Chapter Text
It was hard to decide which scandal was spiciest.
The entire cultivational world had been upturned over the summer, and the ripples still surged through the campus. Students and teachers alike stood in small groups, heads bowed together, savoring the latest meal of information. They huddled in dorms, in offices, across the lush green campus only just bit by the first rumors of autumn weather.
“I heard that the academy’s short-staffed this year. Bitchy Yu was brought out of retirement solely because so many teachers were indicted in the scandal and went down with Wen RouHan.”
“Did you see the two women who accompany her everywhere? Scary.”
“Well, it was about time. Did RouHan think that just because his grandfather founded this academy he was fit to lead it? Did you see him at the end-of-year banquet last year? Sitting up high, all mighty and proud like that? It was like he thought himself some kind of god!”
“Pride goes before a fall!”
“I heard Jin GuangShan’s renovating the principal’s office now that Wen RouHan is out. He moved his gold mirrors in there already!”
“About time for some changes around here! As far as I’m concerned, he can make the entire school a golden palace; as long as he doesn’t kick us around like Wen RouHan, he can do whatever he wants!”
Standing near the front gates was a family of five, or a family of four and its tag-along, depending on which member you asked. Two assistants stood off to the side, wearing identical scowls as they watched their madam berate the three children.
“Don’t cause trouble this year.”
Wei WuXian knew Madame Yu’s statements were directed at him. He managed a nod, which only resulted in a “tch” emerging from between her teeth.
“You’ll be here, Mother,” Jiang YanLi interjected, trying to smooth things over. “To keep an eye on us.”
Wei WuXian’s stomach clenched at the reminder, though it was less for anxiety over himself—he’d long-since learned not to take Madame Yu’s dislike personally—than for Jiang Cheng. He could only imagine the sleepless nights ahead, the striving for a perfect grade on every exam at Nevernight Cultivation Academy.
“I’ll take them to their dorm, ZiYuan,” said Jiang FengMian, massaging his temple.
She rolled her eyes. “Can’t wait to get away from me as soon as possible? Don’t forget, Wei WuXian, we’re here because of you!” She swept to the side, gesturing for Jiang YanLi to follow her towards the girl’s dorm. Jiang YanLi made a texting motion. Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng nodded.
Both Jiang FengMian and Yu ZiYuan had come from Lotus Pier to clean up Nevernight Academy. The couple had separate apartments behind the lake on campus, though both were in the same block of staff housing. Jin GuangShan had moved himself down to the principal’s residence, a special cottage on the edges of campus. During the summer, it stood amid a field of peonies.
But the flowers would be dying soon.
Jiang FengMian led Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian down a twisted stone pathway. A residence rose before them, roof ruddy and new, stone walls suggesting that the actual building was far older than the roof might make it appear. Sandalwood trees sprouted around it, filling the air with their scent.
Wei WuXian remembered what had happened to the roof last year.
The stingy dorm parent emerged. Wei WuXian sighed, dragging his toe through the dirt to write a swear word. Jiang Cheng saw and elbowed him. Wei WuXian stepped on it to erase it, but it wasn’t as if Lan QiRen would recognize the word anyways. As Wei WuXian well knew, his handwriting truly was unrecognizably terrible.
“Why couldn’t he have been one of the ones replaced?” he hissed to Jiang Cheng as Lan QiRen spoke with Jiang FengMian.
“You’re not that lucky,” retorted Jiang Cheng.
“Hmph. Wen RouHan is gone; isn’t that lucky?”
“He didn’t give a damn about you. You watch; Lan QiRen’s gonna be out for blood. Any whiff of unrighteousness and he’ll find it. He’ll probably search your room every day when we’re in class.”
“I’ll hide my porn under your pillow then, thanks for the warning.”
Jiang Cheng kicked him. Wei WuXian stumbled, yelping. Their scuffle attracted the adults’ attention.
Lan QiRen’s face clearly asked one question: already?
Jiang FengMian shook his head at his son. “A-Cheng, now is not the time. It might seem impossible, but the best way for a campus to recover is through unity. Kicking your shixiong over a petty—”
“We weren’t even arguing, Uncle Jiang!” Wei WuXian broke in. “A joke!”
Jiang FengMian didn’t seem to care. “Remember the words of our sect.”
Attempt the impossible.
