Chapter 1: The End
Summary:
Wei Wuxian's life ends when the Wens come to Lotus Pier.
Notes:
Content Warnings (click to expand)
Graphic depictions of violence, major character injury, whipping, torture, graphic depictions of drowning, major character death, blood, background characters deaths.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
《往事随波》the past drifts away with the waves
江灯飘摇远
the river lanters are drifting far away
往事随波如又一篇
and the past also drifts away with the waves, like a sheet of paper
It started with the Wens or rather, it ended with the Wens.
In the end, they arrived at Lotus Pier just as expected, citing a flimsy excuse to trespass onto the Jiang’s territory. First, they demanded that their sixth junior disciple be punished for shooting a kite during a training exercise, because that kite had been round and yellow, like the sun. Then, after Madam Yu had shot those demands down, they turned to Wei Wuxian instead. Wang Lingjiao eyed him with calculation and then, she looked at him like a prey animal she wanted to feed a snake as bait. There was something else in her eyes too, something like hungry anticipation. She looked forward to seeing him hurt, she looked forward to seeing him being taken apart and Madam Yu, of course, took the bait without hesitating, without questioning whether it was the right moment to incapacitate their head disciple, while enemies were surrounding Lotus Pier. Then again, she had never really cared that much for Lotus Pier anyway.
Wang Lingjiao lazily demanded that Wei Wuxian be punished for insulting and endangering Wen Chao, taunting everyone present by uncreatively implying that Wei Wuxian was Sect Leader Jiang’s favoured bastard son, mentioning his mother and her dubious origins and soon enough Wei Wuxian found himself on the ground, Zidian’s lashes shooting blasts of electricity through him, his muscles spasming in reply. It didn’t take long for his skin to be cut open under the constant attacks, but on the bright side, Zidian cauterized the wounds instantly. Not that Wei Wuxian could appreciate it as it happened, focussing too hard on not letting the pain get to him and avoid going into shock.
In the background, Jiang Cheng cried out in alarm, but Yinzhu and Jinzhu held him back and kept him from interfering, as his mother continued to vent her anger on Wei Wuxian’s back.
Yu Ziyuan herself couldn’t hold back from adding hateful remarks during the whipping either, reminding Wei Wuxian of what exactly she thought of him, how she saw him, as if he wasn’t painfully aware of her distaste, of her hatred. Son of a servant, she hissed, good-for-nothing. A stain on Yunmeng Jiang. Bastard.
She went on and on and Wei Wuxian grit his teeth and tried to focus on the texture of the wooden floor beneath his fingertips, but with every lash, it was harder to ground himself, to keep himself in control. Meanwhile, Wang Lingjiao made herself comfortable on the Lotus Throne and watched with delight. It had been so easy for her to manipulate Madam Yu. All it took were a few mentions of rumours and hearsay. Wei Wuxian hated her. For just a moment, he thought to himself, I hate them all.
Why had no one prepared for the Wens’ inevitable arrival? Why had they been let into Lotus Pier and welcomed as if they were guests? Why was it once again him, who took a beating for other peoples’ mistakes?
After what felt like an eternity, the lashes finally stopped raining down on his back and Zidian transformed back into a ring with a flash. However, it seemed like his torment wasn’t over yet.
“That’s it?” Wang Lingjiao asked, examining her nails, and sounding utterly bored. “Everyone here knows that you have the boy whipped for every minor infraction anyway. He’ll recover soon enough, just like he always does and the lesson won’t stick,” she added, tutting.
It was true that Madam Yu whipped him whenever she found an excuse or sometimes just as a prevention for future infractions, but she only hit him with a few lashes at a time. This though… This was different, Wei Wuxian thought and groaned as he attempted to put some weight on his arms to pull himself up.
“What more do you want then?” Yu Ziyuan asked, clearly annoyed that her little show hadn’t impressed their guest. “Should I cut off both his legs so that he won’t get up again?” she then asked and Wei Wuxian found himself freezing. She wouldn’t, would she…?
Wang Lingjiao smirked. “No, there’s no need for that,” she said, aiming for benevolent but not quite getting the tone right. “Our Wen Sect is quite merciful. It’ll be enough if you cut off his sword hand,” she then said.
That made Madam Yu freeze as well. “Cut off his sword hand?” she asked, confirming whether she had heard it right.
Wang Lingjiao nodded. “So that he never raises it against his betters again. We can’t have that, can we?” she asked sweetly, smiling at Yu Ziyuan. For a moment, everyone was completely still. Then, Madam Yu took a deep breath and turned to Yinzhu and Jinzhu. She ordered them to close the doors before crouching down in front of Wei Wuxian.
“Despicable boy,” she hissed at him. “You ruin everything you touch,” she told him as Wei Wuxian stretched out his right arm, knowing what would happen next and accepting that it needed to be done. As long as it would keep Lotus Pier safe, he thought to himself, as long as it kept Lotus Pier safe, he would be able to do it. It would be fine, he kept repeating to himself. Everything would be fine. He could always learn to wield his sword with his left hand. As long as it kept Lotus Pier safe—
In another timeline, Madam Yu might have been content with cutting off his hand with a clean swipe of her sword, but in this timeline, she was not. Instead, she used her hunting knife. It took more than one attempt. it took more than a swipe. She hacked down on his forearm and Wei Wuxian screamed, then clenched his teeth as Madam Yu struggled to saw through his arm. Not even a burst of spiritual energy fastened the process and he felt his body spasming from shock when she hit bone. There were two bones in his forearm, of course, and Madam Yu struggled to get through. Wei Wuxian found himself thinking, foolishly so, that she should have sharpened her knife beforehand and maybe sealed his own spiritual energy, that was fighting against this attack.
Another cry of pain escaped his lips and Yu Ziyuan hissed out: “Tsk, keep quiet,” before wrenching the knife out of his arm where it had lodged itself in the bones. She looked down on him in contempt as he laid shivering and breathing heavily on the ground. Then, she brought the knife down again, this time, on his upper arm.
She still struggled, but now the angle was a bit easier for her and eventually, she managed to hack through muscle and bone and Wei Wuxian dropped to the floor like a puppet whose strings got cut. Around him, everything was growing blurry from the pain. He was hot and sweating and couldn’t make sense of what was happening. He had lost blood, so much blood. Too much blood. Everything went dark. There was only pain.
The next time Wei Wuxian became aware of his surroundings and was able to form semi-coherent thoughts, Wen Zhuliu had just finished tying weights to his feet. Both his arm and his back were still bleeding and he felt as if he had been flayed. He knew that he was going to die and as he looked up at Wen Zhuliu, he knew that the other man knew as well.
“Should I make it quick?” Wen Zhuliu asked him, offering a small mercy.
But Wei Wuxian shook his head. “Give me your worst,” he snarled, his teeth coated in blood from where he had bitten his tongue at some point. “I will come back to end you all,” he promised darkly.
“Very well,” Wen Zhuliu merely said and lifted him up as if he weighted nothing. He didn’t stall and simply threw Wei Wuxian into the lake behind Lotus Pier to drown him.
The moment he hit the water, Wei Wuxian felt wide awake and already, the weights were pulling him under. Despite having no chance of survival, Wei Wuxian felt invigorated and started to struggle and fight for his life. A primal survival instinct had taken over. He attempted to free himself off the weight with his one remaining hand, but it was all in vain. Wen Zhuliu had done a good job securing his legs to the weights. Eventually, he gasped. There was no air left in his lungs. He screamed as water filled his lungs and still, he struggled and fought. Why wasn’t he losing consciousness at least, he wondered?
Finally, the edges of his vision started to turn dark and his last conscious thought was that drowning took an awful lot of time before finally, the water took him.
It didn’t end there. For some reason, it didn’t end.
He died. He was dead and he knew it. Something. It just. He knew that he was dead. He wasn’t sure for how long he remained dead, floating at the bottom of the lake, still tied to the weights. He felt like he was drifting away into nothingness and yet. There was clarity and calm. The way he felt. No, it definitely wasn’t something he could have felt when he was still alive. This complete stillness inside his body. All of him was dead and inside of himself, something settled.
Wei Wuxian closed his eyes and let the darkness consume him and when he opened his eyes again, he was no longer human. Far from it, in fact.
Gills made breathing underwater easy and he inhaled deeply, filtering the water through them, and letting his body adapt to its new features. As he looked around, he realized that his eyes too had changed, because now, he could see everything in the murky depths of the lake clearly and he could see far wider than before too. Meanwhile, his fingers had lengthened and were connected by webbing. His fingernails had turned into long, dark, and sharp claws. They easily cut through his shackles and suddenly, it was very easy to free himself one-handed. It also helped, that the shackles were no longer attached to his legs and instead tangled around a long dark tail. Once he was finally free, he shook himself, forcing his dead not-dead body to move, to not let rigor mortis come over him. He wasn’t sure if the heart inside his chest was beating or if it was even still there. He wasn’t sure if he wasn’t dead anymore. He just knew, that it wasn’t the end. Whatever he was now, he would be forever.
Wei Wuxian licked the blood off his teeth and immediately cut his tongue on his now razor-sharp, pointy teeth. Whatever he looked like now, he was sure it was a frightening sight.
Good, he thought, let them fear me.
He freed himself off his tattered robes and ignored the butchered stump of his arm for now. It’s not like it could kill him, he thought darkly. Then, Wei Wuxian swam a few rounds at the bottom of the lake, making sense of how he moved through the water, what he could see and hear, what he could taste.
Resentful energy danced around him. It didn’t attack him and it didn’t feel as foreign as it had when he had still been alive. Instead, it felt like him, somehow. When he reached out towards it and attempted to absorb some of it, his core immediately latched onto it and fed on it, growing stronger. He continued to feed on it some more and tested his agility, until finally, he felt ready to return to the surface.
By the time his emerged from the water, a battle was already waging in and around Lotus Pier. Immediately, he felt his own resentment grow even more. It was all for nothing then? Madam Yu had tortured him for the sake of it, had sacrificed their head disciple shortly before an inevitable battle because she had felt like it?
How very typical of her, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but think. Once again, she had fallen victim to her own resentments and hatred. If it had been only her that paid the price, Wei Wuxian would have leaned back and enjoyed the show, however, the other disciples and the people at Lotus Pier didn’t deserve to suffer due to her narrow-sightedness.
Wei Wuxian would make sure the innocents would be safe. There was no need to test anything. He knew what he had become and his powers, which he could feel awaken inside of himself. He submerged again and swiftly swam beneath the pier. Then, he closed his eyes and became one with the water.
The water level around Lotus Pier started rising rapidly and the fighting stopped as soon as the soldiers noticed. They turned around, unsure what was going on. The water continued rising, until it reached the shins of the soldiers and then, one by one, the Wen soldiers were pulled into the water. They were unable to fight it, no matter how much they struggled and the Jiang disciples watched helplessly, as the Wen soldiers drowned in barely knee-deep water. It took less than a ke. Then, the water pulled back and left only the corpses of the Wens behind. Wei Wuxian had no interest in letting another Waterborne Abyss form after all.
Wang Lingjiao and Wen Zhuliu were dealt in this manner as well. With their army completely wiped out and Lotus Pier safe for the time being, Wei Wuxian couldn’t really bring himself to care about tormenting them further. In the end, he deemed drowning to be appropriately torturous. He spoke from experience after all. It seemed like a fitting death for them.
However, he wasn’t finished with his revenge yet. He was still thirsting for more. So, he swam under the pier until he found himself at the platform behind the Main Hall of Lotus Pier.
“I don’t care what happened. I want the bodies gone as soon as possible! Burn them for all I care,” Madam Yu ordered, while Jinzhu was bandaging Yinzhu’s arm.
Wei Wuxian’s own resentment surged and a moment later, the water rose again. This time, only Madam Yu was pulled under and Wei Wuxian wasn’t content with simply letting her drown like this. Instead, the water pulled her into the depth underneath Lotus Pier, until she came face-to-face with him.
Wei Wuxian grinned at her, baring his sharp teeth. Yu Ziyuan struggled with all her might, but she couldn’t move, was completely helpless and at his mercy and he enjoyed watching her fight for her life. When she finally opened her mouth – either because she had run out of air or because she wanted to scream at him yet again – Wei Wuxian darted forward lightning-fast and ripped her tongue straight out of her mouth. Blood clouded the water and Wei Wuxian felt almost drunk as he tasted it.
He had ripped her tongue out in its entirety, which meant that she would never be able to speak again, never be able to enact verbal lashings again. Again, Wei Wuxian darted forward, but this time, he reached for Zidian. Once he held the ring in his hand, he tossed Madam Yu back to the surface. With a burst of resentful energy, Wei Wuxian disintegrated Zidian in his hand. This weapon too would never be used to harm someone again. Whatever happened next to her, Wei Wuxian didn’t care. He had made sure that Lotus Pier was safe and felt that there was nothing left to do for him. So, he submerged into the depths of the water and made himself scare.
There was nothing left for him on the surface.
Notes:
Here we are~! The promised undead revengeful water spirit Wei Wuxian story, with an added flavour of monsterfucker Lan Wangji! I hope you enjoyed this first chapter?
Chapter 2: Healing
Summary:
An unexpected friend arrives and helps Wei Wuxian.
Notes:
Content Warnings (click to expand)
Background character deaths, ongoing graphic depictions of injuries, graphic depictions of medical procedures.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Wei Wuxian spent the next few days under water, not exactly licking his wounds, but well… He didn’t surface even once, feeling uncomfortable with the thought for some reason. No one came looking for him either, which was a good sign. Either Madam Yu knew to keep her mouth shut or she had thought him to be some kind of illusion or something similar. Maybe it was just her pride. Whatever had kept her from telling anyone what had happened, it was a good sign.
Once he had rested for a bit and centred himself and his energy, Wei Wuxian started exploring the lotus lakes and even ventured into the Great River. On one of his trips, he spotted Wen Chao and his entourage, who had presumably been waiting for a signal that his mistress and Wen Zhuliu had taken Lotus Pier. He dealt with them easily and didn’t spot any other Wen reinforcements.
After a few days passed, however, Wei Wuxian noticed something strange happening in one of the lakes. Someone was going diving at night and only in places where they wouldn’t be spotted by the residents of Lotus Pier. Wei Wuxian knew these places well; he had often made use of them in the past too. Still, whoever was diving, they seemed suspicious and as though they were looking for something…
It was a full-moon night when he decided to investigate and the lotus lake was illuminated only by the moonlight. It wasn’t hard for him to find what he was looking for and soon enough he came face-to-face with the diver and with someone, he hadn’t expected to ever see again. Ordinarily, he wouldn’t have recognized that person, but death had brought clarity and a certain distance to the life he had lived before. It allowed Wei Wuxian to remember his life in its entirely, while not feeling quite as affected by his memories. It was why he felt no urge to return to Lotus Pier after he had saved it from the Wens. He felt no attachment to that place anymore. So. In another life he wouldn’t have recognized the diver, but now, after he had gone through all these changes, he did. It was Wen Ning, the timid archer he had encountered in Qishan during the last discussion conference the Wens had hosted. If nothing else, Wen Ning’s appearance definitely piqued his interest.
Wen Ning startled at the sight of Wei Wuxian and then accidently swallowed lake water, but for whatever reason he came here, Wei Wuxian didn’t think that he was a danger to Lotus Pier, so he decided to be nice and pulled him to the shore. It took a few moments of coughing, but finally Wen Ning managed to breathe alright again and he was quick to turn to Wei Wuxian, looking at him with open relief.
“Wei-gongzi, you’re alive!” he exclaimed.
Wei Wuxian shrugged. He wasn’t. Not really. Not in the way Wen Ning assumed.
“What… What are you doing here?” Wei Wuxian asked and was startled himself by how different it felt to speak now that he had gills. Presumably other internal things about his body had changed as well.
“I was looking for you,” Wen Ning replied.
“Why?” Wei Wuxian asked.
“When I heard about Wen-er-gongzi’s plans to attack Lotus Pier, I came here as quickly as I could. I wanted to make sure that you were OK, but…” Wen Ning explained and then fell silent, looking a little heart-broken. “I heard that Yu-furen killed you and threw your corpse into the lake. It’s all everyone is talking about in Yunmeng! Jiang-zongzhu even put her under house arrest, according to some rumours,” he then continued.
House arrest? Wei Wuxian wasn’t sure how much substance was to that rumour. It was more likely that Madam Yu was simply recovering from her injuries outside the public’s eye. He couldn’t really imagine Jiang Fengmian stepping up to her in that manner.
“Anyway, when I heard that you… I wanted to try and find your body at least, to give you a proper burial. It’s… it’s the least of what you deserve,” Wen Ning then said quietly and Wei Wuxian appreciated his thoughtfulness and his perseverance. He had searched so hard for Wei Wuxian despite there being little chance of him actually finding Wei Wuxian’s body.
“Thank you, Wen Ning,” Wei Wuxian replied and Wen Ning blushed cutely at his sincere gratitude.
“No, please, Wei-gongzi. It’s the least of what I could have done!” Wen Ning was quick to reply, but then his gaze wandered to the stump of Wei Wuxian’s arm and his eyes widened in shock. The wound hadn’t exactly healed and part of the splintered bone was still protruding, but at least it wasn’t bleeding anymore. Wei Wuxian wasn’t sure if he could still bleed.
“My sister, Wen Qing, is a doctor! Please, Wei-gongzi, let her take a look at your arm, let her make sure that it will heal alright,” Wen Ning then asked him and Wei Wuxian looked at his arm. Well, it wasn’t as if he could just leave it like this and he also wasn’t what he could do about it on his own. So, he nodded in agreement.
“Where can I find your sister?” Wei Wuxian asked.
“She lives in Yiling, further down the Great River. It’s a journey of maybe half a day. I can show you the way,” Wen Ning told him and Wei Wuxian nodded in agreement.
In the end, it took them two days to reach Yiling. While Wei Wuxian could swim fast and thus travel even faster than he could before while flying his sword, Wen Ning needed to lay low and couldn’t risk being seen. Both of them also used the chance to stray from the path every now and then to gather information on what was happening now that the Qishan Wen Sect had lost not only its second heir and his army, but also the legendary Core-Melting Hand.
For the time being, it seemed as if the Wen Sect didn’t plan on attacking the Jiang Sect again and the official narrative was that the Jiangs had won against the Wens in battle. There was no mention of any kind of flood wave or of drownings anywhere. However, it seemed that it was widely known that Madam Yu had killed the Yunmeng Jiang’s head disciple for nothing, because she had initiated the fight against the Wens. Wherever they went, they heard people gossiping about it. About how she had always hated Wei Wuxian and had simply searched for a reason to get rid of him, especially after he had ruined her daughter’s engagement to Jin Zixuan. They were sympathetic to him of course, but mostly they just enjoyed a sordid piece of gossip.
Wei Wuxian found himself wanted to distance himself from the human world even more, so after the first day, he decided to hunt some fish and gather lotus pods instead while Wen Ning gathered more information. He realized that he didn’t really need to eat anymore, feeding on spiritual and resentful energy instead, which was abundant in the waters, but he still enjoyed hunting.
Happily, he presented Wen Ning with another large fish he had caught and now carried between his sharp teeth and handed him the lotus pods he carried in his hand.
“Thank you, Wei-gongzi!” Wen Ning said, accepting the food. While he cooked the fish over a small fire, he pulled lotus seeds out of the pods and started peeling them. Then, he offered the peeled seeds to Wei Wuxian, who accepted them gratefully. While in the past he had needled Jiang Yanli to peel them for him just because, now, he truly couldn’t peel them himself anymore. Not with one hand. Of course, he also didn’t need to eat anymore, but still, he appreciated Wen Ning sharing the seeds with him. He enjoyed the taste of them and despite it all, receiving the peeled seeds still gave him this special feeling of being loved.
After two days, they arrived in Yiling, which was located at the shore of the Great River. A smaller river merged with the Great River here in Yiling and Wen Qing’s residence was located by the shore of that river, a little further up the mountain and outside of the city itself. Wen Ning explained to him that the river came from the Burial Mounds, which loomed ever-present in the background of Yiling.
“Is the water alright? We don’t really use it, because of all the resentful energy,” Wen Ning asked him concerned as Wei Wuxian swam up the river, but in truth, Wei Wuxian enjoyed just how saturated in resentful energy the water was. It was delicious.
“It’s perfect!” Wei Wuxian told him with a wide grin. “Now go and warn your sister. I’ll be fine. Just whistle when you want me to make an introduction,” Wei Wuxian then said. Wen Ning nodded and Wei Wuxian quickly dove back into the water, taking a good look at his surroundings and feasting on resentful energy. It seemed like he was the only one who was thriving on the resentment, he noted, because everything else in the river was very much dead. No fish, barely any plants.
