Chapter Text
Unusually bright light burns into Wei Wuxian’s eyes when they flutter open. He lies in a cool room, on a soft mattress, with light, airy sheets- all would be perfect for rest, except for the damn light. With a short groan, he instinctually moves to flip over onto his stomach. The throbbing pain that follows is enough to stun him completely awake, and he hisses as he tries to sit up. His chest is covered in bandages, and they’re especially thick around his upper chest where the wound burns the most.
“Wei Ying.”
The low, worried voice immediately soothes Wei Wuxian, and he musters a bright smile as Lan Wangji dutifully checks him for any signs of distress or fever. Gone are the Nie disciple robes; instead, Lan Wangji wears soft, properly fitting, periwinkle robes that complement his forehead ribbon. It’s just the way Wei Wuxian always dreamt.
“Your robes truly match your tail! Is this a dream?” he muses. “You’re always beautiful, Lan Zhan, but today you truly look like Hanguang Jun- blessed with light.”
Lan Wangji smiles softly, his ears burning as he lowers his hand to thumb Wei Wuxian’s cheek.
“Do not flatter.”
“Lan Zhan, how many times must I say that I am completely serious? It should be a crime to have such tight robes over such broad shoulders. I want to take a bite!”
He plops dramatically in Lan Wangji’s lap, but his overexcitement is too strenuous, and he begins to cough. The coughing only agitates his chest and exhausts him, and he limply falls back into Lan Wangji’s embrace.
“Sorry,” he murmurs, relaxing into the warm circles Lan Wangji rubs into his back.
“No need to apologize.”
“This stab wound is nothing, though! Back during the Sunshot Campaign, I could shove my own organs back inside during a fight and keep going!”
“En. You’re not so young, anymore. Heal.”
Wei Wuxian’s mouth drops at the teasing words, and he levels an accusing glare at the subtle smirk on his lover’s face. “Are you calling me old, Lan Zhan?”
“Seasoned.”
“I’m still in my twenties!”
The pout on Wei Wuxian’s face is absolutely adorable, and Lan Wangji can’t help but kiss his reddened nose, trailing down to stubborn lips. He knows that Wei Wuxian isn’t really angry at him, and is lavishing in his care and attention, and as expected, Wei Wuxian’s lips part greedily. They gently kiss for a few more moments, Lan Wangji pulling away before things become too heated.
“Oh, now Lan er-gege, you can’t kiss me like that and leave!”
“Not now, Wei Ying. Listen.”
After a moment, the pout falls off of Wei Wuxian’s face, replaced with wonder when he hears the sound of children giggling and screaming a short distance away.
“Is that A-Yuan? When did he get here?”
“En. While you rested. Keep listening.”
They listen as what sounds like two pairs of feet toddle around, followed by one indignant scream.
“A-Yu! A-Yu! Why- why does Yuan-gege get to have the red powder on his cheeks, but A-Ling doesn’t get any?!”
“Because A-Yuan is a polite boy, and A-Ling just kicked me and doesn’t get any of my rouge!” comes Mo Xuanyu’s indignant reply.
When A-Ling- Jin Ling- hears this, he begins to wail miserably, followed by Mo Xuanyu’s placations. It is when A-Yuan softly cajoles that he seems to truly calm.
“Here, A-Ling- you can have some of my rouge if you are nice to A-Yu.”
“Okay…”
“You’re such a good boy, A-Yuan. A-Ling should pay attention to A-Yuan, hm?”
“Okay! I’ll show him the toys I brought!”
Wei Wuxian’s bottom lip wobbles as he turns to Lan Wangji in wonder.
“Is that my A-Yuan?” he whispers. “Is that- is that my nephew in there with him? A-Ling?”
“En. That is your family, Wei Ying.”
“Our family.”
Lan Wangji’s heart pounds full of love and contentment when Wei Wuxian grasps his hand, squeezing tight as he sniffles.
“It’s so wonderful. A-Yuan has always wanted someone to play with. He’s so well behaved- he must have gotten it from you.”
“Wei Ying is a good Baba, and A-Yuan learned well.”
“Now who’s the flatterer?”
They sit and quietly listen to the children run around on the other side of the door, poor Mo Xuanyu trying to keep up with Jin Ling as he fully intends to keep up with A-Yuan.
“Who’s the other kid?” asks Wei Wuxian. “You must trust him.”
“Mo Xuanyu. He is another one of Jin Guangshan’s illegitimate children, and one that Jiang Yanli has personally taken under her wing. He was neglected by Jin Guangyao as competition, and as such his cultivation is not very strong. However, he is devoted to your sister, and she cares for him deeply. I think he is a… fan of yours.”
Wei Wuxian shrugs, trying to hide his pleasure with nonchalance. “If Shijie trusts him, I trust him.”
A light knock sounds, and Wei Wuxian barely has his robe sleeve over his bandages when it opens, the savory smell of lotus root and pork rib soup permeating the space. His eyes water in anticipation, both for the soup, and for the kind smile that follows it. Lan Wangji immediately stands, lifting the heavy tray from Jiang Yanli’s hands to take to the side table. Grateful, she immediately rushes to Wei Wuxian’s side.
“A-Xian- oof!”
Forgetting his injury, Wei Wuxian immediately wraps her into a tight hug. Jiang Yanli begins to cry herself as she holds him, running her fingers soothingly through his hair.
“Shijie…”
He squeezes even tighter, sobbing as he tries to take in her soft smell of lotus blossoms and peonies.
“I’m sorry, Shijie… I’m so, so sorry. I don’t deserve your forgiveness…”
She pulls him away from her, just far enough so that she can wipe the tears from his distraught face.
“A-Xian. We may need to talk, but know that I will always love you, and I’ve already forgiven you.”
