Archive of Our Own

On the outskirts of Hubei, in the middle of Yiling, stood a lone shop that sold peerless jades, that even the cheapest ones could go for thousands of yuan with discount. Despite the high price, people could be seen coming in and out of this shop from all sorts of classes— be it cultivators or civilians, to even royalty and servants, it seemed that the owner didn’t care what their status was.

One might think they were greedy, swindling innocent people of silver and gold just to sell their jades— but people who’ve become their customer would deny it vehemently. It’s a good price! One would say. He would never sell anything that wasn’t worth it! Another cried. There was an infamous incident where a merchant refused to buy a hairpin in the shape of a dragon, even accusing the owner of buying some cheap, glass knock-off at the night market to resell at a higher price. By the next day, he came back red-faced, sheepishly buying the same jade hairpin for the price he scoffed at.

Why? It turned out a jeweler friend had told him it was the real deal and how dare he scoff at the price! If it were any other shop, they would’ve charged more than what was placed! So in the end, the merchant bowed and apologized to the owner.

He, the owner, was named Wei Wuxian.

A rather charismatic young man who knew how to sweet-talk anyone that came by his doors. Despite the rather modest forefront, he never dressed like a typical merchant. He wore plain but oddly fine fabric that was dyed black and red, flowing as he walked. Though, one would say the most prominent thing about him was the black pipe he carried often. He was courteous enough to not blow the smoke directly into anyone’s faces, but he could be seen smoking after store hours.

Still, even if he wasn’t manning the counter, he would gladly chat with anyone that ranged from a plethora of topics. From explaining each jade they saw interesting with such detail, to just hometown gossip. If one asked where he had gotten such high-quality merchandise, Wei Wuxian would wink and press a finger on his own lips.

No one could ever guess his source, with some claiming they’ve never seen a single delivery or merchant come by to drop goods. Some theorized he picked and carved it himself, while others said he stole it from others.

Nevertheless, they were all baseless rumors. What mattered was that he had quality goods to sell, and he was handsome. So handsome in fact, that both men and women would try to win the proprietor’s heart. All suitors came bearing the same excuses— oh, I need you to look at this jade, when the jade came directly from his shop. A broken clasp that wasn’t at all broken, and merely tangled within itself. An invitation to a festival happening this weekend, but oh are you selling your goods at that time? Allow me to help you!

And the like…

Very subtle-not-subtle bouts of flirtation that Wei Wuxian easily countered with his own sweet words and enough charm to send them back and hopeful. While he didn’t like breaking hearts of hopeless romantics, losing customers over heartbreak was bad for business! Sure he’s handsome, but there are other beauties out there to be seen! What do they even see other than a handsome shopowner? Can’t they think about the logistics of this in the long run?

He’s delighted by all these attempts, really! However, his heart has been too heavy and worn to share with a significant other. Find someone else, please!

Haa…

Anyways.

It was like any other day when two young men entered this lone shop before the sun had fully set. Admittedly, despite there being no customers at this time, they looked out of place. Even with decently made robes, and swords to show they were rightful cultivators, their stance alone was enough to prove they’ve never been into a place like this before.

“Are you looking for anything?”

The two jolt, jumping a foot away from the voice behind them. As they turned, they saw a laughing Wei Wuxian who stood with his hips cocked to one side, and an easy-going smile.

“Relax, boys, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Wei Wuxian easily walked between them, placing a hand on their shoulders to twist them around, then push them further into the shop. With a firm hand on their backs, they could only be led inside, eyes wandering over the jewels that laid bare on the high shelves. They finally stopped as they reached a counter, and Wei Wuxian ducked under one of the tables to lean against dark wood.

“So? Who do I owe such a visit from the Chen Clan?”

From the delicate embroidery of their clothes was a symbol that depicted their clan, however, it was shocking to hear that someone was familiar with it. Most of the time, they would ask what sect they were, only for them to sheepishly reveal they were from a smaller clan that recently made their debut.

“W-We um… our grandfather…” The older one stuttered, “I mean, our names are Chen Baiyu, courtesy name Chen Lingyun. This is my younger brother, Chen Yan, courtesy name, Chen Guihong. We’re here to pick up a jade our grandfather left us years ago.”

“Chen… Grandfather?” Wei Wuxian hummed, placing his chin against his hand, “Would your grandfather be Chen Yifeng?”

“That’s him!” Chen Yan exclaimed, then tucked his neck when he realized how loud he was.

“Aiya, no need to be so scared, he was a noble man.” Wei Wuxian grinned, pointing at the two of them, “You kind of look like him… very bird-like, so I had a feeling.”

“Bird?” Chen Baiyu tilted his head.

“Hm? They didn’t explain it to you two? That’s weird… ah, well, not my problem!” Wei Wuxian shrugged, easily brushing off his train of thoughts. “I need some sort of proof you’re his descendents though.”

“Proof?” The two of them looked at each other, just a bit worried.

“Mn, nothing too troublesome for you, yes? Surely you’ve brought something.” Wei Wuxian grabbed the pipe from his belt, humming as he listed things that could be proof. “Perhaps… a letter with his seal? A token of sorts? Or… Words he asked me to keep. He was particular about me not handing it to the first person claiming to be his blood.”

Three of those options were viable, and it seemed their grandfather knew very well these kids were the forgetful type. It was obvious from the slight panic on their faces, and Wei Wuxian could only chuckle.

As he watched the two flounder about for proof, Wei Wuxian tilted his pipe until the tip hovered over an open candle’s wick. He took a long drag, briefly watching at the flame bent to catch onto the tobacco inside, instantly catching with a faint crackle. He puffed out the smoke downwards, allowing the dark vapor circle around him. Neither of the boys noticed the flash in Wei Wuxian’s eyes as they flicked back to them.

Then, as if the idea had struck him, Chen Baiyu’s eyes lit up, and immediately went to fumble around his robes. He produced a qiankun bag from his sleeves, then immediately dug through it with fervor. What he took out from the pouch was a small, wood carving. It was crudely shaped and painted haphazardly in red.

“A token! Um… Would this count?” Chen Baiyu held out the wood carving, eyes hopefully.

Wei Wuxian’s expression shifted, a flicker of emotion passed through his face before it settled into an easy smile. “Yes, this will do.”

He tentatively took the wood carving, raising it up to hold it against one of the hanging lanterns to take a better look. Close-up, there were obvious mistakes in the markings, a wing smaller than the other, streaks of uneven paint… yet, that old man had the gal to sign it at the bottom of the bird’s feet.

He chuckled under his breath, before returning the wood carving back to Chen Baiyu’s hands. Truthfully, his memory wasn’t always the best, with only the happiest of memories sticking to his mind while everything else was locked away into the depths. The memory of Chen Yifeng was a flicker at best, yet, looking at this crudely made toy was enough to invoke a melancholic feeling.

Wei Wuxian then shook his head before those feelings got the better of him. He leisurely got up from his position to walk towards the back door. “Come now, I’ll show you the pendant.”

Chen Baiyu was in the middle of stuffing his bag back into his sleeves when he paused, “But the entrance—?”

“No worries,” Wei Wuxian looked over his shoulder, and his long hair cascaded like a dark waterfall behind him. “No one would dare enter now.”

***

As the trio were led to the back, they could feel the energy shift to something else. Not quite dangerous, but unsettling enough that they placed their hands on their swords. Wei Wuxian didn’t seem to mind, in fact, he was a bit pleased. They were cautious, which was good. Despite Wei Wuxian being renowned in the area, and him personally knowing their grandfather, they were still technically strangers towards each other.

And… Well, they didn’t want to admit it, but there was something off about this man.

They couldn’t help but stare at the back of his head. It felt as if something was gnawing at them the more they looked— it didn’t look out of place. Just long hair half tied-up with a red-ribbon, but there was just… something! Their eyes practically strained as they kept looking at the dark hair, and honestly, the more they looked, the more it seemed like there were eyes staring at them.

Which… was impossible, right? Haha.

“Brother,” Chen Yan whispered, and hoped Wei Wuxian couldn’t hear him. “Did Wei zhǎngguì^shopkeeper have ears?”

“Of course he has ears.”

“No, the ones on… his… head?”

Surely enough, there seemed to be two triangular shapes on the top of Wei Wuxian’s head. They occasionally flickered in and out of existence, as if they were mere illusions by how dark the hallway they were going through was. Chen Baiyu rubbed his eyes, and surprisingly, those shapes were more apparent than before. They would liken it to fox ears. Or maybe a wolf? No, they were long and pointy…

The hallway they walked through was sealed, with doors lining the walls. The smoke that bled from Wei Wuxian’s pipe made them a bit dizzy, which could explain why they felt as if they were under a deep illusion. However, the more they stared, the more—

The two of them were too caught up in staring when they suddenly hit Wei Wuxian’s back, making them stumble a few feet away. They looked up at the owner, catching a grin over his shoulder, before another door was opened to reveal a room filled with treasures.

The first thing they noticed was that this room was brighter, highlighting the amount of things that cluttered the area. There were swords, tools and even musical instruments that lined the walls and floor. Some were haphazardly thrown to one side of the room, while some had their own pedestals and stands to indicate what was worth showing off. Otherwise, this seemed like a storage room. A storage filled with ancient artifacts that a mere jade shopkeeper had any business owning.

At the very back was a pedestal covered with cloth with a thin layer of dust that indicated it’s been there for a while. There were other things covered, but for some reason the two were mostly drawn to this particular one. Coincidentally, Wei Wuxian sauntered over towards it, humming as he circled around the hidden podium, but not taking the cloth off.

“It’s this one.” Wei Wuxian motioned towards the podium. “Though… before I give it to you, I have to ask you something.”

The two turned to face Wei Wuxian, and with the bright lights, they were sure they weren’t seeing things this time.

There were really fox ears on top of Wei Wuxian’s head.

Chen Baiyu put in the effort to not stare, but his younger brother couldn’t help it. Wei Wuxian obviously noticed this, his lips pulling into a grin that showed off a set of sharp canines. It would’ve been normal, but with how elongated they were…

“You see them, right? So there’s no need for me to hide.” Wei Wuxian gently tapped his head, his eyes narrowing.

“N-No, we—”

But before the two could come up with any other excuse, Wei Wuxian grinned, before he leaned forward from his hips—

And twisted his neck.

Chen Yan screamed and fell, while Chen Baiyu immediately stood in front of his brother, hands raised, but still terrified. In front of them was a fox’s face as big as a human’s, teeth sharp and eyes a bright red. There were subtle red markings against the black fur, but those details didn’t matter when the face was attached to the back of Wei Wuxian’s head.

“What’s the matter?” The head spoke— Wei Wuxian spoke. “Never seen a fox spirit before?”

“F-Fox spirit?!” They both yelped, swords now fully drawn to attack.

“Ohhh, relax! Your lineage is full of phoenixes, why are you so shocked?!” The fox head cackled.

“Pheonix?! No, we aren’t—” Chen Baiyu defended, but his words died in his throat. Before he could say anything else, Wei Wuxian brought a hand up to stop him.

“I’m not here to know the details, my cultivation era is over.” Wei Wuxian shook his head, then his neck twisted to show his regular face. They could only watch as he tied his hair up in a high ponytail, allowing the free strands to fall over his shoulders and around the fox head at the back of his skull. “Now, now, be good boys and put your swords back inside. You know full well that won’t do anything to me.”

The two were hesitant, but reluctantly put their swords back into their scabbard. Chen Yan was pulled back onto his feet with the help of his brother, and dusted off any dirt that got on him. The two stood a foot away from Wei Wuxian, still wary, but he had what they needed.

“Why are you afraid now?” Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes, taking another slow drag from his pipe. “Just awhile ago you were fumbling young masters trying to appease me, and now all your guards are as high as Golden Scale’s Towers. Relax! If I wanted to harm you, I would’ve done so back in the entrance.”

That didn’t seem to appease them, but Wei Wuxian unfortunately made a point. Instead, Chen Baiyu took a step forward and asked something that was gnawing in his mind.

“Why did grandfather entrust it to you…?”

Wei Wuxian paused, the smoke still lingering on his lips as he slowly recalled an old story, “Say… Do you know anything about the Sunshot Campaign?”

The two boys looked at each other, then the younger one spoke, “The eradication of the Qishan Wen Clan, right?”

“That’s one way to put it.” Wei Wuxian hummed, “Do you know how yaoguai are formed?”

“They… they’re formed when they’ve been exposed to qi for a long period of time. Some can be created by mythical stones, runes, or a divine call from the Heavens, right?”

“More or less.” Wei Wuxian shrugged. Well, at least that’s the basic idea of it. “Long ago, there was a war that happened way before the Sunshot campaign— before the Qishan Wen Clan even took form actually. This war resulted in a mass grave, with bodies haphazardly buried, and spirits running amok with resentful energy.”

“The Burial Mounds.” The two brothers said together.

“Yes, that’s the origin of that place.” Wei Wuxian confirmed, but then his face turned sullen. “There was once a lone Heavenly bird who flew too close to the Hill, wanting to attempt to cleanse it, but was consumed by the negative qi that it began practicing Demonic Cultivation to survive. Of course, this stripped away most of its honor, bearing down a strike from the Heavens for their impudence. However, alongside their punishment, they caught sight of a flame that never seemed to burn out, no matter how harsh the winds were. In an attempt to balance his already cold body, it consumed the flame, rising to become a Phoenix.”

The two brothers stared at Wei Wuxian, wondering why on earth he would tell such a folklore. Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes at their confusion, then continued his tale.

“That Phoenix was welcomed back to Heaven, but wanted to roam the Earthly Realm to find a way to cleanse the Burial Mounds. This man… was part of the Qishan Wen Clan, but rescinded and changed his name to Chen.”

“Grandfather?!”

“Thank goodness you caught on.” Wei Wuxian scoffed, taking a slow drag from his pipe. “Along his journey, he met a fox in Yiling who had a particular affinity for jades. They grew close, to the point he watched the fox set up his own store, and built it from the ground up. Then… a particular technique was created. Tell me boys, do you know how to kill a phoenix?”

When they shook their heads, Wei Wuxian grinned menacingly, “You crush their golden core.”

They looked stunned for a moment, shifting on their feet as they felt the air grow heavier. They looked at each other once, as if communicating with their eyes, before they turned to face Wei Wuxian again. The huli jing’s grip on his pipe tightened, as a stormy look passed through his face. After a deep sigh, the heavy feeling was gone, and it was as if they could breathe again.

“Your grandfather died of old age, yes? A very mortal death once his divinity was crushed.” Wei Wuxian asked, leaning against the pedestal this time. “Before he did, he left me a pendant he created for his family to use when danger became apparent. Since he knew of my identity, he entrusted it to me until the time came.”

The two of them could only nod, not knowing what else to say or ask. But the younger one looked as if there was something else on his mind, as the stories his grandfather told them never mentioned a fox. Only a young man who was loud and brash, but could also be sly and charming. When they heard of Wei Wuxian on their way to Yiling, they knew they had found the man their grandfather had talked about— though, they never expected him to be the same person who sold jade.

Chen Yan then tentatively asked, “You were a cultivator, Wei zhǎngguì?”

“Yeah, good ol’ days.” Wei Wuxian looked melancholic, “Well, who cares? I’m more surprised you got to me before anyone else.”

“W-Well, we did go to someone else before…” Chen Yan muttered out hesitantly, catching on that Wei Wuxian didn’t want to share his part of the story, “He said to go to Yiling.”

“Who?”

“We don’t know, but it was a dragon…”

Wei Wuxian choked as he inhaled, leading to a coughing fit that had him pounding on his chest. He looked at the two with wide eyes, and found no lies within their words. A dragon? A lóng?! How on earth did they talk to a dragon? They barely visited the mortal realm in the first place other than to give blessings!

Nonetheless, he was more interested now, “Yeah? How’d you meet this dragon-gege?”

“Our grandfather left us a note to look for… a sly-fox who sold polished jade,” Chen Baiyu tentatively took out a note from his sleeves. Wei Wuxian could make out some scrawled out characters that looked familiar. “He didn’t specify where in Hubei, but he did say it was near the Burial Mounds.”

Wei Wuxian blinked, a look of exasperation overcoming him, “And you went there… To the Hill.”

“Yes…”

“And you met the dragon there?”

“Yes. He looked like he was looking for something too, so we guessed it had something to do with our grandfather’s pendant.”

Wei Wuxian tilted his head at that. A dragon had no business being around a mass gravesite, much less show themselves to mortal beings without reason. However, he could think of one dragon who could fit that description… Though, what on earth could he be doing in the Burial Mounds?

“And?” Wei Wuxian urged.

“He didn't know what the fox meant, but he knew of your shop… so he led us here in Yiling.”

That made sense. Wei Wuxian was a fox spirit, and interacting with Heavenly Beings such as dragons would actually put him in danger of being eradicated. He’s just thankful for the sealing wards he put around his store— else he would’ve been found out decades ago. The ward itself merely dampened the senses of any other mythical creatures from finding out he was a fellow yāoguài, while heavenly creatures such as longs or tigers would immediately sense it if they entered this specific room.