Well, maybe if he absorbed enough of the resentful energy, it would become a little better, he considered, but probably not. After all, it all came from the Burial Mounds, a sheer endless source of resentment.
Soon enough, Wei Wuxian heard Wen Ning’s whistle and returned to the surface, where he came face-to-face with Qishan Wen’s famed doctor Wen Qing for the first time. She wasn’t exactly happy to see him and when she first looked at him, she even flinched and stepped back a few steps.
“A-Ning!” she shouted and then swiftly regained her composure.
“Jiejie, it’s just Wei-gongzi,“ Wen Ning was quick to reassure her. “You promised to help him,” he then added, looking at her with pleading eyes.
“Yes, but I had assumed that you brought him back by boat or something, not… this!” Wen Qing replied and then cautiously approached Wei Wuxian, crouching down in front of him.
“If you bite me, I will bite back,” Wen Qing told him, speaking as if she was talking to a cornered animal and honestly, it seemed like she was unsure whether he could understand her. “Can you show me your arm?” she asked despite that and gestured towards her own arm.
Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but laugh and Wen Qing flinched back again, either due to his laughter or due to the sight of his sharp, pointy teeth. Still, he decided to be nice about it and stretched out the stump of his arm. Wen Qing took a deep breath and moved closer again, looking a little as if she expected him to bite, which he didn’t. She carefully reached out and started examining what was left of his arm.
“This is the part where you have to call me a good boy and give me a treat for holding still!” Wei Wuxian told her with a pout, spooking her again. So. She truly hadn’t expected him to be able to talk and yet she had still been willing to treat him just because her brother had asked her to.
Again, Wen Qing visibly forced herself to relax. She sighed. “So, you’re really Wei Wuxian?” she finally asked.
“Of course, who else?” Wei Wuxian replied.
“We heard you were dead and when I just saw you, well, I thought that A-Ning must have befriended another creature and tricked himself into thinking it was his dead friend,” Wen Qing replied, sounding long-suffering.
“Jiejie, I’m right here,” Wen Ning mumbled with a pout.
“Yes,” Wen Qing said and rolled her eyes. “And last month you thought that popo had turned into a cat.”
“That was one time…” Wen Ning replied, still rather meekly, before sitting down at the shore as well and watching her work. “Will you be able to help Wei-gongzi?” he asked after a while.
Wen Qing frowned. “I mean, he’ll still be…” she started and searched for a delicate way to phrase it.
“Very much dead!” Wei Wuxian confirmed with a grin.
Again, Wen Qing rolled her eyes. “That,” she said. “But I can make sure your wounds will heal properly at least. Some of the flesh needs to be trimmed back and the splinters of bone need to be removed as well,” she told him and Wei Wuxian nodded in understanding. By now, his arm wasn’t exactly looking good. He didn’t really feel much pain, but he could tell that the blackening of the flesh was a bad sign.
In the end, the entire process was a bit of a mess. Wei Wuxian rejected the idea of being treated on land and there was also the fact that none of the painkillers or anaesthesia seemed to work on him. So, they improvised and he endured it as Wen Qing operated on him right at the shore of the river, while Wen Ning watched anxiously and handed her whatever she needed.
First, Wen Qing removed the already necrotized skin and tissue and then she peeled away the skin further to remove the remaining splitters of bone. Wei Wuxian gritted his teeth and watched with a mixture of disgust and curiosity. There was just something about seeing the inside of his body in this way that made him feel weird. It was absolutely fascinating, but it also gave him the creeps. Once Wen Qing finished those tasks, she was able to properly sew the wound shut to allow it to heal and Wei Wuxian quietly absorbed more resentful energy from the river and used it to speed up his healing.
When Wen Qing was finally finished, Wei Wuxian yearned to immediately submerge himself in the river again and hide himself away in an underwater cave while he attempted to forget this experience. However, Wen Qing asked him to leave the wound above water for a day at least, while he healed. He did as he was told and he absolutely hated every moment of having to sit around and stick his stump out of the water. At some point, he even hissed at Wen Ning when the other had only tried to cheer him up and remind him that a day would pass quickly.
He laid half outside the river and counted blades of grass, when Wen Ning finally found a way to distract him. He snuck out his baby cousin A-Yuan to introduce him to Wei Wuxian, who was delighted to make this new acquaintance.
“A baby!” Wei Wuxian cried out delighted. “Look at his little feet! His tiny hands!” he continued and looked at the little bundle in Wen Ning’s arms with a smile. The baby babbled in turn and reached out to pull on Wei Wuxian’s hair.
“That means he likes you,” Wen Ning said softly.
“He’s the sweetest little baby,” Wei Wuxian commented. “Are his parents alright with you bringing him out here?” he couldn’t help but ask as A-Yuan played with his hair and gurgled happily at him.
Wen Ning’s expression grew sad. “His mother passed in childbirth and his father died in an accident a few months before he was born,” he explained. “So, now we’re all looking after him.”
“I’m glad that he has you,” Wei Wuxian replied, his voice growing softer all well. It was nice that A-Yuan had such a big family taking care of him after he had been orphaned.
They spent the rest of the afternoon together and A-Yuan especially enjoyed playing with Wei Wuxian’s webbed and clawed fingers and his hair. He also experimented with touching the scales on Wei Wuxian’s tail and made excited noises, so he probably enjoyed those as well. Like that, the afternoon passed a lot quicker than before. He spent the night with his upper body on land and watched the stars. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t really fall asleep. The best he managed was meditate, but he wasn’t feeling like it, so watching the stars it was.
Luckily, the next morning, Wen Qing gave him clearance to return to the water. He thanked her for her help and immediately disappeared into the depths of the river. Down there, he immediately felt better. He couldn’t really explain why, but he felt at home underwater. Someone else might have taken the entire thing harder, might have yearned to return to being human again, but Wei Wuxian embraced his new state of being. From the moment of his death, he found himself completely comfortable and at ease with his new form. He felt connected to the water and was finally free from all the duties and expectations that came from being a human on land. He distantly recognized that some parts of him had turned stranger, more beastly, but he embraced those changes as well.
Wei Wuxian spent a while simply swimming and exploring his new surroundings, the river that came down from the Burial Mounds and the local part of the Great River as well. He caught some of the biggest and fattest fish he could find in the Great River and somehow, he even managed to craft himself a bag out of some cloth he had found floating in the river, though it was quite difficult doing so with only one hand. But he managed to do it. He filled the bag with fish until he was satisfied and then returned to the Wens’ house. There was no one outside, but when he whistled, Wen Qing came out to see him, frowning.
“You haven’t left?” she asked and now Wei Wuxian frowned.
“I would have said goodbye!” he protested and then handed her the bag of fish. “For you and Wen Ning and the rest of your family too, of course,” he said.
“I…. thank you, Wei Wuxian?” Wen Qing said, accepting the bag, but looking utterly confused. “I’ll tell A-Ning that you’re back. He’ll be happy,” she then told him and carried the fish inside. Wen Ning came outside a few moments later and just as his sister had expected, he was very happy to see Wei Wuxian back again.
When he wasn’t spending time with the Wen siblings, Wei Wuxian continued exploring his surroundings and getting used to life with only one arm left. Eventually, he also got introduced to the rest of the Wen family. He wasn’t an easily concealed secret after all. All in all, they all took it well and were accepting of his existence. They even integrated him into the community and were very grateful for all the fish he caught them. While he was hunting for fish, he also quickly realized that there were many other treasures at the bottom of the rivers. Mostly coins, but also stuff like jewellery. Things that merchants lost while crossing the river. Wei Wuxian pulled those things to the surface as well and gave them to the Wens. It was a win-win-situation really. The river got cleaner and the Wens could sell those things and afford better materials for their business as healers.
It wasn’t something he had planned, but Wei Wuxian found himself making himself at home in Yiling.
Notes:
Thank you everyone for your lovely comments and all the kudos!! I'm glad you're all enjoying the story ♡♡♡
Chapter 3: Long Live Sect Leader Wen
Summary:
Wen Qing gets summoned back to Buyetian by Wen Ruohan. Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning decide to join her.
Notes:
Content Warnings (click to expand)
Background character deaths, graphic depictions of injuries, torture, child endangerment.
Nyatci has drawn amazing Fanart for this story! Make sure to check it out and shower them with love ♡♡♡
I literally have the art framed at home, because I love it so much and I still can't even put into words how happy it made me to receive it, because it was the first time one of my stories inspired fanart.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Unfortunately, their carefree time in Yiling soon came to an end.
News reached them that the Nies had ended the Wen’s siege on the Unclean Realm and that Nie Mingjue had killed Wen Xu and now proudly displayed his decapitated head at the entrance to the Nie’s fortress. Soon, they also heard that the Lans and Nies had entered a former alliance against the Wens while the Jiangs and the Jins had declared their neutrality, despite the former already having been attacked by the Wens. A few more days passed and Wen Ruohan summoned Wen Qing back to Qishan.
“He will want me close now that his sons are both dead,” Wen Qing said nervously, her feet in the water as she told Wei Wuxian about Wen Ruohan’s latest missive. “He’ll probably send someone to collect me if I don’t comply,” she then added with a sigh.
“Are there any rivers running through Buyetian?” Wei Wuxian asked her.
Wen Qing nodded. “A few small rivers, yeah. Why?”
Wei Wuxian grinned brightly. “Wen-zongzhu sounds like someone who could use a relaxing swim,” he told her. Wen Qing grimaced. She wasn’t exactly thrilled to hear that Wen Ruohan had made it onto Wei Wuxian’s hit list and made sure to tell him in no uncertain terms that she wouldn’t involve herself into any of his plans and soon returned back inside.
Luckily, Wen Ning had no such qualms. “I know that Wen-zongzhu is using me,” he told Wei Wuxian. “He’s using our family too. To force jiejie into obedience… And jiejie, she doesn’t know the extent of your powers, she doesn’t know what happened at Lotus Pier,” he then said and Wei Wuxian nodded in understanding.
When Wen Qing and Wen Ning left for Buyetian a few days later, Wei Wuxian followed them covertly, with Wen Ning assisting him in getting into Buyetian and finding convenient hide-outs for him. Luckily, there was even a small pier close to Wen Ning’s quarters in the palace, so it wasn’t that difficult to make himself at home there.
Wei Wuxian felt better having followed them to Buyetian, where he could watch over them and make sure that they were safe. The remaining family in Yiling would be fine, but staying this close to Wen Ruohan was incredibly dangerous.
The only downside was that the water in Buyetian was absolutely vile. It was way too rich in sulphur and it tasted strange. Wei Wuxian wasn’t a fan.
“How are you holding up?” Wei Wuxian asked Wen Ning, when the other snuck away to meet him one night.
Wen Ning sighed. “It looks like Wen-zongzhu will name jiejie his new heir and then he’ll work on consolidating his power after the Lans, the Nies and even the Jiangs have successfully fought back. Things are not going according to his plan and there’s a lot of infighting happening amongst the Qishan elites,” he explained.
Wei Wuxian hummed. “As much as I just want to drag him into the waters and drown him… I should probably make sure that Wen Qing wouldn’t be suspected should something happen to him,” he pondered.
“What if his body disappeared as well?” Wen Ning suggested, but Wei Wuxian shook his head.
“No, the other sects also wouldn’t trust Wen Qing if she came into power in this way. Her legitimacy would be questioned, especially if she only just got announced as the heir…” he replied. “Ah, why is it so difficult to conveniently kill someone who happens to be close to achieving immortality without it being suspicious?” Wei Wuxian asked frustrated, but then, he finally got an idea. He wasn’t just some sect’s disciple anymore. He was a river spirit and it was time to use that to his advantage. It was time to teach the Qishan elites to remember what true fear felt like…
They laid low for a while longer and waited for Wen Qing to be legitimized as an heir before they acted. In the meantime, Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning refined their plan. The Wen continued getting into smaller fights with the Nies and the Lans and every now and then, Wei Wuxian found his thoughts straying to Lan Wangji. He wondered how the other was doing, whether he was involved in the fights or if he was still busy helping with rebuilding the Cloud Recesses after the Wens initial attack…
Eventually though, their time to act came, when Wen Ruohan held a feast to celebrate the Wens victories in recent fights. Despite the loss of Wen Chao and Wen Xu and their troops, the Wen Sect still had considerably more manpower than the Lans and the Nies and slowly, the balance shifted in their favour again. Especially with the Jiangs and the Jins remaining neutral.
Both Wen Qing and Wen Ning were sitting beside Wen Ruohan the dais at the head of the Main Hall, while he gave a speech to his generals and congratulated them for being less disappointing than his sons had turned out to be.
Suddenly, the doors to the Main Hall were thrown open, but there was no one on the other side. It seemed as if the doors had been opened by an invisible force. A moment of silence passed and then a heavy fog started moving into the hall and the strong smell of sulphur emerged.
“Wen Ruohan,” a thousand different voices whispered. “Wen Ruohan, you have shamed your ancestors,” they said, as the fog continued spreading throughout the hall. The people inside the hall seemed mostly confused. No one knew what to do and none of them could actually sense anyone entering the hall, apart from the fog. No one had any idea where the voices were coming from, but they couldn’t deny that it left them feeling cold and that a sense of dread came over them. Even Wen Ruohan seemed frozen where he stood.
The fog continued making its way into the hall until finally, it made contact with the first Wen general. He started screaming as his skin got burned by acidic fog and tried running to safety, but soon collapsed, the fog enveloping and painfully burning his lungs from the inside. Others soon followed and a canopy of screams echoed through the hall. The doors to the hall remained open, but no one managed to run far enough to escape the fog and one-by-one, they fell victim to it.
Wen Qing stepped back frightened, pulling her brother to her side, and shielding him with her body. Meanwhile, Wen Ruohan seemed to have been pulled out of his daze. He charged forward and expelled a powerful burst of spiritual energy, thinking that he would be able to fend off the fog in this way, but it was no use. He too had no chance in this fight.
“Wen Ruohan, all those who oppress others and do evil relying on the power of their clan should be killed,” the voices murmured, quoting the Quintessence of the Wens. “You have dishonoured us. Your time has come,” they continued and then the fog enveloped Wen Ruohan as well. He screamed and tried to fight back, but it was no use. The fog ate him up slowly, burning his skin away little by little until finally his screams died down as well. Once Wen Ruohan was dead, it was as if a switch had been flipped. The fog receded immediately and left behind a trails of disfigured and half-eaten bodies. Noticeably, none of the servants who had been in the hall had been hurt. Neither had those, who weren’t involved in the war. At the head of the hall, only Wen Qing and Wen Ning remained standing.
“Do not disappoint us, Wen Qing. The future of the Qishan Wen Sect lies in your hands. Remember your roots, remembers your ancestors’ teachings,” the voices whispered then. “If you do not, we will return for you and we won’t be appeased until all of Qishan has burned out,” they warned and then, finally, complete silence reigned. It took a few moments until the remaining people in the hall realized that it was truly over. Then, chaos erupted.
“Divine punishment!” someone screamed.
“What are we supposed to do?” someone else demanded to know.
Others started screaming as they took in the sight of the bodies that littered the floor of the hall, most of them disfigured by the burns of the acidic gas. The smell of sulphur and blood lingered in the air and while some screamed, others started fleeing the hall and some merely collapsed where they stood.
“Silence, everyone!” Wen Qing finally cried out. Her voice had been amplified and immediately, everyone inside the hall froze in place and looked to her, waiting what she had to say. Wen Qing took a deep breath and then she quickly and efficiently took control over the situation. She stepped over her uncle’s disfigured corpse and then ordered for the bodies to be collected and prepared for funeral. Afterwards, she immediately sent out missives to the other sects to inform them of Wen Ruohan’s death and of the fact, that she had taken control over the sect.
While Wen Qing consolidated her power and declared the fight with the Nies and the Lans to be over, Wei Wuxian met up with Wen Ning outside of the palace. Now that he had gotten a lot of sulphur out of the water, it didn’t taste that bad anymore. It was still bad though.
“I think I’m gonna go back to Yiling,” Wei Wuxian told Wen Ning. “You’ll be alright here, right?” he then asked his friend.
Wen Ning nodded. “I think the divine punishment left quite the impression,” he replied, sounding surprisingly smug. “And I’m sure jiejie will manage to come to an agreement with Chifeng-Zun and Zewu-Jun,” he then added.
For a moment, Wei Wuxian considered staying after all. Maybe Lan Wangji would accompany his brother to Qishan for the peace negotiations, he considered, but then he decided against it after all. He liked Lan Wangji, he really did, but being as he was now, he felt no need to chase after the other anymore. His death had given him distance from Lan Wangji as well and the other had made it clear how he felt about Wei Wuxian.
“Wei Ying, you are truly the kind of person I dislike the most,” still echoed in Wei Wuxian’s mind from when the two of them had been trapped inside the cave beneath Muxi-shan.
No, there was no need to chase after Lan Wangji anymore. No matter how wistful he felt, thinking about the other, no matter how much he had wished the two of them could be friends in the past.
So, Wei Wuxian returned to Yiling the next day.
He spent some time simply getting comfortable in the rivers of Yiling, where he had made himself at home. Resentful water still leaked into the water from the Burial Mounds and Wei Wuxian feasted on it to his heart’s content. His little divine punishment enactment in Qishan had actually taken a lot of strength, so he steadily built it back up with resentful energy.
Back in Yiling, he also reunited with the extended Wen family and spent a lot of time with A-Yuan especially. Months passed and though A-Yuan was too young to learn how to swim yet since he couldn’t even walk yet, the child enjoyed sleeping on Wei Wuxian’s chest while he drifted through the water on his back.
When he wasn’t spending time with the Wens or hunting them fish, Wei Wuxian spent his time exploring the Burial Mounds themselves. He had realized that he could freely enter them a while back, probably because of what he was now. None of the beasts or corpses there attacked him, because he was like them. Murdered and discarded. Just like them, he had never received a proper burial, though Wen Ning had made a valiant attempt at least. So, he found himself feeling somewhat at home in the Burial Mounds as well and he enjoyed exploring the rivers of those cursed mountains while continuing to absorb the resentful energy in the water.
Under Wen Qing’s leadership, the fighting with the Nies and the Lans soon came to an end. The Qishan Wen Sect agreed to pay reparations to the other two sects and also to send copies of many of their own prized books and scrolls to Gusu to help restore the Cloud Recesses’ library pavilion. Hearing news of this, however, suddenly the Jins and the Jiangs started grumbling about reparations as well. Eventually, the Jiangs sent an official demand for reparation payments, but Wen Qing shot them down immediately.
“Our entire army got slaughtered in Lotus Pier, including Wen Chao and the Core-Melting Hand,” she told them. “At the same time, there wasn’t much damage done to Lotus Pier itself and the one casualty the Yunmeng Jiang Sect suffered was that of its Head Disciples, Wei Wuxian. However, it is well-known that it wasn’t our people who whipped them, chopped of his arm, and then threw his corpse into the lake, so we will not be paying any reparations to the Jiang Sect.”
After that declaration, the Jiangs didn’t dare make another attempt and their relationship with the Wens remained strained. At the same time and now that a new power balance was slowly falling into place, the Jins reached out to the Wens. Jin Guangshan attempted to strengthen his ties to the new Wen leadership, offering potential concubines to Wen Ning, who was now Wen Qing’s heir, but the Wen siblings firmly shot down those attempts as well, which angered the Jins.
Amongst the five major sects, there was little trust at this point. Only the Nies and the Lans remained allies and friendly with each other. Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen even considered entering a more formal alliance and swearing brotherhood to each other, but that decision wasn’t final yet. At the same time, the alliance between the Jins and the Jiangs seemed to fall apart slowly now that Madam Yu and Madam Jin weren’t really meeting up with each other anymore and their children weren’t engaged anymore either.
There were also many rumours of what happened at Lotus Pier that day the Wen army was defeated and what happened at Buyetian when Wen Ruohan died and while none reflected the truth, those rumours sowed fear and discord amongst the sects.
No one was willing to trust one another, but those things didn’t really matter to Wei Wuxian all that much. He only heard of them in passing and didn’t really care. Instead, he spent his time growing into his new form and powers. He also continued to absorb more and more resentful energy and little by little, it started to have an effect on the Burial Mounds. Despite it having seemed impossible before, as the months passed, he actually managed to cleanse the Burial Mounds. He used his control over the dead to make the corpses bury themselves in the ground and his control over the water to bring new life to the once desolate mountains. Life always found a way and soon, the first flowers were blooming in the Burial Mounds. In Yiling, it was easier to breathe and the people there felt as if a huge burden had been lifted off them. The sky was finally clear again and the sun shined down on them, which also lead to a good harvest for once. Things were finally going well for the town.