“I can’t accept that from you. If you already poisoned the soup, I would understand…”
Lan Wangji casts a furtive glance at the pot of soup, suspiciously lifting up the lid while Jiang Yanli giggles.
“I would never do that- don’t joke that way. You’ll upset Lan er-gongzi.”
He sniffles one more time before remembering that Jiang Yanli was also injured in the battle.
“How is your arm? Did they treat you well?”
“Of course. It was a shallow cut; it’s all bandaged up. Lan er-gongzi even played his healing music for me as well, which was incredibly beneficial.”
Hearing his sister speak so highly of Lan Wangji makes Wei Wuxian beam, his red-nosed grin so wide that she pinches his cheek affectionately.
“I’m so happy that you’ve found someone so wonderful, that loves you so dearly, A-Xian. I wish you both the utmost happiness.”
Wei Wuxian wants to feel joy at her words, but the grin slides off his face and is replaced with a heavy guilt and shame. His Shijie was a saint; to wish the person who murdered your beloved spouse happiness in their own love? It was unfathomably strong of her, and he grasps her hands to hold on to some of that strength.
“Shijie… I would never purposefully kill Jin Zixuan. I may not have favored him, but he was my Shijie’s husband and the father to my nephew. He came that day to break up a fight, and his last words were to tell me that you…that you wanted me to come see you. Even with his last breath, he was thinking about you and your happiness. He loved and adored you, even if I didn’t want to see it at the time. You deserve that happiness so much more than I do, and I stole it from you, and I am so sorry. Even if you forgive me, I’ll never forgive myself. It is beneath you to accept my apology, but I am offering it anyway- I have nothing else I can give.”
Lan Wangji remembers this sentiment; the words echoing back to a time where he’d suffered pain from Wei Wuxian and his decisions. As strong as she is, Jiang Yanli can’t help her own tears of sadness as she thinks of her husband. For an excruciating moment she shivers as she sobs, but she never lets go of his hands. Finally, she nods at Wei Wuxian.
“Thank you for your apology, A-Xian. And thank you for telling me what he said in his last moments. My husband… he really wanted you to be there for me and A-Ling, even if it meant swallowing his own pride. He may have been awkward, but he wanted to do better for the LanlingJin sect. I keep his memory alive by trying to better things where I can, and up to now it seemed that it was all going well, until…” she coughs delicately. “Well, anyway, right now I have A-Cheng to help me stabilize the sect, and I would be pleased if my A-Xian supported us.”
Wei Wuxian grimaces, but before they can continue speaking, Lan Wangji- who has sat silently across from them- holds out a warm bowl of soup for Wei Wuxian to take. To both of their surprise, Jiang Yanli takes the bowl instead, stirring the pot before spooning out the broth.
“Xianxian needs to eat,” she teases, and Wei Wuxian whimpers before opening his mouth. While he silently eats, Jiang Yanli discusses what has happened with Jin Guangyao’s body and burial, as well as the cleanup in the back stairs of Koi Tower. She finishes with how she specifically designated these rooms for him and Lan Wangji, making sure that he immediately received medical attention once he was brought in.
“The only ones allowed to visit are myself, A-Ling, A-Yu, and A-Cheng. I added A-Yuan when Lan Wangji told me that you both were raising him. He’s such a wonderful child, A-Xian. You did a fantastic job.”
“En. I agree.”
Wei Wuxian presses his lips together in exasperation, meeting Lan Wangji’s smug glance.
“Sect Leader Nie only stayed for Jin Guangyao’s burial, and he departed soon after- but not before gifting a brand-new wardrobe for you both, and many, many jars of alcohol. He also left you a letter, which I have placed on your desk. If I must say, he has impeccable style- the robes are perfect for you both.”
After two bowls of soup, Wei Wuxian leans back onto the bed with a satisfied smile.
“If you’re tired, you should rest. I’ll come back later-”
Before she can finish, there are a flurry of knocks- or, hand slams, rather- on the bottom of the door.
“Madame Jin, I am so sorry,” Mo Xuanyu pleads from outside the door. “But A-Ling and A-Yuan would really like to see Wei-gongzi and Lan er-gongzi and I can’t hold them back anymore.”
Jiang Yanli laughs gently. “A-Ling has wanted to meet his uncle ever since he heard you got here, and A-Yuan worries deeply about you always. Do you want to see them now?”
“Of course!”
The door opens and all three children make their way in. Mo Xuanyu wears white face makeup, with red rouge dabbed on his cheeks for effect. A-Yuan has two strong dots of rouge on his cheeks, and Jin Ling has messy patches of fingerprints and swipes through his.
“Oh dear!” Jiang Yanli says, holding her rushing heart at the sight of her child. “A-Ling, what is this?”
“A-Yu finally let me put on some of his face powder!”
“No, A-Ling stole my rouge and shoved it onto his face!”
The teenager is full of dramatics, and he’s well suited to watch after Jin Ling, so Wei Wuxian likes him already. When he gives him a smile, Mo Xuanyu happily flushes behind his rouge, hiding his face.
“Baba! How are you feeling?” A-Yuan asks, immediately sidling up to Wei Wuxian.
“Much better. You know Baba is incredibly strong, afraid of nothing!”
After a hug, A-Yuan goes to sit with Lan Wangji.
“Diedie said you’re afraid of dogs.”
“I- I- Lan Zhan!”
“You’re afraid of dogs?” Wei Wuxian turns to the small, proud voice and can’t help his affectionate smile. Jin Ling truly favors his father, from his expressions to his posture- all pride and affluence in one tiny, pudgy body. “I have a puppy! Her name is Lil Fairy! And I’m Jin Ling!”
Wei Wuxian gives him a mock serious bow. “Hello, Jin Ling. My name is Wei Wuxian, and I’m your Shishu. My friend over there is-”
“I met Lan er-gongzi already. He’s not afraid of puppies, and therefore he’s more interesting than you.”