This room being a private collection that Wei Wuxian has been collecting since a century ago. Housing perhaps a thousand trinkets from years long passed— he would guess historians would weep at how he’s storing these valuable items though… And, well, seeing how these two were able to see his second head, it wasn’t all that surprising to him. Such birds have been blessed by the heavens after all.

So if a dragon knew of him, but didn’t know that he was a fox, then that meant his wards were still as strong as ever! He patted his past self on the back internally, feeling just a bit proud. He smiled at the thought, then waved his hand before either of the brothers could continue their story. Well, not that he was listening anyway.

“Anyways…” He motioned towards the pedestal in front of them, “It’s this one, right?”

As he finally pulled off the cloth, it revealed a jade pendant, unassuming, and even looked dull. If it was on display, any other customer wouldn’t bat an eye towards it, and would opt to look at the other priceless jades on the shelves. The two cultivators looked down at the pendent, and Wei Wuxian could sense the slight disappointment in their eyes.

“What’s wrong, boys?”

“Well it…” Chen Yan tentatively picked up the pendant, looking at the dull jewel in his hands. “It doesn’t…”

“Doesn’t look like the artifact your grandfather would leave behind?” Wei Wuxian finished. When they both nodded, he huffed out a laugh before taking it from the younger brother’s hands. “Tut, tut, you cultivators should know you cannot judge a person by their appearance! It’s been sealed.”

“Sealed?”

“Yes, sealed until you should use it for… for whatever journey you’re about to take part of.” Wei Wuxian confirmed, lifting the pendant up at his eye-level before lifting his pipe towards his lips again.

Wei Wuxian’s neck twisted after he took a drag of his pipe, fox head coming into view. The two watched as the fox’s head blew out red smoke, surrounding the pendant, before shining and the sound of something breaking echoed the room. Once everything stopped, Wei Wuxian’s face came back to view and he waved the amulet in his hand.

“I’ve unsealed it as your grandfather asked. Now go, take it. Shoo, shoo. This thing’s given me more trouble than it’s worth.”

He practically threw the amulet towards the two, with the older one fumbling it in his hands before grasping it firmly. However, they didn’t leave as expected, instead they stared at each other, then peered towards Wei Wuxian with a sheepish glance.

“What? Do you actually want to make a purchase?”

“Would that be okay?” Chen Yan asked.

Wei Wuxian stared at them for a beat too long, then hackled out a laugh, “Of course it’s okay! Let’s go back to the entrance and you tell me about this person you’d like to buy a jade for.”

“How’d you know we wanted to give this to someone?”

“I know lots of things.” Wei Wuxian raised a brow, then grinned, “Just kidding, I can see it on your faces. You’re too obvious!”

After dutifully placing the amulet into the qiankun bag, they left the treasury and entered the long hallway again. As they walked, they noticed the fox’s head slowly dissipate as if it was mere smoke, leaving nothing but long hair tied into a ponytail.

“If you want to ask, it’s because the flow of qi is heavier inside.” Wei Wuxian answered their inner thoughts. “That's how you were able to see my alternate form, and how I was unable to suppress my glamour.”

“Is this related to us being… phoenixes?” Chen Baiyu asked tentatively.

“Aiya, I think that’s something you need to speak about with your family. I already told you what I know.” Wei Wuxian tutted, "I'm not your biānxiū^{editor/compiler}, okay? I’m just a little fox. Have mercy on me and my old age.”

“Right…”

When they returned to the main storefront, the two cultivators noticed the sun had sunk to a deep orange. Coating the lands in a warm hue as lanterns lit to light the way through the busy streets. There were voices from outside, indicating that the Night Market was preparing their rounds, with some already ready to sell their wares.

“So… who’s this person?” Wei Wuxian’s voice caught their attention again, and when they looked, he was already behind a table filled with jade accessories. “A lover? A friend? Family?”

“Um.” Chen Baiyu faltered, now seeming a bit embarrassed at their request, “We wanted to give it to the one who helped us.”

For the second time that day, these two young boys seemed to have left Wei Wuxian at a loss of words.

“A jade?” Wei Wuxian paused, repeated it a few times under his breath, and looked at the two cultivators who looked serious. Unable to hold it back in, he tilted his head back in laughter, a hand coming up to rest on his forehead. “You want to give jade to a dragon?!”

The two cultivators shifted on their feet, with the older one arguing, “W-Well, he’s known for being the Second Jade so—!”

Wei Wuxian laughed harder, turning into a cackle that mimicked a fox.

“This dragon you speak of…” He said between bouts of laughter, “Did he perhaps have white scales that shimmered blue under the sun? Eyes like molten gold? Body stretched as far as the sky?”

“Y-Yes!” The both of them piped up together.

“Then no!” Wei Wuxian wheezed, tears in his eyes as he heaved to catch his breath. “No, no… You think Lan Zhan would want a jade? Are you trying to court him?”

His customers flushed red, while the younger one stammered out, “We thought he wouldn’t appreciate it if we didn’t come by without a gift…”

Wei Wuxian snorted, “He isn’t that type of person. Come, come! I’ll take you to him.”

Now, when the proprietor of the jade shop said “take you to him”, the two cultivators thought they would head back to the Burial Mounds to seek out the dragon. Perhaps pay some respect to the wandering ghosts and try to rest the undead that lingered about the mass graves. Neither boys were especially gifted in musical cultivation, but they were decent enough to play Rest to placid the vengeful energies.

Not…

Not a cloud. How did a cloud even get here?

One moment Wei Wuxian had taken them to another room, this time plain and empty, and suddenly he’s busting out his pipe and blowing a full cloud. How did he manage to create a cloud? Who knows. The world of mythical beings was something the two boys couldn’t quite comprehend yet, nor did it seem like they were ready to.

They could only watch as Wei Wuxian stepped on the cloud, sitting on it in a lotus-style position before patting the empty space in front of him.

“What are you waiting for? Do you need time to prepare?”

Without another word, the two of them climbed aboard. Briefly amazed by the solidity of the cloud— something that’s supposed to be made of billions of tiny water droplets suspended in air. They both sat similarly, hands kept by their knees as they watched Wei Wuxian blow out another smoke from his pipe.

The wisps of clouds began to surround them, slowly obscuring their vision of their surroundings. However, they could still hear each other, and from somewhere, came Wei Wuxian’s voice:

“Oh, don’t be afraid of me when we enter The Heavenly Realm, okay?”

“The huh?”

***

Being in the Heavenly Realm was… well, it was otherworldly.

For one thing, it was in the sky. The other being it was filled with a steady stream of qi that seemed to cleanse the two mortal’s meridians of anything they may have encountered back on earth. It was dizzyingly pure and thick with spiritual energy, giving them some sort of spiritual high the more they breathed in the clean air. With high rise palaces seemingly made of pure jade, to the vast flora and seas that floated across clouds— one could see why anyone would prefer Heaven than the Underworld.

They awed at the creatures that roamed the skies like it was infinite. Mythical beings they’d only read about in books and hearsay— no one would believe them if they said they’ve been to the Heavens. They were budding cultivators, barely enough to make a name of themselves, and they’re saying they’ve reached Heaven? They would call them fools!

A part of them thought this was one giant hallucination created by the huli jing. That he was just playing with both mind and senses— but it felt too real to be fake. The weightlessness, the clear mind, the everything that surrounded them felt too ethereal to be a mere trick of the mind.

“Pick your jaws off the floor, boys.” Wei Wuxian’s voice snapped them out of their staring, “You’re making it obvious you don’t belong here.”

“Sorry Wei zhǎngguì, it’s… Just…” The two of them slowly turned to face the huli jing, eyes still mesmerized by the grandeur of the Heavens when they finally laid eyes on him.

Even with Wei Wuxian’s prior warning, the two cultivators could only gape at how different he looked.

The second head was gone, but the fox ears remained on his head. There was a beaded mask that dangled over half of his face, highlighting his eyes over the silver jewelry. He wore a women’s hanfu dyed red and black, with sheer layers of silk that flowed around him. The hanfu reached the floor, but even then, they could tell the man was barefoot, and the tips of his limbs were dyed black. His hands were clawed— which looked more dangerous against tinted skin. Though he looked relatively human in this form, there were obvious markings of a fox. Like… tails.

Nine tails gently waved themselves behind Wei Wuxian, twisting over themselves at times in a hypnotic fashion that the brothers were in awe— nine! This man was no ordinary spirit! Didn’t it take a century to grow one? How old was this guy?!

“What are you looking at?”

“U-Uh! We…” Chen Baiyu stammered, eyes switching over between Wei Wuxian’s face and at his tails. “We—!”

“Why do you look so different?” Chen Yan asked instead.

“It removes all glamour from everyone that steps within this realm— it’s always been this way once you step foot in Cloud Recesses." Wei Wuxian dismissively waved his hand, not even bothering to look over himself. “Something about showing your true nature or whatever nonsense. Just be glad it didn’t reduce me to a Beastly form. Now, come.”

“Cloud Recesses? But I thought…” Chen Baiyu spoke this time, thoughts running.

“Thought? Oh, is it because there’s another Cloud Recesses back in the Mortal Realm?” Wei Wuxian grinned, “Let’s say they got their name from the Heavens. Some sort of divine blessing upon the people of Gusu to name it that. I’m pretty sure the other clans have done the same? Like… Golden Scale, or Nightless Immortal, or, I don’t know, Lotus Pier! You know of them, right?”

“Of course! They’re home of the Five Great Clans!”

“Well, four.” Chen Baiyu muttered under his breath.

Wei Wuxian chuckled, his hand pointing his pipe towards them, “Where do you think the founders are?”

“Here?!” The two of them exclaimed, then quickly shut their mouths when they realized how quiet this area was.

“Right! Well, you’ll find some influences of the Mortal Realm here too. Some deities have a thing for keeping up with the trends and whatnot.”

Wei Wuxian waved his hand in dismissal, now walking in front of them to guide them through the densely packed forest they’ve landed on. They were currently on the pathway of Cloud Recesses, but the effect of the anti-glamour was already in effect. They two mortals couldn’t see the nostalgic look on Wei Wuxian’s face as he walked across a familiar path. It’s been centuries since he’s last visited the Heavenly Realm, and was surprised he was allowed back here.

Usually, yaoguai like himself weren’t allowed inside unless they’ve gone through the Heavenly Tribulations, or were technically property of certain deities. But seeing as he wasn’t a rogue back then, he was permitted to enter together with two others. He was technically their “servant” on record, but they never treated him as such, giving him more freedom than an actual youguai should have. Even then, he was a hundred percent sure the Officials would’ve found out he’s snuck back in. Well… “snuck in” if you could call the Auspicious Cloud as sneaking back it.

So… why did it still work? If it were like in the past, a hundred or so guards would’ve already swarmed the place they stood.

“Anyways, keep close to me. Your mortal bodies aren’t strong enough to withstand this realm for too long.” Wei Wuxian warned, gently pulling them closer with his tails, “If you get smited, that won’t be my problem.”

“O-Of course!”

The forest gave way to white grass, and flowing rivers of water that seemed to twinkle like crystals under the light. The air was lower in temperature, as each puff of breath became visible as they walked. Wei Wuxian shivered once, before his body heated on its own, easily adapting. However, he couldn’t say the same for the two cultivators who were now huddled against his tails, teeth chattering as they visibly shook.

“Colder than Gusu?” Wei Wuxian teased.

“Y-Yes.”

Wei Wuxian huffed, flicking his wrist once, and the two brothers seemed to have warmed. They were no longer shaking, but the occasional bite of the cold still seeped through. It felt like a cold wind during the autumn. Before they could give their thanks, Wei Wuxian was already walking ahead.

They passed a sparse forest of bamboo encapsulated by low clouds, with only the river’s water keeping them company. They had wanted to ask more about the Realm, but with how quiet the usually chatty huli jing was, they didn’t dare ask. After all, how was someone like him allowed in such a place?

Then—

“Wei Wuxian?”

“...Jiang Cheng?”

From their left, just past the bamboo forest they exited, they spot a man dressed in intricate purple robes. One could actually mistaken him for a Yúnmèng Jiāng disciple or leader if it weren’t for the white ears that protruded the man's head, and the two tails that wagged gently behind him. There were markings on either side of his cheeks, just below his eyes that mimicked a tiger’s stripes. Then a silver lotus crownpiece tied his hair half-up, giving him a look of a human that ascended to immortality.

…Wait, Jiang?

“Where in the heavens have you been?!” Jiang Wanyin seethed, now stomping his way towards the three of them. “Didn’t you know everyone’s been looking for you?!”

Wei Wuxian immediately raised his tails, blocking the two from view, “I’ve been in the Mortal Realm.”

“For 13 centuries?!”

“...Yeah.”

“Don’t yeah me!”

From Jiang Wanyin’s right hand, a crackle of purple lightning flashed, making the mortals recoil and instinctively hide behind Wei Wuxian. In turn, the huli jing raised both his arms to protect them, like a mother hen. Jiang Wanyin eyed this posture, but didn’t comment on it, more focused on the man that was right in front of him. Declared missing for more than a thousand years.

“Remember the eradication of the yaoguai? What do you think would’ve happened if they saw me?” Wei Wuxian defended, his tails twitched in irritation, though it didn’t show on his face. “I wouldn’t be here conversing with you!”

“You could’ve sent a signal to us either way! The major eradication ended a century after that decree was passed!”

“Fat chance!” Wei Wuxian tutted, this time sneering his words, “If the Officials could easily change their minds in a mere century, what made you think they wouldn’t easily change their minds once they saw me, huh?”

“That—”

“There’s a reason why there’s still so much unrest in Yiling, Jiang Cheng.” Wei Wuxian settled, though there’s still hints of bitterness. “They won’t forgive me for causing a calamity.”

“You aren’t even considered as one of the Four Perils.” Jiang Wanyin weakly argued.

“After creating a mass gravesite? I might as well be one.”

No one knew how the Burial Mounds came to be, but Wei Wuxian knew. He knew all too well— after all, he created the battlefield. Supporters would defend him by saying that it wasn’t his fault, that he just lost control, that no one supported him. But Wei Wuxian knew in his heart that trying to control copious amounts of Yin— Heavenly Beast or no, still would’ve lost themselves to it. He’d known the risk, and tried to control it anyway, certain he would be the chosen one.

The scar on his heart was proof it was not worth the mass graves that laid on the mountain. He just hoped that taking the Yīn Hǔ Fú^{Yin Tiger Tally} to the Underworld was enough to atone for his past sins.

Jiang Wanyin didn’t say anything else, but there was a silent rage that burned within. Wei Wuxian wasn’t sure if it was for him, or for the past. Either way, meeting him again sent another pang of nostalgia within him. After all, it was Jiang Cheng and his sister, Jiang Yanli, that made it possible for him to enter the Heavenly Realm in the first place.

“Well, enough of that!” Wei Wuxian waved a hand dismissively, as if trying to clear the air, “What are you doing in Cloud Recesses?”

“I was visiting the First Jade.” Jiang Wanyin huffed, crossing his arms. “There’s been something going on in Yiling for the past— was that you?”

“I dunno.”

Jiang Wanyin sighed heavily through his teeth, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I haven’t even said if it was good or bad.”

“Well, is it good or bad?”

“It’s good.” Jiang Wanyin rolled his eyes, giving Wei Wuxian a deadpanned look. “The Burial Mounds’ resentment has decreased, and I had a feeling it was thanks to your reckless ass.”

Wei Wuxian grinned, actually feeling proud, “It’s thanks to an old favor. Anyways! How’s shìjiè? Is she okay? Fine? What about that stupid peacock?”

“Stop asking so many questions in one sentence.” Jiang Wanyin huffed, “She’s fine, worried about you even. We couldn’t descend the Heavens without a proper reason to find you, and even when we did, we were only permitted to go to Yunmeng.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because—” Jiang Wanyin’s voice dropped lower, as if holding himself back, “The Jins don't like it when us tigers roam the Mortal Realm without proper cause. You should know this since you love to break that rule so often.”

“The Jins? Wait, back up. Why the Jins?” Wei Wuxian looked alarmed, “The last I heard was that the Dragon King didn’t want us roaming around.”

“Some guy named Guangyao took one of the official's seats once Guangshan’s core was corrupted, so he’s gone. Dead, if you will. Unable to reincarnate after we found out about his deeds.” Jiang Wanyin’s mouth twitched slightly, as if stifling a grin. “Anyways, since our families are now tied together, they want to use us as some sort of example to other Heavenly Beings.”

“But the King?”

“Is still in seclusion.” Jiang Wanyin sighed, “Seriously, they should just make Lan Xichen the King if his father refuses to come out…”

Wei Wuxian was still processing this information when he realized he missed something important. “What do you mean you’re tied to the Jins?”