Despite not really feeling connected to humanity anymore, Wei Wuxian found himself spending even more time with the Wens. As the river slowly got cleared off resentful energy, they too could finally make use of it. They built new piers and expanded their houses towards the river, making Wei Wuxian feel as if he truly belonged with them, as if he had a home there. The Wens also started properly cultivating the fields and gardens surrounding their houses and soon, their little settlement started to thrive. Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian continued fishing for them and spending most of his time with A-Yuan, who was finally big enough to start swimming lessons and proved to be a natural.
However, A-Yuan was still just a toddler and maybe all of them were a bit too comfortable with how attached he had grown to Wei Wuxian and the water.
One night, the little boy had a nightmare. Instead of waking his grandmother for comfort, he crawled outside and reached out to the water. Luckily, Wei Wuxian was close enough to interfere when he felt a disruption in the water. A-Yuan had fallen into the river. Despite being a good swimmer for his age, he got overwhelmed due to the surprise and the dark of the night and started panicking. Wei Wuxian reached out to him with his powers and managed to pull him back to the surface just in time.
“Help!” Wei Wuxian immediately called out when he himself arrived at the surface and swam to pull A-Yuan into his arms. The boy was breathing weakly and had lost consciousness, but he was alive. “Somebody, help!” Wei Wuxian called out, feeling afraid for the first time since he died. He loved this little boy as if he was his own. He couldn’t lose him, he couldn’t.
After what felt like an eternity later, some of the Wens finally came running outside. They pulled A-Yuan out of his arms after he explained what happened and took him inside to provide him with medical attention, leaving Wei Wuxian outside. He couldn’t bring himself to return to the depths of the river. Instead, he remained by the shore of the river all night until finally, Wen-popo returned outside and told him that A-Yuan would be fine, even if he had been given quite the fright. The boy would be confined to is bed until he recovered and Wei Wuxian nodded in agreement. Once Wen-popo returned inside, Wei Wuxian quickly disappeared into the water.
Fear settled inside of Wei Wuxian like ice. He felt cold. He was shaking. He couldn’t continue like this anymore. He wasn’t human anymore. He had felt so comfortable having detached himself from his past life and yet, he had grown attached again. He had made a home here. It had been a mistake, he realized. He wasn’t human anymore. He didn’t have a place amongst humans anymore.
It pained him unimaginably, but Wei Wuxian left Yiling the next day.
Chapter 4: Waterborne Abyss
Summary:
Wei Wuxian travels and seeks out his next challenge in Gusu - the Waterborne Abyss.
Notes:
Fanart linked in the end notes!
Content Warnings (click to expand)
Graphic depictions of violence, character injury, blood.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
After Wei Wuxian had left Yiling behind him, he spent months travelling alone.
Whenever he came across resentful energy tainting waters, he made sure to cleanse them and grew stronger in turn. He also took care of other resentful creatures that haunted rivers and lakes and made sure those places were safe again.
Somewhere along the way, he realized, that he had achieved immortality. It had probably already happened earlier. Maybe when he had cleansed the Burial Mounds. It was as clear as day though, when he meditated and balanced out his energies. He had certainly achieved a higher state of cultivation and Wei Wuxian wasn’t really sure how he felt about it. He was already dead, so it was a bit confusing when it came to the question of how that affected his lifespan, so to speak. His higher energy levels would allow him to continue his existence and preserve his body, maybe for eternity. On the one hand, it would allow him to continue ensuring that his waters remained safe. On the other hand, eternity was… quite long. At the end of the day, he was just one undead river spirit. A lonely undead river spirit. His only companions were fish and other creatures that lived in his waters, but those weren’t exactly good conversation partner nor were they cuddly enough for his liking. He longed for connection and with every day that passed, he missed the Wens more. He wondered how the Wen siblings were doing, how Wen Qing had adjusted to her new position, whether Wen Ning was safe as Qishan Wen’s heir. He wondered how Wen-popo was doing, whether her joints hurt as the seasons passed. He wondered how A-Yuan was doing. He missed him.
Eventually, Wei Wuxian found himself in Caiyi.
He remembered the Waterborne Abyss they had encountered here during the lectures and found himself wondering how it was doing. Maybe he could help a little with the cleansing. After all, draining a lake for ten years was a heavy hit on the local population. After what he had done with the Burial Mounds – which were a Landborne Abyss, strictly speaking – he felt as if dealing with a Waterborne Abyss shouldn’t be too difficult.
He had expected the lake to have been drained already. However, when he arrived, he was surprised to see that it was still there, unaltered. Only a seal had been invoked to keep the Waterborne Abyss from spreading and signs had been placed to keep civilians away.
Wei Wuxian frowned and started examining the waters immediately. Corpses were littering every corner of the lake and just like it had been in the Burial Mounds, they left him alone here too, not really minding him. They too recognized him as being just like them. Murdered, discarded, angry. Just like the Burial Mounds, the Waterborne Abyss itself also had a certain level of consciousness. It wasn’t exactly thinking, but it was enough to lead the corpses. It was a level of control that Wei Wuxian could easily override though, instead channelling his own resentful energy to control the corpses.
Having taken a good look around, Wei Wuxian started to work. He started absorbing the resentful energy in the water and little by little, it became clearer again. The biggest problem were the corpses though. Wei Wuxian couldn’t just leave those in the water. They needed to be dealt with and disposed of.
Of course, ideally, this would be where the Gusu Lan Sect stepped up. It wasn’t as much of a challenge as the Burial Mounds after all and instead just one lake that needed to be taken care of. What were the Lans doing just putting a seal on it and ignoring it? What about the people of Caiyi? They were dependent on the Lans’ protection!
Wei Wuxian considered the problem further as he continued to cleanse the water. Maybe he could try to make the corpses wander on land in small groups and force the Lans to take care of them like that? Ah, but he would need to break through the Lan’s seal to do that and that would certainly make them suspicious. Then again, maybe he could make it seem as if some rogue cultivator had messed with the seal while investigating. Hopefully, they would be too distracted by the corpses if it came to that.
In the end, Wei Wuxian couldn’t think of another way of dealing with the whole thing, so he adjusted the Lan’s seal and quickly hid away again in the depths of the lake before any cultivator could spot him. He made the first corpses walk on land and neatly displayed them in a row and then he waited. As expected, it didn’t take long until the Lans showed up and they quickly dispatched of the corpses. So, Wei Wuxian sent up the next batch of corpses for them to deal with, which they dealt with as well. This continued for about a week. Wei Wuxian made sure to always keep himself hidden and while he waited for the Lans to take care of the corpses, he continued absorbing the resentful energy in the water.
Finally, the last few corpses made their way onto land. They could hardly even be identified as bodies at this point, after having spent so much time rotting in the water, but somehow, they managed to drag themselves on shore and Wei Wuxian smiled contently. Just like that, the only thing that remained of the Waterborne Abyss was a bit of lingering resentful energy and that night, he would take care of that as well.
However, suddenly, while he was in the middle of absorbing the last wisp of resentful energy, someone attacked him, sending qin strings into the water and attempting to use chord assassination on him. Wei Wuxian weaved his way through the water swiftly and evaded the attack, but it was a close call. He couldn’t help but feel offended. He was just here trying to help after all!
The attacks didn’t stop either and eventually, Wei Wuxian got caught by the strings when he didn’t manage to change directions quick enough to dodge. It seemed like his enemy had realized that Wei Wuxian had a weaker side. His missing arm was unfortunately impacting his agility and now he was paying the price. The qin strings entangled themselves in his tail and Wei Wuxian screeched as they cut into his flesh.
With his tail caught in the strings, he was pulled out of the water and onto the shore. Wei Wuxian hissed blindly at the attacker, flaring his fins in a sign of aggression, and attempting to free himself from the strings. Again, it was something he struggled with because he only had one hand left at his disposal.
“Wei Ying?” a voice above him suddenly asked and Wei Wuxian looked up.
Of course. Of fucking course. Out of all the Lans who could have caught him… It had to be fucking Lan Wangji!
Wei Wuxian hissed again, more out of annoyance this time. “Help me get this string off or I’ll drown you, Lan Zhan. I’m not joking,” he said, still attempting to free his tail. The strings cut deeply into his flesh and already his webbed fingers were slick with dark, cold blood.
Lan Wangji remained rooted on the spot for some moments, before he finally sheathed his sword and came over to him slowly, looking quite frightened. With trembling fingers, Lan Wangji untangled the qin strings from his tail and Wei Wuxian sighed in annoyance.
“You are hurt,” Lan Wangji commented, his fingers now coated in blood as well and still hovering over Wei Wuxian’s tail.
“Don’t worry about it,” Wei Wuxian waved off and quickly channelled resentful energy to heal the cuts. Ah, the perks of being an immortal undead river spirit or whatever. Then, Wei Wuxian swiftly summoned a wave of water that carried him back to the water and if Lan Wangji got completely drenched in the process… Well, that was his own damn fault, wasn’t it?
Back in the water, Wei Wuxian stayed by the shore for now. The secret was already out after all, so there was no need to hide anymore.
“What were you attacking me for? I was just trying to help with the Waterborne Abyss,” Wei Wuxian wanted to know and then watched cautiously as Lan Wangji came closer once again.
“I… I apologize, Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji offered, lamely and then cleaned his hands off Wei Wuxian’s blood. “Someone changed the seal that kept the Abyss contained and used demonic cultivation to control the corpses,” he explained. “There have been rumours as well, of a resentful creature that targets the sects…” he then added quietly.
Wei Wuxian pouted. He was not targeting the sects! He was just maybe targeting specific members of the sects. As for the Lans, well, if given the chance he would drench Lan Qiren in some rancid river water, but he wouldn’t harm him.
“Look at me, definitely targeting the sects by cleansing a Waterborne Abyss,” Wei Wuxian said then and rolled his eyes. “What’s up with the night-hunting standards around here? Have you all fought the corpses the last few days and not even noticed how little resentment remained in the waters?” he then asked rhetorically. “Anyway, I’m not doing demonic cultivation as much as I am a river spirit and I’m just doing my job keeping the waters safe,” he then added.
Lan Wangji looked a little lost and honestly, it was kind of a funny expression on his face. “I… Wei Ying is a river spirit?” he asked.
Despite how much he liked that lost expression on Lan Wangji’s face – he had always enjoyed getting a rise out of him in whatever way possible – Wei Wuxian decided to take mercy on him. He swam a little closer to the shore and rested his chin on his hand.
“I am,” Wei Wuxian confirmed and then he gave Lan Wangji an outline of what had happened. He didn’t really talk about the Wens, but he told Lan Wangji about the Burial Mounds and the work he had done there and how he had wanted to check out the progress with the Waterborne Abyss here and found that it was still in place. Once he was done, he stretched, feeling more exhausted from all the explanations than from cleansing the lake.
“Alright, so now that you know, I will just cleanse the remainder of the lake, alright? I would appreciate it if I wasn’t attacked again,” he then said.
Lan Wangji nodded. “As long as it does not harm you,” he said.
Wei Wuxian waved him off. “It’s completely fine, no worries. Alright then, thanks. It was nice seeing you again. Bye for now, I guess!” he said.
“Wait, Wei Ying!” Lan Wangji then called out though. “Will you leave again once you have finished cleansing the water?” he asked.
“I mean, yeah, unless you wanted something else?” Wei Wuxian replied.
Lan Wangji hesitated for a moment, then he said: “I would like to meet you again, if you are not opposed,” he said.
Wei Wuxian swam a little back and forth, feeling mostly confused why Lan Wangji would want to see him again. “I guess, we can meet again?” Wei Wuxian said after a moment. “Just don’t tell anyone about me. Despite how it looks, I’m actually trying to lay low right now,” he added.
Lan Wangji nodded. “Of course,” he assured.
“Well, then, alright. I’m off to cleanse the rest of the lake then and I’m sure you still have a lot a work ahead of you dealing with those corpses, right?” Wei Wuxian said and Lan Wangji nodded. “How about meeting again in a week and during the day, so that you don’t miss out on your beauty-sleep?” Wei Wuxian proposed.
“In a week then. Here,” Lan Wangji confirmed.
Wei Wuxian nodded again and then returned to the depths of the lake without another word.
What a strange encounter, he couldn’t help but think as he finished cleansing the lake and then helped rebalance the natural energies of the water. While he worked, he kept thinking about Lan Wangji. He just couldn’t make sense why Lan Wangji would want to meet again. In the past, Lan Wangji had always been quite vocal about his annoyance when it came to Wei Wuxian, had even told him to fuck off a few times… The last time they had seen each other in that cave under Muxi-shan, well… It just didn’t make sense to Wei Wuxian. In the past, when he had still been alive and human, Wei Wuxian would have been delighted with this twist, but now, he couldn’t help but feel on edge. Especially after Lan Wangji had already attacked him with chord assassination. Wei Wuxian’s fingers absent-mindedly brushed his tail, where the qin strings had cut him and for a moment, he felt a strange kinship to the Tulu Xuanwu, which had been strangled by Lan Wangji’s chord assassination.
Ah, but no matter how much he tried to deny it, he still felt a little weak when it came to Lan Wangji. He couldn’t help but feel curious, infatuated even. He wanted to see Lan Wangji again as well, he wanted to tease him a little. As long as he was careful, it should be fine, right? He was a powerful river spirit. Despite Lan Wangji having caught him this time, he would not let the other gain the upper hand again this easily. He would watch his back.
A week passed and just as he had promised, Wei Wuxian surfaced again. By now, the lake was completely cleansed and life was returning to it. The citizens of Caiyi rejoiced as well and Wei Wuxian had enjoyed watching them return to the lake and being able to make use of it again. The place where he agreed to meet Lan Wangji again was far from the town though, so there was no need for him to hide away.
To his surprise and delight, Lan Wangji greeted him by offering him a bottle of Emperor’s Smile.
“For me?” Wei Wuxian asked with a grin.
Lan Wangji nodded. “I remembered that you were fond of it,” he said.
“I am, I am!” Wei Wuxian confirmed. “It’s been so long too!” Wei Wuxian replied with a grin and then reached for the bottle, before he frowned. “Could you open the bottle for me?” he asked, anticipating the struggle it would be to open the bottle one-handed. Lan Wangji nodded and did so, before handing him the bottle. Wei Wuxian started drinking immediately and made a happy noise.
“Ah, I swear, it’s even better than I remember!” Wei Wuxian declared and continued sipping on the drink. He could already tell that the alcohol had absolutely no effect on him, but the sweet and mellow taste of the wine was a treat on its own. “And now tell me about yourself! How have you been? And how come your sect hasn’t dealt with the Waterborne Abyss before?” he then wanted to know.
“Preparations to drain the lake were made before the burning of the Cloud Recesses. Afterwards, the rebuilding and the continued fight against the Wens were more important,” Lan Wangji explained.
Wei Wuxian hummed in understanding. „So, now that the fighting has stopped, you’re probably mostly focussed on rebuilding, right? How is that going?” he asked.
Lan Wangji nodded. “The reparations Wen-zongzhu paid and the books provided by the Qishan Wen have been very helpful,” he said.
“That’s good at least,” Wei Wuxian replied. “Ah, I’m still pissed that Jiang-zongzhu and the Jins left you and the Nies to fend for yourselves in the fight against the Wens,” he said after a moment. “I guess he was too much of a coward,” he said casually. “The Jiangs would have probably perished if they actually had to face the Wens in battle,” he then mused.
Lan Wangji straightened himself. “It is said that they won without facing any losses when the Wens came to Lotus Pier,” he commented.
Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but chuckle darkly. “It is said!” he mimicked. “And who was actually there and saw how unprepared the Jiangs were for a fight? Who saw that they didn’t have a single strategy prepared and ran around like headless chickens when enemy forces invaded their territories?” he asked rhetorically. “They were just lucky that a friendly river spirit was around that took care of the problem for them.”
“But the Jiangs killed you,” Lan Wangji then said quietly, some unknown emotion in his voice.
Wei Wuxian shrugged. “Technically, it was Wen Zhuliu who killed me, but yes. I would have died anyways and my blood is on their hands,” he said. “But the way I look at things now, it’s different. It’s easier to see the whole picture when you’re dead,” he told Lan Wangji. “Despite how angry and betrayed I felt, I couldn’t just let my shidi die and it’s also not like I didn’t give in to my resentment a little either,” he explained. “Once it was done though, I felt no need to stick around. I just, it feels like there is nothing between me and the Jiangs anymore.”
Lan Wangji nodded and took a moment to take that in, then he asked: “What has Wei Ying done since then?”
“Mostly river spirit stuff,” Wei Wuxian replied vaguely. He still didn’t feel ready to talk about the Wens and A-Yuan with Lan Wangji. Lan Wangji wasn’t one to hold on to resentment, but still, it was something Wei Wuxian preferred to hold close for now. “I started experimenting with what I can do now and eventually, I came across the Burial Mounds and they became my next big project,” he said. “I don’t know if news has travelled yet, but I have basically cleansed them!”
Lan Wangji nodded. “The news has reached Gusu already, but many remain sceptic. Uncle is preparing to journey there himself soon, to take a look. I believe other sects are planning to investigate the matter as well,” he reported and Wei Wuxian grimaced. Ugh, Lan Qiren. Another reason to stay far away from Yiling for the time being.
“Let them investigate all they want; I already ate up all that resentment!” Wei Wuxian proudly declared. “Once I was done, I thought about the Waterborne Abyss and now I’m here,” he then concluded.
“Now you are here,” Lan Wangji echoed softly. “Do you know where you will go next yet?” he then asked.
“Not really. Probably gonna check out some more rivers and lakes, explore a little. I heard that Qinghe had problems with strange residual resentful energy as well,” he replied and finished the jar of Emperor’s Smile. He handed the empty bottle to Lan Wangji with a grateful smile and considered how he could show his appreciation. Should he catch a fish for Lan Wangji? No, that probably wasn’t a good idea. The other didn’t really eat meat outside of emergency situations after all.
“Are you amendable to company?” Lan Wangji asked after a moment of silence.
Wei Wuxian looked up to him in surprise. “I mean, yeah, but… you?” he asked confused.
Lan Wangji nodded. “The rebuilding of the Cloud Recesses is almost finished and I am of little use. I have planned to resume night-hunting regardless,” he explained. “And I would like night-hunting with you,” he then added.
“You would?” Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but asked and Lan Wangji nodded again. “That’s unexpected,” he couldn’t help but say, growing a little suspicious. “Because I’m a river spirit and you want to learn more about that?” he asked, but Lan Wangji shook his head.
“Because I would enjoy spending more time with Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji explained.
Wei Wuxian swam back a little. “I kind of thought that you didn’t particularly like me. You never accepted my invitations to meet up before,” he remarked. “So, if you’re doing this for some other reason, maybe because you feel weird about me having died or something, there’s no need. I’m completely fine,” he said.
Again, Lan Wangji shook his head. “I have never disliked you and I missed you,” he admitted softly. “I have regretted how I treated you in the past. It was… I was not used to it and I lashed out,” he explained.
“Oh,” Wei Wuxian only said and half-submerged his face in the water, suddenly feeling the need to hide. Lan Wangji had never disliked him? It sounded too good to be true, like something Wei Wuxian would have longed to hear when he had still been alive. It was still good to hear now, but it also let some of his resentful and bitter feelings resurface.
Did I have to die for you to realize that you’ve been sending mixed signals?
“I apologize if I have made you uncomfortable,” Lan Wangji said after Wei Wuxian had remained quiet and hidden in the water.
Wei Wuxian sighed, which made it seem as if he was blowing out bubbles. He made himself resurface and face Lan Wangji once again. “You didn’t make me uncomfortable,” he assured Lan Wangji. “It’s just unexpected,” he started explaining. “It’s just, well… When I was alive, I always found you so fascinating. I really just wanted to be your friend. You were always so fun to tease.”
Lan Wangji nodded. “I felt as though it was all just a game to you, as though you were making fun of me,” he admitted in turn.
“Ah, I wasn’t!” Wei Wuxian was quick to tell him. “I really wasn’t! In fact, I really… I really liked you!” it burst out of him, which made him want to hide away again. He wasn’t sure he could still blush in this form, but if could – he probably was! Lan Wangji’s expression softened at his confession and oh, he looked absolutely stunning.
They sort of just looked at each other for a few moments, before Lan Wangji said: “Will you allow me to night-hunt with you? We misunderstood each other in the past, but that does not mean we cannot be friends now.”
Wei Wuxian nodded. “I would like that,” he replied, despite the nagging voice inside of him reminding him that he shouldn’t get attached to a living human again.
“I will inform my brother that I will leave to night-hunt for a while. Shall we meet again here tomorrow?” Lan Wangji asked.
Again, Wei Wuxian nodded. “Sounds good! I’d say, give your brother my regards, but please, don’t do that!” he said, grinning.
Lan Wangji departed shortly afterwards and Wei Wuxian disappeared into Biling Lake again. Later that night, he searched the lake for a fitting gift for Lan Wangji. Just because he couldn’t hunt fish for his vegetarian friend – and even if, fish hadn’t returned to the lake yet after it had been cleansed – that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be able to find something, anything for his friend. In the end, he found a few cool rocks and some pretty shells, but nothing that felt right, nothing that felt as if it would appropriately show his appreciation.