Face scrunching up in affront, Wei Wuxian’s eyes narrow in fake offense.
“More interesting?! This is why A-Yu didn’t share his rouge with you!”
Mo Xuanyu looks away to hide his grin while Jin Ling gasps, scowling. “I will call Lil Fairy on you- or better yet, I’ll call Jiujiu!”
The fact that this sassy child knows the two things that would terrify him most is absolutely hilarious, and he begins to laugh in earnest. Jiang Yanli places a confused A-Ling on her lap.
“Now, A-Ling. You wanted to meet your uncle for so long- be nice to him. I’m sure that there’s something else that you both have in common.”
“Okay, Niang. I’ll share some of my snacks from dessert with him- even if he doesn’t like dogs.”
“I appreciate your effort,” she comments sagely.
Soon A-Ling becomes bored and runs over to A-Yuan to encourage him to play more. Seeing the ruckus they’re about to cause, Mo Xuanyu huffs. Noticing this, Wei Wuxian chuckles before waving him over.
“I heard that you are loyal to my sister, Mo Xuanyu. I wanted to thank you for that.” When Wei Wuxian offers a small bow from his bed, Mo Xuanyu immediately bows lower, flustered.
“Of course, Wei-gongzi. Madame Jin is a gracious, wonderful madame, and I only seek her everlasting safety and happiness.” He fiddles with his fingers before speaking back up. “She said that- that I reminded her of you sometimes, in my mischievous behavior.”
“Did she?” Wei Wuxian turns to Jiang Yanli, who gives them both a wistful look.
“Mhm! No one else ever really paid attention to me, or they were calling me a lazy and useless kid. Madame Jin was always merciful to me; she gave me something to focus on that I was good at.”
Lan Wangji bows to Mo Xuanyu as well, and the teenager looks so excited that he might faint.
“Thank you for warning us of danger, both times.”
Before Mo Xuanyu can deny it, a curious Wei Wuxian cuts in.
“Oh? You’re my Shijie’s little bird? Hm- you like fashion and crafts too… perhaps you might benefit from some time in the Unclean Realm to properly hone your craft. I can write something up.” If Mo Xuanyu was going to be his sister’s eyes and ears, he needed to be the best at the art- why not learn from the best?
When he realizes what Wei Wuxian is implying, Mo Xuanyu’s eyes widen with excitement momentarily before narrowing with suspicion.
“The Unclean Realm? Nothing ever happens there, and I’ve heard that the leader knows nothing.”
“Exactly. When you come back, you’ll know nothing either. You’ll understand that later, trust your elder.”
Mo Xuanyu gives Wei Wuxian a strange look, but before he can question anything a large crash comes from the other room. Frazzled, he bids all parties in the room a quick farewell before rushing to find the two mysteriously quiet children. When Jiang Yanli stands to leave as well, Lan Wangji stands to bow.
“I’ll leave you to get cleaned up, A-Xian. Feel free to take a walk in the gardens- your rooms are right next to the koi pond, with plenty of sunlight. I have some work to attend to, but if you are feeling well enough later, I would love to see you at dinner. A-Cheng will be there as well.”
The hint is thinly veiled- if he wasn’t ready to see Jiang Cheng, he could simply say he was too tired and skip dinner. His Shijie is truly too gracious. They both bow deeply to her, and she leaves.
The washroom has already been prepared for him, and he soaks in the flower and herb-infused water as Lan Wangji gently scrubs through and combs his hair. An efficient replacement of the bandages shows Wei Wuxian that the wound is already healing nicely- a nice change from when he was completely coreless. The robe Lan Wangji has chosen for him is luxurious, comfortable, and cool, trimmed with red silk. It feels like dressing in his bedsheets- Nie Huaisang had truly outdone himself.
The note that the witty, scheming sect leader had left behind was simple- it commented on the gifts given for ‘good service’, plus some ‘hidden books that have been left with Lan Wangji directly’. The wardrobe was particularly nice, as he commented that ‘I know you’ll no longer live in squalor after this’.
I look forward to seeing you in the Unclean Realm, it sassily finishes. I will always have time to laze around with my friends, seeing as I know absolutely nothing, and never accomplish anything without help, ever.
They decided to go on a short walk near the pond, oddly empty of any onlookers. It seems that Jiang Yanli has truly emptied their corridor of anyone other than the occasional servant to check in on them. Because of this, Wei Wuxian feels a little safer about bringing up the next topic.
“What did the doctors say about my… cultivation?” he asks carefully, giving Lan Wangji a side glance. A small squeeze to his hand lets him know that his lover understood him clearly.
“They have attributed it to a weakening and whittling away of your original core due to exposure to long-term resentment. It was the only answer they could logically come to, as there is no prior recorded research of demonic cultivation.”
It was a fair conclusion, and it worked perfectly fine for their means. The only sadness Wei Wuxian feels is that Wen Qing’s brilliance and genius will never be known by future generations, her objective and sharp ideology burned due to unfair politics, blood ties and cruelty.
“Wei Ying? What is wrong?”
When Wei Wuxian turns sad eyes his way, Lan Wangji pulls him into a soft embrace.
“I miss Wen Qing,” Wei Wuxian admits quietly. “She deserved to be here. I-”
“You both deserved to be here,” Lan Wangji interrupts. “You both deserved to live.”
With a small, pained laugh, Wei Wuxian squeezes tighter.
“You hate it when I talk bad about myself, don’t you?”
“En.”
They’d just made it back into their quiet rooms when the arrival of a tense, crackling noise makes both of them stiffen, though Lan Wangji refuses to release Wei Wuxian from his arms.
“Well, if you won’t talk bad about yourself, I certainly have some things to say, Wei Wuxian.”
