Work Text:
“It’s because it’s the type of person that you are. Saying it nicely, you are bold and brave, heroic and reckless. But, in not-so-kind words, you offend everyone wherever you go. Even if all the people you offended live long and peaceful lives, at the moment something bad happens to them, the first one that they will suspect is going to be you, and the first one that they ought to take revenge upon would also be you. And that is something that you cannot control.”
His first instinct was to laugh at it and give Jin Guangyao the reason, since it was a logical statement, but, as if the world wanted to kick him once more, he remembered the red corpses that all the Wen Remanants ended up as. Granny Wen, Uncle Four, Wen Qing, Wen Ning…A-Yuan.
Wei Wuxian thought, while I made a lot of enemies during my life, what did any of them do to the Jins?
The arms of Lan Wangji were a lifeline for him, and he felt how they tensed when his shaking hands tried to search for comfort in them. But, even with the heat that they provided, they couldn’t prevent the cold realisation that no one had said anything to contradict what Jin Guangyao said.
“... Do you want us to believe that Su She wasn’t doing you dirty work?! Who are you trying to fool?!”
But, Jiang Cheng, what about the Wen Remnants that you saw on that day? Jin Zixuan didn’t deserve to die, but what about them?
Wei Wuxian turned his body so that his ear could hear the mild thumps of Lan Wangji’s heart, and his hand started to map his back, conjuring in his mind all the scars that he had seen before. He soon felt those same arms encircle his own back, and he couldn’t help but think that if he still had his old body, maybe Lan Wangji could’ve felt his own purple scars.
“...But you just finished rebuilding Lotus Pier from cero, and you had the dangerous and uncontrollable Yiling Patriarch, do you really think that other Sects were happy to see such a young leader in such a unique position with unlimited resources?...”
Whatever Jin Guangyao was going to say was left to the imagination, because a loud and uncontrollable laugh came out of Wei Wuxian, who was hiding his face in the chest of Lan Wangji.
“Ah, ah, Lianfang-Zun, you really have the golden tongue of your father, isn’t it right?” ‘Thought it was a bit muffled, his words were said with the residues of a laughter that didn’t carry any of the joy that a lot of people in there were starting to be used to.
“Wei-gongzi?” Lan Xichen was still trying to grasp everything being said, so the abrupt change of topics was even more difficult to process than usual.
“It kinda funny, don’t you think, Lianfang-Zun? The man you hated so much is the one who is helping you right now! How ironic!” Lan Wangji could feel Wei Wuxian’s lips move, but there was something else, something that made him hug him even harder.
“I don’t think I understand what you are trying to achieve right now, Wei-gongzi.”
“Lianfang-Zun, your smile disappears when you are called ‘son of a whore’, but it appears that being the son of Jin Guangshan is not so bad, huh?” Jin Ling had started to believe that all the tales of how terrifying the Yiling Patriarch were exaggerated by how Wei Wuxian acted all the time, but the contrast of the unshed tears and the red pupils made him seem like a vengeful god, especially with the white halo that the robes of Lan Wangji made around him. “Is that why you decided to erase everything that was related to your mother while making the Jin Sect the most powerful?”
Maybe that name made Jin Guangyao lose the perpetual smile he always had, but what Wei Wuxian was implying was actually making a number on him, so not only was his smile suffering the effects, but he himself felt something.
“It appears that talking back to Sect Leader Jiang still triggers something in Wei-Gongzi. Is it perhaps that you still think of yourself as…” But his words were, once again, interrupted.
“There’s more to Sect Leader Jiang and me than our past relationship.” He was now playing with a strand of Lan Wangji's hair with a certain adoration for the delicate strokes. “Jin Guangyao, your words may affect almost everyone in here, but I’ve been dead for thirteen years, and the only thing you know about me came from your father. If you want to distract me, it’s going to take more than that.”
“Oh, but Wei-Gongzi is wrong, in the few months Jiang-Guniang lived in Golden Tower, she…”
“Don’t you dare talk about my sister!” Zidian gave a valiant sign of life, but the wound in his chest and Jin Ling’s arms stopped Jiang Wanyin in his attemp of unlishing her purple ire.
“Jin Guangyao.” Wei Wuxian was smiling again, but this time, the edges of his lips were sharper. “I already told you that there's more to me than my past relationship with the Jiang Sect, and while my shijie may have talked to you about me, she wasn’t the dumb guniang you are trying to portray her as; she was discreet when it was needed, and she would never tell any delicate information about the people she cared for. Also, are you really bringing sisters in this talk? After what you did to yours?”
The image of Qin Su’s forced suicide came to everyone in there, since most were in the room when it happened, and Lan Xichen grimaced when the full implication of what Jin Guangyao did hit him once more.
“It saddens this one how fast Wei-Gongzi is trying to dismiss the pain of Jiang-Guniang right now, even after what you did to A-Ling…”
“You just admitted that you used what Jin Zixun was planning to eliminate Jin Zixuan.” Wei Wuxian kissed Lan Wangji’s chest before fully coming face-to-face with Jin Guangyao. “Also, can someone in here explain to me what Shijie was doing in Nightless City? Who took her to that place after losing her husband and having a newborn?”
Jin Ling recoiled internally at the mention of his mother and her death, but a tiny seed of doubt started to grow within him. The Golden Carp Tower was far from Nightless City; even for a seasoned cultivator, it would take some hours to arrive flying at maximum speed, and he knew that his mother wasn’t a strong cultivator.
