Chapter Text
1. Nie Huaisang is 7, Mingjue is 16
Nie Mingjue and Jin Guangshan both ran over to the side courtyard, where two groups of their disciples were yelling at each other, swords and sabers in hand.
The moment they entered the courtyard, all the disciples turned to look at them. The Jin disciples immediately bowed.
“Sect Leader!” The Nie group yelled, lowering their sabers.
“Da-ge!” Nie Huaisang rushed out of the group and towards his brother.
Nie Mingjue caught him and lifted him up into his arms. “What happened?” he demanded.
The Nie pointed at the junior standing among the Jin disciples. “That Jin behaved like a dishonorable cur!”
Jin Guangshan scowled. “Mind your tongue! This is my nephew, Jin Zixun.” He stepped over to the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I am certain this is nothing more than a simple misunderstanding.”
Nie Mingjue eyed the boy and scowled as well. He turned to Nie Zonghui, knowing he had the best grasp of explaining things to other Sects. Their own ways were often seen as ‘weird’. “Start from the beginning.”
“The Jin disciple was insulting our Young Master, speaking twisted truths with malicious intent.”
“Such as?” Jin Guangshan demanded.
“He compared the Young Master to a runt, and the late Second Madam Nie to a concubine.”
Nie Huaisang’s hands clenched on his brother robes, glaring at Jin Zixun. Nie Mingjue curled his lips in disgust at him as well.
“The Young Master took offense to his words and demanded an apology. The Jin disciple refused, so the Young Master demanded an Honor Fight. He waited the polite fifteen seconds and punched him in the chest.”
“A perfectly acceptable first hit.” All the Nie nodded with proud looks.
Nie Mingjue turned to his brother. “Show me your hand.” Nie Huaisang did, presenting reddened little knuckles. “Did you remember to keep your wrist straight?”
“Yes, Da-ge.”
“Good job.” He looked back to Nie Zonghui. “What happened then?”
The Nie disciples turned to glare in reproach at Jin Zixun. “That dishonorable cur took out his sword and brandished it at our Young Master!”
“He what?!” Nie Mingjue growled.
Nie Zonghui nodded. “We, of course, grabbed the Young Master and got our sabers out, but then the Jin disciples got their swords out and... well...”
Nie Xinya shrugged. “We essentially started yelling at each other, and Nie Zonghui went to get you, Sect Leader.”
Nie Mingjue glared at Jin Guangshan, seething. “What kind of Sect are you running that your disciples pull a weapon during an Honor Fight?!”
Jin Guangshan blinked, startled, then scowled as well. “What kind of child are you raising that he goes around punching people?”
“You heard Nie Zonghui! Nie Huaisang gave him notice and time to steel himself for the hit!”
“He was very polite about it.”
“What exactly did he say?” Nie Mingjue asked, one hand holding his brother, the other on his hip.
“He said the standard phrasing Nie Fuyan teaches: ‘Jin Zixun, as you refuse to apologize for your misstep, we shall fight so I can reclaim my honor from your hide’.”
“I didn’t stutter once, Da-ge.”
“That was very polite, Nie Huaisang, I’m proud of you.” He glared at Jin Guangshan. “See? Perfectly respectable exchange. Your nephew reacted poorly and dishonorably.”
Jin Guangshan could already feel a headache coming on. This had to be a weird Nie custom, he hated stumbling onto those. “While I admit Jin Zixun should not have pulled his sword at a seven year old.” He paused to give a brief pointed look at Jin Zixun. “He is a child and... unused to Nie customs. We ask for leniency due to his age and lack of knowledge.”
Nie Mingjue huffed, unimpressed. “Then instruct your disciples on the customs of others before visiting said places.” He glared down at Jin Zixun. “I will be lenient this once, but insult my Second Mother or brother again and I will personally assign appropriate punishment to you.” He lifted his chin, back perfectly straight. “Nie Zonghui!”
Nie Zonghui bowed to Jin Guangshan. “A lenient punishment for misspeaking is running thirty lengths of the outside walls.” Jin Zixun paled.
Nie Mingjue nodded. “Get to it then. Nie Zonghui and Nie Wuhan will supervise.”