He resurfaced again the next day. However, instead of Lan Wangji waiting for him, Wei Wuxian came face-to-face with Wen Qing, who looked uncharacteristically anxious. When she spotted him, she immediately stepped closer to the water.
“Please, come back to Yiling with me,” she asked him, sounding pleading. “It’s about A-Yuan. Something happened.”
Notes:
On the outside, Lan Wangji is taking the news pretty chill, but he totally went home after reuniting with Wei Wuxian and cried his heart out. Something Blirb decided to depict! Check out his amazing fanart here!
If you've missed out on it, please also make sure to check out Nyatci's stunning fanart.
Give them both lots of love as they deserve <3
Chapter 5: Return to Yiling
Summary:
Wei Wuxian returns to Yiling on Wen Qing's request. Lan Wangji joins him.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Wei Wuxian froze. “What happened?” he asked, feeling frightened.
Wen Qing seemed to be searching for the right words for some moments, before she finally said: “He is like you. We don’t know what happened, but whenever he gets into the water, he changes.”
“He changes?” Wei Wuxian asked, quietly.
Wen Qing nodded. “Please, you have to come back. We need your help. We don’t… I don’t know what to do,” she admitted and Wei Wuxian nodded without hesitation.
“Of course,” he told her. “Oh, but I promised Lan Zhan that I would meet him here. I should at least wait and let him know before leaving,” he explained and Wen Qing agreed readily, some of the tension having already left after he had agreed to return to Yiling. “Can you tell me more about A-Yuan?” Wei Wuxian asked her.
“He missed your very much…” Wen Qing said, sounding stricken. “Everyone made sure to keep him away from the water. They were still scared after what happened, but one day, he managed to slip away and he jumped into the river… By the time sishu got him out, he had transformed. Tail, gills, claws, and all that. Just like you. We don’t know what’s going on and he can’t control it,” she explained.
Wei Wuxian listened quietly and then; realization hit him. “Back then…” he started. “When he almost drowned… I reached out with my powers to save him… I must have… by accident…” he admitted, guilt coming over him.
“Stop that,” Wen Qing said immediately. “Without you he would have died,” she reminded him and Wei Wuxian didn’t say that without him, A-Yuan wouldn’t have tried to get into the river in the middle of the night in the first place. Still, there was one thing he was curious about.
“How did you know where to find me?” he asked Wen Qing.
“I didn’t,” Wen Qing told him. “It was just luck that I was visiting Zewu-Jun to deliver another batch of books. I asked him about the Waterborne Abyss, because there had been some strange rumours about that recently and Gusu being overrun with Fierce Corpses, but then he explained and I put two and two together.
“Ah, so I gave myself away?” Wei Wuxian asked.
Again, Wen Qing nodded. “Pretty much,” she confirmed and then looked to the sky. “I will have to meet with my disciples again soon. You will come to Yiling, right?” she asked him again.
“Of course,” Wei Wuxian said. “You can go ahead. I’ll travel as quickly as I can once I talked to Lan Zhan,” he promised her. With that Wen Qing nodded and left to return to Caiyi, where she was meeting with the senior disciples who had accompanied her to Gusu. Barely a quarter shichen passed before Lan Wangji arrived at the shore of the lake.
Wei Wuxian gave him a tight smile. “Lan Zhan, I have to postpone our night-hunting. I’m sorry, something urgent came up,” he told Lan Wangji.
“Can I assist in any way?” Lan Wangji asked, because he was good like that.
Wei Wuxian shrugged. It was his fuck-up and something only he could solve and he hadn’t even told Lan Wangji about the Wens yet, but… Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but think that it would be nice to have Lan Wangji’s company, to not face the Wens alone… Once he had figured out how to turn A-Yuan back, he would need to leave again and then… It would be nice to have company. So, after thinking it over for a few more moments, he decided to tell Lan Wangji about the Wens and about A-Yuan.
“So, if you want, you can keep me company,” Wei Wuxian finished. “It’s going to suck having to leave again once I’ve taken care of it…” he even admitted.
Lan Wangji frowned, but inclined his head. “I will keep Wei Ying company,” he assured and Wei Wuxian already felt a little lighter.
“Let’s meet in Yiling then. I’m faster swimming than you are flying, so we can just meet up outside the city. I’ll tell you where to go from there,” he told Lan Wangji, who readily agreed.
They met outside of Yiling the next day, travelling the last part of the journey together. Lan Wangji told him that it was his first time seeing the Burial Mounds after Wei Wuxian had cleansed them and he was already impressed by what he could see from the distance. His earnest words of praise did things to Wei Wuxian. Honestly, it made him want to hide at the bottom of the river, but in a good way. It was difficult to explain, even to himself.
It didn’t take them long to travel to the Wens’ settlement outside of Yiling. Most family members were already gathered by the pier when they arrived, but sadly, it was very clear that it wasn’t because they were waiting for Wei Wuxian. No, it was because they were watching anxiously as A-Yuan swam in the river.
A-Yuan. He had truly changed to be like Wie Wuxian. Fins, gills, a long red tail, sharp claws, webbed fingers, and pitch-black eyes. He looked every bit as non-human as Wei Wuxian did and Wei Wuxian. Well. He had thought that he was completely fine, being as he was now and being alone, but looking at A-Yuan now, he realized just how lonely he had been. His heart broke a little inside his chest, knowing that this was only temporary. He would fix what happened to A-Yuan and then. He would remain. Alone. Again.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji said softly and Wei Wuxian forced himself to focus. He wasn’t the only who had heard Lan Wangji speaking to him though – A-Yuan had as well. The child immediately swam over to him full-speed and almost crashed into him.
“Xian-gege, you’re back!” A-Yuan chirped happily and instinctually held on to Wei Wuxian by twining his long tail around Wei Wuxian’s.
“I’m back, baobei,” Wei Wuxian confirmed softly. He couldn’t help but close his eyes and hug the child close for some moments.
“Xian-gege, please don’t leave again!” A-Yuan then started begging him, but Wei Wuxian stayed silent and swam over to the pier, where the Wens were still waiting. A-Yuan hid his face in the crook of Wei Wuxian’s neck and again, Wei Wuxian felt as if his heart was being ripped apart inside his chest.
“I am so sorry,” Wei Wuxian then told the Wens. “Wen Qing told me what happened. It must have been my fault. When he fell into the river, I reached for him with my powers and I must have transformed him by accident,” he explained to them, contrite.
However, to his surprise, the Wens weren’t interested in his apologies.
“Don’t apologize, Wei-gongzi, you saved his life!” sishu said.
“Ah, it’s good that you returned, Wei-gongzi, our little A-Yuan missed you very much,” one of the aunties added.
Wen-popo nodded in agreement. “Now that you are back again, you can teach him to how to control his powers and look out for him in the water,” she said and Wei Wuxian found himself feeling stunned.
“But… Shouldn’t I work on fixing this instead?” Wei Wuxian asked confused.
The Wens exchanged looks, but shook their heads.
“There is no need to fix what isn’t broken,” sishu told him. “And, well, A-Yuan has already grown so attached to you. He just needs to learn how to control the transformation and we thought that it would be best if you taught him, since none of us can,” he explained.
Wei Wuxian still hugged A-Yuan close to himself. “I will teach him,” he promised quietly and the Wens smiled relieved. For some reason, Wei Wuxian sought out Lan Wangji’s eyes, but he wasn’t ready to see him looking so soft as he watched A-Yuan and Wei Wuxian in the water.
Luckily, it didn’t take long for Wei Wuxian to teach A-Yuan how to return to his human form. Once he had, Lan Wangji carefully lifted the boy out of the water and handed him over to his grandmother. That evening, all of them ate dinner together by the pier. As per tradition, Wei Wuxian caught them fresh fish, feeling a bone-deep satisfaction settle inside of him as he watched the Wens, and especially A-Yuan, being well-fed.
The entire evening, A-Yuan seemed quite taken with Lan Wangji as well. When he returned to the water later that night – because he wanted to sleep by Wei Wuxian’s side – he shyly whispered: “Gege is very pretty.”
“He really is,” Wei Wuxian agreed with a smile and looked up at Lan Wangji. The prettiest, he thought to himself.
“See you tomorrow?” Wei Wuxian asked.
Lan Wangji nodded. “Rest well, Wei Ying,” he replied and Wei Wuxian submerged with A-Yuan still clinging to him. The two of them looked for a comfortable crook at the bottom of the river and made themselves a little nest of sorts. They once again held on to each other by intertwining their tails and Wei Wuxian kept his arm around A-Yuan as well, feeling a primal need to keep the child, his child, safe. Since, unlike A-Yuan, he was dead, he didn’t need to sleep and so, he kept on watching over the boy as he slept.
Whatever happened next, he would make sure that A-Yuan would grow up safe and sound.
Notes:
And on that note, please check out another piece of incredible fanart by Blirb featuring merson and merdad 🥺
I don't know yet whether I'll be able to update again in August, because I'm currently covering two people at work and it leaves me pretty much dead + I have a language proficiency test coming up at the beginning of September and I still have to cram a lot for it. Until then, please keep me alive via providing comments 🥺
Chapter 6: Growing Closer, Growing Apart
Summary:
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji get settled in Yiling and their relationship slowly changes.
Notes:
Content Warnings (click to expand)
Explicit sexual content, non-human genitalia, not exactly subdrop but also not not subdrop.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Just like that, Wei Wuxian found himself settling down in Yiling again. His first priority was giving A-Yuan swimming lessons, though now those lessons looked very differently to before. He taught A-Yuan how to weave his way through the water, how to move with the currents of the river. He also taught him how to catch fish and to be careful with his razor-sharp claws. The boy had unfortunately already managed to nick more than one relative before Wei Wuxian’s return.
A-Yuan took to the water like… well, like a duck took to water. Just like Wei Wuxian had done after his death. There was an instinctual understanding of how to move and what to do. The only difference between them was the fact that A-Yuan could change back into his human form. He was a shapeshifter, of sorts. Luckily, the boy got the hang of shifting swiftly as well, despite Wei Wuxian only being able to offer theoretical help. Sill, A-Yuan seemed to be pretty content to spend most of his time inside the water with Wei Wuxian regardless and Wie Wuxian loved having the child with him in the river as well. He loved no longer being all alone in the water. The fish weren’t exactly good company after all.
The only question that Wei Wuxian kept asking himself was whether he had truly been able to save A-Yuan when the child had fallen into the river. When he had reached out with his powers… Had he been able to save the child from drowning or had he revived him somehow? Unlike Wei Wuxian, A-Yuan was warm to touch. He still had a pulse. He was breathing, but… The doubts remained. A-Yuan would probably be fine, but. Well. There was no precedent.
So, they spent their time learning and generally frolicking in the river. The only way to lure A-Yuan out of the water turned out to be Lan Wangji. The child was completely taken with the Second Jade, always looking up to him in admiration.
A-Yuan wasn’t the only taken with Lan Wangji. The other Wens adored him as well and quickly took him in as well, providing a room near the water for him and seamlessly integrating him into their routines and Wei Wuxian… He was quite taken with Lan Wangji too. It certainly affected him to watch Lan Wangji mingle with the Wens, to see him teaching A-Yuan how to play the qin. Somehow, Lan Wangji fit in here perfectly. Despite them not having been able to night-hunt together yet, it seemed like Lan Wangji too seemed content to stay for now. He had even informed his brother that he didn’t know when he would return yet.
Wei Wuxian liked having Lan Wangji close. Of course, he did. He also really liked that Lan Wangji made sure to tell him that he enjoyed being here as well and spending time with Wei Wuxian and the Wens. It felt a little as if he was making up for lost time now that the misunderstandings between them had been cleared up and Wei Wuxian was glad that they had been given this chance. He felt the same way. How could he not when Lan Wangji had finally admitted that he wanted to be friends and that he enjoyed spending time together?
Finally, though, there came a day, when Lan Wangji joined Wei Wuxian and A-Yuan in the water. A-Yuan had grown a bit fussy and annoyed at the fact that he often only got to spend time with one of them at a time and so he demanded that Lan Wangji got into the water with them. Since Lan Wangji was a huge pushover when it came to A-Yuan’s demands, he quickly agreed and now Wei Wuxian was faced with the sight of Lan Wangji carefully dressing down to his inner robes and then stepping into the water. His remaining single layer of white robes got soaked in the water immediately and left absolutely nothing to imagination.
And suddenly, Wei Wuxian found himself faced with the realization that undead river spirits could apparently grow aroused. Very aroused in fact. He. He hadn’t even really noted before if he had any kind of equipment for these sorts of situations, but now his body was full-on confronting him with the knowledge that yes, undead river spirits had that. Whatever the that in question truly was, because now definitely wasn’t the time to find out, but he surely felt the telltale signs of arousal in his groins and attempted his best to suppress the feelings. If only it wasn’t for Lan Wangji and the fact that he had really grown up well these past few years! His shoulders had grown broader and his now soaked-through single white robe was doing nothing to hide his beautifully tones muscles. It wasn’t hiding much below the waistline either and it seemed like he was an overachiever in that department as well. Now if only Wei Wuxian could stop thinking about that!
While Lan Wangji kept A-Yuan occupied for the time being, Wei Wuxian quickly submerged and swam a few hasty circles. He felt overcome with the need to chase Lan Wangji through the water and to be chased in turn, to see, which one of them would be able to catch the other… Well. What an inconvenient time to be hit with surprising mating (?) instincts! And apparently the crush he has been nurturing on Lan Wangji since the lectures in Gusu hadn’t evaporated after his death either. Apparently, that crush was still very much ongoing. Cool. Cool. Very cool. And so fine. At least the tail meant he didn’t have to deal with awkward boners again! Well, visible boners at least, because something was going on, but, again, he wouldn’t check that out now. Definitely not.
Somehow, he managed to calm himself somewhat and finally resurfaced, only to come face-to-face with Lan Wangji, whose eyes found his immediately.
“Is everything alright?” Lan Wangji asked.
Wei Wuxian nodded. “Yeah, I just thought I sensed something in the water, but it was nothing!” he lied cheerfully and swam over to Lan Wangji and A-Yuan.
It quickly became apparent that while Lan Wangji was an alright swimmer, he hadn’t been doing a lot of swimming in his life. And so, as the local river spirit and a former Yunmeng resident, Wei Wuxian felt the need to correct his form and give him some pointers. This also meant that he spent the better part of an hour swimming very close to Lan Wangji, even touching him as he corrected his form. If Wei Wuxian hadn’t been so completely focussed on being calm and normal and not awkward at all, he might have questioned why someone like Lan Wangji, whose form was always perfect and who had always been a quick learner, needed so many corrections.
And then, suddenly, sishu lifted A-Yuan out of the water, because the boy was in need for a nap and it was just Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian who remained in the river. They were completely on their own, for the first time in a while.
“Ah, are you doing alright, Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian asked worried. “Your face is a little red,” he noticed. Wei Wuxian swam over to his friend and reached out to touch his face, to check for fever, but before he could make contact, Lan Wangji’s own hand shot out and took hold of his wrist, restraining his movement. He only had the one hand, so already, Lan Wangji had him trapped. Of course, Wei Wuxian could always lash out with his tail to free himself, but… He found that he didn’t mind their current position. On the contrary, he found himself liking it very much.
“Lan Zhan…” he breathed, the river’s current rocking them even closer together. Feeling the need to hold on to Lan Wangji in turn, Wei Wuxian wrapped his tail around Lan Wangji’s legs, keeping him trapped in turn.
“Wei Ying…” Lan Wangji said in turn, something unreadable in his tone and then, he looked down to Wei Wuxian’s lips. For a moment, Wei Wuxian wondered whether Lan Wangji was weirded out by his teeth, but then it clicked. Oh. In their current position, with only a single layer between them and Wei Wuxian’s tail wrapped tightly around Lan Wangji’s legs, he could feel all of Lan Wangji. He could also feel how clearly one particular body part of Lan Wangji’s was growing more and more interested in their current position. Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but squeeze Lan Wangji a little tighter, wanting to feel more of the other’s hardness pressed against him.
In turn, Lan Wangji made a very interesting noise, something that sounded a little like a moan. Wei Wuxian liked that noise very much. He wanted to hear more of it.
“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian purred. There was no mistaking Lan Wangji’s interest now. “Kiss me?” he asked.
“Kiss you?” Lan Wangji echoed, seeming almost drunk and tightening the hold he had on Wei Wuxian’s wrist as well. Then, his expressions darkened. “Do not play around,” he said.
Wei Wuxian rubbed up against Lan Wangji some more. There was something… a specific area of his tail… It felt good. More than good.
“Who says I’m playing, er-gege?” Wei Wuxian replied with a pout. “You know, I have even died tragically unkissed,” he then said and again, Lan Wangji’s eyes wandered to his lips. “It’s because I’m a huge romantic at heart, who waited for the right person,” he then admitted.
“And I am that person?” Lan Wangji then wanted to know, sounding affected.
“I would even go as far as saying that it cannot be anyone but you,” Wei Wuxian told him honestly. “Lan Zhan, these feelings I have for you… I have never felt that way about anyone else, but if you need me to spell it out, I will do that as well,” he continued and took a deep breath. “Lan Zhan, Lan Wangji, Hanguang-Jun! You’re wonderful, I really like you. Or in other words, I fancy you, love you, want you. I cannot be without you. You can do what you want to me and I will like it, because it cannot be anyone but you,” Wei Wuxian confessed, encouraged by the fact that Lan Wangji still hadn’t pulled away, his erection still pressed against Wei Wuxian’s tail and not abating.
“You… you…” Lan Wangji stuttered out, for once uncharacteristically speechless. His ears were bright red and Wei Wuxian felt triumphant for having put the unshakeable Hanguang-Jun in such a state with his words. Ah, he was so cute!
And then, Lan Wangji kissed him.
Nothing else mattered in that moment and all Wei Wuxian could do was melt into the kiss. Lan Wangji kissed him as though he wanted to devour him whole, pouring all of his emotions into the kiss and leaving Wei Wuxian very flustered once they pulled apart to breathe.
Lan Wangji rested his forehead against Wei Wuxian’s, Lan Wangji’s forehead ribbon between them. “It cannot be anyone but you,” he then started. “I really like, fancy you, love you, want you. I cannot be without you, it cannot be anyone but you,” he echoed back to Wei Wuxian.
Wei Wuxian grinned happily and pressed closer to Lan Wangji still. Lan Wangji loved him as well! His feelings were returned! He felt ecstatic from the knowledge and with Lan Wangji’s erection still pressed noticeably against his tail, he couldn’t help but yearn to be truly devoured by the other. Whatever that entailed. However, they were still in plain sight of the pier and so, he gently pulled Lan Wangi further up the river to a place, where they hidden from sight and where they could continue kissing without having to fear being interrupted.
Once they were hidden, Lan Wangji was quick to descend upon him again and Wei Wuxian wrapped his tail around the others legs again. They were trapping each other in place, holding on to each other as if neither of them could truly believe that this was truly happening, which was true enough.
For the first time in a while, Wei Wuxian grieved the loss of his right arm, because it made holding on to Lan Wangji a little unbalanced and it also only left him with only his left arm to explore more of Lan Wangji’s body and there was so much he yearned to explore! Still, he made do and eventually managed to pull Lan Wangji’s robes open and get his hand on Lan Wangji’s bare upper body. He was perfect, absolutely perfect and Wei Wuxian couldn’t get enough of touching him. It seemed like Lan Wangji felt similarly, because his hands soon started exploring Wei Wuxian’s body as well, while he started kissing down Wei Wuxian’s neck and marking it up with his teeth. Oh, how Wei Wuxian wanted to return the favour, but if he would have actually attempted to bite Lan Wangji… Well, it wouldn’t have ended well, not with how sharp Wei Wuxian’s teeth were. He was already grateful that kissing had worked out alright for them.
He whined when Lan Wangji bit his neck particularly sharply and let his hand wander into Lan Wangji’s pants. Here too, he needed to be careful. He retracted his claws before he wrapped his hand around Lan Wangji’s sizeable erection. It felt burning hot in his cold hand and Wei Wuxian was barely able think cohesively, feeling drunk from all the sensations, from the arousal and from Lan Wangji still touching him in turn. As he started stroking Lan Wangji’s cock, Lan Wangji started holding on his hips and rested his forehead on Wei Wuxian’s shoulder as he slowly let himself get lost in the pleasure. Wei Wuxian studied his reactions closely and adjusted his technique on what Lan Wangji seemed to like the most, tightening his hold and stroking faster as Lan Wangji’s breathing hitched. It didn’t take much longer until Lan Wangji was spilling into his hand and the water and Wei Wuxian was quick to bring his hand to his mouth to get a taste of Lan Wangji’s seed before it was completely washed away. The taste wasn’t anything special, but the dark and hungry look Lan Wangji gave in reply was. A moment later, Lan Wangji’s lips were on his again, kissing him passionately.