“Oh, Wei-Gongzi, are you really trying to pin every disgrace that happened to you on me? I don’t know who or why Jiang-Guniang was there.” Jin Guangyao shook his head in disappointment, almost like he was lecturing a small child. “Truly, I believe that I already explained that if it wasn’t the Jin Sect, any other one would be the one behind your fall. You were the public enemy of all the Cultivation World. If you hadn’t killed Jin Zixuan, you would’ve been found guilty of a plethora of other things. Don’t torture yourself in the what-ifs, just accept that it was going to happen.”
“Jin Ling, cover your ears, and, Zewu-Jun, I’m not sorry for what I’m about to say, again.” Wei Wuxian smiled at the two of them, and remembering what Wei Wuxian had said before, both of them took his words seriously. “Lianfang-Zun may be right that all the Sects hated me and were prying for my downfall, but maybe if I could’ve made it to Jin Ling’s celebration and carried him, the baby fever would’ve definitely overcome me and having the most beautiful cultivator in the world so near to me…Well, I wouldn’t have had time to do anything else other than carry Hanguan-Jun’s children.”
“WEI WUXIAN!” Jiang Wanyin hadn’t listened to the earlier confession, so the openness of that discussion made his face turn bright red.
While the situation they were in was still highly tense, Wei Wuxian's commentary certainly helped to distract them a bit, well, some were distracted.
Jin Ling had closed his eyes at the same time he covered his ears; he didn’t want to see another demonstration of affection between Hanguan-Jun and Wei Wuxian, but when he felt a change in the energy of the room, as well as a slight breeze, his sight was obstructed by a long ponytail and the back of a certain black robe.
“SECT LEADER!” Su She was about to raise his sword once more, but Shuoye was quicker, and clashed with Nanping, breaking it in two and fracturing Su She’s hand.
“Lianfang-Zun, I thought I was clear enough before, but it seems being in good graces with everyone for so many years made you cocky, huh?”
Wei Wuxian’s new height wasn’t as great as before, so even the fourteen year old Jin Ling could see past his shoulder when standing in his tippy tows, ‘though he would never admit to do that, and all he could see was a long string with a talisman on top of it in the floor and Hanguan-Jun pointing his sword at Jin Guangyao, while standing in front of Wei Wuxian.
It was clear what had happened. Thinking that he could make use of Jin Ling’s position, Jin Guangyao tried to take him as hostage just as he had done to Wei Wuxian before, but the ghostly cultivator wasn’t joking when he said that no words were going to distract him, and Lan Wangji wasn’t going to let any more harm come to his lover.
Near the end of the other set of gold robes, two objects were painting the floor red, but before he could really see what they were, the face of Wei Wuxian was in front of him.
“Brat, what were you thinking, closing your eyes in a moment like this?” Two sets of hands apprehended his cheeks and moved his face to examine for any injury. “I only told you to cover your ears!”
Before the embarrassment could hit him, Jin Ling’s mouth moved even quicker.
“I didn’t want to see what you would do again with Hanguan-Jun.”
Wei Wuxian laughed softly, and Jin Ling was suddenly restrained with a gentle force.
It was a hug.
“Fair, but you always have to be aware of your surroundings, no matter what, okay?”
Jin Ling wasn’t used to being held like that, so the full-on flush on his face arrived immediately, and before he could trash and kick to be let go, a final squeeze was made, and he was pushed lightly towards his uncle.
“Jin Ling!”
The monks and the other Jin cultivators, who were watching the exchange of words, quickly prepared themselves for the imminent fight, but fire and screams erupted from under their feet.
Naked and charred ghouls were crawling towards them, and when their robes made contact with the bodies, they immediately caught on fire! Even stabbing the bodies was difficult because of the heat they emanated. But while most of them were easily disposed of, everyone in the room could notice that they were not the target of their ire; it was Jin Guangyao.
Jin Ling wanted to close his eyes once more, but against his initial reaction, he decided to keep them open. The ghouls were ignoring them, but that could change at any moment. And that’s when he saw what had happened before.
Jin Guangyao was clutching his hand with a piece of his robes, which were quickly turning red, and a ghoul was munching on one of the fingers that were on the floor. Lan Wangji had cut the two fingers that were used to guide the guqin cord.
A series of whistles made all the bodies stop their erratic movements towards Jin Guangyao, but they started to do other things that were certainly worse for everyone’s eyes.
“Wei-Gongzi, could you stop...this, please.” Lan Xichen really looked like he wanted to copy Jin Ling and cover all the noises and the view, but he still had his own blade pointing towards Su She.
“Sorry, Zewu-Jun, I only wanted to know what Lianfang-Zun was covering under all those seals.”
“Well, put an end to it!” Jiang Wanying was actually guarding his nephew's eyesight, but the noises weren’t helping at all.
“Lianfang-Zun, were you the one who burned down this place? The hatred of everyone in here certainly indicates that.” But the man didn’t answer anything; either he was too absorbed in his missing limbs, or he knew that no matter what he said, Lan Wangji wouldn’t be distracted. “Well, it’s not like I expected a truthful answer anyway.”
A naked woman dragged herself towards the extended hand of Wei Wuxian, and what he saw in her memories only cemented the disgust that was slowly burning in his heart.
“Wei Ying?” Lan Wangji wanted to go towards Wei Wuxian, but without knowing what other tricks Jin Guanyao had, it was too risky. Still, he tried to convey his worry through his tone, especially when that laugh escaped Wei Ying.
