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Chapter Text

“Damn it!” Wei Ying exclaimed, coughing as he kneeled on the rocky floor beneath him. 

In his defense, for when he knows his dearest husband will ask, he did not mean to activate the talisman he was working on. It wasn’t even supposed to be something that worked, just an attempt at looking at a seemingly impossible concept, but based purely on the rocky, cold stone ground he was kneeling on – he was no longer in the Jingshi, his husband no longer sitting across from him at the table. 

Where he could be, he didn’t know where to begin – and the smoke that was slowly disappearing around him certainly didn’t help. 

He could feel the resentful energy in the air. Mo Xuanyu’s slowly growing golden core could sense another cultivator within the cave. The wrinkled paper consisting of the supposed impossible talisman was held tightly in his left hand. 

As the smoke finally cleared, Wei Ying could see the cave entrance to his left, and a sword pointing at him to his right. 

“Who are you? How did you find us?” 

Wei Ying could only stare, eyes wide as his mouth slightly opened at the sight. 

There was something he had only heard from Lan Xichen, from Zewu-jun’s warped point of view, his overwhelming ‘the Lans did nothing wrong’ perspective. 

He couldn’t even get Lan Zhan to talk about these days. 

Wei Ying himself wasn’t aware of what had happened, he never even knew it happened. 

A bloodied Lan Wangji stared at him, Bichen inches away from his throat. Wei Ying was close enough to see how the sword was slightly shaking, a sign of Lan Wangji’s weakened state. 

“Answer me!” 

Wei Ying’s eyes flickered behind his bloodied husband, gasping when he saw his former body, the absolute horrendous state of his condition following Nightless City. 

Wei Wuxian was staring off towards a corner of the cave, his eyes completely glazed over. His hands were limp in his lap, Chenqing lying on the floor at his feet. Blood splattered all over his face, robes torn and caked in drying blood.

“I didn’t know I looked that horrible.” Wei Ying whispered – the wrong thing to say, apparently, as he felt the point of Bichen at his throat. 

He met Lan Wangji’s gaze and came to a cold realization that this Lan Zhan didn’t recognize him. This was not his husband who had grieved him for thirteen years, who had been punished with thirty three strikes of the discipline whip by a sect who claimed to be righteous – but only complied to that righteousness when it fit their ideals, if anyone fell out of line, clearly, they could not be held responsible for dealing out punishment for stepping off the path – his husband, who had branded himself after finding their son in the ruins of the Burial Mounds. 

This was a version of his husband Wei Ying had not gotten to experience. 

This was a desperate Lan Zhan. 

A Lan Zhan who knew the Yiling Laozu would be condemned to death for things that were objectively the right thing to do – but went against the other sects, did things that someone of his low status and his birth should not have even thought about doing. 

Wei Wuxian was a scapegoat for the sects. He was their perfect person to place blame onto for absolutely anything. Why bother actually investigating what happened when Jin Guangshan could just say Wei Wuxian was raising a corpse army in the Burial Mounds? Why bother being righteous and factual when one could just believe what those in power were saying? 

Clearly, they had absolutely no reason to be lying, there could be no other motivation for the downfall of the Yiling Laozu other than peace and justice for the cultivation world. 

This was a Lan Wangji who would fight his elders, who would fight his family, who could and would shoulder the weight of Wei Ying’s so-called “wrongs” with him. This was a Lan Wangji who permanently severed his relationship with his brother and uncle in this very cave, where their relationship would never be the same – Lan Zhan had told him as much. 

He would never be able to look at his uncle without seeing a discipline whip in his hand, his brother without a small frown as he allowed a punishment that – had it been literally anyone else – would have killed him. 

An uncle who continuously belittled him, who spoke down to him, who he would not let A-Yuan be alone with as to not let his uncle taint his son’s mind. An uncle who added over one thousand rules based on his interpretation of Wei Ying’s actions – who added one prohibiting interacting with Wei Wuxian. 

A brother who looked down on him, who questioned his integrity when he chose to stand by Wei Ying, who chose to believe someone else. A brother who allowed his punishment to happen, who knew exactly what he was doing when he brought his uncle and thirty three elders to that cave, who knew Wei Ying had been attacked first and was defending himself, who knew that the Lan sect were aggressors in this very cave, who claimed to be victims when they were the ones bringing weapons and thirty five people to a cave containing two very worn out – assumed – cultivators. 

However, this was a Lan Wangji who had not yet fought his elders, who had not been whipped, who still stood a chance. This was a Lan Zhan who had not grieved for thirteen years, who was forced to raise their son alone. 

Wei Ying’s eyes glanced over towards his former body. 

It would be difficult, recovery would be long, painful, but maybe, just maybe, if Lan Zhan could help clear out the resentment in that body, if his meridians were still intact enough to channel spiritual energy, if the Wens were protected-

“Who are you. I will not repeat myself.” Lan Wangji’s eyes hardened as his grip slightly shifted on his sword. Wei Ying met his gaze. 

“Wangxian. That’s the name of the song you wrote.” 

In Lan Wangji’s momentary shock, Wei Ying was able to stand up and take a few steps back. 

“You sang it for me when we were in the Xuanwu cave. You also bit me in that cave, the mark didn’t heal for weeks because I forgot it was there. I passed out just before you spoke the name, I didn’t know its name until only a few years ago.” Wei Ying let a small smile cross his face. “It sounds beautiful when played as a duet.” 

He swallowed, taking a small step forward. 

“You named the rabbits I gave you ZhanZhan and YingYing, there should be over a dozen of them now.” 

He could see the confusion on Lan Wangji’s face. 

“I look different, but the you I know isn’t bothered by that. You always tell me ‘Wei Ying is Wei Ying,’ that it wouldn’t matter what body I was in, you would still love me all the same.” 

Bichen fell to the floor. Wei Ying could tell that Lan Wangji’s mind was slowly piecing together what being in a new body meant. 

“You-“ 

“How long have you been in this cave Lan Zhan?” Wei Ying softly spoke as he stood in front of Lan Wangji, seeing the emotions flicker across the man’s face. 

“Three hours.” A hoarse whisper spoke a few moments later. Wei Ying nodded, trying to calculate in his mind what the best course of action would be.