As they kissed, Lan Wangji’s hands wandered lower once again, exploring his body. Feeling emboldened, Wei Wuxian took hold of one of Lan Wangji’s hands and led it downwards, to his tail. With arousal clouding his mind, his earlier hesitation to explore that region of his body melted away and luckily, Lan Wangji didn’t seem inclined to hesitation at all. He was quick to find and explore the slit that opened up now that Wei Wuxian was aroused, pressing his fingers inside. Wei Wuxian wasn’t sure what it felt like to Lan Wangji, but to Wei Wuxian, it felt amazing and unlike anything he had never felt before. Lan Wangji’s fingers felt hot inside of him, the movements shooting sparks of pleasure through his body. He completely lost himself in it, in the pleasure, whining and making needy noises as more and more of Lan Wangji’s fingers explored his insides. There was something else inside there too, something that was part of Wei Wuxian, but remained, for a lack of a better word, sheathed, for now.
Subconsciously, Wei Wuxian started wrapping his tail around Lan Wangji’s legs again, to keep him in place. He also hid his face in Lan Wangji’s neck as the pleasure inside of him crested and finally spilled over, making him shake apart in Lan Wangji’s hands. He hadn’t felt as alive as he did in that moment after his death. He almost felt as if his heart was beating again inside his chest.
It took a while until Wei Wuxian came back to himself fully. Lan Wangji and him exchanged a few more lazy kisses afterwards, but then, sadly, Lan Wangji needed to leave the river again. He had become all pruney and needed to change into a fresh robes as well. Wei Wuxian watched him climb out of the river with a heavy heart and even as Lan Wangji leaned down to press another sweet kiss to his lips, that feeling settled inside of him like a heavy rock weighing him down. Then, Lan Wangji returned to the house. A-Yuan too stayed on land that night, spending it with his family and so, it was just Wei Wuxian in the water and he was quick to return to the bottom of the river to sulk.
He felt cold and curled up as best as he could. Already, doubts were making themselves known to him. He didn’t doubt either his or Lan Wangji’s feelings, but… He couldn’t help but wonder if they hadn’t just set themselves up for some major hurt.
All alone, curled up at the bottom of the river, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but feel bereft and just strange and cold all over. Why was he feeling cold all of a sudden? He couldn’t stop shaking either.
He just wished that he was back in Lan Wangji’s arms again.
Notes:
August has been a rough month™ for me .__. Got my hand fucked up in a dumb accident and I still have that language test that may or may not be happening at the start of September (it's for a potential job and they wanted to send out the invitations by the end of August, but there hasn't been news yet). So. I coped. And you got to have this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it!
Also, please applaud Lan Wangji for pulling the classic move of: Oh, I suddenly can't swim. If only there was somebody who could help me.
Chapter 7: Painful Separations
Summary:
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji navigate the challenges of their relationship.
Notes:
Content Warnings (click to expand)
Discussions of death and being killed, the urge to drag your loved ones to the bottom of the river despite them not being able to survive that, the urge to be dragged to the bottom of the river by your undead merboyfriend, more hints of subdrop-adjacent feelings, mild sexual content.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The next few days felt like the sweetest torture.
During the day, Wei Wuxian was pretty busy. He spent his time with A-Yuan and the Wens, hunted fish for them and helped wherever he could. Whenever they found the time, he also snuck away with Lan Wangji and as they continued exploring each other, their touches growing more confident with each passing day. Wei Wuxian was in love.
However, every day was accompanied with an inevitable parting. Of course, sometimes A-Yuan slept with him in the water, but more often than not, he slept inside with the others, clinging to Lan Wangji in particular. Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian returned to the depths of his river and faced his own demons. As his relationship with Lan Wangji progressed, he felt overcome with new urges and he didn’t really know how to place them.
Whenever he twined his tail around Lan Wangji’s legs, he wanted to tighten his hold on the other, wanted to drag him with him to the bottom of the river. He didn’t understand why he felt like this. It felt contrary. He didn’t want to harm Lan Wangji, of course not, and yet. Dragging him to the bottom of the river would have harmed Lan Wangji. Unlike Wei Wuxian, he was human. Unlike Wei Wuxian, he was alive. Unlike Wei Wuxian, he didn’t belong into the depths of the waters.
Was there something wrong with him? Did he maybe suffer negative consequences from absorbing all that resentful energy after all? Had he been affected by the Waterborne Abyss?
Once again, Wei Wuxian curled into himself at the bottom of the river. He felt cold again. Awkwardly, he hugged himself. It would have been more comfortable with two arms probably. Just earlier, him and Lan Wangji had once again reiterated their feelings for each other, had brought each other pleasure. Why was he feeling like this again? Why did most evenings end like this, with Wei Wuxian being left alone in the river, feeling cold and forlorn.
Frustrated, Wei Wuxian returned to the surface. Suddenly, he couldn’t stand being in the river anymore. If it wasn’t for A-Yuan, who was still reliant on his teachings and very attached to him, Wei Wuxian would have asked if Lan Wangji would have liked to leave to travel a little. There was only so much he could explore in the rivers here and maybe he just needed to get away again for a little while. Maybe that was why he was feeling like this.
Wei Wuxian swam to the little pier, heaving his body up onto the wood and making himself comfortable there, only his tail remaining in the water.
For a while, Wei Wuxian simply laid there and watched the buildings on the river’s shore, watched the light shine through the windows, listened to the sounds of life continuing behind the walls.
He didn’t miss being human, not really. What Wei Wuxian missed was the companionship, he realized as he watched the buildings.
Eventually, one of the doors of the houses opened and someone stepped outside. They closed the door behind them and sighed heavily, then they walked over to the pier.
It was Lan Wangji.
“Wei Ying?” Lan Wangji asked, sounding surprised to see Wei Ying on the pier. “Is everything alright?”
Wei Ying grinned up at him. “Everything is fine, er-gege. I was just admiring the moon!” he lied cheekily, but Lan Wangji frowned.
“The moon?” Lan Wangji asked and looked up. Wei Wuxian did as well and grimaced. Of course, tonight was a new moon.
Wei Wuxian sighed defeated. “Alright, you got me,” he admitted with a pout. “I just missed you…” he then admitted quietly.
For a moment, Lan Wangji looked a little heartbroken. Then, he sat down on the pier as well and Wei Wuxian was quick to awkwardly shuffle closer to him until he could rest his head in Lan Wangji’s lap.
“I missed you as well, Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji said quietly and started combing through Wei Wuxian’s hair with his fingers. It was all tangled from being in the water all day, but Lan Wangji didn’t seem to mind, taking his time and using gentle movements to untangle it. Wei Wuxian purred at the touch. He wasn’t even really sure where the sound was coming from, but it felt right.
“I wish I could be with you always…” Wei Wuxian said with a sigh, leaning into Lan Wangji’s touch.
“I will stay with Wei Ying forever,” Lan Wangji was quick to promise and Wei Wuxian smiled up at him, pleased if misunderstood.
“Not quite what I meant, but I appreciate the sentiment,” Wei Wuxian told him. “No, I… I wish could spend all day every day with you,” he explained.
Lan Wangji made an almost inaudible sound and then gently cradled Wei Wuxian’s face in his hands. “I wish so too,” he replied and hesitated for a moment. “Do you dislike it… Being as you are now?” he then asked carefully.
Wei Wuxian pouted a little. He had kind of anticipated that Lan Wangji would ask something along those lines, but he had already made his opinion about his transformation known. “I don’t,” he still said again, hoping that Lan Wangji understood it. “On the contrary, no. I actually like being as I am now. No, what I dislike is, well, the only company down in the river are fish and I’d rather have you down there with me,” he said, curling his tail a little around Lan Wangji even in the position they were in right now.
Lan Wangji hummed in understanding, but said nothing else. Wei Wuxian wasn’t sure what else could be said either. That’s just how it was, nothing to be done. So, instead Wei Wuxian butted his head against Lan Wangji’s hand, demanding more pats. Lan Wangji indulged him happily and they spend the remainder of the evening until it was Lan Wangji’s bedtime together in comfortable silence, sitting together on the pier and watching the stars in the moonless sky.
After Lan Wangji left to go to bed, Wei Wuxian returned to the river, feeling a little better.
In the following days, it became clear that Lan Wangji ensured to spend as much time together as possible. If he couldn’t stay in the water any longer, then he only returned to pier and remained nearby. If he really couldn’t stay with Wei Wuxian anymore, then he at least made sure that A-Yuan was with Wei Wuxian instead.
It was a little easier with A-Yuan, who could follow him into the water in a way Lan Wangji couldn’t. He could stay as long as he wanted and dive beneath the surface with Wei Wuxian as well. More than once, he noticed Lan Wangji watching them intently, a longing expression on his face. Whenever Wei Wuxian saw that expression on Lan Wangji’s face, he regretted having brought the issue up at all. Maybe he should have kept these feelings to himself after all. There really wasn’t anything to be done after all and now, they were both miserable.
A few weeks later, Wen Qing and Wen Ning visited as well. They were both quite busy in Nightless City after Wen Qing had taken over as Sect Leader Wen and Wei Wuxian felt a little bad for having put them in the situation, but it was still much better than having Wen Ruohan be in charge.
“Wei-gongzi, how have you been? Has A-Yuan adapted well to the water?” Wen Ning asked him, sitting down on the pier.
Wei Wuxian nodded. “I’ve been well and A-Yuan has been making great progress. He’s such a studious child, always curious to learn more,” he replied with a grin. Already, A-Yuan was pretty self-sufficient in the water. He was able to transform at will and knew how to keep himself save. Of course, there weren’t any real dangers in Yiling’s waters anymore. The only danger was getting spotted by outsider and Wei Wuxian worked hard on developing something that kept him safe from that as well. It was a little project he had picked up to keep himself busy on lonely nights.
“And how have you been?” he then asked Wen Ning.
Wen Ning shrugged. “I’m glad that we’re b-back here. Even if it’s only for a visit,” he said. “Nightless City really isn’t for me,” he then admitted.
Wei Wuxian pouted, unhappy for his friend. “I hope you’ll be able to visit more often in the future,” he said. “Or maybe I should come and visit you to distract you for boring sect business.”
Wen Ning smiled. “I would like that,” he said earnestly.
A moment later, Wen Qing arrived on the pier as well, accompanied by Lan Wangji. Seeing her brother’s smile, Wen Qing’s expression softened as well. She had changed out of the elaborate sect leader’s robes she had worn when they had arrived earlier and wore the simpler robes she had always preferred.
“Wei Wuxian, thank you for coming back to Yiling,” Wen Qing told him and sat down beside her brother on the pier. A moment later, Lan Wangji sat down as well.
Wei Wuxian smiled up at them from his position in the water. “Of course,” he told her. “And you… You are alright with A-Yuan staying the way he is now as well?” he then couldn’t help but ask. Of course, the other Wens who lived here had already made their opinion know, but it had been Wen Qing who had brought him back here to take care of A-Yuan.
Wen Qing nodded. “He’s been much happier,” she admitted. “He’s also been a good child, but we all worried for him. Growing up without parents is still hard, even with everyone taking care of him, but he’s taken such a liking to you and it’s good to see him thrive. Popo told me that he can control his transformation freely now?”
Wei Wuxian nodded. “There aren’t any issues with that at all. It’ll only be important for him to stay out of sight of Yiling’s residents growing up, but thankfully this house is a little away from the town itself and I’m working on a solution too,” he replied.
Wen Qing nodded, looking satisfied. “On the topic of staying out of sight though…” she then started and sighed, the previous sense of satisfaction disappearing and annoyance taking over. “I assume you’ve heard that the other sect leaders are planning to visit Yiling?” she asked.
Wei Wuxian considered it for a moment and then looked at Lan Wangji. “Oh right, you mentioned something like that, didn’t you?” he asked Lan Wangji, who nodded. “They are coming to take a look at the Burial Mounds, aren’t they?”
“Yes,” Lan Wangji told him. “Uncle is planning to join them as well. The transformation of the Burial Mounds is regarded as a miracle and many are suspicious,” he added.
“You don’t even know half of it,” Wen Qing said with another annoyed sigh. “Currently, all major sects are kind of suspicious of each other. The only ones who seemingly get along are the Nies and the Lans, but apart from that there’s hardly any trust. After what happened at Lotus Pier and later to Wen Ruohan, there’s been some rumours going around about divine retribution,” she explained. “Apparently, word got out that Yu-furen was punished as well. They say she lost her tongue,” Wen Qing then said carefully.
Wei Wuxian shrugged, but said nothing. Madam Yu only got what she deserved. The others looked at him for some moments and he felt a little uncomfortable with their gazes.
“So, you’ve probably come to ask me to lay low, haven’t you?” Wei Wuxian asked after a few more moments of uncomfortable silence.
Wen Qing grimaced, but nodded. “Haven’t you met up with Hanguang-Jun to go night-hunting? There was that contamination in Qinghe, wasn’t there?” she asked.
“Yeah, I guess we can check it out,” Wei Wuxian replied, feeling unhappy about having to leave again. He had just gotten used to being back after all and to maybe being allowed to stay here long-time. “Should we take A-Yuan along as well? I’m sure he would enjoy a little trip as well,” he wanted to know, but Wen Qing shook her head.
“It’s alright, don’t let yourself be distracted by him on your night-hunt. Let him stay with popo until your return,” she said and Wei Wuxian felt that the decision was already made. Even if he had decided to leave to travel instead of night-hunting for a few days, Wen Qing wouldn’t have wanted A-Yuan to go along.
“Alright,” Wei Wuxian said, his tail twitching a little unhappily. He looked at Lan Wangji. “When should we leave?” he asked.
“Tomorrow morning,” Lan Wangji proposed. “I am sure A-Yuan would like to spend the night with you before we leave,” he said.
“And Lan-er-gege doesn’t want so spend the night with me?” Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but ask cheekily. Lan Wangji’s ears blushed prettily, but he said nothing.
After the decision was made, Wei Wuxian spent a little longer with the three at the pier, before he felt his unrest growing too much and left to return to the river for now. He couldn’t exactly pinpoint why exactly he was feeling the way he did, but he was unhappy. He tried not to dwell on it, to focus on the upcoming night-hunt and the fun him and Lan Wangji would surely have, but the feeling stuck to him stubbornly. It became only worse when he had to say goodbye to A-Yuan the next morning. The child clung to him with all his might, twining his tail around Wei Wuxian’s. He even bit Lan Wangji when he attempted to lift the child out of the water, his sharp teeth immediately drawing blood. Still, in the end they managed to get A-Yuan out of the river and back into his human form and Wei Wuxian attempted his best to pretend that he wasn’t feeling as if someone had clawed his chest open.
On the way to Qinghe, him and Lan Wangji took on a number of smaller night-hunts, hunting water ghouls and the like. It was fun and Wei Wuxian enjoyed getting to see new waters as well. He did his best to get lost in the joy of it and Lan Wangji certainly did his best to distract Wei Wuxian as well.
Hunting water ghouls like this reminded Wei Wuxian of his youth in Yunmeng, where he had often grabbed them out of the water with his bare hands as well. Now, he finally got to share these stories with Lan Wangji, which was its own joy in of itself.
After another encounter with a few water ghouls, Lan Wangji was quick to join Wei Wuxian in the river, the adrenalin of a successful hunt often leaving both of them quite pent-up. He descended on Wei Wuxian like a man starving and Wei Wuxian happily melted into him, letting himself be kissed breathless, while Lan Wangji’s hands wandered lower, coming to rest where his tail started and pulling Wei Wuxian even closer. Already, he could feel Lan Wangji’s erection pressing against him and Wei Wuxian pulled him with his tail as well, a whiny moan escaping his lips at the delicious friction. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji’s mouth moved lower, kissing, and biting marks wherever it went. It didn’t take much longer for either of them. They were still so new to this, still so desperate for each other.
Afterwards, they remained together for a while longer, holding each other close and merely enjoying each other’s presence. At least, until Lan Wangji’s fingers grew wrinkly once again. Lan Wangji grew tired from swimming as well and so; it was time to part again. Wei Wuxian watched him climb out of the water forlornly, a familiar coldness spreading inside of him at the sight.
As observant as Lan Wangji was, he noticed Wei Wuxian watching him as he dried off and there was pain in his expression as well. Once he had dressed again, he sat down at the edge of the river and reached out. Wei Wuxian swam closer and took his hand unhappily.
“Wei Ying, I have a proposal,” Lan Wangji said, sounding cautious, which in turn made Wei Wuxian anxious.
“What is it?” Wei Wuxian asked, before awkwardly hoisting himself half onto shore as well. He kept holding on to Lan Wangji’s hand and probably looked about as enticing as a fish flopping around helplessly on land, but he wanted to be closer to Lan Wangji, sensing that whatever the other wanted to say was important.
Once he had made himself as comfortable as it got, Lan Wangji looked at him intently. “I would like to become like you, like A-Yuan,” Lan Wangji said.
“You…?” Wei Wuxian asked helplessly, his eyes widening in surprise. He couldn’t really comprehend what he had just heard.
Lan Wangji inclined his head. “Wei Ying has the powers to change me. Having to part every day pains us both and I would like to stay beside you forever,” he said.
Wei Wuxian moved Lan Wangji’s hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to the back of it before hiding his face behind their hands. He felt completely lost for words. Again, he felt the dark urge inside of him to pull Lan Wangji into the river with him, to drag him into depths. He… He wanted to drown Lan Wangji in his arms, wanted to kiss his cold lips until he was forced to breathe through gills himself. He felt almost mad with it and he couldn’t help but shiver as the thought lodged itself in his heart. He knew that the transformation he had gone through and the transformation A-Yuan had gone through were tied to death. To become what they were, death was inevitable.
Wei Wuxian shook his head, feeling afraid of himself and of what Lan Wangji was asking of him.
It took a few moments until he felt as though he had calmed enough to answer Lan Wangji. “Lan Zhan,” he started softly. “I became like this because I died a gruesome death,” he said. “A-Yuan too… he had a brush with death as well. I can’t change you at will,” he replied carefully.
“I do not care,” Lan Wangji said. He was convicted and Wei Wuxian wondered how long Lan Wangji had meant to ask this. “I have considered it carefully and I am willing to do whatever it takes,” Lan Wangji continued and squeezed his hand. There was an intense look in his eyes and it made Wei Wuxian afraid. He was afraid of the things Lan Wangji was willing to let Wei Wuxian do to him.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian replied hotly. “Do you realize what you’re asking of me?” He found himself growing angry as his desperation rose. Why wasn’t Lan Wangji seeing sense? “Have you even thought about what might happen if something goes wrong? What about your family? Your brother? They are still out there.”
“I trust you and your abilities,” Lan Wangji merely said. “And my brother knows that I am out on an extended night-hunt. It is alright,” he continued.
“It’s not, Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian shot back. “Lan Zhan, you’re asking me to kill you! It’s not alright! Absolutely not!” He couldn’t help but let go of Lan Wangji’s hand. He still couldn’t believe how calmly Lan Wangji asked this of him.
“Wei Ying, I want to be with you,” Lan Wangji repeated once again and reached out as if to take hold of Wei Wuxian’s hand again, but Wei Wuxian shook his head and awkwardly shuffled back towards the water.
“Not like this, Lan Zhan, not like this,” he said, making it back in the water. He was feeling cold, much colder than he usually did when he parted with Lan Wangji. He was also still angry, but it was a cold anger. The kind that stayed beneath the surface, the kind that turned your heart into stone, that made you stubbornly stand your ground.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji tried once again, but Wei Wuxian shook his head.
“I’m not doing it, I’m not,” Wei Wuxian said and swam back, bringing more distance between them. “We should. Go to bed for today. We can continue to Qinghe tomorrow, but this. I won’t do it,” he said once again, looking at Lan Wangji and hoping that he understood it.
After a few more moments of silence, Lan Wangji nodded, though he stayed silent. Wei Wuxian nodded as well and then he quickly dived into the water, returning to the depths of the river.
The worst part of it all was that Wei Wuxian could picture himself agreeing. A part of him wanted to agree. He wanted to stay with Lan Wangji as well. He wanted him down here with him, wanted to completely undo him until he had no choice but become the sort of creature Wei Wuxian had turned into.
Once again, he regretted telling Lan Wangji about how he felt. Nothing good came from it.
Notes:
It's been a hot minute, but I'm back! I aced the language test and actually got invited for a job interview next month, so keep your fingers crossed for me! And speaking of fingers, my hand is all healed up as well, but I kinda lost feeling in my thumb, which can be annoying. So, don't be like me. Always be careful when handling glass!