The look on the YunmengJiang sect leader’s face is sour, twisted with a cocktail of bitterness, fury, and loneliness. Wei Wuxian turns to face it with only exhaustion.
“I’m sure you do, Jiang Cheng. Feel free to tell the fish outside. Let’s go, Lan Zhan.”
Zidian only sizzles to life more when Wei Wuxian turns away, walking past Lan Wangji.
“You already exercised that famous audacity to come here- don’t turn your back on me now!”
Before he can attack, Lan Wangji squares his shoulders in front of him, narrowing his eyes in challenge. You already know how this is going to go, his eyes say, and Jiang Cheng scoffs.
“That’s right, run away! Hide behind your mystery man right here like you always have! Abandon me, abandon Jiejie, abandon all of your promises- it’s all as empty as you are!”
Wei Wuxian doesn’t even bother to turn, grasping Lan Wangji’s shoulder.
“Let it go, Lan Zhan.”
While both of them have a silent conversation, they miss the way a sickening, long-held heartbreak cracks across Jiang Cheng’s expression; the way he lifts his chin further to force the burning tears to stay in their sockets. When Wei Wuxian gives Lan Wangji a small reassuring smile, squeezing his shoulder, indignation sears through Jiang Cheng. How dare they have that camaraderie in front of him; how dare Wei Wuxian flaunt that his own shidi is so replaceable, that their relationship meant nothing, that their promises were so flimsy compared to some refugees and a stupid, pretty face…
“Was he worth it?” Jiang Cheng rasps, cutting his eyes at Lan Wangji. “Was this stuffy bastard worth leaving your own siblings to suffer? My Jiejie was injured in a battle zone all so that you could protect your own worthless life and this nameless peasant! Does sharing his bed really make you so shameless?”
Lan Wangji is horrified; regardless of their past, he could not fathom speaking to someone he once loved so crassly and cruelly. Before he can put the impertinent sect leader in his place, Wei Wuxian spins in front of him, face tight and nostrils flaring.
“Jiang Cheng! Watch your tongue!” he hisses. “You are out of line! I don’t care what you have to say about me, but you will control yourself when speaking about Hanguang Jun- he is an honorable man, and you will treat him as such.”
“Honorable how?! We don’t even know who this man is! Do you plan on explaining any of that? No, you just plan on saying things and everyone is just supposed to accept them, just like you always do!”
Jiang Cheng stands triumphantly, waiting for a stunned silent Wei Wuxian to retort. Even Lan Wangji can’t help but acknowledge the truth in the statement; if Wei Wuxian hadn’t told anyone who he was, it is only fair that they not know what to expect. Seeing the weight keeping his secret holds on Wei Wuxian saddens him- he never intended to come between family in this way.
Finally, Wei Wuxian sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Fine. That’s fair. If you want to talk about things, Jiang Cheng, we’ll talk. But does it have to be right now, and like this? Hell, I was stabbed less than twenty-four hours ago, give me a damn break.”
The way Wei Wuxian’s skin is paling is much more pressing for Lan Wangji as well, and he grips his hands. “Wei Ying, I can talk to him-”
“Lan Zhan, don’t worry about it-”
“I don’t want to talk to you, Lan Wangji! Let him defend himself! Give you a break- ha! I want to know, right now! Tell me who or what was so important to Wei Wuxian that he was willing to do everything he could to shamelessly betray the family that scraped him off the street, that raised him in a station more fitting than the servant that he always was.”
“He didn’t betray you,” Lan Wangji growls, losing his own temper. “Wei Ying, let’s- Wei Ying!”
Lan Wangji immediately opens his arms to allow Wei Wuxian to collapse into them. Blood leaks from all seven of his apertures, his body shivering slightly. In a panic, Lan Wangji lifts Wei Wuxian off of the ground, rushing him over to the reclining couch in the large space. He wants to find some water to clean the blood, but the presence of the bitter sect leader leaves him crouched next to Wei Wuxian defensively.
Jiang Cheng wavers unsure in the space. He’d followed Lan Wangji into the room, his own upset instinctually overwhelmed by worry. When Lan Wangji turns to glare at him, as if he is truly a threat, he’s filled with a burning shame that he can’t stand.
“Leave.” Lan Wangji commands. The command is filled with an assurance of violence if it is not followed, and Jiang Cheng squares himself.
“Why should I?”
Before Lan Wangji can javelin Bichen through the man’s chest, a flash of speed slams into Jiang Cheng, tossing him through the space and into a far wall. Wen Ning stands furiously in front of Lan Wangji, slamming down a bucket of water and a small towel.
“Please take care of Wei-gongzi, Lan er-gongzi.”
Zidian sparks in front of Jiang Cheng as he begins to peel away from the cracked wall, looking as insidious as Jiang Cheng does when he locks eyes with the fierce corpse. As much as Lan Wangji wants to encourage Wen Ning to humble Jiang Cheng, fighting inside of the space is dangerous for all parties.
“Fight him outside if you’re going to fight at all,” he says simply, turning to gently clean the blood from Wei Wuxian’s head and face.
“I’m going to kill you,” Jiang Cheng snarls, finally freeing himself from the marble.
“I’m already dead, Sect Leader Jiang, and you would be too if Wei-gongzi hadn’t sacrificed everything for you!” Wen Ning reached behind himself, holding out a sheathed sword. Lan Wangji recognizes it as Suibian- the sword that he hasn’t seen in so long, ever since Wei Wuxian had returned with Chenqing and his demonic cultivation.
“What are you talking about, corpse?”
Wen Ning tips his chin up. “Pull it out.”
“Tuh! If you don’t want me to turn you to ashes right now, you’d better take that pathetic sword and get out of my sight right now!” Raising Zidian, Jiang Cheng cuts across the room, sending Wen Ning flying into a desk. Papers go flying from the impact, and Lan Wangji shields Wei Wuxian from the blast of wind.