“Wei…Wei Ying-“ Lan Wangji started, “what happened? Why is how long we have been in this cave relevant?” 

“In two days, ten hours, twenty three minutes, they will arrive.” 

The pair turned to the cave’s entrance, watching as Lan Zhan – an older, wiser, more worn version of the younger man standing inside in the cave – approached them. 

Wei Ying could see the tension in his husband’s face, how his hand tightened around Bichen’s hilt – the other bunching the robes of his sleeve. Lan Zhan’s eyes kept flickering around the cave, avoiding the spot Wei Ying knew Wei Wuxian was occupying. 

“They?”

Wei Ying reached over, grabbing his husband’s hand and smoothing out his wrinkled robes before turning towards Lan Wangji. 

“Lan Xichen, Lan Qiren, and thirty three Lan elders.” He saw Lan Wangji’s eyes widen. “They will come, claiming to be righteous. They will come armed, demanding Wei Wuxian, claiming that he needs to be brought to justice.” Wei Ying scoffed. 

“They’ll claim to be victims, that they are in the right, that everything wrong in the world will be solved if he no longer exists.” He let out a sight. “In the end, I suppose, they did get what they wanted.” He clutched his husband’s hand. 

“Obviously, you did not let them take me. You fought them, and were punished by the same people who were supposed to be righteous, to be just, to be the sect that values life. You defied them. They thought I had corrupted you, that if they could get me out of the way, you would return to the perfect Lan disciple you had been raised to be. They were ashamed, furious, that their seemingly perfect puppet had fallen off the impossible pedestal they placed you upon. If…if you had not been as strong of a cultivator as you are-“ 

“Wei Ying, you do not need to talk about this.” Lan Zhan softly spoke, reaching over to wipe the tears that had fallen down Wei Ying’s face. 

Wei Ying leaned into the hand that cupped his face, his eyes closing as he took a moment to calm himself – slowly breathing in and out, following the instructions Wen Qing had given him during the core transfer. Despite the pain and overall negative emotions that come with remembering his core being torn out of him meridian by meridian, he trusted Wen Qing’s words – and has yet to see a time where her advice didn’t work. 

It also helped that both Sizhui and Jingyi had medical training and have both told him to use the exact same methods. 

“We…” Wei Ying opened his eyes, looking towards Lan Wangji then back towards his husband, “we need to get out of here, back to the Burial Mounds.” He whispered, his eyes wandering over towards the slumped over body resting against the cave wall. 

“We may have two days until the Lans show up, but we have four weeks until he wakes up.” He heard both men gasp. 

“Four weeks? You were unconscious for four weeks?” Wei Ying turned towards Lan Zhan, a sad smile on his face. 

“Unconscious as in I didn’t recognize anyone around me unless it was A-Yuan. Sishu and Popo told me that I wouldn’t even react to their voices, their presence, even their touch, but every single time A-Yuan stepped into the cave I turned towards him. I watched him flutter around me, I would eat the food he fed me.” He took a deep breath. “I never spoke to him, or really moved, but I could tell he was there. Also, I was actually unconscious for a week and a half, catatonic for almost three.” 

The pair watched as Lan Wangji turned around to look at the prone form of Wei Wuxian - eyes glossed over, staring off, unaware of anything going on around him. 

“He…he doesn’t know what’s going on?” Lan Wangji whispered. 

“I don’t remember any of this happening,” Wei Ying started, his voice soft, “I remember Shijie dying, putting the two halves of the seal together, and then waking up in the Burial Mounds.” He scoffed. “I only found out when Lan Xichen told me, quite rudely, thinking that I had to be stupid to not understand your feelings after this moment.” 

Wei Ying shook his head, turning towards the mouth of the cave, the entrance that the Lan Clan would soon be coming though - only, they would discover an empty cave. 

“Lan Zhan,” He turned towards his husband, “do you have the strength for a teleportation talisman? Enough to carry four people?” 

“You wish to teleport to the Burial Mounds?” Wei Ying shrugged. 

“There’s no other way. You’re the only one who has the strength to fly. We could wait a day, let A-Zhan regain his strength, but I would rather we get there and start planning sooner rather than later.” Wei Ying ran a hand down his sleeve. “I’m not sure how we can even fix this, if we can save everyone.” His voice dropped to a whisper. 

“I don’t think there is a way to save everyone.”

Chapter Text

Climbing up the pathways towards the Burial Mounds settlement almost made Wei Ying cry. 

He could see lights hanging along the pathway, lighting the way, the lights that the Wen had put up for him so he wouldn’t injure himself on the days he would wander around the Burial Mounds - whether due to investigating the grounds, patrolling, or to need space to separate himself from the Wen as to not potentially harm them. 

Lan Zhan was firm at his side, Lan Wangji cradling Wei Wuxian in his arms silently followed behind them. 

They reached the top of the pathway, finally able to see the full settlement and its inhabitants. 

The Wen were on edge, quietly shuffling around their homes - until one of them spotted them, causing a chain reaction of the Wen grabbing whatever they could find to use as a weapon. 

Before they were able to explain themselves, before any of the Wen were able to recognize Lan Wangji, Hanguang-jun, as the man standing in white, A-Yuan broke through the crowd - running towards them. 

Little Wen Yuan stopped in front of them, holding his grass butterflies in his hands, as he stared up at Lan Zhan and Wei Ying - not reacting at all to the shouts coming from Popo and Sishu, telling him to come back to them. 

“Rich-gege?” A-Yuan spoke, his gaze turned towards Wei Ying, eyes unsure. 

He stuck a hand out, his palm up and open. 

Wei Ying understood immediately, and took Chenqing out, gently placing it in A-Yuan’s hand. 

He knew people were looking at them confused, Lan Zhan especially. 

Wei Ying knew, likely, that Sizhui himself didn’t remember their little agreement, the one that they had made just in case anyone ever tried impersonating Wei Ying in an attempt at getting A-Yuan to trust them. 

On Chenqing, on the other side of the mouthpiece, was a carving of Yuan that Wei Ying had made specifically for A-Yuan - the character of his name in particular. Wei Ying made A-Yuan swear that anyone who claimed to be him, who claimed to have Chenqing, he was to look for his name in the place Wei Ying put it. 