For those of you who've read the thread fic, I'm sure you noticed that we've reached the part of the story where it majorly diverges from the thread fic, which pretty much ended at this point. Hope you're excited to see what happens next~
Chapter 8: The Caves
Summary:
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji make their way to Qinghe to examine an unnatural contamination of resentful energy.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The next morning, they didn’t talk about it.
Wei Wuxian liked to pretend that it was by mutual silent agreement, but he was sure that Lan Wangji would have liked to talk about it, but Wei Wuxian didn’t let him. How the tables have turned, he couldn’t help but think as he swam up the river, Lan Wangji flying above him. Before his death, he had always felt as if he had been the one who chased after Lan Wangji, the one who had been desperate to get a response out of him. Now it felt as though their roles had been reversed. Lan Wangji was the one who followed him and who attempted to get him to talk.
Well. Wei Wuxian didn’t feel like talking yet and so, he continued to shoot down Lan Wangji’s awkward attempts at talking as they travelled further north.
Thankfully, they arrived in Qinghe soon enough and both focussed on the night-hunt, because no matter how much Lan Wangji wanted to continue their discussion, he was nothing if not thorough and committed when it came to night-hunting. Wei Wuxian had always admired that about Lan Wangji. He was just so good, an exemplary cultivator.
Up in Qinghe, Wei Wuxian tasted more resentful energy in the water than usual. As he had been told, something was definitely weird here.
“It’s strange energy,” Wei Wuxian said and weaved his hand through the water, trying to get a better feel for it. “It’s hard to describe, but it’s angry, very angry… It feels almost animalistic in nature,” he continued.
Lan Wangji frowned. “Is it the contamination you mentioned?” he asked.
Wei Wuxian nodded. “It seems like it. The levels of resentment are surprisingly high despite Qinghe not being known for these kinds of things,” he replied. “After all, there’s no Waterborne Abyss or Burial Mounds here and yet, the water is saturated in resentful energy. The Nies aren’t known for slacking when it comes to night-hunting either. I mean, apart from Huaisang, I guess.”
“How have you learned of the contamination before coming here?” Lan Wangji then asked, examining the water as well. “If not for you, I would have not noticed the high levels of resentful energy in the waters.”
“The waters told me themselves,” Wei Wuxian replied with a grin. “I’m not a river spirit for nothing, you know! It’s not just sharp claws and teeth. I can communicate with the creatures in the water too, though I must admit that they don’t exactly make for interesting conversation partners,” he explained. “Speaking of water though, let me see if I can get a sense of where the energy is coming from,” Wei Wuxian then said and Lan Wangji nodded. A moment later, Wei Wuxian dived back below the surface and let himself get lost in the current of the river for some moments, listening to what the water and its inhabitants had to say to him.
It seemed like the source of the resentful energy wasn’t inside the water itself. Instead, it seemed like it was leaking out of something further north, closer to the Unclean Realm. Wei Wuxian wasn’t sure how he felt about that, about having to advance closer to another major sect’s seat of power. At least Chifeng-Zun was currently away, taking a look at what was once the Yiling Burial Mounds with the other sect leaders. Wei Wuxian pouted having reminded himself of the reason why they had to leave Yiling in the first place, why he had to leave A-Yuan… He shook himself and resurfaced and then told Lan Wangji what he had learned. Lan Wangji frowned again as he learned where the energy was probably coming from.
“Maybe I should inform my brother instead,” Lan Wangji proposed. Wei Wuxian considered that for a moment. Chifeng-Zun and Zewu-Jun were close, so bringing Lan Xichen into the boat might have been a sensible solution, but again, he didn’t particularly trust the sects and that unfortunately included Lan Wangji’s brother. So, he shook his head softly.
“Let’s see what it is first,” Wei Wuxian said. “You can always write your brother later, but I’ve found that the sects aren’t that reliable when it comes to resentful energy contaminations like this one. Most of them only care if there’s a prestigious kill involved. Chifeng-Zun didn’t earn his title for anything else either.”
Lan Wangji was still frowning slightly, but he nodded, looking unhappy. “Let us trace it to its source then,” he said Wei Wuxian nodded in agreement.
They continued their journey and unfortunately, as he had anticipated, their journey took them very close to the Unclean Realm. Luckily, they seemed to have found their destination before literally barging into the Nie’s fortress, but it was still too close for Wei Wuxian’s liking. They followed the river until they suddenly found themselves in front of a massive Maze Array, which they only figured out, because it wasn’t working underwater and thus kept separating them as Lan Wangji stayed above ground while Wei Wuxian swam.
“Talk about suspicious,” Wei Wuxian said, peeking out of the water and scrutinizing the Maze Array in front of them. Once you knew that you were dealing with a Maze Array, you basically already beat it, but it was still a strange thing to look at, since it was constantly attempting to change your perception of your surroundings.
“The water here is completely drenched in resentful energy and I would bet my remaining arm that we’ve found the source as well,” he said. Beyond the Maze Array, the river led underground and the opening was comfortably large enough to swim through. “How about it, I swim down and you see what’s beyond the Maze Array and take the main entrance?” he asked.
“Let me check what the main entrance looks like first before we separate,” Lan Wangji replied and Wei Wuxian was quick to nod in agreement. It was a sensible suggestion. Before he went to investigate, Lan Wangji leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Wei Wuxian’s lips, catching him off guard. They hadn’t talked about it after all, their relationship and all that, but having been kissed, Wei Wuxian felt better.
Whatever happened next, they would be alright, he told himself as he watched Lan Wangji step beyond the borders of the Maze Array and disappear into nothing from one moment to the next. It didn’t take too long until Lan Wangji suddenly reappeared. Evidently, the Maze Array wasn’t much of a challenge for a cultivator of his calibre and Wei Wuxian grinned happily at the casual reminder of the strength of Lan Wangji’s cultivation.
“There are a number of stone bunkers,” Lan Wangji told him. “I have not entered them, but it seems to me that they are leading underground as well, with only an entrance aboveground,” he described.
Wei Wuxian nodded. “Shall we explore then?” he asked.
Lan Wangji inclined his head in agreement. “Stay safe,” he told Wei Wuxian.
“You as well,” Wei Wuxian replied with a smile before motioning for Lan Wangji to lean down once again. This time, it was him who pressed a chaste kiss to Lan Wangji’s lips. A promise returned. Whatever happens, we will be fine, he wanted to say. From the way Lan Wangji’s expression softened a little, it seemed like he understood. They exchanged another look and then Wei Wuxian submerged once again and followed the river underground through a narrow opening.
He soon found himself in an underground cave system. It was very dark, but the darkness was no issue for Wei Wuxian and his much-improved post-death eyesight. As he waited for Lan Wangji, he looked around. The caves seemed to be natural, but there were also man-made structures down here. Small bridges that led across the river. Large ornate gates that led further into the caves. Statues that seemed to evoke mighty ancestors of the Nie Sect.
Wei Wuxian found the caves and their connection to the Qinghe Nie Sect highly suspicious, especially considering that this place was practically tainted in resentful energy. Whatever was happening here, the Nies must have been aware of it and Wei Wuxian didn’t like the implications one bit.
Strangely, the walls made Wei Wuxian feel especially uneasy. He felt as if the resentful energy was coming from the walls, as if it was leaking out of the walls into the water. Once he concentrated on that feeling, he could feel it. Trapped down here, angry, volatile. He could hear its whisperings. Wei Wuxian started humming silently, both to combat the feeling the resentful energy left on him and to call Lan Wangji to him. Usually, he wasn’t affected by resentful energy anymore. Not in this way and yet, he started feeling affected again. All of it… felt off.
Thankfully, it didn’t take much longer until Lan Wangji arrived here as well, lulled to Wei Wuxian by his humming.
“The walls,” Wei Wuxian told him immediately. “The resentful energy is coming from something inside the walls.”
Lan Wangji looked around as well, the cave illuminated by Bichen’s beautiful sword glare. His gaze came to rest on one of the gates. It was locked with some kind of array, the unlocking mechanism linked to an astronomical riddle. It felt like something Nie Huaisang would appreciate. Maybe he was closer in temperament to his ancestors than they all thought after all!
Together, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji managed to unlock the gate fairly quickly and Wei Wuxian felt invigorated by the joy of solving a clever puzzle. However, then he had to pout again, feeling gloomy as he looked at the open gate in front of them. It was on land and the river was leading into a completely different direction. Of course, Lan Wangji could have lifted him out of the water and carried him into the chamber beyond the gate. However, that was a little foolish, considering they still didn’t know what was happening down here.
“Stay safe,” Wei Wuxian told Lan Wangji again, looking up to him unhappily. Once again, Lan Wangji leaned down to press an appeasing kiss to Wei Wuxian’s lips, then he turned and made his way inside the chamber, taking Bichen’s sword glare with him and literally leaving Wei Wuxian in the dark.
After a few moments of waiting, Wei Wuxian started feeling a little bored and so, he dived back into the water, looking around if he could see something else that could be helpful. He found a few more underwater exits out of the cave system, one of them even fairly big, but nothing else. He wondered where those exits would take him though. They were quite close to the Unclean Realm after all.
It took a long while until Lan Wangji returned, but he did so quietly. Apparently, there hadn’t been a battle at least.
“Wei Ying?” Lan Wangji called out and Wei Wuxian quickly returned to the surface.
“What did you find?” Wei Wuxian asked.
Lan Wangji frowned. “It is a strange place,” he confirmed. “From what I have gathered, it is a tomb for sabres. The weapons belonged to ancestors of the Nie Sect and I can feel a strong aura of hatred and anger from them.”
“Was there anything else?” Wei Wuxian asked and Lan Wangji shook his head. “Can you bring one of the sabres here? So that I can take a look at it too?” Wei Wuxian asked him. Lan Wangji hesitated a moment, seeming uneasy about having to take out one of the sabres out of a casket, but seeing Wei Wuxian’s pout, he eventually agreed.
Lan Wangji quickly left and returned a few moments later with one of the sabres. It was a beautiful weapon, that much he could admit. However, Wei Wuxian agreed with Lan Wangji’s assessment. He could sense strong feelings of anger and hatred emitting from the weapon. It was even a little overwhelming. He took hold of the weapon carefully. It was surprisingly heavy and difficult to handle with one hand.
Holding it in his hand, he finally made sense of one thing. He finally understood what was off about the resentful energy here. It wasn’t human-made resentful energy, which was what he had grown familiar with. Both the Burial Mounds and the Waterborne Abyss had been man-made, their resentment human in nature. This sabre however… it was drenched in beastly resentment. Wei Wuxian hummed softly, letting the energy sing to him in return. Apparently, the resentment had been drawn into the weapon out of the beasts it had slayed. Slowly, a theory was coming together in Wei Wuxian’s mind and it made him quite angry in turn.
“I’m afraid the Nie Sect’s cultivation differs from the other sects’ cultivation even beyond the use of sabres,” Wei Wuxian said darkly and handed the sabre back to Lan Wangji, who eyed the weapon curiously.
“How so?” Lan Wangji wanted to know.
“So, and this is just my guess, but it looks like the Nies actually strengthen their blades not with spiritual energy, but instead if the resentful energy of slain beasts. It makes sense, I guess, since their founder is a butcher, but it’s also rather sinister, isn’t it? To be honest, if it wasn’t only beastly energy, this would be decried as demonic cultivation. It’s certainly unorthodox. I understand now, why they are so intent on keeping people out of this place,” Wei Wuxian explained with a grimace, flashing his teeth. “It also explains why the Nies have always favoured night-hunts targeting beasts over any other prey. Of course, they don’t care for Fierce Corpses under these circumstances. It won’t help them grow stronger after all.”
As he spoke, Lan Wangji’s expression changed and he now eyed the blade with something that looked like disappointment. Though he didn’t look particularly surprised.
“It also explains why many from the Nie Sect die young,” Lan Wangji said after some moments. “They often suffer qi deviations.”
Wei Wuxian nodded. “That’s right,” he agreed. “They cultivate using spiritual energy themselves. After all, they’re still cultivating a Golden Core within themselves. However, their blades use resentful energy. The stronger they grow, the higher the chance of a qi deviation. It makes me wonder about Chifeng-Zun’s future. He’s quite powerful after all. If he continues like this, he probably won’t have many years ahead of him either,” he mused.
Lan Wangji nodded grimly.
Wei Wuxian suddenly chuckled, as he realised something. “Suddenly, Huaisang doesn’t seem as unreasonable for not wanting to pick up his sabre. I wonder whether there’s more behind his supposed laziness after all,” he said, grinning up to Lan Wangji. Huaisang had always been quite lazy and willing to indulge in the finer aspects of life. Maybe it was luck or maybe he had watched too many of his family members suffer a violent and sudden death due to qi deviations.
He looked at the sabre in Lan Wangji’s hands again. “I’m guessing the sabres also won’t accept new owners and of course, the Nies are unable to dispel the resentment inside the sabres and destroy them, since that would be unfilial as well,” Wei Wuxian mused. “They are so angry too, hungry for the next fight… I wonder…” he then started and looked at the walls, focussing on those weird vibes the walls gave off.
“Will you do me a favour, Lan Zhan? Will you know down one of those walls? I have an uncomfortable suspicion,” Wei Wuxian asked.
Lan Wangji nodded, but first returned the sabre to its coffin, not wanting to carry it any longer. Once he returned, he looked down to Wei Wuxian. “Any wall in particular?” he asked, but Wei Wuxian shook his head. So, Lan Wangji chose a wall at random and slashed at it with Bichen, unleashing strong bursts of spiritual energy. The wall cracked open immediately and unfortunately, Wei Wuxian’s suspicion was confirmed. It was filled with human remains. They had probably once been Fierce Corpses, if his theory was sound.
“The sabres are angry and yearn to fight, but if you offered them more beasts, they would only grow stronger, making the problem even worse. So, instead, they appease the sabres with human resentment to fight against,” Wei Wuxian said.
“Despicable,” Lan Wangji commented and Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but agree.
“Well, the Nies might be unable to destroy the sabres due to their filial piety, but luckily, I do not have such qualms and they are no match for me either way,” Wei Wuxian then said, feeling anger rise inside of him at what they had discovered.
“Should I carry the sabres here or bring you to them?” Lan Wangji asked, but Wei Wuxian shook his head.
“No need,” he said and closed his eyes. “Now that I know what I’m sensing, I can tell where they are,” he said and reached out to the energy. “I will need you to take cover though and you should probably also ready your qin for afterwards. I’ll absorb as much of the resentful energy as I can, but it’ll go faster if you help be dispel it,” he said.
Lan Wangji nodded and prepared himself. He summoned his qin and took position, both taking cover but also staying close enough to intervene if needed. Once he was ready, he nodded and Wei Wuxian grinned at him before closing his yes again, his concentration zeroing in on the sabres.
He could feel hundreds of sabres locked away in various chambers inside this wide system of underground caves. A dozen of them were hidden in the room Lan Wangji had examined, but as Wei Wuxian closed his five senses and instead concentrated on his spiritual senses, he quickly realized that there was much more down here than he could have guessed. It was truly astounding how much the Nies had managed to hide down here. Generations of weapons and walls filled with corpses. He could hardly wrap his head around it.
How had no one ever figured out something was off about the Nies’ cultivation?
How come no one had ever wondered why all of the Nies’ greatest warriors died violent and early deaths?
Of course, it was widely known that the Nies were quick to anger and lash out, but no one had ever guessed that something else was happening as well and all the while the Nies continued to bring their own demise upon themselves and future generations.
Wei Wuxian understood filial piety, he really did, but he didn’t understand why the Nies hadn’t long adjusted their cultivation style. Were they so intent on honouring their ancestors that they didn’t dare deviate from their teachings even if it guaranteed a longer, happier life? More and more questions appeared inside of Wei Wuxian’s mind and he did his best to banish these thoughts and instead focussed on the sabres and their anger.
Oh, they were so very angry. They ached for another fight, just one more fight.
Alright then, Wei Wuxian thought, let’s give you one last fight and then lay you to rest.
Once he had connected to all sabres down here, he let the resentful energy lose. All around the cave system, the energy erupted and immediately, Wei Wuxian understood that he had miscalculated. He had not taken the corpses inside the walls into account. They too were angry and their energy erupted as well. As the ground started shaking, Wei Wuxian focussed on channelling all of the resentful energy to himself, absorbing as much of it as he could. He ignored the waves the water was already making, the sounds of the walls splintering around them. He focussed only on the energy and on gathering all of it inside of himself, making it his own.
It was over in a few moments and yet it felt as if it had gone on forever.
Vaguely, he acknowledged Lan Wangji’s soothing music starting to play as he concentrated on settling the energy in his core. This was much different from what he had done in the Burial Mounds or Biling Lake. Never before had he absorbed this much resentful energy in one go. It was beastly energy as well, which impacted him more than he could have anticipated. He felt the anger inside of him rise. He felt powerful, completely unstoppable.
Then, the save started collapsing above them.
Wei Wuxian opened his eyes, immediately looking to Lan Wangji. It seemed as if they had both come to the same conclusion, because a moment later, Lan Wangji had returned his qin and sword to his qiankun sleeve before he jumped into the water and threw his arms around Wei Wuxian.
“Hold tight and hold your breath,” was all that Wei Wuxian said, hugging Lan Wangji close as best as he could with his hand and making use of his claws as well. Then, he dived into the water. Already, huge rocks were crashing down from the ceiling above them, one of them nearly hitting them. He knew that they wouldn’t be able to make it out the way he had come it. They wouldn’t be able to squeeze through and Lan Wangji would drown before they arrived. So, he took the chance and made his way to the exit he had found earlier, dragging Lan Wangji with him into the unknown depths beyond.
Notes:
Everyone, please keep your fingers crossed for me. I have my job interview on Monday and I'm getting a little nervous! I'm glad I was able to get this chapter out before I travel to the location of the job interview tomorrow though. I hope you liked it and are excited for more!
Chapter 9: Trapped in Qinghe
Summary:
Their escape from the Sabre Tomb leads Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji straight into the Unclean Realm.
Notes:
Content Warnings (click to expand)
Injuries, blood, near-drowning.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Their time was running out. Fast.
Wei Wuxian already swam as quickly as he could, but with Lan Wangji holding on to him as he did, it proved itself to be far more difficult than he could have anticipated. Lan Wangji could only hold his breath for so long and holding on to Wei Wuxian was exhausting in of itself. His many layers of robes were weighing him down underwater and he couldn’t quite get a good grip on Wei Wuxian, who was – for a lack of a better comparison – as slippery as a fish.
Even worse, as the cave collapsed in front of them, being underwater wasn’t save either. Again and again, large rocks fell into the water and Wei Wuxian weaved around them as best as he could, but he couldn’t avoid them all. He was too focussed on getting them out of here. Wei Wuxian hissed as a piece of rock cut his tail and then hissed again, as he realized Lan Wangji had been wounded as well. He could taste his blood in the water. It made him feel absolutely feral.
Wei Wuxian tightened his own one-handed hold on Lan Wangji and accelerated. In front of them, he could finally make out an exit in the distance. At the same time, he could feel Lan Wangji’s grip on him growing weaker. So, he swam as quickly as he could, uncaring for where they would end up. All that mattered in that moment was that Lan Wangji would be safe.
A few moments later, they finally reached the surface and Wei Wuxian was quick to pull Lan Wangji’s head above surface. Lan Wangji weakly gasped for breath, struggling to get air back into his lungs.
“Calm, Lan Zhan, calm,” Wei Wuxian said. “Breathe in and out,” he told him, holding Lan Wangji close to him and steadying him while he couldn’t keep himself afloat by himself. Thankfully, Lan Wangji soon managed to draw in a few shaky breaths, his consciousness returning to him as his panic faded slowly.
Not a moment too late as well, because suddenly, someone cried out: “Water ghoul! There’s a water ghoul in the river!”
Wei Wuxian took in his surroundings and cursed softly. It seemed as though they had surfaced in the worst place imaginable. In the middle of the Unclean Realm. Already, Nie disciples were rushing to the water.
“Hanguang-Jun!” someone recognized. “The water ghoul has trapped Hanguang-Jun!”
Wei Wuxian acted quickly, without stopping to think. He swam towards the shore and pushed Lan Wangji on land. His partner was still weakened, unable to move his body on his own, but still attempting to reach out for Wei Wuxian instead. By the time he had managed to get Lan Wangji securely on land, Nie disciples had already started sending their sabres towards him and shooting arrows at him. Those cursed sabres. Wei Wuxian flashed his teeth at them and pulverized the sabres as he ducked back into the water. An arrow found its mark in his tail and he only barely evaded a spirit-trapping net someone had thrown at him, slashing it to pieces with his claws. As much as he wanted to give the Nies a thrashing, he quickly swam towards the bottom of the river instead, hoping that they would focus on taking care of Lan Wangji instead. Hopefully, he could trust them to do this much at least.
