luoyang Qiu disciple butts in from behind you, and you stick your hand up in a signal to stand down.

"Long time no see, Young Master Jiang," you muster a smile. "Madam Yu is currently out on the battlefield, and Sect Leader Jiang is in his tent. I can bring you there, if you'd like."

"I—! That... would be good," Jiang Cheng responds, his voice cracking. He must have been so tired.

You lead Jiang Cheng into Jiang Fengmian's tent, where the man is still unconscious. 

"My father..."

"He lost his golden core defending Madam Yu. He is still alive, but he's still in a coma currently," you respond.

"What happened? I... I didn't think you all survived... not when we returned to the Wen-controlled Lotus Pier. We even heard Wen Chao say that he heard someone mournfully screaming for my parents, and that their bones had already been burnt and scattered in the fires... he even has my father's sword amongst his treasures."

"These are what we had to leave behind. That was a battle we were fated to lose," you say, shaking your head. "We can lose the battle, as long as we don't lose the war."

Jiang Cheng's face is filled with pain, as he bitterly asks you, "Lotus Pier has been burnt, my father is comatose, my sect barely survived... Weren't you preparing for this battle? So why..."

You lower your head, glancing over Jiang Fengmian's peaceful expression as you quietly reply, "I did everything within my power. I traded this body... my family for yours. Is that not enough?"

Your voice cracks at the last sentence, though you do not care. Jiang Cheng has not seen how much more bitter his life would have been without your interference, so he must be devastated over his home and the majority of his sect's decimation, but you still feel indignant. The original Qiu Qingwen’s childhood memories flash across your mind, giving rise to a sourness at the back of your nose.

 "...Forget it. It seems I spoke out of turn... I'll be retiring to my tent now, please excuse me.”

Saying so, you raise your hands in a salute, sleeves falling back slightly to reveal scarred forearms — battle stripes gained from the Lotus Pier battle alongside some new ones from recent skirmishes with Wen forces — and bid hasty goodbyes to Jiang Cheng and an unconscious Jiang Fengmian.

As you rush out of Jiang Fengmian's tent, you fail to notice Madam Yu who was lurking outside and hearing the whole conversation. 

As you storm out, you inwardly curse at yourself, angered that you let the original's negative feelings get to you. Massaging your temples, you slip into your own tent and take a seat by the desk.

The death tolls are not as dire as the novel detailed it to be yet, but they were lives regardless. Sighing, you begin organising the statistics into the casualty's cause of death, sect, and other factors. It takes about two hours for you to clear the first stack. After pondering for a moment, you set the papers back down on the table surface and take a seat on your cot. Closing your eyes, you begin to meditate, hoping that it will do you good.

Chapter Text

Tomorrow will be your first battle with Jiang Cheng joining the battle force proper. After regaining his bearings with his parents by his side, Madam Yu had passed him the mantle of Sect Leader Jiang in the place of his comatose and now-mortal father. With this promotion, he will join you in tomorrow’s rearguard forces along with Jin Zixun, the representative of the newly-joined Lanling Jin Sect to this front, as part of the two deputy heads of the rearguard.

Dreading tomorrow with your worries on both spending time with Jiang Cheng whom you had angrily stormed off from and the pressure of yet another impending battle, you try your best to get some sleep and rest in preparation for tomorrow in your private tent.

However, as much as you toss and turn, it is hard to fall asleep as always. Whenever you close your eyes, you can hear the screams of fear and agony echo within your mind. Like this, there is not a single moment of silence in your mind where you can escape from the war. This is why every waking moment is devoted to working. If you are busy, intrusive thoughts have no time to invade your awareness.

Now that you are truly alone, you suddenly feel flustered and cornered, being every bit of the modern person deep inside. Feeling unable to breathe, you clamber out of the bed and give up on rest like you always do, throwing on another layer of clothing before leaving the tent. After walking aimlessly in the night camp, you hastily nod in greeting to disciples of various sects on night patrol and sit down by one of the smaller bonfires. In a bid to calm down, you stare at the flickering sparks flying about listlessly.

“Why are you awake at this hour? It’s a busy day tomorrow.”

You jerk in alarm at the sudden voice, but when you turn around, you immediately lose the tension in your body as you recognise Jiang Yanli standing behind you, a concerned look on her face.

“Yanli-jie, you scared me.”

“Apologies,” Jiang Yanli replies, taking a seat beside you. “You don’t look well. Could you not sleep?”

You stare down at your hands, still clammy and slightly trembling from your earlier nightmare. You look around, scanning the surroundings. Only after you check that none of the patrolling disciples is close enough to hear you, you hoarsely mumble, ”How can I? Whenever I close my eyes, I dream of the scene of the first person I killed back in Lotus Pier… the first person I’ve ever killed in my life. The fear of death, the will and vain hope to live… all the human emotions of the person before me was burned into my eyes as the light in his disappeared...”

”Person? You mean a person from the Wen clan?”

”Mn,” you nod. “Apart from Wen Xu, Wen Chao, and Wang Lingjiao, I don’t have any grievances with most of the Wen Sect. In fact, most of the ones I’ve killed had nothing to do with me at all when they weren’t even part of the forces that burned my home and killed my clansmen. Frankly speaking, I think that behind the red robes and the sun motif, before they are of the Wen clan, they are human… especially those who are only fighting due to their allegiances as a simple disciple. The sect they hail from does not change the fact that I killed actual people… people who I had no grudges with. After the adrenaline from the battlefield fades, I am confronted with the crushing weight of the tens… or hundreds… of lives that I’ve taken with this hand. I… my role was supposed to be a doctor, but I've become a murderer. Look at me, an army leader who sympathises with the enemy. Isn’t it laughable?”

”How so? The fact that you still have compassion shows that you are still human. It is not pathetic.”

“I can feel myself becoming number and number in the daytime,” you whisper, hugging your knees. “Now, I still feel this compassion, but in a war, how long can it last? Do I even want it to last? I… I’m scared, Yanli-jie. I’m scared of changing.”

In the end, you still are a modern soul masquerading as a native to this world.

 “Were you not scared as well, staying behind to fight with my parents instead of fleeing with A-Cheng and A-Xian?” soothes Jiang Yanli, patting your back. “You… could have returned to Luoyang instead of coming to aid us, but you still chose to do so in the end. You chose to help us. Do you... regret?”

You smile forlornly. “Scared? Of course I was scared, who wouldn’t be scared? I was afraid, frightened for my life, but this is a duty I cannot escape from. Defending Lotus Pier was something I set my mind to. From the moment I stepped into Lotus Pier, preventing the decimation of your Yunmeng Jiang Sect was my one goal. As for regret... What is there to regret? I have chosen that path, I have walked that road, so I have to see it to completion. I cannot afford to regret... this matter is something I cannot change.”

After a pause, you place a hand on Jiang Yanli’s, requesting, “Yanli-jie, the words I said tonight... please do not breathe a word about this to anyone... especially your brother. In the end, I truly don't want anyone to think that he... or you, or anyone from your sect... is indebted to me in any way. I also wouldn’t want to burden him with any guilt that may follow.”

”I promise I won't say anything, I will keep my word.”

”Thank you. Speaking with you has brought me some peace somewhat,” you murmur, smiling apologetically. Rising to your feet, you salute Jiang Yanli, apologising, “I'm sorry to have kept you up for so long... good night, Yanli-jie. Sleep well.”

…

While you send Nie Mingjue’s troops off from the rear guard, Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixun stand beside you, different looks of grim concern and overwhelming arrogance on their respective faces. As he watches the bulk of your forces head off to meet the Wens in battle, Jin Zixun turns to you and chortles, “Why the long face, Young Lady Qiu? Are you afraid of the battle? Don’t worry, this great one is here to lead the entire rear guard for you. Nothing will happen with me around. Plus, the rear guard supports the frontline fighters, the Wen-dogs will have to go out of their way to find us anyways. Young Lady Qiu won’t need worry to cloud her pretty little face—”

Snorting, you roll your eyes and whip around, extending the distance between you and both men as you scowl, “Young Master Jin Zixun, although you are the Jin Sect’s representative here, you have neither the standing nor the prestige to be this disrespectful. This one is Sect Leader Qiu. I am your superior, and the one who actually leads the rear. If you had paid attention during our meeting yesterday, you would have remembered. Let’s also not forget the reason why you had insisted on forcing yourself in the rear when the vanguard is still in dire need of manpower. Isn’t it because of your supposed injury? How will you protect me in the unlikely case where I’d actually need your protection?”

Ignoring the embarrassed, whitened face of Jin Zixun, you stalk off to bark orders at your subordinates in preparation of receiving casualties alongside their other duties. Truthfully, Jin Zixun was wrong. The rear, as he has misunderstood, is frankly the worse position to be in, given his logic. In a battle, as the vanguard is the most eye-catching to the enemy, they are the most defended. On the other hand, as the rearguard is a vital support for the fighters at the front, your position — in the battle placement and you as its foremost leader — is both the least-defended and the next best target for enemy attacks. Jin Zixun chose poorly.

Within minutes, the far horizon already shows signs of smoke and flames, signalling the bloody beginning and rage of battle. Live casualties of varying degrees of consciousness come without end — even with the added forces to the front with new sect additions to the cause — which leave you and Jiang Cheng without a moment of respite. Even so, as much as he touted himself as such a dependable leader, Jin Zixun was busy spouting orders to the rest of the people assigned to him, barely lifting a finger himself. 

“Sect Leader Qiu, have a bowl of water at least,” whispers a meek Meng Yao beside you, holding up a small bowl. Since he has yet to rise to the position of Nie Mingjue’s deputy, he is but a mere common face amongst the crowd of campaign troops, and it is much to his misfortune to be placed under his half-cousin’s jurisdiction in this battle. 

Only after you finish tying the tourniquet on the amputated stump of a Nie Sect disciple do you sigh and take the bowl. After downing the contents, you wipe the sweat off your forehead with your tied sleeve in preparation of tending to the next casualty as you say, “Thank you.”

“Is Sect Leader Qiu not going to rest—”

“What do you need help with? I can help.”

Surprised by a newcomer in the tent, you look up from the roll of bandages in your hand to lock gazes with Jiang Cheng, who has strode in the medical tent.

You return to treating the patient in front of you, eyes trained on the deep slash in front of you after exchanging a curt greeting. From the corner of your eye, you see Jiang Cheng set his sword down on the floor by the bed without any intention of leaving. Finally frowning, you stiffly say, “Young Master Jin is insufficient in running the camp outside. Sect Leader Jiang can help by standing guard outside and alerting us when the enemy attacks.”

“‘When’?”

Wiping your hands with the makeshift apron tied to your waist, you do not bother looking up as you answer, “The Wens have attacked us before in a previous battle, incurring significant losses on our side. There’s no telling if they’ll do it again, so we always have to be on our guard.”

Rolling your sleeves further up to your elbows, you get up from the sickbed amidst the wheezing thanks from the patient. Pacing past both Jiang Cheng and a silent Meng Yao, you move on to an unconscious disciple. Seeing that the purple-clad man by the periphery of your vision has yet to leave, you turn your head and quirk your eyebrow, only to see both men staring at your arms. 

Even with your sleeves rolled up, they cannot be said to be bare. Since the cause of their attention is not public indecency, it is definitely the unnaturality hidden behind your usually long, tight sleeves. Both of your arms are wrapped in rolls of cloth, covering gashes of varying shades of red and pink to brown from previous battles from your elbows to the base of your fingers. Even after so long, you do not bare your skin due to the numerous injuries.

Just as you part your lips to brush their obvious concern off, a Luoyang Qiu Sect disciple comes barrelling in, gasping, “A portion of our forces is returning with newly injured people!”

You give Meng Yao a quick order to watch over the current patients with the other subordinates present before heading out of the medic tent with Jiang Cheng. 

“Is there no need to set up a new medic tent, or set aside space for the new people?” asks Jiang Cheng, matching paces with you. 

Just as he says this, you both feel an unmistakable tremor in the ground. Cocking your head in the direction of the growing cloud of dust on the horizon, you clench your jaw and unsheathe the sword tied to your waist. Withholding a barrage of otherworldly curses from spilling from your mouth, you clench your jaw and force out, “There’s no time. The Wens are already here.”

“The Wens?!” Jin Zixun sputters from his seat by the front entrance of the camp, eyes wide as saucers. As the specks of dust grow more and more human in shape, he squeaks, “Wasn’t the rear supposed to be safe from attacks? The battle at the frontlines is still raging on viciously!”

From beside you, Jiang Cheng glares at the fluttering banners that grow visibly redder, growling, “They left enough troops at the front to not arouse suspicion while they stealthily sent a strike squad to attack the rear. It’s a typical trick.”

“The medic squad under me and Young Master Jin’s squad, evacuate the casualties and retreat! The rest of you, ready yourselves to welcome the Qishan Wen Sect!” You roar out your orders. “Jin Zixun, stop cowering like a lout and unsheathe your weapon! It seems that the tactician of the Wens could not think of something new— Wait, where are you—?! ”

“Fuck this, this great one isn’t going to die!!”

With this shout, Jin Zixun leaps from his seat and breaks into a run, taking off from the back of the camp into the further plains. While he retreats, the crowd in front grows, the tremors below your feet growing in intensity as their faces come into view. 

“So much for a leader!” curses Jiang Cheng.

“Sect Leader Qiu! We cannot clear the camp in time!” shouts a panicked Meng Yao who has charged out from the tent. 

From behind you, you can already hear the war cries over the horizon, bellowing, “Kill every last rebel so our sun can shine on their wretched graves!!”

Chapter Text

“Kill every last rebel so our sun can shine on their wretched graves!!”

Whipping around, you snatch a satchel of freshly-filled porcelain bottles from a Luoyang Qiu disciple and sling it over your chest while yelling, “Half of my people, assist the retreat. I will hold the Wen forces at bay.”

You will probably need emergency supplies in case you get cornered.

Stepping forward, Jiang Cheng unsheathes his sword as he lowly says, “I will actually be of help here, so let me assist you.”

You give him a firm nod. Pointing at Meng Yao, you quickly shout, “With the authority of the head of the rear guard, I place temporary authority on comrade Meng Yao. Meng Yao, your job is to facilitate the survival of those who cannot fight. The rest, follow me!”

“Y-yes, subordinate obeys!”

Echoing battle-cries sound around you as you and Jiang Cheng leap forward, swords drawn. The other side meets your approach with eager fervour, two sides of the battle clashing together in a storm of metal and blood. 

“Take Sect Leader Qiu’s head! Press onward!” 

The shout of the enemy commander reverberates along with the ear-piercing screeches of steel against steel and the screams of dying, bloody people on damp, bloody earth. The once-quiet plains have changed unrecognisably, smoke choking the once-clear sky. Gashes and corpses litter the ground, a land set ablaze by furious flames and dry grass. 

Seeing no end to the forces that are clearly gunning for you, you parry the advance of a Wen disciple as you stagger backwards. Your back meets another, and you look behind after dispatching the immediate threat before you meet the eyes of Jiang Cheng once more. Back to back, the two of you are growingly surrounded by enemies, your numbers dwindling madly. 

“Sect Leader Jiang,” you begin evenly in a volume the enemies cannot hear, “We will split off. I’ll lead the Wens away, you go and get help with the rest of the surviving troops, be it the main camp or the front lines if they can afford the people.”

“What about you?!”

“I’ll fight them off until I can escape. They’re clearly targeting me, and will definitely section off a major portion of their forces to chase me down. I’ll lose them in the nearby forest, then regroup with you. The sun is setting and they won’t want to continue a battle in a dark forest.” 

“That’s reckless!”

“Retreat with the other troops. This is an order from your superior! ”

Jiang Cheng still evidently wants to disagree with how his hand on his sword hilt clenches, but he still grits his teeth and nods once. Relieved and reassured, you soften your tight expression and flash him a quick assuring smile before diving right into battle once more. 

Slowly but surely, you guide a portion of the Wen forces away from Jiang Cheng and the others, before loudly ordering, “All units, retreat!” before turning tail and fleeing. 

As your side scatters in different directions, the Wens begin cursing and laughing cacophonously, before most of them gather to chase after you as you had hoped. Nimbly, you lead the majority of the Wen squad into the fringes of the forest, before leaping into a tree. 

By the canopy of branches and the cover of the night, you make use of your height leverage to evade most of the Wen forces. Through this method of evasion, you lead the Wens on a wild goose chase for an unclear duration of time, your heart pounding in your ears. Using the needles left in your acupuncture kit, you use them to kill as many of your pursuers as you can, but there are only so many that you have left.

After a tiring chase, you barely have the time to react to a Wen disciple switching his sword for a bow strapped to his back, and jump just in time to avoid an arrow to the chest. Instead, it buries itself in your thigh, earning an involuntary grunt of pain from you as you lose your footing. You land on the ground with a sickening thud, pain shooting up the shoulder on your non-dominant side. Luckily, you had landed away from your pursuers given your established distance from them. Not able to afford the time to cater to your new injuries, you struggle to your feet and chew on your lower lip to silence any groans of pain. Since you had lost your sword as you fell, you have no choice but to run. 

Taking cover in a dark, hollow tree trunk, you finally fall onto the ground in exhaustion, panting heavily. Closing your eyes, you clench your jaw and grab the arrow protruding from your thigh. With one vicious pull, you yank it out of your thigh. After you do so, your grip on the arrow loosens, and you hastily pull a bottle out of the satchel you took from your subordinate earlier for some medicine. However, when you uncork the bottle, the distinguishable smell that wafts out of the bottle tells you that you took the wrong bag.

Instead of medicine, what you took was a fresh batch of poisons — a batch that you had brewed earlier in the day and instructed a few disciples to bottle up and store. 

Unleashing a string of curses under your breath, you cork the bottle and stuff it back into the satchel. With no other choice, you rip a length of cloth from the edges of your skirt robes and use it as makeshift bandages to stop the bleeding.

As the sound of footsteps grows louder, genuine panic begins to set in. 

Are you going to die here? 

The pitch-black darkness in front of you suddenly brightens, and you pale with fright as unfamiliar faces crowd your view, mocking leers all over their torch-lit faces. Someone grabs a fistful of your hair and drags you out of the hollow trunk while the rest of the Wen troops laugh in glee. 

With a grunt, you are thrown onto the dirt. With this momentary freedom, you pull out a Wen disciple's sword in a smooth motion and instantly decapitate the man that grabbed you! Like a mouse cornered by a cat, you lash out with reckless abandon, fending off the remaining Wens as best as you can. However, your burst of energy is short-lived, as one of the men behind you kicks the back of your knees, forcing you to kneel. Leaving no room for retaliation, the glinting edges of a few Wen blades line your neck. 

The surviving commander of the unit lowers himself to your level, a sickening grin on his face as he reaches out and grabs your face. In an oily voice, he croons, ”Truly lives up to her name as the cultivation world’s number one beauty. Say, if I present her as a war trophy and a concubine to Sect Leader Wen, will I be promoted?”

This prompts a series of goading laughter from the crowd of red-clad disciples. Growling lowly, you try to fight out of his grip, but with no room to move, you can only endure the anger and humiliation. 

”See, what use is there in fighting a battle? Shouldn't you be practising your embroidery at home? Ah, this one has forgotten. How can you, when our illustrious Eldest Young Master has burned down the Luoyang Qiu Sect?” 

”You—!”

Your outburst is cut short as you feel a blade touch the skin of your neck. The cool sensation is jarring; frightening, almost. The man before you closes in, face growing bigger in your field of vision as he prepares to taunt you even further, before a sudden white-purple light blazes forth, latching on his neck and ripping him away from you! With a little bit of added force, the commander’s head is torn cleanly off his neck, and the body falls onto the ground with a dull wet noise, lifeless. 

“Jiang Wanyin?!”

“Sorry I’m late,” pants a Zidian-wielding Jiang Cheng, the Wen commander’s head dropping from his purple lightning whip. By his waist, both his and your swords are tied. He must have found your sword while he was searching for you. 

In a panic, the once-cocky Wen disciples instantly step forward and point their swords at the newcomer, rage spilling over their twisted features. Meanwhile, your neck feels much safer, and you fall forward, your hair in a dishevelled mess. When you look up, you once again meet Jiang Cheng’s outwardly threatening gaze. 

The arrival of a comrade in this time of peril sends a wave of reassurance radiating through your cold chest, driving away the fear and despair in your heart. Hatching a plan in your mind, you flash a scheming yet assuring smile at Jiang Cheng as you quietly lift your waist satchel. Looking past the curtain of Wen disciples in front of you, you pray that Jiang Cheng catches your meaning.

“What, do you want to suffer the same fate as your leader?” taunts Jiang Cheng, charging forward in an act of hotblooded recklessness. As he raises his hand as if to attack with Zidian, he roars, “Fucking Wen-dogs, die by my hand!”

He caught it!

“How dare you! Everyone, dodge—!” 

The moment the Wen disciples completely lose their attention on you, you swipe a few bottles from your satchel and hurl them onto the ground! The porcelain shatters into smithereens, unleashing a thick cloud of yellow vapour. Forming a claw with your hand, you take command for the poisonous cloud before you and shout, “Duck!”

“Three-Anguishes Vapour—! It’s the Three-Angui— Argh!! ” 

True to its name, the Three-Anguishes Vapour is a vicious poison and one of the Luoyang Qiu Sect’s greatest weapons. This particular formula took the highest significance in the list of what Wen Xu had burned down Jingsi Palace to obtain! By dripping the user's blood into the brewing process, the poison vapour becomes malleable according to the user's will. One deep breath of the vapour seals the spiritual powers of the victim regardless of their cultivation strength, the second drastically slows the heart rate and forces the victim to inhale more rapidly to try and ventilate, and the third melts the organs from the inside out, hence its name of 'Three-Anguishes'. However, with the paper-esque colour of this batch, it was evidently a weaker version of this poison as a failed first-try attempt of yours, but it will have to do!

Exerting all your strength into controlling the cloud of poison, you manipulate the yellow cloud to crowd around the faces of the Wens, forcing the Three-Anguishes Vapour into their facial orifices. As the Wens struggle and choke, letting out throat-rending screams of agony, Jiang Cheng leaps out of the poison’s surroundings, covering his nose with his sleeve. With his free whip hand, he lashes out once, slamming the few still-standing Wen disciples into the surrounding trees. 

With the combined efforts of the both of you, the Wens that had once cornered you are now reduced into haphazard corpses on the forest floor. 

“Qiu—“

“Don’t come over yet!”

At your shout, Jiang Cheng freezes in place just as you pull your hand back. The remaining poison in the air follows your guidance, and with a sharp inhale, you take in all the remaining poison into your body. 

“You—! What are you doing?! Isn’t this suicidal?!” blurts Jiang Cheng as he dives forward and grabs your shoulders, before quickly moving his position so that he is sitting behind you. Extending both hands, he plants them on your back, sending a wave of spiritual energy to try and heal your wounds. 

However, you tilt your body, breaking the connection as you rasp, “No need… we of the Qiu Sect have a trained immunity against poisons. It’s the foundation of every Qiu clansman’s training. I won’t die from something like this.” 

“St-still!” hisses Jiang Cheng, a complicated expression on his face, “You are still unwell and using that poison on those Wen-dogs has already expended your strength. If you do that as well, won’t your body collapse?!” 

Strangely, when you see Jiang Cheng act so frazzled as he launches into a tirade of scolding nagging, you do not feel annoyed. Instead, your heart slightly warms at his clumsy show of concern. Brushing the hair out of your face, you break into a silly grin, smiling, “But look, I’m fine. Were the rest okay?”

“With how you sacrificed your own safety to draw them away as a diversion, yes,” Jiang Cheng snorts, looking you up and down before reaching into his sleeve. After a short while, he pulls out a familiar wooden hair stick. Although similar, the wood seems to have been broken before and glued together with lining cracks of silver-laced resin, giving the ornament a new style.

“Is...isn’t this?”

“Here, use this to tie your hair. Your updo probably got undone in the chase earlier,” grumbles Jiang Cheng. His voice softens as he diverts his gaze, stuffing the hair stick in your hand. “I… I found it when I returned to Lotus Pier, and I thought that… anyway, I took it and had it f-fixed, so you can have it back!”

 You smile in gratitude before tidying up your hair under the watchful gaze of Jiang Cheng. After a while, he huffs, “We have to go back, who knows what beasts lurk in the forest. Luckily, you hadn’t ventured too far in, otherwise, I wouldn’t have found you even with your sword. Can you stand?”

“Barely. A Wen disciple shot my leg.”

Jiang Cheng’s expression tightens before he adjusts his posture to face you with his back. In a position whereby he is inviting you for a piggyback ride, he softly grumbles, “...Get on.”

Your face warming, you thank him in a weak, soft voice as you clamber onto his back. Like this, a youth in purple carries a lady in grey, two lone figures blending into one as they begin their traverse out of the forest.

After what feels like an hour, you and Jiang Cheng finally see the outside of the forest. In a meek voice, you mumble, “You can put me down now, I’ve rested enough to be able to walk on my own.”

“Nonsense.”

“You’re going against the order of your superior.”

“We’re both sect leaders, and we’re no longer in the rear guard. You can’t count as my superior now.”

"I really can't win with you now, huh?" You huff, puffing a breath of air by his ear and being amused by how it visibly reddens under the dim moonlight.

Finally giving up, Jiang Cheng begrudging sets you down, looping your good arm around his shoulder instead. The two of you continue walking through the now-charred plains, with Jiang Cheng guiding you towards the direction of the camp. When the horizon reveals a safely tucked-away base camp, most of the tension in your body dissipates as you confirm the success of your subordinates’ retreat. 

When you both make it to the main entrance of the camp, you breathe a sigh of relief as you see Meng Yao come running with Mianmian and Jiang Yanli hot on his heels, both people barreling towards you. 

“Sect Leader Qiu, I’ve done as you ordered and also set up more medic tents. With your diversion, the rest of us made it safely to construct a second rearguard, and today’s battle was a draw. Chifeng-zun and the others have also returned and are anxiously waiting for you,” Meng Yao dutifully reports, before his attempted calm facade is betrayed by a sliver of worry as he adds, “You must require medical attention as well, yes? I…”

“Qingqing, what happened to you?! Oh heavens, I knew I shouldn’t have stayed in the main camp…” 

“Mianmian, I’m fine. No need to worry,” you muster a smile despite the pain from your injuries to reassure your two subordinates. Turning to look at a concerned Meng Yao, you nod at him gratefully and commend, “You did well. Thank you for your efforts.”

“This subordinate was only doing what he had to, there is no need to thank me… ah, we should get you to a sickbed—!”

“No worries,” you quickly butt in before the trio before you attract the entire camp over to your side.

Trading glances with Jiang Cheng, Jiang Yanli steps forward and replaces her brother in supporting you, and Mianmian takes the hint to support your other side. In a gentle yet firm tone, Jiang Yanli smiles, “Sect Leader Qiu is injured and exhausted, Young Lady Luo and I will bring her to get help from the healers. A-Cheng and Young Master Meng must be tired after the long day, you both should get some rest as well.”

After bidding their goodbyes, the two men quickly scurry off under the stern stares of the two bodyguards beside you. 

Despite your exhaustion, you cannot help but chuckle.

Chapter Text

The campaign has raged on for a few months or so.  

Two months ago, Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji mounted a surprise attack on Wen Chao's old indoctrination sector, retrieving everyone's swords. Lan Wangji came to your post in Dongting himself to return you your sword Su'yuan. He once again asked you about Wei Wuxian upon hearing how you allegedly had limited foresight, and you had told him, "Wei Wuxian is alive, but he will return only when the time is right."

To this day, Jiang Fengmian still has not awoken. Madam Yu had him moved to Qinghe for maximum safety two months after the Lotus Pier fall before becoming one of the leading figures of the Hejian front. Moving the Yunmeng Jiang forces to Jiangling, Jiang Cheng currently leads the Jiangling front separately along with Lan Wangji, who now has his title of Hanguang-jun. 

As for you, you left Hejian for Dongting after a month from that rearguard battle, only recently returning for an important meeting with the campaign leaders. Both you and Jiang Cheng separated, each going to your respective new fronts. Whenever you stand on the battlefield, you mostly head the rearguard as you always did, fending off Wen attacks from behind alongside serving as the strategist and head doctor of the army camp. Thanks to your strategic use of manpower and your own sense of battle honed by growing experience, you have gained the undying loyalty of the people of your front. 

Today, you stand in the main war tent with elders from the Qinghe Nie Sect, Nie Mingjue, and surprisingly, Jin Zixun. Lurking in the corner of the tent with his head bowed is Meng Yao, who has been upgraded to working beside Nie Mingjue as per the canon. 

"We have received intel from our intelligence squad that Wen Xu will be present in the Hejian front from tomorrow. He has set off from Nightless City to deal with our forces here," Nie Mingjue announces, sparking whispers amongst the group. Upon hearing Wen Xu's name, your hand subconsciously clenches on Su'yuan's hilt, as if the original is screaming for revenge.

Frankly speaking, the Qiu clan is not your true family so you shouldn't feel too strongly for them, but the original's memories have already integrated themselves into your memory, making you confused and emotional. Moreover, it is the result of your actions that Luoyang Qiu fell under Wen aggression, so you feel responsible and obliged to avenge the late Sect Leader Qiu on behalf of her daughter whose body you overtook.

Standing beside Nie Mingjue, you, a leader of equal power with him within the Campaign, extend a hand to point at the strategic map. Adjusting a few figures on the map, you say, "I propose an ambush within five days. Qishan is far from Hebei, meaning that it will take about three to five days for him to arrive in Hejian. Before he properly consolidates his power within the Wen forces on our front, we have to strike him down... And I will fight on the front lines for this battle as well."

The elders buzz amongst themselves, considering your suggestion. Anyway, you have full confidence in your planning, since the battles have been unfolding out exactly as the canon says, albeit a few months earlier. It also helps that the original's studies of war play into the knowledge you can use. Since Wen Xu has been sent to this region, it probably meant that Wen Ruohan believed that his eldest son could quell this 'measly' rebellion. With how things are developing,  you are fairly certain that Wei Wuxian might return earlier as well.

Finally, Nie Mingjue speaks up after a round of discussion, commenting, "Right. The plan will proceed as such. Sect Leader Qiu and I will lead the battle this time. The number of troops and other logistics will be discussed, but first, do we have any objections?"

Nie Mingjue had asked this out of courtesy, but who knew that the greenhorn Jin Zixun would suddenly interrupt.

"The plan is decided like this already? Why are you listening and following a simple woman's orders so simply? Doesn't Sect Leader Qiu stay in the rearguard as a camp doctor? To my belief, people of the fairer sex do not belong in prominent positions on the frontlines, especially one who only has one working hand."

Before anyone can reply, your hand rests on the hilt of Su'yuan as you sneer, "One working hand? I have more experience on the battlefield cleaving down Wens than a wimp like you will ever have, especially with how you deserted your first battle with us like a coward with his tail between his legs. If you would like to know what it feels to lose miserably in a duel to a woman who only has one working hand , I am happy to oblige."

"Sect Leader Qiu is right. Gender has nothing to do with capability, Young Master Jin… Since no one else has any objections, the plan will move as such. Now, on the topic of allocation of our troops..."

The discussion continues, with Jin Zixun hanging on the fringes with no idea how to contribute to the discussion. After the meeting adjourns, you are the last to leave the war tent, still finalising plans with Nie Mingjue.

"Mingjue-xiong. In the following battle, I would like to have Wen Xu entrusted to me. Wen Ruohan’s head is all yours; I only want his son’s. After this battle, I will move to the Jiangling front,” you say, tracing the crane symbol on Su'yuan's scabbard. Months of leading the rebellion together have brought you two close enough to address each other more casually. 

"Alright... but to Jiangling? Not Dongting?" 

"Mn."

"Alright. I understand. I'll leave him to you, Qing-mei."

With this, Wen Xu's death date is set in stone.

...

It is now two days before your troops attack Wen Xu's base. The afternoon is spent on cultivation and training, and you are certain that your skills have improved greatly as compared to when you first fought in Lotus Pier. It is as they say; nothing beats practical experience, after all. By sunset, you bathe in the nearby lake before heading to the medical tents to conduct your routine checks. You are still unable to conduct surgeries or advanced treatments due to your own bandaged hand, but your non-dominant hand has already long healed its burn wounds and blisters. Now, only an angry, bulging scar remains on your palm and fingers from where your skin came in contact with the iron. By day, you conduct your duties as per usual, but by night, you practise physiotherapy in hopes of rehabilitating your hand, but to little improvement. Your thick bandages have been sewed with runes in hopes of lessening the burden and sensitivity of your hand to withstand basic movements. 

You return to your tent after overseeing a surgery and a few first aid cases and unfurl the scrolls on your table to continue your work. According to what you still remember, Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng find a dead Wang Lingjiao the day after Wen Xu dies, and another three days later, Wen Chao dies and Wei Wuxian returns. It's an action-packed week, and you hope that it can pass smoothly.

...

The day of Wen Xu's reckoning has come. 

It isn't a surprise to you that the Wen-dogs appeared to be prepared for this attack. Their forces clash with yours in the plains, near a commoner village and not far off from their stronghold. Your side is not the only power to have reconnaissance squads, after all. However, with how bloodthirsty the Nie Sect disciples are, especially as part of your main force, you unleash them as if they are your hounds from hell, allowing them to wreak havoc as they please as long as they target Wen disciples. 

Slashing through a Wen-dog with one strike of Su'yuan, you feel the blade thrum in your palm with warmth, as if it were pleased to see the bloodshed. After months of waging war, you feel that your modern-day compassion has withered. 21st-century values have no practicality if one wishes to survive in this world. You also feel strangely more at ease when you disarm and defeat Wen-dogs with Su'yuan rather than replacement swords, as if the blade is resonating with your thoughts.

With the loud clangs of swords clashing, groaning, and the sick sounds of metal running through flesh echo in your ears along with your heartbeat. Looking over the Wen disciples, you search for Wen Xu and meet his eyes as he stands at the very back of his battalion. An overconfident smirk on his lips and a sword resting on his shoulder, he lounges at the back, as if unwillingly to dirty himself with coming in contact with your men. Narrowing your eyes, you cut down another advancing Wen-dog and flick your wrist, shaking off the blood on Su'yuan's blade. Leaping forward, you soar into the air and begin battling Wen Xu. Behind you, Nie Mingjue serves as back-up to prevent others from intruding on your fight. Everyone on your side knows how important this fight is to Qiu Qingwen.

"Why has a delicate maiden such as yourself stepped onto the battlefield? Are you that eager to meet with this great one?" Wen Xu's voice is low, prideful, and smug.

"I didn't know that a dog can speak the human language, you cur," you snarl, swinging your blade. 

"It isn't to meet with your mother, right? Her spirit might still be lingering on my sword," Wen Xu goads, and your grip on your blade tightens, your blood boiling.

"Enough of this pointless drivel. Let our swords do the talking."

Saying so, you lunge forward, meeting his blade straight on. From the corner of your eye, you see that the plot halo is working in your favour, for the Wen-dogs appear to be on the losing side. With Wen Xu's back turned to Nie Mingjue, you see him give you the signal. A beautiful smile illuminates your face amidst the blood on your cheeks, creating a macabre painting on your face that adds a stark cheer to this gloomy battlefield.

Wen Xu pauses for a split second upon seeing your sudden change in expression as if sensing something amiss, but before he can react, you viciously bring your sword down, literally disarming him!

With a pained howl, Wen Xu watches with panicked eyes as his sword hand, still gripping onto his sword, flies into the arm in a gory parabola before landing on the ground with a sickening thud. Unable to balance from the shock, he topples over. His pained shrieks echo through the battlefield, demoralising his own troops. 

The surviving Wen-dogs watch as you cruelly torture Wen Xu. Before they can jump to anybody's defence, your troops disarm and restrain them, leaving them under your forces' mercy. You don't waste any of Su'yuan's strikes, as every purposeful strike separates a limb from Wen Xu's body! At this point, foam froths in Wen Xu's mouth from the debilitating pain as you carve him into a human stick. Lying in a pool of his own blood, his torso writhes in a vain attempt to escape.

"Keep the seat in hell warm for your father," you simper before you bring your sword down for one final time. 

The human stick Wen Xu finally breathes his last as you slash his neck, beheading him with one final, fatal strike. His head rolls a short distance before stopping, displaying a twisted, manic expression. You don't feel any better from this act of vengeance. You only feel sick. Strength seems to leave your body and you stab Su'yuan into the ground and support yourself with it, heaving. 

“Go get the head. Hang it up for the Wen-dogs to see," you instruct, voice firm.

Someone answers from behind, “Yes!”

Straightening your back, you send a burst of spiritual energy into Su'yuan, evaporating Wen Xu's blood from the blade. Perhaps you should boil it when you return to camp to sanitise it. Turning around, you look over the corpses of the battle, some wear Qishan Wen robes, some wear the Qinghe Nie Sect’s beast-head crest on their backs, some don’t dress in any uniforms, and the surviving Wen-dogs are being tied up with their meridians sealed by your Luoyang Qiu disciples.

With power in your voice, you shout, "Everyone! Let this be an event to be recorded and celebrated for years to come! We have killed Wen Ruohan's eldest son. The rebellion will be victorious!"

To your shout, your troops yell with fervour, and you bow in the direction of the casualties. Giving the command for your men to do whatever they see fit to Wen Xu's severed torso, you look up to see Nie Mingjue walking towards you. 

Nie Mingjue glances at the corpse on the ground and kicks it to the side for the enraged Nie sect disciples to grind into dust. Hand on the hilt of his sabre, he looks calmly around before his gaze rests on you.

You wipe the blood off your face with your sleeve before saluting to him as thanks. This battle finally gave your sect some form of closure.

Suddenly, a crashing noise comes from a tile-roof house on the side.

With a wave of Nie Mingjue's sabre, a fierce blade of wind sweeps over. Hacking open the house’s crude door, it reveals a mother and her daughter, both panic-stricken. Such a shabby house contains very little possessions, and its lack of hiding places allow the pair only to take cover under the table as they hold their breaths. As the young woman’s round eyes register the two of your blood-drenched and murderous appearances, tears immediately pour out. The girl has already dove into her mother's arms, scared speechless.

As you both see that it is only an ordinary mother-and-daughter pair — likely two mortal commoners who had failed to escape before battle broke out — Nie Mingjue's furrowed brows soften slightly. A subordinate, not knowing what happened, approaches from behind you both, murmuring, “Sect leader? Sect Leader Qiu? Is there something wrong?”