“Yes, Father.” Jiang Cheng studied his boots, face red. Wei WuXian knew any attempts to comfort him would only result in Jiang Cheng boiling hotter than ever inside, and so he bit his tongue.
Jiang FengMian bid them farewell. Lan QiRen led them inside the dorm.
“Your prefect is staying here,” Lan QiRen said, gesturing towards the first door. Two names were written on it: Nie MingJue and Lan XiChen. But the “prefect” was beside Nie MingJue’s name. Wei WuXian was surprised. There was no one more righteous and amiable than Lan XiChen—he was compassionate enough not to make you feel like a terrible person when you were caught sneaking alcohol in, but moral enough to even make Wei WuXian feel a twinge of guilt at times. “Find your rooms.”
The dorm parent swished away.
“Let’s see who else is new here,” Wei WuXian said to Jiang Cheng. The dorm was set up with rooms on each side of a small courtyard. A shared bathroom and a kitchen lounging area stood beside the door to Lan QiRen’s apartment on the east side.
“You just got here too?” called a voice. Wei WuXian whirled.
Nie HuaiSang, the one Wei WuXian had been suspended for helping cheat on an exam last year, hurried into the dorm. He hauled a massive suitcase, wiping sweat off his brow.
“Where’s your brother?” Wei WuXian asked.
“Congratulations on him making prefect,” Jiang Cheng corrected.
“Jiang Cheng, it’s precisely because Nie MingJue is prefect that I’m asking where he is,” Wei WuXian retorted.
“To congratulate him?” Doubt dripped from Jiang Cheng’s voice.
Wei WuXian burst into chortles. “No, to avoid him.”
“His brother’s right here!”
But Nie HuaiSang laughed too. “Can’t blame you there. But Da-Ge went to help Lan XiChen with something.”
“I’m surprised Lan XiChen isn’t prefect.”
“I’m disappointed,” Nie HuaiSang said. “I just know Da-Ge will be harder on me than anyone else.” His shoulders slumped.
“Why isn’t he?” questioned Jiang Cheng. “Lan XiChen, I mean.”
“He’s not prefect because his father just died,” Nie HuaiSang informed them. “The board felt it’d be too much on his young shoulders.” He giggled, hiding behind a fan he’d plucked from his sleeve. “Though, if anyone could handle it, I bet he could.”
Your father is dead too. Though it had been over a year. Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng exchanged a glance.
Also on the north side, next to Nie MingJue and Lan XiChen’s room, was a room with two unfamiliar names on it. Wei WuXian frowned. “Who’re Jin GuangYao and Mo XuanYu?”
“No idea about the latter,” reported Nie HuaiSang. “But Jin GuangYao you already know. He’s Meng Yao, but polished up all nice and fancy now.”
Meng Yao? Wei WuXian rubbed his skull. The name sounded familiar, but—
“You remember him,” Jiang Cheng cut in. “He’s the bastard of Jin GuangShan. He’s the one Jin GuangShan ordered thrown out when he came to meet his dad last year.”
Oh, right. That had been the scandal of the year. Everyone on campus buzzed about it for months, until Wen RouHan went down. Wei WuXian struggled to understand why Jin GuangShan would suddenly invite his bastard to campus. Was it really that Jin GuangShan was waiting to demonstrate his generosity and benevolence until he had the power of principal? Somehow Wei WuXian doubted it.
“I like him,” Nie HuaiSang declared. “He’s sweet.”
They moved to the west side of the dorm. The first door held the names Jin ZiXun and Jin ZiXuan.
“Ew,” said Wei WuXian. Jin ZiXun he didn’t know, but Jin ZiXuan was an arrogant bastard who made fun of Jiang YanLi last year. For this reason, he and Jiang Cheng were convinced he had an abnormally small dick and compensated for it with a very large ego.
The next door held two more names Wei WuXian didn’t recognize: Xiao XingChen and Song Lan. And the third was more of the same: Su She and Xue Yang.
“Xue Yang?” spluttered Jiang Cheng. “For real?”
“Who’s he?” Wei WuXian asked. Nie HuaiSang frowned as if he didn’t know either.
“That delinquent,” Jiang Cheng said derisively. “He was arrested last year. Meng Yao is one thing, even if he is a prostitute’s son, but why would they admit someone like Xue Yang?”
The last door on the west wall held two names that made Wei WuXian’s heart jump, but for different reasons.
Wen Chao.
Wen Ning.
Poor Wen Ning, Wei WuXian thought.