Jiang Wanyin’s ears flattened in irritation, “She’s married.”

Wei Wuxian blinked, unable to think as his thoughts screeched to a halt. “...What?”

“Married to that stupid peacock,” Jiang Wanyin repeated, “Have been, for a while now. You would’ve hated the ceremony— gold everywhere and peacocks preening for three days straight. I can practically still hear their screeches after a millenia.”

“Nobody told me—”

“Nobody could find you.” Jiang Wanyin cut him off as his voice sharpened. “You missed her wedding and you missed her giving birth.”

Wei Wuxian went very still, his ears perked at the last syllable. “Birth?”

“Jin Ling.” Jiang Wanyin’s voice became impossible softer, a rare smile threatening to pull the corner of his lips. “He’s got her looks, but that stupid peacock’s attitude. He’s already flying around like he’s become the Kǒngquè Wáng, even though he’s only a few decades old.”

“A son…” Wei Wuxian repeated, his voice barely a whisper. “Shìjiè has a son and… I’ve never seen him?”

“No.” Jiang Wanyin said, a bit quieter now, “You haven’t.”

With Wei Wuxian’s tails down, it barely hid the two cultivators that hid behind them. Jiang Wanyin’s sharp senses kicked in when he noticed a shift in energy, his eyes darting around Wei Wuxian’s body until they caught a peak of two heads. His back straightened when he noticed what they were. His previous melancholy was replaced with absolute rage.

“You brought mortals here?!”

Wei Wuxian blinked, took a glance over his shoulder, then back at him, “It took you this long to notice them?”

“How could I have sensed when you hid them!”

“Aren’t you a celestial being? Shouldn’t you have been able to sense them since you’re stronger than me?” Wei Wuxian teased.

Jiang Wanyin felt like he could go into a qi deviation right then and there. Already having gone through a plethora of emotions just by talking to Wei Wuxian made him exhausted, and he didn’t want to bother with whatever nonsense this fox had to offer.

“Alright. Alright, whatever. I’ve told you what I know, and I don’t want to get caught up in your bullshit any longer.” Jiang Wanyin concluded, already turning to leave. “If you want to visit ā jiě, come to Lotus Pier so we can go together. The Jins have become more prideful than last.”

Wei Wuxian was about to thank him when Jiang Wanyin paused, glaring over his shoulder, “And the next time you disappear, you tell someone. Me, ā jiě, or that damn dragon you love to climb over.”

With that, Jiang Wanyin disappears in a trail of white smoke. A convenient technique learned by most beings to easily get around the Realm. That left Wei Wuxian and the two cultivators where they stood, unknowing of what to do next.

“...Ah, well, let’s get going.” Wei Wuxian cleared his throat, before gently guiding the two of them with his tails. With nothing else to add, the brothers could only nod and allow themselves to be led.

***

Cloud Recesses was home to the Dragon King or Lóngwáng.

No one knew the exact name of the King, but mortals called him Qīnghéng-jūn, and so did the rest of the Heavenly Realm. One of those following the Earthly trends. He was an elusive man, only coming out every decade or so to assure the people he was still alive, and to issue some decrees or some other rule or whatever else. However, to every Heavenly Beings, the dragons were known as the Lans.

The Lans were, unsurprisingly, the most rigid of the Heavenly Beasts. Dragons have always been the creature of order, ruling over restraint. There were around three thousand rules etched onto stone tablets that lined the entrance of their Palace, said to be carved by Qīnghéng-jūn’s own claw in a single night. Though, that was merely a rumor, and no one dared to ask about it either.

And, well, Wei Wuxian didn’t really care for the Dragon King, nor did he really know much about him. All he knew was that he was the father of Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji, and the brother of Lan Qiren. If anything, he knew more about Lan Wangji than the rest of the Lans.

Lan Wangji lived in the Jìngshì, one of the twin palaces that was situated on either side of the Jade Palace. Back when he briefly studied in Cloud Recesses, the dragon could be found in the Cold Spring in the mornings, meditating until classes began. So he would always find the time to annoy the dragon, poking and prodding at his tail, but also calling and complimenting how beautiful he was. He found joy at the way Lan Wangji stormed off, muttering words like “Shameless!” or even “Pathetic!” at his face, which just urged Wei Wuxian to continue.

Now, it’s been a whole millennia since he’s seen Lan Wangji, and he does feel a bit nervous. The last he saw him was when the majority of the Heavenly Officials sent a decree without the knowledge of Qīnghéng-jūn, earning the ire of the Second Jade once he knew it had been passed. It took a century for it to be revoked, but it wasn’t without hardship— thousands of yaoguai were exterminated by then, leaving few to hide and grow weak as the years passed.

From the brief passing of gossip in Yiling, he had found out that Lan Wangji himself took the main role of revoking it, even bringing in his father to help revoke it. Even then, Wei Wuxian couldn’t wholly rely on said gossip, afraid that once Qīnghéng-jūn went back to seclusion, the Officials would find a way to bring it back again. Well, no one could go against the Dragon King in the first place— he had to wonder how they even passed this stupid decree in the first place from under the King’s nose.

He sighed, staring at the intricate doors of the Jingshi. He was more surprised that no other Lans or guards were stationed here— then again, no one dared to walk up into their territory unless necessary. Wei Wuxian slowly walked towards the entrance, briefly checking that the two cultivators were still by his side, then readied himself.

Wei Wuxian placed a hand on the intricate doors, hips jutted as if he was impatiently waiting, even though it’s only been a few seconds. Then a deep voice reverberated through their heads.

Who?

“It’s me.”

There’s a bout of silence, and the three of them worried that they wouldn't be able to enter.

Enter.

Wei Wuxian laughed lightly, stepping back to allow the wide doors to open just enough for the three of them to pass. As they opened, a cold gust of wind passed their bodies, making the mortals shiver at the low drop in temperature.

“Stay close to me,” Wei Wuxian whispered, though his voice echoed through the grand hall. “You’ll freeze to death here.”

As they entered, their footsteps sounded loud in their ears. It was as if the entire Palace was made of crystalline jade, pure white and shone their reflections when glancing at the floor. At the center of the hall were short steps that indicated this was where Lan Wangji would hold an audience, and on either side were long hallways that led to other rooms.

As they got closer, a strong gust of wind almost knocked the two cultivators onto their knees if it wasn’t for Wei Wuxian holding onto their shoulders. They shut their eyes instinctively, raising their arms to guard their face as they felt something pass. When the strong winds gentled, they peered through their arms to see a rather tall man standing in the middle of the room.

He was dressed in white, mimicking mourning clothes if it wasn’t for the light blue accents threaded in the cloth. On his head protruded equally light blue, transparent dragon horns, and scales that shimmered against his high cheeks. From under his robes, a sizable dragon tail laid on the floor, curled around the man’s feet. They’ve seen his dragon-form already, but seeing those golden eyes on a more human-like form gave him this ethereal look that made them want to kowtow at his mere presence.

It was no surprise that he would be called an Azure Dragon rather than a White one— with the occasional sightings of him in the skies, his scales easily reflected the blue hue of the heavens.

“Lan Zhan.” Wei Wuxian called, “It’s been awhile.”

The dragon— Lan Wangji, hummed a response. His gaze turned towards the two brothers at either of his side. “You have brought them.”

“More like you brought them to me.” Wei Wuxian huffed, “They wanted to thank you with a jade— ah, Lan-er-gege, would you have wanted a jade? Perhaps I could give you a jade next time?”

“No need.”

“Wo pei…” Wei Wuxian clicked his tongue, then gently pushed the two in front of him. “Well! Here’s your great dragon. Go on, say thank you to him.”

The two shivered as they bowed a full 90 degrees from their waist, hands clasped as they said their genuine thanks. Lan Wangji merely hummed, making them raise their heads and immediately hide behind Wei Wuxian’s tails for warmth, earning a laugh.

“That’s it? No other gifts? Not gonna tell him why you needed me? Aiya, you’re the reason why we’re meeting again!” Wei Wuxian jokingly chided, making the brothers flush at the incessant questions. “Maybe we should’ve gotten a jade… ah, what a shame!”

“Wei Ying.”

His name made him go still. Wei Wuxian’s tails that have been flickering idly behind him went stiff, before it recovered, flashing a lopsided smile that couldn’t reach his eyes. “Yes, Lan Zhan? Do you have anything else to add?”

“You left.”

The brothers, sensing the shift, edged further behind Wei Wuxian's tails, suddenly very interested in the floor.

Wei Wuxian laughed a bit too quickly, too brightly for something that weighed heavily on his conscience. “Well! You know how it was back then! Decree and stuff… You know I couldn’t stay here! But—”

Lan Wangji breathed shallowly, his words a bit heavier than the last. “For thirteen centuries.”

Wei Wuxian’s demeanor shifted, visibly dropping. “I know…”

For a long moment, neither of them said anything. The two brothers held their breath, clearly unsure if they'd just witnessed the beginning of an argument or something else entirely. Then, Lan Wangji stepped forward, clear steps until he stood right in front of Wei Wuxian. It was probably closer than any other time Lan Wangji ever stood in front of other people.

Now, it should be noted that Lan Wangji liked his personal space, always standing about a foot away from anyone, even his own Family. However, Wei Wuxian could feel the coldness of Lan Wangji’s body emanating from how close they were.

“You are here now,” Lan Wangji said, his tone flat, but Wei Wuxian could pick up the slight crack around the edges. “That is enough.”

Wei Wuxian let out a slow breath, afraid that if he spoke, it would break whatever was going on. It felt fragile, this moment, having not seen this man in so long. Up close, he could tell Lan Wangji had grown— not only spiritually, but physically as well. The broad shoulders, the height difference, the… the…

“Wei Ying.”

Wei Wuxian finally snapped out of it, realizing he’s been staring at Lan Wangji’s face for a while that would be deemed inappropriate for his status. He cleared his throat, picking up his smile again, “Well. Um. You see, I have to return these boys back to the Mortal Realm if there’s nothing else! Thank you for your time, Hánguāng-jūn, it’s been really nice meeting you again—”

“Wait.”

Wei Wuxian paused mid-way, hands already on the brother’s backs to guide them. He looked over his shoulder, one ear flattened, while the other perked up. “Yes?”

“I will go with you.”

Wei Wuxian sputtered, he panickedly looked between Lan Wangji and the two cultivators by his side. For once, the chatty fox was at a complete loss of words, unable to think of a single witty thing to say back. It wasn’t like him— if it were the past, he would coyly ask if Lan Wangji had missed him so dearly he’d want to come with. But with the way those words landed, it seemed more certain. Even if Wei Wuxian had prattled on about some nonsense, Lan Wangji would still accompany him.

“Um.” Wei Wuxian said intelligently, “Boys, cover your ears and turn around. I’ll talk some sense into this dragon.”

The cultivators nodded numbly, doing as told and suddenly the world became quiet. From behind them, Wei Wuxian marched up to the imposing dragon, brows furrowed in deep confusion.

“You?”

A nod.

“You’re leaving the Heavenly Realm to follow me?”

Another nod.

“Why?”

“You have been gone too long.” Lan Wangji neatly explained. “No one knew of your return.”

Wei Wuxian sighed, knowing that coaxing more words from this man would be near impossible. “You knew how the Officials sent that decree, yes? If I resided in the Heavens for more than even a snap of a finger, I would’ve been part of the eradications.”

Lan Wangji’s eyes lowered, lashes trembled slightly at the mention of the decree. While it had been centuries ago, it seemed to have left a deep scar on everyone’s psyche.

“You did not send word.”

“How could I have sent a word? Goodness, you’re saying the same thing as Jiang Cheng.” Wei Wuxian sputtered, and amidst his exasperations, he missed the way Lan Wangji’s eyes narrowed. He continued his prattle, “I learnt of the revoke a few years too late! Even then, there was no way I would risk sending a flare, signaling that there was a powerful huli jing still on the prowl! Lan Zhan, try to understand my situation.”

“I understand.”

Wei Wuxian’s ears perked, “You do?”

“I will still go with you.”

…

“Lan Zhan, Lan-er-gege, think about it.” Wei Wuxian whined. “You’re the Second Jade, the Azure Dragon of the Heavens. When mortals see you, spring comes and droughts dissipate, bountiful harvests await. What do you think the Officials— your family would think when they see you prancing around the Mortal Realm, huh? They’d be horrified! The Heavens would strike you down a thousand times over! These mortals have already seen one once! There’s no way—”

“I have received punishment.” Lan Wangji cut him off coolly, expression never changing. “It is nothing.”

About a thousand question marks filled Wei Wuxian’s mind.

“You’ll become a Xie if you invoke the wrath of the Heavens again.” Wei Wuxian tried again.

“That is acceptable.”

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian cried, hands almost closing into fists as if he wanted to grab onto Lan Wangji’s robes and shake him. “What did you even do the first time?! Good grief, it seems like you’ve become even more of a strange creature than I am!”

“Mn.”

“That doesn’t answer anything.” Wei Wuxian sighed, limbs falling limp as his ears fell flat against his head. “You’re not going with me— okay! Stop looking at me with those eyes! Fine! You’ll come with me briefly, and then you go back home.”

“When will you return?”

Wei Wuxian blinked, “I don’t know? I got a shop to run, I can’t just up and leave it alone. I worked hard on it! I got customers and orders to fulfill!”

“You have obligations elsewhere.”

“Well, I’ve built a life there, so yes I do have obligations elsewhere.” Wei Wuxian crossed his arms, but the effect was undercut by how his foxed limbs laid limp in defeat, “I appreciate the idea of you coming with me, but I don’t think it’ll be good for you. For either of us, rather.”

Lan Wangji allowed the beat of silence to stretch on far too long, making Wei Wuxian shift on his feet. It was that unsettling gaze that made him want to talk, to fill the suppressing air between them. Then at least it wouldn’t be so quiet.

“I’ll cut you a deal, alright? Will that be fine with you, ah?” Wei Wuxian relented, unable to handle it anymore. “Seeing how I’m still somehow allowed back up here, I’ll return by Xūchū^7PM, how about that?”

“You own the Jade Shop.”

Wei Wuxian blinked again, thrown off by the sudden switch in topics, “Yeah? I thought that was obvious? Didn’t you lead these two to me? Speaking of which, if you knew about me, why didn’t you just pick me up yourself, huh?”

“The owner was named Shi Ying.”

Who the hell was Shi Ying?

…Was it the ward? Did people hear the wrong name instead? How interesting, he’s never realized this before. That wouldn’t explain why he would hear his own name from people’s lips, but perhaps it was what mythical creatures heard instead? He’d have to tinker and ask around when he came back to the Mortal Realm.

“Lan Zhan, did you see the way those people’s lips moved? Did they form the movement for my name or this other name?”

“I did not see.”

Wei Wuxian slumped, but at least it was interesting information. Still, that was something he could think of later; Right now, this damn dragon seemed insistent in leaving the Heavenly Realm with him— to what? Watch over him as he works his hours? His patrons would question why there was a man that hovered over him like some sort of guard dog! And Wei Wuxian doesn’t even like dogs!

“Well— what do you want me to do?”

“Stay here.”

Wei Wuxian felt like he wanted to pull his hair out in frustration.

“I already said—!”

“With me.” Lan Wangji added.

Wei Wuxian blinked, trying to piece together what he just said. “What? Like… come back to the Heavens with you? Or what are you saying? Be with you? Aiya, Lan Zhan, you should know that courting should come first before inviting a fox to bed.”

The tips of Lan Wangji’s ears turned a fierce red, but said nothing. The apparent pop in color was obvious to Wei Wuxian, that it made his hands go a bit sweaty at the implication.

“...Surely you don’t mean—?”

“Whatever Wei Ying wishes, I shall grant.”

“Okay.” Wei Wuxian raised his hands to pause their conversation. “Okay, Lan Zhan— I’m going to return these two first, then I’m going to come back and we’ll continue this conversation. No, you are not coming with me. I don’t want you wandering around Yiling again and having other rogue cultivators find you, do you understand?”

Lan Wangji said nothing once more, instead he heaved a sigh before dipping his head once in affirmation.

“Thank you, I’ll be back this time.” Wei Wuxian paused, then took Lan Wangji’s hands into his own, “I promise.”

Lan Wangji stared at their clasped hands, his heartbeat thumping faster than normal— not that Wei Wuxian would notice, but he did notice the tips of his ears turning a brighter shade of red. When he felt no resistance, Wei Wuxian let go, bowed, and hurriedly guided the two cultivators out of there.

While he had taken them to the Heavenly Realm as a favor, he did bring them here for other reasons. One being that their lineage were phoenixes; He had wanted to see if they would awaken their powers whilst in Heaven, but seeing how they were still shivering from the low temperatures, he concluded that was a big no. Next, he wanted an excuse to visit. Now, he could’ve just come back at any time, but… well, it was a bit weird if he just came back, right? So he bided his time, and eventually a thousand years passed just like that.