While it had never been needed for his A-Yuan, this A-Yuan knew of their agreement, and Wei Ying could see the moment that he spotted his name - his eyes lighting up as he held Chenqing to his chest, a wide smile on his face as he ran into Wei Ying’s arms. 

“Xian-gege!” 

Wei Ying looked over A-Yuan’s shoulder, watching as the Wen still looked warily at him, and he could understand that - he didn’t look like Wei Wuxian, and the Wei Wuxian they knew was unconscious in Lan Wangji’s arms a few paces behind them. 

He rose to his feet, A-Yuan held tightly in his arms, as he looked at the Wen, meeting Popo’s gaze. 

“Popo,” He started, his voice breaking, “I swear it is me.” 

When she lowered her weapon - a gardening shovel - the others followed suit. 

When she stepped towards him, only Sishu followed. 

Wei Ying leaned into her hand as it cupped his face, as she wiped away the tear that had fallen. 

“A-Ying?” She questioned. “What happened? What’s going on?” 

“I will explain everything, I promise, but we need to get little me some help.” He tilted his head, gesturing behind them. 

Wei Ying saw Popo’s eyes widen, realizing who was behind them, the state they were in. She turned and called out for A-Lin, their only remaining healer, and started directing Lan Wangji into one of the huts, calling out for supplies to be brought to them, for wrappings, for fresh water, for anything that they could think of - anything that they had available to them. 

While everyone was trying to help Wei Wuxian, Wei Ying and Lan Zhan wandered into the cave - into Wei Ying’s cave - and started clearing space, gathering everything that didn’t need to be out in front of any advantageous eyes or hands from taking. It would also serve as an open space to speak to the Wen with. 

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying whispered, his eyes gazing down on a drawing he had found, “I don’t know how we fix this.” He felt a hand on his arm, Lan Zhan’s firm presence beside him. “The only route here is to run, for the Wen to leave, to change their names and run, and keep running.” 

Lan Zhan met his gaze. 

“That’s no life to live, having to look over your shoulder every second of the day, never being able to rest, thinking that someone will recognize you for who they think you are and kill you on the spot.” A tear fell down his face, Lan Zhan’s thumb catching it as he cupped his face. 

“What if…” Lan Zhan paused, Wei Ying could see the hesitancy on his face. “What if they didn’t need to run? Could there be a place that they could go where no one would care?” 

Just as Wei Ying was about to speak, they heard footsteps at the mouth of the cave, turning to watch Popo, Sishu, Lan Wangji, and a few of the Wen walk into the cave. 

“A-Ying? We are ready to hear your story, if you’d like to share.” 

They all sat around one of the tables, Lan Zhan and Wei Ying narrating the story of what happened - would happen - in their past. They spoke of how it was an accident, that Wei Ying had been tinkering with a talisman and accidentally time travelled, encountering Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian. 

Tears were shed at mentions of the siege, of how A-Yuan was the only one who survived, how Lan Zhan had found him and taken him back to Cloud Recesses. 

How the Jin had lied about Wen Ning being dead, that he still lived, that they needed to find a way to get him back without alerting the sects. 

“How much time do we have?” Popo whispered, wiping away a tear. 

“Three months, at the best.” Wei Ying sniffled, his eyes meeting Lan Wangji’s. “I don’t know what will happen, when the Lan realize that they haven’t been able to find A-Zhan, but I refuse to let them find him. I know what they did the first time, when they had found us in that cave, and I do not want to know what they would do if they found him here of all places.” 

“I just,” He deflated, leaning into the arm Lan Zhan had around his waist, “I don’t know how to fix this, how to prevent everything, how to save all of you.” 

The idea came to him suddenly, stiffening in Lan Zhan’s arms, startling those around him. 

Wide eyed, he turned around, meeting Lan Zhan’s gaze. 

“Can Cloud Recesses handle an influx of people right now?” 

“Cloud Recesses? I thought we didn’t want them finding us?” Lan Wangji spoke, the same wrinkle forming between his brows that Lan Zhan had - and he couldn’t even poke it to make it go away, they were too far apart, the shame. 

“Not your Cloud Recesses A-Zhan, our Cloud Recesses.” 

Lan Zhan’s eyes widened, realizing what Wei Ying was saying. 

“You wish to take them to the future? With us when we return?” 

“Would that even be possible? Can two versions of the same soul coexist without some type of interference?” A-Zhan questioned, his eyes darting around, watching the reactions of the Wen. 

“Well, Lan Zhan and I are allowed here because we traveled back on our own time. We have already lived these events, us changing things will not change our timeline-” 

“But it will change ours.” Popo spoke, meeting Wei Ying’s gaze. 

“I don’t…I don’t know what would happen, but it is the only solution I can think of to fix this.” 

“Then, let’s do it.” Sishu spoke, his voice firm in his resolve. “Any way out of this, regardless of what happens, will be better than what awaits us if we do nothing.” 

“A-Ying, what makes you hesitant? Perhaps we can come up with a solution.” 

“Popo, I…I don’t know what would happen to those who already exist in the future. It is entirely possible that they would not be able to come with us, or that there would be two of us, or that we would both disappear.” Wei Ying took in a breath. “I don’t want to risk any of that.” 

“Perhaps the souls would merge.” A-Zhan spoke, all eyes turning to him. “You said that you are able to be here because you traveled on your own timeline, when you return, you will still be as you are now and your history unchanged. Being here does nothing to you, perhaps upon return, the universe would do its best to correct any changes.” 

“The younger souls would merge with the older, and since we will haven’t changed fundamental facts of the timeline, any duplicates would just…cease to exist.” Lan Zhan spoke, watching as Wei Ying still looked hesitant. 

“But what does that mean for you, A-Ying?” Sishu questioned, “You are no longer in your own body, would your souls simply merge together or would something happen to your appearance?” 

Wei Ying put his head in his hands, groaning. 

“I don’t care if anything happens to me,” The Lan Zhans spoke their upset at such words, Wei Ying looked up, meeting both their gazes, “Not like that. I am me, I will continue to be me, but…what about Sizhui?” 

Lan Zhan gasped, his eyes widening as he understood where Wei Ying’s hesitancy came from. 

“Sizhui?” Popo questioned. 