At the bottom of the river, he seemed to be safe enough for the moment. The river was very clouded, more so after the underground cave had collapsed. It suited Wei Wuxian. He could still see comfortably, but the Nies wouldn’t be able to aim for him under these conditions. With another annoyed hiss, Wei Wuxian ripped out the arrow from his tail, dark blood clouding the water. As soon as the arrow was out, resentful energy started knitting the wound together again, healing it was well as spiritual energy would have done if he wasn’t so keyed up still. Both the amount of resentful energy and the rush of adrenalin left him feeling nervously energized. He was also extremely worried about Lan Wangji and unsure how to proceed.
Should he try to return to Yiling on his own? Or should he stay here and attempt to contact Lan Wangji, so that they could plan their next move together?
He really wasn’t sure what he should do.
For now, he needed to see where this river led and whether he could find a way out of the Unclean Realm. He wasn’t sure how long and how thoroughly the Nies would search the river for him. It was better to be safe than sorry.
He looked around the river. Water was flowing wildly into different directions. The collapse of the cave must have caused widespread destruction, he realized. He couldn’t really make out where him and Lan Wangji had escaped the cave, but it was safe to assume that it would be better not to attempt to find a way out through the cave. Considering how close the sabre tomb had been to the Unclean Realm and how big the underground cave system had been as well, Wei Wuxian also thought that the collapse must have left destruction on the surface as well. He wouldn’t have been surprised if parts of the Nies’ fortress had collapsed due to what happened. He couldn’t bring himself to feel bad for the Nies though. It served them right, for simply burying their problems underground and pretending that everything was fine while all their strongest cultivators met an early and violent death. As much as he felt vindicated, Wei Wuxian couldn’t concentrate on the feeling. Not as long as he didn’t know how Lan Wangji was doing.
He swam around a little, trying to make sense of where to go while not getting dragged into one direction or another while the river was still adjusting to its new shape after the collapse. Above him, he could see that the Nies were attempting to get into the water as well. Without thinking, he shot some resentful energy towards them to keep them out of the water for now. Then, he chose one direction at random and followed the river upstream in search for a place where he could hide for a little while.
Unfortunately, it seemed as though he had chosen the wrong direction, because the river led towards the mountains that made up the backdrop of the Unclean Realm. Though he found some decent hiding spots, the river soon became narrower and then finally led up a rocky waterfall. Wei Wuxian looked up disgruntled. There was no way he would be able to swim up there, he realized.
As he sulked, a few fish gently nudged against his shoulders, drawing his attention to them. He could’ve slapped himself when he realized what they wanted. He was a river spirit. Why was he swimming around searching for the right way when he could simply ask the river itself?
Wei Wuxian closed his eyes and let himself drift in the river. He let the water speak to him, let its energy flow through his body as he almost felt himself become one with it.
From what he gathered, the Nies had carried Lan Wangji away from the river’s shore after they had taken care of his injuries. They hadn’t seemed hostile towards him, so hopefully, Lan Wangji would be safe in the Unclean Realm for the time being. As for the Unclean Realm itself. Well. It seemed like his earlier prediction had been correct. The collapse of the sabre tombs had caused widespread destruction. Several houses and parts of the Nies’ fortress had collapsed. It was still chaotic on the surface, with disciples and servants hurrying around. However, unfortunately, it also seemed as though they were still investigating the river and searching for the ‘water ghoul’ that had supposedly attacked Lan Wangji. It was good that he hadn’t been recognized at least, he thought. Hopefully, he had looked as inhuman and beastly as possible. He didn’t like the thought of anyone discovering his true form and his true powers… Knowing the cultivation sects, his destiny would be sealed if they learned what he was and what powers he wielded.
Once he had taken stock of the situation aboveground, Wei Wuxian focussed back on the river. It seemed like he definitely needed to get downstream to get to safety. The river led right through the high halls of the Unclean Realm and into Qinghe. The way out wasn’t blocked either, so it should be possible. Although he didn’t like the thought of leaving Lan Wangji inside the Unclean Realm unattended, he also didn’t really know what else to do.
If only there was a way for him to covertly communicate with Lan Wangji…
Wei Wuxian opened his eyes again. Around him, a few fish had gathered and continued nudging him in an almost-affectionate manner. He couldn’t help but smile a little and even caressed some of the fish with his hand in turn before he started his journey downstream. He was truly lucky that the river was quite large and deep enough for him to hide in. If they had surfaced in a tiny brook or even worse, a lake, Wei Wuxian would have been done for.
He swam through the Unclean Realm as swiftly as possible and passed by the Nie disciples, who were still searching for him, undetected. It was really bad news that they were still searching for him, especially since he wanted to make sure Lan Wangji was recovering alright after what had happened. Wei Wuxian didn’t feel comfortable leaving him here alone after what they had discovered about the Nies and their sabres. He wondered whether Nie Huaisang was here as well. Knowing him, he probably hadn’t accompanied his brother to the now-cleansed Burial Mounds, but then again. It’s not like he could count on Nie Huaisang to help him in this situation. For all they had been friendly with each other during the Cloud Recesses lectures and the indoctrination in Qishan, this was not something he could easily trust him with.
As Wei Wuxian continued his journey downstream, he decided to send some of his newly found fish friends back to spy on the Nies. Maybe they would be able to find out more information on Lan Wangji and where he was staying. At long last, he himself made it out of the Unclean Realm as well and luckily, he also found a comfortable nook of the river not too far from the fortress, where he could hide himself comfortably.
His wounds had mostly healed by now. They only felt a little tender and achy, but they didn’t impede his movements at all, which was all that mattered right now. So, he made himself as comfortable as possible in the little nook and then he waited.
And waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Fuck. He truly hated this. He felt stuck in this place, completely helpless. For the first time since he died, he despised that he couldn’t just grow himself some legs and march right back into the Unclean Realm and demand to be shown to Lan Wangji immediately. If only he could change as A-Yuan did. But at the end of the day, they weren’t the same. A-Yuan might have been at the brink of death, but he hadn’t died. Now, he lived between the two worlds. The living above and Wei Wuxian, down below in the river. Alone.
Eventually, the fish returned to him at least. They could only offer little news though. Apparently, some river bird or something had definitely seen Lan Wangji first being brought to the infirmary and later to one of the guest houses. Wei Wuxian was relieved to hear that much at least. However, one of the fish had also reported that guards had been stationed outside of Lan Wangji’s rooms and that he hadn’t left the house again either, which was extremely worrisome. Was it truly a guest house or had they imprisoned Lan Wangji instead? Unfortunately, that was all he learned. His little spies weren’t able to tell him much more. At the end of the day, they were still fish and their understanding of human affairs limited.
If only there was a way for Wei Wuxian to transfer part of his consciousness into one of the little creatures, like a paper man, then he would have been able to properly spy himself!
Since that was his only idea worth considering, Wei Wuxian tried to follow it through the next few days. He attempted to possess fish and over animals, while still using fish to bring him news of what was happening on the surface. Thankfully, the Nies seemed to be mostly concerned with cleaning up after the collapse of the sabre tomb and so he could work mostly uninterrupted.
Another three days passed before Wei Wuxian himself was able to watch something worrying happen. High above in the sky, a place where Wei Wuxian would probably never return himself, he saw a large number of cultivators flying towards the Unclean Realm. Thanks to his superior eyesight, he was able to identify them despite the distance between them. At the head of the formation, there was none other than Chifeng-Zun himself, closely followed by Zewu-Jun. Wei Wuxian grimaced at the sight. This wasn’t good news. Especially since Lan Wangji still seemed to be confined and guarded in one of the guest houses. Even worse news was the fact that they were accompanied by Lan Qiren as well. It didn’t look like a cordial visit either. Everyone seemed tense and rather unhappy. They almost looked as though they were going to war.
When he spotted one of the disciples looking down towards the river, Wei Wuxian ducked back into the water. He didn’t think they were searching for him. They were probably only contemplating the destruction left by the collapse of the sabre tombs below them. Still, once again, it was better to safe than sorry.
Since the Lans and Chifeng-Zun had arrived, Wei Wuxian decided that he needed to speed up his attempts to possess various river creatures, because he needed to contact Lan Wangji as soon as possible. At this point, he had already realized that he shouldn’t bother with the fish. It just wasn’t working out. It was difficult to explain, but he just wasn’t vibing with them. His consciousness wasn’t able to be contained by them. So, he continued his attempts with other animals. Salamanders seemed to work better, but he still couldn’t really get the hang of controlling them once he possessed them. Still, that was already more helpful than simply relying on fish to do his spying. If only those salamanders didn’t get distracted by flies so often!
In the end, the perfect host came in a surprising shape. A yuan duck.
The duck was happy to help him and Wei Wuxian found it fitting as well, using this disguise as a way to return to his partner’s side. His true body remained curled up in the hiding spot outside of the Uncleam Realm while he awkwardly waddled inside, getting the hang of controlling a duck’s body.
It was already close to nightfall and it seemed like he wasn’t too conspicuous, because no one seemed to be paying him much attention as he made his way through the Unclean Realm, searching for the place where Lan Wangji was kept. Still, the Unclean Realm was quite busy! Disciples and servants were running here and there, whispering to each other, agitated. Wei Wuxian heard Lan Wangji’s name more than once. It only urged him to speed up.
Now that he knew that he could possess a duck, Wei Wuxian wondered where the limits of his powers were. It seemed as though he wasn’t strictly limited to other creatures living in the water. Maybe he could possess and lynx or even a wolf! If he managed to get Lan Wangji out of here, he felt as he had found the solution to their problem. At the end of the day, when Lan Wangji needed to return inside to sleep, Wei Wuxian could simply possess a cute animal of his choosing and join him. Wasn’t Lan Wangji fond of rabbits? Maybe that was something he could do. Accompany Lan Wangji on land in the form of a fluffy little bun. Loafing comfortably in the crook of his neck and watching over him while he slept. It sounded perfect in Wei Wuxian’s mind.
After what felt like an eternity, Wei Wuxian finally found the guest house where Lan Wangji was kept. If not for everybody here gossiping at every corner, he probably wouldn’t have found it at all, since it was quite hidden from view. It really seemed more like a luxurious prison than a guest house, now that he saw it up close. The house was surrounded by tall walls and two guards stood at the entrance. He really didn’t wanna risk waddling inside through the gate, but ducks could fly, couldn’t they?
Hidden from sight, Wei Wuxian awkwardly flapped his wings until he managed to propel himself across the wall, crashing down in the garden of the house. If anybody had seen that, they would have surely guessed that he was no regular duck! Flying a sword had been much easier than flying with wings, in his opinion! Still, he had done it and now he was here, so that was all that counted. He made his way to the back door of the house, which led to the garden, and started knocking his peak against it.
It didn’t matter how many times he knocked though; the door remained closed. So, he started quaking and making all sorts of noises, probably sounding like a dying animal, knowing that Lan Wangji was weak to all small and cute animals. Were ducks even cute? Wei Wuxian wasn’t sure, but he felt cute. He hoped that Lan Wangji thought that he was cute as well. Eventually, the door was finally opened a little and Wei Wuxian ducked inside before Lan Wangji even realized what had happened. Once he did, he closed the door again and looked down at Wei Wuxian with a small frown, seeming puzzled why a duck had made such a ruckus to break into his prison.
Wei Wuxian took the opportunity to get a good look of Lan Wangji. He seemed to have recovered alright. There were no visible injuries and he carried himself upright as he always did. Wei Wuxian also couldn’t feel anything strange about his energy and realized that they had been truly lucky. He quacked up at him happily.
Lan Wangji continued to look down on him confused and Wei Wuxian quacked again. Well. He maybe should have thought this through better. Wei Wuxian started looking around the guest house, seeing if there was anything that could help him make Lan Wangji understand who he was. When he saw Lan Wangji’s qin, he immediately waddled over to it, sitting down beside it. A song. He could use a song to proof his identity!
One song in particular immediately came to mind. The song Lan Wangji had sung him while they had been trapped after fighting the Tulu Xuanwu. Wei Wuxian looked up at Lan Wangji determined and started quacking the song as best as he could. It sounded awful, absolutely awful, but after a few moments, Lan Wangji’s eyes widened.
“Wei Ying?” Lan Wangji asked unsure, but Wei Wuxian nodded in agreement.
“Is it truly you? Have you changed forms?” Lan Wangji asked and crouched down in front of him. Wei Wuxian immediately took the chance to get closer to him, demanding affection, while he attempted to shrug, which proofed itself to be rather difficult in this form. Explaining that he possessed a duck through quacks wasn’t exactly achievable either! It didn’t matter though. What mattered now was how Lan Wangji was doing and what was going on.
He nudged his head against Lan Wangji’s knees, hoping that he understood what he meant.
“You are asking after me?” Lan Wangji asked and Wei Wuxian nodded again. Carefully, Lan Wangji lifted Wei Wuxian into his arms and then sat down with him on the bed, gently brushing his fingers across Wei Wuxian’s soft feathers as he explained how the Nies had taken care of his injuries, but had been suspicious of him since the beginning because of how he had appeared beside Wei Wuxian. He hadn’t looked like he had been attacked by a water ghoul after all. Once they discovered what happened to the sabre tombs, their suspicions only grew.
“Of course, I have not lied and said that I was uninvolved in the destruction of the sabres either,” Lan Wangji then said, sounding a little bitter. “I still cannot believe all that we have discovered about the Nies’ cultivation…” he then added and Wei Wuxian quacked in indignant agreement.
“They have declared that I have been an aide in an attack against the Nie Sect itself,” Lan Wangji finally revealed. “Brother is attempting to negotiate with Chifeng-Zun to have me banished instead, but considering the extent of the damages, the Nie Sect is calling for my execution.”
Notes:
yuānyāng (鸳鸯): mandarin ducks, yuān stands for the male ducks and yāng for the female ducks. they believe to be life-long mates and often used as symbols for love and fidelity.
i couldn't help myself and had to have wwx possess a mandarin duck. it just felt fitting. though he would have made a good honking goose as well.
thank you everyone for your well-wishes for my job interview! i think it went well, but i'll only know for sure in february! until then, i'll need to be patient ;__;
btw, i'm plotting how this story is going to end, but i'm curious if there are any things you want to see resolved before the story ends? let me know in the comments!
Chapter 10: The Sabre Spirits
Summary:
Wei Wuxian decides that he would rather destroy the Unclean Realm than see Lan Wangji harmed.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but let out another quack of indignation at the news.
He couldn’t believe what Lan Wangji had just told him. After everything they had learned about the Nies and their cultivation, Wei Wuxian shouldn’t have been surprised and yet. How dare they? How dare the Nies call for Lan Wangji’s execution?
Already, Wei Wuxian felt his own resentment and anger grow.
He knew that he had caused quite a bit of destruction when he had destroyed the sabres inside the tomb, however, calling for Lan Wangji’s execution just because he was involved in that still seemed completely over the top. It wasn’t hard to put two and two together. Clearly, the Nies had different motives. By killing Lan Wangji, they probably hoped that they would be able to sweep everything under the rug quickly and that Lan Wangji would take the secrets behind the Nies’ cultivation with him to his grave, but they made a fatal error in their calculation. They hadn’t considered Wei Wuxian.
He would destroy the entire Unclean Realm before letting anything happen to Lan Wangji.
Wei Wuxian wasn’t shy to voice this either. Unfortunately, at the moment all that left his mouth were unhappy duck noises and he soon grew annoyed that he couldn’t properly articulate himself and reassure Lan Wangji. Instead, it was Lan Wangji who calmed him down and gently caressed his feathers until he had quieted down again.
“I believe they are going to announce their decision tomorrow,” Lan Wangji said eventually and Wei Wuxian nodded, frustrated. He awkwardly pressed his beak against Lan Wangji’s hand, mimicking a kiss.
If the decision would only be announced tomorrow, then that was alright. It meant that Wei Wuxian still had enough time to thoroughly plan how to get Lan Wangji out of here. The Nie Sect should also better enjoy the next morning, because they would not live to see another one.
As he sat in Lan Wangji’s lap, Wei Wuxian couldn’t suppress his anger entirely, no matter how gently Lan Wangji handled him. He still couldn’t believe the guts of the Nies. Who did they think they were to plan Hanguang-Jun’s execution? The more he thought about it, the more bitter he felt. The Nies and Chifeng-Zun in particular had always been known for their strong sense of justice, but at the end of the day, they were a sect just like any other. Corrupted just like any other.
When he had still been alive, Wei Wuxian had never questioned how the sects operated, hadn’t questioned the rules of the world he had lived in, but now, finally, he had reached a point where he could no longer ignore it. All he felt was loathing. He couldn’t help but want to destroy the entire system behind the sects, despite having been part of a sect once too.
He thought back to the time when he had still been part of the Jiang Sect. He had left all attachments to that time behind him, but now… A renewed sense of bitterness appeared.
Wei Wuxian had been a good head disciple. He had been loyal without fault. He had been discarded without a second thought, tortured, and killed by none other than the sect leader’s wife herself. Of course, it had been Wen Zhuliu who drowned him in the end, but Wei Wuxian didn’t kid himself into thinking that he would have survived the gruelling removal of his arm after the whipping he had taken under different circumstances.
Even now after the truth about what happened to him had been long revealed to the public, there has been no justice. Has there even been an attempt at it? He knew that Yu Ziyuan was still in seclusion after he had ripped out her tongue and destroyed Zidian, but no matter how much Jiang Fengmian might have liked him, Wei Wuxian also knew for sure that Yu Ziyuan’s so-called seclusion wasn’t part of a punishment. No, there were probably no consequences at all for what happened to him.
The only justice that had been served was the revenge Wei Wuxian had taken himself.
As for the other sects, they were just as bad.
Be it the Wens under Wen Ruohan, who had been so hungry for power and thought that they could bring all other sects under their control, ruling above them like a single sun in the sky. If not for Wei Wuxian, how far would they have gone? They had already attacked the Cloud Recesses and Lotus Pier after all.
All he could do now was hope that the Wen Sect would fare better under Wen Qing’s leadership, but realistically, he knew that even if it did, it wouldn’t last forever. After all, there were still the Jins, who had been all too willing to lick Wen Ruohan’s shoes and aide him. Though Jin Guangshan wasn’t annexing other sects yet, he was still already crossing all sorts of boundaries. During his travels, Wei Wuxian had liberated more than one female ghost whose resentment had originated in Lanling. Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but hate Jin Guangshan as well. Him and his sect of peacocks, which didn’t exclude people like Jin Zixuan, who was just as arrogant and spoiled as the rest of them.
Wei Wuxian angrily wiggled around a little in Lan Wangji’s lap, which of course, made his thoughts stray to the Lans as well. They weren’t as righteous as they painted themselves to be either. Lan Wangji was the sole exception, but all the others… They always talked about their righteousness and preached their thousands of rules, but at the end of the day, they hadn’t even bothered to deal with something like a Waterborne Abyss despite it lurking right in front of their doorsteps. No, instead it had once again been up to Wei Wuxian to deal with it.
Just like he had been the one to deal with the generations of resentful energy locked inside the sabres beneath the Unclean Realm. If the Nies were truly as just as they lauded themselves to be, they should have gone to their knees before Lan Wangji and thanked him for his involvement in the cleansing. Instead, they were actually planning to execute him…
Wei Wuxian let out another indignant quack and Lan Wangji shushed him gently once again, attempting to soften his anger even while he was waiting for his own execution, but Wei Wuxian wouldn’t let that happen. Under no conditions.
He couldn’t help but once again bump his head against Lan Wangji’s hand and then affectionately started nibbling on his fingers, hoping that Lan Wangji understood his strange displays of affection. His partner merely sighed and petted his head again.
If Wei Wuxian wanted to have enough time to make a proper plan, unfortunately it meant that he needed to leave now. So, he unhappily got off Lan Wangji’s lap and fluttered to the floor, ruffling his feathers.
“Do you have to go?” Lan Wangji asked, sounding more than a little desolate. How Wei Wuxian wished that he could assure him that everything was going to be alright, that he would never let anything happen to Lan Wangji, but. He was just a duck. So, instead, he pressed his head against Lan Wangji’s shin and quacked an affirmative.
Lan Wangji inclined his head in silent acceptance and leaned down to pet his head once more, before walking him to the back door of the guest house. “Wei Ying,” he then said, looking down to him. “Take care and I love you,” he said and Wei Wuxian echoed the sentiment as best as he could. He really wished that he could voice a declaration of love properly, but he needed to be patient until tomorrow. Once everything was said and done and the Nies were dealt with, Wei Wuxian would tell Lan Wangji that he loved him every day. He would tell Lan Wangji as often as he could, until Lan Wangji got sick of it and then some. In this life—in life and in death, there was no one else for Wei Wuxian but Lan Wangji.