The mother-and-daughter probably only knew that a few gangs of cultivators crashed into their daily lives and fought the hell out of one another. Neither knew which was the good side and which was the bad. Fearing whoever that held a blade, they most likely thought that they would die for sure, faces distorting with fright. 

Sighing, you curb your killing intent and sheathe your blade, saying, “It’s alright. You are safe now.”

The young woman instantly collapses onto the ground, still embracing her daughter. After a moment, she cannot help but begin to sob. After seeing this, you tug on Nie Mingjue's sleeve, not wanting to terrorise the two civilians any further. Both of you walk to where the survivors are separating the casualties and burning the Wen corpses.

A few strides later, Nie Mingjue suddenly stops, questioning the subordinate behind you both, “Who was the cultivator that kept guard at the end during the last battlefield clean-up?”

The subordinate hesitates for a second, stammering, “Kept... kept guard at the end? I… don’t think I remember.”

Nie Mingjue frowns. Seeing that he appears displeased, you interject, "The cultivator who kept guard at the end during the last battlefield clean-up is called Meng Yao.”

"Right! It's him!" The subordinate says quickly, relieved at the help.

Nie Mingjue raises his brows, as though finding it somewhat surprising. Shaking his head, he says, "Meng Yao... never mind. Qing-mei, after this battle, are you immediately heading to Jiangling?"

You contemplate a little before responding, "I will return to gather some of my tools and documents from the main camp before leaving by the teleportation talisman. I suspect that I will meet an old friend within the next week if I go to Jiangling. I will come to Hejian if I am needed here."

Nie Mingjue nods in approval. Finally, he lets out a proud laugh, clapping you on the back. "You have vanquished Wen Ruohan's oldest son. This is a great achievement. I'm happy for you and the late Sect Leader! Luoyang Qiu is finally avenged."

"The Qishan Wen Sect is not defeated yet. Let's make sure they can no longer continue their tyranny."

Hearing the resolve in your words, Nie Mingjue nods in agreement.

Tonight, you engage in a hearty celebration in the main camp for your decisive victory against Wen Xu and his forces, before you retire into your tent. Packing your important items before grabbing a transportation talisman, you throw the blue paper on the ground and envision the Jiangling camp. As blue flames engulf you, you breathe out a long sigh.

Wei Wuxian will be returning soon. Will the main three be fine?

Chapter Text

When you open your eyes, you immediately see the front entrance of the Jiangling main camp. A stuffy feeling arises from how much spiritual energy the teleportation talisman depleted, but your cultivation has become high enough to not feel as though you are wrung dry. With dense forests behind you, you look forward to the main entrance and stride in, your sword and belongings in tow. The guards standing at the gateway instantly greet you upon sight, and you nod in acknowledgement before walking in. 

This is only the second time you have come to the Jiangling camp, with the first time being a brief inspection. Heading to the main war tent, you part the curtains with your good hand and enter, meeting the eyes of Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji, who have a map of a Wen supervisory office laid out in front of them.

After exchanging greetings, you hear Jiang Cheng say, "Sect Leader Qiu, you came at the right time. Second Young Master Lan and I are attacking a regional Wen supervisory office tomorrow evening to kill Wen Chao and Wen Zhuliu. We suspect that this is where that dog Wen Chao is hiding."

"Good. The sooner we can wipe out Wen Ruohan's bloodline, the better. I hope I'm not imposing upon you both, but I would like to follow you on this attack," you respond. 

Jiang Cheng shakes his head, replying, "It's alright. I trust that we all have grievances to address... with Wen Chao and his hussy."

As he speaks, his hand almost looks as though it is shaking. The thick scar on your palm tingles, as if angered by the mention of that dog couple. You hide your own quivering palm behind your back as naturally as you can, though your movement is still noticed by Lan Wangji's sharp eyes. You meet his gaze, both of you sharing an understanding look before the younger of the Twin Jades closes his eyes.

The discussion continues for a short while before Jiang Cheng leaves the tent to address some sect matters. You turn around to leave, but you pause when you hear a soft "Sect Leader Qiu."

"What's the matter, Hanguang-jun?" You look back slowly, meeting the eyes of the normally austere face of Lan Wangji. 

"If I may ask... about Wei Ying..."

"Patience is a virtue. Trust in it, and you will see the result you want to see."

Lan Wangji lowers his gaze, expression forlorn. Feeling pity, you pat him on the shoulder and are genuinely surprised when he does not pull away. 

Flicking your sleeve behind you, you comfort, "We can embark earlier. Perhaps we can run into what my... visions are showing me... if we are lucky."

Lan Wangji nods in response, a rare, muted flicker of hope on his face. After bidding a proper goodbye, you leave the main war tent and head to your private tent. Tomorrow will be a long day, since not only do you have to participate in the supervisory office attack, you have to conduct inspections and other administrative affairs within the camp during the day. Setting Su'yuan on your makeshift nightstand, you pull out the bound notebook you have tucked away in your clothing. Flipping open the pages, you begin reading.

In the first week of your arrival to this world all those months ago, you had written down all the plot points and events you remember from the novel in English with a stick of charcoal in this battered and old notebook. Even if someone as smart as Nie Huaisang or Meng Yao got their hands on this book, they still would not understand a single thing. You read the hastily-scrawled and almost-fading words on the paper, and after musing over it, you decide to rewrite it with an ink brush. Rewriting it will also serve as a memory refresher since the rest of the plot has been pushed to the back of your mind with how hectic things have been. 

You move over to your desk and prepare the ink and brush. Pulling out a fresh book you brought, you pick up the brush and begin writing English words on the paper. In this severely Chinese environment, reading notes and singing songs of your past life are the only ways for you to continue practising a language of your past. Expectedly, with how you have been speaking Mandarin instead of the other languages of your past, your pronunciation has begun to feel off. Only through silent, solitary practice can you still maintain and preserve your roots. 

In the neatest writing you can manage, you recall the proceedings. If you reach the supervisory office early enough, perhaps you can run into Wei Wuxian while he's torturing Wang Lingjiao! 

After a while, you cannot help but yawn, feeling weeks’ worth of lethargy finally build up. Rubbing your eyes, you keep the book away and lie down on the small bed in hopes for some rest.

…

After a fortunate dreamless sleep, the day where you set off to search Wen Chao’s supervisory office has come.

As you finish brewing the last batch of medicine for the day, the sun has almost fully set. Untying your apron, you put out the fire under the pot and instruct a disciple to pour the medicine into bowls for the people in the nursing tents. You then leave the medicine room, Su'yuan in tow. 

After a short and brisk walk where you run into Lan Wangji early, the forest already comes into view, with Jiang Cheng standing at the edge of it with Suibian strapped to his waist, expression tense.

Seeing the two of you come later than he did, Jiang Cheng greets in a cold voice, “Second Young Master Lan. Sect Leader Qiu.”

Lan Wangji’s expression remains solemn as both of you murmur, “Sect Leader Jiang.”

After the three of you acknowledge and greet each other, you don't say anything else. The two men lead their cultivators in silence on their swords, and you fly on your own, right in between the two men. 

Lan Wangji’s sharp eyes glance at the other sword at Jiang Cheng’s waist, before looking forward. His gaze remains pointed forwards, making it unclear who exactly he is speaking to as he asks, “Has Wei Ying still not appeared yet?”

Jiang Cheng looks over at him as if surprised by his sudden mention of Wei Wuxian. He answers, “No. The people on my side still haven’t gotten news of him yet, but when he returns he’ll find me for sure. After he appears I’ll give him his sword."

"He’ll be back soon, I’m sure of it. I will scope the front first. There is something I need to confirm," you say, and Jiang Cheng nods. Picking up speed, you disappear into the front as if chasing after something. 

Soon after, you reach the supervisory office where Wen Chao was said to be hiding. True to the novel, dark and resentful energy engulfs the entire area, adding an ominous pressure to the dimming night.  However, the talismans on both sides of the doors are still intact, feeding the contradictory expression that all is still fine within the buildings. If you strain your ears, you can barely hear a peal of familiar yet foreign laughter, as well as the last notes of a sinister flute. Turning back, you see that your group is far behind you, so you charge into the supervisory office first. Hopping off of your sword, you form a hand seal and Su'yuan flies forward, cleaving the front doors in half! 

The scene inside of the supervision office is more than horrifying.

Within the courtyard, corpses lay everywhere. Not only there, but the bushes, hallways, fences, and even roofs are also piled up with corpses. The strong stench of freshly-shed blood lingers in the air, and the heavy resentful energy makes goosebumps rise on your skin. Looking up, you catch a dark silhouette leap over a roof, and you grab your sword and leap forward.

"Hey, you! I know who you are! Don't run!"

You leap onto the roof just in time to see the silhouette — Wei Wuxian — disappear into the rapidly darkening night. Behind you, you hear voices, and you hear Jiang Cheng's shout of "Sect Leader Qiu!".

You turn around from the wall roof you have been standing on and meet Jiang Cheng's eyes.

"This wasn't done by me. The culprit has already slipped from my grasp," you explain as you hop back down to their sides. While Jiang Cheng gives the command for the disciples to search the area, Lan Wangji turns to you.

"Did you see who did this?" Lan Wangji asks.

"I can't exactly say for certain... but his back looks familiar."

You don't want to reveal too much. Wei Wuxian's grand return will take place a mere two days later, but seeing how pitiful Lan Wangji is, you give him a little leeway by adding a hint.

Suddenly, a disciple's voice rings out, "Sect Leader, we’ve finished inspecting. All of the Wen-dogs are dead. And, every corpse died a different way... but there's someone who is still alive in the basement dungeon."

"Who is it? Speak directly," Jiang Cheng scowls.

Turning to you while dipping his head, the subordinate answers, "Sect Leader Qiu... your sister is still alive. Wen Chao must have found and imprisoned her here."

"Thank the heavens... please take me there," you breathe out, relief washing over you. Turning to the other two leaders, you bow and salute with your hands, adding, "Please excuse me. I must see my sister."

With Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji behind you, you enter the office's dungeon, where you see a familiar, grime-caked face in a cell. Cutting down the prison bars, you fall to your knees beside her on the bloody and dirty hay as you grab her wrist to check her wellbeing.

Her golden core is still intact! 

Apart from a few cuts, bruises, a gash running down her cheek, and a dislocated shoulder, your sister, the rightful Sect Leader Qiu, Qiu Suyin, is still alive. She flinches at your touch before her hazy eyes focus on you through a veil of messy black hair. 

"A-Wen..?"

"It's me, Sister. I have found you at last," you say, voice shaking from a mixture of relief and grief.

"A-Wen... it must have been hard... on you..." Qiu Suyin musters up a shaky smile, her hands resting gently on the scars you've gained. Before she can say anything, she falls forward, fainting in your arms.

She must have used up all her energy to see you before she finally passed out.

Turning around, you use your sleeve to wipe the grime off of Qiu Suyin's face before dabbing gently on the wound on her cheek. Wang Lingjiao must have ruined her face on purpose. Blood boiling, you gently set Qiu Suyin down, coldly instructing, "Send Sect Leader Qiu back to our base and immediately treat her wounds. If there are any complications you cannot fix, wait for my return."

"As you command." Your subordinates nod obediently, though their eyes do widen in surprise at how you have tossed your current title onto your sister so nonchalantly.  

You look back at Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji who have been silently watching you. Sending them a rare smile, you shake your head, saying, "Come. Let us inspect the rest of the building."

Chapter Text

The three of you head to Wen Chao's room first, only to find that the doors are left wide open. Only one female corpse remains in the room, wearing light sleeping garments. Beside the body, a familiar branding iron lies by her side, and her hand, of the same side where yours was hurt, had been terribly burned with the iron until the flesh seemed to meld with the rusty metal. Half of the leg of a stool had been stuffed down her throat, showing that her death had followed the most authentic — as well as cruel — novel version. She must have killed herself by forcing herself to swallow the stool leg into her stomach. Wei Wuxian must have avenged your hand as well.

Jiang Cheng strides forward and turns the corpse’s twisted face over. After you all scrutinise it for a while, you both burst into cold scoffs. This corpse is no other than Wang Lingjiao, one of Wei Wuxian's first unfortunate victims. Holding the stool leg, he shoves it into her mouth, somehow managing to stuff the half that had been outside into her body as well. After he's done, you look away, grimacing at how the stool makes her body bulge and contort, especially with Jiang Cheng's last action. With the slight rotting stench of a dead body mixed with the smell of cheap perfume and sweat, you take a few steps back, not wanting to see her wretched appearance any longer. The wench did whatever she could to ensure her own survival, with her thinking and values contorted by a twisted background. In the end, human nature is selfish. Hence, you choose not to say anything at all, a calm detachment keeping your sanity anchored. A petty minor villain is only worth a brief scoff after all.

With red eyes, Jiang Cheng stands up. Just as he is about to speak, he catches sight of Lan Wangji pondering over something while standing in front of the door. Following Lan Wangji’s eyes, you both see a yellow, red-painted talisman stuck to the door. Curious, you both walk over to scrutinise the talisman further.

Although the talisman doesn’t seem any different at first glance, after taking a closer look at it, you recognise a few spots on the drawings have been misdrawn— no. Edited.

“Too many," Lan Wangji comments, pointing at a discrepancy in the symbols.

Jiang Cheng’s face grows stern as he confirms, “As expected.”

Despite such residential talismans being easy work for any basic cultivation sect disciple to memorise by their mid-teens, the talisman within the Wen supervisory office appears to have a few extra unnatural brushstrokes. These brushstrokes entirely change the pattern of the talisman, distorting the entirety of its meaning. Now, looking at it, the talisman stuck to the door seems to bear the face of a person, smiling eerily.

"Wen Chao and Wen Zhuliu’s corpses couldn’t be found within the supervision office. They must have fled towards Qishan already," you deduce, pulling away from the talisman. You've seen enough of this in the web series and other works already. You already know who did this. “The person responsible should not be too far away, especially when he is without a sword.”

“Then we should give chase,” Jiang Cheng mutters. 

“I will go with you,” you nod at Jiang Cheng, before turning to face Lan Wangji. “What about you, Hanguang-jun?”

“I’ll return to the camp,” Lan Wangji replies curtly, still holding onto the collected talismans. 

Making decisions with both men has always been quick and snappy, and within moments, you and Jiang Cheng are already heading in the direction where you saw Wei Wuxian flee towards. Strangely, when you travel in that direction, you end up at the main gates of a town, now liberated after the Wens have fled the area.

With swords either strapped to your backs or held in your hands, it is no surprise that the civilians all stare in fear and apprehension as you, Jiang Cheng, and the few subordinates that followed stride into town. Windows fly shut in rapid succession along the streets, people darting back into homes and still-open shops. Surely, the common folk here must have already been terrorised by the Wen occupants to no end, and are less than delighted at the sight of possible new cultivators oppressing their land. The original content never said what Wei Wuxian did after killing Wang Lingjiao and massacring the Wens in the supervisory office, much less the lives and experiences of civilians outside of the war, so who knows whether Wei Wuxian would be known here or not? 

“I wonder what the Wens did to make the townsfolk terrified to this degree,” you comment mildly. “Or perhaps, they were scared of someone else?”

“The figure that fled here?” 

“Perhaps. We should ask around, maybe we’ll get some news about the happenings here. It’ll also be good to assure the townsfolk that we’re not here to do any harm,” you answer Jiang Cheng, before gesturing to the Jiang Sect disciples as you continue, “Sect Leader Jiang, we should probably disperse. Not only will we gather information faster, but we will also look less like a threatening armed group of new oppressors.”

Nodding, Jiang Cheng barks out the order before your group splits into pairs or trios, most of them heading towards the outskirts of town rather than near the civilians to give them peace of mind. Since you were the one who said you wanted to come and find the person with Jiang Cheng, your sect leader pair forms naturally. 

The two of you end up walking into a small tavern since the subordinates have all headed outward. A waiter receives you with a face as white as paper, while the already-sparse customers all either bury their faces in their cups or hastily pay before leaving quickly. To avoid being a nuisance to the customers, you request a table on the second floor. The waiter leads you both to a table by the balcony, before scuttling off to bring a tray of tea and a plate of nuts over. When he sets the things down, you make sure to ask about Wei Wuxian, but true to your expectations, no one has seen the black-clad youth.

After the waiter leaves, Jiang Cheng picks up his cup and takes a sip. You do the same, peering at him over the rim of your own cup. Noticing your gaze, Jiang Cheng sets his cup down, clearing his throat as he coughs, “Is… are you sure that the person we are looking for is my shixiong?”

Looking away from the youth who has matured from the smoke and blood of war, you wordlessly place the cup back down on the table. The almost-boyish hope showing through on Jiang Cheng’s normally-grim face almost gives you the mistaken impression that you are back in the simpler days before the Qishan indoctrination began, but the irremovable new stability of a sect leader ingrained in his bearing after such a long time of succeeding his father pulls you back to reality. Truly, the young, unfettered purple-dressed youth is a sight of the past that will not return, much like his past sunny shixiong. 

Gazing into the cloudy dark night, you quietly sigh, “Yes. However, he has changed. With how he has handled the supervisory office and done all that all on his own, he has become someone to worry about.”

From the corner of your eyes, you catch Jiang Cheng frown minutely, before he bemusedly remarks, “Who wouldn’t change given what happened to us? I just…don’t understand why he didn’t wait for us. Since you could catch a glimpse of him, he should have sensed that we were coming.”

“Maybe he’s not in a state that he wants to be seen in,” you offer, though you also have no clue. It couldn’t just be because of the plot, right? “Anyway, I trust that you will reunite with him soon, Sect Leader Jiang. His disposition should have changed, but everything should be fine in the end. He will be back.”

“You sound very sure of my shixiong’s return, Sect Leader Qiu,” notes Jiang Cheng, watching you take a peanut from the snack platter. 

Hearing how he addressed you, you let out a light chuckle after chewing the nut as you take another peanut. However, you do not put the second peanut in your mouth. Instead, you hesitate for a moment, before placing it on the side of your teacup’s saucer as you think of what to say. Finally, you dip your head a little, inclining your head to rest on a hand propped on the table by the elbow as you mumble, “Sect Leader Jiang need not refer to me as Sect Leader Qiu, for that position is my sister’s. I was only a temporary substitute.”

“...You don’t like the fixed hair stick? You don’t seem to use it at all.”

A flicker of surprise flashes on your face at Jiang Cheng’s sudden quiet observation, especially when you were just discussing something completely different. With the subtle gloom in Jiang Cheng’s brows, the atmosphere gains a sense of heaviness. Raising a hand to touch the simple hair ribbon holding up your plain hairstyle, your voice is soft, almost sheepish, as you smile, “I do like it. I just don’t want to lose it another time.”

Under the muted moonlight from a moon obscured by clouds, you catch Jiang Cheng’s face and ears visibly redden.

Chapter Text

The second day, Lan Wangji, Jiang Cheng, and you hold a meeting in Jiang Cheng's tent. You have long moved your sister to your own tent and tended to her injuries, so she is currently still resting on your cot. Having relinquished your Sect Leader position to this rightful owner, half of your workload and a part of your stress are gone. Thank the heavens.

Lan Wangji takes out the talisman from last time, stating matter-of-factly, “This talisman has been reversed.”

“‘Reversed’? What do you mean?” asks Jiang Cheng.

“Normal talismans repel evil. This one attracts them.”

“Talismans… could attract evil? I haven’t heard of anything like it," you comment as if you really mean it. You don't.

“It is indeed unheard of. But, according to the testing, it does prove to have the ability to attract evil.”

You watch Jiang Cheng take the talisman and examine it closely before he says, “Only a few brushstrokes were added, and the entire function of the talisman was reversed? Was this a human deed?”

“Four brushstrokes were added. It was drawn using human blood. All of the residential talismans in the supervision office have been altered. The strokes were those of the same person.”

“Then who could this person possibly be? Amongst all of the renowned cultivators, I haven’t heard of any who can do such a thing... but no matter who they are, it’s fine as long as their objective is the same as ours— to kill all of the Wen-dogs !” Jiang Cheng grits his teeth.

"We have received news about strange corpses appearing near the north. All of the corpses were cultivators of the Wen Sect, dressed in their signature red robes. All of them were high in both rank and cultivation. In spite of that, all of them died in gruesome yet diverse ways... and all of them had been left in the public where many could see. Our good friend has been rather busy these few days. I'd say that he'll lead us right to where Wen Chao is hiding," you sigh.

“The dark energy is quite heavy. They should have been done by the same person.” Lan Wangji's voice is calm as he concludes.

Jiang Cheng scoffs, “Dark? In this world, could there be anything darker than the Wen-dogs?!

You decline to comment.

Late into the fourth night of your search, the three of you have finally caught sight of Wen Zhuliu in the courier station of a remote mountainous city.

The courier station is two stories tall, with a stable right next to the building. When you arrive, you all happen to see a tall shadow rush inside and lock the doors behind him. Afraid of Wen Zhuliu’s ‘Core-Melting Hand’ technique, the three of you decide not to alert the enemy and hop soundlessly onto the roof instead of entering through the door. Peering through a slit between the roof tiles, the three of you watch on silently.

Wen Zhuliu seems to have been travelling. In his arms was another figure. As though dragging his legs, he walks to the second floor and places the person beside the table. He then runs to all of the windows and closes the curtains so that not even a breeze can pass through. Finally, he returns to the table and lights the oil lamp.

The faint light illuminates Wen Zhuliu's face with a ghostly red. Two dense smears of black sit under his eyes, confirming how exhausted he must have been. The other person by the table is covered entirely. Even his face is hidden in a cape. As though inside of a fragile cocoon, the person shivers within the cape, panting as he suddenly exclaims, “Don’t light the lamp! What if he finds us?!”

Lan Wangji looked up, exchanging a look with you. At his confused look, you stifle a laugh and only nod at him.

This person had to be Wen Chao. But how did Wen Chao’s voice become like this? The voice is so thin and so sharp. It doesn’t seem to be Wen Chao at all?

Head down, Wen Zhuliu searched through the belongings within his sleeves, soothing, “Is it that if we don’t light the lamp, he won’t be able to find us?”

“W-We’ve run so far, for so long. H-He shouldn’t b-be able to catch us, right?”

Wen Zhuliu appears to be indifferent, as he remarks, “Perhaps.”

To his words, Wen Chao fumes, “What do you mean perhaps?! If we haven’t outrun him why did you stop?!”

“You need medicine. Or else you’ll be dead for certain.”

As he speaks, he takes off Wen Chao’s cape. Both of the men on the roof are instantly shocked, and even you flinch at how bad it looks.

Under the cape, it wasn’t Wen Chao’s arrogant, greasily handsome face, but rather a bald head crudely wrapped in bandages!

Wen Zhuliu peels off the bandages layer by layer, revealing the skin of the bald man. On the face, scars and burn marks scatter on his face without order, making him look as if he’d been cooked on a poorly-made grill. With pus, blood, and fluids dripping from his injuries, Wen Chao looks like a pathetic Eldritch monster that had been smashed with a fly swatter. He looks disgusting!

The scene from the web series flits into your mind's eye, and you recall that the make-up department was already rather light-handed on Wen Chao's actor. This Wen Chao is truly a gruesome sight to see. You feel like bleaching your eyes. This is... a little too much, no?

Wen Zhuliu takes out a bottle of medicine. He first feeds Wen Chao a couple of round pills before he takes out some ointment and applies it to the burn marks on his head and face. Wen Chao whimpers in pain, though Wen Zhuliu stops him, whispering, “Don’t cry. Or else the tears would make the wounds fester and worsen the pain.”

Wen Chao can only hold back his tears, unable to even cry. By the flickering light of the fire, the bald man covered in burn marks contorts his face in a ghastly scowl, strange, muffled noises coming out of his mouth. The flame is on the verge of dying, a dim yellow quivering in a non-existent breeze. The sight is beyond frightening.

Suddenly, Wen Chao shrieks, “The flute! The flute! Is it the flute?! I heard him play the flute again!”

“No! It was the wind," Wen Zhuliu hisses.

However, Wen Chao becomes so scared that he falls to the ground, wailing. Wen Zhuliu picks him up again, not a single complaint in his eyes. It seems that something had happened to Wen Chao’s legs and he can’t walk on his own.

After Wen Zhuliu finishes applying the ointment, he takes out a few buns from his lapel and put one in his hand, saying, “Eat. We’ll continue after you finish.”

With shaking hands, Wen Chao cups it in his hands and takes a bite out of it. Suddenly, Wen Chao looks as if he had bitten something that caused him to react with such a petrified expression. He throws the bun away and screams, “I’m not eating meat! I’m not! I’m not! I’m not eating meat!”

Wen Zhuliu passes him another one, murmuring, “This one isn’t meat.”

“I’m not eating it! Take it away! Get lost! I want to find my dad. When can we get back to my dad?!”

“At this speed, two more days.”

His words are honest, neither emphasized nor faked. However, his honesty seems to create much torment on Wen Chao’s part as he shrieks, “Two days? Two days?! Do you see how I am right now? If I wait for two more days, how would I be then?! You useless thing!”

Wen Zhuliu suddenly stands up. Wen Chao flinches from fear, quickly changing his words as he quickly stammers, “No no no, Wen Zhuliu — No, Big Brother Wen! Don’t go, don’t leave me behind. If you can take me back to my dad, I’ll let him promote you to the highest level guest cultivator! No no no, you saved me, so you’re my brother — I’ll let him recognize you into the main clan! From now on you’ll be my elder brother!”

Finding a replacement brother for the one you killed, huh? You look at Jiang Cheng and share a mutual smile.

Wen Zhuliu suddenly stares in the direction of the stairs, brushing off, “There’s no need.”

Not only has he heard a strange sound, but you three also hear it as well. Foreboding footsteps, one after another, come from the stairs of the courier station.

Somebody is walking up the stairs, one agonising step at a time.

Chapter Text

All of the excess blood drains from Wen Chao’s burnt face. Trembling, he moves his hands out of the cape and covers his face with them, as though he is so scared that he wants to cover his eyes to protect himself, pretending that nothing is happening. The pair of palms, on the other hand, is bare, without a single finger on it! You suddenly feel thankful that you got to keep your fingers.

Tap. 

Tap. 

Tap.

The person slowly walks upstairs. With a slender physique dressed in familiar black robes, he has a flute at his waist, hands behind his back.

On the roof, both Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng press their hands onto the hilts of their swords, but you shoot a hand out in front of them, telling them not to barge in recklessly.

When the person strolls up the stairs and turns around, an ominous smile on his face, Lan Wangji’s eyes open wide, having seen those bright features before. His lips tremble, murmuring what you assume to be Wei Wuxian’s name in silence. Jiang Cheng, on the other hand, stands up almost immediately. With wide eyes, they both stare at you.

"I told you he'd be back."

It is indeed Wei Wuxian.

However, apart from the face, from top to bottom, this person is nowhere like the past Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian had clearly been a bright, high-spirited boy in the early periods that you met him in. The tips of his eyes and eyebrows always retained the hint of a grin, and he always refused to walk properly, choosing a jaunty, carefree gait that clearly highlighted his free-spirited nature. Yet, the black-clad person below is entirely enveloped in cold, dark energy. He is still as handsome as before, but his smile as long lost its sunniness, with such a light quality being replaced with a newfound eeriness.

Even though the two on the roof are flabbergasted, neither rush inside when you are glaring at the two of them with a warning look. They only force their heads lower and inch closer to the slit between the roof tiles to watch.

Inside the room, Wei Wuxian turns around slowly. Wen Chao covers his own face, fearfully rasping, “Wen Zhuliu… Wen Zhuliu!”

Hearing this, Wei Wuxian’s eyes and lips curl as he sneers, “Even now, you still think that calling him would be of any use?”

He walks a few steps nearer and kicks a white object by his foot. As you squint, you can register the object to be the squashed meat bun Wen Chao had tossed aside.

Wei Wuxian raises a brow, snarking, “What, you’re a picky eater?”

Wen Chao falls from his stool, screeching, “I’m not eating it! I’m not eating it! I’m not eating it!”

As he bawls, he crawls on the ground with his stubby, fingerless hands. The long black cape slides down the lower half of his body, revealing his legs, dangling from his torso as if they are nothing else but burdensome accessories. Even while they are wrapped with thick-seeming bandages, they are still unusually thin and stick-like. Due to Wen Chao’s violent movements, the bandages jostle and stretch out to form gaps to reveal ghastly white bones, darkening blood and strands of flesh still hanging from them.

Wen Chao’s sharp wails echo within the empty courier station. However, Wei Wuxian looks as though such grating sounds do nothing to dampen his mood, his smile still locked in place. Lifting up the hem of his robe, he sits down at another table.

The second oil lamp lights up. Before the bright yellow light of the flame, half of Wei Wuxian’s face is illuminated by the light, the other half shrouded in the dark. He drops his hand down suddenly as if summoning something. An ashen face appears out of the darkness under the table, crawling out from underneath the shadows of the round table. Soon, the crunching sounds of chewing begin sounding.

A white child squats by his feet. Like a young, carnivorous beast, it gnaws on something that Wei Wuxian feeds it. Wei Wuxian takes his hand away after patting on the white ghoul child’s sparse-haired head. Holding what he had fed it in its mouth, the ghostly child turns around and sits down. Hugging his leg, it chews fiercely as it glowers at Wen Zhuliu with cold, glistening eyes. Faced with this unnatural sight that did not appear in the web series, you trade glances with Jiang Cheng.

What the child is chewing are none other than two human fingers.

Needless to say, they must be Wen Chao’s fingers!

Lan Wangji stares at the ghastly ghost child along with an equally-ghastly Wei Wuxian. His grip tightens around Bichen’s hilt, though he does not move. He must be recalling how you had warned him about Wei Wuxian’s change.

Wen Zhuliu still stands in front of Wen Chao. Wei Wuxian looks him up and down, his expression unable to be seen as he drawls, “Wen Zhuliu, do you really think that you can protect his dog life from my hands?”

“...Better die trying.”

“What a loyal Wen-dog," Wei Wuxian laughs coldly, his words sounding nothing like a compliment.

“I can’t fail to repay the debt I owe to their generosity."

Wei Wuxian’s expression darkens at once. His voice is harsh as well as he suddenly explodes, “What a joke! Why is it that the debt you owe has to be repaid at the expense of others?!”

Once again, Lan Wangji shifts as if to get up. Geez, was he always this hot-blooded?

"Soon, but not yet! Wait a little more," you hiss. Best not to interfere now when Wei Wuxian’s vengeful rage is at its peak.

Lan Wangji registers your serious expression for a moment before settling back down, jaw clenched. However, you know that he is at the limits of his tolerance.

Before Wen Zhuliu even finishes speaking, from behind him come Wen Chao’s piercing wails. Wen Chao has crawled to a corner and is trying as hard as he can to press into the wooden boards as though he can squirrel in between them to escape. However, a red shadow suddenly drops from the ceiling. A long-haired woman in red clothes, her face blue, falls heavily onto him, cutting off his pathetic attempt to flee. The cold, emotionless and pale face, bright red clothes, and black hair create a chilling contrast and a ghostly appearance. Her talon-like fingers wrap around the bandages around Wen Chao’s head and tear it mercilessly!

The ointment, the skin, and the bandages are still melded together with the bandages having been directly applied onto the raw flesh. Burned skin is naturally weak, you knew this well . With the violent tear, the new budding scabs part from his body along with a thin layer of flesh. Even parts of his lips are torn off. 

Wen Chao passes out at once. As soon as he hears the loud thud, Wen Zhuliu turns around to help him. On the roof, Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng clench their swords as well, prepared to attack. You remain motionless, watching over the scene with your good hand resting on Su'yuan's hilt. However, you hear another scream. The ghoul child by Wei Wuxian’s feet has thrown itself over. Wen Zhuliu’s right hand strikes at the ghoul child’s forehead before he winces. The ghoul child has opened its two rows of sharp teeth and bitten into him!

Unable to shake it off, Wen Zhuliu ignores it and rushes straight to Wen Chao to protect him. The ghoul child, however, bites out an entire chunk of the flesh on his hand and spits it out. He continues to chow down on the palm with an unnatural urgency. Wen Zhuliu grabs the child’s head with his left hand hastily, as though to put so much force on the small, cold head that it explodes. The blue-faced woman throws the bloodstained bandages on the ground and, like a four-limbed creature, crawls to Wen Zhuliu’s side almost instantly.

Ten lines of blood bloom with two swings of her claws. The two dark beings, one large and one small, wrangle with him incessantly. Wen Zhuliu cannot possibly attend to both sides at the same time, blundering amidst the chaos. As he looks to the side and sees Wei Wuxian’s cold smile, he lunges at him. 

Lan Wangji finally slaps down on the tiles, unable to watch any further. The tiles shatter and the roof collapses. Through the roof, he descends into the second floor of the courier station and blocks Wen Zhuliu from Wei Wuxian. Taking advantage of Wen Zhuliu’s surprise, a whip flickering with purple light flies over and around his neck, wrapping itself three entire times around his throat before lifting up. Wen Zhuliu’s large, heavy body is lifted up by the surging whip and is now dangling in the air. As Zidian wraps itself around Wen Zhuliu’s neck, both you and Jiang Cheng leap down to join Lan Wangji.

Immediately, crunching sounds of his neck erupt as his bones crack. At the same time, Wei Wuxian’s pupils shrink. He takes out a flute from beside his waist and spins around, standing up. The ghoul child and blue-faced woman who were tearing at Wen Zhuliu quickly back off to his side and stare with vigilance at the three of you.

Behind you all, Wen Zhuliu hasn’t died yet. His face flushes red and his entire body twitches, struggling involuntarily. His eyes seem as though they are about to burst out of their sockets with how wide open they are. Mutedly, he lets out a few strangled gasps. 

The ghoul child beside Wei Wuxian snarls at the three of you, not at all hiding its enmity. Wei Wuxian raises his hand slightly for it to withdraw its fangs. His gaze sweeps between Lan Wangji, you, and Jiang Cheng. Among the four of you, nobody says a word.

The four of you remain at a standoff, and Jiang Cheng eventually breaks the silence as he tosses the extra sword in his hand. Wei Wuxian catches it without a second thought, a surprised look on his face. 

“Here, your sword!”

Wei Wuxian’s hand slowly drops as he looks down at Suibian and only responds after a pause, “…Thank you.”

Again, a short while passes before any words are spoken. Suddenly, Jiang Cheng walks over and strikes him, scowling, “You brat! Where have you run off to in these months?! Answer properly!”

Although the sentence itself seems to scold Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng's tone is full of joy. With the smack from Jiang Cheng, Wei Wuxian pauses blankly. A few moments later, he strikes him back, chuckling, “Haha, it’s a long story, a long story!”

The cold air that surrounded him is slightly watered down by the two strikes. Jiang Cheng hugs him tightly before shoving him back, yelling, “Didn’t we agree to meet at the town down the mountain? I waited for such a long time and I still didn’t even see a shadow of you! If you died it wouldn’t even have been in front of my eyes! For the last few months, I’ve been so busy that my head’s even gotten bigger!”

Tuning out of the conversation, you withdraw silently, opting to walk over to where Wen Zhuliu and Wen Chao are held. Looking up at the strung Wen Zhuliu, you raise your hands in a salute. 

"Second Young Lady Qiu. I heard that you recently gave up your sect-leader position and gained the title of Yuyan-zun," Wen Zhuliu rasps.

"Core-melting Hand. Did you stop Wen Chao from hurting my sister? Why didn't you melt her core?" You ask as politely as you can, cutting to the chase. His only sin was owing Wen Ruohan a debt, after all. Basic manners and a calm speech is the most you can give him as courtesy.

"I owe my br— your father tremendously. I suppose that I'm just repaying him by protecting... his daughter as best as I could."

"...What did you say? Your… Brother?”

Faced with your questioning gaze, Wen Zhuliu smiles softly, regret appearing on his features for the first time. However, he refuses to elaborate, instead choosing to remain silent. From time to time, the only response that pops up is an occasional grimace from his wounds. Seeing the current Wen Zhuliu in front of you, you know that he will not say anything else anymore. 

"I can't deny that you have some extent of my gratitude for not destroying my sister's cultivation, and you… have my thanks. However, it is quite a pity. You're not of the Wen clan by blood, but you will bear the same sins of the Wen clan in your death," you sigh, choosing not to comment on his slipup. It isn't like he intends to elaborate anyway. Leaving behind these words, you turn around and leave him alone, unable to find more words to say when you don’t even have any familial affections for either this cheaply-gained uncle or the original body’s long-gone father.

Truly, this original host’s family is a lot more convoluted than you thought… Who knew that Wen Zhuliu… no, Zhao Zhuliu ’s brother was the late Sect Leader Qiu’s husband? The original host’s memories did remember a paternal uncle existed, but there was no face to the name. No wonder Qiu Yufeng was so worried about the Qishan indoctrination event back then. Wen Zhuliu and the Wens must have had something to do with the original’s father’s death!

In the end, you leave behind Wen Zhuliu and cast a look at Wen Chao. He shrinks further into himself, whimpering incoherent nonsense. Whatever, he's pathetic enough . Wen Chao will have plenty of pain later under the hands of Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian anyway.

Just as you return to the three boys, you hear Lan Wangji speak up.

“Wei Ying.”

He stands quietly at the side, hand clasped tightly on the scabbard of Bichen. As he speaks, both Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng turn to him. It is as though Wei Wuxian finally remembered to greet him. You stand further behind so that the two youths can face each other on their own. There is no need for you to interfere now.

“Hanguang-jun."

Chapter Text

“Were you the one who has been killing the Wen Sect’s disciples?”

“Of course.”

Rolling his eyes, Jiang Cheng snorts, “I knew it was you. Why did you kill them one at a time? What a hassle.”

The smile on Wei Wuxian's face is twisted, being somewhat cold, cruel, and pleased.

“Of course it’s to play them around until they die. Killing all of them at once would be too easy on them. Much better killing them in front of one another one by one, one slice after another. Of course, with Wen Chao, I hadn’t tortured him enough yet. Wen Zhuliu, however, he’d received the guidance of Wen Ruohan and joined the Wen Sect with his surname changed, protecting Wen Ruohan’s precious son under his orders,” Wei Wuxian laughs coldly, before continuing, “He wanted to protect him, but I wanted to make him see how in his hands, Wen Chao would become more and more distorted, becoming neither a man nor a ghost.”