“Lianfang-Zun, did Wen Ruohan ever tell you what I did to his son and dog during the war?” The ghost dissolved herself into ashes, and the other bodies followed soon after, knowing that their wishes were about to be granted.
“Wei-gongzi, don’t make this longer than what’s needed.” Jin Guangyao tried to conjure a small smile, but even he saw that the eyes of Wei Wuxian were different, not in their colouration or shape, but in their intent.
“After Wen Chao, Wang Lingjiao and Wen Zhuliu burned Lotus Pier and killed almost everyone in there, I took my revenge for as long as I pleased. Even if they wanted to run away, the ghosts they were dragging were kind enough to tell me where they were and what they wanted me to do to them, and I let them. So, tell me, Lianfang-Zun, if they could, what would the souls of Jin Guangshan, Jin Zixun, Qin Su, little A-Song, Mo Xuanyu, everyone in the clan that opposed the idea of the Watchtowers, all the old courtesans that you hired to rape and desecrate your father’s corpse, all the courtesans that you burned alive along with their patrons, AnXin, Xue Yang, Xiao Xingcheng, A-Qin, Song Lang, Jin Zixuan, Nie Mingjue and all the Wen Remnants, what would they guide me to?”
An uncomfortable silence settled amongst everyone who was still alive in the Guanyin Temple.
Yes, they already knew of all the crimes and murderers that Jin Guangyao had executed, by his own hand or by others, but when Wei Wuxian listed them in one long sentence…well, it really stuck to most of them.
“Also.” And he continued, twirling his fingers in the same motion he always did when Chenqing was in his possession. “I have not forgotten what you did to Wen Ning; your father was so anxious to call for our heads after what happened with Jin Zixuan, but both of you certainly didn’t waste any second to experiment on him and make him do all your dirty bidding. Wen Ning and I may have caused the death of Jin Zixuan, but you really outdid yourself by planning the enslavement of all the Dafan Wen, the massacre of his whole family, desecrating their bodies, burning and scattering the ashes of his sister and using him to kill whoever you wanted, all while parading his execution as an act of mercy for the Cultivation World.”
Most of the people inside the Temple had forgotten about the undead Wen Ning, and that in itself felt like an insult to a boy who, even after death, was still being used for others’ convenience.
And among all these revelations, Lan Xichen was one of the most affected, because amidst all those visits, casual conversations and affectionate travels, tragedies were happening left and right with him as a cop out in most of them, and even as a perpetrator! He had believed that love had made his brother blind to all the things Wei Wuxian was doing, but in actuality, it was he who was blinded by a couple of kind smiles and a man whom he thought of as a friend. While Wangji never strayed from his own morals, defending and speaking up against what his clan was doing during those months leading to the Siege, and even before that, he aided in the genocide of all the Wen Remnants, justified the massacre of the Zou Clan* and turned a blind eye every time someone critiqued Jin Guangyao, attributing it to his background. He even facilitated the method that killed Nie Mingjue!
His eyes searched for Nie Huaisang, who was as white as the robes he had been clad in during those days, and he felt such deep remorse and guilt. How could he look at him without thinking that if only he weren’t so blinded by love, many things could’ve been prevented. If only he had listened to Da-Ge, the man he had grown up with and fought alongside during the war, maybe a lot of people would’ve still been alive…and maybe he wouldn’t have whipped his own brother for the same crimes he was committing.
He still felt such deep resentment towards Wei Wuxian because of how he treated his brother, but now, he started to realise that, in actuality, he was projecting his own shame towards the boy for what his own hands had done, just like everyone else.
Jin Guangyao had been right; Wei Wuxian was the easy option to blame for everyone's failures, because recognising that it was his fault was way more painful. Don’t hold resentments, don’t judge without a clear view of the situation, don’t gossip…why were the rules their pride when even the Clan Leader can’t follow them?
But, as things usually go, in that moment, a body, clad in grey and black torn robes, crashed against the doors of the Guanyin Temple and opened them to reveal a tall, furious, fierce corpse, whose head had been sewn with thick black thread.
If the name of Chifeng-zun spread fear in his enemies, it generated an instant terror in Jin Guangyao, whose eyes were wide open with obvious disbelief at what he was seeing. It was as if the universe wanted to make fun of him and conjure a perfect scenario for his death, with all his crimes exposed, no one at his side and the man who hated him the most back to life…or as much life as that could be called.
“What are you all waiting for?! Kill him!” Maybe no one would ever trust him again, but he still was the Sect Leader of the Jin, so all the cultivators that were standing on that Temple heeded to his command and pointed their weapons towards Nie Mingjue.
Sadly, they were no match for him, because with a simple punch, most of them were sent flying, and they could feel how their bones and organs were crushed by the impact, leaving a river of golden robes tainted by their own blood.
“Da-ge!” The hope that all of them could hear in the scream of Nie Huaisang made the situation they were in its own tragedy, but the shout alerted Nie Mingjue, who ran against his own brother.
The sharp cry of Liebing stopped his movements as they did on that inn, but the sound wasn’t as clean as it was before, because now, Lan Xichen could see once more the face of the man who had been his sworn brother and best friend.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian sent some talismans in the hope of freezing Nie Mingjue, but the resentment that exuded from the corpse was too strong, so all of them turned into ashes.
Seeing all the chaos, Su She took Jin Guangyao from his wrist and tried to run out of the place, but Nie Mingjue wasn’t playing with his hunt and sensing the abrupt movement, he immediately started to run towards them.