“Lan Zhan found A-Yuan, gave him the Lan name. Lan Yuan, courtesy Sizhui. A-Yuan is barely even three right now, he wouldn’t be a child anymore.” 

Wei Ying jumped at a hand gently grasping his own. 

“A-Ying, we would not be losing A-Yuan, he would still be with us, just in a different way. We would be losing a child, sure, but to all of us A-Yuan is a child. You now inhabit another’s body and we still care for you.” She brushed away the tear that was falling down Wei Ying’s face. “We would still have you, have A-Yuan, and that is what matters. The form of you, the way you are, does not matter, so long as we have you.”

“It shouldn’t be hard.” We Ying spoke after a few moments of silence. “I know how we got here, so it should be the same way back. I don’t know how we get Wen Ning back, I don’t want to just leave him here.” 

“We will figure it out, Wei Ying.”

Chapter Text

It was figuring out how to get into Koi Tower that was the hardest part, figuring out how to sneak into grounds that were no doubt highly warded and tightly watched - especially after what happened in Nightless City. 

Getting Wen Ning back, before anything could be done to him, was looking like an almost impossible task - but Wei Ying was known for achieving the impossible. 

“Wei-gongzi,” Sishu started, looking across the table full of plans, of layouts, of everything Lan Zhan and Lan Wangji and Wei Ying could remember about Koi Tower, “could it be possible to use your appearance now? You are of Jin blood, are you not?” 

Three heads turned to look at him. 

“Huh, I guess I really don’t think about Mo Xuanyu’s parentage as much as I should.” Wei Ying let out a laugh, “I really only think of it when I see Jin Ling and remember that I technically inhabit the body of his uncle.” 

“You are his uncle on his mother’s side as well,” Lan Zhan mentioned as he reached over, grabbing the cup that Wei Ying’s sleeve was about to knock over. 

“Is it wise to send Wei Ying alone into Koi tower given everything we know?” Lan Wangji spoke, his voice quiet, worried. 

Wei Ying sighed, leaning against his hand. 

“I don’t think we have any other options. If anything is hidden behind a blood seal, then I’ll still be able to get through it. I look enough like a Jin that no one would question me - it’s a matter of getting those gaudy golden robes that’s the problem.” He pointed a finger at the Lan Zhans. “And neither of you can go, you’re far too recognizable and it would blow the time travel out into the open if someone saw Lan Zhan.”

“And we do not need the Lan finding out where A-Zhan is.” Popo spoke, walking into the cave with a tray of snacks, gently setting it onto the table. 

“We do not.” 

“Guess I get to take a lovely trip to Jin Guangshan’s Koi Tower.” Wei Ying groaned. “And Jin Ling had finally managed to convince me there wasn’t enough gold coating the walls to feed an entire village for generations.” 

One benefit, Wei Ying found, to all of his trips to Koi Tower to be around Jin Ling was that he knew the layout of the place fairly well - not like the palm-of-his-hand well, but well enough to navigate it on sight alone. He didn’t know what rooms were where or what pathways and hallways went certain directions, but if he knew where he was within Koi Tower, he could navigate his way around without help. 

It had, surprisingly, been easy to obtain a set of Jin robes. 

All he had to do was ask the Burial Mounds, to ask the ghosts and spirits if any Jin cultivators had died close by recently - or recently enough that their robes still remained in a decent state. 

While Wei Ying felt as though his very soul was protesting the concept of wearing Jin gold, of the vermillion mark that now resided between his brows, well he couldn’t blame anyone. It was a step that needed to be done, they had brainstormed and pondered for almost a week before deciding that this was the only path that they would be able to take. 

Where Wen Ning was being kept, Wei Ying had some sort of idea. 

The Jin had a set of dungeons only accessible by those of high rank or those of the main family - and Wei Ying was banking on the concept that no one would dare question him as he walked through the corridors, walking past servants and maids, injured cultivators and complaining clan leaders. 

He heard voices coming from a hallway that he knew housed the rooms belonging to the main family members, almost instinctively hiding away when he spotted the white robes that could only belong to Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren as they exited a room and walked down the hallway towards him. 

Wei Ying stopped, bowing to them as they passed. Neither took much notice of him, but as he was walking away, walking down the corridor that they just came from, Lan Qiren spoke. 

“Are you aware that disciples are not allowed to wander these halls?” He spoke, eyes almost glaring at him in that way Wei Ying had become accustomed to. 

Lan Xichen paused, looking at him as if he recognized him, that some part of him was familiar. 

“Have we met before, gongzi?” he questioned. 

Wei Ying sighed, sending a silent apology for this timeline’s Mo Xuanyu - should he ever meet Lan Xichen or Lan Qiren or be within Koi Tower. 

“Apologies, Lan-xiansheng, Zewu-jun, this one has recently found his way into the Jin Clan.” Wei Ying leaned in closer, dropping his words to a whisper. “I discovered that my father was Jin-Zongzhu, and have been trying to find a way to speak with him, but I fear with everything that has happened I won’t have a chance for a while.” 

“Your name?” Lan Qiren asked, his voice as unemotional as ever, as if this moment was nothing more than something he wished he wasn’t doing. 

“Mo Xuanyu, Lan-xiansheng.”

“And within the Jin Clan, what is it that you are trying to accomplish by gathering the recognition of Jin Guangshan?” 

“I…” Wei Ying paused, willing tears to pool in his eyes, “My mother recently passed. She only told me of my parentage upon her deathbed. She told me that she and Jin-Zongzhu spent a lot of time together and I simply wished to hear about her, how she was before I was born.” 

“It is very noble of you,” Zewu-jun started, “to want to hear of your mother from a man that knew her, but it would appear that now is not the time to be speaking to Jin-Zongzhu on the matter of his children and affairs, especially with the recent death of Jin Zixuan.” 

“Of course, of course,” Wei Ying ducked his head, “How could I forget, how could I even show my face here when such an event has taken place.” He bowed to the pair. “Forgive me Zewu-jun, Lan-xiansheng, I must depart from this place immediately. I do not wish to cause my fath…Jin-Zongzhu any more grief than he is already experiencing.” 

Wei Ying turned and quickly walked down the hallway, taking a sharp turn that he knew would lead him to a servant’s stairwell, one that came out near one of the back entrances to Koi Tower - one that merchants and suppliers use. 