Maybe Jiang Wanyin and Lan Wangji had a point— maybe he should have sent a signal.

Ah, whatever.

“Wei zhǎngguì,” Chen Baiyu tentatively asked once he could hear again, “We didn’t hear much, I promise but… are you close with him?”

Wei Wuxian looked at the older brother, then laughed, “Oh, no! No, no, we just knew each other when I studied here when I was younger. In fact, I think he hates me— so I genuinely don’t know why he’s acting this way.”

The two of the brothers shared a look, but didn’t say anything else.

Once they were back in the dense forest, Wei Wuxian brought out his pipe and created another Auspicious Cloud to bring them back to the Mortal Realm.

***

The three of them found themselves back in the jade shop. From the windows, the sun was high-rise, indicating it was around Wǔ Shí^11AM-13PM. Wei Wuxian steadied the two cultivators back on their feet, as they visibly looked disoriented after visiting two realms within a short timeframe.

“Boys,” He gently called out, snapping his fingers to use a bit of his qi. Their eyes focused, but they were still unsteady. “There’s an empty room in the back, go rest there for now, and leave at night. Try to regulate yourselves and meditate until then, you’re overflowing with qi that your mortal bodies will be unable to handle the surge for much longer.”

The brothers could only nod, and Wei Wuxian sighed as he gently coaxed them to an empty room in the back. Once settled, he took his time to set up. It wasn’t the first time he’s opened at such a late hour, but he was just grateful he didn’t have any pending orders for the day. Once everything was done, he finally unlocked the doors and greeted the first person that was waiting outside.

“Gōngzǐ,” He bowed, seeing a young man dressed in green and gold. “Sorry for taking so long, please, come in!”

As the day went on, Wei Wuxian noticed something strange. Sure, he opened a bit later than usual, but his first customer hadn’t left yet. Ever since he showed him his collection of fans, he seemed to idle by that section, but never picking up anything or asking about any particular design. But seeing how he didn’t cause a fuss, Wei Wuxian left him be.

It’s about yǒu shí^5PM-7PM, the time he usually closed, when the man was still here. In fact, he was the only customer left and Wei Wuxian didn’t know if he stayed just to talk to him alone, or if there were ulterior motives. During his stay, Wei Wuxian already had a feeling this man wasn’t the typical customer— hell, he would even bet this was some sort of Heavenly Beast.

“Gōngzǐ.” He called out, earning a tilt of the head from the man, “You’ve been here for quite some time! Do you need any help?”

He eyed the man’s lips, his conversation with Lan Wangji still present at the back of his mind. Sure enough, the other patrons formed the name “Shi Ying” instead of “Wei Wuxian”, but he heard it as his name. Perhaps it really was his ward.

However, when he watched this man’s lips, it fully formed the words— “...Wei-xiōng.”

Xiōng?

Wait, his name!

There was only one person that ever addressed him that way, sans a few merchants he’s become close to.

“Pff…” Wei Wuxian bit his lip to stifle a laugh, “Nie-xiōng, it has been awhile.”

The man visibly beamed, then his face blurred for a second. The moment it stopped, it revealed a young man with long hair, partially tied up in a bun. Their once dull clothes now shone a brighter green and gold, indicating this was no ordinary person— Wei Wuxian’s instinct was right, this was a Heavenly Beast.

“Brother Wei? Is that really you?”

“If it isn’t my favorite Xuánwǔ!”

“Aish.” Nie Huasaing clicked his tongue, his fan snapping close to point at him. “Keep your voice low, I’m a qīngniǎo, remember?”

“No one else is here!” Wei Wuxian laughed, spreading his arms wide open to the empty shop. “What are you doing here?! I didn’t expect you to be wandering around Yiling.”

“Well…” Nie Huisang sheepishly opened his fan again before hiding half his face behind his fan, “A certain dragon wanted to make sure you’d return on time.”

“You’re playing the part of a qīngniǎo a bit too well.”

“Chut.”

Wei Wuxian sighed, but knew that Lan Wangji was behind it. He just didn’t expect it to be Nie Huaisang out of all people to call him back. If anything, he half-expected it to be Jiang Wanyin, or worse, another Lan.

“So you’re technically picking me up from work.”

“Trust me when I say I didn’t want to.” Nie Huaisang sighed, gently fanning himself. “Riding the Auspicious Cloud is too much of a hassle, and I don’t want to alert the mortals that I’m descending. Goodness, how did you even get used to this?”

“Well, I did like the Mortal Realm.” Wei Wuxian pouted, “Besides, I’m not truly connected to the Heavens.”

Nie Huaisang stared at him for a moment, as if assessing some unknown questions within. After a beat, he shut his fan close against his palm— which, for him, was practically a declaration of seriousness.

"You really don't know, do you?" It wasn't quite a question, but it felt like resignation. "I thought Hánguāng-jūn would have told you by now."

"Told me what?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing." He picked the fan back up, waving it a touch too quickly. "Forget I said anything. Ah, my mouth runs faster than my thoughts sometimes. What did I say again? I don’t know anything—"

"Nie-xiōng."

"And, really, it's not my place to say. You should ask him yourself! Or your shī dì. Or anyone who isn't me, honestly—"

"Nie Huaisang."

“Well… it’s nothing, just…” Nie Huaisang winced at the tone, and he fanned slowly before letting out a sigh. “Wei-xiōng, humor me for a moment. From what I heard, at least from Jiang-xiōng and Hánguāng-jūn, you arrived to the Heavens without a formal greeting, right? Why do you think that was so?”

“I—” He did think about it, really. It was weird, having permission to enter without cause, even after disappearing for 13 centuries. “I don’t know.”

Nie Huaisang regarded him for a moment, then spoke, “Okay, how do you think I’m here? Remember, the official reasons to come back to the Mortal Realm were: A shrine needing blessing, or other catastrophes that needed divine intervention or whatnot.”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes narrowed, now realizing that Nie Huaisang simply picking him up after-hours was indeed odd. Even if it was at the request of the Second Jade, it was too petty of a reason to allow a Constellation to visit the Earth.

“Your territory is in Qīnghé… even if there was some sort of calling, you coming to Yiling would be odd.” Wei Wuxian concluded, “But— you— you’re here. Even if you’re here, the Heavens haven’t shown wrath… And you’ll still be allowed to come back there? Just like that?”

Nie Huaisang raised a brow at his questioning tone, “Yes? Did you not hear about the law that was filed last spring?”

“What law?”

***

“Lan Wangji!”

Wei Wuxian stormed into the Jingshi like it was his own property, footsteps heavy as he stomped through the icy-floors, uncaring that other servants floated around the vast hall. They quickly fled out, eyes worriedly looking back and forth between the Second Jade and the huli jing, before shutting the doors behind them. From the Qīnglóng Zuò, Lan Wangji sat, attention still on the scroll on his table despite the huffy fox that was closing in on him.

“What’s this law thing I heard about? Why didn’t you tell me!”

Lan Wangji’s eyes flitted up, meeting the angry glare of Wei Wuxian. His tails flickered and curled, a visible indicator of his impatience. Lan Wangji slowly rose, briefly scanning through the documents on his table, before quietly holding one out to him. The document was thin and worn, soft at the creases, as if it’s been opened and refolded a hundred times over.

Wei Wuxian took it while frowning, eyes narrowing at how this would even help quell his anger.

Then that anger turned into confusion as he read the words.

“Free Flow Law?”

“It was not my idea to name.” Lan Wangji said instead.

“What— Lan Zhan, laws like these never get granted! The Officials would rather suffer a qi deviation or fight a thousand Hellhounds before they would sign this!” Wei Wuxian was right, and yet the law in his hands held the marked seal of the Officials, granting it power. He glanced at the bottom, eyes widening. “This was filed eleven hundred years ago.”

“Mn.”

“Did they revoke the decree because of you?”

“Mn.”

“What… What did you do?”

“Jin Guangshan filed for the decree under Jin Guangyao’s suggestion,” Lan Wangji carefully said, “My father was in seclusion. I and xiōngzhǎng dealt matters in the South. We were unable to oversee it.”

Wei Wuxian wanted to scoff— seriously, just because the Lans weren’t present, they had the gall to file a decree? He knew the elders of the Official Court were outdated, but he didn’t think they would stoop this low.

“The Jins again? We should really kick them out of here if they keep doing shit like this.” Wei Wuxian internally cursed, “I heard you caused the revoke.”

“They wanted to overthrow the Dragons.”

“Huh?!”

“On record, Jin Guangshan suffered a corrupted core.” Lan Wangji glanced at the stack of documents on his table, before looking back to Wei Wuxian, “He was punished, and the Jins hold less power in court. I revoked it once they were demoted.”

Wei Wuxian furrowed his brow, “And the Jiangs?”

“Due to their marriage ties, they’ve shown to be careful.”

That would make sense. Politically, maybe. If the Jiangs stepped out of line, they would be accused of being manipulated by the Jins, and be disgraced alongside them. Wei Wuxian could somewhat understand Jiang Wanyin’s position— even with this law in place, he couldn’t exactly go and tear up the Mortal Realm just to find one measly fox.

“I tried to find you while the decree was active.”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes flashed, “Is that when—?”

“My punishment,” Lan Wangji nodded, “I could not move for decades. I revoked it as soon as I could.”

“What about your brother? Or— or even the Dragon King? Couldn’t they have—?”

“They had their own opinions. I was the sole dissenter.”

Wei Wuxian slumped, unable to comprehend what was going on. Instead, he glanced back at the paper, reading everything once more to fully understand what the law was about. It granted Beings like himself to go back and forth from Heaven with cause, but with less strictness than before. A visit, a trade, or even attachment within the Mortal Realm was allowed, granted they filed the correct document. His eyes hovered over the seal, narrowing when he saw the date.

“This law was granted last spring.”

“Mn.”

“You petitioned the Heavens for eleven hundred years—”

“A thousand and ten times,” Lan Wangji said. “It was refused a thousand and nine.”

Wei Wuxian made a sound that wasn't quite a laugh.

“You may keep the shop.” Lan Wangji's gaze didn't waver. “You may go down and return as you wish. No one may question it.”

“Lan Zhan—”

“You do not have to choose.” A pause. Then, in a quiet voice, “I do not want you to choose.”

Between me or your attachments, goes unsaid. Wei Wuxian stood there in the freezing white hall holding eleven hundred years of someone else's patience in his hands, and found that for the second time during this short journey, he had absolutely nothing clever to say.

“So what’s all this about me staying with you, huh?” Wei Wuxian squeezed out, voice cracking at the end. “Why would you even do this? For what? My own kind?”

“For you.” Lan Wangji softly said, “Only for you.”

Wei Wuxian wanted to scream or cry. Or even get mad at Lan Wangji for all this. He couldn’t comprehend why this dragon would go through such lengths to do something for him in the first place. For pride? For justice? That didn’t seem like him. Lan Wangji wasn’t the type to intervene unless it mattered most— yaoguai shouldn’t have mattered to the Second Jade. They shouldn’t have mattered at all!

“But…” Wei Wuxian started, voice uncharacteristically quiet, “Why? I caused—”

“It was not your fault.”

“They all say that! Don’t try to divert the blame onto others when I was the sole proprietor.” Wei Wuxian’s tails fluffed in irritation.

“You have repented.” Lan Wangji said, and his voice held some sort of finality that Wei Wuxian couldn't argue against. “You’ve continued to repent until now. You did not merely stay away due to your attachments.”

“Excuse me?” Wei Wuxian blinked, his tails going very still at the sudden shift.

“You opened the shop five hundred years ago. What were you doing for the other seven?”

“I—”

“You did not think you would be welcomed.” Lan Wangji said. It should have sounded accusatory, but all he heard were his own thoughts pried open from his psyche. “After creating the Burial Mounds.”

Wei Wuxian didn’t question how Lan Wangji knew of the shop’s opening, nor did he ask how he knew how he felt about the entire thing. He shifted on his feet, the guilt still gnawing at him after centuries.

“I was recovering,” Wei Wuxian answered in a quiet voice. “Venturing to the Underworld made me weak. I didn’t know if any other deity would try and be as reckless as I was, so I destroyed it there.”

That caught Lan Wangji’s attention. The temperature within the vast hall dropped an uncomfortable low that even Wei Wuxian’s shivered.

“You said you sealed it.”

“I said what I said, and you know how easy it is for me to lie.” Wei Wuxian chuckled weakly. “It took a toll on my body, so I took those eight hundred years to recuperate. Did you know there’s a Ghost City down there? It reminded me of the festivals in the Mortal Realm! Admittedly, I did stay there for a while.”

“In the Underworld.”

“Well I wanted to be out of Heaven's eyes for a while.” Wei Wuxian shrugged, and that was the truth. “When I heard it was relatively safe to come back to the Mortal Realm, I stayed and built my shop.”

“I searched for you in the Burial Mounds.”

Wei Wuxian blinked, then remembered, “So I’ve heard. I didn’t expect you to talk to mortals, though. Have you been truly searching for me there all this time?”

“Mn.”

“Aiya…” Wei Wuxian sighed, but he couldn't help but give him a fond look. “Lan Zhan, ah… What were you doing? Why did you even bother looking for me?”

“I…” For once, Lan Wangji faltered. “I wanted to see if you were safe.”

Wei Wuxian grinned, “Yeah? Did you notice anything?”

“The resentment within the Burial Mounds has lessened.” Lan Wangji recounted, “I thought I would find you there.”

“Ahhh… Well, I’m sorry to say I usually go there when the moon is full.” Wei Wuxian chuckled, crossing his arms and tilting his head. “That’s when mortals stay home and the majority stay away from the Hill. It helps me unleash my powers without alerting anyone— don’t worry! I put up barriers to make sure they can’t catch me.”

“Mn.” Lan Wangji nodded once, then glanced towards the seats. Catching his gaze, Wei Wuxian silently followed, sitting right in front of Lan Wangji’s table— mimicking how they used to sit back in their student days. Lan Wangji then continued to ask. “What of the cultivators?”

“Cultivators? Oh, I had Huaisang deal with them.” Wei Wuxian waved a hand. “They’ll be fine. I kind of came to you right away once I heard a law had passed under your name. Imagine my surprise! I didn’t think this type of affairs would matter to you!”

“It concerns you.”

Wei Wuxian bit his lip, actually feeling the sincerity of his words. With a sigh, he slumped over the table, uncaring of the documents that shifted around him. “Well… still, thank you. It means a lot to me.”

“Mn…”

Wei Wuxian turned his face to look up at Lan Wangji, cheek pressed against the papers underneath him. “Speaking of which… our conversation earlier— how about I return every yǒu shí^5PM-7PM, how does that sound? I can go to your Palace to make sure I clock in.”

Lan Wangji said nothing, and opted to stare at Wei Wuxian with an unmoving look. Seeing how he wasn’t placated, Wei Wuxian continued.

“Aiya, Lan Zhan… How about I close on the weekends?”

“Do you need money?”

“Are you calling me poor?!” Wei Wuxian gasped, sitting up straight as he became mock-offended at the thought.

“No, I am offering.”

Wei Wuxian blinked up at him as Lan Wangji took a pouch from his sleeves. It was colored pink and gold, and he had to internally laugh— wasn’t that the pouch he had gotten from someone else? Why does this dragon have it? When he took the pouch and opened it, all thoughts screeched to a halt.

“Lan Zhan, ay, Lan Zhan.” Wei Wuxian slowly called out, “This is gold. Why do you have gold in this? Wasn’t this a perfume sachet I received from Mianmian centuries ago? Why do you have it? Did you turn it into a qiankun bag? How on earth did you even turn it into one? Not important! Why are you giving me gold?! Why’s there so much!”

“It is not much.”

Wei Wuxian sputtered, “This is enough to buy an entire city! Were you hoarding this? Is this part of your hoard?”

“You wished to close on the weekend.” Lan Wangji unhelpfully explained, “This is enough.”

“This is more than enough! Lan Zhan, you can’t just buy my weekend—”

“I am not buying a weekend.” Lan Wangji’s face didn’t move, but Wei Wuxian could sense that he’s amused. There’s a light twinkle in those golden eyes. “I am buying several of them.”

Wei Wuxian stared at the pouch, then at Lan Wangji for a moment before bursting out into laughter. He laughed so much his body tilted, head resting on Lan Wangji’s shoulder as tears filled his eyes. His body shifted so much that he somehow found his way sitting next to Lan Wangji. He wasn’t sure if he was laughing or crying, emotions bursting out of the seams— too much had happened in two days, and yet it seemed like it’s been thousands of years.

“Ah, Lan Zhan, you’re so good to me.” Wei Wuxian chuckled out, gazing longingly at the pouch again. His head still rested on Lan Wangji’s shoulder, but neither of them made a move. “What do I do with you? If I were anyone else, I would’ve thought this was a courting gift.”

“Mn.”

Pause.