Jin Guangshan pursed his lips but nodded. “Yes, that is... fair. Go on, nephew. The sooner you finish, the sooner your transgression will be forgiven. You and you,” He gestured to two closest Jin disciples. “Go with them.”
“Yes, Sect Leader!” The Jin disciples saluted.
“Yes, Uncle.” Jin Zixun grumbled, face red and fists clenched at having to be punished.
Jin Guangshan waved them off. This was precisely the reason why he hated discussion conferences in the Unclean Realm.
2. Nie Huaisang is 4, Mingjue is 13
“And the valiant warrior struck once more and struck true! He stabbed the demon through the chest, right through the heart!” Nie Mingjue demonstrated the move, thrusting Baxia into the air. “The squelch of rendering flesh was so loud everyone around heard the demon’s heart beat its last!”
Nie Huaisang cheered, throwing his arms into the air. “And the evil doer, and the evil doer!”
“Yes, the vile evil doer who had summoned the demon was captured by our valiant hero. For his crimes he was whipped, one lash for each person who had died because of him.”
“But you said many died!”
“Many did! And thus he got many lashes! He cried and blubbered like a worm during each one, and everyone got to watch and feel their honor restored with each lash!”
Nie Huaisang giggled, little hands clapping. “Evil doers get punished!”
“That’s right, A-Sang. Each and every time, because?”
“Because we Nie are valiant warriors! We defeat evil!”
“Exactly!” Nie Mingjue grinned and tickled his brother’s soft belly. “And to defeat evil, we must train hard!”
Nie Huaisang squirmed away from him. “Da-ge, training is boring!” he whined, flopping onto his back. A moment later he sat up, looking up at his brother with a grin. “Da-ge, one more! Tell me one more!”
Nie Mingjue crossed his arms. “Nope, no more stories. Stories are for valiant disciples that train.”
That earned him a pout. Nie Huaisang thought for a moment, then pursed his lips like he did each time he tried to negotiate something. “I’ll go train if you tell me one more story.”
“Oh, really?”
“Promise! I’ll train!” Then, more quietly. “A little bit.”
Nie Mingjue heard him, but he still laughed. “Fine, fine, you’ve talked me into it. Which story do you want?”
“The one with the ghoul sewn inside a horse corpse!”
“Oh, I do like that one. All right, but you have to do a full set with the training saber!”
“Fiiiine! But do the voices!”
Nie Mingjue rolled his eyes with an affronted huff. “Like I wouldn’t do the voices, A-Sang, please.”
Nie Huaisang giggled again.
3. Nie Huaisang is 8, Mingjue is 17
Nie Mingjue looked around the inn, eyes narrowed as he took in the décor. Something seemed off about this place. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but there seemed to be something in the air. A hint of a scent he couldn’t quite place but one which put him on edge either way.
Lan Xichen didn’t seem to notice, just sat there sipping his tea. Their didis also didn’t seem to notice anything, but considering they were both eight, one couldn’t blame them.
Their food finally arrived – a hearty salad for the Lans and a thick stew for the Nies. Nie Mingjue nodded at the server, but didn’t start eating yet. Just kept looking around the inn.
Lan Xichen finally seemed to notice his mood. “Nie-xiong? Is there something wrong?”
“Not sure. Just a feeling I have,” Nie Mingjue said gruffly.
At his side, Nie Huaisang grabbed his spoon and set upon his stew. Or at least he should have. Instead he took one taste and spat it back out, staring at his bowl.
Lan Xichen smiled kindly at him. “What’s wrong, A-Sang? Is the stew not good?”
Nie Mingjue gave him a baleful look. “Don’t be rude, eat.”
Nie Huaisang pouted up at him. “But Da-ge. The meat’s human.”
Lan Xichen made a choking sound, while Lan Wangji stared at Nie Huaisang, eyes wide.
Nie Mingjue frowned. He grabbed his chopsticks and grabbed a piece of meat from Nie Huaisang’s bowl. He tapped it on his plate to get rid of most of the sauce, then popped it into his mouth, chewing slowly. He scowled.
He spat the meat out and stood up. “Innkeeper!” he called. “I want to speak with the cook who prepared this stew.”
The innkeeper hurried over. “Is there something wrong with it, Young Master?”