Lan Wangji takes one step forward, interrogating, “What means do you use to control such dark creatures?”

The curvature of Wei Wuxian’s lips drops slightly as he glances at him. Jiang Cheng also catches the dissonant tone, and narrows his eyes, warning, “Second Young Master Lan, what do you mean by this?”

Lan Wangji’s eyes glue to Wei Wuxian, pressing, “Answer me.”

The ghoul child and the blue-faced woman begin to stir from Lan Wangji's apparent hostility. Wei Wuxian turns around and sends them a meaningful look, and they back off slowly and reluctantly, sinking back into the darkness. Wei Wuxian finally turns to Lan Wangji again and raises his brows, saying, “What would happen if I don’t answer?”

Just as he says this, he ducks to the side just as Lan Wangji abruptly strikes, dodging his sudden attack. Both you and Jiang Cheng stiffen in surprise. As for Wei Wuxian, he walks three steps back, clicking his tongue as he says, “Lan Zhan, we’ve just met each other again after so long and you’re already trying to catch me. That’s not nice, is it?”

Walking briskly over to Jiang Cheng’s side, you see Jiang Cheng send you a questioning look. You shake your head.

Lan Wangji moves without saying anything, and Wei Wuxian blocks whatever attack he throws at him. Both of them are fast. The third time he moves Lan Wangji’s hand away, he sighs, “I thought that we could be considered familiar with each other. You starting a fight with me without saying anything does sound a bit heartless, doesn’t it?”

“Answer me!” Lan Wangji's voice is almost a shout, his restraint barely holding on by a thread.

Finally, you move in front of Wei Wuxian along with Jiang Cheng, who threateningly barks, “Second Young Master Lan!”

“Well, what you’re asking about really can’t be explained in a short amount of time. And it’s kind of strange. If I were to ask you about the Gusu Lan Sect’s secret techniques, would you answer me?” shrugs Wei Wuxian with a smile that does not reach his eyes.

Lan Wangji walks past you and Jiang Cheng and closes the distance between him and Wei Wuxian. Seeing him advance, Wei Wuxian holds his jet-black flute out in front of him defensively as he continues, “You’re going a little overboard, no? Why so unfriendly? Lan Zhan, just what in the world do you want to do?”

Speaking one word at a time, Lan Wangji blurts out, “...Go back to Gusu with me.”

Hearing this, both Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng become surprised, while you cradle your head in your good hand. This is getting unbearable to watch live.  

Quickly afterwards, Wei Wuxian recovers, chuckling, “Go back to Gusu with you? To the Cloud Recesses? Why there?”

He immediately seems to realise the wrong thing as he says, “Ohh. I forgot. Your uncle Lan Qiren hates crooked people like me. You’re his proudest disciple, so of course, you’re the same as him, haha. No thanks, I refuse.”

Jiang Cheng stares at Lan Wangji, cautious as he evenly interjects, “Second Young Master Lan, all of us understand the Lan Sect’s ways. However, Wei Wuxian saved you in the cave of the Xuanwu in Dusk-Creek Mountain, and you both have certain feelings of comradery of having fought together. Now, to mercilessly denounce him straight away would be too unreasonable, wouldn’t it?”

“Look at you. What a Sect Leader," Wei Wuxian crows, as if proud that Jiang Cheng is defending him.

“You can shut up," Jiang Cheng snorts.

“...It is not that I want to denounce him,” murmurs Lan Wangji.

“Then why do you want him to go back to Gusu with you? Second Young Master Lan, at such a point in time, the Gusu Lan Sect doesn’t work with the others to kill the Wen-dogs and is instead still hanging onto its inflexible ways. Is this right?"

Though you are initially poised to defend Wei Wuxian from Lan Wangji, you only did so to ensure that the tension does not boil over too much. However, in your heart, you still agree with Lan Wangji more. Hence, you turn to face Wei Wuxian with a strained, complicated smile on your face.

"If I may be honest, if you continue down this path, you will inevitably meet with ruin too. You… this is a law set by fate. Unless you tread carefully, it cannot be overturned. Even so, do you..."

“...Yuyan-zun, enough about it,” Wei Wuxian shakes his head, folding his arms as he remarks, "You are no god, so how would you know all of the future? I know of your legendary skill, but it’s of no use to me for sure. I will pioneer my own fate. My apologies, but what I do with my life is no outsider's business."

As you interjected, you pretend you do not see the almost-accusatory look of betrayal and confusion on Jiang Cheng’s face. He must have thought that you would take the side of him and Wei Wuxian, but with the knowledge of the coming future if Wei Wuxian were to continue down this path, how can you go along with them hotheadedly?

Two against two, the tension in the room is so thick that it probably can't even be cut with a sword. In a low voice, Lan Wangji warns, “Wei Ying, what she said was not wrong. For cultivating an evil path you would eventually have to pay the price. Throughout time, there has not been a single exception.”

“I can pay.”

Can you? You think to yourself silently.

Chapter Text

Seeing how unconcerned Wei Wuxian seems to be, Lan Wangji continues, “The path would not only damage your body but your heart as well.”

“Damage or not, and how much damage, I know it the most. As for my heart, it’s my heart after all. I know what I’m doing.”

“There are some things you cannot control at all.”

Displeasure flashes across Wei Wuxian’s face, as he retorts, “I can.”

The conversation slowly narrows within the two of them, as their replies bounce off each other, adding to the tense atmosphere of the room. Lan Wangji walks a step closer. He seems to be about to speak again when Wei Wuxian closes his eyes, coldly stating, “After all, on the topic of how my heart is, what could other people know about it? Why should other people care about it?”

Lan Wangji pauses. Suddenly, he explodes in a fit of rage, “…Wei Wuxian!”

Angered as well, Wei Wuxian narrows his eyes as he replies, “Lan Wangji! Do you really have to make this difficult at such a point in time? You want me to go to the Cloud Recesses for the Gusu Lan Sect’s confinement punishment, right? For 'cleansing', right? Who do you think you are, what do you think the Gusu Lan Sect is?! You really think that I won’t resist?!”

You feel a headache coming from the amount of teenage angst in the room as the conversation completely closes off into focusing on Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian. Unlike Jiang Cheng who stubbornly stands at the side of his shixiong, you give up partaking in their back-and-forth bickering. Quietly taking a seat by the empty table beside the half-lucid Wen Chao, you rub your temples, tired. These two are insufferable. Have they heard of proper communication?

Over Bichen’s hilt, Lan Wangji’s knuckles turn white. Jiang Cheng’s voice is cold as he puts in one final word, saying, “Right now, the chaos with the Wen Sect hasn’t been stopped yet. This is the time where we desperately need forces. People don’t even have the time to care for themselves, why would you be concerned about something so far away from it? Wei Wuxian is on our side. Do you want to punish our own people?”

Wei Wuxian regains his composure, adding on, “That’s right. It’s all good as long as the Wen-dogs are the ones killed. Why care about how I kill them?”

The two know how to continue each other’s words ever since they were young, having grown up together. At this point in the story, they are still as inseparable as two strong magnets. With the two mouthing off together against the silent Lan Wangj who is unable to find the words to fire back, the two overpower him with their arguments. Their voices, filled with self-righteous confidence, grate against your ears and the limits of your patience. It does not help that the muffled groans and whines of the pathetic mess by your feet are adding to the pounding headache surfacing in your skull.

As the final nail in the coffin, Jiang Cheng finally adds, “Apologies for saying something so blunt, but even if we get to the bottom of this, Wei Wuxian isn’t from your sect either. It’s not in the Gusu Lan Sect’s place to punish him. No matter whom he goes back with, it wouldn’t be you.”

Reaching the limit of your patience, you pound the surface of the table with your palm. The sound is deafening as the table breaks upon impact, and you glare at them while still seated, roaring, "Enough! We have a bigger situation at hand! Direct your angst at these two right in front of us rather than our fellow compatriots, or shut your mouth and stand down! " 

The three men jolt and finally obediently stay quiet, though their glares remain on their faces. At your sudden outburst, Wen Chao trembles in fear, a thin scream erupting from his mouth as he inches back as best as he can away from you. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng immediately turn around. Together, the two of them walk around Lan Wangji and toward Wen Zhuliu and Wen Chao. On the other hand, Wen Zhuliu still hangs from Zidian, still struggling in agony. Wen Chao, however, is almost half-dead, a twisted, pathetic expression on his fear-filled face.

Wen Chao doesn’t scream anymore. He doesn’t try to run away either. Vapidly, he raises up his finger-less hands and begins to drool. Wei Wuxian kicks him into a kneeling position, one of which you assume to be facing the direction of Yunmeng. The revealed bones and flesh rub against each other, causing Wen Chao to cry out sharply in pain. The shrill sound is especially jarring in the heavy silence of the empty courier station.

“Why is his voice so sharp?”

“Of course it’d be, with a certain thing gone," Wei Wuxian replies.

Jiang Cheng puts on an expression of disgust as he asks, “You’re the one who did it?”

“It’s nasty if you think about it that way. Of course, I wasn’t the one who cut it off. It was bitten off when his woman went mad.” 

Both you and Lan Wangji are still standing behind them, watching them intently. Wei Wuxian suddenly remembers your presence again. Turning around, he smiles, “Second Young Master Lan, Yuyan-zun, the following scene might not be suitable for your eyes. Perhaps it’d be best to avoid it.”

Although ‘perhaps’ was used, his tone sounds not in the least refutable. Jiang Cheng also speaks with both respect and distance, “That’s right. Second Young Master Lan… and Yuyan-zun, Wen Chao and Wen Zhuliu are already in our hands. The task has been completed, and it’s time for us to part. What goes after this would be a personal matter of our sect. It’s best if you both return first.”

After saying so, the two boys' attention had already been taken away by their dying enemy. The eyes Wei Wuxian used to look at Wen Chao and Wen Zhuliu glisten, and his grin is both excited and cruel. Jiang Cheng has the same chilling expression. Both of them have been subsumed within the overwhelming pleasure of revenge. Neither have the concern to deal with outsiders.

As for you, though you dislike how Wei Wuxian is being standoffish, it's justified after all with how many of his fellow sect members and friends were all either slaughtered or heavily injured by Wen hands. Moreover, a thought about watching Wen Chao's final end for yourself surfaces in your chest as a phantom thrum emanates from your covered burned palm. As much as you would like to comfort Lan Wangji, the personal grudge you have with Wen Chao still cannot be dissipated.

Lan Wangji falters for a moment, before flicking his sleeves walking down the stairs. You linger in the room, watching the two circle around Wen Chao like a pair of sharks. Turning around, Jiang Cheng notices that you still have not left. 

"Yuyan-zun, are you not leaving? Do you want to join in?"

Folding your arms, you smile lightly, politely saying, "No, I’ve already had my share of venting from Wen Xu back in Hejian. I stay only to see what you will do to his brother. I'm frankly curious." 

"Well done for that, Yuyan-zun! I wish I could have seen it for myself. You must have been very valiant while slaying Wen Xu," Wei Wuxian laughs, his tone sounding as if the two of you were not talking about gruesome topics such as death and torture, but rather a mere hunting accomplishment. 

You cast dismissive eyes upon the ragged Wen Chao, silent contempt in your eyes. Finally tearing your eyes off of his suffering, you cover your mouth with your sleeve with a dainty twist of your wrist, sighing, "It’s pointless. Doing things to him in this state will barely reach him anymore. His mind and body are already broken beyond repair."

With a lopsided grin, Wei Wuxian strides over, saying, "Isn't Yuyan-zun a great doctor! You can just revive him, no?"

You chuckle behind your sleeve, and the light melody only serves to terrify Wen Chao further as you drawl, "A great doctor, yes. But not a surgeon. With only one working hand, how can I possibly hope to actually patch him up? I'll just watch and see whether you can find any new methods of single-handed surgical procedures for me to learn... Go ahead."

With an approving laugh, Wei Wuxian whips around, slinging an arm around Jiang Cheng's shoulder. "Hear that? Stop worrying. Come, let's start."

...

As you survey the two boys' handiwork, you check Wen Chao's breathing and find that he must have long breathed his last. Standing up, you turn to the two boys and drily say, "He has died from neurogenic shock from extreme pain. Even with the best medicines, resurrecting the dead is not within my expertise, and I doubt that you'd want to keep him around as a puppet with how much of a rag his body has become. It is almost daybreak. Let us return to the camp first."

Jiang Cheng is the first to leave the station, and before Wei Wuxian can follow him out, you grab him by his sleeve. 

"Is something the matter, Yuyan-zun?" Wei Wuxian asks.

After ensuring that Jiang Cheng is out of earshot, you tilt your head to one side and beam, saying, "I know that you have given your golden core to Jiang Wanyin."

Wei Wuxian's smile freezes on his face, and he immediately widens his eyes, muttering, "How did you—"

"I know many things, hence I rushed to prevent Yunmeng Jiang's complete decimation right after that Xuanwu cave incident. Surely you must have wondered how did I know that the Wens will come soon. I know your flute is called Chenqing. I know you have a tiger seal that is capable of extreme acts of violence. I know that if you continue down your narrow path, you will harm not only yourself but also the people around you."

His expression darkening, you know that Wei Wuxian is alarmed by your words.

You sigh and knock him lightly on the head, saying, "Why so serious? I didn't say that I'll tell anyone. I am just warning you. I've seen many things, and your downfall is one of them. I'm sure you have heard of my alleged Foresight."

Upon hearing Wei Wuxian's silence, you pace past him and towards the stairs, before turning around to say, "On account of our friendship, I'll leave you this piece of advice; give Lan Wangji a chance. That child is absolutely terrible at speaking his true intentions, but he genuinely wishes to help you. I don't know if you'll follow it, but I'll say it anyway. 'When everyone feared you and flattered you, Lan Wangji scolded you right in your face; when everyone spurns you and loathes you, Lan Wangji will stand by your side.' Take this... however you wish. Come, Sect Leader Jiang is waiting."

Leaving behind these words, you finally descend the stairs, leaving a stunned Wei Wuxian behind.

Chapter Text

"Sister, does it hurt anywhere?"

At your question, Qiu Suyin only shakes her head lightly. Her dislocated arm has long been fixed, and her minor cuts and bruises have long healed. With a drinking bowl of water in her hands, she sits on her own cot, a warm smile on her face. 

Gingerly, you dab at her lips after she finishes drinking her water, and you take the bowl from her hands and set it on the table. As you look upon the ugly gash on her face that has already scabbed over, you feel a pang in your chest.

"Sister... you still haven't told me what happened to your face... how did you truly spend these few days?"

Qiu Suyin flinches upon hearing your questions, and she looks down on her bandaged hands that are clasped in your scarred sword hand. Tracing the pale lines on your hands, she smiles bitterly and replies, "What is there to say? I fled Jingsi Palace following Mother's last command with only my sword and had the misfortune of running into the Core-melting Hand while on the run. Luckily, Wen Chao had the brains to know that I'd kill him while he's vulnerable in bed, so he only kept me as a prisoner instead of a toy since Wen Zhuliu insisted on keeping me alive and safe. Anyway, regarding my face, it isn't as if you don't know how spiteful his mistress is... one look at me and she waited until Wen Chao was asleep during the first night to carve my face until I looked like this. Every night up until a week ago, she would come down to reopen the wound to make sure that it did not close."

As Qiu Suyin talks, her hands tremble with anger and despair. With extreme care, she removes her hands from yours and gently touches your non-dominant hand, where the runic bandages still wrap around your burn scar. You don't have to look up to see the grief in her eyes.

"I'm sorry I didn't come back to Luoyang immediately... I didn't think that..." you mumble, guilt churning in your chest.

Qiu Suyin sees the mournful expression on your face and sighs, moving her hand up to stroke your head. "Don't blame yourself. This did not result from your actions. Jingsi Palace burned down from the Wens' greed. In a way, it was a good thing that they burned down the Palace. All the poisons were burnt to ashes, and the poisonous gas that leaked out managed to kill many of the Wen scums. It is good that our Luoyang Qiu has built up immunity. We managed to fight back in our own way."

A cold laugh escapes your lips, and you stand up from the cot and walk to your desk. Picking up a similar-looking sword to Su'yuan, you sit on the floor by Qiu Suyin's cot, saying, "Wen Chao left your sword in the supervisory office's treasury. You can have Qingchun back." 

Qiu Suyin grasps Qingchun's white and pink scabbard, a thoughtful smile on her face. Clearing your throat, you say, "Anyway, you are now Sect Leader Qiu. I have changed our sect robe colours to silver and grey to avoid having any similarities to Qishan Wen. After the campaign, you can change it back if you see fit. You... are our sect leader now. I wish that Mother could have had attended your ascension ceremony."

"Don't give me that look," Qiu Suyin knocks your forehead with her knuckles, continuing, "When Mianmian told us of your deeds in Qishan and Yunmeng, Mother was extremely proud. She kept saying how heroic you were. Now that you have slain Wen Xu, Mother can finally rest well."

You smile as brightly as you can, resting your head on her lap. As she continues stroking your hair, you sigh, "I hope she will."

...

A few weeks later, Qiu Suyin officially assumes her duties as Sect Leader Qiu, replacing you in the Qiu-led Dongting front, while you return to the Hejian front upon receiving a summons. 

When you finally return to Hejian, you spot a familiar old friend standing by the main entrance of the base. Picking up speed, you walk briskly over, and salute properly, greeting, "It's been long, Zewu-jun."

"Ah, Yuyan-zun. Have you been well?" 

“Mn. Thank you for your concern. Say, while I was gone, did I miss anything…”

You converse cheerfully with Lan Xichen up until the both of you reach the entrance of the main hall. Looking upon the building that was still in the midst of construction when you left, you spot Nie Mingjue standing at the entrance.

"Qing-mei, while you were gone, the base underwent some upgrades. We had your belongings shifted to your new quarters, and after our meeting ends, I shall send for a subordinate to lead you there," Nie Mingjue says. 

Standing in between Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue, you nod as you walk. Finally, Nie Mingjue leads the two of you to a spacious, brightly lit hall, where a few other cultivators are already seated. Lan Xichen and you take your seats, flanking Nie Mingjue's sides on the second-highest seats.

After an exchange of small talk, Meng Yao, who has been standing by Nie Mingjue’s side, walks up and offers everyone teacups. In the frontlines, one person was used as though there were six. It is a war after all; barely anyone can afford any space for maids and servants. And so, these everyday trivialities have also been willingly accepted by Meng Yao who has now climbed to the position of Nie Mingjue's deputy while you were gone. You haven't had much time to talk with him ever since the war started, so the most interaction you have had with him are nods of acknowledgements and occasional salutes and greetings.

A few of the cultivators hesitate as they look upon his face, their expressions varying. Jin Guangshan’s “intimate tales” had always been widespread conversation starters, and Meng Yao had been a famous joke for a certain period of time, which was why a few recognized him. Likely thinking that the son of a prostitute perhaps also carries some unclean things with him, the cultivators do not drink from the cups that he presents with both hands. Instead, they put the cups to the side and even take out white handkerchiefs to repeatedly wipe the fingers that they touched the teacup with, either intentionally or not. Meng Yao acts as if he didn’t see anything, his smile unfaltering as he continues to pass around tea. 

As he sets a teacup brimming with fragrant tea in front of you, you take a sip of the tea after smiling pleasantly at him, saying, "Thank you. The tea smells great." 

As Lan Xichen accepts his cup, he also looks up at Meng Yao and says, “Thank you.”

Upon receiving the cups of tea from Meng Yao, both you and Lan Xichen drink the tea immediately before setting it down and continuing the conversation. From the corner of your eyes, you spot a few cultivators with uneasy expressions on their faces as they see the scene. To add to their shock, you take a few more sips as you flash an appreciative smile at Meng Yao.

“How long is your stay, Xichen?” Nie Mingjue asks.

“Mingjue-xiong, I will have to stay at your place for the night. I am departing the next morning, then meeting with Wangji.”

“Where to?”

“To Jiangling.”

“Isn’t Jiangling still in the hands of the Wen-dogs?”

“Not since a few days ago. Currently, it is fully in the hands of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect," you answer for Lan Xichen. You were just there, after all.

A sect leader among the crowd pipes up, “That’s right. Sect Leader Nie, I don’t think you’ve heard yet. Yunmeng’s Sect Leader Jiang is quite powerful in the area.”

Another person adds, “How can he not be? Wei Wuxian alone can face millions, so who’d he be scared of? He can just sit there controlling his area, unlike how we’re always running for our lives. With such luck…”

Someone notices that his words were not spoken in a good tone, so he quickly says, “Well, good thing that Zewu-jun and Hanguang-jun are helping everyone. Or else, I don’t know how many sects and innocent commoners would fall into the hands of the Wen-dogs.”

“Your brother’s level of cultivation is quite high. He should be enough by himself, so why are you still going?” Nie Mingjue asks after turning back to Lan Xichen, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

Lan Xichen sighs, “It is quite embarrassing, but after Wangji went, it seems that he had some small conflicts with the Yunmeng Jiang Sect’s Young Master Wei.”

“What happened?” asks Nie Mingjue.

"Hanguang-jun often has disputes with Young Master Wei because he sees his methods to be too unnatural. They often quarrel on the battlefield," you explain.

Lan Xichen nods, sighing once more. 

Someone chatters, “In my opinion, Hanguang-jun really doesn’t have to do this. Even the living are close to being dead, so why should we care about those corpses?”

Another person agrees, “Yes, we’re in harsh times, right? Sect Leader Jiang is right. In terms of evil or not, who’s more evil than the Wen-dogs? He’s on our side anyway. I say it’s fine as long as he’s killing the Wen-dogs.”

You scoff behind your sleeve, opting to take a sip of your tea instead. If only you can record the words that they are spewing right now.

The discussion wraps up soon after. Meng Yao brings the other cultivators to their resting area, while Lan Xichen and you lag behind to finally get a chance to speak with him. Nie Mingjue, on the other hand, returns to his room. 

“What a coincidence. You joined Mingjue-xiong’s force and became his deputy.”

“I’m too lucky to have earned Yuyan-zun's recommendation and Chifeng-zun’s approval.”

Finally having the chance to chat with Meng Yao, you pat him on the shoulder, smiling as you jest, “I cannot take credit for anything since all I did was a mere fleeting mention. Mingjue-xiong has quite the fiery personality. If he truly did not approve of you and your talents, my recommendation for him to promote you further would have fallen on deaf ears.”

Meng Yao lowers his gaze, smiling sweetly. Once again, you find it hard to reconcile his pure smile with his scheming smirk from the finale of the story.

“In these days, the Lanling Jin Sect’s Sect Leader Jin has been managing with much difficulty in the Langya area, especially with Yuyan-zun's absence from the front. Currently, he is trying to recruit more personnel,” Lan Xichen chimes in, a sparkle in his eye.

Your smile falters.

Meng Yao hesitates, before slowly replying, “Zewu-jun, you mean…”

“You always hoped to earn a proper place in the Lanling Jin Sect and receive the approval of your father. Now that you already have a position and a future under Mingjue-xiong’s branch... and frankly speaking, you will definitely be treated worse under the Jin Sect, but does your wish still stand?” you ask, worry in your tone. If he stayed in Qinghe Nie and did not have to subject himself to Jin Guangshan's abuse, would he remain this 'innocent'?

Meng Yao lowers his head as if in deep contemplation, holding his breath. After a moment of silence, he replies, “Yes, it does.”

Lan Xichen smiles gently as he says, “I would assume so as well.”

“...But now, I’m already Sect Leader Nie’s deputy. I owe Sect Leader Nie a debt of gratitude. No matter what remains of my wish, I cannot leave Hejian.”

Lan Xichen is silent for a moment before he speaks, “That is indeed the case. Even if you want to leave, it would likely be difficult for you to bring up the topic. However, I believe that if you choose to ask, Mingjue-xiong would respect your decision. Should he be unwilling to let you leave, I can attempt to convince him.”

Suddenly, Nie Mingjue's voice speaks up behind the two of you, saying, “Why would I not let you leave?”

Meng Yao stands up at once, but before he has the chance to speak, Nie Mingjue commands, “Sit.”

Meng Yao remains still. Nie Mingjue then speaks again, saying, “I’ll write you a recommendation letter tomorrow.”

“Sect Leader Nie?"

“You can take the letter to Langya and find your father.”

“Sect Leader Nie, if you heard everything, then you should’ve also heard me say that—”

Nie Mingjue interrupts him, saying, “I promoted you not because I wanted you to give back anything out of gratitude. I simply thought that you should stay in this position since you are capable enough and your conduct is to my liking. If you really want to pay me back, just kill a few more of those Wen-dogs on the battlefield!”

Hearing this, Meng Yao is speechless. Lan Xichen grins, saying, “Look, I told you that Mingjue-xiong would respect your decision.”

Meng Yao’s eyes are tinged red as he mumbles, “Sect Leader Nie... I…I really don’t know what to say.”

Nie Mingjue sits down, sighing, “If you don’t know what to say, then don’t say anything."

"...If this is truly what you want, then move to Lanling Jin, but always remember that you will have our support regardless, alright? Don't suffer silently," you say, smiling gently at him. He nods obediently, a tinge of red in his cheeks.

He put the other sabre in his hand onto the table. Lan Xichen smiles as he recognises it, asking, “Huaisang’s sabre?”

“Even though he’s safe there with you, he shouldn’t neglect his studies either. Tell others to supervise him when they’re free. Next time we meet, I’ll examine his sabre and heart scriptures.”

Lan Xichen takes Nie Huaisang’s sabre into his qiankun sleeve, “Huaisang has been using the excuse that he left his sabre at home. Now he will have no excuses for lazing around.”

You stick your hand into your sleeve and take out a fragrant pouch. Handing it to Lan Xichen, you say, "If it's possible, can you give this to my brother and tell him that our sister is safe? It's the least I can do for him... I only hope that he hasn't forgotten my face."

Lan Xichen chuckles, keeping the fragrance pouch along with Nie Huaisang's sabre as he says, "Of course not. Your brother dearly misses you, and Huaisang often tells him of your valiant deeds on the battlefield. He will be pleased to receive this."

“Speaking of which, have you all met before? I was also meaning to ask Qing-mei this, but I never got the chance.”

"I have met both of them before," Meng Yao answers.

“Where? When?”

Lan Xichen smiles as he shakes his head, sighing, “Let us not talk about it. It is the shame of a lifetime. Mingjue-xiong, please do not ask any further.”

“Why would you be afraid of losing face in front of me? Meng Yao, speak.”

Meng Yao shakes his head as well, answering, “If Zewu-jun doesn’t want to say it, then I’ll have to keep the secret as well.”

"Qing-mei?"

"In a flash of blue light within the forests of Luoyang. That's all I'll tell you, Mingjue-xiong," you chuckle, meeting the gaze of a smiling Meng Yao, much to Nie Mingjue's chagrin.

The four of you chat back and forth, at times serious, yet at times light. The conversation is much more relaxed than when you had all been in the main hall. As you joke and laugh with the three, you try not to entertain the vain hope that Meng Yao will not fall into darkness under Jin Guangshan's tyranny.

Chapter Text

A few days later, carrying Nie Mingjue’s recommendation letter, Meng Yao sets off toward Langya. After he leaves, Nie Mingjue switches to another deputy, who lacks in many places as compared to Meng Yao. You can only brew your own tea yourself in Meng Yao's absence as well, and there is always something lacking in the flavour. Did Meng Yao slip something into the tea, or do you just suck at tea brewing? To be frank, it was probably the latter.

Sometime later, the Lanling Jin Sect in Langya was on the verge of collapse without your help. Lan Xichen just happened to be assisting another area, so Jin Guangshan can only ask for help from Hejian, and Nie Mingjue arrives shortly afterwards along with you.

After the battle concludes, Jin Guangshan comes over to express his thanks, still in a terrible state. Since you are busy barking orders at your subordinates with a bloody Su'yuan in hand, Nie Mingjue can only speak with Jin Guangshan. He curtly converses with him shortly before asking, “Sect Leader Jin, what’s Meng Yao doing nowadays?”

Hearing him mention the name, Jin Guangshan airily replies, “Meng Yao? Uh… Sect Leader Nie, I don’t mean any offence, but who is he again?”

Nie Mingjue’s brows immediately furrow. In a cold voice, he elaborates, “Meng Yao is my past deputy. I wrote a letter for him to bring.”

Jin Guangshan continues to pretend as though he doesn’t know a thing, lightly saying “Really? But here I’ve never seen such a letter or such a person. Oh well. If I had known that Sect Leader Nie sent over his deputy I would definitely receive him well. But did any accidents happen along the journey?”

He simply continues claiming that he couldn’t remember if he had heard of the name or not. Turning to you, Nie Mingjue whispers, "Entertain him for a bit, will you? I'll go ask around."

Knowing exactly what Nie Mingjue will see, you widen your eyes, confirming, "Are you sure? Do you want me to go instead?"

Nie Mingjue shakes his head before leaving with a curt goodbye. Finally alone with Jin Guangshan, you salute him after sheathing your sword.

"Young Lady Qiu. It's been a while. I have heard many tales of your... valiance, while you were fighting alongside Sect Leader Nie. I heard you were the one who killed Wen Xu," Jin Guangshan speaks, though you detect a thin hint of mockery in his voice.

"Just some simple matters. Killing Wen Xu was a simple matter, the real story doesn't match the spread rumours in brilliance. I don't even remember much of it. Next thing I knew, he was already dead by my sword," you wave dismissively.

Leaving behind Jin Guangshan after spouting a few courteous words, you focus on overseeing the post-battle measures such as cleaning up the corpses and ensuring the safety of civilians before returning to the main camp. As night fell, Nie Mingjue still had not returned. Worried, you swipe your sword off the table and set out to look for him when you spot Nie Mingjue stumbling into the base with a stab wound in his stomach. A smidge of disappointment bubbles in your throat, but you suppress it with a look of worry as you rush over, asking, "Mingjue-xiong! What happened? Meng Yao..."

"Do not speak of him!" Nie Mingjue hisses, rage in his eyes. A vein bulges on his forehead, and his anger over Meng Yao's misdeed definitely isn't light.

"Okay, okay, I won't speak of him, I won't speak of him. Come, Qing-mei will help you treat your wounds. Move over," you pacify him, supporting him on one hand. You help him to the medical ward and help him disinfect and treat the stab wound, not speaking a single word. Anyway, it’s not like you don’t know what happened. Nie Mingjue can tell as well. Being co-leaders for a war campaign in its budding beginnings and pulling such a dismal movement into the formidable force today required ample chemistry and understanding, anyway. 

A few days later, Lan Xichen finally reaches Langya to help, but Nie Mingjue's anger still has not dissipated. As soon as he enters Nie Mingjue's chambers along with you, Lan Xichen laughs, “Mingjue-xiong, what a temper you seem to be in. Where is Meng Yao? Why does he not come and douse your flames?”

Having had his sore spot touched, Nie Mingjue growls, “Don’t mention such a person!” 

Without any exaggeration, he finally tells you and (mostly) Lan Xichen of how Meng Yao killed and planned to blame someone else, then feigned death and ran away. After you both hear the story, Lan Xichen gasps, “How could this be? Maybe there was a misunderstanding?”

“I caught him right on the spot. What misunderstandings could there be?”

Lan Xichen muses for a moment before saying, “Judging from his words, the person whom he killed had definitely done wrong. However, he should not have taken his life either. We are in harsh times, so it is quite difficult to determine who was at fault. I wonder where he is now.”

“He should hope that I don’t catch him. If I do, I’ll offer him up as a sacrifice to my sabre!” Nie Mingjue snarls in a harsh tone.

"Alright, alright. Whatever happened has happened. Meng Yao is now missing, and speculating or pointless agitation won't do any good. We can only focus on the current battles in Langya, Wen Ruohan must have stepped up his forces in this area. Zewu-jun, perhaps you can keep a lookout for Meng Yao whilst on your travels? It'd still be better to bring him back so that he can answer for his deeds," you sigh.

This isn't even the worst thing that he will do, after all.

...

A few lines from the novel translates to two years of war in the Sunshot Campaign. Even with your interference in the plot, the war still rages on, presumably from Wen Ruohan's increased defences. Your successes have forced him to take your uprising a little more seriously. In these two years, not a single trace of Meng Yao could be found, but you are definitely sure that Meng Yao has already weaselled his way into the Wen-dogs' forces, with how the Qishan Wen Sect’s tactical formation maps and other insider information began to fall onto your laps, allowing for the campaign to turn in your side's favour.

Today, Nie Mingjue has called for another urgent meeting, and from the maps of Yangquan he has in his hands, you know full well that the end of the Sunshot Campaign is nigh. 

"We have received news that the Wen base in Yangquan will have a decrease in manpower due to our continuous attacks in Taiyuan, so we shall take this chance to claim another Wen base," Nie Mingjue commands. Nie Mingjue’s attacks has almost always been successful lately, so the other cultivators in the room immediately echo his decision, showing their support. However, you remember how his forces were still captured and slain by Wen Ruohan and his men, and you furrow your brows.

"Regardless of the apparent ease of the situation, isn't it best to exercise caution? This could be a trap," you warn, keeping your voice low. 

To your warning, the other men in the room apart from Nie Mingjue all scoff and scowl as they shake their heads, insisting, "The information that Zewu-jun brings us is always accurate. Are you telling us to doubt Zewu-jun? That's overly presumptuous of you, isn't it, Young Lady Qiu?" One man pipes up, jeering, before shutting up from Nie Mingjue's fierce look.

"Silence. Slander is unneeded in this discussion. Still, we will still proceed as planned, as the majority have agreed to this decision. The base in Yangquan is important in ensuring that the Wen-dogs stay in check. Please do not take offence, Yuyan-zun."

Narrowing your eyes, you snort, "Of course not, Chifeng-zun. What does a woman's intuition have in the face of men's folly? I only hope that the people here will not regret this decision."

The discussion ends shortly after, and you leave the meeting hall first, feeling frustrated. Many men will die from Wen Ruohan's surprise attack in Yangquan, and you refuse to allow more casualties when you know that it is coming. However, as you walk along the halls, you hear a few male cultivators gossiping.

"...that Qiu Qingwen still dares to speak up against Sect Leader Nie during the strategical meeting earlier. Does she really think that she is on equal grounds with Sect Leader Nie?"

"A lowly woman thinks that just because she has killed a few men, she can speak on the same level as us in a battle discussion. I'd say that there's no proper way a woman can climb to such a high level to gain a title. Doesn't she always cling to either Sect Leader Nie or Zewu-jun when her sect subordinates aren't with her? Who knows whether she..."

"Greetings, fellow cultivators. Fancy seeing you here, still gossiping when training is underway," you smile genially as you greet them.

"Huh—? Yuyan-zun?! Apologies, we were just about to rush over, yes! Please excuse us!!" The men all stammer out upon seeing your hand resting on your sword hilt, and immediately scatter.

In a way, you have the last laugh, as to your prediction, Wen Ruohan's forces sweep in during a critical moment of the battle, and capture all of the cultivators who came for the battle. With everyone's spiritual powers sealed, the survivors are escorted to Nightless City, and presented in the main hall in front of a triumphant Wen Ruohan.

Chapter Text

As you are roughly thrown onto the jet tiles of the throne hall, you land right beside Nie Mingjue, who is a lot more battered than you are since he put up more of a fight. The two of you are still bathed in blood, and every captured prisoner is forced to kneel in chains before Wen Ruohan, although you and Nie Mingjue only glare up at him. However, a throbbing pain in your head and numerous stinging slashes and cuts on your arms still remind you of the battle before, when the Wen-dogs won the battle with overwhelming numbers. Looking around the hall through a veil of your untied hair, you recognise this to be Wen Ruohan's palace, though the interior looks more opulent and less like a rocky lair like in the web series you remember. A bone-chilling sense of pressure hangs in the air, and you know that Wen Ruohan is currently seated in the very front of the throne hall on his elaborate, elevated throne. 

From the corner of your eye, you detect a few movements. Squinting, you watch a few Wen Sect disciples move forward in an adept posture of kneeling on the ground. You spot Su'yuan among the pile of confiscated weapons in a corner of the hall, but you cannot control the sword from such a far distance, not when your spiritual energy has not recovered.

The doors of the palace abruptly open. Somebody enters.

All of the disciples within the palace walk with utmost care and pathetic subservience, yet this person only nods in salutation as he first came in. Unlike the others, he walks forward nonchalantly. At the end of the hall, he bows down and speaks a few words with Wen Ruohan before turning to this side.

With slow strides, he approaches, quietly looking over both you and Nie Mingjue, who are right in front of the presented prisoners. With a smug and airy laugh, the person finally speaks, “Sect Leader Nie, Yuyan-zun, long time no see.”

And who can this be, except for Meng Yao himself?

"Meng... Yao?" you rasp, putting on an expression of shock.

"It is a pity to meet again under such circumstances, Yuyan-zun," Meng Yao smiles coldly, and you feel a chill run down your back.   Meng Yao half-kneels in front of you both, smirking as he croons, “I never would’ve expected you to be in such a terrible situation.”

He's... acting like you are, right???

“Get lost," Nie Mingjue spits out.

Meng Yao’s laugh holds a sense of pity, as he mocks, “Do you still think you’re the king of Hejian? Look carefully. This is the Sun Palace.”

“Sun Palace? It’s only the den of the Wen-dogs!” One cultivator who you recognise to be one of the gossipers against you that day voices out.

Meng Yao’s expression changes almost immediately and he unsheathes his sword in a flash! A line of blood instantly spurts from the cultivator’s neck as he dies without a single sound. Those from his sect wail, screaming as they throw themselves over. Enraged, Nie Mingjue roared, “You!”

“You Wen-dog! If you’re so confident, why don’t you kill me as well?” yelled another one of your naysayers.

Meng Yao doesn’t even flinch. With another backhanded swing, blood gushes from the cultivator’s throat in a crimson arc as Meng Yao smiles, “Sure.”

Sword in his hand, he stands amidst a pool of blood, the corpses of two green-robed cultivators at his feet. Still smiling, he asks, “Does anyone else want to say the word?”

“Wen-dog," Nie Mingjue replies coldly.

Despite this, Meng Yao only smiles, not at all angry. With a snap of his fingers, one of the Wen Sect’s cultivators scurries over. Both hands above his head, he positions a long box before Meng Yao’s hands.

Meng Yao opens the box and takes out a certain object, crowing, “Sect Leader Nie, why don’t you take a look at what this is?”

Nie Mingjue’s sabre, Baxia!