Wei Wuxian peaked through his bangs, looking at Lan Wangji’s profile for a moment.

“What’s that supposed to answer?” Then another beat. “Are you courting me?”

“...Mn.”

Wei Wuxian sat up straight, leaning forward to take a good look at Lan Wangji. The dragon’s face was still emotionless, but his pointed ears flushed red. His hands were curled against his knees, knuckles white with how he was clenching them—

Ah…

“You’re… courting me? Me? Why me?” Wei Wuxian asked, still confused. “There’s other Heavenly Beasts who would fit to be your spouse—”

“I do not want them.”

Now, there’s nothing wrong with different beings becoming partners— in fact, it was the norm! Take the Jiangs and the Jins for example. It was just more common for noble Beasts to marry and not… Well, not with a yaoguai. He’s pretty sure the Officials would be rolling in their graves once they found out about this.

“I come back one day, and you’ve decided to court me? You’re so—” Wei Wuxian was, for lack of a better term, flabbergasted.

“Not today.”

“Not— what. Have you tried courting me before?”

“Mn.”

“Huh?!” Wei Wuxian jumped at that, getting on his hands and knees to better look at Lan Wangji, “Since when? How?!”

“Back when you studied here.”

Wei Wuxian slouched back onto his hind legs, kneeling as he thought back to all those centuries ago. He wracked his brain, trying desperately to remember, but couldn’t come up with one moment that Lan Wangji had pursued him.

“Your robes,” Lan Wangji quietly answered, “Back when it was winter.”

Now, the climate in the Heavens changes depending on seasons. He recalled coming to Cloud Recesses in spring and leaving during the winter. During that time, he had failed to realize that winters in Cloud Recesses were more intense than in Lotus Pier. It had bit against his exposed skin, and even his fur couldn’t help him warm up at all.

He remembered having classes that day, but he couldn’t step out into the freezing cold. The robes they were given could only do so much, and he cursed at himself for not having the foresight of bringing extra inner robes. Hell, the other disciples were able to bring some, why couldn’t he?

Then, a knock on the door. He tentatively peaked through the gap, and saw robes neatly folded by his door. Wei Wuxian had looked down the hallway, but found no one who could’ve left it there. Seeing as it was left on purpose, he wasted no time in putting it on— he felt warmer by the time he tied the robe, and he let out a visible huff.

“That was you?” Wei Wuxian asked. He still had that robe, actually. Often wearing it once winter arrived in the Mortal Realm.

“Mn.” Lan Wangji affirmed, paused, then he continued, “The food.”

“Food? What f— you mean during the banquets?” Wei Wuxian easily recalled. Food back in Cloud Recesses was bland, bitter, and tasted of medicine that Wei Wuxian had to hold his tongue from commenting. It was when he loudly complained one time with his friends did the food on his table suddenly change. “That was you also?!”

“Mn.”

Having a basis to go off from, he could recall the most mundane things Lan Wangji could have probably done for him.

There were cases when they had to visit the Mortal Realm for blessings, and the both of them had paired up on more than one occasion. There, they dressed as cultivators from different clans, passing off as human. He could vaguely recall Lan Wangji paying for most of his expenses, even when he could very much afford them— hell, even the alcohol in Caiyi Town somehow found its way on their dining table, and Wei Wuxian knew he didn’t buy it.

As otherworldly beings, they possessed greater strength than a typical mortal. Even then, Lan Wangji would always step in front of Wei Wuxian during fights. His sword, Bìchén, was always on the ready when they entered dangerous areas, or just on guard. Wei Wuxian was no slacker either, having been praised for his advanced cultivation— but he did appreciate the thought of being kept safe.

Wei Wuxian asked, and kept asking “Was this you?” or “Did you do this” or other variations of such where he felt spoiled. Most of his questions were answered in affirmation, making Wei Wuxian realize he never noticed the small things Lan Wangji had done for him— then again, how could he! He’s too subtle! Too quiet!

After Wei Wuxian had run out of things to ask, he sighed, back to leaning on Lan Wangji’s shoulder again.

“Er-gege,” He asked quietly, “What else have you done for me?”

Another pause. “Your escape.”

That, Wei Wuxian didn’t remember much at all.

He did remember escaping, yes, but he couldn’t recall how he was able to. It was the first day when the decree was announced, and he had briefly visited the Heavens. Coincidentally, it was also the day he had used the Yīn Hǔ Fú back in the Mortal Realm. His mind and core were shaken, and all he could hear were the buzzing sounds of voices, tempting him to use it again. Hearing the decree, his body moved first— creating an Auspicious Cloud to leave immediately, lest the guards caught him.

He recalled more voices— outside of the ones that leered within him. He could only grasp the Yīn Hǔ Fú tightly, smoke coming out in dark waves, rather than the usual white. His name was called, but he wasn’t sure who it was. He caught Jiang Wanyin and Jiang Yanli running towards him, but never catching up before the black cloud enveloped his entire being. There was someone else, though…

The memory frayed there, always had, and he never bothered to try and remember. All he could recall was an impression of white, and cold air that made him shiver. It was always gone when he tried to look, and for centuries he told himself that it didn’t matter. Whoever it was back then, they didn’t follow him down.

But… perhaps…

“You blocked them.” Wei Wuxian concluded. “Not the Jiangs, but everyone else when they saw me that day.”

“I brought you to the Mortal Realm,” Lan Wangji corrected, “And left after you were safe.”

Now that’s something he definitely doesn’t remember. But, it would explain why they didn’t come chasing after him.

“It was you.” Wei Wuxian breathed out, “All those times, it was you. I thought I was just lucky, and coughed it up to coincidence. Why have you never told me?”

“I thought I was obvious…”

Wei Wuxian blinked multiple times, before exasperatedly explaining, “Lan Zhan! If you were trying to court me, you should be more open! Huli Jing courtships are loud! We prefer performance! Banter! A chase! How could I have known? For the longest time, I thought you hated me!”

“I could never hate you.”

“Well— pfff, I know that now! Remember when you fought me when we first met? I genuinely thought you hated my guts back then!” Wei Wuxian groaned into his hands, “Then after all those times, I thought you were just putting up with me when we went on missions together. Ah, Lan Zhan you… You fuddy-duddy, you stick-in-the-mud, you walking-decree, you— you—!”

Unable to handle it any longer, Wei Wuxian dropped the pouch back onto the table and practically threw himself onto Lan Wangji. Not expecting it, Lan Wangji could only hold out his arms, catching him, before wrapping them around Wei Wuxian so tightly. That small act was enough for Wei Wuxian to quell any doubt left in his heart. This stupid dragon had wanted him— for centuries!

“I could shake you right now,” Wei Wuxian muffled onto Lan Wangji’s shoulder. “The Heavens will think I seduced you. Your uncle would think I influenced you to do such bad deeds. How did you even get him to sign the law, huh?”

“Not important,” Meaning: what his uncle had to say was not important to him, and Wei Wuxian laughed. “They are allowed to think what they like.”

Wei Wuxian scoffed lightly, his arms tightening around Lan Wangji’s neck. With their close proximity, he could feel Lan Wangji’s heart beat faster than normal, and he preened. Knowing such a simple act as hugging him was enough to get his heart racing, it made Wei Wuxian want to tease him more. But he didn’t— not in this scenario.

For once, he felt warm. Safe. And dare he say… he felt home.

“Okay,” Wei Wuxian murmured. “I’ll accept it. You can court me however you want, Lan Zhan.”

He felt those arms around his waist tighten, “Mn.”

***

True to Wei Wuxian’s word, he came by Cloud Recesses every yǒu chū^5PM, greeting Lan Wangji with a grin, and uncaring if there were visitors or if he had an audience. He would always sit nearest to the Qīnglóng Zuò, sometimes earning a flabbergasted look from Jiang Wanyin, or a knowing look from Nie Huaisang when they visited. Lan Qiren looked as if he was about to suffer a major qi deviation, while Lan Xichen merely smiled.

He didn’t have a true residence in the Heavenly Realm, but would constantly visit Lotus Pier or the Golden Scale when it became too late to return to the Mortal Realm. Jiang Yanli had welcomed him with open arms, briefly scolding him for being gone for too long, before allowing him to visit his nephew. Jiang Wanyin had been more angry at him, yelling all his grievances during his disappearance before huffily saying his room was still available to use

He had lived in Lotus Pier his entire life, felt like he belonged as he mingled with like-minded Beasts, but besides that… it never truly felt like home. Like there wasn’t a reason to truly stay within that place. He didn’t voice this out towards the Jiangs, he’s already felt indebted to them for so long, so he could only grin and bear it.

…Ah, but he can poke that hornet’s nest at a later date.

After the day Wei Wuxian accepted Lan Wangji’s courtship, this man was the embodiment of being subtle at first, but as time passed, it seemed that this dragon grew bolder. He would occasionally drop by Wei Wuxian’s shop after closing time, intending on bringing him back to the Heavens. Even after countless promises (that he kept!) that Wei Wuxian would come back, there were just some times where Lan Wangji offered to bring him up himself.

This led to a series of rumors spread about him— something that was true, but Wei Wuxian felt uncharacteristically embarrassed about. “Is he your suitor?”, or “Are you being courted? Congratulations!” to even “I see you’ve finally accepted someone!”. All this talk made his cheeks red, unused to being the center of this type of talk. The once avoidant proprietor has now found someone worthy of his hand!

Or something like that…

It wasn’t just visitation, though. Oftentimes there would be gifts. Like pocket-change, if you would count thousands of gold as pocket change, or simple flowers Lan Wangji had picked on his way to the shop, or even a paper butterfly bought from the night market. Wei Wuxian had accepted them all, even dedicating a small room to store these small gifts, adoring them every late afternoon before he closed shop.

They continued to dance around each other, with Wei Wuxian acting more shameless than he’s ever been. He would actively try to get closer to the dragon— a brush of the shoulders there, a hug for too long, or just staying in close proximity.

Now, huli jings were rumored to be tempters and temptresses. Seducing men and women to steal their life essence and drain them in bed. Wei Wuxian did not have this ability, he argued. Yes he could flirt, but the moment the person he liked back reciprocated, he had no idea how to act. With Lan Wangji, though, it felt almost natural to be in close proximity with this man. His “seductive” nature came in instinctively that even he was surprised he could act this way. And Lan Wangji would simply allow him, even with other people present.

Their days continued like until the next spring, when Wei Wuxian received a particular visitor in his humble jade shop.

“Welcome! I’ll— Zéwú-jūn?!” Wei Wuxian almost dropped the pendant he was holding, staring at the new customer by his door. That title slipped out before his mind could catch up, and he immediately fixed his posture. “I mean! Welcome! How can I be of service?”

Zéwú-jūn, or Lan Xichen gave him a small smile. Despite his glamor to hide his draconic features, he still gave off this otherworldly-vibe that had other patrons stare.

“Wei-gōngzǐ.” He greeted, “May we talk?”

Wei Wuxian glanced at the customer he chatted with, and was basically pushed to talk to him. “I will be fine!” The customer had said, “He seemed serious!” So, here Wei Wuxian found himself in one of the back rooms, alone with Lan Xichen, who looked unsure of what to say.

“What could be so important that the First Jade had to visit me?” Wei Wuxian raised a brow, though with the look the other was giving him, it did make him feel a bit nervous.

“My brother, he… well. Hm… How should I put this?” Lan Xichen hummed, “Well, I would like to ask you to prepare your heart.”

“My huh? My Heart? Why?”

“You see he’s… been…” He trailed off again, before sighing as if the entire weight of the world lay on the information he was about to give. “He’s been circling around Yiling for the past hours, and I have no way of stopping him.”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened— ah, that would explain why there were more customers than normal. They didn’t buy anything, but that was alright, sometimes a spot to idle was fine. He did notice them looking outside the windows at times, but he didn’t pay mind. That was him? The man would usually just come in to pick him up, earning some stares. But not in his draconic form!

With his silence, Lan Xichen continued, “While he is fully capable of using glamour… I think he is nervous.”

“Lan Zhan gets nervous?”

“Rarely, which is why I would like you to be patient with him.”

“...Hah?” Wei Wuxian blurted out, before correcting it, “I mean! Obviously. But, uh?”

“He would like to share something, but I would suggest you bring him down first. While the decree is gone, and the law has passed, the Heavens would still look unkindly to such brash behavior.” Lan Xichen’s mouth twitched, “But you needn’t be nervous with me, I am aware that Wangji is courting you.”

“Ah… Of course.”

***

Due to this dragon, Wei Wuxian had to close early, apologetically mentioning that an issue had come up. Most patrons were understanding, insisting that they would come back another time, and he was grateful for their generosity. Once the doors were locked, Wei Wuxian had quickly transformed into his full fox form, before running off the streets. To the regular eye, he would be a black fox, but to other mythical beings, his nine-tails would be obvious.

Lan Wangji, the ever observant one, had noticed him running, and quickly followed the little fox to a destination— the Burial Mounds.

The air was still thick with resentment, and wandering corpses filled with energy idled around the battleground. There were wards placed to discourage reckless cultivators from hunting here, but that never truly stopped them. Wei Wuxian silently noted the new bodies that appeared— some coming from rouge cultivators, judging by their clothes, and some from the higher sects. He didn’t comment on them, and instead waited by the entrance.

He had to hold his ground when the earth shook, and the air cooled. A dark shadow descended upon his form, and when he looked up, he was met with the face of a white dragon that looked at him with such longing in his eyes, that Wei Wuxian wasn’t sure what to make of it. He quickly shifted back to his human form, tilting his head as he looked at this dragon with such fondness that anyone would’ve seen hearts floating off of him.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian grinned, reaching out a hand to touch his snout. “Let me see you.”

White smoke covered the dragon’s body before Lan Wangji’s human form came to view. He looked relatively the same in his half-dragon form, only missing the horns and tail. He held this ethereal look, similar to Lan Xichen back in the shop— but Wei Wuxian was biased and thought Lan Wangji was more handsome.

“So? Your brother visited me and said you were nervous.” Wei Wuxian placed his hands on his hips, leaning forward with a teasing grin, “What’s got you so nervous, hah? You’ve already acted so shamelessly with me, what more is there?”

Lan Wangji said nothing, and instead held out his hand. Wei Wuxian instinctively placed his hands on top, stepping forward until there was barely any space between them. He flushed when Lan Wangji brought his hands to his lips, placing a gentle kiss upon his knuckles before pulling away.

Instead of saying anything else, Lan Wangji instead brought out a document and held it out to him.

“What’s this? Another law?” Wei Wuxian chuckled, taking it with one hand. As he unfolded it with minimal difficulty, his eyes briefly scanned the title before they widened. “...Lan Zhan.”

“Mn.”

“This is a Bethrotal Letter.”

“Mn…”

“Why do you have this?”

Lan Wangji merely looked at Wei Wuxian, as if he was asking “why would I not have one?”. When Wei Wuxian realized what he was heavily implying— if you could even call this an implication, Wei Wuxian’s fox ears and tails suddenly materialized in shock.

“What.” Wei Wuxian let go of Lan Wangji’s hands, now holding onto the red document with shaking hands. “What— are you serious? Seriously, Lan Zhan, I think you’ve teased me enough while courting me. This is—?”

Lan Wangji dipped his head once, and Wei Wuxian wanted to throttle him alive. Lovingly, of course.

“Who do I even give this to?” Wei Wuxian wheezed out, “I have no family, nor ties with any Family Constellation anymore to—”

“It only needs your signature.”

“And— and what of the gifts?”

“Will be sent to your residence in Cloud Recesses.”

“Lan Zhan, I don’t have—”

“My residence.”

“You’re already making me move in with you!” Wei Wuxian accused. “Before marriage, no less! Ah, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan… you’re truly like no other.”

He immediately threw his arms around Lan Wangji without another word, the Betrothal Letter still grasped in his hands.

***

Mythical Beings have needs, that is obvious enough with their animalistic features. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when one goes into heats or ruts.

And, really, Wei Wuxian should’ve known this.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian huffed, arm slightly aching from the way Lan Wangji kept pulling him. They were currently in the Heavenly Realm, briskly walking through dense trees of Cloud Recesses. “Where are you taking me?”

“Home.”

“Well, I’m aware, but why the rush?”

“Another home.”

“That doesn’t make— ack!” Wei Wuxian yelped when he was suddenly carried onto strong arms, “Lan Zhan?”

Lan Wangji said nothing, and opted to fly. Wei Wuxian instinctively wrapped his arms around Lan Wangji’s neck, eyes shut as they moved faster through the forest. When the harsh winds stopped, he opened one eye to see they were already in front of the Jingshi— more specifically, in front of Lan Wangji’s room. There were talismans throughout the perimeter, ensuring no one else would step foot within.

“What?”

“My room.” Lan Wangji merely stated.

“Oh… And what are we doing here?”

“My rut.”

“Ah.”

Ah, he said. Screaming, Wei Wuxian internally did.

