Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Ambush
First warm day of spring was refreshing with sun high in the sky when Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning entered the valley that brought so many painful memories. Light breeze still carried a whisper of the winter's cold and that of times filled with fear, starvation and blood, the scent of death permeating the air even after over a year since Jin labor camp which once stood there was raided by one demonic cultivator, liberating remnants of the sect who inflicted enough terror and suffering on those around them to give rise to the campaign that ended their reign. Those saved from cruelty of the encampment however were not the cultivators but regular civilians, who didn’t partake in the war. Simple folk, elderly and farmers were detained away from righteous sects’ eyes.
Wei Wuxian could still remember the look on their faces, those petrified stares of half starved people huddled together in a shack that barely gave them shelter from frigid rain pouring down from the dark sky.
Wei Wuxian could still remember the bodies of Wen cultivators laying down in the mud, Stygian Luring Flags - his creation - strewed everywhere calling on resentful energy gathering around the area, Wen Qing stumbling, looking for her beloved little brother and then finding him laying down lifelessly in the water, wooden handle of the flag imbedded in his stomach.
Wei Wuxian could still remember the terror, helplessness and then the firey fury he felt witnessing all that wickedness. Jin guards even had the audacity to start killing the defenseless prisoners just to avoid the consequences of their actions! No words would ever be able to describe thoughts in Wei Wuxian’s head that night. In his righteous rage he called on Wen Ning - taken over by evil the young boy started to massacre his executioners. Demonic cultivator had struggled to take control over his friend but he succeeded.
Along with Wen Qing he took the surviving Wens and was fleeing the camp when Hanguang-Jun stepped in his way. Ah, Lan Zhan! Always where the chaos reigned! The only person who could stop him. The only person he would let stop him. The only person he ever considered his equal. Righteous, strong, tall and beautiful with his flowing white robes, silky smooth black hair and eyes of molten gold. But he didn’t stop him. Didn’t fight him. No, Lan Wangji stepped aside and let him and the Wens go and find shelter in the only place no one would dare to follow them - Burial Mounds.
Wei Wuxian could still remember that cold night, terror, anguish, anger and his heart breaking when he left Lan Zhan behind to save the weak, helpless people, do what is just. He couldn’t afford to look back. So he didn’t.
Now, nearly 15 months later he was once again on Qiongqi Path. This time there was no heavy rain blocking his vision. This time it wasn’t the darkness of the night, screaming of innocent people dying accompanying him. This time he wasn’t running away from Koi Tower. This time he was going to Lanling to see his newborn nephew at the child’s 100th day banquet. For the first time in over a year he was going to see his brother and his sister, something he was longing for since their last meeting in the dark back alley in Yiling. What’s more he was going to see Lan Zhan! He missed his friend as much as his siblings. Wei Wuxian’s heart was full with hope and barely held back happiness which he felt when he laid eyes on the invitation written in Lan Wangji’s elegant calligraphy.
He was reminiscing on the past with Wen Ning at his side when unnatural silence registered in his mind. He looked around and then at his Ghost General.
“Do you feel anything strange?” he asked. Wen Ning closed his eyes and focused.
“No, but it’s too quiet” the younger man replied, gently shaking his head.
“It is too quiet” Wei Wuxian confirmed and began to walk again, his senses on full alert when he heard the swish of an arrow caught by his friend right next to his ear. Both men looked up towards the direction the bolt flew. Above them over the cliff’s ridge stood Jin cultivator, seemingly of high status though Wei Wuxian couldn’t recall the name. “Who are you?” he inquired the newcomer. The man looked familiar.
“Wei Wuxian! I’m warning you!” Jin cultivator bellowed. “Lift the evil spell on me at once! Then I can pretend that nothing happened and forgive your past misdeeds!”
Maybe he was known as the Yiling Patriarch but he didn’t know what that was about. “What evil spell?”
That infuriated the man above. “Are you still pretending? All right! Then I will let you see what on earth the evil spell is!”
The Jin grabbed the front of his clothes and parted the fabric revealing his chest. It was a grotesque sight of many holes peppering the entire torso. Some perforations leaking red blood from its irregular edges. Someone definitely cursed this angry fellow but it surely wasn’t Wei Wuxian. He didn’t even remember the guy! The ledge started to fill with cultivators. He estimated at least 300 people wearing different colors of Jin, Jiang, Lan, Nie and Yao sects. It didn’t look good.
“The Hundred Holes Curse?” He asked and after irritated confirmation he questioned the man again. “The Hundred Holes Curse was cast on you. Why are you coming for me? It’s none of my business.” He had a really bad feeling about the direction the situation was headed.
The cursed man righted his robes hastily and yelled “Except you, who else is a master of wicked tricks?! Who else would cast a malicious spell on me?!”
“I don’t even remember who you are” Wei Wuxian smirked. This was getting ridiculous, a curse like that is way too petty for him. Had he any intention of making someone suffer or die he could think of much more efficient methods. He could excuse murder, especially after his expieriences during the Sunshot Campaign but he drew the line at competence. He wouldn’t concern himself with something so inept for a person so unimportant to him. “Why should I bother to cast an evil spell on you? Besides, I never use those insidious tricks. If I want to kill a person, I will tell the world that this man will die in my hands. Furthermore” he continued “if I really want you to die you will get an ending a thousand times more miserable” which was true. One could ask Wen Chao about the truth of that statement if the damn worm wasn’t dead already.