“The hell is he still allowed to be here?” complained Jiang Cheng. “Both of them are Wens, but Wen Chao especially is—”
“Scum among scum,” Wei WuXian finished, tightening his fists.
Nie HuaiSang squeaked. “Da-Ge wasn’t happy about it either. Not only that, but Wen Chao’s older brother Wen Xu is still teaching here. The board insisted. But it’s only martial arts.”
“Well, good news for Jin ZiXuan,” declared Wei WuXian. “I have a different nemesis this year.” As for Wen Ning, he and Jiang Cheng would have to invite the poor boy to sleep on their floor. He was too innocent and sweet to live with such a rancid turd.
That meant the three of them all had rooms on the south side. Wei WuXian turned.
The first door read Jiang Cheng and Nie HuaiSang.
Huh? Jiang Cheng and I are always together!
But the second door read Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi.
Of all the fuddy-duddies in the world, they had to put me with the guy who kept turning me in for the slightest infraction?
There was nothing Wei WuXian could do besides wail. “Nooooooooooooooooo!”
“So,” a voice said coldly. “You made it here.”
Jin GuangYao whirled. He’d just gone to visit his father, hoping they could talk about how he could help him during the school year. But Father hadn’t been there. No matter; he’d see him soon.
Father had said that Jin GuangYao had proved useful, and Jin GuangYao had replayed those words over and over and over again in his mind. Useful . U s e f u l. Use ful. Use ful .
And he’d admitted Jin GuangYao to the academy, changed his name even, acknowledged him. Even if he made his name GuangYao instead of ZiYao. It was acknowledgement.
My father’s better off because of something I did. Excitement squirmed in his stomach every night since. He couldn’t even sleep well. He was so eager to learn.
But right now? Jin GuangYao wanted to hide. Fortunately, the figure clad in snow-white robes beamed at him.
Jin GuangYao managed to smile. “Lan XiChen. Nie MingJue.” He bowed.
“No need for that,” Lan XiChen interrupted. He smiled back. “We’re old friends.”
Nie MingJue narrowed his eyes. “Again. How did you two meet?”
“He helped me when my father died,” Lan XiChen said. “You know that, MingJue-xiong.”
Nie MingJue’s brow remained furrowed as it to say: I know there’s something you’re not telling me .
In truth, Lan XiChen would be too embarrassed, and Jin GuangYao didn’t want to ignite rumors. What happened was about three days after Jin GuangYao was thrown onto the streets after daring to come to Nevernight and beg for a place upon the death of Mother, he had seen a young boy following a man who looked just like him. The boy went into a shop, and the man went into an alley. When a group of men surrounded and attacked the man, Jin GuangYao had wanted to call for help, but he had no phone and no way of doing so.
And then Lan XiChen reappeared.
“No—my dad, I have to get to my dad!” Lan XiChen had screamed.
“They’ll get you next!” Jin GuangYao grasped the other boy. Lan XiChen’s head slumped, as if he was on the verge of passing out. Although Lan XiChen was infinitely taller than he was, Jin GuangYao slung his arms around his shoulders, dragging Lan XiChen to a motel where he paid for a room.
When Wen RouHan’s cultivators showed up, Lan XiChen had jerked out of his stupor, terror on his face. “They can’t get in here—”
The knocking increased. Jin GuangYao hesitated.
Lan XiChen’s eyes searched the room for a place to hide. Jin GuangYao jumped on the bed, sending the springs in the mattress creaking and groaning. He let out a few embarrassing moans, mimicking the exact timbre and pitch of man of the clients who raped his mother every day and every night. Lan XiChen had gaped at him, and Jin GuangYao wanted to cry, because he felt certain that this boy would think of him as shameless, the son of a whore, first and foremost.
But then Lan XiChen joined him on the bed, rocking to make noise. He didn’t dare use his voice.
Eventually, the Wen Sect people left.
Lan XiChen hadn’t even been able to finish school last year. Neither had Jiang Cheng or Wei WuXian, that Jin GuangYao knew. But on Lan XiChen’s request, Nie MingJue had agreed to meet with Jin GuangYao and help him learn basic cultivation outside of school. Jin GuangYao hoped to pass a test to get an internship over the summer with his father, but when other cultivators in town found out, they stole his books and his sword, his guqin and his sleep and his time.