Undaunted, Wen Ning stands again, holding out the sword.
“Don’t be a coward! Pull it out!”
Refusing to be called a coward, Jiang Cheng storms forward to reach for the sword. It’s all stupid; the sword had refused to be unsheathed ever since Wei Wuxian vanished after the destruction of the Burial Mounds. So, when Suibian slides out of the sheath, it leaves him so thrown that all of his characteristic fury extinguishes like a candle flame.
“What is this? Why did the sword lift the seal?” he demands, waving it in Wen Ning’s face.
“The sword didn’t lift its seal. Nobody else can do this.”
“Then why?!”
“Because the sword takes you for Wei-gongzi!”
Lan Wangji watches Jiang Cheng’s face blanch, his hand unconsciously rising to his lower torso.
“Why would it think that?!”
Wen Ning steels his expression. “Because the golden core that burns inside you is his!”
Before Jiang Cheng can counter him, Wen Ning goes into the details of the day. Both Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng listen in horror as he explains the silly cover story of Baoshan Sanren living in a hidden mountain in Yiling, of how Wei Wuxian conspired with Wen Qing and Wen Ning to transfer his own core into Jiang Cheng after Wen Zhuliu had melted it.
“The reason you thought your core was mended was that my sister, Wen Qing, the best medic of the QishanWen sect, cut out Wei-gongzi’s core and replaced yours with it! Why do you think he never used Suibian again? Youthful arrogance? Do you really think he enjoyed it when people mocked him, to his face or behind his back? If he carried that sword, his secret would have been revealed immediately to those who would challenge him!”
‘Can you lock your spiritual energy? I just want to feel both of us, skin to skin. No secret efforts to try to give me energy, or heal me, or any of the other ways that you and Wen Qing have been trying to sabotage me lately. No powers, no cultivation, just… us. Please. Promise me.’
‘What of it? I gave it to Jiang Cheng! After the Wens sacked Lotus Pier and killed Sect Leader Jiang and Madame Yu, he went back, and Wen Zhuliu melted his core. In order to save his life, to save him from mediocrity, and to help heal him more quickly, I asked Wen Qing to transfer my core to him.’
Lan Wangji knows the truth, and yet hearing it in this way- hearing just how much effort Wei Wuxian put into hiding his pain from him and those who loved him for so long- is newly devastating. He places an arm protectively over Wei Wuxian, gently cradling his face.
“Wen Ning,” he asks quietly. “Does it hurt? Cutting out one’s core?”
Wen Ning gives him a sympathetic glance. “If I said it wasn’t, you wouldn’t believe it either, would you Lan er-gongzi?”
“I thought Wen Qing might have a way.” Wen Qing had been an unacknowledged genius of her time; if anyone could have come up with something…
Wen Ning shakes his head. “Before we went up the mountain, she tried. If the person is under anesthesia, the core would be affected. And so, the person having the core cut out has to be awake.”
So Wei Wuxian had to feel his powers leave him? Had to watch, in agony, as the burning cultivation that he worked so hard for, the bright light inside him that always left Lan Wangji in awe, his spiritual being, was cut away from him? It’s enough to make him nauseous.
“Constantly awake?” His voice wavers, pleading for a merciful answer.
“For two nights and one day. Constantly awake.”
“What were the chances?” Please, tell me something good, please…
“About half.”
Wen Ning’s reply lands like an axe on an execution block.
“Half?” The breathless reply is a sob, Lan Wangji’s chest shaking.
“After all, no one had ever done such a thing. No one would ever do such a thing. My sister refused him, but Wei-gongzi was persistent. He said that he could live on if he were ruined, but Sect Leader Jiang,” he comments, turning a cold eye to a still shivering, slightly green Jiang Cheng, “was a different story. He was too driven. Cultivation was his life; if he could only be mediocre, his life would be over. But know this- you were never meant to outshine Wei-gongzi!”
They all stand in silence, letting Wei Wuxian’s choice sink in.
“Well, Sect Leader Jiang? What will you do? You can take the sword around. Have someone attempt to pull it out. The end result will be the same.”
Tears begin rolling down Jiang Cheng’s face, and he shakes his head.
“I don’t need this. You’re lying. You’re lying!”
He turns to Lan Wangji, as if there would be some reprieve, but Lan Wangji’s own look condemns him to the truth. Unfurling Zidian, Jiang Cheng tackles Wen Ning out of the way before slamming the door open. Everyone in the room jumps when Jiang Yanli stands in front of it. Heartbroken tears streak down her red features, but fury flashes in her eyes, and Jiang Cheng immediately stands down.
“Jiejie-”
“No, Jiang Cheng. I am upset with you. I’m upset with both of my brothers right now.” She takes one look around the room, grimacing when she sees the Jiang Cheng-shaped hole in the wall, the loose papers on the ground, and the broken desk. She takes one look at Wen Ning and flinches, before turning away.
“Madame Jin,” Lan Wangji begins. “If you are worried about rumors-”
“Your rooms are warded with silence talismans. I am the only one who can hear through them, as the madame of the domain.” When Lan Wangji gives her a questioning look, she explains further. “It was a subtle gift from Sect Leader Nie when I first took on the role. Unfortunately, secrets are worth more than gold, and I have to protect myself.” She sighs. “If you want to know the truth, Lan er-gongzi, I am tired of secrets. I’d like to think that there wasn’t any left in my remaining family. As such, when A-Xian wakes up, we will be having a family meeting. You and…and Wen-gongzi will not attend.”
Wen Ning makes himself scarce after the altercation, but Lan Wangji refuses to leave until Wei Wuxian is healthy enough to sit up and breathe with no issues. When he tells Wei Wuxian that Jiang Yanli wants to have a meeting, Wei Wuxian gives him a defeated look before smiling.