Infuriated, Nie Mingjue roars, “Get lost, now!”

However, Meng Yao already took Baxia out and is holding it in his hand, chuckling, “Sect Leader Nie, Baxia had been in my hands quite a few times in the past. Don’t you think it’s already too late for you to be angry now?”

Speaking one word at a time, Nie Mingjue growls, “Take your hand off it!”

As though purposely trying to enrage him, Meng Yao weighs the sabre in his hand and lightheartedly comments, “Sect Leader Nie, your sabre, I’d say, can pass as a top-tier spiritual weapon. With that said, compared to the sabre of your father, the previous Sect Leader Nie, it’s still somewhat inferior. Why don’t you take a guess at how many times Sect Leader Wen has to slap it for it to break this time?”

"Meng Yao! Enough!" You scream out in anguish. This is a sensitive topic for Nie Mingjue!

"This is a conversation between two men. A woman should not interrupt." At your words, Meng Yao only looks over, an aloof and cold air surrounding him as he speaks. "I'd suggest for you to remain calm and quiet, seeing that you are quite agitated."

Clenching your fist, you can only vehemently glare at Meng Yao as you ignore the flash of dejectedness flickering in his eyes, biting out, "Men? You've sunk low enough to be a dog than a man."

As you say this as a form of distraction, Nie Mingjue forces himself out of the constraints of the chains! With a smack of his hand, Meng Yao staggers backwards and coughs up a mouthful of blood. Seeing this, the figure on the dark throne shifts forward, as though wanting to move. Meng Yao immediately gets up and kicks Nie Mingjue’s chest. Nie Mingjue’s previous attack is already beyond what he could manage, and he falls heavily onto the ground. 

With great force, Meng Yao stomps on Nie Mingjue’s chest, snarling, “How dare you act in such a way before Sect Leader Wen’s eyes!”

As he speaks, he stabs downward with his sword. Angered, you muster up the rest of your strength and lunge forward, slapping Meng Yao’s sword with your palm, causing it to shatter into pieces. Meng Yao falls over from the attack, staggering. Just as Nie Mingjue prepares to strike the crown of Meng Yao’s head, you both suddenly feel as if you both are being dragged toward another direction by an unusual force.

This direction is that of Wen Ruohan’s throne. With great speed, your bodies are dragged over, leaving behind two thirty-feet streaks of blood along the jet stone tiles. 

Nie Mingjue reaches for one of the kneeling Wen Sect disciples and flings him toward the jade seat. With a burst, crimson blood explodes in the air as if a watermelon had flown into pieces, and bloody pulp splatters all over the ground, leaving behind the stark metallic stench of blood. Wen Ruohan had cracked the disciple’s head with an airborne strike. However, this still saved time for Nie Mingjue. Anger had allowed a sudden surge in his strength, and he must have broken free from the spiritual energy sealing. With a leap, he forms a hand seal, and Baxia flies to him at once.

Alarmed, Meng Yao shouts, “Sect Leader, watch out!”

“Let it be!” A low voice madly laughs.

As soon as Nie Mingjue’s hand grips Baxia’s hilt, he slashes it forward. The dozens of Wen Sect’s cultivators who came to encircle him are cut in half!

Countless deformed corpses lay in disorder on the coal-coloured tiles.  Within the blink of an eye, a figure appears behind him. Nie Mingjue slashed across fiercely, his spiritual power smashing some of the ground into fragments, yet his palms land on nothing. His chest, however, receives a strong blow. He crashes into one of the golden pillars in the palace, coughing up warm blood. Blood trickles down his forehead, continuing to blur his sight. Almost immediately, a fist slams into the centre of his chest. His entire body sink a few degrees into the tiled ground!

"Chifeng-zun!" You shout.

Wen Ruohan steps onto Nie Mingjue’s chest as he smirks at you, coldly laughing, "Nie Mingjue's woman, hmm?"

"Excuse you, I am my own person!"

What the fuck? Is that what your reputation amounts to? You spit a mouthful of blood in his direction, though with a simple wave of his hand, the blood immediately dissipates. Fuck, he's strong.

“Your subordinate is useless to have needed your presence, Sect Leader," Meng Yao apologises from behind you.

“You good-for-nothing," Wen Ruohan laughs mockingly. Waving a dismissive hand towards you, Wen Ruohan drawls, “Is this the wench who killed Wen Xu?”

Meng Yao laughs as well in response in a good-natured manner. 

“That’s right. It was her. Sect Leader, are you going to kill your foes right now, or drag them to the Fire Palace? My personal suggestion is to take them there," Meng Yao answers instantly.

Hearing the two of them joke around, talking about how to deal with the both of you, you feel rage boiling in your chest, but you know that you still have to bide your time. As you silently fight against the spiritual power sealing, Wen Ruohan replies, “Why play around with someone who’s already half-dead? As for the wench, you can do with her as you see fit. It seems like you both have some history. You seem quite fond of her.”

“Now, that’s not the way to go about this. With Sect Leader Nie’s sturdy body, he might become all great and mighty again after just a few days of rest,” replies Meng Yao, pretending he did not hear the last sentence. 

“Do as you please.”

“Yes." 

Yet, as Meng Yao responds, you feel the seal on your spiritual power finally break off, and you imbue a glass vial of poison with energy from your qiankun sleeve and immediately hurl it forward! As if on instinct, Wen Ruohan shatters it with a laugh, thinking that it is a mere poison dart, but as the glass breaks, a yellow-brown vapour — the refined, strengthened formula of the Three Anguishes Vapour you used in your first few battles — immediately forms around him!

“Didn’t you want this so badly, you piece of shit?” you snarl, reaching out a claw as you command the vapour to forcibly crowd around Wen Ruohan’s nose and mouth. “Take it, then!”

Wen Ruohan's cultivation is strong enough to not die within three whiffs, but now his body has become that of a mundane person with his powers sealed by the stronger, more potent powers of this refined formula that you’ve specifically tailored for him. From the veins bulging on his forehead and his frantic writhing, you can tell that he has already taken more than three breaths. He will die as soon as you exert more strength and force all the vapour into his body.

Suddenly, a cold light flashes as Meng Yao buries his sword into Wen Ruohan's neck! As Wen Ruohan drops dead, unable to protect himself without his spiritual powers, the other Wen Sect disciples hop to their feet, brandishing their swords as they yell, "Avenge the sect leader!"

Switching targets, you manoeuvre the vapour to consume the other Wen-dogs' heads, and they immediately begin writhing on the ground in pure agony from breathing in the gas before dying one by one. Finally seeing that the situation is completely in your favour, you look over at Meng Yao before dispersing the vapour and collapsing from exhaustion. The last thing you see before your vision fades is Meng Yao rushing over towards you and catching you in his arms.

At least you managed to help in killing Wen Ruohan.

Chapter Text

As soon as you awaken, you find that you are still in the palace hall, but the hall is much quieter than when you blacked out. Apart from some corpses, the hall is devoid of people. Meng Yao must have made quick work of the Wen disciples in the hall. 

Speaking of Meng Yao, you struggle to prop yourself up from the beam you are resting against as you watch him rush over to you from Nie Mingjue's unconscious side. 

"Yu... Yuyan-zun."

“I can’t say I didn’t expect you to kill Wen Ruohan in the end,” you muse. 

"Thank you for believing in me, even if it was the smallest bit," Meng Yao mumbles. "I... I was expecting that I would fall victim to your Three-Anguishes Vapour along with Wen Ruohan."

"Even if I had such an intention, would I still have enough energy... Where is everyone else?" you ask, looking around. Behind Meng Yao, you see Nie Mingjue stir awake, struggling to get up and grab Baxia.

"I had to keep up appearances earlier, I apologise for my earlier rudeness. I..." Meng Yao says sheepishly before a series of trudging footsteps sound behind him. “Sect Leader Nie?”

“Wen Ruohan has died?” Nie Mingjue rasps, glaring down at Meng Yao. In response to his hostility, Meng Yao rises from his kneeling position beside you to lower his head to Nie Mingjue. You stand up as well, matching the level of the two men.

In a trembling voice, Meng Yao responds, “He has been slain by Yuyan-zun.”

Sighing, you add, "Meng Yao stabbed and killed him last. I did not land the final blow."

Nie Mingjue growls in a low tone, “No matter. Hand me the sabre.”

With a saddened smile on Meng Yao's face, he pleads, “Sect Leader Nie, at such a point in time, just please don’t keep on thinking about cutting me up with your sabre…”

Nie Mingjue remains silent for a moment. Having refocused his strength, he snatches the sabre. Even though Meng Yao is agile, pure power can subdue all skill. With the sabre taken, he immediately leaps behind you, coaxing, “Sect Leader Nie, you’re still injured.”

Sabre in hand, Nie Mingjue speaks coldly, “You killed them.”

The cultivators who were held captive alongside you and Nie Mingjue.

“Sect Leader Nie, you should understand. In that sort of situation… I had no choice.”

Fuming, he lunges with his sabre, shouting, “Qing-mei, move aside! You—! You had no choice? Whether or not to do it was up to you, and so was whether or not to kill them!”

Meng Yao dodges, protesting, “Was it really up to me? Sect Leader Nie, if we think from each other’s perspective…”

Nie Mingjue interrupts, “We won’t!”

Meng Yao also seems as though his energy had run out. He tries to avoid the attacks, yet his feet almost slip, revealing how difficult of a situation he is in. After taking a while to catch his breath, he finally explodes, “Chifeng-zun! Don’t you understand that if I didn’t kill them, you’d be the one who died then?!”

Nie Mingjue’s movements halt. Veins bulge out under his forehead. Having paused for a while, he clenches the hilt of his sabre and shouts, “Very well! I’ll kill myself after I kill you!”

"Mingjue-xiong, enough!" You yell, forming a hand seal and summoning Su'yuan. The sword clashes against Baxia and you stumble backwards from the recoil, but you remain standing. "Even if Meng Yao is to be killed, it should be in front of a conference where he is properly accounted for his crimes. Properly hear him out first, don't be rash!" 

Amid all the action, a surprised voice suddenly calls out, “Mingjue-xiong! Yuyan-zun!”

A figure dressed in clean, white robes darts into the empty hall. Meng Yao looks as if he has just seen a god from Heaven. Within two strides, Lan Xichen positions himself in between Nie Mingjue and Meng Yao. Unable to suppress the surge in your throat, you turn your head and cough out another mouthful of blood. Baxia packs a punch. Geez, do cultivators only know how to vomit blood?

Nie Mingjue is still in the middle of his rage. He doesn’t even have the chance to ask why Lan Xichen is here as he shouts, “Xichen, Qing-mei, move!”

Baxia’s strikes are so menacing that Lan Xichen's Shuoyue had to unsheath. Lan Xichen stops him, speaking forcefully, “Mingjue-xiong, calm down! Why are you being this way?”

“Why don’t you ask what he did?! Still hiding behind a woman, you coward!”

Lan Xichen turns around to look at Meng Yao, who is still hiding behind you. Nie Mingjue growls, “Back then, after you fled from Langya, I was wondering why I couldn’t find you no matter what! So you became the Wen-dogs’ underling and took sides with the tyrant in the Nightless City!”

“Mingjue-xiong.”

Lan Xichen rarely interrupted others. Nie Mingjue hesitates from this sudden difference. Lan Xichen continues, “Do you know who was the one that gave you the Qishan Wen Sect’s maps of tactical formation these past few times?”

“You.”

“I was delivering them. Do you know who was the source of all that information?”

Under such circumstances, it isn’t difficult to see what Lan Xichen meant. Nie Mingjue glances at Meng Yao, who stands behind you, head hanging low. His brows twitch uncontrollably, as though he couldn’t believe the matter. Frankly speaking, if you were truly someone from this world, you would not believe it either.

“There is no need to doubt. Today, as well, I have come here to aid you only after he contacted me. Or else, how would I just happen to appear here?”

Nie Mingjue is unable to say anything.

Lan Xichen adds, “After the incident at Langya, A-Yao felt remorse, but he was afraid he might run into you. He could only manage to sneak into the Qishan Wen Sect and approach Wen Ruohan, then write me letters in secrecy. At first, I did not know who the person sending the letters was, either. I only realized who he was after discovering a few clues from a coincidence or two.”

You had given him hints.

He turns to Meng Yao, then lowers his voice, asking, “Did you not tell Mingjue-xiong of these?”

Holding the wound on his arm, Meng Yao manages to smile, mumbling, “Zewu-jun, you saw as well. Even if I did say so, Sect Leader Nie wouldn’t have believed me either.”

Nie Mingjue remains silent, while Baxia and Shuoyue continue pushing against each other.

"I had an inkling it was you, but why did you not send anything to me?" you ask, turning around to face him. "Was I not as trustworthy as Zewu-jun?"

You naturally knew of his double-agent work but you still must keep up appearances, yes?

Meng Yao's lips quiver as he looks down, a pitiful and fearful expression on his face. "No! I just didn't want to burden Yuyan-zun... not when you were busy juggling administering medical care, handling administrative matters as well as fighting on the front lines. Although you are capable and understanding... I couldn't bring myself to burden you any further."

Saying so, Meng Yao finally moves from hiding behind you and kneels in front of Nie Mingjue.

“Sect Leader Nie, back in Sun Palace, although it was to gain the trust of Wen Ruohan, I did indeed harm you and say inappropriate things. I purposely jabbed at your scar, knowing that the previous Sect Leader Nie hurts you deeply… Although I had no other choice, I’m still truly sorry.”

“The one you should be kneeling to isn’t me, but the cultivators that you killed with your own hands.” Nie Mingjue’s reply is curt.

“Wen Ruohan had a cruel character. Whenever there was any disobedience, he’d act as though he was mad. Since I was pretending to be someone he could trust, how could I sit back when others humiliated him? So…”

“Good. Looks like you’ve been doing these things since some time ago.”

“...I was in Qishan.”

Lan Xichen sighs, “Mingjue-xiong, he was undercover in Qishan, and sometimes there would be some things that… could not have been helped. When he was doing these things, in his heart he was also…”

A moment later, Nie Mingjue still raises his sabre. Alarmed, both you and Lan Xichen shout, “Mingjue-xiong!”

Meng Yao shut his eyes. You unsheathe Su'yuan, while Lan Xichen also tightens his grip on Shuoyue, muttering, “Please excuse…”

Before he can finish his sentence, the silver light of the blade slashes down violently, landing on a boulder on the side.

Meng Yao flinches from the thunderous noise of the boulder splitting apart. Looking over, you see that it has been sliced into two halves, from the top to the bottom.

With Baxia still unsheathed, Nie Mingjue walks away, back turned towards the three of you. You and Lan Xichen both help a flabbergasted Meng Yao to his feet.

Now that Wen Ruohan has died, even though remnants of the Qishan Wen Sect still remain, they are already beyond hope — their defeat is set in stone.

And the sacrificial Meng Yao and the unconventional Qiu Qingwen become famous overnight from slaying the tyrannical Wen Ruohan.

Chapter Text

After Wen Ruohan has died, the Qishan Wen Sect is akin to a sandcastle under a tidal wave. Your forces conquer Wen bases one by one with such ease that you don't even feel a sense of satisfaction anymore. 

Flicking the blood off of your sword, you turn towards Nie Mingjue and salute him in greeting, saying, "This is the last Wen base in Langya. How many Wen disciples have we captured?"

Nie Mingjue raises an eyebrow at how you no longer address them as Wen-dogs. Sheathing Baxia, he looks over the cultivators cleaning up the aftermath of the short-lived battle and replies, "Fifteen. They had all surrendered quickly. 'Seems as if Qishan Wen is not as loyal to Wen Ruohan as they seem."

"They're all mere chess pieces in Wen Ruohan's game, after all," you sigh, sheathing your blade. "Since they have already surrendered, just keep them alive and well for now. We shall ascertain their sentences in the coming discussion conference. It will be hosted by Lanling Jin, yes?"

"Indeed, Young Lady Qiu. I trust that you will be in attendance?"

At the mention of Lanling Jin, Jin Guangshan walks over and interjects, flanked by two pretty maidservants. You almost roll your eyes in front of this great sect leader for bringing wenches onto a battlefield, but you resist the urge. 

"Sect Leader Jin."

You exchange reluctant greetings with Jin Guangshan and fold your arms as a show of irritation. He pretends not to notice, and chuckles, "No need to stand on ceremony, Second Young Lady Qiu. After all, you were the valiant heroine who killed Wen Ruohan."

"You are too generous with your praise. I only assisted in weakening him. Meng Yao landed the final blow," you keep your tone humble, though you want to bolt away from him any second now.

"Ah... yes, as Second Young Lady Qiu says. Still, for a lady of such a young age to be so accomplished on the battlefield..."

"What are you trying to insinuate, Sect Leader Jin?" you growl, an edge in your tone. 

"I'm just saying that it's worthy of praise, of course... Anyway, Meng Yao is now part of Lanling Jin, and has been dubbed Jin Guangyao," Jin Guangshan smiles a little too shallowly.

Before you can retort something you regret, Nie Mingjue steps in, grumbling, "Good to hear that he is doing well now."

"Yes, yes... Say, is Young Lady... no, Sect Leader Qiu around? I would like to... discuss something with her."

Your grip tightens on your sword, and your movement does not go unnoticed for Nie Mingjue warningly whispers, "Qing-mei. No matter what, he is still the sect leader of the Jin Sect. Don't lose your composure."

"What do you intend to talk about? For a brief period of time, I was also considered to be Sect Leader Qiu. You can talk with me instead of her."

Jin Guangshan pretends to mull over it before smiling as he says, "Well... Second Young Lady Qiu is currently within the age of marriage... If I am not wrong, you are close with Jiang Yanli of Yunmeng Jiang, correct? This sect leader hopes to propose for... you to take the seat of my son's, Jin Zixuan's, second wife... to foster relations between Lanling Jin and Luoyang Qiu. After all, your sect is well on the way to taking the Qishan Wen Sect's empty spot among the Five Great Sects, and you have fought closely alongside Zixuan in defending our Langya base for many battles in the past years."

"My sincerest apologies, but I would like to decline. I do not wish to marry into any family as anything lower than the first wife, and I do not wish to break up an arrangement that has been set long ago. I thank you for the offer, but I believe that there are alternatives to marriage for our sects to achieve a great relationship."

 Jin Guangshan blinks, surprised. with an incredulous expression on his face, he quickly musters up a smile and laughs, "It was... merely a lighthearted jest. Don't take it to heart, but do be mindful of your age and status. Many sects will definitely ask for your hand in marriage in the near future... no, never mind. We can have this conversation later. Take it as some light advice from an elder, alright? I better be going now."

As you and Nie Mingjue watch a retreating Jin Guangshan, Nie Mingjue turns to you, a worried expression on his face.

"Was it alright to decline so readily? Both sects will indeed benefit from the union. As a young sect leader, your sister will greatly benefit from the support."

"Ha! Support. I'd be thankful if he doesn't do anything fishy to any of my sect members," you scoff. "Enough about him. Let's talk about some actual important matters..."

...

After years of war, you finally return back to Luoyang with Qiu Suyin, your brother Qiu Yi, Mianmian, and your other fellow Luoyang Qiu disciples in tow. The three remaining direct clan members, you and your siblings, fly at the head of the group upon your swords. Qiu Yi stands in front of you, holding tightly on your waist, as the two of you balance on the sword. Qiu Suyin flies ahead of you, her white veil billowing in the wind.

Looking over the distant scene below, you instantly notice the changes in the form of torn Wen flags, overgrown weeds, ruined castle walls, and a decrepit castle town. It then hits you that it has been actual years since you left Jingsi Palace for that Qishan indoctrination event. Both mentally and physically, you have aged. You stare ahead blankly as if in a daze, when your brother's voice sounds.

"Second Sister, don't cry," Qiu Yi whimpers as he stands on your sword, hands around your waist. Since he is hugging onto you to stay still, he hasn't turned around to see the exact damages. With your bandaged hand, you gently touch your cheek and find that it is slightly cold and damp with tears; your eyes have been irritated by the wind.

"Okay, okay. I won't cry anymore. Hold still, alright? We are landing soon."

Saying so, you press Qiu Yi closer to you and look on ahead.

When your sword finally reaches the ground, Qiu Suyin lands right beside you and immediately scoops Qiu Yi into her arms. 

"A-Yi. Promise Eldest Sister that no matter what you see, don't cry, okay? Our home is no longer what it used to be."

Qiu Yi gently holds the edge of Qiu Suyin's fluttering veil, and an expression not befitting a nine-year-old child surfaces on his small face. 

"Okay. Let's go in."

Grasping Qiu Yi's free hand, you step over the weeds growing between the cracked stone tiles and enter the ruins of Jingsi Palace. Any leftover poison released from the fires had already been washed away by years of rain. Now, a desolate silence blankets the entire castle and its castle town. 

"Sister, what happened to the civilians of the castle town?"

Qiu Suyin's voice is grave as she answers, "When we first heard that you died, Mother had already predicted a Qishan Wen attack. She ordered the civilians to be evacuated towards the southern villages. I think slums were also built hastily within the short time frame. Speaking of which, I don't know if they'll wish to return, but at least the Wen-dogs did not destroy the castle town too much."

Sighing, you shake your head as you sheathe your sword. Qiu Suyin sheathes her own blade, before turning towards your sect members who have gathered in front of you. As Qiu Yi moves to stand next to Qiu Suyin in facing the Luoyang Qiu Sect, you turn back to face the direction from which you came, a poignant expression on your face.

A war has ended, but another is already coming.

Chapter Text

After the Sunshot Campaign ended, an elaborate flower banquet is set up by the Lanling Jin Sect in their luxurious Glamour Hall, inviting countless cultivators and countless sects to come and celebrate together. Although Jingsi Palace and its castle town have already been more or less repaired, there was still much work to be done, hence only Qiu Suyin and you show up to the banquet, with her coming as the sect leader, and you as one of the two people who killed Wen Ruohan.

You stride in with your sister beside you, the two of you dressed in flowing black-and-silver robes. The wide, billowing sleeves, the dangling pearl and feather ornament hanging from your white waist sash, the rogue that Mianmian made you put on your lips, and the elegant and pearl-adorned hairstyle your attendants tied for you make you almost miss how practically you got to dress during the campaign, with your past tight sleeves and a simple half-updo with only one simple silver hairpin. With Su'yuan polished and hanging by your waist, you look every bit like a refined immortal from a heavenly battle — as if the Sunshot Campaign was anything but hellish. This formal attire weighs down on both spirit and body, but for the face of Luoyang Qiu, you endure.

As you enter with Qiu Suyin who is dressed similarly to you — save for an opaque veil covering her cheekbones to her chin — you feel the hall's gazes immediately turn towards your entourage. Rolling your eyes, you sit down at your assigned seating with Qiu Suyin and begin engaging in light conversation. After watching a Jin Sect servant pour a cup of liquor for you, you quietly request for her to leave the decanters of wine on the table. Only after she leaves do you stuff two of them into your wide qiankun sleeves. There is no way you can drink in peace and actually enjoy some post-war serenity in such a bustling event, anyway.

As you converse, you gaze around the familiar set of the Jinlin Tower with a nostalgic look in your eye. It has been so long since you came to this world... a few years, in fact. If it weren't for the fact that you continued to meticulously practise and revise your modern knowledge, you would have forgotten it already. 

Jin Guangyao stands by a corner in the outer halls, his signature customer-service smile plastered on his face. Now that he has been accepted into his clan, the signature mark of vermilion has already been painted in the middle of his brows, and he now dons the white, golden-edged robes of Sparks Amidst Snow. Wearing a gauze cap, he now looks exactly as you remember from the web series. Standing beside him with a flippant expression is a face you have almost forgotten about.

Xue Yang.

At this point in time, Xue Yang is still quite young. Unlike the web series' version where he was part of Wen Ruohan's people, this world follows the world of the novel. Hence, he is still young, though you know well not to underestimate him. Although his features are slightly more youthful than you remember, he already stands to be rather tall, wearing a yellow robe of Sparks Amidst Snow. The two seem to be talking about something amusing, for Jin Guangyao smiles, gesturing with his hand in his speech. The two exchange a look, and Xue Yang bursts into laughter. With nonchalance, he glances at the cultivators who walk around. His eyes are already filled with casual contempt for a person of his age, as though all of the people before him are mere walking pieces of trash.

Still, while Wei Wuxian remains alive, Xue Yang will not play a prominent role yet. Paying him no heed for the time being, you excuse yourself from the company of your sect members and walk over to Nie Mingjue, whose brows are so furrowed that a fly could probably be squashed to death in the middle of his brows.

"Qing-mei," Nie Mingjue greets upon your arrival, but he does not divert his eyes from Jin Guangyao and Xue Yang.

"Everything alright? You appear to be troubled."

Nie Mingjue quirks his head in Xue Yang's direction, and you follow his gaze to see Xue Yang staring right back at the two of you. When he meets Nie Mingjue's gaze, he has none of the fear that others have. Instead, he grins, flashing his canine teeth.

Noticing that Nie Mingjue’s expression isn’t too keen, Jin Guangshan hurriedly suppresses his smile and whispers something to Xue Yang. Xue Yang waves his hands and rolls his eyes, then skips over to another area.

Walking over from his father's side, Jin Guangyao greets the two of you with equal respect.

“Who was that?” Nie Mingjue cuts to the chase, asking him directly.

After a moment of hesitation, Jin Guangyao carefully answers, “Xue Yang.”

“Xue Yang of Kuizhou?”

Jin Guangyao nods. Xue Yang has been infamous ever since he was young in this version, with his cocky gangster-like smile and his missing finger. Nie Mingjue’s brows knit even tighter as he asks, “Why are you wasting your time with such a person?”

“The Lanling Jin Sect recruited him.”

He doesn’t dare to elaborate any further. Excusing himself with the reason of needing to care for the guests, Jin Guangyao scurries to the other side. Nie Mingjue frowns as he follows him with his eyes.

"Seems suspicious... why do I get the impression that the reason for Xue Yang's presence in the Lanling Jin Sect is not for something good?" you offhandedly remark behind your sleeve.

Nie Mingjue nods before muttering, "I feel the same way."

Hearing a slight fanfare from the entrance, both Nie Mingjue and you turn around to face the entrance.

Side by side, Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji walk over.

The Twin Jades of Lan stand together, one carrying the xiao, the other carrying the guqin; one warmly gentle, the other coldly austere. 

Just as the four of you exchange greetings, a fifth voice speaks, “Sect Leader Nie, Sect Leader Lan, Yuyan-zun.”

Hearing the familiar voice, you turn around. As you do so, you spot Jiang Cheng walking over, dressed in purple with his hand on his sword and Wei Wuxian by his side. Damn, the main actors have all come.

Wei Wuxian walks proudly in full black robes, with hands behind his back. A flute in the shade of ink sticks to his waist, hanging down with crimson-coloured tassels. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Jiang Cheng, he nods in your direction to show respect. Since you are almost standing right in front of Wei Wuxian, you can feel goosebumps rise on your skin from Wei Wuxian's Chenqing. Your sword rattles in its scabbard, and you rest your hand gently on the hilt to silence it. 

From beside Lan Xichen, Lan Wangji also takes in Wei Wuxian's appearance. The tip of his brows twitch ever so slightly, and you suppress the strong urge to sigh. After a hasty greeting between the six of you, the two groups walk their separate ways, the original four of you staying while Jiang Cheng leads Wei Wuxian off somewhere else.

Nie Mingjue looks over Wei Wuxian's retreating form, querying, “Why does Wei Ying not carry his sword?”

As you recall, carrying one’s sword is like wearing formal attire. In such gatherings, it is a non-negligible indication of etiquette. Those from prominent sects see it as especially important, hence his curiosity and slight distaste. 

“He had probably forgotten," Lan Wangji responds in a lukewarm tone.

Ning Mingjue raises a brow, replying, “He can even forget something like this?”

“It is nothing out of the ordinary.”

Lan Xichen helpfully interjects with a smile, “Young Master Wei has said before that he does not want to care about any of the redundant formalities. Let alone carrying his sword, even if he does not wear his clothes, what can others do about him? How truly youthful.”

Suddenly, you hear Lan Wangji mutter under his breath, “How frivolous.”

Lan Xichen looks at him, asking, “Hmm? Why are you still here?”

Lan Wangji's expression holds a hint of confusion. With a straight face, he replies, “Brother is here, so of course I am here as well.”

“You look like you have something to say to Young Master Wei. They will soon be far gone if you don't hurry,” you smile knowingly at Lan Wangji. He tears his gaze from Wei Wuxian to you and nods quietly, preparing to excuse himself to leave.

Before Lan Wangji can properly excuse himself, a series of shouts suddenly erupt from the other end of the base. Craning your neck, you catch Wei Wuxian angrily roaring, “Jin Zixuan! Don’t you forget about what things you said and what things you did? What do you mean by this, now?!”

On the other side, Jin Zixuan also fumes, “I was asking Sect Leader Jiang, not you! The one I was asking about was also Young Lady Jiang. How is that related to you?!”

“ Well said! How is my shijie related to you? Back then, who was the one whose eyes grew on the back of their head?”

“Sect Leader Jiang, this is our sect’s flower banquet, and this is your sect’s person! Are you going to look after him or not?!”

Looking over, Lan Xichen sighs, “Why have they begun to argue again?”

Lan Wangji looks over there, yet his feet still remain stuck to the ground. A while later, as if he has finally decided to do something, he steps forward. He is about to go over when Jiang Cheng’s voice scolds, “Wei Wuxian, you can just shut your mouth. Young Master Jin, I’m sorry. My sister is doing quite well. Thank you for your concern. We can talk about this next time.”

“Next time? There is no next time! Whether or not she’s doing well isn’t any of his business, either! Who does he think he is?” Wei Wuxian scoffs coldly.

Turning around, he rolls his eyes one last time and starts to leave, causing Jiang Cheng to shout, “Get back here! Where are you going?”

“Anywhere is fine! Just don’t let me see that face of his. I never wanted to come, anyway. You can deal with whatever’s here yourself.”

Having been abandoned by Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng’s face immediately clouds over.

As for Jin Guangyao, he has been busying himself with all sorts of things in and out of the place. Seeing that something went wrong over here, he emerges again, calling out, “Young Master Wei, please wait!”

Hands behind his back, Wei Wuxian stalks out at a fast pace. His face is still dark, and he pays zero attention to anyone. Lan Wangji walks a step toward him, but before he has a chance to speak, the two of them brush shoulders and part.

Unable to catch up with Wei Wuxian, Jin Guangyao sighs, “And there he goes. Sect Leader Jiang, just… just what should I do?”

Recollecting his calm expression, Jiang Cheng replies, “Don’t mind him. Look at how impolite he is. He’s used to such rude behaviour at home.”

“But…”

Thinking that it would be better for Wei Wuxian to return instead of ditching Jiang Cheng, you excuse yourself and head over to Jiang Cheng and Jin Guangyao. Since Lan Wangji won’t look for him in this event, you feel that you should at least look for him. 

“I’ll go look for him. It wouldn’t be convenient for Lianfang-zun to look for him as one of the hosts of the banquet, and he did storm off from Sect Leader Jiang earlier.”

“A man and a woman alone outside…” Jin Guangyao trails off. Jiang Cheng’s face is equally dark. 

“Without any sentiment behind it, is such a worry even needed? It’ll just be a quick check.” You feel oddly defensive in the face of Jiang Cheng, so you quickly explain, “I might not even run into him. Just take it as if I went for a walk. I’m not used to staying seated in a banquet hall for so long, anyway.”

With your persuasion and everyone’s helplessness against you, you eventually take off from the banquet hall, the alcohol still hidden in your sleeves. You already had the intention to slip out, anyway. Why not do something beneficial?

Chapter Text

"Young Master Wei! Wei Wuxian! Old Man Wei! Where are you sulking?" You call out in a dilapidated garden in Jinlin Tower.

Seeing that he isn't appearing, you close your eyes and sense his presence up on the roof of a wing of the building. You stick a hand into your qiankun sleeve and pull out the two jugs of wine that you smuggled from the banquet. Keeping your head level and pretending you don't see him, you lift the liquor jugs up high and shake them, calling out, "If you don't come out, I'll just have to drink these myself!"

Upon hearing these words, Wei Wuxian materialises out of thin air, eyes sparkling.

"Old Man Wei? Didn't I used to be Wei-xiong?"

"Alright, alright. If you like Wei-xiong then Wei-xiong it is, then. Are you drinking this or not?" you roll your eyes and hand him his liquor. The two of you hop into a large tree and sit on the branches, hidden from view so that you can both drink in peace.

Wei Wuxian finally flashes a sunny grin, and for a moment you sit there, stunned. His face overlaps with the celebrity photos you used to view on social media before... you came here, and the concept of time sinks in your stomach. Where is your family now? Are they happy? Do they miss you? Does (F/n) miss you? The homesickness that barely reared its ugly head during the last few years finally resurfaces, and you tear your eyes away, smiling insincerely as you take a swig from your jug. The transmigration novels always neglected to address how lonely one feels to be a complete alien.

"...Wei Wuxian. Do you know how to sing?"

Surprised, Wei Wuxian blinks, confused. "Sing? Do you want me to sing? I'll have you know, Jiang Cheng used to say that my voice was like the sound you get from beating a cat to death."

You smile bitterly upon hearing this. Right. Wei Wuxian is not Xiao Zhan. This world is not yours. You let out a cynical laugh and shake your head, chuckling as you take another sip. The alcohol burns slightly in the back of your throat, and you pretend that you don't care that drinking at your current age in this body is technically not legal in your past life. It burns and tastes a little bitter, but the sweetness that lingers with the fragrance is enough to tide you over. 

"Just try. I... want to check something. Take it as payment for the wine."

"Payment? Isn't this Lanling Jin's... oh, fine, fine, I'll sing, I'll sing," Wei Wuxian finally acquiesces upon seeing the serious look in your eye, and you lean back against the tree trunk and look at him as he hums a familiar tune. 

He's humming Wuji. The song Lan Zhan sang for him in the cave. The version from the web series. He stops after forgetting how the rest of the song goes, and you give him a round of applause. He sounds good.

Still, he does not sound like the real deal. Of course, he wouldn't. He isn't the actual celebrity after all. A sense of acceptance settles in your chest, and you feel as if the beginning of some sense of closure has finally set in.

"It's not as bad as a dying cat's wail... how about a normal cat's wail instead? Oh, don't look so offended. I was only playing around. You sound nice," you chuckle, knocking back another swig of liquor.

"Qingqing! I was about to say that you are a bully like Jiang Cheng. Good thing you corrected yourself in the end and awakened to the light, hmph! Come, cheers!" Wei Wuxian crows before clinking his alcohol jug with yours.

You don't ask him where he heard the song from, and he doesn't ask why you requested for him to sing. 

The two of you drink, sharing jokes and stories. Finally, Wei Wuxian drains the last drops of his jug and begins playing with it in his palms as he mutters, "You know, Qingqing. Sometimes, I feel like you know me inside out. You're like an older sister to me... though you're so different from shijie, haha."

"Wow, Wei-xiong. Should I call you Wei-di instead?" you roll your eyes teasingly.

Wei Wuxian shrugs nonchalantly, and the two of you share a cheeky giggle.

You're only halfway through your alcohol but you have already wasted quite a lot of time outside. For propriety's sake, you should return soon. Stowing away the bottle, you turn to Wei Wuxian.

"Wei-xiong. If you see me as an older sister, then will you listen to my advice?"

Wei Wuxian registers the solemn look on your face and his smile dissolves. "Are you telling me to quit demonic cultivation like the rest of them? Chide me for not bringing my sword?"

" No-ope ," you say, much to Wei Wuxian's surprise. "Do whatever you have to do, but just remember to be mindful. I just want to tell you; trust me when I say that Lan Wangji is one of the only people you can trust. His intention for bringing you to Gusu is to keep you safe and ensure your safety."

"Ugh, this again? So he wants to keep me like a bird in a cage? No thanks. I'd rather be free," Wei Wuxian grumbles.

"And one more thing. Don't rashly spew out provocative words. You have a history of bad word choice, I tell you. Be good, okay? Don't make your two older sisters worry," you coax. Seeing that he still has a defiant look in his eyes, you pull his ear instead. 

"Okay, okay! I'll be good!!" he yowls before you finally let go, a satisfied grin on your face. 

"Don't stay out for too long, okay? I know how you feel about Jin Zixuan, but Sect Leader Jiang would be troubled by your absence. I'll excuse myself first. See you inside, Wei-xiong," you bid farewell before hopping off the tree. You turn back and salute one last time before returning back to Glamour Hall. 

When you sit back down next to Qiu Suyin, she pulls you close and gives you a once-over before whispering, "Why did you sneak out to drink alcohol? Is the atmosphere not to your liking?"

You pour yourself a new cup of hot tea and take a sip. The tea tastes... lacking, so you set the cup down and sigh, "It takes a while to get used to this again."

Qiu Suyin sighs before responding, "Anyway, be careful. We are in Lanling Jin territory now, and I can tell that Sect Leader Jin intends to try something fishy in this banquet. If he tries to force anything on you, Luoyang Qiu has got your back. We are not in such dire straits that we need to be a vassal sect to Lanling Jin. Although we are a sword sect in name, we still specialise in alchemy... I'm sure I can..."

Is it just you, or did Qiu Suyin have a trace of killing intent in her eyes?

"O-of course, Sister, whatever you say, A-Wen will listen," you pat her shoulder soothingly before withdrawing your hand, hissing, "Wait. I think Jin Guangshan is looking in our direction. It seems that he wants to speak... to us."

"No, it's about you."

Just as Qiu Suyin hisses back, Jin Guangshan clears his throat, gathering the attention of everyone present in Glamour Hall.

"Everyone! We have all gathered here today to celebrate the defeat of the Qishan Wen Sect under the forces of our great Campaign! May I lead everyone in a toast for the hero who made this all possible — Luoyang Qiu Sect's Yuyan-zun — who was not only the pioneer of this campaign alongside Sect Leader Nie but also the killer of Wen Ruohan?"

Everyone present raises their wine cups (Jin Guangshan is the host of the banquet, after all) and loudly toast. Your grip on your own cup remains tight, as you grit your teeth in anticipation. What is this geezer trying to pull now?

"You are all too generous with your praise. Killing Wen Ruohan was a combined effort with Lianfang-zun as well," you smile as warmly as you can, raising your cup as well.

Someone among the crowd crows, "To Lianfang-zun too, then!"