As they entered the warded room, Wei Wuxian noted he hadn't actually been inside at least once. He would mostly stay in his own room, with the Lans implementing that betrothed couples should sleep in separate rooms until marriage. Lan Wangji, however, thought this rule would be alright to break it seemed, seeing how he brought Wei Wuxian here just for his rut.

Ruts for Heavenly Beasts only happened a few decades, or even centuries if they didn’t have mates. Wei Wuxian rarely had his, only remembering a handful of times he had to go through a heat instead of a rut. He felt miserable back then, having nothing to satisfy him fully— he could only imagine how awful Lan Wangji had it. Rumors of dragons having extensive stamina and harsher ruts were always the gossip when a Lan went into seclusion for a few weeks.

Lan Wangji’s room was neat, but he noticed the jars of Divine Nectar placed on the side table. There were towels and blankets neatly stacked by the bed, and Wei Wuxian felt just a bit nervous as he slowly walked towards them. He also noticed an extra set of robes next to the towels, but part of him knew he wouldn’t be clothed much longer.

He took a glance at Lan Wangji— still looked put together as always, but there’s a dazed look in those golden eyes. As he sat, he noticed how those same eyes tracked his every movement.

“Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian tentatively called out. “Is it gonna come soon? You seem… um. Distracted.”

“Mn.”

Okay…

“Do… you wanna start? Get ready? While you’re still sane?” He asked slowly, not really sure. He’s never had any partners before, so he wasn’t knowledgeable in these types of things. “Or…?”

Lan Wangji didn’t respond, but he did move towards him. Big hands were on his clothes, tugging at them lightly before the belt and sash gave way. Wei Wuxian simply leaned back, allowing Lan Wangji to undress him ever so slowly— he preferred it like this. He’s always dreamt of being made love too, he just didn’t expect it to come this soon after getting together with him.

As his inner robes were pushed aside, he laid down to allow the fabric to span underneath him. His tails acted like a cushion, pillowing his waist as they couldn’t bend that far back.

“Lan er-gege,” Wei Wuxian called out, bringing his hands up to cradle Lan Wangji’s face, “Come, kiss me.”

Lan Wangji didn’t move, but his breathing had gotten heavier. “You… Is this what you want?”

Wei Wuxian looked at him for a moment, then laughed. “You’ve already undressed me and now you’re asking if I’m okay with this? Aiya, Lan Zhan, you should really ask before doing something so shameless.”

Lan Wangji’s ears tipped red, before leaning forward to capture Wei Wuxian into a searing kiss. Those same hands that had undressed him spanned over his body, caressing every dip and curve of the huli jing. They hooked themselves over his knees, lifting them up slightly to slot in between legs, allowing his clothed arousal to be known. Ah, he’s rather big, Wei Wuxian uselessly thought.

Wei Wuxian parted first, panting against their lips. His own hands gently tugged at the white robes. “Off, off. You’ve prepared so much for this yet you can’t even take off your clothes.”

With an amused huff, Lan Wangji leaned back into the kiss as he hurriedly took off his own robes, leaving him only in his pants— too impatient to kick them off. They were thrown to the side somewhere, neither of them seemed to care as hands wandered across each other’s bodies. Lan Wangji parted this time, descending from lips to neck, then to chest. His eyes caught the scar over Wei Wuxian’s chest, gently caressing the raised skin.

A few tails unconsciously circled around him, trying to hide the nasty scar on his chest, but Lan Wangji easily batted them away, leaning over to kiss the scar. Wei Wuxian let out a soft sigh, his hands wounding over his fiance’s neck, before spanning it down his back. His eyes narrowed when he didn’t feel smooth skin, and gently pushed Lan Wangji off of him.

They both sat on the bed this time, full naked, but with less embarrassment and more coherent than one should be. Wei Wuxian then shuffled behind him, eyeing the crossing scars over the dragon’s back.

“Is this from your punishment?” He asked softly.

“Mn…”

Wei Wuxian slowly traced over the scars on Lan Wangji’s back, fingers tracing the rough skin. They’ve already healed, but it left endless marks. He gave a small peck on the shoulder, kissing from one end to the other, as his hands continued to trace raised skin across Lan Wangji’s back. Then, he placed his forehead against his back, just a bit hyper-aware of what this man had done for him.

“Wei Ying.”

“Hm?”

“Let me see you.”

He blinked, but did as told. He shuffled himself to face Lan Wangji, who in turn, pushed him back down on the bed. His tails immediately made room so they wouldn’t get crushed, fanning out behind and under him as faux-pillows. Those big hands then settled over his waist, thumbs caressing the skin between his abdomen and legs, barely touching what twitched in interest.

Wei Wuxian squirmed under the touch, “Aren’t you gonna…?”

He yelped instead, when a hand encased his dick. He wasn’t one to get excited so easily, but with Lan Wangji slowly shattering discipline, he found himself impatient. The hand twisted, thumb swiping at the tip, and he let out a long wine. His body jerked at the movement, but then paused when he felt something slick in between his legs.

Wei Wuxian looked down with wide eyes, legs spreading to check what it was— ah.

“You are wet.”

Hearing Lan Wangji say that so nonchalantly made his face burn.

“I’m. Aware.” Wei Wuxian slowly said, “Why am I wet? I’ve never—”

Suddenly, his legs were raised up to shoulders, leaving them wide open and with no way to close them. He instinctively tried to shut his thighs together, but with a rather large body in between them, it was hard. Lan Wangji’s other hand had moved downwards, two fingers gently prodded against his entrance.

There was little resistance when it sank inside, earning a low moan from the huli jing below. They poked and prodded areas that had his body shaking, never really touched before until now— hell, even Wei Wuxian never knew he could feel pleasure from down there. Sure he’s read things, but never…

A tender spot had him yelp, hips jerking as his eyes widened at the sudden shot of pleasure. This obviously doesn’t go unnoticed, and those skillful fingers continued to press down on that spot, all the while stretching his tight entrance. Wei Wuxian could only moan, sounds he never thought he could make easily spilling from his lips as he writhed against the sheets.

His arms wound around Lan Wangji’s neck, pulling him down for another kiss— anything to avoid hearing himself be debauched. He’s keenly aware of the wide open window in this room, and he still had some shame from being heard.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian breathed out his name, his body locking up, “Stop, stop, I’m—”

“Come.”

Just one word and he cums over Lan Wangji’s fingers, coating them with his seed. His hips twitched as the fingers were relentless, milking him until he jerked away from overstimulation. The dragon retracted, sitting back against his legs just to look at his husband— he’s mildly surprised that Wei Wuxian had come undone so easily with just his hands. The huli jing laid limp against the sheets, breathing heavily as he tried to catch his breath.

“Where’d you learn how to do that?” Wei Wuxian had a lopsided grin, “Did you do research?”

“...Books.”

“Books? You read— did you read a cutsleeve book perhaps?” Wei Wuxian shakily got onto his elbows, the idea suddenly rejuvenating his energy. “Lan Zhan, you truly are something else.”

With Lan Wangji embarrassed and looking elsewhere to avoid eye-contact, Wei Wuxian took the moment of brief distraction to push him down to his back. He crawled his way on top of his body, fingers playing with ties of Lan Wangji’s pants before tugging them off completely and pulling the cloth down—

Oh.

“You have two?!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed, staring widely at the two intimidating cocks that sprung right in front of his face. His mouth salivated, but he did feel a bit frightened for his backside. “Er-gege, why do you have two?”

“...Is it not to your liking?”

“Not to my liking?!” Wei Wuxian sputtered, before nuzzling against one of them, and gently holding onto the other. “No! I like them. I’ll show you how much I like them.”

The only experience Wei Wuxian had with sex was through Spring Books— and those were usually of the heterosexual variety. Still, he allowed his body to move on its own, sticking his tongue out to lap at the tip before enclosing the head within his mouth.

His other hand grasped the other length, gently stroking it at a languid pace, thumb spreading precum around the shaft to make the slide easier. It was cool, like the rest of his body; more spongy than how a human would feel. The tips tapered, with one being just a bit bigger than the other. He could already guess what they were used for…? Maybe?

He kept his eyes up at Lan Wangji, watching for any type of reaction. He sucked gently, using his tongue to spread saliva around the hardened length and slowly took him inch by inch. There’s a certain bitterness that he could taste, but it wasn’t wholly unpleasant.

Fingers carded through his hair, before they tightened their grip. They didn’t push or pull, simply holding onto it like Lan Wangji was trying to hold himself back. Wei Wuxian hummed, the vibrations sending a shuddering feeling through the dragon, who gently pulled this time, panting as lips descended further down his cock.

Wei Wuxian briefly choked as it hit the back of his throat, and bullied its way further. He swallowed loudly, mouth tightening around the length before he drew back, then plunged back in. He bobbed his head slowly, allowing spit to run down his mouth as his pace got faster. His other hand didn’t let up either, its languid strokes got faster, occasionally squeezing around the head or gently digging at the tip with the pad of his thumb.

The grip around his hair pulled, making him stop, only to be forced down to the base— nose touching pelvis as he choked slightly at the sudden intrusion. He harshly breathed through his nose, eyes watering before he was pulled back up, then forced back down again. Wei Wuxian’s free hand grabbed onto Lan Wangji’s thigh to ground himself, but didn’t make a move to pull off.

In fact, Wei Wuxian started sucking in noisily, humming— moaning as Lan Wangji continued to fuck his mouth. There were two hands now on either side of his head, momentum getting faster as he almost reached his peak.

The bitterness exploded inside his mouth, coming down his throat in waves. The other cock spurted across his face, leaving streaks of white in his hair, over his eye, and cheek. He quickly pulled out, coughing, but had the gall to grin up at Lan Wangji with a cheeky smile.

“How was that?” Wei Wuxian teasingly asked, wiping the cum away from his eye. “Did you like it?”

Lan Wangji did not reply, instead he flipped Wei Wuxian over to his hands and knees. The fox was a bit dazed, then he felt his tails pushed aside when they tried to curl over his naked bottom. He looked over his shoulder to see Lan Wangji kneel behind him, his own dragon tail curling around Wei Wuxian’s leg.

“Lan Zh—?”

He’s cut off when he felt a press of something against his hole. The tip of one cock easily popped in due to its shape, making Wei Wuxian jolt. He forced himself to stay still as the tail around his leg tightened when he moved. His grip on the sheets tightened, his body slowly making way for the girth that was slowly entering inside him.

“You…” Lan Wangji bit out, his breath labored in an effort to not ram into him. “Are tight.”

“I’ve never done this before!” Wei Wuxian huffed, hands clenching and unclenching against the sheets, “I’m not as promiscuous as the rumo— why are you getting bigger?! Lan Zhan!”

“Be silent.”

“But, but!” Wei Wuxian weakly argued, “You have two! If I can barely handle one, what m-makes you think I can handle both?!”

“You will.”

Wei Wuxian could only whine, forcing his body to relax and accommodate the weapon that was currently splitting him open. Then, as if to distract him, he felt light scratching at the base of his tailbone, forcing his tails up, and arching his back like a feline getting pats in the same area. He unconsciously let out a purr, body instantly relaxing somehow.

Once they were flushed against each other, Lan Wangji was still coherent enough to stay still, allowing Wei Wuxian to adjust. The fox felt full, incredibly so that all he could do was clench around the length to force himself to accommodate. He steadied his breath, tightening his grip on the sheets until his body relaxed. It dulled into a light ache, something he could handle at the very least.

“Move,” Wei Wuxian breathed out, arching his back into a more comfortable position.

Lan Wangji started off at a slow pace, allowing Wei Wuxian to slowly get used to his size. Especially since he had used the slightly smaller of the two to properly open him up for the bigger one. He chanted mantras in his head, trying to calm down the heat burning in his abdomen as the haze of his rut was slowly clouding his senses.

Then a hand was placed on top of his own. He looked up to see his soon-to-be husband grinning at him, face flushed despite the cocky look on his face.

“C’mon, you can go harder.” Wei Wuxian urged, wriggling his hips up and trying his best to look seductive as he looked over his shoulder, “I can handle it, gege.”

As if all three restraints had snapped, he allowed his subconscious to lose itself into the rut.

Wei Wuxian yelped when he was pushed forward by the sudden force of a thrust, punched out moans coming out of him as Lan Wangji snapped his hips faster. The fox felt like he couldn’t breath— having each intake forced out of him with each punishing thrust. Each drag of the dragon’s cock had him seeing stars, and he swore he was about to ascend a second time.

It wasn’t long until he came, dirtying the sheets under him. Even then, Lan Wangji continued his brutal pace, seemingly uncaring that he just came. His hands reached at the back of him, feebly pushing Lan Wangji away as he reached overstimulation. If anything, that spurred the dragon further, somehow fucking him harder and driving him further into the sheets.

He whined when he felt warmth suddenly fill him up, hands grasping at the sheets, at the pillow— at anything he could grab on when he was filled. His hole fluttered around the length, panting against the sheets as his legs shook. Part of him was surprised that Lan Wangji was still hard, even cumming so much inside him.

And, for a moment, Wei Wuxian thought they would take a break.

“Lan Zhan, ah, Lan Zhan, what are you—?”

He felt fingers prod against his entrance, barely fitting in beside the dick inside him. It gently pulled, widening his entrance to an uncomfortable sensation. One became two, then three, opening up Wei Wuxian.

“L-Lan Zhan, you…” Wei Wuxian shakily got up on his elbows, but his legs unconsciously spread wider.

Whatever genius retort he had to say was cut off when the fingers retracted and the tapered head of another cock squeezed into him. He pulled against the sheets, forcing his body to relax as more slick dripped down his thigh. It slid in easier than the first, but he felt so incredibly full. He’s amazed his body could accommodate two at once, seeing how he was just a virgin before this day.

Once Lan Wangji’s pelvis was flushed against his bottom, there was barely any time to adjust, already setting a punishing pace. Wei Wuxian screamed, hands flying behind him to weakly push against the dragon—

Only to have his wrists grabbed onto.

In the midst of confusion, the grip moved to his forearms and suddenly he was pulled back. His back arched into a neat bow as his arms were used as leverage while Lan Wangji fucked into him. With his arms stretched in an awkward position, and body feeling limp, he could only hang his head and watch as his own cock bobbed against the force of thrusts behind him.

He couldn’t see Lan Wangji in this position, which made him a pit pouty, but the overwhelming feeling of being fucked by two dicks overshadowed it. He could only cum uselessly, wetting the already damp sheets as he was pulled against a firm chest.

With his arms pinned to the side, he could do nothing but take it. Head rising, only to rest against Lan Wangji’s shoulder. Even when they tried to kiss, it was at an awkward angle, making it open-mouthed and definitely messy. Spit streaked their mouths as one of Lan Wangji’s hands let go, only to reach around and force Wei Wuxian’s face to turn to him fully.

Wei Wuxian groaned against his mouth, with Lan Wangji swallowing his moan as the feeling of being filled up again warmed his body as he shook. There was a short reprieve, allowing him to just breathe, trying to get his thoughts back in order— however that was short-lived. They panted against each other, just looking into each other’s eyes for a moment of peace.

All of a sudden, Wei Wuxian’s world tilted, suddenly being forced to sit on Lan Wangji’s lap, and the two cocks prodded impossibly deeper within him. He couldn’t move his arms either, still being used as leverage by the dragon’s ridiculous strength. His own legs were forced apart as they bracketed on either sides of Lan Wangji’s own legs while the grip on his arms disappeared, now opting to circle around Wei Wuxian’s body.

“Er-gege,” Wei Wuxian weeped, now having free reign to claw at Lan Wangji’s arms. “Wait, wait—! Aren’t you tired? You just came! Again! Don’t you want a break? G-Gege? A-Ah…”

Lan Wangji ignored his yapping, and instead redoubled his efforts into fucking him. He placed a bruising grip on Wei Wuixan’s hips, certain it would ache the next day, and snapped his hips up, making the fox squeal. Kisses and bitemarks littered his now exposed neck and shoulders, occasionally biting down hard enough to leak marks that would last days at least.

Now that he was sitting upright, he had a full view of his indented stomach. He unconsciously tightened, watching as the bump appeared and disappeared every time Lan Wangji thrusted inside him. His own cock dribbled uselessly against his thigh, cum looking watery as he had nothing else left in him.

He could only cry and moan, his battered insides already feeling used and worn. He could barely struggle as his thoughts turned into a daze, the sounds of skin slapping each other wetly were loud in his ears.

“I’m going to die.” Wei Wuxian babbled, tears flowing freely from the corner of his eyes. “You’re killing me… The venerable Hánguāng-jūn was found guilty for killing a huli jing with his cocks!”

“Be quiet.”

“If— if you wanted me to be quieeet—!” Wei Wuxian gritted out a moan, hands scrabbling to hold onto something, “You would’ve done s-something with my mouth!”