“Go. Check on A-Yuan, maybe spend a day in the market with him. Check on Wen Ning too, I’m sure he feels bad. I’ll be okay, Lan Zhan. Please.”
A half day, numerous gifts and treats for A-Yuan, A-Ling and Mo Xuanyu, and a quiet sit down with Wen Ning later, Lan Wangji anxiously returns to their rooms. He is relieved to see Wei Wuxian sitting next to the Koi Pond, deep in thought as the sunset reflects onto his pensive face.
“Oh! Lan Zhan. Did you have a good day? Did you bring me something?”
“En. I did.”
When he holds out the candied loquats for Wei Wuxian, his face lights up with delight.
“Oh, you spoil me, Lan er-gege!”
Lan Wangji sits properly next to him. “What happened?”
“Would you like a loquat? No- I’m sorry. I’m supposed to be trying to communicate how I feel more often. No more distractions.” Groaning, Wei Wuxian pops a loquat into his mouth. “Well, after Jiang Cheng finally caught a second wind, he told me off about the core transfer for about forty minutes. Then he broke into tears and began to hug me. Then Shijie told me how foolish I’d been, and then she broke into tears and began to hug me. They made me talk about the core transfer, the time I went missing, the demonic cultivation… all of it.” Despite the topic, Wei Wuxian beams with contentment. “If the conversation weren’t so dour, it would almost be like when we were kids again. Shijie made us sit in her inner rooms, and we had her soup and tea, and it was just… really nice, Lan Zhan. She even still has the conch shell that we found for her! Isn’t it wonderful?”
“En. I’m happy to hear that you reconciled with your family, Wei Ying.”
Elated, Wei Wuxian snuggles close to Lan Wangji.
“So now, Jiang Cheng said that we need to go back to Lotus Pier. I told him that I was only willing to go if you, A-Yuan, and Wen Ning can come with me. It took a little arguing, but he conceded. I think that he’s just a little jealous of you, Lan Zhan. It’s kind of adorable, really!”
The thought of Jiang Cheng and the word ‘adorable’ in the same thought makes no sense to Lan Wangji, and Wei Wuxian playfully pokes him in the mouth.
“I see that frown! Don’t be a bully to my shidi, Lan Zhan! I’m so excited- to think, we’ll get to go home! A real house in Lotus Pier, I can finally show you around the way I always wanted, and-”
“Wei Ying.”
It almost seems a cruel time to bring it up, but time is running short- Lan Wangji only has a couple days left.
“Wei Ying, I cannot stay.”
It pains him when Wei Wuxian pulls away, confused. “What do you mean?”
“I only had three weeks. The magic only lasts three weeks. I have to go back to the Cloud Recesses- back to my own brother.”
There is a pause, before Wei Wuxian begins to hyperventilate, standing up from the pond.
“No! No! We just got everything we wanted! We’re going to be happy! Is it because it’s not a strong enough spell? I can try to remember how I did it the first time, I know it hurts but I can figure it out, Lan Zhan you can’t go-”
“No, Wei Ying. No more large uses of resentment. You are healing, and you’ll finally be in a safe space to properly cultivate. I do not want this.”
His words make Wei Wuxian yelp as if he’s been slapped. “You don’t want to stay with me?”
Lan Wangji stands, quick to console him. “I want to stay with Wei Ying. But I also need to support my brother, and my sect. I… I can’t leave Xichen there on his own. Not with things as they are. I ran away from my punishment- they will discover soon. I need to return.”
“You want to return to a place where you’ll just end up in trouble again? Where this time they might kill you? And you want me to just let that happen?!”
Wei Wuxian begins to furiously pace back and forth.
“I’ll think of something.”
“Wei Ying. You don’t have to-”
Before Lan Wangji can finish, Wei Wuxian has crashed their lips together. The kiss is harried and needy.
“Take me inside, take me, and afterwards I will figure this out. I can’t let you go like this, Lan Zhan. I just can’t.”
It’s hard to focus on the misery of the future when Lan Wangji does exactly what Wei Wuxian asks, allowing Wei Wuxian to ride him so fervently into the bed that they both are tearful by the time they orgasm. Wei Wuxian is meticulous, marking his body with love bites and bruises everywhere he can. When he takes him with his mouth after a bath, Lan Wangji can feel his nose brush against the hairs on his lower belly, the warmth of the back of his throat. It’s as if Wei Wuxian thinks that he will simply get every sexual interaction he can into this one night, that they will never see the other again- and they might not. It is only thanks to the silence talismans that all of Koi Tower doesn’t hear their moans, soaked in lust, desire, and a forever present yearning.
The next morning, Lan Wangji makes his way down to the beaches at the edge of Lanling, Wei Wuxian gripping tight to his hand. When they reach a larger tide pool of water, Lan Wangji emits a small amount of spiritual power into it- alerting Lan Xichen to his presence. After a half hour of waiting, hidden in the shadows, Wei Wuxian is stunned when a head lifts from the water- especially when that head looks so much like Lan Wangji’s, but filled with joy and beaming brightly. He grimaces when another head lifts from the water- this one handsome, but dour, filled with disdain for the surroundings.
“Wangji!” Lan Xichen calls happily.
“Wangji.” Lan Qiren states, displeasure dripping from his voice.
“You look quite handsome in your human clothes,” Lan Xichen tries, but Lan Qiren huffs next to him. “Right. I won’t waste words- Su She’s treachery has been revealed to GusuLan. Disciples found his human body floating, barely alive, at the mouth of the river into the sea. While he was transformed to better aid in healing him, we noted that one of his old injuries seemed to be a curse rebound and interrogated him at once. He admitted to betraying GusuLan in numerous ways, for a long period of time. When we asked him about his more recent injury, he said that it was you who fought him.”
“En. That is true.”