Failing was not an option, so Jin GuangYao cheated on the test. Nie MingJue had spotted him in the act, thrusting him up against a wall when the test was over, shouting.
“Go confess to your father.”
But Jin GuangYao couldn’t do that. He’d run, changing his results so that they wouldn’t be sent for his father’s consideration after all, but instead sent to Wen RouHan. An internship with the principal of Nevernight Academy was certainly not going to win him back any favors with Nie MingJue, but it did allow Jin GuangYao the opportunity to earn Wen RouHan’s trust, and then betray that trust by sending his father and Nie MingJue evidence that Wen RouHan hadn’t just killed Lan XiChen’s father QingHeng-Jun, but also Nie MingJue’s father.
After that, Father finally welcomed Jin GuangYao, named him, acknowledged him, admitted him.
“You better be careful,” Nie MingJue said darkly.
Jin GuangYao swallowed. Was he—
“The Wens aren’t going to like you. You’ll be on their hit list.”
“Wen Ning is not a worry,” Jin GuangYao responded, relaxing. “Wen Chao I can handle.”
“Wen Xu will make you run suicides in martial arts.”
“I can handle that,” he repeated.
“I’m glad you’re here, A-Yao,” Lan Xichen told him, eyes sparkling.
“Thank you,” he said softly. “How’s WangJi?”
Lan XiChen pursed his lips. He sighed.
“Hmph,” said a voice. Jin GuangYao spun to see Jin ZiXun, his cousin, striding past them, arm linked with Jin ZiXuan’s. Jin GuangYao wondered if they’d talk to him. “Your father really invited him here?”
“What was he going to do?” Jin ZiXuan replied. “He couldn’t turn him away after all that.”
“He should have. Look at him talking to the Nie and Lan sect heirs like he fits in with them. He’ll sully our family name, you watch. A prostitute’s blood is like a disease. What if he has one? Maybe he has AIDS like she did. Isn’t that what she died of?”
Jin GuangYao flinched. Nie MingJue glared after them, shaking his head in disgust.
Lan XiChen slung his arm around Jin GuangYao’s shoulders, as if to reassure him that he didn’t have any such opinion.
I’ll prove I’m worth it. I won’t disgrace the Jin name. I won’t.
“Let’s go back to the dorm. More kids should be there,” Lan XiChen suggested. “You should visit our room, A-Yao—because MingJue-xiong is a prefect, it’s slightly larger—”
Nie MingJue stormed off in the other direction.
At that, Jin GuangYao dropped his head completely. Lan XiChen sighed.
“He hates me.”
“He doesn’t,” Lan XiChen said. “He just—he hates evil, he—”
“I’m evil?”
Lan XiChen started. “That isn’t what I meant.”
“I know,” Jin GuangYao responded. “It’s fine, Lan XiChen. Truly.” He plastered a false smile over his face, but it was one of his most convincing ones. He’d lived under this mask for two months while interning for Wen RouHan.
But it wasn’t his father. It was a strange boy, rather handsome, or he would be if he wasn’t wearing garish, badly applied makeup. His hair hung loose and messy.
“Mo XuanYu?” Jin GuangYao asked. He didn’t know this boy.
“Hi!” Mo XuanYu smiled at him, shoulders hunching as if nervous. “I—you’re Jin GuangYao? I like your hat. It’s nice.”
Jin GuangYao managed a smile back. “Thanks.”
Mo XuanYu tossed the one small bag he had onto his bed. It looked to have only rumpled tunics and trousers, some paper, some ink, and jars of makeup in it.
Jin GuangYao frowned. “Where’s your sword?”
“Don’t have one,” Mo XuanYu admitted. “I’ve never cultivated before.”
“Truly?” Then why was he here? Had Father put this strange boy in the same room as Jin GuangYao because they were both late starters? “Where do you come from?”
“Mm, a place no one knows of,” Mo XuanYu said. “Mo Village. My mother—she was hired to cook this year, so the food’ll be nice.”
“You left a village with your name on it to come here?”
“Y-yeah,” Mo XuanYu said, unpacking vials of rouge and eye shadow. He arranged them lovingly on his desk. “The principal is my father. I’m like you.”
Jin GuangYao felt cold seep from his stomach.
He brought you back too.
Father definitely wouldn’t have done that if it weren’t for being forced to acknowledge Jin GuangYao.
A warning. Don’t forget your place. I never chose you.
It hurt.
But at least he was here . He could prove himself. He would.