And, coincidentally enough, one that resided close by the entrance to the dungeons. 

There were no guards posted near the hidden entrance - one that Jin Ling had shown him, taking him inside to look over what was left behind by Jin Guangyao and Xue Yang to make sure nothing that remained belonged to Wei Wuxian or was dangerous. 

Wei Ying simply held his hand against one of the bricks and stepped inside once the path revealed itself. 

He had a feeling that Jin Guangyao would have some sort of connection or alert rigged to the entrance, or someone would, and would know if it had been accessed. But considering that it was only available to be opened by blood Jin, Wei Ying didn’t worry necessarily about being caught as he crept further down the stairs and towards the cells. 

It was Wen Ning who spotted him first. 

“Jin-gongzi…I’ve already told all I know.” His timid voice came from the back of one of the cells. 

Wei Ying turned, eyes widening as he spotted Wen Ning sitting on the floor against the back of one of the cells, almost completely blending in with the darkness. His robes were singed, as if he had been placed onto a pyre - and then immediately taken off before any real damage could happen. 

He walked over and met Wen Ning’s gaze - and watched as his eyes widened. 

“Wei-gongzi? But…how?” 

It was Wei Ying’s turn to be shocked. 

“You still know it’s me? Fascinating.” Wei Ying looked down at the cell’s lock, easily destroying it with a simple talisman. “A-Ning, it’s a lot to explain, and I’ll be able to give a much better explanation once we’re back with the others.” 

Wen Ning nodded, rising and following Wei Ying out of the dungeons, carefully keeping out of sight once they left the entrance - then ducking into one of the more secluded gardens. 

Wei Ying pulled a teleportation talisman out - one that both the Lan Zhans had charged with their energies so that Wei Ying would be able to use it to get both of them back to the Burial Mounds. 

“Hold on tight A-Ning.” Wei Ying spoke, grabbing Wen Ning’s hand before activating the talisman and disappearing from the garden, from Koi Tower, and reappearing within the Demon Slaughtering Cave. 

He was immediately caught by his loving husband, a flow of his qi immediately flooding his meridians, as he watched Wen Ning be embraced by his family, by the people who thought he was dead. 

“You’ve done well, Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan whispered into his ear, “You can sleep now.” 

Wei Ying’s eyes closed, leaning his head onto Lan Zhan’s shoulder, slipping into slumber knowing that - for now - they were all safe, back together, that they had a plan, and all that was left was pulling it off. 

It would be three weeks before Wei Ying was able to draw out the array to take them back - modifying the talisman they had used into an array took a week on its own. Now, all that he needed was a wide open space to draw it on, and the cave he once called home provided an area large enough to work with. 

Over the course of a week, the Lan Zhans and Wei Ying carefully drew out every stroke of the array, going back over it dozens of times to make sure it matched the smaller drawings that Wei Ying had made. 

Once they were satisfied with the end result, they gathered all the Wen in the cave - telling them to grab whatever they held close, things that they cherished, anything else was going to be replaced the moment they were settled in Cloud Recesses. 

Popo and Sishu stood with A-Yuan in between them, the child holding onto the toys that Lan Zhan had bought him as well as the few that Wei Ying had managed to pull enough scraps together to make. 

Lan Wangji stood at the edge of the array, a still unconscious - but slightly cognisant - Wei Wuxian in his arms. While they had hoped he would have regained full consciousness, regained his mind enough to be able to know what was going on around him, Wei Wuxian had only been able to get to a point where his eyes tracked A-Yuan as he moved around him. 

“Perhaps, it is better for him to not know.” Lan Wangji had told Wei Ying once they had finished drawing the array. “He should become you after this, and if he is spared for a moment from another thought of what has happened, I would be grateful.” 

Lan Zhan stood near the pair, keeping an eye on the edge of the array as Wei Ying stood in the center, everyone waiting on the final members of the Wen to join them. 

“Lan Zhan?” He heard from behind him, turning to see Wei Wuxian’s eyes slowly opening - clear, focused on him. 

“What’s going on?” Wei Ying’s voice cracked, it was hoarse, his throat dry, his vocal cords not used to speaking after such a long time not being used - Lan Zhan almost shed a tear at that voice speaking his name. 

Wei Wuxian didn’t seem to notice Lan Wangji holding him, his focus entirely on Lan Zhan as he walked closer, raising a hand and cupping his cheek. 

“We’re going home.” Lan Zhan whispered. “To our home.” 

A small smile formed on Wei Wuxian’s face, his eyes closing as he leaned into the warmth radiating from Lan Zhan’s hand. 

“Home.” Wei Wuxian sighed. “Let’s go home, Lan Zhan.” 

Lan Zhan carefully removed his hand, gently pushing Wei Wuxian’s face back into Lan Wangji’s neck - the small smile still remaining on his face. 

“Lan Zhan?” 

“Mn.” Lan Wangji responded, arms cradling Wei Wuxian. 

“I love you.” 

Both Lan Zhan and Lan Wangji took in a sharp breath, their eyes meeting, sharing the same look of shock, before Lan Zhan reached over and brushed away the hair that was falling over Wei Wuxian’s face. 

“I love you too, Wei Ying. We’ll be home soon, I’ll wake you once we’re there.” 

The array below them burst into light, the sigils each lighting in the order they were supposed to, before engulfing them in a bright light.

And leaving the cave entirely empty.

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan can admit that they probably should have expected some kind of chaos upon their arrival - rather than thinking that they would arrive at a quiet time, perhaps in the middle of the night, and be able to come up with a way to calmly explain everything to everyone and introduce things slowly. 

This was not slowly. 

Lan Zhan caught Wei Ying in his arms, watching as Jingyi managed to catch Sizhui before he hit the ground - his eyes were wide as he looked for Hanguang-jun, panicked at his best friend collapsing. 

“Be prepared to catch me, oh husband of mine, I don’t think I’ll be awake when we arrive.” 

Wei Ying’s words rang in his head as he gently lowered himself and Wei Ying to the ground. 

It was then that he got his first look at Wei Ying, his hand freezing in its path as he went to brush the hair out of his face. 

They had speculated, for a moment, what would happen when their younger souls merged with the older - determining that it was almost certain that the older souls would be more powerful and simply would absorb their younger selves. Sishu had questioned if anything would happen to Wei Ying’s appearance. 