Lan Qiren moves in front of Lan Xichen, scowling.
“I am severely disappointed in you, Wangji. Once again you have broken the most important rules of our sect. However, I have reasoned with myself that you knew of Su She’s actions, that on your own will and strength you took the initiative to discover a traitor to the sect with prior knowledge and investigation. In the end, your actions managed to save the Cloud Recesses and GusuLan overall. Everyone that could be a threat to our safety is now dead or imprisoned in the Cloud Recesses. I am sure that this will be worth noting when the elders are discussing future punishment. Return home at once.”
Lan Xichen grimaces, glancing up at Lan Wangji. Lan Wangji’s face steels, but he doesn’t move.
“Wangji! What are you doing?” Lan Qiren barks, and this is when Wei Wuxian decides to make himself known.
“If it’s all right, could I possibly speak?”
Lan Qiren makes to dip for the water, but Lan Xichen grabs his arm and flexes, forcing him to stay where he is.
“Shufu…please wait.”
“My name is Wei Wuxian, and I am the one who has been…taking care of Lan Wangji while he’s been on the surface.”
He and Lan Xichen exchange a bittersweet bow- both of them knowing that they are the other that cares most dearly about Lan Wangji. Lan Qiren folds his arms.
“I am not even remotely interested in meeting the loud, shameless bastard that stole my righteous nephew! What is this, Xichen?”
“Shufu!”
“Wow. Touchy, but fair. I’ve been called worse.” Lan Qiren looks like he’s going to have a coronary when Wei Wuxian lifts his hands in placation. “I just want to explain things before you take Lan Zhan back. The thing is, people know about his existence now. Not that he is Mer, but that he is someone important to me. Important people know this, and the people around them know this- it will be strange if he vanished suddenly. People will question.”
“What is your point, Wei-gongzi?” Lan Xichen listens, voice suspicious.
“I’ve just been thinking about it, and I wondered if there was no way that Lan Zhan couldn’t serve as an unofficial ambassador to GusuLan. People don’t need to know of the Mer necessarily, but if anything ever becomes a threat to the safety of the sect, you will have a voice that can speak for you, that can transfer the information to you directly. No more wondering what the evil humans are doing, you can hear it directly from Lan Zhan himself.”
Lan Xichen seems interested in the idea, glancing approvingly at Lan Wangji.
“Also, forgive me my selfishness, but I love Lan Zhan, and our son A-Yuan loves Lan Zhan, and I don’t think we could take it if we were separated again. So, unless you’d like to accommodate this loud, shameless bastard and his son in the Cloud Recesses-”
“Son?!” Lan Qiren squeaks.
Lan Xichen raises his hand to speak. “Wangji? What do you think?”
The idea is beyond anything Lan Wangji intended to say. Wei Wuxian’s quick thinking provided the wonderful idea of the ambassadorship, but his intentions were never so political in nature.
“I love Wei Ying, Xiongzhang. I love him, I love A-Yuan, and I want to be with them for the rest of my foreseeable life. Though I will return if you need me, I would be lying if I said I wanted to go. I don’t want to leave. Other than punishment, and rules that I will continue to break by loving Wei Ying, there is nothing for me in the Cloud Recesses except for you and Shufu. If neither of you are willing to accept me for who I am, and who I love, then there may not even be that.”
Both Lan Xichen and Wei Wuxian’s eyes water with happiness.
“Lan Zhan, you really feel that way?” Wei Wuxian whispers, unable to control his ear-to-ear grin.
“En.”
“Wangji, you cannot be serious with this nonsense, I am horrified that I even-”
“I agree with Wei Wuxian.”
Lan Qiren chokes, glaring at Lan Xichen.
“I think it’s time for a new age. GusuLan prides itself on our wisdom, and I think that not accepting this offer would be foolishly disregarding relatively free aid in arrogance. It is time for us to learn, to progress. We shouldn’t immediately punish new ideology without giving it a chance. It will take work, but it is work I am willing to put in because I trust Wangji.”
He turns to Wei Wuxian and bows deeply.
“Wei-gongzi. Thank you for loving my brother. For saving my brother when I couldn’t.”
Lan Wangji gasps. “Xiongzhang-”
Wei Wuxian is flushed with happiness, no longer bitter as he returns the bow. “With all due respect, Sect Leader Lan, your brother loves you very much, and I think you did save him. Thank you for saving me and A-Yuan as well and thank you for giving him a chance to be happy.”
Lan Qiren seems completely swept, and harrumphs when he sees he’s lost the argument.
“Is this it? All order is overturned. The rules neglected. Does this mean that I’ll never see my nephew again?”
In a move he hasn’t done in years, Lan Wangji grasps his uncle’s hands. They share a silent look, and it almost rips Lan Qiren apart- Lan Wangji looks just like Qingheng Jun in this moment. Lan Qiren couldn’t save his own Xiongzhang from misery, and Qingheng Jun’s penchant for deep love has clearly passed to his son. No matter what, he can’t bring himself to hurt any more of his own family.
Finally, he sighs. “I look forward to your future reports, Wangji.”
Wei Wuxian’s shout of joy draws a scowl out of him, and Lan Qiren at least knows he’ll never like Lan Wangji’s choice of partner.
“A-Yuan! Come meet your Bofu and your Diedie’s Shufu!”
All three Lans turn in surprise when A-Yuan runs out of the trees.
“Wei Ying-” Lan Wangji starts, disapproval in his voice, and Wei Wuxian shrugs.
“Don’t worry, there’s no one else coming out. Wen Ning will stay hidden,” he murmurs. “He was my secret weapon if the ambassador idea didn’t work. But it’s fine now!”
Pausing at the edge of the water, A-Yuan swallows all of his questions, bowing politely. He looks like a carbon copy of Lan Wangji, from the neat white and blue robes to the crisp forehead ribbon. Lan Xichen immediately melts, cooing at the child.