You smile wider and raise your cup, nodding towards Jin Guangyao. He returns the smile, and surprisingly, Jin Guangshan doesn't look too angry as well. This is suspicious...

After the cheers die down, Jin Guangshan strolls over to you and your sister as if to have a private conversation, though his next words are equally loud.

"Sect Leader Qiu, now that this war is finally over and behind us, why don't we drive off the gloom of the war and death with some auspicious news?"

You catch Qiu Suyin's veil quivering, and you can surmise that she is definitely clenching her jaw. Did he think that the pressure from being in front of a large judgemental audience will force you to accept? After a short pause, she plasters on the same fake smile you have, with the way the corners of her eyes crinkle with the same threatening aura as yours, and asks, "News? What exactly might you be referring to, Sect Leader Jin?

Jin Guangshan laughs, stroking his stupid goatee as he replies, "I'm referring to your younger sister, Second Young Lady Qiu, of course! 

To his words, Qiu Suyin keeps her eyes locked on Jin Guangshan's smirk, and you can see veins protruding on the back of her hand.

"If my memory serves me well, during the Sunshot Campaign, the second young lady of your family gave us great assistance and guidance. Having fought so many heroic battles against the Wen-dogs beside my eldest son, she is particularly close to Zixuan as a fellow exemplary, no? If that is so, shouldn't we bless the two youngsters? The Jin family is always big enough to welcome in a new bride."

Hearing his father's words, you see Jin Zixuan audibly choke on his drink. Madam Jin pats his back soothingly, though judging from her genial expression, she must approve of this dumb idea. One daughter-in-law would be her best friend's daughter, and the other prospective daughter-in-law would be a celebrated heroine that can boost her son's reputation to the top. She must be especially pleased. Behind the two, Jin Guangyao stands in the shadows, expression pale.

You did fight alongside Jin Zixuan, but the longest period was with Nie Mingjue as well when the two of you ran into a fleeing Meng Yao. Your next battles alongside the Jins were few and far between. How can it be as ‘destined’ as Jin Guangshan is making it out to be?

Jin Guangshan's words clearly convey his intentions, and your grip on your cup tightens. The porcelain cracks with an audible crunch, though you remain speechless. Good thing Wei Wuxian isn't back yet.

However, Jiang Cheng is. Having heard Jin Guangshan's words as well, he bolts upright, and his furious gaze scorches the back of Jin Guangshan's head. Jiang Yanli's happiness is at stake, after all... and so is yours. You lock gazes with him momentarily, before turning to send Jin Guangshan a not-so-amicable smile.

You let out an insincere laugh, and the tinkling sound echoes through the banquet hall. Covering your mouth with your wide sleeve, you say, "Young Master Jin is already engaged to Yanli-jie. Are you attempting to break their childhood engagement in front of so many people? Weren't you hoping to reinstate it with Sect Leader Jiang earlier?"

"Young Lady Jiang is still marrying into our family as the head wife, of course! We are extending to you the honour of marrying in as the honoured second wife. A woman, of such high status to be part of the Venerated Four and the sworn sister of Sect Leader Lan and Sect Leader Nie, such as yourself would definitely fare well in Lanling Jin! Second Young Lady Qiu, I do not see why you are so opposed to the union. This will cement Lanling Jin and Luoyang Qiu relations for decades! From what I hear, it seems that the late Sect Leader Qiu did not arrange a betrothal for you..."

"How dare you..."

At the mention of the late Sect Leader Qiu, your face clouds over with dark anger. Su'yuan trembles in its scabbard, sensing your vehement bloodlust. Rising to your feet in a fit of rage, your hand moves as if to rest your hand on Su'yuan's hilt. Just as you almost succumb to your rage, a steady voice speaks up.

"Who says that there was no arranged betrothal with Second Young Lady Qiu? My mother has already sent a betrothal letter to Luoyang Qiu a few days ago. My mother, Yu Ziyuan of Yunmeng Jiang is already ahead of you, Sect Leader Jin. My apologies."

You did not notice while you were seething with rage, but Jiang Cheng has already strode over. Ignoring your own reddening face, you glance over at Qiu Suyin with an interrogative look. She completely ignores you, instead choosing to bow her head towards Jiang Cheng for the save with a relieved smile. So while you were busy helping Qiu Suyin with rebuilding Jingsi Palace, she was playing wingman behind your back? Wow.

"I apologise for the rush, it is more than inappropriate considering that the letter and the betrothal gifts have not reached Luoyang yet... Still, would you like to accept the betrothal? I... will revere you as my first and only wife. This is a promise."

...Oh.

You inadvertently redden, placing a hand on your warming cheek. Is your face boiling? You have always known Jiang Cheng’s affections — which are mutual, by the way — but it is still flustering to hear it right in front of a whole audience. What's more, you... you haven't had the chance to say anything about your own feelings with him, with how busy you were with your own sect affairs... 

Jiang Cheng simply beat you to the punch, is all — and you... don't seem to mind.

"...I accept," you mumble, nodding slowly before adding, "...After the mourning period is over." 

While elation blooms on Jiang Cheng's face, a brief flash of darkness flickers past Jin Guangshan's face before a celebratory smile replaces it. Amidst the shouts of "Congratulations!" and your sister's gleeful aunt-like smile, Jiang Cheng extends a hand, and you take it gently, hoping that your palms aren't sweating. 

Well, Madam Yu did say that she wanted you as a daughter-in-law all those years ago.

The rest of the banquet flies by quickly, and it ends when the moon has risen high into the sky. After walking to the entrance of Jinlin Tower, you hear a voice calling out for you. Qiu Suyin grins and pats you on the head, thoughtfully saying, "My sister is all grown up. Elder Sister will wait for you outside. Don't take too long."

Just as she takes off, Jiang Cheng’s voice sounds out, "Young Lady Qiu!" 

"Sect Leader Jiang. Thank you for saving me back there," you smile, saluting him.

He hurriedly grabs your hands to stop you but immediately lets go of them upon realising that his actions were inappropriate. In the dim glow of the moonlight, you can faintly see a hint of red on his cheeks and ears. In a soft voice, he mutters, "...Wanyin."

"What?"

You quirk your head, having barely caught what he said. In a louder voice this time, he repeats, "I... am now your fiance. You can just call me Wanyin."

Seeing that his earlier bravado in Glamour Hall has all dissipated, you laugh at Jiang Cheng's own red face, ignoring that your own cheeks are warm. Seeing how bashful he is, you really want to tease him right now. Beaming, you say after a pause, "Only if you call me... Qingwen."

"Alright... Qing...wen," Jiang Cheng stammers, gently grasping your hand in his. 

"Weren’t you okay with calling me Xiaowen years ago?” you tease, poking his nose with your free hand before softly adding, “Thank you, Wanyin." 

Stars seem to light up in Jiang Cheng's eyes upon hearing you call his name, and you burst out into a cheerful laugh. His parents survived and his sect was not completely wiped out thanks to you, so this Jiang Cheng still retains a little of his boyish charm, though the bearings of a proper Sect Leader has already been beaten into him by war.

Amidst the happiness, you strangely feel as though you are being watched. Then again, Jinlin Tower is a bustling place, and you and Jiang Cheng are both considered celebrities given your ample contributions to the Sunshot Campaign. A few stares are nothing of note… right?

Chapter Text

Barely a few months after the end of the Sunshot Campaign, a sense of normalcy has already begun to settle back into the cultivation world. As the world ushers in its first calm autumn in the past few years, the annual Discussion Conference finally resumes, starting its renewal in the domain of the Lanling Jin Sect. 

Sitting boredly in front of the bronze mirror, you watch Mianmian fuss about with your hair with a smidge of exasperation. As she brings out yet another expensive ornate hair ornament with fussy dangling pearls and raises it to your hair, you finally crack and mutter, “Mianmian, we’re going to a night hunt, not a wedding banquet. Do you need to stuff so many bothersome things in my hair? These dangling hair ornaments make it hard to turn my head without getting slapped by gems and metal chains, and I’ve already had enough of it yesterday in the opening banquet.”

“Still, it’s also hosted by that den of gilded peacocks. We can’t have our Qingqing be shown up by a few gold-coloured clowns during any of the days here, can we?” Clicking her tongue in disapproval, whether it was due to your whining or her dislike of the ornament’s pairing with your already-exquisite robes, Mianmian shakes her head and sets the ornament down in its box. 

“Don’t be so harsh about the Jin Sect, they must be busy trying to match up to the glory and honour of hosting the first Discussion Conference in our newly-gained peace,” you tut. As you speak, you pick out a simpler single-pearl hair ornament from the jewelry box in front of you and hold it up for Mianmian to put it in your hair. Ignoring her look of disappointment, you continue, “For this night hunt competition at Phoenix Mountain, what’s the use of dressing up too prettily? I’m not there to be a decoration.”

Taking the hairpin from your raised hand, Mianmian slides it in place before grabbing your shoulders and dipping her head to stare into the mirror right next to yours. With a devilish smirk reflected in the reflective bronze, she gleefully prods, “Don’t think that I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours! Isn’t it because Sect Leader Jiang will be too busy in the night hunt competition to look at you for long? Aiyo, look at how red your cheeks are! Guess I’ll get to save some of the blush...”

“Mianmian!”

“Alright, alright, I won’t bully you anymore,” laughs Mianmian cheerfully as she steps in front of your chair and clears the vanity table of the abandoned accessories. She then moves to pick up a brush for applying makeup, chuckling lightly at your grimace. “Speaking of which, you’re being so kind with your words about the Jin Sect because you underwent the ceremony to become sworn siblings with Chifeng-zun, Zewu-jun, and Lianfang-zun, right? Isn’t it boring to be sworn siblings as the only sister?”

“Boring? I happen to find it fun,” you quip, “Seeing how the sight of a woman standing on the same level as the other three men ruffles the feathers of so many idiots in the cultivation world is nothing short of entertaining. What’s more, this siblinghood has so many deeper purposes and well intentions, making me feel very welcomed. Now that the war’s over, the four of us can congregate for better matters than killing and conflict. To have to only speak of death and numbers all day, that is the true sense of the word ‘meaningless’.”

Pursing her lips, Mianmian sets down the brush, having been done with your eye makeup. After she hands you the rouge paper, she quickly musters up a smile as she pats your shoulders and says, “As long as you’re happy! Okay, it isn’t early anymore, you still have to arrive earlier to head to the Watching Towers with Young Lady Jiang, don’t you?”

You rise from the chair, reaching a hand into your wide sleeves to check that your special flower is still safely kept in your qiankun sleeve before nodding. You then step out of your room, Mianmian following behind you.

....

Since you are not participating due to the troubles of your hand, you stand quietly on one of the highest watchtowers next to Madam Jin and Jiang Yanli's tower. As you peer over the edge of the railing, you attract multiple stares from the audience below. Everyone must be eager to see who will be the lucky recipient of the famed Yuyan-zun’s rare flower. As for you, you take the time to silently think to yourself about the differences between the web series set of Phoenix Mountain and the current sight before you.

Unlike the limited scene of the web series, Phoenix Mountain is a vast square before and around the square ten tall watching towers. On top of them, many people can be seen clearly moving around, with excited whispers crowding the air. The quietest tower right beside yours is naturally the tallest, most embellished one, holding mostly elder cultivators, uninvolved sect leaders, and their families. In the back, rows and rows of maidservants carry either canopies or large fans. The lower-status women who are not participating in the hunt stand in the first rows and lower platforms, all covering their faces with smaller fans as they reservedly look down at the hunting ground. 

In big showy hunting events such as this, horses are not required in the hunt, and would rather impede the hunting efforts of the participants as you remember. However, horsemanship is one of the arts that clan disciples were required to study, after all. In events of such formality, entering the grounds on horseback is essentially for nothing but ‘rules’ and ‘aesthetics’. Speaking of aesthetics, the paragon of this, the Gusu Lan Sect, enters first.

Your new second brother, Lan Xichen, and your cheaply-gained original-male-lead ‘younger brother’ Lan Wangji both sit in matching upright postures on two snowy steeds as they lead the Gusu Lan Sect’s riding formation slowly forward. The two both wear their swords at their waists and arrows on their backs. With ethereal white robes and forehead ribbons flying in the air, they seem to be deities themselves. The Two Jades of Lan truly are a flawless pair of jade, almost as though two intricate ice carvings were given the breath of life. As soon as they enter, even the air seems to have become refreshing.

Many female cultivators instantly swoon over their entrance. The more reserved ones only let down their fans, their eyes a bit more urgent. The more daring ones run to the edge of the watching towers instead, tossing over the buds and blossoms that they had prepared beforehand in an absolute scene of chaos. A rain of flowers immediately scatters down from the sky. Since the Gusu Lan Sect’s disciples come from a distinguished clan, their appearances are all excellent. The two look completely calm amidst the chaos, however. Nodding at the watching towers in a display of respect, they continue to move forth in their procession.

At this time, you look over at Yunmeng Jiang’s riding formation and make eye contact with Wei Wuxian. Having properly re-established your friendship with him and Jiang Cheng outside of wartime, you have become one of Wei Wuxian’s closest friends, and also a source of income with how often you attempt to commission him into designing talismans and charms that can serve as modern gadgets. 

He grins upon seeing you and waves nonchalantly. Rolling your eyes, you chuckle and do the same. You wished to participate in the hunt as well, wanting to experience this event for yourself, but performing archery with one crippled hand would be too taxing, and your sister had vehemently ‘convinced’ you to step down. Hence, you stand in one of the high watchtowers, the black peony waiting in your hand. 

Jiang Cheng meets your gaze upon seeing Wei Wuxian look up, and you wave back shyly, the flower still in your hand. Before you left Luoyang for this event, you made sure to pick the black peony with the most purple petals in your garden for your designated recipient. You blush under his curious gaze, wondering if he will like your gift.

After watching the massive rain of flowers end after the Gusu Lan formation settles into place, Jin Guangyao’s voice rings above the square, announcing, “The Qinghe Nie Sect’s riding formation enters!”

Many of the male cultivators who admire Chifeng-zun cheer for him as he enters while leading the front of his sect’s formation. As for Nie Huaisang, he is dressed with as much care as always as he leisurely rides his horse alongside his brother. He wears both his sabre at his waist and stylish accessories, waving a paper fan. At first glance, he is quite the dandy amid the chaos. However, everyone knew that his sabre never really got the chance to be unsheathed. Afterwards, he will probably only stroll around Phoenix Mountain, enjoying the view. It is very in-character for him, after all.

After the Qinghe Nie Sect, the Yunmeng Jiang Sect enters. Upon hearing the announcement, you turn to look at the highest watchtower where Jiang Yanli is standing. Jiang Yanli’s face lights up upon hearing the Yunmeng Jiang Sect's name, and she hurriedly moves to stand by the ledge after excusing herself to Madam Jin. Happily, she withdraws two identical flowers and tosses them over the ledge towards her two brothers. The two boys reach out and catch the flowers, giving her the same soft smile. 

Seeing that Jiang Cheng has kept his sister’s flower safely, you imbue the black peony with a gentle stream of spiritual energy before sending it out towards Jiang Cheng. Among the curtain of pink and red petals, a lone purple-black flower flutters through the air before landing softly on Jiang Cheng’s outstretched palm. You wish that you had a camera with you right now.

From above, you recognise Wei Wuxian’s obvious playful expression, and you know that he’s probably teasing Jiang Cheng about your flower. You fear the day Wei Wuxian and Mianmian unite to bully you both. 

Since Wei Wuxian is still a happy part of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect as of now, he knows best of the betrothal between you and Jiang Cheng and is a very ardent supporter. According to his words, “You are blind to not see that Jiang Cheng loved you since the Gusu Lan lecture!”

You almost clobbered him for his words. ‘Blind?’ Right back at you, sister!

Jiang Cheng finally looks up at you atop his grey stallion, and you beam at him upon seeing him receive your flower. An unmistakable rosy tint colours his cheeks as he nods in acknowledgement at you, waving one last time before he rides off with his entourage, suffering Wei Wuxian’s boisterous laugh and the excited whispers of the audience below.

Chapter Text

Right after the Yunmeng Jiang Sect is your Luoyang Qiu Sect.

Since Luoyang Qiu is a predominantly female sect, the rain of flowers significantly lessen, but the men’s cheers are as deafening as when they had welcomed the Qinghe Nie Sect’s formation. Even if your sister is scarred, with an elegant silk veil and a flower pattern painted in the middle of her brows and at the corner of her eyes, she still has the contrasting yet harmonious appearance of a fairy of the moon and a valiant leader. Excitedly, you watch a large portion of men and quite a sizeable group of women rain flowers upon your sister, and a feeling of pride wells up within you. Following her prior request for no flowers from her family to reduce waste, you simply smile at her from your position. 

After the Luoyang Qiu Sect’s formation settles in their position, a row of cultivators wearing white, gold-lined robes rush out, dressed in light armour and riding on broad stallions. The frontmost person has a smug smile plastered on his square-shaped face as part of the overall blinding look he gave off. This flamboyance is led by none other than Jin Guangshan.

Among the calls of the horses and the excited hollers of the crowd, suddenly, one horse steps forward and runs in a circle around the square in a showy manner before the reins are drawn. Wearing snowy white robes paired with gleaming gold, the person atop the horse has a striking figure, his features more vibrant than even the mark of vermilion between his brows. 

Immediately, fervour rushes through the audience. The person, Jin Zixuan, glances in the direction of the watching towers, intentional or not. Although he tries hard to keep his face stiff, unconcealable pride still leaks from the corners of his eyes. 

Jin Zixuan rides to the target arena, bow drawn. The row of targets is an obstacle before the official entry into the mountain. Those who intend on hunting in the mountain are only eligible to enter if they can shoot a target from a certain sizable distance away. On the targets are seven rings, in accordance with the seven paths of entry. Naturally, shooting the bullseye would qualify one to enter the most favourable area of the hunt. Without dropping his speed at all, Jin Zixuan takes out an arrow and shoots. It lands right in the centre, much to the delightful uproar of the surrounding watching towers. While Jiang Yanli has an impassive look on her face, you struggle to not roll your eyes as you rest your hands on the railings of your watching tower. Jin Zixuan is a friend of yours ever since you helped out in the Langya front in the campaign, but this boy really acts like an ostentatious peacock at times. Wei Wuxian isn’t wrong.

Suddenly, a loud sneer sounds from somewhere nearby. Somebody shouts, “If anyone here remains unconvinced, then feel free to try if you can shoot better than Zixuan!”

The person who spoke is the ever-irritating Jin Zixun. He looks over, an arrogant glint in his eyes, at the Yunmeng Jiang formation as if searching for Wei Wuxian who remains wordless. As Jin Zixun sees that he didn’t answer, he seems to be pleased. When the Yunmeng Jiang Sect’s riding formation reaches the target arena as well, Wei Wuxian turns to the Two Jades of Lan and begins chattering. You bet that he’s asking Lan Wangji for his forehead ribbon again. You keep forgetting to remind him about the forehead ribbons’ use… and you’re not sure if you should tell him so soon. But the way he teased you before...

Since Lan Wangji obviously refused to lend him his ribbon, Wei Wuxian removes the black ribbon on his wrist guard and nimbly ties the ribbon over his eyes to cover his sight. He positions his arrow, draws his bow, and releases. As true to the works, the arrow lands squarely through the centre of the target. 

The series of actions was both smooth and fast. After a moment of silence, overwhelming cheers ring throughout the watching towers, with even greater intensity than those for Jin Zixuan. This is truly the power of a protagonist. 

The corners of Wei Wuxian’s lips curve slightly in a smirk. Spinning the bow within his hands, he tosses it back. On the other hand, as Jin Zixun realises how Wei Wuxian’s popularity has now surpassed Jin Zixuan’s, he snorts loudly, displeased. 

“This is only the opening archery event, and you’re onto such ostentatious things. You have your eyes covered right now, but can you keep them covered throughout the entire hunt? Later, on Phoenix Mountain, we can show our real abilities and see who’s really the better one!” shouts Jin Zixun.

“Sure,” you hear Wei Wuxian’s loud and confident reply. 

“Let’s go!”

All of the Lanling Jin cultivators rush forward, as though they wanted to be the first ones inside to have the first chance and quickly take all of the high-level prey. Not wishing to impede Jiang Cheng in his hunt, you elect to wait for them to set off into the grounds before bringing your sword and touring the mountain. If you’re lucky, you might even run into a plot event. 

Shortly after you enter the official hunting grounds, the shrill sound of a flute echoes through the mountain, and you know that Wei Wuxian must have begun luring the ghouls towards the Yunmeng Jiang participants. Still, this isn’t your problem. You stroll leisurely through the mountain, avoiding the crowds and bustle to seek out quiet spaces where the original host's studies tell you to find the valuable herbs hidden under rock crevices and the canopy of thick lush trees.

Your two hidden motives for today are to collect some precious herbs from Phoenix Mountain, and most importantly, avoid Lan Wangji when he’s kissing Wei Wuxian. Reading as a viewer of the story was fun and all, but it would be extremely awkward if you are caught watching them in their… private moment . Hence, you spend a good hour or so scouring the forest for precious herbs. If you don’t get caught it’s not stealing, right?

Pleased with your herb haul, you stand up after dusting off your skirt. Just as you prepare to leave, you look up to see Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao walk over. Hiding your filled herb pouch in your sleeves, you pat off any dirt on your hands and greet them.

“Er-ge, San-ge. Fancy seeing you here,” you say. “San-ge, aren’t you coordinating the event?”

Upon hearing your words, Jin Guangyao lets out a long sigh. 

“I’ve received many complaints in the last hour that there is a shortage of prey on the grounds… but I was sure to prepare more than usual for this event... unless someone is hogging everything? I was sure that I heard the sound of a flute.”

Ah, that must be Wei Wuxian.

“There is some form of competition in this hunt, after all. Perhaps some participants are just being too competitive and invested in it. Speaking of which, Er-ge, are you not hunting with your fellow sect disciples?”

Lan Xichen shakes his head as you join them in walking around the grounds. Smiling, he answers, “Wangji and the others will do well, so there is no need for me to be too invested, hence I decided to go for a solitary walk. It was a welcome coincidence to run into A-Yao, and then you.”

You divert your gaze, inwardly musing, Sorry, but Wangji is hunting for a different kind of prey than the rest of us.

The three of you continue walking in the forest and chatting, enjoying the sights as well as a rare moment of peace and quiet. The forest breeze is crisp and refreshing, carrying the unmistakable chill of autumn. The valley gorges are high and deep, and in the far distance, one can faintly hear the songs of nature in the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. Looking around this beautiful and serene landscape, your mind immediately thinks of Jiang Cheng, and your heart wishes that you were walking with him instead of enjoying this amazing weather alone. Beautiful days should be spent with beautiful people, and a small childish voice in your heart yearns to have some private time with your fiance. 

Your fiance! ‘ Your heart warms at the thought.

Just as you want to slip away from them and look for Jiang Cheng, a sudden commotion erupts from ahead of you. Startled, the three of you head to the source of the commotion, and you feel an oncoming headache. Oh right, it’s this event...

Chapter Text

“Whatever’s the matter? What’s going on over there?” Jin Guangyao asks. 

Pulling their sleeves, you pick up the pace, replying, “I don’t think it’s something good. Let us go over and take a look.”

A few hastened steps later, the three of you spot a familiar group of faces. From the clearing, Jin Zixun’s stupid voice can be heard, crying out, “Aunt!”

Upon seeing his brother present, Lan Wangji greets, “Brother. A-zi.”

You return his greeting with a nod, sighing inwardly at his lack of attention to anyone behind Lan Xichen whatsoever. Peering behind him, you make eye contact with Wei Wuxian briefly, sending him a questioning look that he averts his gaze from.

“Wangji, why are you here as well?” asks Lan Xichen.

“Everyone, what happened here?” Jin Guangyao asks, stepping forward with his customer-service smile plastered on his face.

With his arrival, the repressed anger of both Madam Jin and Jin Zixun immediately zeroes in on him as a target to settle on. Just as Jin Guangyao finishes speaking, Madam Jin barks, “Still smiling? Such a big thing happened, and you’re still smiling! Just look at the hunt you organized, you good-for-nothing!”

Not at all expecting to be scolded as soon as he arrived, Jin Guangyao retracts his smile at once and replies earnestly, “Mother, what in the world is going on?”

Madam Jin narrows her eyes, snarking, “What in the world is going on—can’t you see for yourself? Aren’t you supposed to be good at reading the atmosphere?”

Jin Guangyao remains silent as Jin Zixun loudly complains, “One-third of all of the prey in the entire Phoenix Mountain is gone. What are the five thousand people here going to hunt for?!” 

As he is about to continue, you interject, “Lianfang-zun has already set about expanding the range of the hunting grounds. Please calm down, everyone.”

Now that you have spoken, Jin Zixun naturally knows that it isn’t suitable for him to say anything more, and he also cannot vent his frustration on Jin Guangyao when you and Lan Xichen are present. Throwing his arrow onto the ground, he bitterly scoffs, “The hunt this time is truly a farce! Whatever. It’s fine if I don’t participate. I quit.”

Jin Guangyao pauses in surprise, assuring, “Zixun, it’ll soon be arranged. At most you’d have to wait an hour longer…”

“Young Master Jin, that’s really not necessary!” Another old cultivator calls out as well. It takes a while for you to recognise him as Sect Leader Yao. Ah, another face you want to slap.

“The hunt has already lost all fairness. Why should I wait? Please excuse my absence!” With this shout, Jin Zixun is about to lead his cultivators onto their swords. Jin Guangyao hurries toward him to try and persuade him. Some want to follow Jin Zixun and leave as well with how they prepare their swords, while others hesitate, not willing to give up just yet. The situation is indeed a mess.

Jiang Yanli shakes her head and turns to Madam Jin, sighing, “Madam Jin, I really did make trouble for you.”

Madam Jin waves her hand, saying, “You’ll never make trouble for your mother-in-law here. Scold that dumb brat however you want to. It’s not like I care about him. If you’re still mad, I can help you beat him up.”

“There’s no need, there’s no need… Then, I’ll go back first?”

“To the Watching Towers? I’ll get Zixuan to walk us back.”

As she speaks, she tries her hardest in eyeing Jin Zixuan, who is standing some distance away, to jump in and spend some time with Jiang Yanli. However, the younger lady only whispers, “That’s not necessary. I’d like to have a few words with A-Xian. He can walk me back.”

Madam Jin raises her brows, looking Wei Wuxian up and down. Her gaze is somewhat cautious and displeased as she sizes him up.

“A young man and a young woman—you two can’t stick together all the time if nobody else is present.”

“A-Xian is my younger brother,” Jiang Yanli presses.

“A-Li, don’t be angry," Madam Jin speaks over Jiang Yanli's soft voice, "Tell me what stupid thing that stubborn brat of mine did to you this time. I’ll tell him to make it up to you properly.”

“That’s really not necessary. Madam Jin. There is no need to force him.”

“How could I force him? It’s not forced at all.”

Seeing that this conversation is going nowhere, Wei Wuxian lowers his head as he murmurs, “Excuse my absence, Madam Jin.”

He and Jiang Yanli bow at the same time. As they turned around to leave, Madam Jin grabs Jiang Yanli’s hand, refusing to let her leave. You have half a mind to step in, but between the pushes and the pulls, Jin Zixuan runs over and shouts, “Young Lady Jiang!!!”

Wei Wuxian pretends as though he heard nothing. He tugs at Jiang Yanli, coaxing, “Shijie, quickly, let’s go.”

“Wait, Young Lady Jiang, that’s not it!!!”

This time, Wei Wuxian turns around along with Jiang Yanli. Everyone stares at the pair, wondering what Jin Zixuan meant by ‘that’s not it’. Jin Zixuan runs a few steps forward as if he wanted to catch up, but then he stops. Standing afar, he takes in a few long breaths, the veins on his forehead protruding.

“That’s not it, Young Lady Jiang! It wasn’t my mother! It wasn’t her intention! I’m not forced, I’m not being forced at all!!” Holding it back for a few seconds, Jin Zixuan finally roars, “It was me! It was I who wanted you to come!!!”

Silence immediately befalls the whole crowd.

After his roars, Jin Zixuan’s cheeks suddenly morph into the colour of blood. He staggers back a few steps, only managing to steady himself with the support of a tree. As he looks up, he freezes. As if he finally recalled that many people were still present and remembered what he said in front of all those people, he stands blankly for a long time before suddenly realizing what had happened. With a panicked shout, he sprints away.

Now that was one phenomenal exit.

After a few moments of dead silence, Madam Jin exasperatedly shrieks, “You idiot! Why are you running away?! A-Li, let’s continue our talk later on the Watching Tower! First I have to go catch him!”

Rising up on her sword with a handful of other cultivators, she lets out another shout as she chased in the direction in which Jin Zixuan had fled.

“What the hell is going on? Shijie, let’s go first,” you hear Wei Wuxian say before he gives you a leisurely wave.

Jiang Yanli pauses shortly before nodding. Finally pleased, Wei Wuxian then waves at Lan Wangji, chirping, “Lan Zhan, I’m going.”

Lan Wangji nods, saying nothing. In silence, he watches Wei Wuxian and Jiang Yanli’s silhouettes slowly disappear into the woods. On the other hand, Jin Guangyao must have failed to stop Jin Zixun and the others any longer, for the group mount their swords and left, all talking at once. The large cloud of people who gathered is at once halved in numbers. Seeing that there is no more entertainment to watch, the rest of the people begin to scatter as well.

Jin Guangyao wipes the sweat on his forehead, forcing a smile as he incredulously mutters, “This really is…”

Lan Xichen pats his shoulder, consoling, “Today’s matter was not your fault.”

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to do it even in two hours,” Jin Guangyao sighs and massages the centre of his brows.

“Why is that?”

“In reality, not only did Young Master Wei keep a third of the prey to himself, our eldest brother has eliminated over half of the faes and the monsters as well. That is how Da-ge is like, after all,” you shrug.

Lan Wangji, on the other hand, seems to be consumed in his thoughts. Jin Guangyao sighs as though he has a terrible headache, commenting, “And so, the range of the hunting grounds might have to be expanded even more.”

“Then, let us set about it as soon as we can.”

Jin Guangyao sheepishly apologises, “Sorry, Er-ge, Qing-mei. You’re here to participate in the hunt, and I had to have you come over to help me last minute.”

You shake your head, waving your hand as you reassure, “It’s no trouble… but can I join you all later? I’d like to wait for someone first.”

Lan Xichen nods in agreement before turning to Lan Wangi, inviting, “Wangji, should we leave, or would you like to help as well?”

Lan Wangji summons Bichen in silence, curtly responding, “I will help.”

After they left on their swords, only a few people are left amid the trees, still chatting about what had happened. You stand under the shade of a big tree in silence, knowing that Jiang Cheng will come soon. It would be good to discuss this with him properly regarding this situation, rather than allow him to wallow in self-hatred and his low-key inferiority complex from the surrounding men's egging.

“Truly, Yunmeng Jiang’s Wei Wuxian really is quite a character,” the man you recognise to be Sect Leader Yao remarks.

Frowning upon hearing them speak ill of Wei Wuxian, you step out of the shadows, asking, “What do you mean?”

Sect Leader Yao meets your gaze and laughs, “As if I dare mean anything, Yuyan-zun. You’re close with Yunmeng Jiang, correct? You mustn’t take to heart what I said.”

One of the sect leaders rolls his eyes as he sourly complains, “Nonsense. No matter what, the words are true! This time, Lotus Pier is really the centre of the show. Almost all of the spirits and corpses were summoned to the Yunmeng Jiang Sect’s disciples. There’d definitely be a number of cultivators interested in them.”

“What could we do about it?” sighs Sect Leader Yao. “ Whose fault is it that our sects don’t have Wei Wuxians?”

Someone sneers, “Didn’t the Yunmeng Jiang Sect grow in fame during the Sunshot Campaign only because of Wei Wuxian? Now that the previous Sect Leader Jiang and the Violet Spider have left the jianghu to roam the world, he has really stolen a march, huh?”

Unable to continue listening to this any longer, you see a beast prowling around in the corner of your eye. With a smooth flick, you unsheathe Su’yuan and strike at the beast, cleanly decapitating it. Sect Leader Yao who was standing near the beast yelps in fear, jumping aside.

“Yuyan-zun, what is the meaning of this? You dare to attack a sect leader in broad daylight?!” Sect Leader Yao shouts. 

Marching over, you stab into the beast’s corpse and lift it up, showing the group. As the blood drains onto the ground in muted drips, you fling it off the blade after brandishing it and scoff, “Just because you fail to match up to the greatness of Yunmeng Jiang does not mean that you can partake in careless slander! Will a respectable sect leader busy himself in meaningless gossip and not notice that a three-eyed civet is waiting behind to pounce? Yunmeng Jiang has always been an illustrious sect, and without them, would the Campaign have ended so soon? Luring prey is one thing, but slaying them is another. For Yunmeng Jiang’s disciples to be able to handle such a great number of beasts from one luring song, isn’t that already something impressive? Instead of griping about other’s achievements, look into your heart and reflect on your own first.”

Saying so, you send a pulse of spiritual energy into your sword, disintegrating the dripping blood. Sheathing Su’yuan, you decide to take a walk around the area rather than remain here listening to a bunch of aggravating nonsense.

It is strange that Jiang Cheng still hasn’t arrived. Maybe you should look for him.

Unknowingly, you march off in the wrong direction, for Jiang Cheng was actually concealing himself behind a tree, listening to your words. Silently, he looks downwards, thinking over your words before a small helpless smile curves his lips.

Chapter Text

Now that a period of peace has begun settling within the cultivation world, you now have some time to finally pursue your interests. With much of your time spent in the bloody fires of war, the peace of today has spurred your interest in attempting the introduction of modern healthcare for the benefit of this world. After all these years, it seems like there is no way home, and this is your reality now. It would be best to improve the living conditions of your future, after all.

Standing alone in Jingsi Palace’s inner archives, you hobble over to an already-messy desk with your arms full of old scrolls and books. After dumping them onto the table with a huff, you wipe a few beads of sweat off your brow before taking a seat. All the material you could find in the Qiu Sect archives on anything close to blood types are strewn across the desk surface in a haphazard manner, and you have to rearrange the sheer amount of material to have space to write your own notes. 

Since the war is over, you have all the time in the world to focus on actually living in this world. It does not seem that you have a way back home, and you have gone rather used to this life with your newfound friends and family, your bonds built upon the trust and closeness from fighting a gruelling war together. Now, you have set your sights upon doing more for this world beyond meddling in Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji’s love affairs. The world around you is deeper than a paper novel, and as a transmigrator, your knowledge (or even the mere concepts you could introduce to the world) could even usher in an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity!

From the heartrending sights of the war and the sheer number of casualties that succumbed due to grievous injuries you had to send off, your first endeavour was to seek a method of safe blood transfusions in this world. From what you could find in the sect archives, there are already existing theories and groundwork laid by ancestors of the Qiu Sect that had tried to discern the reasons behind rejections of blood transfusions, but since they do not have the existing knowledge of a modern person regarding proper blood types, antigens, and other such concepts, the research was discarded years and years ago. As for you, how can every transmigrator be a military doctor, a surgeon, or a genius in assassination and healthcare? Hence, you can only go the long way.

However, your research and reading barely continues undisturbed for an hour before the sound of the archive doors opening snaps your attention. Looking up, you see Qiu Suyin walk into the library archives with her shoulders slumped. When she meets your gaze, she visibly brightens, before hastening her steps and plopping herself down beside you.

“Eldest Sister?”

“I’m so glad to have finally found you,” Qiu Suyin flashes a relieved smile before continuing, “Can you do Sister a big, big favour?”

You quirk an eyebrow, setting down your brush. Tilting your head, you stare at her expectantly, a hint of worry on your face as you wonder what job could possibly elicit such unhappiness from her.

“Lanling Jin has once again sent out an invitation for us to attend another banquet, but Eldest Sister really can’t make it,” Qiu Suyin pouts. 

“It’s your job, Sister, you’re our sect leader,” you sigh. You thought that it was something big. “It’s just another boring banquet.” 

Tugging on your sleeves, Qiu Suyin can only continue, “Precisely. That’s why Eldest Sister can’t go. There’s an upcoming domain inspection that had already been planned months ago, but Old Man Jin chose to send this invitation barely a few days before the damned event! Is he giving us some weird test of friendship and our priorities or something? As the sect leader, I can’t miss this inspection… my dearest, sweetest little sister, can’t you help this older sister just once?”

Cracking under her pleading gaze, you cannot help but quirk your lips upwards as you ask, “Who else is attending?”

“I only know Old Man Jin only invited a few sects, and the Gusu Lan Sect will be among them. Sect Leader Lan and his brother will be there, so you won’t be going into a hoard of unfamiliar faces,” Qiu Suyin answers.

Lan Wangji will be there?

Realisation dawns in your eyes as you remember which banquet this is. Surely, this will be the event that Wei Wuxian charges into a Jin Sect banquet to raise a ruckus about the Wen remnants! For the lives of many, this event is one that you cannot miss! If you obtain the Wen remnants before Wei Wuxian can cause trouble for the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, then he will have one less sin in the eyes of the cultivation world! 

Patting Qiu Suyin’s clasped hands, you give her a helpless smile as you say, “This is the last time I’m going in your stead, okay?”

“Older sister loves you to death!!” Qiu Suyin beams, eyes sparkling. After this pressing issue has been solved, she finally remembers to look down at what you are doing. In a curious voice, she asks, “Ah, was I bothering you while you were doing something important? Why do you have so many books laid out?”

A different plan hatching in your brain, you tidy up the mess on the table before looking at Qiu Suyin. Steadily, you begin to explain your ‘theories’ and thoughts regarding the current state of medical knowledge in this world...

…

Soon enough, the day of the banquet has come.

Within Glamour Hall, your seat is luckily placed beside the Gusu Lan Sect's. With a smile, you greet your sworn brother and Lan Wangji before seating yourself down. Beside you, Mianmian hisses, "Qingqing, is there really a need to attend this banquet? If our family’s sect leader couldn’t attend, why do we still have to come anyway? It's just a simple event, and they're still always so ostentatious."

Chuckling behind your sleeve, you sigh, "I'm... hoping to use a favour that the Lanling Jin Sect owes me... anyway, just relax. I brought you here to watch a good show."

Before Mianmian can continue asking you what's going on, you hear a commotion right beside you.