Su She saw the fist of Nie Mingjue coming, and on instinct, he raised his sword, but there was only a fragment remaining in the scabbard, and he knew that no attack had even made a scratch on the guy. In that split second, Su She pushed Jin Guangyao as far as he could, and with a scream, he raised what was left of Nanping towards Nie Mingjue. But, as every other who tried, he failed miserably, and that fist was now buried between his ribcage, almost like a mockery of Jin Zixuan’s own death.
Fuck! Wei Wuxian knew that the more a fierce corpse kill, the more powerful they became, and with the falling body of Su She, who knows how many victims Nie Mingjue has already reclaimed.
“Wen Ning, can you restrain him?!” He had seen Wen Ning trying to find a weak point, but both of them knew that Nie Mingjue’s resentment was way more powerful than Wen Ning’s.
“I don’t think so, Master Wei. I tried to stop him before, but he always finds a way to keep going.”
“Lan Zhan!” His eyes connected with golden ones, and without having to say anything, Lan Wangji sheathed Bichen, and his guqin made his own apparition.
Strong notes united the trembling ones of Liebing, and the movements of Nie Mingjue started to slow down, but even with the push of Su She, Jin Guangyao was still near enough.
“Nie-Xiong!” Wei Wuxian shouted, noticing the smaller man near Jin Guagyao. “I know this is hard to do, but please take Jin Guagnyao out of here; if Chifeng-zun kills him, his resentment will be too much to control, and I don’t think he could be stopped!”
“But, Wei-Xiong!”
“Now Nie-Xiong!” He didn’t even wait for an answer when he joined in the melodies that the Lan Brothers were playing, but he was whistling, since his flute was gone. Fortunately, it did work, and Nie Mingjue started to walk.
“Wei-Gongzi!” Lan Xichen knew that the blood relationship between Mo Xuanyu and Jin Guayao could interfere with the process, but a single look from his brother stopped him. Because if Lan Wangji was calm with what Wei Wuxian was doing, then the other man wasn’t in danger.
Slowly, but with a steady pace, Wei Wuxian guided the body towards the coffin that was an almost perfect fit for how large Nie Mingjue was, and if his theory were to be correct, then Meng Shi would be too little to merit such a big coffin.
That’s for another day. How I wish I had at least that little dizi to help with this.
Like any bad comedy, as soon as Nie Mingjue stepped into the coffin, the bloody scream of Nie Huaisang interrumped the whole procession.
Wei Wuxian heard the body fall before actually seeing what happened, but it was a simple equation to solve. Nie Huaisang, crying and screaming, was trying to get himself away from Jin Guangyao with a dagger plunged into his thigh, and Jin Guangyao looked, for the first time, pissed.
Something was nudging at him, like there was something not right in the scenario, but that was the least of his problems, because as soon as the smell of blood hit Nie Mingjue, a blood that didn’t invoke his ire but his curiosity and something else, the spell was broken, and his white eyes zoomed into the closest Jin blood he had.
Jiang Wanying shouted a curse when Nie Mingjue arranged himself into an attack position, eyes on the figure behind his back, and released Zidian.
“Jiujiu!” Jin Ling was almost shaking, wanting to pull his uncle out of Nie Mingjue's path, yet terrified of what might happen to him.
“Shut up!” Jiang Wanyin was in no position of fighting, and he doubted that even in prime condition, he could take down the monster that Chifeng-zun had turned into.
So, when Nie Mingjue lunged towards them, he pushed Jin Ling at the last second possible while also trying to wrap Zidian in that body to at least give everyone a moment. But, well, things rarely go according to his plans, because out of thin air, Wen Ning jumped onto Nie Mingjue’s shoulders and dug into the black theath, trying to separate the head from the body.
While it wouldn’t stop him by any means, it could at least delay him.
“Don’t mend into this, you Wen Dog!” Jiang Cheng may have mixed feelings about Wei Wuxian, but he could only feel deep, natural rage when it came to Wen Ning.
Not only was he the reason Wei Wuxian had abandoned him and broken his arm many years ago, but he was also the one who killed Jin Zixuan by piercing his chest and ruining the lives of his sister and nephew. And Jin Ling felt the same to a certain degree; after everything that had happened and been said before the arrival of Chifeng-zun, he was hesitant to hate Wei Wuxian, but Wen Ning was a whole different story. Or, that was before what Wei Wuxian had said, because for the first time since they met, Jin Ling saw Wen Ning as more than the Ghost General, but as a man who had lost everyone he had ever loved after he himself had been lost to the world.
Maybe Wen Ning was the one who killed his father, but it was the Jins who had eliminated everyone with his blood from this earth. And Jin Ling saw it now; during that boat ride, Wen Ning never seemed resentful of him, but there was a deep shame and sadness in those dead eyes.
“A-Ning!” Jin Ling was snapped out of his reflection by the scream of Wei Wuxian, and he saw how Nie Mingjue managed to grab Wen Ning from one of his legs and threw him towards the Guanyin Statute, which caused a sickening noise of bones cracking. But Wen Ning was fine, so he blurted back.
“Don’t worry, Wei-Gonzi, I’m okay.”
Despite the mere seconds that Wen Ning had managed to wrestle with the other fierce corpse, his own strength was nothing to scoff at, and some stitches did come loose, disorienting Nie Mingjue.
Wei Wuxian wasn’t going to waste those precious seconds.
He signalled Lan Zhan to start playing, and he also continued whistling. But while it was powerful enough to freeze him, he wasn’t following any of his demands. His eyes started searching Lan Xichen for his part, but he saw that he was too preoccupied with having Jin Guangyao at sword point.