Wei Wuxian gasped as two fingers entered his mouth, pressing down on his tongue. An arm wrapped around his body, forcing him back down onto the two cocks lodged inside him, making him let out a wet, choked-out moan. His own hands grabbed onto Lan Wangji’s forearms, nails digging into the skin, leaving red streaks. He could only drool around the fingers as Lan Wangji continued to bully himself inside him, uncaring of how much of a wet mess it left between his legs.

“Gege—” Wei Wuxian tried again, only to be met with a harsh thrust that had him seeing stars. “Er-gege—!”

His knees felt numb and so did his body. Perhaps he should shut his mouth next time— but ah, if he felt like he was about to ascend again to the Heavens, why should he? He felt too good that he was close to passing out, only babbling on nonsense despite the fingers in his mouth. His body twitched when he felt warmth coat his insides, filling him to the absolute brim. He wouldn’t be surprised if he looked down and saw an indent in his stomach.

Lan Wangji suddenly pulled out, making Wei Wuxian gasp in both the emptiness and slight relief. It left him open, hole struggling to close as cum dripped out in globs. He was suddenly flipped onto his back, legs raised on either side of Lan Wangji’s waist, before both cocks suddenly slammed back inside.

His toes curled as his body shook, mind wiping out at the sudden onslaught. Lan Wangji wasted no time in fucking back into him, a firm grasp on his waist as he forced him back onto his cocks. His legs were then raised higher so he was folded in half, and suddenly everything felt deeper. Reaching into his very core that Wei Wuxian swore he could feel it at the back of his throat.

Unshed tears blurred his vision as he glanced up at Lan Wangji. His own legs couldn’t even move, pinned down at the back of his knees. All he could do was tear through the sheets and moan brokenly. Even when he came messily in between their bodies, Lan Wangji never paused, still fucking into him for his own pleasure.

“Er-gege, mercy, merchyyy—” Wei Wuxian whined, voice turning nasal as he weakly pushed against the dragon’s chest, “My body can’t—”

“You will.”

“I can’t—!”

Despite his pleas for mercy again, and Wei Wuxian’s feeble struggle to get away, he loved the feeling of being used. He hiccupped when Lan Wangji thrusted as deep as he could go, grinding against him as he came again; filling him up the absolute brim to the point of it leaking out of his used hole. Wei Wuxian shuddered out a sigh, a brief moment of reprieve when Lan Wangji took a break to look down in between their bodies.

Wei Wuxian lazily smoothed his hand across his body, chuckling breathlessly when he felt Lan Wangji pulse from his abdomen. He didn’t even have to look to know it had a slight bulge this time— either from cum, or from the sheer size of the dragon.

“Gege, Lan er-gongzi—” Wei Wuxian huffed, barely feeling his body, but surprisingly had enough energy to speak. “You came so much inside me. What if I get pregnant? Who’ll take responsibility? What if there’s little Lan Zhans running around Cloud Recesses? Your uncle would— hnnngh?!”

His yapping was cut off when Lan Wangji wordlessly thrusted inside him again.

“Do not speak of another man’s name.”

“Ah— ah, I’m sorry! I’m sorry! H-Have mercy—!”

He was not given mercy. Again.

Lan Wangji raised both his legs up to his shoulders, letting them hang limply as he was folded in two. It raised his waist up, leaving only his upper back and head against the bedding, but allowed Lan Wangji to thrust impossibly deeper inside him. Wei Wuxian wailed, grabbing onto Lan Wangji’s arms that were placed on either sides of his head to somehow ground himself.

…

As if neither cocks had any refractory period, they would take turns being inside Wei Wuxian. Once either had their chance, both would enter at the same time, leaving Wei Wuxian screaming until his voice hoarse. He barely reacted when they both thrusted in, a broken whine and a weak attempt at getting away was all he could manage, before his moans turned staccato with each thrust.

“L-Lan Zhan…” Wei Wuxian weeped, back sore from being held in this position for too long. “A-Are you not satisfied? A break… please? J-Just a fe—hnnn…”

Lan Wangji had sensed the ache, and leaned back, just enough for Wei Wuxian’s legs to fall into the crook of his arms. He didn’t pull out, instead, used his legs as leverage to keep fucking into him. His body went pliant, accepting whatever Lan Wangji gave him, barely having enough energy to hold onto anything.

Wei Wuxian’s world shifted again, and suddenly he was airborne. His knees were hooked around Lan Wangji’s arms, spreading them wide open as his back rested against a strong chest. He felt the two cocks shift inside him impossibly deeper, hitting all his sweet spots that had his vision blurring.

He felt hands intertwined at the back of his neck, forcing him to look down at where they were joined together. His ears burned red, watching as his abdomen bulged out whenever Lan Wangji thrusted into him. His own cock bounced uselessly when he was dropped down, making a further mess of liquids on his body. Wei Wuxian felt used, wet and sloppy— as if he was just a flesh toy to be used to this dragon in a rut.

“Lan Zhhh….” He slurred out, barely having the strength to talk or hold onto anything. “You beast… Monster… I won’t be able to walk…”

“I will take care of you.”

Wei Wuxian merely sobbed.

The next few days were filled with endless copulation— from the moment Wei Wuxian woke up, to when he fell asleep. Oftentimes he would wake up to cocks already filling him, or still inside, having not been pulled out from the day before. He was dazed most of the time, with this consciousness flickering in and out until he stopped counting the days as he was continuously filled day by day.

***

After a week or so had gone by, Wei Wuxian’s body was sore. Sore to the point he couldn’t move, but had the energy to talk and roll around in bed. His throat wasn’t as dry as he thought it would be, and he did notice the slight sweetness against his lips— he guessed Lan Wangji had fed him some Nectar while he was half-asleep.

Speaking of his soon-to-be husband…

He currently sat on the other side of the room, guqin on the table as he strummed a melody Wei Wuxian’s never heard of before. The room was a bit tidier, with the windows open to let the fresh (cold) air in. Otherwise… well, the room would still smell of their coupling.

Wei Wuxian stiffly leaned on his side, head propped up on one hand and elbow to watch his dearly beloved. Once Lan Wangji felt eyes on him, his gaze flickered upward and gave a small smile towards him. Wei Wuxian could only let out a small chuckle, watching as the man got up from his position and took seat next to him.

“Has it passed?”

“Mn.”

“Good, good! Ah, Lan Zhan, I think you’ve ruined me. I don’t think I can feel my limbs at all!” There’s a passing worried look on Lan Wangji’s face, and Wei Wuxian would’ve caressed his cheek if only he could move. “Don’t look so anxious about me! I enjoyed it a lot. Who knew the ever-so-disciplined Hánguāng-jūn could be a beast in bed? Perhaps they were onto something when calling us Beasts.”

Lan Wangji said nothing, but his ears dyed red. He looked away in slight shame, and Wei Wuxian finally took a good look at his body.

The sheets that covered him had slid down to his waist, revealing a bitten and bruised body filled with bitemarks and hickeys. His eyes widened when he lifted the sheets, only to be met with the same condition down to his legs— hell, even his ankles were not spared! Wei Wuxian could do nothing but laugh, laying back down on the sheets.

“Er-gege, you did this the other way around.” Wei Wuxian said between laughs, still rolling on the bed. “You bed me, then you wed me? A warning would’ve sufficed! What if we did the ceremony backwards too? It’d be funny to see the Elders react!”

“...My apologies.”

“You can apologize by coming back to bed.”

Wei Wuxian merely laughed as the bed dipped as another body accompanied him.

***

The Jade Palace was dyed red on an auspicious day.

And against everyone’s expectations, it was… grand. Very grand. Very unlike the Lans!

Well, it was to be expected— after all, one of their Princes was to be married! To a yaoguai no less! A very infamous huli jing, actually! The Officials were invited, of course, having the closest ties to the Jade Palace, but it was suffice to say that more than half were skeptical. Then again, none had voiced their concerns, not if they wanted the ire of the Second Prince. Who knows if he’d pass a law against them and strip them of their titles as he did with the Jins.

“You look like you’re going to run away again.” Jiang Wanyin first commented as he entered the bridal room.

“I do not.”

“You’ve redone your sash three times already.”

“It was crooked.”

“It was not.”

“A-Cheng,” From behind Jiang Wanyin, came Jiang Yanli’s gentle voice. “Be nice, he’s just nervous.”

“Ā jiě…” Jiang Wanyin slightly whined, but kept quiet, giving her room to walk inside.

Wei Wuxian stared at Jiang Yanli for a moment, his eyes stung as emotions ran through. He couldn’t be there for her wedding, but she had come to his. Was this even fair? Did he deserve her here? What—

“A-Xian, stop thinking unnecessary thoughts.” Jiang Yanli gently poked his nose, “It’s your day. Sit, I’ll put this on you.”

“But—”

“Sh.”

Wei Wuxian silently sat, adjusting the heavy red robes around him to allow Jiang Yanli to place more golden ornaments in his hair. She’s careful to avoid his ears, clipping in the headpiece around them securely before sticking a sizable hairpin through his half-bun.

“There, that should be enough.”

“My head feels heavy.”

“That’s the weight of marriage, A-Xian, just bear with it for a bit.” Jiang Yanli fondly smiled at him, but there was a glassy look in her eyes.

“...Was it like this for you?”

Jiang Yanli blinked, bit her lip, then took Wei Wuxian’s face into her hands, gently cradling it. “It was. It felt so suffocating that I wanted to change back to my clothes and run away from it all— but the thought of being with someone I love weighed more than looking like a bride that was being sold off.”

Both of the men furrowed their brows, now standing up a bit straight— never has Jiang Yanli ever mentioned her forthcomings before, always preferring the peace over taking one’s side.

“But you know? Even when the Jins saw me as a prize to be won, A-Xuan never saw me that way. I know you both—” She took a brief glance towards Jiang Wanyin, before returning her gaze towards Wei Wuxian, “—have some grievances towards him, but know he treats me well. And I know in my heart of hearts that Lan Wangji will be with you too.”

“Shìjiè…”

“If you dare cry and ruin your made-up face, I will make sure you will come out looking like a scandal.” Jiang Yanli lightly threatened. Though, Wei Wuxian knew if he actually did, something terrible would happen. “Now, get ready. We can leave the tears for later.”

“Don’t forget your veil.” Jiang Wanyin called, already holding up the sheer red cloth in his hands. “Seriously, the Lan Elders are gonna be there. At least look and act decent for now.”

Wei Wuxian took the veil, noting the holes at the top for his ears and slightly grinned. “Ah? And when are you going to be a bride?”

“I’m not—!”

“A-Cheng.”

Jiang Wanyin pursed his lips, but still made a face to which Wei Wuxian made one back while laughing. When the two left, he cautiously placed it over his head, allowing his view to turn a hazy red. He shook his head a bit, listening to the jingle of accessories that were stuck in his hair— but he did feel calm. He thanked the both of them in his heart, before preparing himself for the biggest day of his long life.

…

When they did their three bows and banquet felt like watching himself from a third person’s perspective. It was as if he was watching himself just get married in front of all these important Beasts. Polite greetings and accepting of gifts were the norm, and he wasn’t even sure how long he’s kept that vague smile on for each of these people. He barely recognized them— well, it wasn’t like he even bothered knowing their faces anyway

By the time he snapped back to reality, he was back inside the Jingshi, which was also dyed a bright red. He could only look at the abundance of silk fabrics hung on the ceiling and walls, lined with gold. He was laid down, his bridal dress splayed and unkempt around him, while the veil had been taken off during the ceremony.

From the corner of his eye, Lan Wangji stood by the doors as if he was unsure of his next move. With a small grin, Wei Wuxian flicked his wrist, urging him to come to the bed. Once sat, Lan Wangji took a deep breath.

“You were distracted.” Lan Wangji commented, but he didn’t seem to mind. “What is wrong?”

“Mh? Nothing’s wrong. I’m very happy, Lan Zhan, really.” Wei Wuxian turned over to prop against his elbows. “Big gatherings really aren’t my thing. I guess it was the… hm. The stiffness? It didn’t feel real.”

Lan Wangji nodded once, then offered his hand. Without another thought, Wei Wuxian placed his own on top, allowing himself to be pulled up from the bed. He was then guided towards the middle of the room, where the biggest window was placed, then made to kneel.

“Lan Zhan?”

“We have done our bows,” Lan Wangji said gently, “We can do the last one properly.”

Wei Wuxian blinked, once, twice, then laughed. The shine came back into his eyes as he adjusted his clothes to look a bit more proper. He clasped his hands together, mimicking Lan Wangji, before bowing deeply before each other. After they stood, Lan Wangji briefly took something from one of the gift piles, and took out two cups and a jar of wine.

The huli jing could barely contain his smile— even though they’ve already done this just moments prior, this felt more real. More personal to the both of them. Once both cups were full, they linked their arms together, staring at each other for a moment before downing the bitter liquid.

Then Wei Wuxian noticed something.

“Lan Zhan, this is actual wine.” He looked down at his cup, then to the label of the jar they had poured from. The “wine” they had drank during the ceremony had been dark tea to mimic the wine that was usually served. “...Lan Zhan?”

There was a glazed look in Lan Wangji’s eyes as his body slumped slightly forward. Wei Wuxian immediately placed the cups down, steadying his husband— husband! To stand up straight, and slowly guide him to bed.

In a flash, their position had switched. Wei Wuxian was now laying in bed as Lan Wangji hovered over him. The look on his face was similar to when he was in a rut— ah.

“You’re drunk.” Wei Wuxian was heavily amused, a teasing grin on his face as he cupped his husband’s cheek. “Just from one drink? Ah, I had nearly forgotten you Lans never drank at all… Ah, that’s fine— Lan Zhan, what are you doing?”

“Next.”

“Next? Next of what? The ceremony?” Wei Wuxian’s brows raised, “Well… I mean we are in the bridal chamber, oh, but I’ve already removed my veil. What to do? How about you remove something el— Lan Zhan!”

He could barely get another word out before his robes were practically ripped open.

If any wandering servant or Beast happened to pass by the Jinghi’s windows and heard the moaning of a fox, they merely turned a deaf ear.

***

It was a full moon on the next spring when Wei Wuxian paused by the doors of the Jingshi, just about to head out.

“You’re coming with me?”

“Mn.”

“Why? Don’t you usually have things to do during this time?”

“I have cleared my schedule,” Lan Wangji simply replied, “I am coming with you.”

Wei Wuxian knew he had no arguments against a man who had made up his mind. With a fond smile, he allowed Lan Wangji to create the Auspicious Cloud to go to the Burial Mounds.

Even after their marriage, Wei Wuxian had diligently come back every full moon to try and cleanse the area. Despite being a fox who was centuries years old, there was only so much he could do. Despite being a creature created by qi, he didn’t have that divine blessing that Heavenly Beasts naturally had. Part of him had wanted to ask Lan Wangji for help, knowing he would say yes, but a larger part— his guilt, refused to do so. Lan Wangji never offered, so he chalked it up to him allowing Wei Wuxian to do what he wanted to do.

This night felt different, however.

Once they stepped within the Burial Mounds, the thick air of resentment immediately coiled around their bodies. Lan Wangji easily blocked them, and Wei Wuxian had years of ignoring the leering voices that clawed within his mind and soul.

“Why’d you decide to come with me?” Wei Wuxian asked as they traversed the mass gravesite. “I thought Lans had a tight sleeping schedule.”

“Your core,” Lan Wangji gave him a side-glance. “It was on the verge of being corrupted.”

“Oh…”

He hadn’t noticed at all. It was odd too— the timing was too coincidental. He made sure to cleanse his mind and soul after visiting the Hill, but why did it change now? Was he getting weaker? Was it his age? Was—

“There is another core within you,” Lan Wangji answered his silent questions. “It cannot sustain itself.”

“Another core? What—”

“We are here.”

Whatever questions Wei Wuxian had died in his throat, already facing the blood pool in the Demon-Quelling Cave. It was quiet for now, despite the groans of walking corpses outside. The pool flowed, untouched by anything, despite the amount of bodies piled up within it. Wei Wuxian slowly walked over, seeing his reflection against the red, and bitterly smiled.

“Do you know what to do?”

“Mn.”

With another smile, Wei Wuxian brought out his pipe, and removed the mouthpiece and fox-head on either end. After tucking them neatly into his sleeve, he shook whatever soot and ash was stuck within, and flipped it in the air once— a dim light encapsulated it, before he caught it, bringing it to his lips.

Lan Wangji merely watched, taking out his gǔ qín, and sat in the air. Wei Wuxian had to hold back his laughter, even if floating was a regular occurrence of Heavenly Beasts, he had to admit, it did look a bit silly at times.

With a deep breath, he blew gently into the dízi.

The notes for Cleansing flowed through the Demon-Quelling cave, and echoed outside. The groaning stopped for a moment, allowing the bodies to sway against the music as if in a daze. With the help of the gǔ qín, the range was wider, add in Lan Wangji’s own spiritual energy to cleanse what he couldn’t.