The Gusu Lan Sect is famous for its abstinence from liquor. By Jin Guangyao’s arrangements, no liquor cups are placed on either of the two’s tables, only a teacup and a few fresh, dainty dishes. Nobody had come forth and approached them, excluding you greeting the Twin Jades at the beginning of the banquet, so all had been calm.

Unfortunately, true to the canon, a man wearing a robe of Sparks Amidst Snow suddenly approaches them, one liquor cup in each hand as he crows, “Sect Leader Lan, Hanguang-jun, a toast to each of you!”

Jin Zixun had been toasting everyone for the past while, while subtly leaving you for last with how ardently he appears to be avoiding you. You know that he has a severe distaste for you, for how you have constantly stomped all over his ego during the Campaign. On the other hand, Jin Guangyao knows that neither Lan Xichen nor Lan Wangji drink liquor, so he hurries over, saying, “Zixun, both Zewu-jun and Hanguang-jun grew up in Cloud Recesses. There are over three thousand rules on their stone wall. Instead of asking them to drink, why not—”

Jin Zixun regards Jin Guangyao with much aversion in his gaze as he interrupts, “The Jin Sect and the Lan Sect have always been close like family. We’re all the same. My two Lan brothers, if you don’t drink this, you’d be looking down on me!”

On the side, a few of his followers all praise, “What a bold move! That’s just how an esteemed cultivator should act!”

Jin Guangyao continues to smile, though a sigh still escapes his lightly gritted teeth.  As for you, you keep your gaze on Jin Guangshan, watching him look upon the scene with a meaningful look in his eye. This move, if analysed deeply, can be seen as Lanling Jin testing whether Gusu Lan will be subservient under them by conceding to the toast. You resist the urge to roll your eyes.

Lan Xichen stands up, wanting to decline the offer politely. However, Jin Zixun continues to pester them, “Don’t say anything. Sect Leader Lan, our two sects aren’t strangers to each other. Don’t deal with me like how you deal with strangers! Just tell me one thing—are you drinking it or not?”

The corners of Jin Guangyao’s smile start to twitch. He glances at Lan Xichen, eyes full of apology. With a gentle tone, he coaxes, “After this, they’ll return on their swords. Drinking would probably affect their…”

Jin Zixun obviously thinks not of this, choosing to argue, “It’s not like they’d get drunk with just a few cups. Even if I drank eight large bowls, I’d still be able to fly away with equal grandeur!”

A wave of cheers erupts from all around them as Jin Zixun croons his boasts. As for Lan Wangji, he is still seated like a statue, staring coldly at the cup of liquor that Jin Zixun forced into his line of sight. Watching this foolish spectacle almost makes a vein bulge out of your forehead, and you prepare to interject when a hand suddenly snatches the cup of liquor.

Lan Wangji pauses in surprise, his knitted eyebrows unravelling at once. 

The person who interfered stands with one hand against his back. With a lift of his head, he drains all of the liquor in the cup and shows the empty bottom to Jin Zixun. 

“I drank it for him. Are you satisfied yet?” The mirthful hints of a smile clings to both the black-clad person's eyes and his words.

“Young Master Wei," Lan Xichen greets.

"When did he come?!” Someone gasps with a hushed tone.

Wei Wuxian sets down the cup as his mirthful expression dims. With one hand, he fixes his lapel, plainly responding, “Just a moment ago.”

Not a single person had noticed when he managed to slip into Glamour Hall. 

Jin Guangyao is quick to react, his enthusiasm still warm as he greets, “I wasn’t aware of Young Master Wei’s arrival at Jinlin Tower. The lack of a welcome was my fault. Would you like to be seated? Oh, right—do you have an invitation?”

“No thanks. I don’t.” Wei Wuxian doesn't bother making small talk either, getting straight to the point. Instead, he nods slightly at Jin Zixun, speaking, “Young Master Jin, could I please have a word with you?”

“If you have anything to say, come after our banquet is over.”

“How long do I have to wait?”

“Probably around six to eight hours. Or maybe ten to twelve. Or until tomorrow.”

“I’m afraid I can’t wait for that long," Wei Wuxian smiles.

“You’ll have to wait even if you can’t," Jin Zixun fires back.

Jin Guangyao plasters on a genial smile as he asks, “Young Master Wei, what do you need Zixun for? Is it a pressing matter?”

“Oh, it is pressing indeed. It allows for no delay.”

Letting out an awkward cough, Jin Zixun turns to Lan Xichen, holding up the other cup as he attempts to change the topic, “Sect Leader Lan, here, here. You haven’t drunk this cup yet!”

Seeing that Jin Zixun is trying to stall for time, Wei Wuxian narrows his eyes and smirks,  “Fine. Then I’ll talk about it right here. Young Master Jin, have you heard of someone by the name of Wen Ning?”

Distractedly, Jin Zixun repeats, “Wen Ning? I haven’t.”

“You definitely remember him. Last month, when you were night-hunting in the area of Ganquan, you chased an eight-winged bat king to the gathering place, or the detention camp, of the Wen Sect’s remnants and brought a group of the Wen Sect’s disciples. The one in the lead was him.”

“I don’t remember, which means I don’t remember!" Jin Zixun snorts. "I’m not so idle as to go out of my way to remember a Wen-dog’s name.”

“Fine. I don’t mind explaining it in greater detail. You couldn’t catch the bat king and happened to run into a few of the Wen Sect’s disciples who were there to investigate the same thing. And so, you threatened them to carry spirit-attraction flags to be your bait. They didn’t dare do it. One person stepped out and tried to reason with you. That’s the Wen Ning I’m talking about. After some delay, the bat king got away. You beat up the Wen cultivators, took them away by force, and the group disappeared. Do I need to say any more details? They still haven’t returned yet. Apart from you, I don’t know who in the world I could possibly ask.”

“Wei Wuxian, what do you mean? Did you come for him? You aren’t standing up for a Wen-dog, are you?”

“Since when is it your business whether I’d like to stand up for him or cut his head off? Just give him to me!”

In the last sentence, the grin on his face vanishes, tone turning cold as well. Okay, maybe it's about time .

“Wei Wuxian, you are too bold! Did the Lanling Jin Sect invite you today? Why should we listen to the words of an uninvited guest? And you dare run wild here. Do you really think that you’re invincible, that nobody has the courage to confront you? Do you want to overturn the Heavens?”

“You’re comparing yourself to the heavens? Excuse my language, but your face is a little too thick, isn’t it?” Wei Wuxian smiles as if pleased to hear this. 

Just as Jin Guangshan is about to rebut, you interrupt the old codger before he can even open his mouth. Drumming perfectly manicured fingernails on the lacquered tabletop, you drawl, "What about the words of someone who was invited?"

With a strained smile, Jin Guangyao tilts his head, sending you an inquiring look as he queries, "Qing-mei, do you have something to comment?"

Meeting his gaze, you send him a light smile before turning to look at Jin Guangshan. You still your hands as you purposely glance over Wei Wuxian, politely asking, "Since the Wen remnants are being used in such a... wasteful way, why not give them to me? "

Upon hearing your words, a look of doubt and betrayal flashes across Wei Wuxian's eyes. Keeping your face unmoving, you ignore him. Seeing as Jin Guangshan's square-shaped face is getting worse by the minute, you rise from your seat and move to stand in front of Wei Wuxian. 

"Apologies for my interruption, Sect Leader Jin, but I couldn't help but add in a few words," you smile, bowing your head to Jin Guangshan. "The Wen remnants under the Lanling Jin Sect are only used as coolies for rough work and construction... which is extremely wasteful, don't you think? Aren't they all still cultivators? Instead of being used for these jobs... let them test my Luoyang Qiu Sect's... concoctions instead? There are quite a few poisons I would like to develop into medicine. The durability is good as they have cultivation bases, and their insignificant lives will be used for the betterment of the world."

After a short period of silence, Jin Guangshan finally speaks up, exaggeratedly sighing, “Ai, this is not a very important matter. Aren't they just some Wen-dogs? You youngsters, why lose your tempers over such a thing? As for Yuyan-zun's request... this... isn't very proper, is it?"

"I am one of the people who killed Wen Ruohan, and  his treasured niece Wen Qing was slain by me as well. By order of campaign merits, I should have had a claim on the people I conquered, no? Using Wen-dogs to test poisons is already something I'm familiar with. What's more, I have a deep enmity with the Wens. They nearly wiped out my clan and destroyed a vast majority of the clan I'm marrying into. Are you doubting my credibility? My qualifications?" After a pause, a confident smile blooms on your face. With a presence full of momentum and graceful force, you add, "Sect Leader Jin is a man of his word, no? Way back in the Gusu Lan lectures before the Sunshot Campaign, Sect Leader Jin once promised this one an unconditional favour regardless of the cost. Naturally, I will be claiming that favour now to obtain the rights of the Wen-dogs from the Jin Sect. Are there any issues with that?"

Chapter Text

In a battle of words, Jin Guangshan has already lost. With your reputation, the rest of the attendees all murmur amongst themselves, considering that your use of the Wen remnants will be far more beneficial to the cultivation world than the Jin Sect's selfish building projects and hunts. Ever so fickle, they begin humming out their agreements. As for Wei Wuxian, he has a deeply pondering expression on his face, having just come from Wen Qing's side. Hopefully, your untruthful insistence of having killed her has already spelt out your true allegiance to him. 

Just in case, you cast Wei Wuxian a meaningful glance before adding, “Since I'm still a participant of the banquet, I suppose it would be much easier and more convenient if Young Master Wei were to go and retrieve the Wen remnants in my stead?”

Unable to defend against you, Jin Guangshan purses his lips, a flicker of annoyance flashing in his dark eyes. Since he cannot speak against you any further, he turns his attention to Wei Wuxian instead and sighs, "Still, I still have to address that Young Master Wei barging in when the Lanling Jin Sect is holding a private banquet is rather inappropriate.”

“Sect Leader Jin, it was never my intention to disturb your private banquet, and I apologise. However, the whereabouts of the people whom Young Master Jin took are still unclear. Since the Wen remnants are already going to be claimed by the Qiu Sect, why not just say where they are now? Please do not feel pressured," Wei Wuxian shoots back a reply, a shallow, barely-polite smile hanging on his lips. “What’s more, this Wei can leave the premises immediately once the Wens are entrusted to me.”

“Whatever it is, it must be able to wait a little longer. How about this, you can sit down first. Let’s talk about this with no rush.”

Soundlessly, Jin Guangyao has already prepared a new seat just as his father finishes speaking. However, Wei Wuxian dips his head, replying, “Thank you, Sect Leader Jin, but I won’t stay for long. The matter can’t be delayed. Please let this be sorted out as soon as possible.”

“There’s no need to hurry. If we break things down, there are indeed a few things between us that haven’t been accounted for yet, things that can’t be delayed. Now that you’re here, how about we use the opportunity to sort those things out as well?”

“What’s more to say?” Wei Wuxian asks, displeased that the topic of the conversation has shifted. 

“Young Master Wei, we’ve brought this up a couple of times with you already. You haven’t forgotten, have you? During the Sunshot Campaign, you had once used a... certain object.”

“Ohh. You did mention it before. The Stygian Tiger Seal?”

“It is said that the Stygian Tiger Seal was cast from the iron of a sword that you acquired in the cave of the Xuanwu of Slaughter. Back then, you used it on the battlefield once. Its powers were horrifying, causing even a few of our own cultivators to be affected by its residual force—”

After the Sunshot Campaign, the criticism of Wei Wuxian cultivating the demonic path that the sects had once celebrated has been on the rise. Jin Guangshan has most likely mentioned the Stygian Tiger Seal here to threaten Wei Wuxian, reminding him that there was still something they held against him, that others were still watching him, and thus he shouldn’t be so bold as to want to climb above the Lanling Jin Sect. After all, even if he could not speak up against you, the rising power with political clout as a leader in your own right, he can still turn towards Wei Wuxian, who is still considered a subordinate and a political lesser.

Snappily, Wei Wuxian folds his arms as he grunts, “Please get to the point.”

“This is the point. In the battle, apart from the Wen Sect, our sides undertook great losses as well. In my opinion, such a weapon is quite difficult to control. For it to be in the hands of just a single person might be…”

Before he even finishes his words, Wei Wuxian begins to laugh. Beside him, you take a small step away just as you glance at Lan Wangji, who has his gaze riveted on the man in black before you.

After a few laughs, Wei Wuxian simpers, “Sect Leader Jin, let me ask you something else. Do you think that just because the Qishan Wen Sect is gone, the Lanling Jin Sect has all the right to replace it?”

A heavy silence blankets Glamour Hall.

“Everything has to be given to you? Everyone has to listen to you?” Wei Wuxian smiles as he begins pacing forward, every step leisurely yet mildly threatening. “Looking at how the Lanling Jin Sect does things, I almost thought that it was the Qishan Wen Sect’s empire all over again.”

Hearing this, a hue of embarrassed anger flits across Jin Guangshan's face. You hide your bubbling smirk behind your wide sleeve. Making eye contact with Mianmian who is still seated with worry all over her features, you nod subtly at the scene before you. Understanding slowly settles on Mianmian’s face as she finally understands what you meant by 'a good show' earlier on.

Nobody except for you expected Wei Wuxian’s words to be so harshly straightforward. Although it has been obvious for quite a while that Jin Guangshan has the intention of succeeding the Wen Sect’s position, nobody has ever dared to bring it to the surface so fearlessly, going as far as to mock him to his face in front of so many people.

“Wei Wuxian! Watch your words!” shouts a guest cultivator of the Jins.

“Did I say something wrong? Forcing living people to be fodder for hunts and beating them up whenever they refuse to obey—is this any different from what the Qishan Wen Sect does?”

“Of course it’s different. The Wen-dogs did all kinds of evil. To arrive at such an end is only karma for them. We only avenged a tooth for a tooth, letting them taste the fruit that they themselves had sown. What’s wrong with this? And hasn't Luoyang Qiu also expressed their intention to use them as lab rats?! Isn’t that a biased view on us?”

"Do not mention the Luoyang Qiu Sect," you snap, lolling your head slowly to face the errant speaker with a dark expression on your face. "It is the idea and intention of me, Yuyan-zun. Who are you to say anything about it?”

“Thi...this…”

Making a loud, lazy sigh, you stroll back to your seat and settle into an indolent lean on your chair. Sporting an irritated frown, you prop your chin with a hand propped on the table and continue, “Wei Wuxian, the Wen remnants have already been entrusted to me. There’s no need for the barking in this hall to continue. You are indebted to a few, right? Then just fetch them all for me, and I'll let you take the few you want. Treat them however you wish."

Your blood curdles at how coldly you are speaking, but you still have to keep up appearances. Commanding the attention and pressure in the room is hardly what a guest should be doing in the Jins’ banquet, much less a junior and a woman like you given the current societal context, but with Su’yuan glinting by your side, nobody dares to speak up overtly against a war hero like you. Quietly, no one makes a peep, unsure and hesitant glances flitting all across the room. Guilt prickles in your chest as you purposely ignore Lan Xichen’s mildly-disapproving and inquiring gaze. 

To your words, Wei Wuxian nods, a subtle hint of gratitude in his eyes. Opening his mouth, he states, "Hear that? Yuyan-zun has already spoken. It's best to stop beating around the bush and say where they are. Medicine and propaganda are two vastly different goals, Sect Leader Jin. Perhaps it is apparent that the Jin Sect's cruelty truly bears too much resemblance to the past Wen Sect."

Someone else sneers, “Back then, when the Wen Sect slaughtered our people, it was thousands of times crueller than this! They didn’t treat us with justice and morality, so why should we treat them with such?”

“Oh," Wei Wuxian grins, "The Wen-dogs did all kinds of evil, so anyone whose surname is Wen can be killed? That’s not it, is it? Many of the clans who defected from the Wen Sect are quite well-off right now, aren’t they? In this hall, aren't there a few sect leaders from clans that used to be under the Wen Sect’s wing?”

As those sect leaders see that he recognised them, their expressions change at once. Wei Wuxian presses on, “Since anyone whose surname is Wen can be used as an outlet of anger as one pleases, no matter if they’re innocent or not, does it mean that it’s fine even if I kill all of you right now?”

As he speaks, he places his hand on his waist where Chenqing hangs. Instantly, as if a piece of memory stirs up in the minds of everyone within the hall as if they have returned to the battlefield where darkness became the sky and corpses became mountains, people bolt up from their seats among the crowd with expressions of terror. You straighten your posture, furrowing your brows. Trust him to still be so hotblooded when you have already done so much to mitigate the situation.

At the Lans’ table, Lan Wangji finally breaks his silence to warn, “Wei Ying!”

Jin Guangyao maintains his composure despite his close proximity to Wei Wuxian, speaking in a gentle voice, “Young Master Wei, please don’t overdo things. Things are still open for discussion.”

Jin Guangshan bolts up as well, his face a mixture of shock, anger, fear, and hatred as he snarls, “Wei Wuxian! Just because… Sect Leader Jiang isn’t here doesn’t mean you can be so reckless!”

Slamming a hand on the table, you growl, "Do not bring Sect Leader Jiang into this! Wei Wuxian did indeed lose his decorum, but his words are not entirely untrue. Not once has the Yunmeng Jiang Sect been relevant to this discussion!"

The hall falters from your forceful shout. Who doesn't know how fiercely loyal Yuyan-zun is, having stayed behind after the Qishan indoctrination to fight a vicious battle to defend Yunmeng Jiang even with a freshly ruined hand? Moreover, with you finally exhibiting an explicit support for Wei Wuxian here, your presence as a Luoyang Qiu representative, a part of the Venerated Four, as well as your future role as the Madam of Yunmeng Jiang is enough of a backing for him. 

A short chuckle bubbles through Wei Wuxian as he tilts his head, readying his fingers on the black flute in his hands.

Amidst the crushing silence, Lan Wangji carefully warns, “Wei Ying, put down Chenqing.”

Wei Wuxian looks at him for a brief moment. However, he still turns away towards the Jins, shouting, “Jin Zixun!”

Jin Guangshan hurries, “Zixun!”

“Cut the nonsense. I’m sure everyone knows that my patience is limited. Where is he? I’ve already wasted too much time here with you. I’ll give you a count of three. Three.”

Jin Zixun evidently wants to resist, but when he looks over at the resigned look on Jin Guangshan's face, he lets out an indignant huff. It has already become clear that the rights of ownership of the Wen remnants no longer belong to the Lanling Jin Sect now.

Displeased with the continued silence, a layer of darkness settles on Wei Wuxian’s features as his grip tightens on his flute. With added pressure and volume in his voice, he forces through gritted teeth, “Two!”

Finally terrified, Jin Zixun finally yells, “…Fine! Fine! It’s just a few Wen-dogs. I’m not fooling around with you any longer! Go find them at Qiongqi Path yourself!”

“If only you said it sooner," Wei Wuxian chuckles, a shallow friendly expression on his face. Patting Jin Zixun’s shoulder in a patronising manner, he casually turns around and cheerfully leaves the venue, as if he had never drawn his flute in front of everyone present. 

When his silhouette finally disappears, the storm over the people’s heads finally dissipates. Within Glamour Hall, most of those who stood up flop back onto their seats again, exhausted. Almost all of them have already broken into cold sweats. 

Seeing that the banquet has been ruined, you shamelessly huff, “It seems that this banquet isn’t exactly quite jovial anymore, is it? Thank you for the invitation, Sect Leader Jin. If my Qiu Sect has any new findings thanks to the help of the Wen remnants, this one will be sure to share it with everyone here first as a token of appreciation.  It’s gotten quite late, so this one will take her leave first. Mianmian, let’s go.”

When you and Mianmian leave the venue, you chase Wei Wuxian down to the entrance of Jinlin Tower, where he prepares to leave. With a shout, you call out, "Wei-xiong!"

Wei Wuxian whips around, surprised. "What are you doing here? Why follow me out?" 

You jog up to him, before removing a carved marble token from your waistband. Pressing it into his hands, you say, "I wasn't lying when I said to bring the Wen remnants back to Luoyang, but they will be incorporated into my sect as disciples. Lady Wen Qing's branch is a peaceful branch that specialises in medicine, right? They will blend well into the sect safely. You don't have to bring them to Yiling."

"How did you—"

"There's no time. Isn't Lady Wen Qing waiting? Use this token to enter our castle town anytime you wish, and don't always be so impulsive, alright? You're making trouble for Wanyin," you scold. 

Wei Wuxian’s shoulders slacken. He takes the entry token and turns around, waving a dismissive hand, as he ambles down the steps with the marble token in his hand.

After a few steps, he turns around after a thought, beaming as he calls out, "Thanks, Qingqing! I owe you!"

Unable to help yourself, you return his sunny grin with a wistful one of your own.

Chapter Text

The news of Yuyan-zun (and Wei Wuxian, by extension) gaining ownership rights over all of the Wen remnants spread like wildfire.

True to your word, you do release a few medicines to the cultivation world within a month of this event and the Jin Sect did get priority in their release, but unlike what the cultivation world understands, these new concoctions were not tested with human experimentation. They were simply some old recipes that were refined by you to become something more potent, and had some added, different fragrance. With this, your reputation has only soared higher, and Wei Wuxian's reputation isn't as sour either. Wei Wuxian's prosperity equates to the world's prosperity, after all!  

Still, you did allow him to bring the closer members of Wen Qing and Wen Ning's branch to follow Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning to Yiling for his recuperation, while the rest were rehabilitated into your sect. Once Wen Ning's consciousness returns, he would definitely wish to be around his family. When he stabilises, the rest can come over as well! As for the Wen stragglers that were actually deserving of punishment, you naturally do not disclose what you do with them. From this point onward, they have become the property of Luoyang Qiu. There are plenty of 'truth serum'-like concoctions in the apothecary cabinets of the Sect headquarters. Their past actions dictate their future in Jingsi Palace's dungeons, so to speak.

Standing at the very edge of your boat, you gaze upon a large lotus lake spanning what appears to be more than a hundred miles in length. This time, one junior Luoyang Qiu attendant accompanies you instead of Mianmian, due to a conflict in schedules. Hence, the boat ride is mostly silent, and you are content with this, opting to view the scenery and relax. The wide, verdant lotus leaves and the smooth, pink blossoms brush shoulders against one another in the gentle wind, as if welcoming you back once again. The plants have revitalised, leaving behind practically no trace of being crushed or trodden on by Wen cultivators and their warships.

As your boat docks, you spot Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli standing by the pier, warm smiles on their faces. Jiang Cheng's, in particular, is even a tad bit bashful. They must have come to welcome you.

With your sister's permission, you have come to Lotus Pier to spend some time with your close friend Jiang Yanli... as well as your fiance, of course! Currently, since Wei Wuxian does not have any sins pinned on him as of yet, the cultivation world is still fixated upon the news and gossips of the marriage between Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli, and now that Jiang Cheng has so boldly declared his engagement with you, Yunmeng has become the latest hotbed of activity and attention. 

"Yanli-jie! Wanyin!" you greet happily as you hop off your boat. 

Jiang Yanli beams upon seeing you, taking your hands in hers. In a delighted voice, she replies, "It's been so long since I last saw you! Come, let us enter." 

Saying so, she winks at you two and walks off quickly, leaving behind both you and Jiang Cheng. Turning to your fiance, you resist the urge to burst into laughter when looking at his red-tinted cheeks. 

"...Shall... we?" Jiang Cheng manages to say, and you chuckle amusedly at his adorable (and slightly nervous?) smile. 

"Okay."

...

As you walk along the pier, the hustle and bustle of Lotus Pier gives you a sense of nostalgia. It has been so long since that fateful battle with the Wens all those years ago, and much longer since you came into this world. When you overlook the exact same spot where you had sent off Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian on that battered boat with Madam Yu, you feel as though you have already spent a lifetime in this world. 

At this point, although a soft, hopeful voice in your heart is still crying for home, the people here have already... become part of your life. Seeing the villagers and the land that you helped to protect and seeing the actual impact you made to this world sparks a feeling of warmth deep in your chest. 

Plus, this place will soon become your...

Your cheeks warm at the thought, and you turn to look at Jiang Cheng, who is looking straight ahead as if he is both consumed in his thoughts and also sporting a very empty mind. Silently, you unconsciously smile as you admire his handsome side-profile. After years of the Sunshot Campaign, the frantic and lost youth has finally grown into a proper sect leader, and the childishly-naive face has sharpened into something more... mature. The memory of the terrified expression on Jiang Cheng's face during the Lotus Pier siege overlaps with the calm face of the current man beside you, and you sigh in your heart. Time... does pass by quickly.

Having noticed your gaze on him through his peripheral vision, Jiang Cheng turns around to look at you. Seeing that his eyes are on you, a warm smile full of fondness inadvertently blooms on your face. Suddenly dealt this attack, his ears redden as he mumbles, "You keep staring at me... Is there something wrong?"

"It's nothing. I just... find that you've done a great job in leading Yunmeng Jiang. Lotus Pier has definitely returned to its former glory," you comment. 

Jiang Cheng averts his gaze at your compliment, though the corners of his lips do rise in a pleased smile as he responds, "I... of course."

"Mm-hmm," you continue in a dazed tone, "Truthfully, it's hard to connect this Lotus Pier with the blood-soaked one from my memories..."

The mental image of the massacre surfaces in your mind, and you can almost experience the same sensation of running your sword through a human for the first time. It's only been a few years, but it feels more like a century had passed, with how hectic things had been. In these short few years, you have lost the use of one of your hands, schemed your way into survival, took actual human lives, fought an actual war and done many more things that your past modern life offered. Even if you shove those thoughts to the back of your mind, they surface now and then, sending you into a trance that can last for a long, long time.

However, before you have the chance to lose your concentration, a hand grabs yours, snapping you out of your reverie. With your hand nestled gently in his, Jiang Cheng sends you a worried look amidst the clouds of pink on his cheeks, as if asking you if anything's the matter. He must have mustered all of his will with that thin face of his to pull this move. Despite yourself, you shake your head, letting out a short breathy chuckle.

"Qingwen," he begins, "I still haven't properly thanked you for saving my family." 

Surprised, you turn your attention back to him. You shake your head, sighing, "Everything is finally over. I saw what I had to do, and I did it. There's nothing particularly big about me protecting Lotus Pier—"

"It is!!" Jiang Cheng suddenly interrupts, cutting off your humble words. Then, as if embarrassed at his own outburst, he looks away for a moment, before softly stuttering out, "I... I mean... if you weren't there to do the things you did, none of Yunmeng Jiang would have survived, and I would have become an orphan and have to rebuild the Jiang Sect all on my own and... It's all thanks to you for..."

Finally, he stops speaking, as if he cannot believe what his mouth is freely spouting. Before you can chime in your response, you realise that you have already reached the front doors of the residence. In front, Jiang Yanli turns around to face the two of you, smiling as she says, "Qingwen, I'll lead you to your quarters first. A-Cheng, Mother has returned from her travels, so..."

Alarmed, Jiang Cheng quickly bids his farewells and excuses himself before disappearing into the main building. As for you, you walk over to Jiang Yanli, a shy smile on your face as she cheerfully gestures for you to follow her.

Chapter Text

You walk side-by-side with Jiang Yanli, weaving through hallways and corridors that correspond with your memory of this place. Even if you barely had the leisure and time to actually enjoy your stay in Lotus Pier the last time you were here, you realise that as time passes, your memories of the original canon are slowly taken over by the reality you see before you. As for the people, some have developed in a way contrary to the more-bitter styles of the canon due to your interferences, so at this point, you wonder if holding on to the past knowledge is really worth it. Take, for example, the fact that Yunmeng Jiang is now on par in power with Lanling Jin due to your prevention of its complete decimation, as well as the fact that the Jiang couple is still alive. Will this cause any complications? Will fate correct itself? One can only te...

"Qingwen!" 

Snapping out of your reverie, you quirk your head towards Jiang Yanli, who has been trying to call you for the last few minutes. Scratching your head sheepishly, you apologise, "Sorry, Yanli-jie, you were saying..?"

"Qingwen, are you thinking of the past again?"

Her words hit the mark. You avert your gaze, instead opting to overlook the corridor ledge and into the lotus pond below. After a short silence, you speak, "...Mn. Just... I was just thinking that Lotus Pier has been completely restored. There's not a single piece that's out of place."

Jiang Yanli dips her head in a slight nod before whispering, "A-Cheng took painstaking lengths to ensure that everything is restored to its original condition. At least the Wen occupants did not bother trifling with our ancestral hall. It was only slightly singed and rather dusty when we returned to Lotus Pier."

Ah, that must have been Wen Zhuliu's honour coming into play. 

The two of you continue a lighthearted chat before Jiang Yanli finally stops in front of a familiar room. It does not take you long to recognise that this room is where you stayed during the weeks of planning with Madam Yu. 

"You must be tired after the journey here. We will be having dinner together later with Mother and Father, so do rest well during the break in between. I'll get someone to call you over when it's time. I'll be off now," Jiang Yanli smiles gently, and you bask in her healing glow for a brief moment before nodding. 

With a "Thank you", you enter the room and set your things on the table. Your attendant must have been located in another nearby room. Truth be told, you do not need any subordinates to follow you on this trip, yet your sister wanted to prepare a whole entourage for you, so you both could only compromise on one attendant. As for this person, she is only a junior outer disciple who survived the palace burning, so she also followed to visit her relatives here in the nearby city of Yunping. 

Looking around the room, you note that not a single thing from your memories is out of place, save for some documents that were lost to the fires. Just as you rest a hand on a familiar marble paperweight, a series of knocks sound from the door. Surprised, you withdraw your fingers and walk briskly over to the doors. With a fluid motion, you gently swing the doors open. 

"Is something the matter, Wanyin?" 

Standing by the door, Jiang Cheng scratches the back of his neck in the very image of an awkward schoolboy despite standing almost a head taller than you. It appears as if he had been deliberating over something, with how restless he is. Hesitantly, he offers a hand, saying, "If I'm not disturbing you... since there is still a long while before dinner, would you mind if we take a walk?"

Surprised, you blink a few times before lacing your fingers with his, stepping out to stand beside him. Relief floods his expression as he takes your hand and begins walking, as if leading you somewhere. In a curious voice, you ask, "Are we going anywhere in particular?"

"...We're almost there."

After a few twists and turns, as well as a few curious and surprised glances from passing disciples and servants, Jiang Cheng finally stops in front of a quiet corner of Lotus Pier. The place fully covers what a corner entails, being on the very edge of the compound, to begin with. Truthfully, it seems more like a simple dock-like platform above a shallow part of the giant lake, albeit with a splendid view of the lake. As the two of you walk into the space, a cool breeze blows past, sending stray strands of hair from your simple hairstyle fluttering from your face. 

"Wanyin, this is..."

"It's a... private hiding spot for me," Jiang Cheng begins, "I used to come here every time I needed to clear my head or calm down and unwind, I don't even think Wei Wuxian knows of this place."

Or at least he knows not to bother you if you are here, you inwardly muse.  

"The view is gorgeous," you gasp, taking a few steps forward. This definitely isn't part of the canon. That story revolves around the two leads, after all. Having revealed such a private secret of his, Jiang Cheng looks genuinely happy to see the amazement on your face. He gestures for you to take a seat beside him on the edge of the platform, and as you bend down to sit beside him, you spot something shiny tumble out of his sleeve.

Afraid that the object will fall into the water, you snatch it up before it rolls off the edge, but before you can take a proper look at what it is, Jiang Cheng snaps into attention, an alarmed expression on his face as he scrambles to his feet, rushing, "Wait, you're not supposed to see it yet—"

A mischievous glint sparkling in your eye, you shake your closed fist and pull it away from his grasp, grinning as you ask, "Why so secretive? What's this?" 

Exasperated, he clambers to his feet and leans closer to you to try and snatch it back in a fluster. Seeing how pressed he is, you eventually give in, beginning, "Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore, here—"

"Wait! Be careful—"

You let out a startled cry as your heel steps on nothing, and you realise that while backtracking, you must have already stood at the very edge of the platform. A sudden vertigo overtakes you as you fall backwards, and you catch the sight of a very shocked Jiang Cheng grabbing your arm to try and stabilise you. However, he falls forward as well as you pull him in a panic, and the two of you splash loudly into the lake water below. 

The water is not that deep here, surprisingly, with the water level only reaching up to your chest in your seated position. Hence, your behind hurts a little as you flop into the shallow waters. Utterly drenched, you are elbow-deep in the water, half-lying, half-sitting while your frazzled fiance hovers on top of you. Knees peeking from the surface of the lake water, your usual prim and proper appearance have become dishevelled after your disgraceful splash into the lake. Your hair ribbon is nowhere to be found so your hair falls over your shoulders and into the water, but your fist remains high in the air, protecting the object you took from him. He pulls back slightly from your postures of having your faces are barely inches apart. With his face much further, you can clearly see the befuddled, dazed look of a fool on his face, as if he had been struck dumb by the earlier fall. Feeling heat rush into your cheeks, a sudden burst of laughter bubbles up and you begin laughing tremendously as he pulls back even further, flustered. The both of you must be looking extremely silly, sprawled amidst wide leaves and pink lotus flowers.

You finish laughing after a while, knocking Jiang Cheng's forehead lightly with a knuckle, as you click your tongue, "What are you staring off into a daze for? Here's your treasure... Sorry I snatched it."

Straightening your posture, you lower your fist and uncurl your fingers, finally seeing exactly what you took.

A silver bell, fashioned in the same way as the ones that inner Jiang Sect disciples wear on their waistbands, is nestled snugly in your palm, protected from the lake mud. The Jiang Sect’s clan motif, the nine-petaled lotus, is carved onto the silver body of the bell, but the tassel is not the pure purple it usually is. Instead, there are silver threads interwoven in the purple tassel. Where the lotus pendant would be, there is a carving of a crane perched amidst petals on one side of a smooth and flat white nephrite charm. On the other side of the charm, you can faintly make out the carved characters of ' Cheng ' and ' Wen '. 

You had guessed that it was an accessory of some sort, judging from the shape and feel, but...

"I... uh... o-oh ." you mumble, stupefied at the item in your hands. 

A Clarity Bell bearing both of your sects' motifs... Is this a betrothal gift?

"I... I was just going to present it to you..." Jiang Cheng grumbles, albeit with no animosity. " Do you... like it? "

Your cheeks have reached boiling point as you tear your gaze from the bell to look at the equally-flustered Jiang Cheng. Slowly, you nod your head, definitely sure that your cheeks can start seeping blood at any moment.

Before you can say anything else, a stronger breeze blows past, sending shivers down your spine. 

As if remembering your positions, Jiang Cheng scrambles to his feet as quickly as he can in the muck, and helps you up right after. Just as you wring some water out of your hair, you gasp from surprise as a piece of dark cloth you recognise as the cape he was wearing drapes around your shoulders. Seeing that Jiang Cheng is looking away with his ears about to ooze blood from how red they are, you look down and realise that the robes you wore today were of light silver fabric, and now that you have tumbled into the water, the cloth has stuck to your figure in an inappropriate fashion. Running a finger on the wet purplish-black fabric, you pull it tighter around your body as your face heats up further. Although it is equally soaked, at least it will cover you properly. 

"Thank you," you beam widely and whisper. Just then, you remember that there is still dinner with your future in-laws later. "Um, shall we head back? And uh... the bell..."

"K...keep it. It's yours, after all. You can... wear it to dinner, if you'd like..." Jiang Cheng mumbles, before whispering a quick "Excuse me," and hoisting you back up onto the platform with two hands around your waist in one strong motion. He clambers out after feeling about in the water for a while, your now-muddy hair ribbon in his hand. 

Now that he is standing in front of you, he hands you your ribbon and adjusts his cloak on your shoulders with his free hands.

“We better head back quickly. What if you get a cold? I shouldn’t have been so frantic, you were going to see it anyway… I’m an idiot, I don’t think I deserve you but I will do my best to make you happy with the marriage, even if this was only sprung onto you with not much discussion beforehand, and even though I don’t know whether the feeling you have for me is the one I’m hoping for but I...” Jiang Cheng blurts out, before cutting himself off with a sigh. Slapping a hand on his forehead as if embarrassed with his outburst, he quietly begins to mumble, “To… to sum it all up, Qiu Qingwen, I just… I love you—”

His frantic barrage of words is abruptly cut off as you grab his lapels and press your lips against his, catching him off guard. 

Against the dream-like backdrop of the expansive lotus lake around you, you raise your hands to cup his face as you feel him embrace your smaller frame with warm arms.  When you finally pull away, you realise that you might have broken the man in front of you the moment you open your eyes with his blank, half-lidded look. Unable to restrain your laughter, you keep your hand on his cheek, fondness written all over your face. Though your body is cold from the lake water and the drenched clothing, your heart is unbelievably warm, a most wonderful fluttering blooming within your chest. 

"What a coincidence, Jiang Wanyin. I love you too."

A future with him here... is not so bad.

Chapter Text

Jiang Cheng walks you back to your guest courtyard and to your door, and you struggle not to laugh at his almost-robotic movements as he finally registers what he just did with the person he has harboured affections for for the past few years. As a hot bath is prepared, you smooth out the cape you borrowed from him and drape it gently on the edge of a folding screen. After the water is prepared and a clean set of clothes are placed on a nearby stool, the attendant bows her head and slips out of the room so that you can have some privacy. 

You step into the hot water after peeling off the layers of wet clothing that stick to your skin and cup your cheeks with your palms, stewing in a mixture of happiness and shyness. You press two fingers on your lips gently, before slapping the bathwater in flustered embarrassment, yielding a small splash of water in your face. After a few quick pats on your cheeks, you set about washing up quickly to prepare for dinner.

With a fresh set of silver robes on, your gaze rests on the intricate Clarity Bell accessory on the table, and you pick it up gingerly. Tracing the characters on the cool jade, you fix it to your waistband before stepping out of the bathroom, heat still lingering on your face.

...

As commonly said, days pass quickly when you are enjoying yourself. You catch Jiang Cheng around less frequently, since he spent almost all his time under the counsel of his father who came along with Madam Yu. Although Jiang Fengmian is core-less now, one cannot lose years of experience as a sect leader. Unlike the canon works, at least Jiang Cheng does not need to blindly feel around as a greenhorn leader anymore. Frankly speaking, the father-and-son pair do need some time to properly communicate. It is also not your place to intrude, so you can only hope for the best. At this time, as much as Wei Wuxian would love to visit, he has become too preoccupied with restoring Wen Ning's consciousness to be able to leave the Burial Mounds for such a long time, so he can only pass on the visit. As for you, you either spend time touring the surrounding area with Jiang Yanli and teach her some simple first aid, but also have occasional tea with Madam Yu, reminiscing about the hectic past. 