Lan Zhan didn’t let himself think about it, didn’t let himself think about the chance at having his Wei Ying’s original body back. 

He loved Wei Ying, it didn’t matter what form he was in, he would always love Wei Ying. 

But he couldn’t help but hope that something would happen, that some part of Wei Ying could come back with them - the small dimples he had that were so pronounced when he smiled, the dimples that Wei Ying mentioned having at the base of his spine, the scars upon scars that Wei Ying had told him that littered his legs, using his hands to draw out where they used to be. 

Seeing Wei Wuxian, seeing Wei Ying’s original body, watching him lay on Wen Popo’s bed covered in bandages, unconscious and unknowing of what was going on around him, Lan Zhan could only watch - knowing that this had been the state Wei Ying had been in when he had been allowed to take him back to the Burial Mounds. 

It felt surreal, knowing that the days he spent in the Burial Mounds helping Wei Ying plan a way to free the Wen, to bring them to the future, finding the only way to save them from death - Lan Zhan had been bedbound, laying prone in his bed, unconscious for days at a time, thirty-three lashes from the discipline whip oozing red hot blood with every small movement, sticking to bandages and requiring changings every few hours. 

They spoke of saving Wei Wuxian and the Wen from death, not knowing that they were also saving Lan Wangji from the brutality of the Lan Clan, of knowing what it felt like to press a red hot brand to his chest, to have to search the burnt, bloodied rubble of the Burial Mounds looking for a single sign of life, that they had lied, that Wei Ying wasn’t dead. 

They saved Lan Wangji from the pain of finding A-Yuan barely alive, managing to drag them both back to Cloud Recesses, spending the next three years recovering, learning how to walk through the pain, how to navigate sword forms when every movement pulled on his back, the months upon months spent learning how to channel his spiritual energy to his back on days where the pain just wouldn’t go away.

Lan Zhan looked down at Wei Ying’s face, a tear sliding down his face as he took in Wei Ying’s original form, wanting and hoping for him to wake up, to be able to see those brilliant grey eyes look back up at him, to hear his voice, to stand next to him, to cross swords with him again. 

“Wangji?” Lan Qiren spoke, hesitantly approaching him, the Wen parting and creating a pathway towards them. 

“Shufu,” Lan Zhan paused, “Much has happened.” Lan Qiren scoffed. 

“I would hope much has happened, considering both you and Wei Wuxian have been missing for the past month.” He looked around, freezing when his eyes landed on Wen Popo. 

“Wangji…what have you done?” 

Lan Zhan cradled Wei Ying in his arms, thinking about what to tell his uncle in that moment. His eyes drifted over to Sizhui, held the same way in Jingyi’s arms as Wei Ying in his. 

“Shufu, it would be best to wait until Wei Ying and Sizhui have woken and for Wen Qionglin to join us.” His eyes scanned over the Wen, making sure Wen Ning hadn’t appeared with them. “He likely will be arriving soon, please have him escorted to the Jingshi once he arrives.” 

Lan Zhan gently picked up Wei Ying, cradling him in his arms as he stood. He walked past Jingyi, directing him to follow with Sizhui. 

“Popo, Sishu,” Lan Zhan turned his attention to the pair, “I will be taking Wei Ying and Sizhui to the Jingshi. I will let you know when they have woken.” He nodded towards Lan Qiren, standing a few steps away. “If you have any issues or wants, please direct them to Shufu.” 

Sizhui woke first, shortly after they arrived at the Jingshi. 

When Sizhui woke, Lan Zhan could tell that he was confused as to why he was in the Jingshi, but the moment he met his father’s gaze, his eyes went wide. 

“You…Baba you saved everyone?” His voice shook as he spoke, tears pooling in his eyes, watching as Lan Zhan crossed the room and sat next to him. 

“What do you remember?” Lan Zhan softly spoke, wiping away the first tear as it fell. 

Sizhui let out a laugh, a small smile on his face. 

“Everything. Everything.” He looked up at Lan Zhan. “All my memories, they’re back, they’re there, I…I can remember everyone.” Sizhui reached up, wiping away his tears. 

“How…how’s A-die?” 

Sizhui wrapped his arms around Lan Zhan when he saw the sleeping, recognizable face of Wei Wuxian, asleep on the bed. Lan Zhan wrapped his arms around his son as he sobbed. 

“They’re all waiting for you both to wake up, for Wen Qionglin to join us.” Lan Zhan reached down, wiping away tears from Sizhui’s face. “We did what we had to, the only thing we could do to save them all.” Lan Zhan’s face slightly fell. 

“All we could save.” 

A-Yuan nodded, his eyes closing. 

“Everyone, except for Qing-jiejie.” Sizhui quickly looked up at the sharp breath his Baba took. “Baba, you both did your best. You didn’t mean to leave, you didn’t mean to time travel, but you took advantage of the situation, you saved the lives of innocent people. I’m certain the decision as what to do was hard enough to make, it must have been hard to see the past and especially during that time.” 

“It was nice to see how cute you were though.” 

The Lans turned towards the bed, watching as Wei Ying looked at them with a sleepy smile on his face. 

“I was talking about you, A-Yuan, but you, Lan Zhan, have always been very adorable.” 

Once they had managed to get Wei Ying out of bed and into a set of Lan Zhan’s robes - his own now were too small for his frame - they made their way to one of the dining halls in Cloud Recesses. 

Until the pair were able to sit down and explain everything to Lan Qiren - Lan Xichen remained in seclusion and would likely not come out for years if Wei Ying had to make a guess - Lan Qiren had directed all the Wen to wait in the dining hall. It worked out, as they were able to take food there easily and it had enough available seating for the almost 50 people that had suddenly appeared in the center courtyard of Cloud Recesses. 

Lan Zhan, Wei Ying, and Sizhui all entered into the dining hall, the room falling silent the moment the doors opened. All eyes turned towards them, before the sounds of dozens of chairs scraping the floor rang out across the room. 

The Wen crowded them, all of them with wide smiles, full stomachs, wanting to see them, to thank Wei Ying for everything he has done. A pathway formed as Popo and Sishu came to the front, everyone letting them pass until they finally saw the three of them. 