Nie Mingjue stood to his full height, a fierce scowl on his face. “Bring them here or show me where the kitchen is.”
The innkeeper paled and start bowing. “Yes, of course, this way.”
Mingjue grabbed Baxia and slung her over across his back. “Xichen, you come too. Wangji-di, watch Huaisang.”
“Mn.” Lan Wangji nodded and pulled Nie Huaisang away from the bowl of stew.
As they walked out of the dining area, all the other patrons immediately started whispering among themselves, staring pointedly at the bowl of stew on the cultivators’ table. Those that were also eating it stopped, waiting for the situation to unfold.
In the kitchen, Nie Mingjue went straight for the pot of stew, grabbing a chunk of meat from the pot and tasting it. Fuck.
He turned to the cook, scowl still in place. “Did you prepare this?”
The cook bowed. “Yes, personally from scratch.”
“I want to inspect the meat you’ve used.” Nie Mingjue demanded, hand itching to grab onto Baxia.
The cook’s lips pursed, face paling. “...that is not possible, I’ve used the last of it for today’s pot.”
Nie Mingjue’s eyes narrowed. “I see.” He gave into his instinct and grabbed Baxia, unsheathing her. “Then you are the only one who could’ve made this stew with human meat.”
The innkeeper looked ready to faint. “Hum- human?! Young Master, are you sure?! That can’t be true!”
“I’m from the Nie Sect,” was all Nie Mingjue said. Lan Xichen blinked at him, then grabbed his own sword. The cook grabbed a cleaver and brandished it over his head. He looked from Nie Mingjue to Lan Xichen, very clearly belonging to cultivator sects, and decided to make a run for it through the back door.
Nie Mingjue let Baxia fly and she skewered the man through the shoulder, pinning him to the wall. The innkeeper quickly ran outside to flag down some guards. In the meantime, Nie Mingjue searched the kitchen, opening up cupboards and looking into every pot and jar. He found a half chopped up human torso in the very back of the kitchen, so that would make proving the cook’s guilt quite easy.
“Nie-xiong,” Lan Xichen started hesitantly, face pale as he stared at the gruesome sight. “How did you know that it was human meat?”
“We practice.”
“You… practice.”
“Mn.” Nie Mingjue shrugged. “Our founder decided on that. We know the taste of every kind of meat – animal, human or monster.”
Lan Xichen nodded slowly. “I see. Where do you get the human meat from? If I may ask.”
“Our criminals or if somebody loses an arm or a leg. Sometimes, a disciple wills their limbs to the sect for this purpose.”
“Oh.” Lan Xichen paled further, and swallowed thickly. “Then… do you know the taste of a fierce corpse?”
Nie Mingjue nodded “It’s like human, but more bitter.”
Lan Xichen put a hand over his mouth and excused himself, marching back out into the dining area and to their didis.
4. Nie Huaisang is 13
Nie Huaisang eyed Jin Zixuan with a frown. “Aren’t you going to finish that?”
Jin Zixuan looked from from the bones he’d been about to toss away. “What?”
Nie Huaisang scoffed at his confusion. “You Jin must be really rich to waste food like that.” He gestured to the bones.
Jin Zixuan glanced at them as well, thinking perhaps there were bits of meat still left on them? But no, just the same bare bones. He pursed his lips, then extended the bones to Nie Huaisang. “Do… do you want to finish these? In Lanling we don’t really eat… bones.”
“Shows what you know about good food then.” Nie Huaisang took the bones, then broke one open and started sucking on it. “The marrow is the best part.”
“...ah.”
5. Nie Huaisang is 16, Mingjue is 25
“Nie Huaisang, training!” Mingjue called, slamming the door to his brother’s room open.
Nie Huaisang immediately started whining. “Da-ge, can’t I just skip today? Wei-xiong and Jiang-xiong are visiting!” He gestured to the two boys.
Wei Wuxian grinned. “Oh, we don’t mind joining, don’t we Jiang Cheng?”
Jiang Wanyin nodded, eyes respectfully on Nie Mingjue. “If Sect Leader Nie allows us, of course. I am curious how the Nie train.”