Today is the last day of the elder Jiang couple's stay. Hence, you currently sit opposite Madam Yu, who is flanked by Jinzhu and Yinzhu. Once again, the fact that the three women are alive and right in front of you calms your worries of a corrective force in the world.

As you and Madam Yu take a sip of tea before setting the cups down, you ask, "Madam Yu…”

Your words trail off as Madam Yu sends you a stern, disapproving side-eyed glare.

“...Mother-in-law, where are you planning to go in the future?"

Madam Yu smiles, as if pleased at your term of address. She drums her fingers lightly on the tabletop before replying, "As you know, both Fengmian and I have already retired from the jianghu . We will be leaving Lotus Pier in the hands of you young ones. The four of us will continue scouring for a solution to the core melting… and Fengmian and I, we still have much to talk about."

You purse your lips, nodding. Jiang Fengmian is now a normal mortal, after all. It is no longer safe to dally in the cultivation world's affairs. Jinzhu and Yinzhu are also inseparable from their lady, so they will most likely accompany them on their travels. With Madam Yu tending to Jiang Fengmian during the Campaign whenever she was free, the couple's relationship has been repaired somewhat. 

Madam Yu finishes the tea in her cup, and you offer to refill it for her. As she watches you pour the steaming liquid into the cup, she muses, "Your wedding with A-Cheng... is in a year, correct?"

"Yes. If I'm not wrong, it should be four months after Yanli-jie's wedding to prevent any clashing of... luck," you respond, omitting the 'bridal' part. Your skin isn't thick enough here.

"You have already acknowledged me as your mother-in-law, so shouldn't A-Li be addressed differently as well?" Madam Yu quirks an eyebrow, but you can see a silver of a well-meaning smirk behind her teacup. Obediently, you correct yourself much to her satisfaction, trying to ignore the warmth of your cheeks. It already took you quite a lot of effort to overcome that barrier in your heart to address Madam Yu as mother-in-law, and the continued teasing is both endearing and flustering. 

Finally appeased, she folds her hands on her lap and sighs softly, "Who knew that as a mother, I can still live long enough to see my children get married. We will only return to stay in Lotus Pier in the months of the weddings, so I shall entrust everything to you all in our absence."

Touched by the amount of trust Madam Yu has for you, you dip your head. Although Madam Yu doesn't voice it explicitly, she is assured that a reliable girl such as yourself is marrying into the Jiang clan for her son. Instead, she shows it by allowing you to continue pouring her tea as you both continue some rare lighthearted chatter.

...

Madam Yu's entourage sets off from Lotus Pier a day before your return to Luoyang. As you send them off with Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli at the front entrance, Jiang Yanli smiles gently, remarking, "We should all have a proper reunion soon with A-Xian... Speaking of which, is he doing well in Yiling?"

"From the letter I received, he's still at a standstill with restoring Wen Ning's consciousness, so he probably can't leave yet," replies Jiang Cheng. 

"If he can't leave, why don't we visit?" you suggest. "We can even help him."

Jiang Cheng perks up slightly at your suggestion, though some apprehension can still be seen in his eyes. Now that the Campaign is over, the cultivation world's view on Wei Wuxian's demonic cultivation has already been souring. As a sect leader visiting the den of demonic cultivation, he must be feeling quite conflicted.

Jiang Cheng's astute awareness of societal values is ever accurate. Even if Wei Wuxian is no longer blatantly protecting the Wens, the cultivation world's scapegoats are still under his wing. In your case, the image of them as lab rats has already been cemented, with the release of some new medicines and poison antidotes. However, with nothing to show and everything to offer, Wei Wuxian's position cannot be said to be completely safe from public scrutiny. 

Seeing his worry, you lace your fingers with his and gently stroke his hand with your thumb, comforting, "Your visit can be seen as keeping him in check, so there is nothing to worry about. Perhaps we can visit sometime this month, but with an entourage to accompany us to keep up appearances?"

Jiang Cheng squeezes your hand, though the wrinkle between his brows is hardly slackened. Jiang Yanli, however, claps her hands cheerily, smiling, "If that's so, I should prepare some food to bring over. He must miss home, after all."

Seeing the siblings' different sentiments towards the oncoming visit, you only smile politely, unsure of what to say. Whatever the future holds cannot be seen or predicted so easily anymore, with how skewed the current world is from the original. Will Wangxian even develop properly without the societal pressure on Wei Wuxian as a pushing force? Feeling the pressure, you chew on your lip, opting to stare beyond the horizon where Madam Yu's entourage has disappeared into.

Tied around your waist, the Clarity Bell rings softly.

Chapter Text

A few weeks later, you meet Jiang Cheng and a cloaked Jiang Yanli in Yiling to visit Wei Wuxian. The visit is a lot later than all of you would have liked, but Wei Wuxian refused to allow Jiang Yanli into the Burial Mounds before he succeeded in restoring Wen Ning's consciousness. However, the plot events must have accelerated with your meddling of the world, as Wen Ning regained his consciousness quite a bit earlier than the canon storyline. In the most recent letter Wei Wuxian sent, a visit from Lan Wangji helped him succeed, hence it is now safe to visit.

Currently, you walk in between Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli, holding one of the food canisters she brought along from Yunmeng. Behind Jiang Cheng follow a few Yunmeng Jiang disciples as well, in order to keep up appearances that this was a proper check.  In order to alleviate the tension among the group, you make casual conversation with the Jiang siblings, though the wrinkles between Jiang Cheng's brows hardly loosen.

When Wei Wuxian's letter reached Yunmeng, so did the news of his success to the rest of the cultivation world. Wei Wuxian, the madman who barged into that banquet months ago to harass poor Sect Leader Jin for the Wen remnants, had created the highest level of fierce corpse yet! Even though the Yunmeng trio and you tried your best to keep the matter under wraps, paper cannot cover up fire after all. It was only a matter of time before his success spread across the cultivation world. After garnering a bit too much attention during a few night-hunts, many began to swarm him, hoping that they could be accepted by the ‘patriarch’ and become one of his disciples. His fame had truly spread, albeit earlier than you remember. The Yunmeng Jiang disciples also gossiped to no end, earning a death glare from Jiang Cheng that made them continue their discussion in a softer voice.

From the mountain town, the three of you can hardly contain feelings of confusion (you), secondhand embarrassment (Jiang Cheng), and pride (Jiang Yanli). As you walk through town, long banners bearing the words ‘ All Hail The Supreme Evil Yiling Patriarch ’ are hung up through the streets, and much to Jiang Cheng's chagrin, you have to chew on your lip to stop yourself from snickering. On the road, a vendor even stuffs a flyer into Jiang Cheng's hands. 

"Wei-xiong has truly become the little local speciality of Yiling," you tease, earning Jiang Yanli's happy smile and Jiang Cheng's facepalm.

It takes about ten to fifteen minutes to reach the foot of the Burial Mounds.

True to the description of the works, before the old walls that were torn down, hundreds of fierce corpses really do roam. While your hand squeezes Jiang Yanli's in a comforting manner, Jiang Cheng steps forward. Not a single response can be seen or heard from the patrolling corpses if either him, you, or Jiang Yanli move closer, but if the disciples behind Jiang Cheng approach, they make low growls of warning.

"We will enter first. The rest of you will wait at the foot of the mountain," Jiang Cheng barks out an order. 

After seeing the disciples salute in obedience, the three of you embark on the hike up the mountain, through the dense and dark forest. The further you walk into the forest, the chillier it feels. Your sword rattles from the ever-intensifying resentment in the air, but you force it to still. Unlike the original, your entourage did not come here to clash against him.

After walking for quite some time, the three of you finally reach what appears to be a shabby gate to a small makeshift village. As you cross it, the sounds of human life can be heard, chattering and going about daily activities. If the journey here was not so unsettling, you can probably think of it as a normal village or a slum at worst.

A few round stumps sit beside the mountain path, a large one, like a table, and a few smaller ones, like chairs. A familiar red-clothed woman sits with Wei Wuxian on two of the stumps, bickering over radishes and potatoes. 

"Wei-xiong!" you call out, waving your empty hand in greeting. 

Upon hearing your greeting, Wei Wuxian whips around, before recognising the three of you. A bright grin blooms on his face as he hops over with glee, cheerfully greeting, "Shijie, Qingqing, Jiang Cheng, I haven't seen everyone in so long!"

"Have you been well, A-Xian?" Jiang Yanli smiles sweetly as the two of you set the food canisters on the stump table. "I brought your favourite dishes, thinking that you might miss the taste of home. It has been long."

Eyes glittering, Wei Wuxian beams and thanks Jiang Yanli before jerking upright, remembering something important. In a jovial tone, he introduces, "I think everyone already knows each other, but I'm just gonna say it again. Wen Qing, everyone. Everyone, Wen Qing." 

Wen Qing steps forward, greeting politely. In this world, you have not interacted with her yet, with the original's memories only remembering her from a few discussion conferences and banquets she attended. Even if you lied in that banquet about meeting her on the battlefield, you had never even encountered her throughout the campaign. Hence, this can be seen as your first proper meeting. 

"Yuyan-zun, I thank you for helping my family. Wei Wuxian told me all about it," she salutes you, bowing.

Alarmed, you catch her before she bows fully, stuttering, "N-no, it's nothing, it's nothing! Please don't make such a grand salute, there's no need to be formal. Just address me by my name."

Wen Qing nods, a relieved expression on her face. She must have been worried that you are as haughty as the rumours say. The way you pressured Lanling Jin to hand over the Wen remnants with Wei Wuxian has already been a story spread far and wide, but the person in front of her is not as overbearing as people say.

"Greetings to Young Lady Wen," Jiang Yanli dips her head. "I hope A-Xian hasn't been in too much trouble."

Wen Qing rolls her eyes before shaking her head and laughing, "I have stories, but seeing how he's staring down at me, I'll share it another day. Apologies, everyone, I have to check up on my brother. I will be leaving first."

Saying so, Wen Qing excuses herself and leaves the four of you for some proper reunion time.

As you watch Wen Qing leave, you direct your gaze back on Wei Wuxian, who is currently sprawled on the table in a lazy manner. Seeing the retreating back of the lady in red reminds you of the Wen remnants once more—the group of innocents that settled with Wei Wuxian in Yiling still have a flag of destruction looming over them after all. Taking a seat beside Wei Wuxian, you muse, "Is Wen Ning well?"

Raising his head, Wei Wuxian straightens his posture, swaying leisurely meanwhile as he replies, "So-so. His consciousness may have been restored, but I still hesitate when thinking about bringing him around down the mountain."

You nod along to his words as Jiang Cheng pipes up, “You’d better not. Who knows what uproar will arise if the deeper truth of his sentience spreads beyond the few of us… it’s not like this is anything of the upright path.”

The four of you sink into an uneasy silence. Even if Jiang Cheng’s words were blunt, they are true. At the end of the day, Wen Ning’s status as a fierce corpse goes madly against the proper ‘righteous’ values of the cultivation world currently. While the world is still busy licking its own wounds from the ravages of the war with the old Wen Sect, revealing a fierce corpse originating from such a clan would be an act akin to tossing a lit match into a warehouse of powder kegs. Even the Jiang siblings were apprehensive at first, which is natural given that unlike you who has the liberal views of a modern and Western-aligned person. If the person who was resurrected was not Wen Ning who was a benefactor of Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian, and if the person who resurrected him was Wei Wuxian himself, perhaps even Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng would have not been as supportive (or even as tolerating) as they are now. 

In an effort to busy yourself and assuage the awkward air, you and Jiang Yanli set the table with cutlery you brought in your qiankun sleeve. Wei Wuxian takes the initiative to break the silence, coughing, "Jiang Cheng, you didn't bring any wine, did you? It's been so long since I had a drink."

Taking Wei Wuxian’s verbal olive branch to let go of the matter for now, Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes as he snarks, "I don't have wine, but I do have your merchandise."

Saying so, he reaches into his lapels and stuffs a crumpled flyer in Wei Wuxian's hands, and Wei Wuxian's eyes nearly bulge out from recognising the drawings and words on the paper. Unable to suppress it anymore, both you and Jiang Yanli begin laughing at his expense.

Wei Wuxian visibly cringes, before crumpling up the paper and tossing it over his shoulder. Scratching the back of his neck, he grins widely and gestures for everyone to start eating as a distraction. 

As Jiang Yanli ladles out her famous soup, she perks up, noting, "I brought enough soup to go around. I'm going to give Young Lady Wen and her brother some soup too. Everyone can start without me, it’d be a waste if the food goes cold while you all wait for me."

"Do you need help?" you stand up, ready to take the other bowl in her hands, though she shakes her head. With a smile, Jiang Yanli follows behind Wen Qing with two bowls of soup in her hands. 

Since you are still standing, Wei Wuxian finally notices the Clarity Bell hanging from your waist. Sporting a mischievous grin, he teases, "Jiang Cheng, you sure move fast! I'm invited to the wedding, right?"

"Why don't you attend Yanli-jie's first?" you retort quickly. 

"Ah... Is Shijie's wedding with the peacock already set in stone?" Wei Wuxian's shoulders droop.

As you nod, Jiang Cheng replies, "It's about eight months from now, and Sister managed to get you an invitation. You’d better not show up with Wen Ning, understand?"

Hearing that he is also invited, Wei Wuxian smiles so brightly that you might as well have been blinded.

In the original, Jiang Yanli snuck to Yiling to show Wei Wuxian her bridal gown since he could not attend the actual ceremony, but currently, she came to personally invite him to come to the real ceremony. Seeing the stark difference between the two realities, you smooth over his egging and beam joyously. 

Leg still crossed and shaking, Wei Wuxian props an elbow on the stump table and asks, "What about you and Qingqing?"

"Four months after Yanli-jie's," you respond, toying with the Clarity Bell. "If you're not swarmed to death by prospective disciples by then, you should come too!"

While Jiang Cheng scoffs, he does not deny your words. Taking this as an implicit agreement, Wei Wuxian claps his hands in glee, truly pleased with the two auspicious events taking place in Yunmeng Jiang. 

"Alright, the food is getting cold, Yanli-jie should be back soon, so we should at least start," you pipe up. Jiang Yanli did tell you guys to start without her. If she came back to untouched and cold dishes, she might be saddened.

Jiang Cheng raises up his bowl, his tone bitingly sarcastic yet joking as he toasts, “To the Yiling Patriarch.”

Hearing this, Wei Wuxian's expression sours as he barks back a heavily embarrassed “Shut up!”.

You laugh brightly at this exchange between the two men, shaking your head as you take a sip of the soup. They can finally joke around like brothers, unlike the canonverse. Looking down at your bowl, you smile to yourself in this jovial atmosphere.

Chapter Text

After everyone takes a sip of the soup, Jiang Cheng gestures to the people working a distance away and asks, “What are they doing?”

“Can’t you tell? Building houses.”

“Building houses? Then what were the ones we saw turning over the dirt when we came up here doing? Don’t tell me you’re really going to start farming.”

“Didn’t you hear everything? We are farming.”

“You're really playing house with the Wen remnants Qingwen gave you," Jiang Cheng snorts. "You’re farming on a mountain of corpses? Will the things that grow here be edible?”

"Technically, the soil should theoretically have more nutrients and will yield healthier crops," you shrug, but your tone dies down a little when both Wei Wuxian's prideful look and Jiang Cheng's mild dismay are sent your way. Clearing your throat, you chuckle lightly to change the subject, continuing, "But enough about farming. Do you have any proper plans for the long run?”

“Not at the moment," Wei Wuxian replies. "None of the group dares go down the mountain. People don’t dare do anything to me when I go down the mountain either. It’ll be fine as long as I don’t stir up trouble on my own.”

“On your own?” Jiang Cheng raises an eyebrow at his words. “Wei Wuxian, do you believe that even if you don’t stir up trouble on your own, trouble won’t come and find you? It’s often impossible to save someone, but there are more than thousands of ways to harm someone.”

Swallowing a mouthful of food, Wei Wuxian replies, “A man with strength can defeat ten with skill. I don’t care if they have thousands of ways. I’ll kill whoever comes.”

Wei Wuxian's words are filled to the brim with bravado, earning a look of exasperation from both you and Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng finishes the soup in his bowl and claps, lauding, “Wow. I’m impressed. Round of applause for the Yiling Patriarch.”

You clap along with him.

“Are you done yet?” Wei Wuxian grumbles, clearly annoyed with Jiang Cheng's purposeful egging. Switching gears, he starts pouting at you, complaining, "Qingqing, look at your future husband! He only knows how to bully me. Aren't we bosom friends? Didn't you say that I'm like a younger brother of yours? Get him to stop."

"You're asking her to pick between her future husband and a friend? She'd obviously pick her husband," a soft, teasing voice pipes up. 

"Shijie, you're back," Wei Wuxian beams, beckoning Jiang Yanli to sit beside him. "Shijie, you must get justice for me, Jiang Cheng only knows how to bully me, and Qingqing is a traitor!"

When Wei Wuxian and Jiang Yanli unite to tease both of you, you and Jiang Cheng can hardly hide your flustered expressions. Summoning a bit of gall, you cover your mouth with your sleeve and loudly mumble, "Ai, how can I be called a traitor? Wei-xiong, you're still single, you won't get it. Even Yanli-jie has a certain someone..."

Hearing this, Jiang Yanli’s face grows red with fervent blushing, all the way until her snowy white earlobes. She quickly switches the subject, mumbling, “A-Xian… Give a courtesy name.”

“What courtesy name?”

“The courtesy name of my unborn nephew,” Jiang Cheng answers for Jiang Yanli, who is suffering from your cheeky smile.

"The next generation of the Lanling Jin Sect has the generation name of 'Ru', by the way," you offer for Wei Wuxian.

Although Jiang Yanli's marriage hasn't happened yet, they were already considering a courtesy name for the next Jin heir. Jiang Yanli did want to ask you, but you didn't want to steal Wei Wuxian's role. Plus, Wei Wuxian is closer to Jiang Yanli than you are, having grown up with her after all. Now, Wei Wuxian rubs his chin thoughtfully upon hearing Jiang Cheng's elaboration. He isn't modest as well, musing for a while before suggesting “Sure. How about Jin Rulan?”

Pleased with the suggestion, Jiang Yanli claps her hands together, exclaiming, “That’s great!”

“No. It sounds like Jin Rulan, 'Lan' being the 'Lan' from the Lan Sect. Why should a descendant of the Lanling Jin Sect and the Yunmeng Jiang Sect be like someone of the Lan Sect?” scoffs Jiang Cheng.

Waving a hand in a self-righteous, preaching tone, Wei Wuxian argues, “It’s not like there’s anything wrong with the Lan Sect, is there? The Lan flower is the gentleman of flowers; the Lan Sect is the gentlemen of people. A good name.”

“That’s not what you said in the past,” Jiang Cheng retorts.

“I’m the one who’s giving the name, not you. Why are you being so picky?”

“Wanyin's the one who came up with the idea of having you give the courtesy name. Both of you can stop bickering already, the soup's getting cold," you chide lightly, setting your empty bowl on the table. 

Wei Wuxian's ever-present smile morphs into a mischievous grin as he elbows Jiang Cheng, chortling, "Thanks for the honour, Jiang Cheng! Thank the heavens you aren't naming Shijie's child instead. Ah, Qingqing, when you have kids, don't let this fool name them. He's terrible at giving names! Oh oh oh, did you know, when we were kids, he had three dogs and named them Moli, Feifei, and Xiao'ai. Aren't those ridiculous names?"

Jiang Cheng's eyebrows turn into two vertical cliffs as he clenches his fist, warning, "Wei Wuxian, if you want to continue yammering, I'll call them back into Lotus Pier, see if you'd dare to step within a 100-li radius of our home!"

Wei Wuxian's face immediately pales as he sets his now-emptied bowl on the table. In an anguished voice, he turns to you, complaining, "How cruel!! Qingqing, you'll really condone this? Lotus Pier is my home, too!"

Laughing cheerily, you quirk your head to one side, replying, "It's not like you don't know his temperament. Will he really bear to do so? As for the naming..."

Jiang Cheng turns to you expectantly, a glimmer of nervousness in his eyes.

" .. .I'll let him pick one character . "

A beat.

"...Qingwen, is this really non-negotiable?"

The table, excluding Jiang Cheng, erupts into voracious laughter. Only after a while did Jiang Yanli recover first and speak up for her brother.

"Alright, alright, everyone can stop joking around now... and I'm sure A-Xian will find a spouse who is as refined and beautiful as an immortal someday," Jiang Yanli beams. To that, you can't resist a teasing smile behind your sleeve.

Immortal-like, indeed. Hanguang-jun will fit this requirement to a T.

When the conversation finally ends, the emptied cutlery have already been kept away. As the sun disappears over the thick forest, the once gloomy Burial Mounds of your foggy memories are illuminated by dozens of lanterns, giving the makeshift village a lively and warm glow. As Wei Wuxian gestures for everyone to follow him, you move to follow him, but something—or rather, someone— latches onto your leg, rooting you to the spot. 

Looking down, you lock eyes with an adorable toddler with his stubby little arms wrapped around your leg. Under the lantern light, you can see a slight shimmer of kid drool on his lips. Smiling warmly, you bend down and pick up the child, holding him gently with a secure hold. Seeing your friendly expression, the child lets out a sunny giggle, blinking his round eyes as you use a corner of your silver sleeve to wipe his mouth. With his little arms wrapped around your neck, he is securely fastened on you. In front, Jiang Yanli, Jiang Cheng, and Wei Wuxian turn around, noticing that you aren't following closely. Seeing that the child is holding onto you with no intention of parting, they can only slow down and return to your side to remove you from the child's ensnarement.

"Ah, A-Yuan, Qingqing has to go already, let go quickly! Sorry, Qingqing, once this sticky child finds someone he likes, he doesn't let go," explains Wei Wuxian.

Chuckling softly, you use a free hand to tap lightly on the child's nose, endearment written all over your face. So this is A-Yuan, the child Lan Sizhui. You bounce A-Yuan a few times, cooing, "So your name is A-Yuan, little one?"

"Y...yeah," replies A-Yuan, an innocent expression befitting a child on his face. "Is Fairy-jiejie leaving?"

Jiang Cheng strides over, a slight darkness in his brows. In a clipped tone, he grumbles, "Yes, so you should let go of the person now."

Is the fool jealous of a child?  

Letting out a burst of tinkling laughter, you gently pry the clingy child off your shoulders and hand him to Wei Wuxian. Rubbing the child's head one last time, you bid the child goodbye, promising to visit again before pulling away. Lacing your fingers into Jiang Cheng's, you ask, "Wanyin, what are you in a daze for? Are you jealous of a little child?"

Jiang Cheng diverts his gaze, sulking instead of giving you an answer. Behind him, Jiang Yanli laughs behind her sleeve, remarking, "A-Cheng and I just think that you're really good with kids. After... a-after..."

Before she can finish her words, her cheeks flare up in clouds of red. Reaching over to pat her shoulders, you voice out her intentions, "When your child is born, I'll definitely visit to play with him!"

When your group leaves the Burial Mounds, not a bit of tension can be felt in the air. With Jiang Cheng's warm hand in yours, you look towards the darkening night sky, a rare serenity washing over you.

Are you really allowed to be this happy?

Chapter Text

The following year passes in the blink of an eye. Within this time period, you spend less and less time in Lotus Pier due to your busy schedule, though time is set aside for the preparations for your wedding. Jiang Yanli's wedding into Lanling Jin has gone without a hitch, and Wei Wuxian could even attend! Although his face was less than satisfied when Jiang Yanli was performing the bowing rites to Jin Guangshan and Madam Jin, he thankfully kept his calm. Now, there is only a week before your own wedding, and the older Jiang couple has returned once again to stay over, preparing for the wedding ceremony to welcome you into the Jiang household.

Unfurling the used spiritual silk you use for physiotherapy, you keep it gingerly in your drawer, watching the silver moonlight stream through the open window. A chilly wind blows in, ruffling a few concoction formulas from their positions on your desk. Your cultivation is high enough to no longer worry about the temperature, so you remain standing at the windowsill, peacefully humming an old song from your past life.

Though it is late at night, you do not feel sleepy at all. Instead, you only feel a sense of melancholy in your heart. Unable to quell this distressing feeling with simple reading or calligraphy, you opt to take a walk through Jingsi Palace, seeing that this is your last week of staying in your 'maiden home'. 

When you reach the man-made lake in the palace grounds, you take a seat in an empty lake pavilion, a loose silver cloak draped around your shoulders. Gazing upon the slightly-rippling surface of the water, your mind cannot help but drift back to that fateful day in Biling Lake, when you first crossed over into this world. How much time has passed since then in this world? How much time has passed in your old world?

A strong wave of nostalgia—one that brings both joy and an oppressive, yet not out of place—melancholy with it—surges forth, and for the briefest of moments, you wonder just how lovely it would be to hear other languages from your old world. However, even if you are going to be the happiest person in the world in about a week, the unfathomable homesickness remains all the more, like a tumour that has settled in your chest. 

Perhaps it is due to the solitary silence of the night, or the clarity of the moon hanging above in a sea of stars that you would never have gotten to admire every night in the severe light pollution of the modernised present, but something spurs you to speak your old language once more, before even the last speaker in your surroundings loses the language to forgetfulness and time.

"...Everyone, I'm getting married in a week's time. I've grown, haven't I?"

It sounds wrong.

You sigh loudly, propping an elbow on the table to rest your head on your raised hand. The words did not come out as naturally as you remember, with the addition of an accent of a nervous new speaker, and you realise that the longer you spend in this world forging new bonds, the bonds linking you with the past existence you so dearly reminisce fade with each passing day. Frankly, you are terrified. Would the modern variation of the language you speak even exist in the world at this time period? Would the only link to a past as fundamental to your memories as the new fantastical adventures in this world die out with you if you lost your grasp on it?

Staring at the runic bandages around your non-dominant palm, a sense of loss unbefitting of an auspicious month sinks in your stomach, along with a small bitter acceptance. By this time, the Gusu Lan Sect must have purged that Waterborne Abyss in Biling Lake, right?

Perhaps your path home has already been severed. 

It all feels like a wonderful dream, a dream where you are one of the saviours of the world, a hero in the spotlight, a person beloved by someone you had never imagined would return your affections, but even the brightest of dreams can remain imperfect.

You miss the people of your old world, too.

"I guess I’m getting married without any of them, huh."

Your last lament comes out in Mandarin, in a soft, breathless whisper. Just as you wipe the stray tear from your cheek while sniffling, a youthful voice startles you. 

"Second Sister?"

Turning around sharply, you fumble to fix your appearance before fixing a big smile on your face, softly asking, "...A-Yi, how long have you been standing there?"

Qiu Yi has grown up into a preteen, standing at your chin at such a young age. When he grows further, he'll definitely surpass you in height. Having spent many years in Gusu while you were fighting for the campaign, the child you first met all those years ago has matured greatly, especially after losing his mother at such a young age. Seeing how much he has grown only cements the realisation that you have truly spent such a long time in this world.

"Not long, A-Yi just heard you whispering some inaudible words, then caught your last sentence..." Qiu Yi replies sheepishly. "I'm sorry for eavesdropping, Second Sister, but you... just look so sad. Are you missing Mother and Father?"

Qiu Yi does not bring up your father in this world, for he has already passed on when Qiu Yi was very little. The man was a very devout lover, choosing to marry into the Luoyang Qiu Sect to respect your mother’s birthright as the Qiu Sect heir of her generation. As he gave his devotion in life to his wife, he did so in his death, dying in an act of protecting your mother in a Wen-sabotaged night hunt. With his short stay in the mortal realm, when it comes to affection, your mother takes a more significant role in Qiu Yi and the original's lives.

Anyway, the family you are truly missing from the bottom of your heart as yourself have never even been  in this world. 

Gesturing Qiu Yi to sit beside you, you ruffle his hair, smiling softly as you choose to vaguely reply, "...Maybe."

"Second Sister, don't be sad. I'm sure that Mother... as well as Father... are looking upon us in the afterlife..."

Heaving a long sigh, you pat him on the shoulder, silently wondering if the original Qiu Qingwen is looking upon you as well.

...

Since Luoyang is far from Yunmeng, you cannot take the bridal sedan all the way from Jingsi Palace. Luckily, there is an owned villa under your late mother's name in relative proximity to Lotus Pier, hence your family, Mianmian, and some attendants and servants stay there to prepare for your wedding.

At the crack of dawn, you are dragged out of bed by Mianmian and a few attendants and drowsily sat in front of a basin. After being refreshed, the attendants set about helping you into your crimson wedding robes and applying makeup for you, while Mianmian chats merrily by your side.

"Qingqing, we always used to joke that you'll marry earlier than me, turns out it came true in the end! I... I am really happy for you," Mianmian breathes, voice full of celebration, joy, and a little tinge of nostalgia. As she speaks, she helps you eat some light breakfast too, since it would be cumbersome to eat once you board the sedan and leave the manor. 

Taking the chance that the ladies are still powdering your face and applying makeup on the top of your face, you quickly swallow the mouthful of porridge before you raise a hand and take hers, stroking the back of her palm as you reply, "The order doesn't matter. When you meet a prospective someone, you have to let me have a check first. Our family's Mianmian only deserves the best!"

Hearing your optimistic words, Mianmian reddens while the other attendants exchange smiles. 

"Surely, when you properly marry into the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, we will have fewer chances to meet," sighs Mianmian.

For the sake of her future happiness, you chose not to make her accompany you into the Jiang clan upon your marriage as one of your two accompanying maidservants, so she insisted on doing her utmost for this last event by your side

"Mianmian, although we aren't blood sisters, I've always regarded you as one. If you ever drop by in Yunmeng, please do pay me a visit! Plus, you know I won't be the type to stay at home forever, I can still attend night hunts, as well. We can meet anytime we want. Honest."

You stop talking so that you can use the rogue paper to colour your lips. After you put down the red paper, an attendant hands you a napkin to clean your fingers of any rubbed-off dye, while another attendant hands you a bronze mirror to check your appearance. 

Ever since you crossed over, you only ever left without any makeup (you were fighting in a war for the majority of your time here) or with minimal makeup for formal events. Since today is your wedding ceremony, your makeup is a lot more elaborate than you are used to. When the attendants step in front to view their handiwork, sounds of satisfaction and happiness arise as they survey your face. 

With painted lips, rosy cheeks, and a red flower pattern drawn between your brows, your face has become elevated into one of a goddess that has descended upon the mortal realm. The original already had the beauty to topple an empire, but the attendants did such a great job that you can't even believe that you look like this. 

"Second Young Miss, you are going to be such a pretty bride!"

"Our family's A-Wen is the most beautiful person of the cultivation world, after all," a voice speaks up, eliciting many choruses of 'Sect Leader.'.

When Qiu Suyin takes a seat facing you, she smiles fondly, though a bittersweet darkness can be seen behind her eyes. You lower your gaze, noting that she hasn't addressed you as 'A-Wen' ever since the days before the Sunshot Campaign. This truly... brings back memories.

Patting your hand, she mumbles, "Time passes so quickly. You're already getting married."

A faint cloud of red blooms behind already-applied blush on your cheeks, and you return the smile, murmuring, "Sister, thank you."

Qiu Suyin nods, before giving a quick order for everyone to vacate the room so that you can have a private talk. After the last person exits and closes the door behind her, Qiu Suyin takes a seat on the adjacent chair to yours and smiles. 

"A-Wen, today you will be marrying off into the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, so Sister has some words to share."

"Please, speak."

"When a daughter is married off, her mother would usually have instructions to impart to her, but since Mother is no longer here with us, as your older sister, I’ll have to take up that role," Qiu Suyin murmurs, an awkward and sad smile on her face. "Although I am your older sister, you are getting married before me. Frankly, I have no clue what to properly advise you on. These things are all that I personally came up with, so I'm not sure if it is right or wrong. Still, something still has to be spoken, right?"

Wordlessly, you nod as best as you can, the heavy ornaments in your hair weighing down on your motions.

Seeing your acknowledgement, Qiu Suyin continues, "I think the way of getting along between husband and wife is all about honesty. Sister wishes that you will have a harmonious and happy marriage with Sect Leader Jiang, and maintain an honest and unbreakable relationship. Be straightforward, don’t be shy, and don’t be scared. That is your husband, the person that you will spend a lifetime with. If you have anything to say, don’t fret over surface-level facades or face. Speak your mind and leave no regrets. You have always been our sect's treasure, and even if your current personality has matured beyond the youthful and starry-eyed brat of our childhood, you are still my little sister. Older Sister wishes you all the best in the future."

Indeed, Qiu Suyin isn't dumb. She, too, knows about the vast change in her sister. Whether or not she knows that the soul in her sister's body has been completely replaced is another matter, one that you will not dwell upon either. 

"From what I see now, Sect Leader Jiang's love for you is genuine, and he has also personally reassured me that in his life, Lotus Pier will only have one female master... but as a leader of a prominent sect, how could one’s inner courtyard only consist of one lady? Just look at Old Bastard Jin. If your husband has other women in the inner courtyard, you can give him hell, don't worry about the Qiu Sect's image. Our Luoyang Qiu Sect's daughter will never compromise. All those talks about magnanimity are all dog shit. If there is such a day, come back to Jingsi Palace, Sister will personally castrate him, and let you two remain close as sisters, okay? Your married life must be prosperous and without any grievance. This is the life our Luoyang Qiu Sect's second young miss should enjoy."

"...noted, Sister. I... I will take your words to heart," you slowly reply, shocked and a little touched at her concern for you.

Still, her comment about... uhh, it's best not to think about it. You hope no one ever offends Qiu Suyin.

Looking at the clear blue sky outside the windows, Qiu Suyin claps her hands and rises to her feet, fixing her expression as she says, "Alright, the auspicious time is coming, so we should depart soon. Although A-Yi and I cannot follow you to Lotus Pier, I want you to know that we will always be behind you. Your dowry has already been prepared, and I have done all that I can as your guardian in this marriage. Come, Sister will help you put on the wedding veil."

After Qiu Suyin personally drapes the red wedding veil over your accessories-laden head for the last step of your preparation, she takes your hand and helps you up. The gold on your head weighs heavily, but you take a stable step out of the courtyard, led by your sister as well as Mianmian who has been waiting outside of the room.

The day has only just begun!

Chapter Text

Through the manor's main doors, the people gathered outside to partake in the festivities watch you emerge from the manor with the help of Qiu Suyin and Mianmian. Although you can barely see anything in front of you with your vision being obscured by the red fabric, you can still faintly make out a figure riding valiantly atop a horse. 

This must be Jiang Cheng, your husband.

Thankfully, the veil covers your madly-blushing cheeks as you feel your hand being passed onto his. Turning to face the direction of Luoyang, you kneel and kowtow towards the direction of Jingsi Palace to make up for your deceased parents' absence in this ceremony. After doing so, you bid Qiu Suyin and Qiu Yi one last goodbye before Mianmian and another maidservant help you into the bridal sedan.

...

The whole province of Yunmeng is exceptionally lively on this auspicious day.

The wedding sedan is carried out of the courtyard and headed in the direction of Lotus Pier, along with a vast entourage bearing dowry to be given to the Jiang Sect. The procession following it forms a long line, and those forming the line were not of common backgrounds as your very own subordinates during the campaign. Your vision is mostly obscured by the red of the embroidered veil, but you can still hear the loud cheers and hubbub outside. Though you cannot see anything, you still know that Jiang Cheng is riding amongst the procession in his own red wedding robes, along with your marriage procession. The jovial atmosphere can be felt even in the closed sedan you are seated in, and you cannot keep yourself from smiling. From time to time, you poke the silky curtains, drawing the attention of Mianmian who is right outside the window along with your two accompanying maidservants. 

On the roads and towns of Yunmeng, the festivities shake the skies in their splendour. The marriage procession rivals the grandeur of Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli's wedding, as the citizens set off firecrackers in the streets near their homes to contribute to the celebratory atmosphere. Everyone knows that the Yuyan-zun, a hero of uncountable merits who helped prevent the complete decimation of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect and helped the locals flee disaster, is marrying the current young Sect Leader Jiang. Hence, many crowd the streets to partake in the celebratory atmosphere and cheer. 

From outside the sedan, Mianmian chirps, “Qingqing, look at how lively everyone is! The townsfolk are carrying baskets with things that they have brought from home as wedding gifts. They are all shouting that they wanted to present them to you and Sect Leader Jiang to celebrate your grand wedding.”

Speaking from inside the sedan, a warmth spreads in your chest in joy, and you find it hard to phrase a proper reply as you are overcome with a surge of brilliant joy. Understanding you enough as your closest friend in this world, Mianmian senses your flustered shyness and laughs cheerfully from outside the window.

The sounds of joviality and voracious celebration never cease along the way even after the wedding sedan reaches the main doors of the Lotus Pier residence. After entering Lotus Pier's town, the sound of tubed fireworks immediately fills the air, combining with the loud voices of the celebrating citizens.

The words “Set down the sedan” ring from the outside, and the wedding sedan is gently lowered. Quietly, you remain in the sedan, waiting for the signal to alight. Before the bride gets out of the sedan, the groom will make an initial show of strength by shooting an arrow at the sedan. Such customs are indispensable and contribute to the authentic feeling that you are actually getting married right now, so you obediently follow all the customs. 

When in Rome, do as the Romans do, right? Only you’re in… oh well, never mind. 

The procedures pass without a hitch, with the customs like kicking the sedan door and stepping over braziers being conducted quickly before you are guided into the main hall of Lotus Pier. Throughout the procession, your smile never fades once behind your veil, and Jiang Cheng's deep and warm voice as he exchanges greetings and slightly shy whispers that ring in your head, sending waves of giddy happiness radiating in your mind.

All those years ago, this giant hall crowded with cheer was the very place where you desperately knelt to implore Madam Yu to amp up the defences in Lotus Pier, and also where Wang Lingjiao was slapped harshly by Madam Yu on that fateful day. Now, you will be kneeling once more, but this time, you will be kneeling for the marriage ceremony, not a sombre event that dictated the lives of hundreds and thousands. This is an event that you never would have imagined to happen in your past life.

When you are stopped from walking any further, you can guess that you have reached the position where you are to perform the rites. With a loud voice, the person presiding over the wedding announces the official start of the wedding ceremony.