“Aren’t you being too arrogant?” Oh, how many times had Wei Wuxian heard this question? Too many. “What? Are you denying what you did?!”
“It’s not me” stated demonic cultivator. “Why should I accept your accusation?”
“I am courteous before the use of force” Really? I couldn’t say , thought Wei Wuxian stopping himself from rolling his eyes. “Since you are not willing to correct your mistake, I will not let you go easily! Since you don’t want to untie the evil spell on me, I’ll have to kill you!”
“Kill me?” he asked incredulously and with this he turned to Wen Ning. “Come, apparently our presence is still not appreciated nor wanted. I’m not going to a place where false allegations will be thrown in my way. My sister and nephew deserve this time to be happy and undisturbed by fools accusing people without proof.”
"Impudence!" Sputtered gold clad Jin with red face but Wei Wuxian was already walking away in the direction of Burial Mounds, Ghost General fidgeting a step behind him throwing worried glances at gathered cultivators.
Suddenly the valley rang with the sound of arrows released from their bows. Angry Jin signaled for them to fly towards Yiling Patriarch. Retreating men run to take cover behind a nearby boulder, the older one’s heart skipping a beat. How dare they actually shoot! Wei Wuxian moved his eyes to his friend who looked back at him with a question showing in the frown of his eyebrows. Demonic cultivator shook his head. He didn’t want to send Wen Ning alone to fight 300 people, especially without Yin Tiger Seal and Chenqin. He left both well hidden at Burial Mounds since he was coming to his nephew’s celebration with no intention of fighting. His logic was easy. If he doesn’t have his weapons with him no one will care to start a fight, as for any unforeseen dangers, encountering things like fierce corpses, ghouls or monsters he usually could take care of them with only talismans. In the unlikely event of a talisman not working Wen Ning was at his side - the strongest fierce corpse himself should ensure their safe passage to Lanling. Apparently though being the invited guest of a Jin Sect wasn’t enough to make sure they wouldn’t be attacked.
Wei Wuxian’s trust in people yet again proved to be faulty.
He thought back to the moment he left his flute and the Seal inside Demon Sabdue Palace feeling slightly better. If anything happens to him they will trigger the barrier he was working on ever since Lan Zhan visited him in Yiling. Hanguang-Jun brought his attention to the matter. Indeed what would happen if Wei Wuxian were to be seriously injured and unable to protect people who so quickly became his family? What would happen if Wei Wuxian were to die or be killed? He worked tirelessly to perfect the Scarlet Barrier. Now if the worst presented itself his precious ones will be safe but it needed the Seal to stay inside the Burial Mounds. With a sigh he focused again on the situation at hand only to see Wen Ning up there with the archers fighting them. He had to go when Wei Wuxian was distracted. Demonic cultivator looked around assessing the situation. He was alone behind the big rock, his friend occupying the attackers but one person was missing. The instigator of an ambush! With a quick search he was able to spot a gold-clad figure rushing towards him with a sword. He quickly dodged the sharp blade aimed at his throat and clenched his fists, Chenqin’s absence burning his fingers as his eyes flashed red.
This is the scene Jin Zixuan saw arriving at Qiongqi Path. Jin sect heir glanced around in confusion and irritation. Wei Wuxian was an invited guest and as such the man had guaranteed safety. That was the reason Jin Zixuan hurried on his sword upon hearing about the planned ambush from his half-brother. Cultivators from various clans were being tossed around like rag dolls by Wei Wuxian’s fierce corpse while the man himself stood with his back to the rock and Jin Zixun’s sword pointed at his neck. Suddenly one of the men a Wen puppet was fighting flew from above and landed with a loud thud right next to him. That was enough! He swiftly moved towards his cousin and his wife’s younger brother with the intention of stopping the madness unfolding in the valley.
“Stop, both of you!” He shouted with his eyebrows in a frown. Both men were agitated and knowing Jin Zixun he probably said a few words too much in his quite unique asshole manner.
“Zixuan, what are you doing here?” Asked the cursed man. Jin heir turned to face his relative.
“You know what I’m doing here” he replied, trying to comprehend the current situation.
“Where is Jin Guangyao?”
“He’s in Carp Tower. If it weren’t for A-Yao who told me something was wrong” Jin Zixuan continued “You would really mess it up and hide it from everyone. The Hundred Holes Curse was cast on you. Why do you hide it from me and do something like this furtively?” he squinted his eyes trying to understand his cousin, who looked at him, fire still burning in his irises.
“Zixuan” he said “please, keep it a secret from your wife for a while. After I get the spell lifted off me, I will make an official apology to you” he offered. Standing behind Jin heir Wei Wuxian felt his blood boil and resentful energy swirling around him. How dare he?! Meanwhile, newcomer tried to think of a resolution to their problem. He couldn’t let his brother-in-law be killed on the way to his son’s celebration, to not even mention A-Li, his beautiful wife who wanted so much to see her shidi!