They repeated the song again and again, cleansing what they could— that even the blood pool seemed to turn a lighter shade of red. After a while, they took a break. Wei Wuxian huffed, sitting on the floor as he heaved.

“Well, it’s still good progress.” Wei Wuxian commented, taking a glance at the pool. “Maybe something else? Do you have any other ways of cleansing this place?”

“None.” Lan Wangji shook his head, before landing back onto his feet. “Cleansing is the most powerful piece.”

“Ah… Hmmm… Maybe we could come up with another song? But that’s too much work! It’s gonna take me another 13 centuries to get this place clean.” Wei Wuxian outwardly whined, but knew it was possible. He just needed to look back on reference material to see what could be done.

“I will help.”

Wei Wuxian blinked, then his eyes widened, “Huh? But you’re already busy dealing with Heavenly affairs! You don’t need to—”

“Wei Ying.”

Wei Wuxian’s ears drooped, already knowing he had no say against this immovable dragon. “Ay, fine! We’ll have to enter the Library Pavillion’s Room of Forbidden Books if we want any ideas, though.”

“That will be permitted.”

Wei Wuxian snorted, “Anything’s permitted if it’s me, right?”

“Mn.”

“Ah, I was joking… Hánguāng-jūn, you’re going to make me blush.”

They played a few more times until the sun had started to rise. Not wanting anyone else to see them, they left.

Over the course of a few months, they’ve come back and forth from the Burial Mounds; Either with Lan Wangji accompanying him, or with Wei Wuxian alone. There was the occasion when another Heavenly Beast would come with the huli jing, though not as musically talented, merely using their spiritual power to help him was more than enough to cleanse the area. Why had they come? They merely offered when Lan Wangji once mentioned it during a meeting. Hearing that it was for a just cause, some Beasts had offered willingly.

“You created this?”

“Mn.”

“Don’t start sounding like your husband.”

“You don’t need to put so much sarcasm into that word, Jiang Cheng.”

Jiang Wanyin rolled his eyes, ears flattening in slight irritation. Wei Wuxian had come by with Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang this time, both not musically gifted, but as Heavenly Constellations, were powerful enough to supply him with power. Why had two come? Well, there were all close friends before the decree had forced them apart.

“Anyways,” Nie Huaisang divided the two with his fan, before fanning himself slowly, “We’ll just feed you our spiritual power, right? Anything else?”

“None at all. Sometimes there’ll be a corpse wandering inside, but just guide them to the pool.” Wei Wuxian shrugged, already fixing up his dizi. “If you ever feel tired, let me know.”

“We should be asking you that.” Jiang Wanyin scoffed, but got into position.

“Dà gē warned me that it does take a lot out of you, even if you’re a higher being.” Nie Huaisang warned while getting into position. “I’m more surprised that Wei-gōngzǐ is able to handle it.”

“Well… when you’ve been doing this for literal centuries, you get used to it.”

Jiang Wanyin scoffed, but refused to look into Wei Wuxian’s eyes. Nie Huaisang looked at both of them with a skeptical eye, but in the end said nothing.

And so, years passed.

During that time, between going back and forth, as well as doing his filial duties as Lan fūrén, Wei Wuxian had a son.

Right, they had a son.

When Lan Wangji first mentioned that his core couldn’t sustain itself, Wei Wuxian had zero idea what he was talking about. Another core inside him? What could that mean? Oh, surely it wasn’t what he thought it was, right?

Wrong! Right after that day, he felt incredible morning sickness that he had to vomit out bile since he hadn’t eaten anything yet. The servants immediately called for the Healer to check on his vitals, worried that the Madame (why was he referred to as Madame actually) had caught an ailment. He had thought he finally caught something from staying in the Burial Mounds for so long.

No, he had caught something called pregnancy.

The moment he heard he was pregnant (something he didn’t know was possible for him), he had wanted to run into the audience hall right away. However, another wave of dizziness made it hard for him to stand, and needed the assistance of two servants to keep upright.

“My— My husband,” Wei Wuxian gritted out, “Why is he not here?”

“We will inform him immediately.” One of the servants said, panic evident in their voice.

“Take me to him.”

“B-But Lan fūrén—”

Wei Wuxian’s tails flicked, “I’m carrying his child and he didn’t even tell me? What kind of unfilial husband is he? If he noticed it sooner than me, he should’ve told me! Ack—!”

A dull cramp shot through his lower abdomen, he gritted his teeth as he forced himself to stand. The servants still flanked his sides, just in case he had another dizzying spell.

“Lan fūrén, should we take you back to your room?”

“Mn.”

Without another word, they slowly guided him back inside their room. He laid on his back, sweating as the world seemed to swirl around him. Why hadn’t he gotten these symptoms before? Surely he would’ve exhibited some sort of signs that he was with child!

…Oh, maybe there were?

He recalled being extra moody these past few months, easily snapping at other people before he realized how unreasonable he was being. He had apologized, but it kept happening at random bouts of the day. He also felt just a bit bloated, unable to eat his usual favorite foods and somehow found the Lan cuisine more enjoyable— him! Preferring bland and bitter foods rather than his savory and spicy ones!

Perhaps he’s ignored his body for so long that he forgot what it felt like to actually listen to it.

His hand unconsciously reached for his waist, feeling the wood of his pipe before taking it out. He blew at the end, lighting the tobacco before inhaling the smoke— actually, maybe he shouldn’t be smoking right now, but his mind needed to calm down. He felt too tense, and suddenly hearing he was with child made him very hyperaware of his surroundings.

Fox ears flicked when he heard hurried footsteps briskly walking towards this room.

“Wei Ying.”

“Lan Zhan you absolute—” Wei Wuxian couldn’t come up with a snarky reply, head suddenly pounding, “Come here.”

Lan Wangji is immediately by his side, holding onto his husband’s hands to squeeze it.

“You realized before me, didn't you?” Wei Wuxian gritted out, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“...I thought you knew.”

Well, considering it was his body, yeah he should’ve known too, huh?

“How long?”

“Five months.”

Wei Wuxian blinked, looked down at his slightly-indented stomach, and furrowed his brows. Part of him thought he just felt bloated, or that he was just eating a bit more than usual— but now that he was more aware of another life growing inside him, everything made a bit more sense.

“And you… just let me continue? With my bullshit?”

“You know your body better than me.”

Well!

Wei Wuxian sighed, weakly kicking against the man on his bed. He felt just a bit irritated, but not as bad as before. He sighed, his other hand placed itself on his stomach, just a bit nervous.

“I’ll continue researching.” Wei Wuxian concluded, “We’ll keep cleansing until this baby pops out of me.”

Lan Wangji’s furrowed brows was enough of an answer, but Wei Wuxian kept talking. “I’ll be fine, but I’ll tell you when it gets bad. It’s fine if we skip a few moons, or days— actually, it doesn’t have to be every full moon, it’s just something I do personally. With your wards, it’s easier to do another day. My goodness, Lan Zhan, my stomach hurts. How dare you put this thing in me without letting me know—”

“Are you unhappy?”

Wei Wuxian blinked, “No! Why would you think I’d be unhappy? I told you it would be funny if there were little Lan Zhans running around Cloud Recesses to give your uncle a heart attack. Your child’s growing inside me, why wouldn’t I be happy? How dare you think I’m unhappy. Ah, Lan Zhan, why am I crying? What have you done to me?”

At this point, he had no idea what he was saying. He felt overwhelmed, more hyperaware of his own body than before. He then felt fingers carding through his hair, gently screeching against his scalp and around the base of his ears. He let out a purr, eyes shutting close as he finally relaxed.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian finally spoke after some time, “We’re having a child.”

“Mn.” Lan Wangji confirmed. ”A son.”

“You even know the gender, oh my—” Wei Wuxian sighed, “Then we’re having a son. What should we name him?”

“What would you like?”

Wei Wuxian hums, opening his eyes to gaze up at his husband.

“How about… Lan Yuan?”

***

When his son was born, it was a joyous affair.

Well as joyous as it could be if it wasn’t for the long hours in labor. Wei Wuxian had yelled, clawed and cursed— even to the point of saying to just somehow use magic to hurry the process up. He’s pretty sure the entirety of the Heavenly Realm had heard him— something he would’ve been embarrassed for, but at least those who had given birth knew the pain.

In his arms was a tiny baby, with equally tiny horns and a tiny tail that triggered Wei Wuxian’s cuteness aggression. Even after all the pain this little bastard had put him through, he had cried equally as loud as the child in his arms.

“A-Yuan,” He nasally called out, hugging the child tighter against his chest, “Ah, A-Yuan, why do you look like your father? Nine months in my womb making me suffer, just to look like his handsome dad.”

Lan Yuan had the same grey eyes as him, but looked like a younger Lan Wangji. It was obvious which genes had won, and Wei Wuxian was determined to make sure the next one looked more like him than his husband’s.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian called out, turning to his husband who was looking at their son, “Do you want to hold him? Come closer. Why are you standing so far away? Are you afraid?”

“No, I…”

Wei Wuxian tilted his head, then let out a light laugh, “Do you not know how to hold him? Come, come, I’ll show you.”

He bit back a laugh when Lan Wangji awkwardly held A-Yuan, who was on the verge of crying from the uncomfortable hold. Not wanting the baby’s cries to wake up the Heavens again, Wei Wuxian took pity and gently fixed how he carried him. Now resting within the crevice of arms securely, the child’s sniffles quieted, wide eyes blinking slowly before shutting.

The wet-nurses cooed, seeing their Second Prince hold his child in his arms had an effect on them— wishing a prosperous marriage for themselves as well. Wei Wuxian felt proud, shuffling closer to the two of them, and laying his head against Lan Wangji’s shoulder, looking down at their son.

“Ah… A-Yuan… I can’t wait for you to meet the rest of the family.”

They first showed him off to Lan Qiren, who was huffed but was gentle as he held the young Lan in his arms. He told a tale of how it reminded him of a younger Lan Wangji, taking care of him when neither parents were available. This ended up with Wei Wuxian learning more of Lan Wangji’s childhood, cooing and asking how he was when he was younger, much to the hidden delight of the elder Lan.

Next was Jiang Wanyin and Jiang Yanli, who immediately brought Jin Rulan with them to meet their new nephew. Jin Rulan had commented why Wei Wuxian would willingly marry the scary dragon, to Jiang Wanyin’s bitten off snort, and Jiang Yanli gently shushing him.

“Am I scary? Lan Wangji asked after their visit.

“Um.” Wei Wuxian had found it funny, so he had to bite back a smile, “Perhaps to children. Oh, don’t sulk, Lan Zhan! They just need to get to know you!”

Nie Huaisang had a plethora of gifts he couldn’t bring to the wedding, and instead visited them in the Jade Palace instead. Nie Mingjue had come with him, using the excuse to visit Lan Xichen, but had given Lan Yuan a small blessing as well.

With the entire Heavenly Realm knowing of a new Lan, they had celebrated his birthday for a week. Wei Wuxian didn’t even know it was worth celebrating for that long, but he preened internally— this was his son! They were happy for him, and he couldn’t be anymore happier.

Still, there was much work to be done— on occasion, he would bring Lan Yuan with him as he scoured the Heavenly Realm for musical sheets and notes to properly clean the Burial Mounds. When he entered more restricted areas, he dropped him off at Lotus Pier if he was in the area, or left him in the Jade Palace for protection. He didn’t want to be apart from his son, he knew that exposing the younger dragon to such resentful energies would be detrimental to his growth.

This back and forth continued on until Lan Yuan reached the age of one year, now being able to waddle along the floor, and speak in babble. Wei Wuxian was there when he first took his steps, instantly raising him up in the air and yelling praises.

“I think he takes after you.” Wei Wuxian had said to his husband.

“You as well.”

With more support around him, the two of them were able to clean a good chunk of the Burial Mounds to the point small patches of grass could be found growing near the cave. However, they needed something… more. Something that could reach into the nooks and crannies of the Earth. While they could call out to every Heavenly Being out there, it would be too much of a hassle and too many people to account for.

And finally, finally.

“This has to work, or I’m going to internally explode.”

“Do not.”

“Aiya, Lan Zhan, that was a joke…”

It was only the two of them this time, readied with their instruments to play a new piece— a piece they had created themselves. And, funnily enough, during their time in trying to find a score, it turns out Lan Wangji already had one in the works. Wei Wuxian had asked why he’d kept it from him, but all he got was no response and the reddening of ears. Together, they had worked the song, tried and tested it out on other disturbed areas, and finally perfected it.

Or, well, at least they hoped it was perfected.

“Well, now’s the moment of truth.”

Wei Wuxian took a deep breath to ready himself, and the first note of the dizi started their performance.

It was airy, light, his right fingers running over the tone holes. Lan Wangji followed, gently plucking the beginning notes of their song, both preparing; it felt like light rain during the spring, with the dizi providing the soft winds, and the guqin accompanying. There was a beat of silence— then the pluck of the guqin, powerful, followed by gentle thrums across the strings. A brief solo before it was followed by Wei Wuxian’s dizi, more louder than before, as if answering a silent call.

The ground beneath them shook silently, and Wei Wuxian felt it before he saw it. There’s a slight shift in the air, different from the previous times they’ve tried to cleanse this place. The resentful energy stirred awake, as if invigorated by this new tone. It rose from the ground, from the corpses, relentless in trying to latch onto anything with clean spiritual energy. Wei Wuxian’s melody sharpened instinctively, his body ready to fight back as he’s done for centuries whenever it stirred too close.

The sound of the guqin made him pause slightly, still playing, but his melody got softer. It felt steady that even Wei Wuxian found himself relaxed the more he listened to Lan Wangji’s playing. The resentful energy around them faltered, crackling at the air, but didn’t move to surround itself around their bodies like before.

Their music intertwined together at its chorus, one a higher pitch, while the other like a guiding-hand that both accompanied and protected him. It felt like a guiding hand, reaching out to him to assure that he wasn’t alone in this— not anymore. Despite being surrounded by people he’s come to know and care for, this felt different.

And suddenly, Wei Wuxian felt like he could breathe.

The thick air of resentment had dwindled down to a wisp, briefly passing Wei Wuxian’s fingers, as if saying its final goodbye— then to nothing. The air felt clearer, and even the blood pool had turned transparent. When looked into, all they could find were skeletal remains they would need to properly bury, just in case the spirits decided this wasn’t enough and decided to come back again.

He looked around, feeling the ground to sense anything—

Nothing.

Across from him, Lan Wangji's gaze had never left him once— not even when the resentful energy disappeared. The final note hung in the air before the guqin’s strings stilled, and the dizi’s last breath faded into the silence. Wei Wuxian let out a shaky breath, chest heaving as he expelled most of his spiritual energy into this grand piece.

They both ran out the cave, and looked up— the dense fog had given way to the sun, beating down at them like the first day of summer. The corpses that used to walk the land had turned into skeletons, limp and would never move again.

It’s become a barren wasteland once more.

Wei Wuxian felt his eyes sting, dazedly looking around the one-battlefield that haunted his dreams and memories. To think such a simple (it wasn’t) song was all it took (it really wasn’t that simple) to cleanse this place for good. There was still work to be done— like properly burying all these corpses, but he could leave that for another day.

“We did it.” Wei Wuxian breathed out, legs shaky as he fell to the ground. “We did it! Lan Zhan!”

Lan Wangji looked worse for wear, but was in better condition than Wei Wuxian. He simply picked him up into his arms, allowing Wei Wuxian’s legs to wrap around his waist.

“Mn.”

“Ah, Lan Zhan, you truly are the best.” Wei Wuxian gently placed his forehead against his, lovingly gazing into Lan Wangji’s eyes, “You never told me about the title of that song, actually. Didn’t you play it back then?”

“Mn.”

“Are you ever going to tell me the name? Should I make one up on the spot—”

“No need.”

With their close proximity, Lan Wangji whispered the name of the song. At the sound of it, Wei Wuxian’s lips broke into a grin, then a full blown smile. He gently stroked Lan Wangji’s face before leaning in to gently kiss warm lips.

***

On the outskirts of Hubei, in the middle of Yiling, stood a lone shop that sold peerless jades that stood the test of time. The owner, a rather charming and handsome young man, would often be seen with his husband, a more quiet but refined person who helped around the shop. Occasionally, another young man would be wandering around the store, looking eerily similar to the both of them as he greeted customers alike.

If one wondered how long this shop had been in store, the elders would silently place a finger on their lips, knowing secrets that would be taken to the grave.

Instead, they would tell a story. A story about how a dragon devoted his years to this one fox— defying the heavens, just to find him. When asked if the fox was ever found, they would turn to the shop, and that was enough to answer them.

During the night, there would be music playing. Elders and young masters and mistresses would often tell tales of hearing that song before. Nobody knew the exact origin, but it’s become a well-known song that even when most musicians would try to play it, no one could replicate the amount of devotion that one felt when they listened.

And the song’s name? Well, it was called Wangxian.