“First, bow to the heavens and earth!”

At your side, Jiang Cheng helps you turn around to face out of the hall, kneel, and kowtow. 

“Second, bow to the parents.”

Behind the veil, you cannot see your surroundings clearly, but you can feel the warm smiles of Jiang Fengmian and Madam Yu who have taken their seats as the groom's parents. In this life, they can live to see their son get married. A while after your marriage, they will retreat from the cultivation world and roam the lands as unfettered people, free to follow their hearts’ desires. With so much unhappiness in the prior parts of their lives, they can finally savour the freedom and serenity they deserve, and actually take all the time they need to help and understand each other.

“May the couple bow to each other!”

Both you and Jiang Cheng do so very earnestly, and the two of you remain lowered for a long time before he helps you up once more. 

“The ceremony has been completed! Send them to the bridal chamber.”

After being sent to the bridal chamber, there will still be another rite. It is just that this rite does not require the one presiding over the wedding to be completed. Instead, it relies on the grannies that Madam Yu had specially invited. They bring you and Jiang Cheng over to the bed in the ornately decorated chamber, where you both sit down. Someone pours the nuptial wine and one of the cups is placed gently in your hands, and the other in his. All manners of auspicious things are said as the grannies watch you two drink the nuptial wine. Only after that are plates of dates, peanuts, longans, and lotus seeds brought forward. The two of you then feed each other a bit of everything, beaming and laughing all the way. 

“Sect Leader Jiang, it’s time to head to the banquet hall,” reminds one granny who is probably grinning from seeing how loath-to-part Jiang Cheng’s hand is in yours.

After bidding you a hesitant farewell, Jiang Cheng does not continue to stay, being ushered out of the room and returning to the front yard and the guests. 

The newlywed husband does not need to remove the bridal veil at this moment since he needs to go out and chat with the guests and toast them first. Hence, the newlywed bride will have to remain in the bridal chamber and wait until the banquet ends and the husband returns. Only then would it truly be the bridal chamber.

Now, you sit alone on the bed, the red veil still covering your head. Bored out of your mind, you can only wait quietly for Jiang Cheng to return. However, the excitement and shyness in your heart are not quelled even in the long wait. It is mildly boring, but at some point, Mianmian manages to sneak in and smuggle you some food and joke about how Jiang Cheng looks like he is lost in the clouds, which you find the evoked mental image very amusing.

The banquet continued until late into the night. The groaning of a wooden door sounds, signalling Jiang Cheng's return. Your heartbeat echoes loudly in your ears, and the rustling of cloth and the silhouette you can barely see must be Jiang Cheng parting the curtains hanging from the bed frame and sitting beside you. However, your vision immediately clears as Jiang Cheng lifts the veil with gentle and steady hands.

"Good evening, Husband. I was getting bored waiting for you," you chuckle, eyes upturned in a mirthful smile.

From the dumbstruck look on Jiang Cheng's face, you can tell that his brain must have short-circuited already. Despite his silly expression, his bearing as a man is accentuated by the fiery red robes he is wearing, his sleeve hems embroidered with exquisite lotus motifs and his clothing still bearing hints of purple to note his sect's colours. After the Sunshot Campaign began, you quite loathed the colour red on any article of clothing, since they reminded you of the bloody struggles you had to endure against the Wens. However, now that Jiang Cheng is standing before you, head to toe in red, the colour might not be so bad after all. From how firm and stable his movements are, you can infer that he has burned away the alcohol in all the liquor toasts he drank earlier to come here with a clear mind... which makes his sudden daze all the more endearing since he is supposed to be clear-headed right now. 

Eyes twinkling, your laughter grows fonder as you knock your knuckles on his forehead, teasing, "What are you in a daze for? Come, help me undo my hairstyle. The pins and the crown are heavy."

"O-oh, yes, right."

With both of you seated on the bed, Jiang Cheng carefully undoes the elaborate arrangement of your hair and combs your hair almost reverently, until it all falls smoothly down your back. After he helps you, you reach over and help him remove his own accessories, until the two of you have completely removed all the bothersome weights on your heads. It does not take long for the two of you to help each other out of the thick red outer layers as well, until the two of you are only clad in thin red inner robes.

After combing through each other's hair, you take Jiang Cheng's hand in yours. In a bashful voice, you mumble, "Wanyin, do you know how happy I am?"

Jiang Cheng's eyes flit between your face and the scarred palm he holds in his hand. Softly, he replies, "...Not as much as I am for being able to marry you into my family. You have always been the person in my heart, and I... I simply owe you too much. I really don't deserve you, but... Will you allow me to make it up to you for the rest of my life?"

You laugh at his words, lifting your scarred hand to his cheek as you wonder how many times did he practise saying that in the mirror before this day. He stiffens for a moment, before leaning into your touch. The old injury no longer hurts as much as it used to. Now, it only remains with the thick, raised scar, and an infrequent and occasional throb of dull pain to remind you of the past. The dark days of before had already passed, however. The future in sight is now much brighter!

"Silly. We have already bowed to heaven and earth and done all those rites, can I still say no? Do I even want to say no? To your question, and to our union, I will always say yes," you say with utmost sincerity, using the pad of your thumb to stroke his cheekbones. 

Jiang Cheng's eyes widen at the movement, before he grabs you by the shoulders, voice full of excitement and surprise as he gasps, "Your hand—!"

"I've been conducting physiotherapy and other treatments since years ago to recover the use of my hand. Look, I can even make a fist now. Those days have already become part of the past. Wanyin, let's raise our heads together and look towards the future, alright?" 

Now, he lowers his gaze, staring at your exposed arms. You had rolled the sleeves up earlier to help him comb his hair properly, so the many battle scars running along your once-smooth arms are as clear as day under the glow of the room's red candles. Still, both of you know that there are more scars riddled across your shoulders and back, from battles fought by a younger you who was still inexperienced and full of modern naivete. You do not bother wasting energy to remove the scars, and the one on your non-dominant hand was left behind by a Wen Sect branding iron. The scar there will never fade, so why should you still erase the others?

"If the world knew that Luoyang Qiu's famed second young miss only had a pretty face to hide a terribly scarred body, do you think that my title as the cultivation world's number one beauty would be revoked in an instant?" you ask in a lighthearted tone unbefitting of your sombre words. After peace has replaced the fears and singleminded battles of war now, your numerous scars are no longer proud badges of honour in the eyes of the public. With the rose-tinted glasses of war heroism gone, ugly scars are just another imperfection to be scorned upon by the world, especially when they were on a woman. "My palm has a scar, my arms have scars, my back has scars. This porcelain doll has long been full of cracks."

Jiang Cheng purses his lips, running his fingers on the crisscrossing lines on your arms. You shiver the slightest bit from his feather-light touch, though you do not shy away. After a long pause, he withdraws his arms and loosens the knots of his robe, until the robe around his shoulders is loose enough that you can see crisscrosses of angry red scars stretching across the plane of his chest. The raised scars left behind by what you are inferring to be whip lashes have already melded into one giant red mass, sending a pang of sourness in your heart.

Horrified, you raise your trembling scarred hand and gently touch the thick and deep scarring. Jiang Cheng gently grabs your wrist, though he doesn't make you pull away. Instead, he presses your palm against his heart, scar against scar.

"The Wens used the Jiang Sect's Discipline Whip on me when they melted my golden core. To this day, I can't remove it either," Jiang Cheng quietly explains upon seeing your pale face. Gently, he sets down your hand and shifts his posture until he is sitting closer to you. Is he trying to comfort you by saying that he has scars too?

"...A scarred wife for a scarred husband. Aren't we truly a match?" you remark after a long silence, before gazing deeply into his eyes. "Scars are part of who we are. They remind us of the past, to tell us that the pain we suffered is no longer part of the present. Aren't we still alive now!"

You pause for a long while, gathering your wits and courage before you manage to breathe out, "...Thank you for showing this to me, Wanyin. I love you. Scars and all. "

Unable to voice out another word, Jiang Cheng pulls you into his embrace, hugging you tightly. With this sudden movement, the two of you fall onto the wide bed, with Jiang Cheng on top of you. Finally, in a soft, tentative voice, he whispers, "You won't regret?"

Rolling your eyes at his continued shy hesitance, you loop your slender arms around his neck and pull him closer until your lips are right beside his ear, a playful smile on your face as you close your eyes and  whisper back, "Never. In this life, I am yours."

Chapter Text

Sluggishly, you open your eyes. 

You sit up slowly, surveying unfamiliar surroundings with bleary, confused eyes, before remembering where you are. 

Ah, yes. You married into the Yunmeng Jiang Sect yesterday. This is the sect leader's room in Lotus Pier.

Before your cheeks have time to heat up upon remembering what you did last night, you feel Jiang Cheng stirring awake from beside you. As he rubs his eyes sleepily, you poke him on his cheek, a warm smile on your face as you say, "Morning, sleepyhead."

Jiang Cheng does not say anything or even get up, only letting out an unintelligible grunt. Snaking his arms around your waist, he hugs you loosely while grumbling, "It's still so early. Sleep a little more."

"There is still tea to be offered to Madam Yu and previous Sect Leader Jiang— no, Mother and Father, so you should get ready soon," you chide, peeling his arms off of you and dragging him into a sitting position. 

After the two of you put on proper outer clothing and personally help each other wear your Clarity Bells, you sit down in front of the dressing table, admiring the purple fabric and lotus motifs on your clothing as the young Madam Jiang. While your attendant helps you do your hair, Jiang Cheng watches on with sharp, attentive eyes that flit up and down as they follow the comb's repetitive movements, as if committing the attendant's movements into memory.

"Wanyin, if you stare so much at the poor attendant, her hands will shake from the pressure," you chuckle teasingly.

"N-no, it's alright!" stutters the attendant, as she slides the last pin in place.

After a pause, Jiang Cheng huffs and rises to his feet from the chair he was sitting on, before striding over to help you up from the chair. 

"...but I wish to learn how to do your hair, then I can help you get ready in the morning as well... uh, that is, if you'll let me."

Intertwining your fingers with his, you giggle lightly as you pull him out of the courtyard, commenting, "Wow, what a sticky husband! I'll have to take up your offer on that."

...

With Madam Yu and Jiang Fengmian seated in the main hall, as the new daughter-in-law, you offer both of them tea. Behind the couple stands Wei Wuxian, quiet and obedient. Since he attended the wedding and the banquet yesterday, naturally he remained in Lotus Pier. However, his stay is only temporary, as there is still unfinished business to be done in Yiling. He knows better than to act up with both Madam Yu and Jiang Fengmian present. Plus, the stars of this event do not include him. Hence, he hangs around the back like air, watching over the tea offering ceremony with a genuinely happy smile for his shidi and his friend.

You kneel, kowtow three times, present two cups of tea, and that is the end of it. The older Jiang couple each present you with a red envelope as Madam Yu says, “You are now considered as Madam Jiang. Now, we can truly entrust Lotus Pier to you younger ones.” 

"A-Cheng," begins Jiang Fengmian, "We will return less often in the future. Although we have already said this beforehand, your mother and I... are going on a journey across the world, retiring from the cultivation world's affairs. The Yunmeng Jiang Sect... is safe in your hands. I... trust you, son. I really do."

In the canon timeline, you are pretty sure that Jiang Cheng had never received any form of validation from his father. However, he can hear his father express such warm words to him in this life. Jiang Cheng is evidently delighted and touched, as he salutes firmly, managing to voice out, "Son will not let you down."

"A-Wen," Madam Yu calls out. You stiffen, dipping your head towards her in respect. Her usual sharp and stern features are now smoothened into a more gentle and happier expression as she righteously commands, "I'd very much like to hold a chubby grandchild the next time we return."

"Y-yes, Mother-in-law," you stammer, face burning up in a fluster. Seeing your rosy cheeks, Madam Yu finally breaks into a bright laugh. Beside her, a serene, fond smile can be seen on Jiang Fengmian as he gazes at his wife, and you note that both father and son do share similarities as well. Jiang Cheng does not merely resemble his mother, after all. Both men have the same tenderness in their eyes when looking at their respective wives.

After sending the two off, you, Jiang Cheng, and Wei Wuxian remain standing at the pier, watching their boat drift further and further into the lake's horizon. In a soft, reminiscent voice, you murmur, "I'm glad that we are all here to see Lotus Pier return to its former glory."

"Mm-hmm," Wei Wuxian pipes up, his arm slung lazily around Jiang Cheng's shoulders. "Feels nice to be back. Jiang Cheng, you've really done a good job with the place! Uncle Jiang wasn't wrong."

Though your silly husband attempts to hide the smug smile on his face, his happiness still shines through at the validation as he jokingly quips, "Yeah, considering that the person who was supposed to be my right-hand man is currently on an indefinite period of vacation in Yiling."

Wei Wuxian wilts at his remark. Sensing that he doesn't have a proper reply to that, you interject, "Anyway, while we're on the topic of Wei-xiong staying in Yiling, I do have a question for you while you're currently not staying with us. Are you going to create your own sect anytime soon?"

"What? Hell no, that's crazy! The cultivation world will give me hell for it!" exclaims Wei Wuxian, "Plus, running a sect is too much work. You know me. I like to live a carefree life without so many restrictions. I swear, there will never be a Yiling Wei Sect." 

Jiang Cheng snorts, rolling his eyes as he scoffs, "We know how lazy you are, alright. Still, remain vigilant. Who knows which unfortunate soul will be the next victim that the cultivation world will dogpile on. We wouldn't want you to be the next scapegoat."

"Ai, Jiang Cheng, you worry too much! Anyways, I doubt that I can stay long here. I still have so much to do in Yiling, so I'm not that lazy, alright!" Wei Wuxian huffs in a jokingly aggrieved manner, before adding, "Oh, and do tell Shijie I said hi. I don't know when she will visit next since she's already stuck in Jinlin Tower as a pregnant wife, but do remind her not to take a single step within Yiling for the time being. I don't know if the resentment in the area will be good for the baby."

"We know, so you can stop worrying. You can hop off and drink however you like before you leave. Safe travels, Wei-xiong," you bid a proper goodbye to Wei Wuxian after ruffling his hair. 

After parting with Wei Wuxian, both you and Jiang Cheng return to the sect leader's study. Even if he was just married yesterday, he is still the sect leader of one of the Five Great Sects. There is still much to be done. Instead, you stand beside him, helping him grind the inkstone so that he can continue his work properly.

This peaceful serenity is now your new normal as a married woman. So is going to sleep and waking up with Jiang Cheng by your side. Just thinking about this brings a contented smile to your face.

Chapter Text

Setting your medical tools down on the table, you pick up a clean wet cloth soaked in alcohol and begin wiping your hands. With apathetic eyes, you cast a glance at the person on the clean stone floor. Sealing the bottle of blood with a porcelain stopper, you paste a label on the smooth surface of the bottle and place it in your qiankun sleeve, suppressing a sense of nausea nagging in the back of your throat. Just as you clean up the last bit of newly-penned documents on the makeshift desk, a young disciple taps on the wooden bars of the dimly-lit cell to get your attention.

"M... Madam Jiang, the sect leader has returned."

"Thank you for telling me, I'll go immediately," you smile, flicking your sleeves as you breeze past the obviously-tense Jiang Sect disciple. As if remembering something, you turn around, startling the poor youth, as you gently ask, "May I trouble you to help the prisoner onto the bed? It would be nice if he is given porridge and some green leafy vegetables. No one else is to bother the prisoners when I am not present, alright?"

"Y-yes, Madam. This subordinate obeys."

Satisfied with the disciple's response, you finally leave the dungeon behind, your research done for today. Using the time you have as the Yunmeng Jiang Sect's Madam, you have been continuing your research on discerning blood types without modern equipment, hoping to introduce blood transfusions to this era. Surely, this will bring far more prosperity and advancement than shit like guns.

By the time you reach the main building and walk through hallways open to the cold wintry air, the passing of the seasons remind you of the passage of time. Jiang Yanli had already given birth a month ago, to a chubby and healthy Jin Ling. Thanks to your secret warning to Wei Wuxian, he took a detour to Lanling for the month-celebration, avoiding Jin Zixun's entourage safely (or at least, you'd like to believe so as he showed up safe and sound). The lotus ponds and lakes do not freeze much, though your breaths come out in slight wisps of white. It doesn't snow much, or at all, in Yunmeng, but the air is dry and cold. The setting sun casts a golden glow across the whole of Lotus Pier, bathing your home in rays of warmth in this contrastingly chilly weather.

With quickened footsteps, you brisk-walk to the main entrance. Just as you round the corner, you spot Jiang Cheng emerging through the front doors, speaking with his deputy. Brows furrowed, he still has his cape on, wrinkled from what you assume to be a fight with a beast before his return. When faced with his work, he always puts on a frown with a hint of confident arrogance in his scrunched eyebrows, a perfect picture of a stern sect leader. 

With New Year's happening tomorrow, Jiang Cheng has gotten much busier. Understanding how busy he is, you do not bother him while he is discussing official matters. Instead, you wait for him to notice you, and he does almost immediately, making his way towards you with a vastly different expression of relief after excusing himself. His serious expression cuts quite the dashing figure.

Reaching out your hands, you pat off some of the dirt and dust from his shoulders and fix his lapels, asking, "You look tired. Do you need a break?"

Jiang Cheng catches your hands, stroking them gingerly with careful thumbs as he whispers, "Do not strain your hand in helping me. Where are your gloves? The weather is cold... and you look pale."

"What's a little bit of cold to a cultivator?" you beam, pulling him into the main building. 

"My lady," Jiang Cheng begins, "You look unwell. Is everything alright?"

Remembering Qiu Suyin's visit that happened a week ago, you avert your gaze, slowly answering, "Hmm, I'm just... fatigued, is all. No need to worry. You still have many missives and requests to go through, right? Come, I’ll help you.”

Jiang Cheng nods thankfully, and you lead him by the hand to his study, trying to suppress your discomfort. 

...

In the following week, Jiang Cheng becomes progressively busy, with emergencies and external affairs to settle outside until ungodly hours of the night. Seeing that you have been feeling under the weather lately, you were told to retire to bed earlier without waiting for him. 

Tonight, you have already fallen asleep from waiting for him, but the rustling of the blanket jostles you awake. Rubbing your eyes, your vision focuses on a tired Jiang Cheng trying to slip into bed. With how careful his actions are, he must have tried not to wake you up, but you have always been a light sleeper after the days of the Sunshot Campaign, so you wake up anyway. 

“...Mm, you’re back.”

”Did I wake you? Sorry,” murmurs Jiang Cheng, adjusting the blanket to cover you properly after he lies down beside you. 

"...Ah, no, it’s alright...” you murmur, voice husky from sleep. However, you remember something and tug gently on his sleeve, saying, “I’ve received a few letters while you were gone. Father-in-law and Mother-in-law aren't coming back for New Year's Eve, nor New Year's, but Wei-xiong is. Are you free for the reunion dinner? I know you have been busy..."

"I am. I’m sorry for being absent around, lately... but I have a surprise for you soon to make it up to you, okay?”

Underneath the blanket, you rest a hand on your stomach, smiling slightly as you whisper back, “I do too... but it’s late, so I'll tell you tomorrow. Good night, Wanyin.”

...

The day passes as usual, with Wei Wuxian's impeccable timing exerting itself in appearing right as the dishes are being brought out for reunion dinner. The rascal must have been gallivanting around, drinking as he pleased before coming back home. Despite it only being three actual people eating together for this reunion dinner, Wei Wuxian is happy to be back, while Jiang Cheng (although even if you beat him to death, he won't admit that he) is secretly pleased to have his shixiong back for the new year's as well. You don't eat much due to a recent drop in appetite, but you listen to Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian's joyous banter, revelling in the festive merriment. Your heart is full instead.

After the dinner concludes, the three of you do not retire to sleep, staying up until midnight to make dumplings instead. However, halfway through, Wei Wuxian excuses himself to go to the latrine, so only Jiang Cheng and you remain in the courtyard alone. None of you minds this, however. How can this free-spirited rascal sit and quietly make dumplings? The empty wine jars sitting on the floor is a clear testament to how free he is. Hence, you do not rush him or anything, instead opting to enjoy your husband's company in the peaceful calm of the night, free from any disturbances.

However, just as you think this, the serenity of the night is shattered by the loud boom of a deafening explosion! Both you and Jiang Cheng bolt to your feet, and an expression of unspeakable horror, followed by anger, can be seen on his face.

Did someone attack Lotus Pier?!

Whipping around, you instantly blow open the door, an unsheathed Su'yuan in hand. From behind you, Jiang Cheng shouts, "Qingwen! Wait—"

"Who dares to attack Lotus Pier when— Huh..?"

When you burst out into the open, you do not see any enemies or intruders, or bombings anywhere at all. Instead, you stare dumbfoundedly at the clear night sky, where dazzling blooms of fireworks explode high up in the heavens. With every boom, a new colour is added to the jewelled canopy of the starry night sky. Instantly, memories from viewing grand fireworks displays in the modern world surge forth, and you raise a hand to cover your mouth, feeling a warm wetness cloud your eyes as a surge of nostalgia overtakes you like an unstoppable tide. This...

Turning around almost immediately, you meet the eyes of Jiang Cheng who is looking absolutely frazzled as he cradles his head with both hands.

"That Wei Wuxian... he set it off earlier than I told him to—!" Jiang Cheng grumbles, almost to himself. However, when he raises his head, his eyes widen as he rushes over, cupping your face as he asks, "Why are you crying?! Do you dislike fireworks? Or surprises? The loud sounds? Or—"

"No!" you shout through tears, almost on impulse, before quickly rectifying, "No, as in— I mean I— I like them . I really like them a lot."

Relieved, Jiang Cheng's shoulders slacken, and his aggrieved frustration at Wei Wuxian's blunder melts away almost immediately. While his hands are wiping the tears away from your cheeks, his deep voice is a pleased rumble as he softly says, "I was busy for the past few days because I was preparing these for you. Come, let us jump onto the roofs, we'll be able to see the fireworks better—"

He suddenly stops talking as you tug on his sleeve, shaking your head. 

"Wanyin... remember I said that I had a surprise, too?" you begin slowly, trying to suppress the widening smile on your face. "I don't think I should be jumping over roofs anytime soon... I'm expecting."

"W h a t ?"

You drop this piece of news as if you are dropping a bomb far greater than your old creations. You had already known this more than a week ago when you invited Qiu Suyin to conduct a check on you after not trusting your own abilities. Only after hearing the confirmation of this good news from your sister did you decide to tell Jiang Cheng. You had tried to hint at it since you already have been exhibiting symptoms of early stages of pregnancy as early as weeks ago... but...

Your husband is still as dense as a boulder, so you can only give up and say it outright. How he does not see your robes becoming looser and wider is completely beyond you.

After a pause, he raises two fingers, voice trembling with excitement as he asks, "You... are eating for two...?"

The smile on your face broadens as you shyly raise three fingers instead. Jiang Cheng involuntarily lets out a gasp of zealous excitement that morphs into an exuberant laugh, as he abruptly pulls you into a tight hug, joyous beyond words. Lifting you in his embrace, he spins you around, the two of you laughing merrily. However, after he puts you back on the ground as if realising something, he immediately releases you, checking whether he crushed you... or the children in your belly.

In his rush of happiness, he plants a fleeting kiss on the top of your head. Just then, he loosens his hold on you, but the absolute exhilaration in his face does not fade in the slightest. You turn your head and spot Wei Wuxian standing at the front doors, a sheepish and somewhat confused smile on his face while the fireworks continue to fire off into the air behind him. He must be confused since he had just screwed up the surprise, but Jiang Cheng is not only not skinning him , but he is even shouting and laughing so happily. Thinking that the sky might fall along with some poorly-timed fireworks, Wei Wuxian inches over cautiously.

"Yo... Jiang Cheng, sorry I—"

"I'll settle that score with you later! Wei Wuxian, I'm going to be a dad!"

"What?! No way! Congrats, Jiang Cheng!"

For the rest of the evening, the three of you make do with sitting on a ledge overlooking the lake to enjoy what's left of the fireworks, Jiang Cheng's hand not leaving yours.

Chapter Text

Sitting in front of the bronze mirror, you close your eyes in bliss as Jiang Cheng runs a comb through your hair. Enjoying the comfortable sensation of your husband running his fingers through your hair, you almost drift back to sleep when Jiang Cheng's voice rumbles, a pleasant sound in this quiet morning. It has only been a week after you informed Jiang Cheng of the joyous news, but he has already been treating you like a treasure in his palm, unwilling to part. 

"Visiting the Unclean Realm again?" grumbles Jiang Cheng, "It's not safe to leave the home so often when you're with child. Can't they come to Lotus Pier?"

"I'm not going to play, there are some matters to be addressed with Da-ge and San-ge, so we can't bring them here. They're my sworn brothers, nothing will happen to me. What, are you unwilling that I'm leaving for a few days, my little grape?" you chuckle, eyes flitting open to peer at Jiang Cheng's reflection. With his sword eyebrows scrunched in concentration as he works with your hair, you note that he is actually quite adept with his hands. 

"...why a grape?" Jiang Cheng mumbles, pinning the last lock of hair in place. 

As he reaches for the hair ornaments, you pretend to think for a moment before answering, "Lame answer, but purple is your colour... moreover, you can be sweet or sour. It's a cute and fitting nickname."

Although Jiang Cheng still has a sour expression on his face, his eyes still betray a glint of sweetness at your lame remarks. After he slides the last hair ornament in place, he whispers, "I'm sorry I can't follow you. Stay safe and keep me updated on your whereabouts, alright? I still feel anxious."

Rising to your feet, you raise a hand and stroke his cheek briefly before tiptoeing and pecking him on his cheek, nodding. 

Taking your hand in his, Jiang Cheng escorts you out of the courtyard.

...

"...and this sums up my proposal for possible lookout towers to be installed throughout the land. What are everyone's thoughts?"

Leaning forward with a face full of interest, you commend, "San-ge, I think that this is a solid plan, but will the commoners be forced to pay any protection fees? I worry that they cannot afford them."

Jin Guangyao nods, smiling as he answers, "If the cultivators demand compensation from commoners too poor to pay, the Lanling Jin Sect will use its wealth to support them. Other large sects can also chip in if they wish."

"I agree with Qing-mei. We will be behind you regarding this matter, A-Yao, do not worry. Such a plan will definitely be accepted with how beneficial it is to the people," nods Lan Xichen. 

Sitting at the sect leader's seat in the main hall of the Unclean Realm, Nie Mingjue rubs his fingers in a contemplative manner, though he remains silent. Still, he nods along with you and Lan Xichen as the two of you offer your support to Jin Guangyao, showing that he agrees with the plan as well. 

Jin Guangyao beams, dimples showing on his cheeks as he rolls up the scrolls and documents to keep them away. After the tables are cleared, Jin Guangyao waves a hand, and an attendant behind him brings out a tea set, with a steaming teapot brimming with fragrant tea.

"I figured that everyone needs some relaxation after settling important matters, so I brought some soothing medicinal tea and had it brewed for everyone to enjoy. Why don't we all have a cup?"

Seeing that Jin Guangyao has picked up the teapot, you walk over and take the teapot from him, smiling kindly as you say, "San-ge, no need to serve tea yourself, you deserve to relax too. Let me do it, I'm the youngest here. Come, sit down."

Blinking in surprise, Jin Guangyao falters at your offer. You gingerly pluck the teapot from his hands, dismissing the attendants, and pour out four cups of tea, one for each of you. As you breathe in the calming aroma, implicitly making sure that the tea is not tampered with, you comment, "From what I can tell, this is some top-quality tea. Hasn't Da-ge been feeling under the weather lately? San-ge is really helpful."

Nie Mingjue grunts in acknowledgement, refusing to comment more. Pursing your lips, you recall his disastrous death in his very last qi deviation. Hence, you had taken over the pouring of the tea to check its contents. As much as you find Jin Guangyao seemingly innocent as of now, you know of the scheming he is most proficient in, hence you still have to be on your guard. At least the tea this time is harmless to Nie Mingjue. It is also apparent, as after thanking you for the tea, Jin Guangyao takes a sip of it as well.

As the four of you nurse your drinks, Lan Xichen notes, "Si-mei is not wrong. Da-ge, have you been experiencing frequent headaches and abnormalities in your qi?"

Nie Mingjue's silence is tantamount to an answer.

"But... Da-ge is a proficient cultivator, how can he succumb to any..." you pretend to muse, setting your cup down gently before 'hesitantly feeling out an answer' as you 'suggest', "Unless... is there a problem with your sabre's spirit?"

This time, his eyes flash slightly, showing that you have hit the nail on the head. Nie Mingjue sets down his teacup with a sigh, allowing you to refill his cup for him as he mutters, "It's not a matter of concern."

"How can it not be?" asks Jin Guangyao in a worried tone that sounds sincere. "Qi deviations are never a small matter to be brushed off for us cultivators."

"How about this; I can stop by to play the Song of Clarity for you, perhaps it can calm the growing sabre spirit," Lan Xichen offers, taking a sip from his own cup. "Your health and wellbeing is not a matter to be trifled with."

"Er-ge's right, Da-ge," you chime, "I'm usually at home all the time in Lotus Pier, reading. I'll look through my archives and notes to see if I can be of help as well."

"Speaking of which," interjects Jin Guangyao. "Si-mei, you have been conducting some research on blood..."

"Blood transfusion," you supply.

Jin Guangyao nods, continuing, "Yes, blood transfusion. How have things been going?"

Nie Mingjue leans forward with interest, glad that the topic has been shifted onto something else. You sigh inwardly in your head, noting how observant Jin Guangyao is to 'defend' Nie Mingjue from being the focus of the conversation.

"As you all know, all the information we have on blood transfusions are only some sparse theories written by the founder of the Qiu Sect before being stowed away, never to be brought up again due to how unpredictable results and rejections can occur... but what if it is actually predictable? If we can determine the rejection rates of blood transfusions, healthcare can make a giant leap forward in development..."

A contemplative silence descends upon the trio. Laughing nervously, you realise that you have been rambling out of excitement and interest regarding your studies. Finally, you sigh, "Long story short, blood transfusions no longer have to be a desperate last measure taken impulsively on the battlefield. Death by blood loss will not be so definite."

"Ah, but regarding experimentation..." mumbles Lan Xichen. He must be worried about the ethical implications in medical research.

"You must be wondering about the Wen remnants I obtained as experiment subjects," you say softly. "Rest assured, Er-ge. All I do is withdraw blood every month and it isn't enough to even harm them. Otherwise, they are treated normally, with adequate rest and food. Everything is done within the bounds of ethics."

Finally, a smile appears on Nie Mingjue's face, gradually deepening as he applauds, "You have thought everything out well, Qing-mei! Such an endeavour will definitely help the masses. You have Da-ge's support."

After a pause, he slaps his knee as if remembering something, before reaching over and clapping you on the shoulder, laughing, "Also, congratulations, Qing-mei, for the coming additions to Yunmeng Jiang! When your children are born, remember to let us visit them!"

" Da-ge! " you hiss, mortified. "I haven't told Er-ge and San-ge yet... and h-how did you know? "

"Sect Leader Qiu told me about this news herself!" boasts Nie Mingjue. "I passed by Luoyang a few days ago on a night hunt, and chanced upon Sect Leader Qiu who was on her way back from Yunmeng."

"Is this news true? Congratulations, Si-mei," Lan Xichen beams, and your cheeks flush from the attention. "Have you and Meifu thought of any names?"

"As of now, not yet... I'm sorry everyone, I was going to tell everyone properly," you cradle your head, sighing.

"No... no worries, Si-mei," smiles Jin Guangyao. Somehow, a sense of melancholy can be seen in his eyes as he murmurs, "From the bottom of my heart... congratulations."

"Thank you, everyone," you pretend that you do not see his poignant smile, instead opting to thank everyone for the well-wishes.

After the meeting ends, you excuse yourself early due to your health and make your way out alone. As you walk out of the hall, being the first to leave, you catch sight of Nie Huaisang's gallivanting figure in the hallways. Striding over, you pat him on the back, greeting him.

"Huaisang."

"Oh, Si-jie! I've heard the news from Brother, congratulations!" says Nie Huaisang, a celebratory expression on his face.

"Thank you," you say, smiling faintly. "Say, you weren't skipping out on your lessons, are you?"

Nie Huaisang jolts, confirming your suspicions. With shifty eyes, he murmurs, "Um... I... I was just on a walk! Yeah, I'm on a break from my work! I stay at home all the time studying. I deserve... some concessions now and then."

Chuckling, you knock Nie Huaisang's forehead as you say, "Too many breaks will completely distract you from your studies. Your brother stresses over your studies often, give him some peace of mind now and then, hmm?"

Nie Huaisang pouts, and you jokingly sigh, shaking your head. Naturally, a little encouragement will hardly move this procrastinator. After contemplating for a moment, you look around the surroundings in a natural manner, before casually coaxing, "Your brother... ai, he has really been so busy and stressed that his head is going to explode. If you find it hard to focus on your lessons, I'm sure that A-Yi greatly misses his friend from your days in the Cloud Recesses during the Sunshot Campaign. After you show him that you can be relied upon, his control over you will naturally slacken. Perhaps you may even get a reward for your hard work in your studies... like this new artisan painting that I found..."

Upon hearing your words, Nie Huaisang lifts his fan to his face, until his eyes peek over the tips of the fan. The vital hint has been covered up by some old-fashioned nagging, but judging from Nie Huaisang's hidden intellect, he should not have missed it. His eyes narrow almost minutely before he snaps the fan shut and waves it around playfully, innocently beaming as he chirps, "Then Huaisang will take up your offer. Your brother was really fun to be around! As for the rewards... Si-jie, your words better count!"

Nodding along, you bid Nie Huaisang a friendly goodbye before you continue your way out of the main building of the Unclean Realm.

…

On a quiet afternoon in Yunmeng, you are writing diligently on a thick bound paper book in your personal 'lab'. Every few words, you flip through a few other booklets and scrolls Qiu Suyin brought back from the Qiu Sect's archives and your old study, and also a stack of different talismans you keep on the table. Your research has been going on quite a long time. Now, you are only steps away from succeeding in making a tool that can discern blood types.

Beside you, Jiang Cheng dutifully grinds the inkstone for you, acting as your handy assistant. 

"Can I trouble you to hand me the carved stones and the ceramic tiles over there, my little grape?"

Used to your teasing comments at this point, Jiang Cheng obediently retrieves the papers you pointed to on the desk at the opposite side of the room. A few months ago, you can still walk over and take them yourself, but now that you are on the verge of bursting, you can only get Jiang Cheng to help you. 

After he sets the stack on the desk in front of you, you fish out a sample of blood from your sleeve and carefully pour a drop into the prepared ceramic tile on the table. While Jiang Cheng watches on nervously, you rub some dirt from the three carved stones to clean it and set it gently on the drop of blood. Upon seeping into the deep carvings of the palm-sized stones, the symbols on one of the stone orbs begin glowing. Nervously, you take out another blood sample and redo the procedure after cleaning them thoroughly, and a different orb's symbol glows instead, highlighting that the other blood sample you used was of a different blood type. 

It worked!

" Wanyin, look! Blood transfusion will be a lot safer now that we can differentiate blood types! This is a breakthrough in healthcare!"

"Blood... tran...fusion?" Jiang Cheng repeats, not understanding a single word you just said, but from your jubilant expression, he can guess that your years-long venture has finally born fruit. 

"Yup! If people, commonfolk or cultivator, are going to die from blood loss in the future, we can know better about who to take blood from to refill the lost blood in their body, so to speak, without causing any negative effects. The lives of hundreds... no, thousands can be saved!"

A proud smile blooms on Jiang Cheng's face as he helps you put away the sample bottles and soiled ceramic tiles. Just then, the sound of knocking can be heard from the large doors. Jiang Cheng plants a quick kiss on the top of your knuckles before straightening his back, calling out, "Enter.”

Upon his command, an outer disciple enters the study, informing, "Sect Leader. Madam. Sect Leader Qiu has arrived in Lotus Pier."

Clapping your hands, you let Jiang Cheng help you to your feet as you beam brilliantly, nodding, "Let's be on our way to receive them, then."

When your group enters the main hall, you are greeted by Qiu Suyin. Jiang Cheng lets go of you so that you can walk over to greet and embrace your sister. Excitedly, you say, "Sister, you came at the right time! A-Wen has something to tell you."

"Does it have something to do with your studies on blood transfusions? You're days away from delivery, don't strain yourself. Do you need more access to our sect archives—"

"No need for that, Sister, I've succeeded!" you exclaim, smacking her arms in your excitement. Waving a hand, an attendant hands you the pouch of the three stone orbs. After opening them, you take out a glowing orb, explaining, "If you drop these three stones in the blood sample, the ones that glow will determine what blood type they have. I’ll show you after lunch, okay? You’ve come a long way.”

Not one to stand on ceremony, Qiu Suyin nods, before taking your free hand. Both your husband and your sister help you to the dining hall, where you all sit together and eat. With cheerful and lighthearted conversation, the lunch passes smoothly. 

However, halfway through the lunch, you set down the chopsticks, feeling a need to go to the latrine. However, when you stand up, your face immediately pales.

"A-Wen, what's wrong?"

"My... my water broke."

Chaos ensues.

...

After twelve agonising hours of labour, you lie on the bed, utterly exhausted. 

"Congratulations, A-Wen, you gave birth to a set of boy-girl twins," Qiu Suyin smiles, before waving one of the assistant midwives over, commanding, "Allow Sect Leader Jiang to enter."

Jiang Cheng comes barrelling in almost immediately, the panic and worry on his face dissolving upon seeing you well and alive. He has been nervously pacing outside the delivery room this whole time, hearing your pained screams, up until the sounds of two crying infants lowered his unease somewhat. Still, the wife is still more important, after all!

As one of the assistants hands you your children, you beckon Jiang Cheng over to your bedside. He kneels beside you immediately, eyes red with tears of joy. 

"Silly grape, why... are you crying? I'm the one... in pain..." you chuckle exhaustedly, ruffling his hair with a free hand. "As... promised, pick two characters? ...Or rather, name our son. We can... ask Sister-in-law for... for his courtesy name later."

Jiang Cheng runs a hand through your sweat-damp hair, brushing a few messy strands out of your face. After thinking silently for a moment, he nods in agreement, before planting a soft kiss on your forehead. Enjoying this moment of doting from your husband, a warm smile rises to your face despite your exhaustion as you close your eyes in bliss.