“Popo.” Sizhui spoke, his voice breaking as he stepped towards her, falling to his knees and hugging her around her waist. 

Wei Ying heard the echo of gasps from across the room - of the Wen realizing that this Lan boy was their A-Yuan, that he had grown into a tall, strong, formidable cultivator. 

The door opened behind them, an almost panting Wen Ning rushed into the room. 

“Wei-gongzi? What’s going-” His eyes widened as he saw everyone, saw his family. 

And they were all alive.

He ran to them, pulling anyone he could into a hug. For them, they just saw him, they were all together when the array went off, when they were taken to the future. But for Wen Ning, for this Wen Ning, they had been dead, he had spent fourteen years without them, had to see the barren land in the Burial Mounds that used to be their settlement. 

It had been their spirits that had helped them during the second siege. It was their bodies, their ashes, that Wen Ning had tried to capture, tried to hold on to the last shred of his family that he could get his hands on. 

But here they were, here they are.

He could remember what had happened, how Wei Ying had rescued him from Koi Tower, how they had spent time in the Burial Mounds planning, working out how to take the talisman that got Lan Zhan and Wei Ying there and converting it into an array powerful enough to get 50 people to the future. 

Wen Ning had always felt grateful towards Wei Wuxian for everything that he had done for his family, but in that moment, surrounded completely by his family, he turned back and looked at Wei Ying and Lan Zhan. Wei Ying smiled at him, his head resting on Lan Zhan’s shoulder, pulled as close as possible to his husband. 

They were both there, both alive - well, technically in a way. 

And now, they finally had the rest of their family with them.

Chapter Text

They searched, following the direction that they saw Lan Wangji leave in - an unconscious Wei Wuxian in his arms. 

Eventually, Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren came across a cave, hidden in a wall, easily able to miss if one wasn’t looking for any open passages big enough to hide in. 

When they entered into the cave, the residual spiritual energy that lingered made them aware that someone had been here - that some type of cultivation that required a high amount of energy had been used. 

It was when they went deeper into the cave that they found the blood, pooled and scattered across one of the walls of the cave, indicating that someone had been sitting there, someone who was bleeding, someone who hadn’t moved at all from that position from the moment they had been placed there. 

While Lan Xichen wanted to believe that the energy residue they were feeling was Lan Wangji’s - that the blood was Wei Wuxian’s - Lan Qiren had been the one to tell him to not make assumptions, that they didn’t need to be running after ghosts, shadows of the truth. If they couldn’t find Lan Wangji, that just meant they needed to go to the one place that they knew for certain Wei Wuxian would be. 

The Burial Mounds.

However, even after days of searching, of coming up with empty lead after empty lead, the Lans were forced to make their way to Koi Tower, to ask for the help of the clans - not only for finding and securing Lan Wangji, but for taking down Wei Wuxian and the vile actions and deaths he was responsible for. 

Expectedly, Jin Guangshan was on board for an immediate siege of the Burial Mounds, declaring that he would have men ready by first light, that he needed to avenge his son, avenge his daughter-in-law, for the crimes committed against them.

Lan Xichen watched as the Jin turned, almost running down the hallway and ducking into one of the servant pathways. 

“Perhaps, once everything is done, he will be able to speak with his father.” Lan Xichen sighed, turning to his uncle. “Shufu, I will go speak with Mingjue and Jiang-Zongzhu, let them know of our plans.” 

Lan Qiren nodded, his eyes still looking in the direction Mo Xuanyu had gone. 

“Tell them to bring supplies. I anticipate that we may be waiting for a while.” Lan Xichen looked at him confused. “Xichen, if Wangji is with Wei Wuxian inside the Burial Mounds, I anticipate quite a strong ward to be placed around either the mounds themselves or the main station where everyone resides. As much as I wish this could go peacefully, that we could take Wangji back without force, I fear that we will have to force him.” 

“For his own good.” Lan Xichen mumbled, meeting Lan Qiren’s gaze. 

“For his own good.” 

Lan Xichen remembered the moment he looked up, the moment he saw Wei Wuxian flying off in Wangji’s arms. 

He remembered the heavy feeling of Shuoyue in his hand, raising it to block another corpse. He remembered looking around him, seeing dozens of people laying on the ground, injury after injury, dead among dead. He remembered seeing Jiang Wanyin cradling his sister’s body, the blood that coated Jiang Yanli’s clothes, the gaping wound in her neck. 

Lan Xichen remembered the dread he felt, knowing that Wangji had left with the man responsible for everything, for all of the chaos. 

He didn’t know how Wei Wuxian knew that they were meeting, the place or the time, but somehow showed up and went immediately on the offense, indiscriminately attacking clans and clan leaders, showing no remorse for his actions, laughing as Wangji met him face to face. 

He felt it when the two halves of the Stygian Tiger Seal came together, the way Wei Wuxian laughed at it floated in his hands, the manic laughter as an explosion of resentment spread out across the, now, battlefield. 

He tried to get to Wangji, to get to him before he could catch Wei Wuxian as he fell out of the sky. He tried calling out to his brother, telling him to leave him, to let him deal with the consequences of his actions, to just let him die.

Just let Wei Wuxian be dealt with, let the clans decide his fate, let the gods take control.

Just leave the Lan Clan out of it, leave Lan Wangji out of it, leave him out of the decisions, the repercussions. 

Sighing, Lan Xichen finally met with those he had called from Cloud Recesses - individuals who could vouch for Wangji’s honor, for his reputation, those who could see that this moment was just a doubt in his integrity, in his beliefs, that Wangji just needed to be told by people who he knew had his best interests at heart that he was making the wrong choice, that he could fix it by coming home, by accepting a punishment that would allow him time for self-reflection, to realize his mistakes, to correct his behavior, to repent for believing in Wei Wuxian when everyone knew he was morally corrupt, that he had been wrong from the moment he joined the Sunshot Campaign. 

Something that everyone had clearly seen, watched, as Wei Wuxian only spiraled after the war, culminating in a grab for power, in breaking out Wen soldiers from a camp designed to make them serve physical labor for life for their participation in the war. 

“Xiongzhang, they’re civilians, non-cultivators, there’s a child there.” 