He wanted to scream from pure frustration, but he was too busy actually doing something to prevent the actual demise of everyone in the room.
“Wei Wuxian!” An object came flying in his direction, and he caught it by pure instinct.
His fingers felt the familiar shape and weight of his old friend, and without hesitation, he started playing Chenqing.
The effect was immediate; even if Chifeng-Zun tried to resist the pull, the resentment in his body pulled him towards the coffin that was still waiting for him, and this time, he entered without any pause or distraction.
Lan Wangji grabbed the lid and closed it as soon as every body part was inside. He heard the thunk it made, and a pair of slim arms encircled his waist.
“Lan-er-gege is so strong! Moving that heavy lid all by himself.” He could feel Wei Ying rubbing his forehead against his back. “Maybe, after getting out of here, the powerful Hanguang-Jun can show this delicate one how much he can lift.”
He could feel his own ears starting to heat up, especially after the kiss he felt on his back.
“I can show Wei Ying right now.” Quickly, he spun around and picked Wei Ying into his arms, one hand under his knees and the other in his lower back.
Wei Wuxian giggled loudly, encircling Lan Wangji’s neck and kissing his cheek.
“My Lan-er-gege is so strong.” And while at it, Wei Wuxian bit his finger and painted a huge talisman to really seal it.
“Er-ge, my leg! I’m gonna lose it! Please, help me!” Of course, Nie Huaisang was still crying and grabbing a corner of Lan Xichen’s robe.
“You! Of course it was the ‘Headshaker’!” And Jin Guangyao was looking at him as if it were his fault that everything had come down in ruins. “Such a good actor, aren’t you?!”
Wei Wuxian felt a bit of empathy for Lan Xichen. He hadn’t heard anything from that side of the room, too focused on other things, but if all those minutes were filled with this, well…it certainly wasn’t a pleasant experience.
“Wei Wuxian!” Jiang Wanyin had also been looking towards the chaos that those three were causing, but when he was about to ask Wei Wuxian what was next, he saw both of them in that position, and memories of a certain tree and the fight in his Ancestral Hall came rushing back.
“Hmm, what’s the matter?” Wei Wuxian looked at him with a mockery of innocence, and Jiang Cheng was about to continue the banter like before, yet the words Wei Wuxian came back to him, and that old resentment started to ignite even more.
Why does he always defend other people? He talked and talked about that Wen dog and his family, but when it was about Jie and Jin Zixuan, he barely mentioned them. He even had the gall to critique Jie when she died because of him! And what about my parents? Did they not matter to him at all?!
Jiang Wanyin was starting to regret giving him that damm flute, and when he was about to give that traitor a piece of his mind, the eyes of Lan Wangji connected with his.
“Where does Wei Ying want to go?”
And Wei Wuxian looked away from him, like always.
“Hahahaha, my Lan Zhan is so sweet to his Wei Ying, is my Lan-er-gege asking for this moment or for the future?”
“Both.”
Wei Wuxian had always laughed with his full body, and Jiang Wanyin just realised how many years he had gone by without seeing that full display of joy. And he was watching it now, inside the arms of Lan Wangji.
“We can decide on our future after this. For now, we still have one more thing to do.”
And just like that, Lan Wangji took his bro…took Wei Wuxian away once more, and neither looked back.
… –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– …
Jin Guangyao had one arm burned by the venomous dust that was inside the coffin, and in his other hand, he was missing two fingers. He had managed to stop the bleeding, but the turn of events still pissed him off, and when he saw Wei Wuxian approaching them within the security of Lan Wangji’s arms…he was seething.
“Nie-Xiong, you don’t have to worry. From here, it seems the dagger missed anything important, but don’t take it out; you can bleed out.”
“Bleed out?!” Nie Huaisang was spooked enough that he didn’t question the position between both of them.
“Yes, so leave it there, I’m sure more people are coming here to try and help, so don’t worry.” Grey eyes met honied ones, and there was a smirk on the mouth, but there was nothing warm on them. “Nie-Xiong, can you explain what happened?”
“I..I was trying to take San…I mean, Jin Guangyao, as you told me, but I don’t know!, suddenly he attacked me with my dagger! I don’t know when he took it!”
“Nie Huaisang!” It was the only thing he could say, because when he had tried to explain what had happened, the ochre eyes that had always held a warm understanding gaze now looked at him with a doubtful sadness, and that hurt more than Jin Guangyao was willing to admit.
“It certainly is a bizarre occurrence…” Wei Wuxian tapped his chin like a mockery of considering the events. “Why would Lianfang-Zun stab Nie-Xiong when he could’ve simply run while we were too busy cleaning his mess?”
“I don’t know! I really don’t know! Please, Er-ge, help me!”
“Huaisang, I’ll tend to your injury in a moment, but I can’t…” trust Jin Guangyao to not do something the second I take my eyes off him. It wasn’t said, but Jin Guangyao could read it perfectly.
“Er-Ge, I’ve hurt so many people, but I have never done anything to you! Why are you treating me like I would stab you the second you avert your eyes?!” There was a curse in being the ‘expressive’ of the Lan Brothers, and Lan Xichen had never felt that feeling so acutely until that moment, when he knew his face showed how much that statement had affected him.
“Maybe you never plotted something against Gusu Lan or Zewu-Jun, but you certainly have caused many disgraces that affected him.” Jin Guangyao sneered at him, but Wei Wuxian just laughed it off. “And, do you really believe that Zewu-Jun would simply let you go just because you never schemed against him? I thought you knew him better than that.”