Nie Mingjue glanced at his brother, who was shaking his head and waving his hands in the universal gesture of ‘The Fuck are you Two Dipshits Doing?!’. He snorted to himself.
“What do you have scheduled today, Nie Huaisang?” he asked.
Nie Huaisang gave his two friends a glare, then his shoulders slumped in defeat. “Strength training.”
“Then they can join.” Nie Mingjue nodded, arms crossed over his chest.
Nie Huaisang pouted, then perked up. “Da-ge, this will be Wei-xiong’s and Jiang-xiong’s first time doing Nie training. Perhaps we should treat them gently?”
“How gently?” Mingjue narrowed his eyes.
“One set?”
Mingjue scoffed. “Huaisang, don’t try being lazy just because you-”
“Oh, one sect would be plenty, Sect Leader Nie!” Wei Wuxian jumped forward with a grin. “We wouldn’t wish to take the training master’s attention from disciples that need it more than us!” He jabbed Jiang Wanyin in the side with an elbow.
“We would never wish to be rude and intrude, Sect Leader Nie,” Jiang Wanyin said, saluting politely.
Nie Mingjue rolled his eyes. “Fine, fine. Do one set of squats and one set of push ups. Then you can go play.”
“Thank you, Da-ge!” Nie Huaisang chirped happily, waving to his brother as he left his room.
Wei Wuxian came closer and threw an arm over Nie Huaisang’s shoulders. “So, Nie-xiong. How much is one set?”
“One hundred repeats.” Nie Huaisang huffed. “It’s so boring.” He looked down at his robes. “I need to change first as well. Don’t want to get these robes dirty, I just got them.”
“Could you lend us some training clothes too? We shouldn’t get these ones sweaty, Mother will have our hides,” Jiang Cheng said, hands on his hips as he looked down at his own purple robes.
“Oh yeah, she’d make us stand with weights for half a day.” Wei Wuxian laughed.
Nie Huaisang chuckled, then went to hunt down two sets of training robes.
*~*
Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng stared out at the training field where the strength training was taking place, not quite sure whether what they were seeing was actually true.
Because, as it turned out, the Nie trained with fucking boulders held in their arms or balanced on their backs.
What.
“Which ones do you want, Wei-xiong, Jiang-xiong?” Nie Huaisang asked, standing next to a pile of boulders. Which they were apparently supposed to train with.
Wei Wuxian thought longingly to the weights back home.
“… which ones do you train with?” Jiang Cheng asked, venturing closer.
Nie Huaisang looked down with a slight embarrassed blush. “Well, I’m not very good, so mine are still on the smaller scale.” He patted a boulder that reached up to his hip. Both Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng stared at it, eyes wide. Nie Huaisang must’ve misinterpreted their shock for something else, because he continued in a reassuring tone. “But you don’t have to limit yourselves on my account! Do you want the standard or the larger ones?” The former reached up to his chest, and the latter to his neck.
They shared a look, then turned back to the training field. It appeared that the Nies mostly used the standard or the larger ones. There was only one person currently using the smaller size, but he had two and was balancing them on his hands, raised high over his head while he did squats.
Suddenly they both understood why the Nie were such formidable fighters. They were batshit crazy.
Wei Wuxian put on a grin. “You know what, Nie-xiong? We’ll train with your size today. Solidarity and all.”
“Really?” Nie Huaisang blinked at them in surprise.
“We wouldn’t want to outshine you!” Wei Wuxian patted his back, and Jiang Cheng nodded slowly, still staring out onto the field.
Nie Huaisang chuckled. “Don’t worry about that, pretty much everyone outshines me!” But then he hefted one of the small boulders up and onto his shoulder. With seemingly very little effort. “Well, pick one and come on. I have a spot in the shade, it’s best to train in.”
Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian shared one last look, then picked their own boulders and followed Nie Huaisang to go train.
And they thought training with the weights back home was bad.
*~*
Somehow, they managed to survive the training. Not by much, Wei Wuxian was fairly sure he wouldn’t be able to lift more than a piece of paper for a long time to come.
They were resting in Nie Huaisang’s sitting room, freshly out of a bath and aching all over. Nie Huaisang was taking his own bath, and he’d said something about going to the market afterwards. Wei Wuxian was trying to think of a good excuse not to go. He just wanted to lie there and die for a while longer.