“What is your name, child?” Lan Xichen asks, offering a kind smile.
“My name is Lan Yuan, and I am honored to meet you.”
“Lan Yuan! I am so happy to have a kind, polite nephew like you. You wear the Lan name well. I love him,” he gleefully comments to Lan Wangji, who smiles.
After a stern analysis, Lan Qiren huffs his approval. Somewhere inside of him, he is enamored of the child and how he reminds him of raising a young Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji.
“So, he has willingly chosen to follow the Lan way? How intelligent of a human boy! He ought to have a proper forehead ribbon, plus a scroll of the rules so that he can truly implement Lan discipline. Make sure he learns well, Wangji.”
It’s utmost praise from Lan Qiren, and A-Yuan seems to understand this, thanking him while hiding his horror at the 4000-rule scroll. Lan Qiren blushes with pleasure, flicking his beard. As for Wei Wuxian, he nudges Lan Wangji with pride.
“I told you it would work.”
The house on the coast of Yunmeng was strong and wonderfully built- light woods, lilacs, and purples in every space balanced by light blues and whites. There were multiple rooms, accessible clean water, soft beds, a fully stocked kitchen, and large windows to allow in light and air. It represented freedom yet consistency, warmth, and comfort- it was home, and it was everything Wei Wuxian could have asked for while he struggled.
Jiang Cheng commissioned it, claiming that it would be a summer home for his own needs, but that they could use it- as if anyone in Yunmeng needed a ‘summer home’. There is a room for him to visit anyway, and when he does, they drink into the night and shout at each other- Lan Wangji has finally learned that it’s their way of showing love.
Right now, Lan Wangji watches from the window facing the sea as A-Yuan plays in the water with his new best friend, Lan Jingyi. They are guarded by Wen Ning, who sits nearby contentedly kicking his feet in the water. Lan Jingyi was assigned as Lan Xichen’s chosen messenger to Lan Wangji- he can tell that Lan Xichen chose him because he’s of similar age to A-Yuan, equally as playful and twice as sassy. Wei Wuxian liked him immediately.
As Lan Wangji refocuses on his correspondence at his desk, the door slams open. A couple seconds later, warm, happy arms wrap around his shoulders. A letter is held in front of his eyes; the large, angry characters must mean that it’s from Jiang Cheng, demanding that Wei Wuxian come see him for extra cultivation training. Wei Wuxian drops that letter, revealing another with more delicate handwriting from Jiang Yanli mentioning that she, Jin Ling, and Mo Xuanyu would be visiting Lotus Pier at the same time Jiang Cheng mentioned “training”.
Both he and A-Yuan have been cultivating at Lotus Pier with Jiang Cheng. The more official method has been better for developing his core, and though Lan Wangji thinks he acts like a bear, Jiang Cheng makes sure to work at their pace and level. Sometimes Jin Ling comes to Lotus Pier, and he practices with his ‘cousin’- though he is loud and brash like his uncle, it is clear that he looks up to A-Yuan and wants to impress him.
“What do you think, Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian purrs, making his way around to lay in Lan Wangji’s lap. “Clearly Jiang Cheng thinks my training isn’t sufficient. And you worked so hard to help me,” he pouts.
Lan Wangji has focused on specific training with A-Yuan, a gentler form of Lan cultivation and martial arts. The combination of the skills has truly honed A-Yuan, and they know that he will be a masterful disciple when he attends his first cultivation conference. He also focuses with meditation and training with Wei Wuxian- but that training is not what Wei Wuxian is discussing.
His ears burn as he moves his papers to the desk. “Jiang Cheng wants you to be there for family,” he comments. He knows Wei Wuxian knows this, but he knows that it makes him feel so loved to hear it anyway.
“Family, Lan Zhan. I never thought it would end like this, Lan Zhan! Did you?”
“No.” The life he is living is beyond anything he ever would have expected- to find a way to consistently prolong his humanity, to have the man he’d always loved, to keep his own family safe and by his side at the same time.
“Me either! Oh- I found another thing to add to the spell- right now, we’re at a three month limit using normal cultivation, but this might bring it to four!”
“Good.”
Wei Wuxian begins to detail his latest research, and Lan Wangji affectionately runs his hands through his hair as he tries to listen. After a while, Wei Wuxian smirks.
“You’re not listening to me at all, are you?”
“I am enthused by your enthusiasm.”
Rolling his eyes, Wei Wuxian draws him into a slow kiss. Both of their hearts are pounding when they let each other go.
“Trust me, er-gege, I know you are,” he teases. He spoons himself into Lan Wangji’s lap, staring out into the vast ocean. “I love that when I face the sea, I can remember that I found the love of my life there. There are bad memories, but those will forever be outweighed by the fact that it brought me to you. I’m so grateful, Lan Zhan.”
Lan Wangji thinks about earlier that morning when he’d gone to the oceanside. At the tide, he’d laid a bouquet of gentian violets to be swept away.
I’m happy now, Niang. Thank you for bringing me to the coast, for helping me meet Wei Ying. Thank you for telling me your story. I have new stories now, Niang, that I’m going to tell my son. They are happier stories, but I will never forget yours.
His eyes are gentle as he nuzzles into Wei Wuxian. “En.”
Their tender moment is interrupted when there is a small explosion, followed by A-Yuan and Lan Jingyi’s screaming. Wei Wuxian begins to chuckle, a small bubble that turns into full blown laughter.
“It never ends!” he laughs, standing up to run to the window. “Meet me outside, Lan Zhan!”
He jumps out of the window to rush down to the coastline, more likely to add to the chaos than subdue it. Despite this, Lan Wangji follows behind, his love for Wei Wuxian, their son, and their new life as vast, free, and full as the sparkling sea.