“So, it’s true that Wei-Gongzi never knows when to stop talking.”
“Wei Ying can say whatever he wants.” Jin Guangyao was actually taken aback when Lan Wangji talked, not expecting him to interfere, especially in such a manner.
And Wei Wuxian laughed at the obvious bias, but he still kissed Lan Wangji on his cheek once more.
“My Lan Zhan is so good to me. He deserves all the kisses.” And just because he could, he gave him another kiss. “You heard him Lianfang-Zun, I can say whatever I want, especially when you are still trying to manipulate my dà bǎi zi*. So, Lan-er-gege, can you put me down? Pretty please.”
Lan Wangji just nodded before lowering Wei Wuxian, but everyone could still see his hand making a claim on the other's waist.
“Zewu-Jun, you can help Nie-Xiong, me and Lan Zhan will take your position.”
“Yes! Yes! Please, help me, Er-Ge! Thank you so much, Wei-Xiong!”
Lan Xichen looked at Jin Guangyao one more time before sheathing his swords and kneeling beside the crying Nie Huasisang.
“Wen Ning, please.” Jin Guangyao hadn’t noticed when the Ghost General had positioned himself behind him, but once his body was trapped in chains, he recognised them as the same Xue Yang had reinforced to prevent his escape.
“Is Wei-Gongzi planning to torture me for information? I’m sorry to inform you that I only have eight fingers now.”
“Ha, there’s no need to be sarcastic with me, Lianfang-Zun. And I don’t use those types of methods; it’s too messy.” Wei Wuxian smiled as if he were talking about the weather. “But no, I don’t need anything from you, nor do I want to know more. Right now, the whole cultivation world hates you and believes only the worst, and it is likely they’ve already forgotten any good you might have done. If any of them had any problem with the Jin Sect, now is the perfect time to air those grievances, as if you were responsible for that. And no logical argument will change their mind. How ironic, isn’t it?”
“I never believed the Yiling Patriarch to be one to rejoice in others' misfortune.”
“Oh, please, don’t get me wrong, Lianfang-Zun, I truly don’t enjoy this. Mind games and all the politics are as exciting as writing the Lan Rule thousands of times.” Wei Wuxian smiled at Lan Wangji. “But, with that being said, I have to check one last thing so the future generations don’t have to worry about.”
“And what could that be?”
“You said that the Stygiang Tiger Amulet was destroyed, but I have to make sure of that.”
“Wei-Gongzi knows that the version Xue Yang made wasn’t as powerful as the original; it loses all the power after a few uses, and you also know how much resentful energy that thing can carry. Why would I risk having it in my person?”
“And how can I be sure that you won’t try to use it?”
“Er-Ge, you have to know that all I just said is true.” Jin Guangyao tried to angle his face so he could see more than Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, yet the chains were unforgiving, and Wei Wuxian had angled himself to cover anything that was happening behind him.
“Even after trying to kill his brother in the Second Siege, you are still calling him like that? I didn’t know Lianfang-Zun to be this bold.” Wei Wuxian started to play with Chenqing, rotating her between his fingers. “Just give it to me, I know you took it from Xue Yang’s body, and it wasn’t in your secret room, I would’ve noticed. Also, I remember the fierce corpses at LuanZang, so just tell me so I can erase it from this world.”
“Wei-Gonzi doesn’t need to worry about that. I already told you that it lost all its power.”
Wei Wuxian groaned, tired of the constant pull and push, so he simply took Chenqing to his lips and started playing an eerie melody, concentrating on searching for that specific energy signature. And he was surprised when nothing came back.
“Well, one of the things you said actually turned out to be true, congratulations Lianfang-Zun!” Wei Wuxian smiled at him and tucked Chenqing in his belt. “Lan Zhan, can you silence him while we wait for everyone to arrive?”
“Mm.”
“And, Wen Ning, I’m going to search for something to apprehend him, so please keep an eye on him for the moment. And remember me to take you out of those chains!”
“Yes, Wei-Gongzi.” Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes with a soft exasperation.
“Come on Wen Ning, after all these years and still so formal, I’ve told you to call me Wei-gege. How about I start calling you Ning-didi? It has a nice tone, don’t you think?”
“Uhhh.” If blood could still circulate in Wen Ning’s body, he would be red all the way to his neck. “I..I don’t know if that is appropriate Wei-Gongzi.”
“Bahh, who cares about that? It’s not like someone will tell us otherwise.” Wei Wuxian started to walk away, but he continued talking. “At least think about it!”
Both Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian started to search for any type of rope that they could use, but most of them were too fragile or thin to withstand the strength of Jin Guangyao. Even if he had a weak core, he still was a cultivator.
“Maybe we should block his qi; it would be easier for us.”
“I have this.” Wei Wuxian had heard the steps, but the last person he had imagined to approach them was Jin Ling.
The boy had an immortal-binding rope between his hands and was looking at the floor with a scowl. In Wei Wuxian’s opinion, if he was trying to look indifferent, the blush in his cheeks was not helping. Suppressing a smile, he grabbed the rope.
“Thank you Jin Ling, this is really helpful.”
Thinking that that would be it, Wei Wuxian was about to leave when he felt a tug in his robes.
“I..I wanted to say sorry…about the stab.” He could feel his eyebrows rise and his mouth open slightly, and Jin Ling may have seen it, because he crossed his arms, looked away and huffed. “You don’t have to look so surprised, jiù…you are the one who told me that it was important to say ‘sorry’ and ‘thank you’.”
Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but hug Jin Ling once more, and even if it was a bit uncomfortable because of his arms, he still pressed him against his body.
Jin Ling was about to start fussing again when he heard a soft whisper.
“I’m so proud of you.” The boy didn’t know how to react. Those words were so uncommon in his life that having them delivered by something so easy almost took his breath away.
Hesitantly, he uncrossed his arms and returned the hug, slowly, as if afraid that Wei Wuxian would pull out, but Jin Ling just felt an even tighter hug.
“Jin Ling!” Jiang Wanyin shouted when he looked at both of them, and it was his tone of don’t make me go and get you!
Wei Wuxian laughed and pushed Jin Ling lightly so he could see his face.
“Thank you again, Jin Ling. Now go to your jiù jiu before he throws a hissy fit.” He squeezed his shoulder and let go of him, smiling one more time before turning around and walking towards Jin Guangyao, whose eyes were zeroed on what Lan Xichen was doing to Nie Huaisang.
“Lan Zhan, is your brother going to be okay after this?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Hmm, do you want to go and talk to him? I can secure Jin Guangyao and wait for you at the entrance.”
“At the entrance?”
“Yes, if I’m being honest, I don’t want to deal with everyone when other Sect Leaders arrive.”
“Too loud.” Wei Wuxian laughed at that.
“Yes, even for me it's too loud, but we can wait if you want to see your uncle.”
“Mm.” It didn’t sound like an affirmation, but more like a tired sigh.
“You don’t want to talk to him?”
“Uncle will not be happy.”
Wei Wuxian had to agree on that. Lan Qiren would certainly be too distracted by his mere presence near his oh so precious nephew to pay attention to the whole situation.
“I mean, it would be irresponsible of us to leave Chifeng-Zun’s body without a clear warning of how to move it.” Wei Wuxian grumbled, a bit annoyed. “I guess we have to stay and end this.”
“Not necessarily.” But before Wei Wuxian could ask what Lan Wangji meant, he started walking towards his brother.
Trusting in him, Wei Wuxian approached Jin Guangyao and tied him with the rope. He even did some fancy knots he learned from the fishers, just to be extra secure. Jin Guangyao had proven himself to be extra slippery, and Wei Wuxian wasn’t risking it.
“Ning-didi, you can take the chains away, thank you.” Wen Ning was already taking them when he started spluttering thanks to the name.
“Wei-Gongzi!”
“Come on Ning-didi, just once! I miss having a little brother to mess with.” He pouted while grabbing the chains and analysing them.
“I respect Wei-Gongzi too much to…”
“As well as I, but respect doesn’t mean that we can’t be family.” Wei Wuxian smiled at him with a veiled pain in his eyes. “Ning-didi, we lost everyone else, and I can’t say that I don’t feel a bit ashamed of how I acted back then, always in my cave inventing something instead of being out there with everyone.”
“Wei-Go…Wei-gege was always creating something to help us.”
Wei Wuxian laughed wholeheartedly at that, squeezing Wen Ning’s hands with excitement.
“Well, I’m glad to have such a filial didi!” He exclaimed while pinching the cold cheek. “And, I know how to take these things off!” Wei Wuxian started searching in between his robes for a blank talisman, but he noticed that he had used them all.
beautiful morning for the start of their new lives. “And, talking about that, I actually have a favour I wanted to ask you.”
“Hmmm, does Wei-Xiong want a new robe?” Wei Wuxian helped Nie Huaisang sit on one of the steps of the entrance, making sure his leg wouldn’t have to carry any weight.
“It’s not about clothes.” He himself sat beside him, looking at the sky and its changing colours. “I want you to make sure Jin Guangyao is executed.”
Nie Huaisang started coughing, as if what Wei Wuxian was asking came out of nowhere.
“What...what are you saying? I can’t…”
“Huaisang.” Wei Wuxian wasn’t really smiling, but he wasn’t serious. Maybe, pensative? “He killed both of our families, and I won’t ever forget that. But when I take revenge on someone, everyone deems me to be harsh and soulless. If it were only me, I wouldn’t really care, but I don’t want Lan Zhan to suffer more because of me.”
“Wei-Xiong, I don’t know if I’m your best option; no one really takes me into consideration.”
“Well, you can think of this as a repayment for bringing me back to life just to take part in your bidding.”
Neither of them said anything. The quietness of the Temple was enough for them, and neither needed to say anything else to be sure of the other's response.
But amidst that quietness, multiple steps started to make their way towards them, and a flurry of different coloured robes came into view.
“Sect Leader Nie!”
“Wei-Qianbei!”
“Yiling Patriarch!”
That and more shouts rang as different disciples and Sect Leaders started to pour inside, all with their swords out and ready for a fight. But most of them were stunned when only two figures were lounging outside.
A lot of the younger cultivators ran towards Wei Wuxian with worry in their faces, especially the two who were at the head of the brood*.
“Wei-Qianbei, are you ok?”
“You have blood! Do you need medicine?! A doctor?!”
Wei Wuxian laughed while standing up, ruffling the hair of Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi.
“We also have rules against excessive pride, Jingyi.” Lan Sizhui smiled while returning the dizi to Wei Wuxian.
“Hmm, rule 26, arrogance is prohibited, right?” Wei Wuxian caressed his fake beard, and most of the Lan juniors bit the inside of their cheeks to prevent the laughter from spilling.