The door opened, and Sect Leader Nie walked in. “Jiang Cheng, Wei Wuxian. I’d like a word with you.”
Despite how tired they were, they both sat up, backs perfectly straight. “Yes, Sect Leader Nie?”
“I wanted to discuss your boulder training today,” Nie Mingjue said, coming closer and sitting down opposite them.
“Did we offend?” Jiang Cheng asked, brows furrowing.
“No.” Nie Mingjue shook his head, a small smile on his lips. “I wanted to thank you for accompanying Nie Huaisang at his own level. Wangji-di never does, he prefers to keep up with the typical Nie disciples.” He shook his head fondly. “I was observing you two pretending to struggle with the beginner boulders, and I think it gave Nie Huaisang a boost of confidence. He finished two entire sets, which was a feat for him.” He clapped them both on the shoulder. “It warms my heart that my brother has such caring friends as you.”
Wei Wuxian managed to smile despite his shock. “...oh, for sure, Sect Leader Nie. For sure.” He jabbed Jiang Cheng in the side.
“Friendship.” was all Jiang Cheng managed, and Wei Wuxian nodded sagely.
“Totally.” He grinned.
Nie Mingjue grinned back. “If you want, I can send Nie Huaisang off with some task to keep him busy, so you two can go train for real this time.”
Wei Wuxian hoped he hadn’t paled. “Oh, that would be an honor, Sect Leader Nie, but we’d already promised Nie Huaisang to go to the market with him. He wants to show us the best in Qinghe.”
Nie Mingjue nodded, looking… disappointed. “Ah, well then. A promise is a promise. Next time then.”
Wei Wuxian managed to keep the grin on his face by sheer force of will. “It’ll be an honor, Sect Leader Nie.”
Jiang Cheng swallowed thickly, then saluted. “We will welcome any instruction you wish to bestow upon us.”
Nie Mingjue patted their shoulders again. “Good! I look forward to seeing your true skills.”
Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng shared a strained look. They will need to find boulders to train back at home, then.
6. Nie Huaisang is 12, Mingjue is 21
Nie Mingjue glared at his brother. “Nie Huaisang, what the hell do you mean you dosed Nie Xianbao with the truth serum?” he demanded. This was not what he had expected to hear when asked to settle a dispute between the two boys.
“Because he won’t admit to breaking my fan!” Nie Huaisang pointed at their cousin. “I know it was him, but he keeps lying about it!”
Nie Xianbao snorted, arms crossed over his chest. “Because I’m not getting in trouble for it! It’s not my fault your stupid fan was so delicate it broke the moment I grabbed it!” His eyes widened and he clamped his hands over his mouth.
Nie Minfang, Nie Xianbao’s mother, scowled down at him, grabbing the back of his robes. “You took it? You told me you hadn’t!”
Nie Xianbao squirmed, trying to break free. “Because you won’t buy me tanghulu after I break something! I just wanted to look at the fan, it’s not my fault it broke like that!”
Nie Minfang let out a long, weary sigh. “Sect Leader, Young Master, my deepest apologies.” She shook her son, still holding him scruffed like an unruly kit. “I will discipline my son personally. He will deliver a sincere apology by tomorrow.”
“No, I won’t, I didn’t do anything wrong!”
Nie Mingjue grimaced. “If his attitude doesn’t improve, he will be not be allow to continue on with the junior disciples.” Stealing something, breaking it then lying about it to avoid consequences? Such behavior was unfit for a Nie.
“Not fair!” Nie Xianbao protested loudly, but a shake from his mother silenced him.
“Understandable. Apologies once more.” Nie Minfang saluted with one hand, then dragged her still struggling son away.
Nie Huaisang tugged on Mingjue’s sleeve. “See, Da-ge? I told you I knew it was him!”
Nie Mingjue sighed. “A-Sang, yes, fine, you were right. But,” He knelt down, placing a hand on Nie Huaisang’s shoulder. “The truth serum is not to be used lightly. It is only meant for serious offenses and to weed out those unworthy of the Nie name.”
“He’s definitely not worthy.” Nie Huaisang grumbled.
Nie Mingjue couldn’t exactly disagree.