“There is still room for common ground” he decided. “Both of you, stop it.”
“How can you reach common ground under these circumstances?” Jin Zixun asked incredulously. “Don’t you see the things on me?”
“I have heard it from A-Yao.”
“Since you have heard it from him, you should understand that I can’t wait!” he shouted. “Just because he’s Jiang Yanli’s younger brother? So for her you can ignore the life of your cousin?”
“You know well that I’m not that kind of person” Jin Zixuan retorted. “Besides, the Hundred Holes Curse on you was not necessarily cast by him. Why are you so anxious?” there had to be a way for it to not end up as a disaster! “I invited Wei Wuxian to attend my child’s celebration, yet you behave like this. What place do you put me into? What place do you put my wife into?”
“It’s best that he can’t attend!” the angry man kept yelling. “He is nothing but trash! Who is he to attend our family banquet? Those who touch him get themselves in dirty waters” he jutted his chin arrogantly. “Zixuan, you invited him here today. Aren’t you afraid your family will have an indelible stain from here until the rest of their lives?”
This made Jin Zixuan furious. “Shut up!” He shouted. Suddenly one of the men a Wen puppet was fighting flew from above and landed with a loud thud right next to him. That was enough! He took a deep breath to steady himself and turned to Wei Wuxian, noticing the man looking more haggart than almost 2 years earlier when they last met. “Stop Wen Ning from being crazy first. Don’t make the situation worse.”
“Why don’t you stop them first?” hissed the demonic cultivator, his face twisted in desperation while red bled into his irises.
“Why are you acting so tough right now?” demanded Jin Zixuan, ignoring the instinct telling him Wei Wuxian resembled a wild caged animal, deadly when cornered as crimson eyes glanced around looking for an escape. He needed to reassure his brother-in-law he’s safe first as half-mad man would definitely cause disturbance during his son’s party, not to mention his ridiculous asshole of a cousin, who still shot daggers with his glare. “Both of you, cool down. Follow me to Carp Tower. Justify yourself clearly and argue” he implored. “As long as you didn’t do that, you’ll be all right.”
It didn’t seem to help. Red eyed youth laughed, the sound threatening and dark. “Stop? As soon as I tell Wen Ning to stop” he replied “I will be shot by thousands of arrows and die with a broken body! How can I argue with you in Carp Tower then?” He asked skeptically.
“That will never happen.”
“Never?” he barked out the single laugh. “How can you assure that?”
“Stop being stubborn, Wei Wuxian” Jin heir tried again. “Command Wen Ning to stop right now and it will be all right.”
“Jin Zixuan, I’m going to tell you one thing” a determined look entered the man’s gaze. “Wen Ning is not a puppet for me to control. It is his own decision what he’s fighting for. And also” red eyes glazed over with betrayal “when you invited me, were you really unaware of their plan to kill me?”
The last question shocked Jin Zixuan. Did Wei Wuxian really think he would do something like that? Partake in an ambush? “Wei Wuxian, are you crazy?”
But then he thought that he never gave Yanli’s brother any indication he would take his side in any circumstances.
Just when the young father was trying to find words to convince Wei Wuxian of his intentions, demonic cultivator’s eyes widened. Jin Zixun gave his archers a signal to let the arrows fly from behind his cousin’s back. Wen Ning was busy fighting off several offenders and couldn’t reach a few who run a couple of steps away. The bows pointed to where Wei Wuxian stood with Jin Zixuan right in front of him. Eyes losing their red sheen he pushed his shijie’s husband out of the way without thinking. First arrow missed the man by hairs and ripped Wei Wuxian’s robes on the chest revealing Wen brand burned into the skin. Second arrow embedded itself in his abdomen, punching the air from his lungs with a shocked gasp. Third arrow entered his thigh with so much strength it almost went completely through. At the same time a small box fell to the ground, bright fresh blood covering the lid. Fourth arrow reached high on the chest, right to the scar left by hot iron. Before the fifth arrow was launched, Ghost General landed by the archers, knocking them over with enough force to break their bones, then jumped down, kicking Jin Zixun away and lifting his best friend as gently as possible in his arms, panic rising in his mind. This couldn’t be happening!
From up in the cradle of Wen Ning’s arms, a demonic cultivator looked at bewildered Jin Zixuan, who was sprawled on the ground uninjured right next to bloodied wooden box. He was in shock, his eyes roaming from arrow to arrow penetrating Wei Wuxian’s body before his attention moved to the hand pointing something on the dirt next to him.
“The box” Wei Wuxian rasped, “it’s for my nephew.” With that he coughed, red liquid flowing from his mouth and closed his eyes. A pained, distressed sound escaped from Wen Ning and before Jin heir was able to blink the pair was gone, running towards Burial Mounds.
Jin Zixuan took a deep breath after his lungs started burning. He didn’t even notice he stopped breathing. His hand found a small container with a gift for his son, the blood staining his skin as his mind tried to process what just happened. Jin Zixun right next to him started screaming after the Yiling Patriarch and Ghost General.