“I still don’t get why you know the rules so well.” Lan Jingyi crossed his arms and pouted lightly. “And, by the way, we brought your loud donkey! That thing really doesn’t know how to behave!”
“Well, she is feisty, what else would you expect from a donkey that only eats apples and fresh grass?” He also crossed his arms while raising his eyebrow. “Also, I studied at Cloud Reccess when I was your age, and your Hanguan-Jun was the one to make sure we all followed the rules. He made me repeat those rules enough times that even I could remember all of them.”
“You really met Hanguan-Jun at that age? How was he like?” Wei Wuxian could practically see the stars in Lan Jingyi's eyes, but those stars must be so big that the kid didn’t notice or hear the light footsteps coming towards them. Smiling even bigger, he started his rant.
“Oh, Lan Zhan was so strict back then, more than now. He always knew when mischief was taking place, and he never let anything pass. He looked so handsome and regal when punishing, especially under the light that came from the windows in the library. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him!” Wei Wuxian noticed how some of the juniors froze in their places, and knowing who was behind him, he continued with even more passion. “The beauty of him entranced me, the fourth most eligible bachelor in the cultivation world! I kept thinking how it was possible that someone so handsome could walk with us mortals. Oh, but he was also so cute when he became angry, and I wanted to see that expression nonstop, so I tried everything to make him mad, I even showed him…”
“Wei Ying.” Lan Jingyi opened his eyes with fear and, for the first time, looked away from Wei Wuxian’s face, noticing the figure behind him. “Lan Jingyi, gossip is forbidden.”
“Han…Hanguang-Jun!” He immediately bowed to him, and Wei Wuxian’s laugh made it obvious that he was the only one who hadn’t noticed when Lan Wangji started to approach them.
“Oh Lan Zhan, it’s not gossip when it’s true!” Wei Wuxian turned around and grabbed Lan Wangji’s hand, guiding it towards his hip and making himself comfortable on the other’s side. “You were really cute when mad.”
All the juniors could feel some heat crawling towards their faces at the shameless act. It was like being in that boat all over again, but now it was made worse with a conscious Wei Wuxian!
“Wei Ying was the cute one.”
Wei Wuxian laughed wholeheartedly.
“If it’s Lan Zhan saying that, then I have no other option but to believe it.”
“Wangji!” Lan Qiren had followed Lan Wangji after his nephew had told him he wasn’t planning on returning to Cloud Reccess immediately, and even if Lan Xichen had tried to stop him, he simply couldn’t let that happen.
Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Qiren directly in the eyes and smirked while guiding Lan Wangji’s hand towards his butt.
His actions were concealed thanks to the cut of his robes, so the juniors just saw Lan Qiren turning an alarming red and started coughing violently while trying to say something, but no words were clear enough for the others to comprehend.
“Grand Master Lan!” Two Lan juniors ran towards him, worried that whatever Lan Qiren had seen inside that temple could have caused a qi deviation.
Wei Wuxian just smiled harder, but a light squeeze did make him jump. Shocked, he looked towards Lan Wangji, who was looking as if nothing had happened while moving his hand towards his hip, but those red ears were a clue enough that he knew what he was doing.
“Well, since we are not required here anymore, and Little Apple must be getting impatient, your Hanguan-Jun and I will be taking our leave.”
He quickly ruffled the hair of Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi and Ouyan Zizhen and started to walk away, but not even seven steps away, he felt a tug in his robe.
Startled, he looked back and was met by the startled greyish eyes of Lan Sizhui.
“Wei-Qianbei, wait!”
“Sizhui? What is it?” He raised his eyes searching for any danger or something that he may have forgotten.
But there wasn’t anything near, even Nie Huaisang was already talking to some of the Nie cultivators who had arrived, and a junior was already looking at Lan Qiren.
“Can I…can I talk to you and Hanguan-Jun in private? I remembered something important, and it can’t wait!”
Wei Wuxian was taken aback by the urgency of Lan Sizhui’s voice, so he nodded and continued walking towards the woods, where Wen Ning was waiting for them.
“Yes, yes. But let’s get some privacy.”
… –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– …
Now, with the privacy the trees provided them, Wei Wuxian was waiting for Lan Sizhui to speak, who kept twisting the end of his long sleeves and looking at the ground.
Wen Ning had also made his own appearance, and by his standards, he was also acting a bit strange, like he was waiting for something extraordinary to happen.
“Sooo…” He tried to break the tension, but the huff of Little Apple sounded more like a mock of his futile endeavour.
“I…I remembered something, and I wanted to ask Wei-Qianbei about it…”
“Yes, I got the gist of that on the temple…” Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Wangji for help, but the other one just moved his head, indicating to wait for the child.
“He…he said that his cooking was best in the whole world.” At first, it was almost a murmur… “But it was so spicy that it made my stomach hurt for days.” But it started to gain confidence and volume. “He also planted me alongside the radishes, claiming that it would make me grow taller and even give me some brothers.” Wei Wuxian’s eyes widen with that, knowing that only one child in the whole world would ever know that. “He even invited Hanguang-Jun…”
But the boy couldn’t finish his retelling, because he was being suffocated by a pair of arms.
“A-Yuan!” Tears sprang out of the young one's eyes; hearing that nickname again made his heart stop aching, a wound he didn’t even remember he had, but was being soothed, especially when calm caresses were given by another callous hand that he was familiar with.
Maybe time was unfair to the little family, but now they had a future to dream about, and that was more than what they ever hoped for.