Lan Xichen had tried to look like he was listening to his brother’s words, the night he returned from a nighthunt, one that took him close to Yiling, where he ran into Wei Wuxian and was taken into the Burial Mounds - where he had been manipulated, coerced, shown a version of the Burial Mounds that Wei Wuxian wanted him to see. 

Whether or not Wei Wuxian was doing this in order to keep Wangji’s faith in him solid, or as to call for Wangji’s righteousness, his desire to protect the innocent, for doing the right thing - none of that mattered. 

None of that mattered when he was inside the Burial Mounds with Wei Wuxian and his army. 

None of that mattered when a solid, impenetrable ward surrounded the Burial Mounds, making it almost impossible for the clans to enter, for them to hold Wei Wuxian responsible for his actions, to take down the last of the Wen and put them in their place. 

At this point, they had tried everything they could think of to get the wards to come down, but it was almost like the gods themselves had put it up, preventing them from enacting justice, from rescuing Lan Wangji. 

They were camping outside of the Burial Mounds, tents upon tents set up lining the side of the barrier, waiting for the moment someone would leave. They knew those inside could not remain there permanently. Wei Wuxian had been seen regularly shopping in Yiling, gathering supplies and food with the Ghost General on his heels, carrying every purchase he made. 

Wei Wuxian would need to go shopping, would need to purchase food eventually.

Nothing could grow in such barren, tainted lands like the Burial Mounds. All food would have to be sourced, brought in from the outside. 

And when someone left, when someone was forced to leave to gather food for all inside - they would be there, they would force themselves inside the moment the wards dropped, allowing someone outside. 

Time passed, Lan Xichen could tell people were getting tired of waiting, that at times they were moments away from slamming themselves at the wards, trying anything they could think of to get those wards down, to finally be able to go back to their homes. 

He himself was getting tired of Jiang Wanyin’s continuous rants about how Wei Wuxian needed to get over himself, how he needed to come down the mountain and face the clans like a man, that he was taking time away from being with his orphaned nephew. 

Mingjue had been his only solace in the moments where Lan Xichen thought about abandoning it all, taking himself and the Lan disciples back to Cloud Recesses, leaving Wangji alone to face his actions, to face the other clans and have to explain what he was doing in the Burial Mounds, why he was standing on the side of Wei Wuxian. 

It had been Nie Mingjue who told him to keep waiting, that there was no way those inside the Burial Mounds didn’t know that they were camped outside their wards - no way Lan Wangji didn’t know that his brother was waiting for him to finally realize his mistake and come back to the side of orthodoxy. 

Lan Qiren had joined them for their third week. Three weeks of waiting outside, waiting for someone to leave, for Wei Wuxian to own up to his actions. 

The Cloud Recesses needed someone to be there, to manage the chaos left behind from the Pledge Conference. Lan Qiren had acted in his nephew’s stead, taking over clan duties and allocating people and resources, until he reached a point where he was able to come join the front, join those who were waiting for the wards to fall - and that’s all they could do, was wait. 

The third day of Lan Qiren’s stay, the wards outside the Burial Mounds flashed a vibrant white, before falling entirely. 

Everyone stood still, eyes wide as they could finally see into the Burial Mounds, see the dead and barren trees, see what appeared to be the main pathway that was used to walk up to where Wei Wuxian must have been staying. 

Lan Xichen doesn’t know who ran first, who took charge and ran towards the entrance now that the wards were down, what he does know is that he and Lan Qiren took off at the same time - with the same goal in mind. 

Finding Lan Wangji before the other clans could. 

They had kept his presence inside the Burial Mounds a secret. Apart from Nie Mingjue, the other clans thought the Lans were there for the same reason they were. 

For justice, for honor, for retribution, to make the scales tip in their own benefit, back to the right direction. 

To take out the enemy of the cultivation world, someone who had been able to harness a power that would make him a new Wen Ruohan - potentially even worse than Wen Ruohan if they were to let Wei Wuxian run free. 

They were there, they were running up the Burial Mounds, weapons drawn, to take down a great enemy, someone who they have deemed a threat to the world around them, one that is their job to eliminate, to prevent him from ever being in this world ever again. 

Lan Xichen watched as people scattered across what looked to be a small settlement. Watching as they burst into homes, tore down doors, windows, destroying anything that was large enough that a person could be hiding in. 

He turned his head, eyes landing on an entrance to a cave before running in that direction - Lan Qiren right on his heels running behind him. 

The cave was empty, a stone slab rested at the back of the cave. 

A residue of energy floated in the air, charged, as if it was something that just happened. 

Lan Xichen’s eyes darted around the room, looking, waiting, for anything to change, for someone hidden to jump out from the shadows, for Wei Wuxian to make himself known. 

Lan Xichen turned towards the sound of his uncle’s voice, his voice breaking as he spoke.

“Xichen.” Lan Qiren spoke out, holding a piece of paper in his hands, shaking as he turned towards his nephew. 

Lan Xichen rushed over, grabbing the paper out of his hands, his eyes widening as he spotted Wangji’s handwriting. 

“Xiongzhang, Shufu, when you are reading this, I will be gone. I returned to the Burial Mounds with Wei Ying and knew I couldn’t sit aside and let the clans take their liberties with those inhabiting this settlement. I know you believe me to be misguided, for wanting to see the best in Wei Ying when you believe there to be nothing worth redeeming. I would be going against the very foundation of my beliefs if I let these people die, if I let Wei Ying die.” 

The first tear fell down Lan Xichen’s face. 

“Wei Ying has found a place for us to go. I will be joining him, joining the Dafan Wen. An unusual circumstance brought us a solution we otherwise would not have found. I know I will not see either of you again within this lifetime. Where we are going is absolute, unable to be reversed. Please know, Xiongzhang, Shufu, I know you mean well, that you likely have come for me out of a sense of protection, for my own well being."

"I am my own person. I am able to make my own decisions.” 

“Following Wei Ying, remaining by his side, will never be a mistake.” 

“Loving him, caring for him, believing in his righteousness, will never be a mistake.” 

“Any pain he has brought me has always been worth it. I would endure it every day if that meant he would be by my side, that I could remain by his.” 

“I will follow him through every step, every hardship, every difficulty, even if that means I am following him towards death itself.” 

Lan Wangji