And now, he needed to make sure that Lan Wangji would be safe.
His partner opened the door for him and Wei Wuxian made his way outside. Luckily, no one seemed to have noticed Lan Wangji entertaining a little duck friend, since the garden behind the house was still as empty as it had been before. Wei Wuxian made his way to the wall again and determinately propelled himself across it once again. This time around, it was a little easier and he didn’t land as painfully as he had before either. He still didn’t really get the hang of flying though. That was definitely something he wanted to figure out in the future.
For now, though, Wei Wuxian determinately made his way back to the river.
By now, night had fallen in the Unclean Realm and most people had returned inside despite the excitement of the recent days. If you asked Wei Wuxian, it was just another sign that the damage caused by the collapse of the sabre comb couldn’t have been that bad. Not if everyone inside the Unclean Realm seemed to have returned to their daily routine already. Even when he arrived back at the river, he noted the lack of guards by the waters. Careless, he couldn’t help but think. Careless, but something that would work beautifully in his favour.
As Wei Wuxian swam down the river and made his way out of the Unclean Realm once again, he considered how to best deal with the Nies. One thing was for sure, they hadn’t appreciated that he had taken care of the resentment in the sabre tombs, that he had lifted the ancestral curse lurking underneath the surface of their fortress. On the contrary, they judged Lan Wangji harshly for his involvement. No doubt, they wouldn’t stop cultivating the sabre either. Not unless someone forced them to do so…
As he swam, Wei Wuxian bemoaned that it was harder for him to make out the flow of energy around him while he was a duck. All of his powers felt muted in this form, which in turn only made him swim faster towards his body. He also became aware of just how vulnerable he was while possessing the duck. He was without access to his true powers and in a relatively weak body that he couldn’t control fully. He wondered what would happen to him, if something happened to him in this form. Would his consciousness return to his real body or would he be lost completely? It was nothing he wanted to test, that was for sure. Luckily, he didn’t have to test it either, because he arrived at his body soon enough.
Since his body was curled up underwater, he could only awkwardly reach for it with his little feet. As soon as he made contact, between one moment and the next, his awareness returned to his own body. Above him, the duck quacked spooked and swam a few brief rounds, while the both of them got used to being in control of their bodies again. Wei Wuxian uncurled slowly and stretched his body, a few joints cracking back into place noisily. Then, he returned to the surface and affectionately petted the duck a few times, showing it his appreciation. Just as he had done when he had been in that form, the duck nibbled on his fingers affectionately, though it almost cut itself on his sharp claws.
“Aiya, careful little friend,” Wei Wuxian warned. The duck quacked once again and the two of them exchanged a final look before they parted ways for now.
Then, Wei Wuxian turned back towards the Unclean Realm. It was time to act.
Since the Nies weren’t guarding the river anymore, he felt comfortable enough to swim back inside the Unclean Realm instead, following the river through the fortress city. Now that he was back in his own body, he could feel the energy surrounding him clearly once more. He couldn’t help but scoff. Already, the river was drenched in resentful energy again. This time around, the source wasn’t the sabre tomb though. Instead, it was the fact that the Nie continued merrily cultivating their cursed sabres, uncaring that they were cultivating resentful energy, slowly poisoning themselves and their surroundings.
Wei Wuxian hummed in consideration. He decided against simply absorbing the resentful energy for now. Instead, he let himself drift in the water, getting a sense of the many sources of resentment around him, getting a sense of where each and every sabre was located inside the Unclean Realm…
From the heart of the Unclean Realm, he could feel even Baxia calling out to him. Though the Nies had cultivated resentful energy for generations, it just wasn’t the same as what Wei Wuxian was able to do. They couldn’t communicate with it like he did, couldn’t get a proper feeling for it. With Wei Wuxian inside the Unclean Realm, the resentful energy was offered a rare chance as well, recognizing that he was just like it. It called out to him sweetly, begging for his attention while promising revenge. It still felt slightly off to Wei Wuxian though. At the end of the day, it was beastly resentful energy, while he was used to human resentment. However, he wouldn’t let that stop him. On the contrary, it was time to show the Nies – and the world – what beasts were truly made of.
Wei Wuxian let his own energy leak into the river, let his own resentment taint the waters inside the Unclean Realm even further. He could feel himself becoming one with the river, could feel every creature inside these waters and as his energy spread, it almost seemed as if they all shared a consciousness. If he concentrated, he could see through their eyes, could hear through their ears.
He was ready.
Morning arrived soon enough and the first people who were awake were non other than the Lans. Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren had evidently met soon after waking up and were now walking along the bank of the river, focussed on their discussion. How foolish. Wei Wuxian followed them soundlessly, his features hiding him well while it was still dark outside. He almost seemed to blend into the shadows.
“I still cannot understand why Wangji behaved in this manner… To attack another sect unprovoked and their ancestral burial grounds as well…” Lan Xichen said with a heavy sigh, immediately drawing Wei Wuxian’s attention to him. Ancestral burial grounds? Is that what they Lans had been told Lan Wangji had done?
“Wangji has always been stubborn, but he went too far with this!” Lan Qiren replied and threw his sleeve back in annoyance. “And he will not even tell us who he night-hunted with. Even as his execution order is getting signed, he remains silent.”
“Uncle, there must be something left we can do,” Lan Xichen then pleaded, looking at Lan Qiren in a beseeching manner. “If only Wangji revealed who he had been with… But even so, maybe we can still argue for a lifelong imprisonment instead.”
In reply, Lan Qiren shook his head. “It is no use, Xichen,” he said, sounding tired. “Recently, the relationship between all sects has been more than strained. Though war with the Wen Sect was avoided, we are not safe yet. Under these circumstances, we cannot risk worsening our relationship with the Nies. You know Chifeng-Zun’s character well. He has never been fond of wasting resources for lifelong prison sentences and believes in swift justice. As for Wangji, as much as it pains us, the interest of the Lan Sect has to come first. It is clear that he has acted without our knowledge and approval, which will work in our favour. In this case, it does not matter that he is your brother. We must accept Chifeng-Zun’s judgement.”
Lan Xichen bowed his head in silent acceptance. “I understand, uncle,” he said after some moments of silence.
Inside the river, Wei Wuxian was barely holding back hisses of anger. He was fuming silently, overcome with rage. All he could do was remind himself that Lan Wangji would be upset if he killed his brother and uncle, but in that moment, he really wanted to drown them both and to take them apart piece by piece.
How could they so nonchalantly talk about sacrificing Lan Wangji to sustain their relationship with the Nie Sect? Why were they so eager to bend to the will of others without even questioning what had happened? Had they no trust in Lan Wangji at all? He had never been one to blindly attack others or someone who involved himself in other sects’ matters thoughtlessly – why were they believing whatever Nie Mingjue told them about what happened? Knowing that the Nies only wanted to kill Lan Wangji so that he would keep quiet about their unorthodox cultivation, Wei Wuxian couldn’t bear it to simply let the Lans walk off unscathed after what he had just heard.
He couldn’t kill Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren, not without upsetting Lan Wangji, which was the last thing he wanted to do. He couldn’t trust them to speak for Lan Wangji either though. He couldn’t trust any Lan apart from Lan Wangji, really. He needed to dispose of them, at least temporarily.
Since he was still in tune with the river, disposing of them proofed itself to be quite simple. Wei Wuxian returned below the surface and then, he made the water reach for them. They couldn’t do much more but exclaim in surprise before they were both yanked inside the water. They tried to fight, but fighting a river was always a losing battle. The water held on to them with an iron grip and their cultivation was useless, resentful energy curling around their legs and weighing them down even further.
Wei Wuxian might have never learned the Lans’ silencing spell, but apparently shutting someone up by sealing their mouths with water worked just as nicely. They could still breathe through their noses for now, but there was an implicit threat that seemed to work as well. It was still early in the morning and dark outside and so, no one was there to see how they were ripped straight out of the Unclean Realm by the river. Their journey would not end outside the fortress’ walls either. No, Wei Wuxian ensured that they would only be set free once he was done dealing with the Nies.
Later that morning and perhaps unsurprisingly, the sudden disappearance of Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren inspired chaos inside the Unclean Realm. The Lans were especially agitated and the high levels of ambient resentful energy didn’t help either. Honestly, it was on them for not even detecting the worrying amount of resentment. Instead, they were all so very focussed on their own anger, blaming Nie Mingjue for the disappearance of their Sect Leader and Grandmaster.
Wei Wuxian watched it all happen while he drifted in the river, his eyes and ears everywhere inside the Unclean Realm. It was quite amusing to watch. A good start to this day.
With Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren gone, the remaining Lan disciples demanded that Lan Wangji be freed immediately and accused the Nies of viciously attacking and kidnapping Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren. In the eyes of the Lans, the Nies had proven themselves completely untrustworthy and now, they also raised their voice for Lan Wangji, emphasizing that he had never been one to act rashly and thoughtlessly. Of course, the Nie Sect denied all these allegations and grew upset themselves. They suspected a desperate plot of the Lans and decided to speed along the proceedings and so, shortly after breakfast, they led Lan Wangji out of his imprisonment and escorted him to the main courtyard of the Unclean Realm, where Nie Mingjue waited to announce his punishment.
Lan Wangji looked completely unbothered by it all, carrying both his qin and his sword on his back, though his spiritual power had been sealed.
Nie Mingjue looked down on him with an unreadable expression. At least he didn’t stall either. “Lan Wangji, for your crimes against the Nie Sect, you will be punished with death. Do you have anything to say for yourself?” he asked.
Lan Wangji didn’t even look at him.
It seemed that was more than the remaining Lans present were willing to take. Without their sect leader present, they were out for blood, unsheathing their swords and summoning their instruments for battle. Maybe there was hope for the Lan Sect yet after all, Wei Wuxian thought. Provided Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren learned their lesson, he might not need to send a divine intervention their way soon.
As much as he would have liked to see the Lans and the Nies strike each other down, Wei Wuxian had other plans. A battle between the sects would risk Lan Wangji as well and that was a risk Wei Wuxian wasn’t willing to take. He longed to have his partner back beside him again.
Wei Wuxian closed his eyes and let himself become one with the water and then, he unleashed all of the resentful energy inside the Unclean Realm. Originally, he had considered going for a flooding or maybe using the fog again, but it hadn’t felt fitting for this situation. Not with how the Nies messed around with their cultivation. So, he instead decided to unleash the sabre spirits on them.
All around the Unclean Realm, every single sabre shattered into a thousand pieces. Not even Baxia was save from this fate, being torn apart and throwing Nie Mingjue to the ground in the process. As the sabres shattered, their pieces acted like shrapnel, though it wasn’t enough to seriously injure a cultivator. Cries of pain and confusion sounded from every corner and with Chifeng-Zun down himself, there was no one who could take control of the situation. The Nies’ head disciple, a distant cousin of the Nie brother, had also collapsed after his twin sabres got destroyed and Nie Huaisang was nowhere in sight either. Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but grin. Huaisang was probably the only Nie who didn’t have to deal with some cuts today, since he never carried his sabre!
After a few minutes, the first Nies staggered to their feet again. However, Wei Wuxian wasn’t finished with them yet and neither were the beasts who had been sacrificed to strengthen their sabres. With the weapons destroyed, their spirits were freed. It took a few moments longer, but then, those spirits took shape, erupting out of the debris of the thousands of sabres inside the Unclean Realm.
You’ve used us, they cried, no more. We will accept it no more. We will destroy you before we let you imprison one of us ever again!
The spirts of the beasts were not under Wei Wuxian’s control. They were fuelled only by the ambient resentful energy and set on one thing: revenge.
However, they were also grateful towards Wei Wuxian. They felt kinship towards him and understood that it was him who freed them. Just like them, he had been reborn out of an injustice, just like them, he was a resentful spirit whose righteous anger surpassed death. They also recognized Hanguang-Jun, who remained still in the centre of the courtyard, where he had been awaiting his execution. The Nie guards around him were the first who were attacked by the beasts, wild boars and stags barrelling into them. Weakened by the destruction of their sabres, they were quite powerless and easily taken down.
The remaining Lans also found themselves freed, but they couldn’t get close to Lan Wangji either. Instead, a horde of beastly spirits reached for Lan Wangji and carried him off, out of the courtyard and away from the chaos that was unleashed there. The remaining beasts started attacking the Nies and their fortress, intent on making them understand that they would not accept the Nies continuing their cultivation practises. Weapon forges and cultivation scripts, all of it fell victim to the wild beasts.
Meanwhile, Lan Wangji could do little more but surrender himself to the horde of beasts that carried him away, no doubt confused at what was happening. He looked around and saw the beasts attack everything around them. The only ones who seemed to be save were those without golden cores.
Wei Wuxian too watched it all happen through the eyes of his many spies. Hopefully, this would teach the Nies a lesson. If not, he could always completely flood the Unclean Realm, he reckoned.
As Lan Wangji finally came closer to the river, he seemed to understand what was happening and was quick to return his sword and qin into his qiankun sleeve. Awkwardly, he tied his sleeves back and prepared himself for what he anticipated happening. It was just like he had expected, the beasts didn’t gingerly set him down on the ground and instead threw him into the water head first, but it didn’t matter, because Wei Wuxian was already there to catch him as best as he could. He twinned his tail around his partner and hugged him close with his arm.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji said, breathless.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian replied with a wide grin. “Am I still cute despite no longer being a duck?” he couldn’t help but ask as he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Lan Wangji’s expression was so utterly fond that Wei Wuxian couldn’t not kiss him. He had missed him so much. Though they had only been separated for a few days, it had felt like an endless eternity.
Even though Wei Wuxian wanted to do nothing more but continue to kiss Lan Wangji, he was still conscious of the fact that they were in the middle of the Unclean Realm. He pressed another bruising kiss to Lan Wangji’s lips and then asked: “Hold on to me?”
Lan Wangji only nodded and held on to Wei Wuxian tightly as they swam out of the Unclean Realm, leaving the Nies at the beasts’ mercy. They would continue raging until they had burned through the entire resentful energy inside the Unclean Realm, until they were satisfied and liberated, finally able to move on after their long imprisonment inside the sabres they had destroyed.
As Wei Wuxian hugged Lan Wangji close, his thoughts drifted to Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren for a moment. He closed his eyes and felt the river free its hold on them, setting them free again. However, he still felt bitter thinking about them as well, remembering how easily they had seemed to be willing to sacrifice Lan Wangji to appease the Nies.
No matter what happened next, wherever they would go next, Wei Wuxian didn’t feel comfortable with Lan Wangji returning to the Lans, he thought to himself and hugged his partner close.
Notes:
One final chapter for the year - I hope you enjoyed it and are satisfied with what went down?
Lan Wangji's POV would have been fun for this chapter too. Once he saw Wei Wuxian in the river waiting for him, you can bet that he horny-gripped so hard. He's definitely set on finally earning that "Monsterfucker Lan Wangji"-tag as soon as possible~
Chapter 11: Inside the Grotto
Summary:
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji escape from Qinghe and finally have time for themselves again.
Notes:
Content Warnings (click to expand)
Intrusive thoughts, explicit sexual content (starting about half-way through the chapter, if you want to skip) featuring: non-human genitalia, blood, biting, scratching, no on-screen kink negotiation, top Lan Wangji, bottom Wei Wuxian, light BDSM, penetrative sex.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Even as they were still fleeing from the Unclean Realm, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Everything felt charged between them. However, it was only once they were completely out of the sight and range of the Qinghe Nie Sect that Wei Wuxian dared to stop for a while. He could tell that Lan Wangji was starting to grow tired as well, which wasn’t surprising. After all, his spiritual energy had been sealed in preparation for his execution and the seal had only broken a short while ago, meaning that Lan Wangji needed to hold on using only his muscles. It was an impressive feat in of itself and knowing how strong Lan Wangji was only fuelled the fire inside of Wei Wuxian. It didn’t help that he had been pressing Lan Wangji close during their entire journey. Their days of separation and the anxiety of the last couple of days was finally catching up to both of them.
Wei Wuxian did his best to suppress any unwelcome thoughts. Now wasn’t the time. He also attempted to suppress his strange instincts that made an unfortunate reappearance. A part of him still wanted to drag Lan Wangji beneath the surface of the water, wanted to press him close and coil his long tail around him until he couldn’t move a muscle, no matter how much he struggled, wanted to drag him into the depths of the water, where he was completely at Wei Wuxian’s mercy… He still didn’t know where those cravings came from and they made him feel unsettled. He wasn’t sure if he should address it either. Not after Lan Wangji had already proposed once that Wei Wuxian should change him into what he was as well.
Those instincts weren’t the only thing he needed to battle though. No, right now, his biggest enemy seemed to be his libido. No matter how often he reminded himself that now wasn’t the time, his body had different ideas, reminding him of how strong Lan Wangji was, how nice to was to hold him close as they swam. It was more than a little frustrating, but at least he wasn’t alone in this, because Lan Wangji definitely felt similarly. Whenever they slowed down or took a short break, he took the chance to steal a few kisses from Wei Wuxian. None of those kisses were chaste either. Instead, they all felt like a mixture between an attack and a possessive display, Lan Wangji wanting to make sure to show everyone who Wei Wuxian belonged to. Whenever they broke apart to breathe, his partner attached his clever mouth of Wei Wuxian’s neck, marking him up and harshly biting where his teeth could reach. Wei Wuxian had to summon all of his willpower to not give in to it right then and there. He craved to fight Lan Wangji for dominance properly, to see who of them would come out on top. At the same time, he also just wanted to offer his neck and the rest of his body to Lan Wangji, so that he could do as he please, so he could take what he wanted—
An unhappy growl ripped itself out of Wei Wuxian’s throat and Lan Wangji backed away for now, breathing heavily. Now wasn’t the time, Wei Wuxian reminded himself yet again and attempted his best to calm his arousal.
Like this, their journey continued until Wei Wuxian finally felt as though they had put enough distance between themselves and the Unclean Realm. The river had grown considerably broader since they started their journey and was currently winding itself through a dark forest, which offered sufficient shelter should cultivators search them from above. Wei Wuxian didn’t think anyone had followed them, but it was better to be safe rather than sorry. He steered them to a little stream which branched off the main river and soon, they found shelter in a small grotto where the terrain grew more mountainous. The water inside the grotto was just deep enough to be comfortable for Wei Wuxian and there were a number of platforms above the surface where Lan Wangji could dry himself and rest after their strenuous journey.
Awkwardly, he helped his partner climb onto one of the platforms and then hovered by the edge of it, taking a good look at him. Lan Wangji looked quite miserable after their long time in the water. His robes were absolutely drenched and even his hair was in complete disarray, his guan crooked and strands of hair already loose. He was also worryingly pale and the muscles in his arms shook from the effort it had taken him to hold on this long.
“I will see if I can find some firewood for you,” Wei Wuxian offered worried and Lan Wangji nodded weakly. For a few moments, it didn’t look like Lan Wangji would move at all, then he slowly laid down on his back and breathed heavily, too weak to even undress himself. Wei Wuxian couldn’t leave him like that of course, so he started transferring some of his spiritual energy. Doing so, he felt a strange resonance. He had felt like this before. Back then, when they had been trapped after defeating the Tulu Xuanwu and Lan Wangji transferred some of his own spiritual energy. The feeling of Lan Wangji’s spiritual energy inside of his meridians had felt indescribable. It had felt like coming home. He hoped that it felt like that to Lan Wangji as well, when he transferred his own spiritual energy.
With how much his golden core had grown after his death and the resentful energy he cultivated as well, Wei Wuxian hardly felt a difference after transferring a considerable amount of energy. It started affecting Lan Wangji immediately. Slowly, his breathings settled again and his face regained some colour. Once he opened his eyes and nodded exhausted at Wei Wuxian, he stopped the transfer.
“I will be back as soon as possible,” Wei Wuxian promised and pressed a soft kiss to one of Lan Wangji’s hands before returning to the water and taking off.
He explored the area surrounding the grotto. Luckily, it seemed like it hadn’t rained around here in a while, so he was able to find some dried dead driftwood by the edge of the water. This would work wonderfully for a fire. He collected the wood carefully and brought it to the grotto, awkwardly carrying it above his head so that it would not get wet. Inside the grotto, he then dragged himself half on land so that he could arrange the driftwood as well, building a safe fireplace. Once he was done, he drew a talisman into the air and lit the fire. It took a few moments for the wood to catch on, but once it did, warmth spread through the grotto quickly and Lan Wangji made a pleased sound where he was still lying and recovering. Wei Wuxian nodded satisfied as well and then drew another talisman into the air before activating it. This one summoned a continuous breeze of wind that would circulate the air in the grotto, so that they wouldn’t get problems with smoke inhalation.
Wei Wuxian noted relieved that Lan Wangji was already looking more alive again. His partner sat up and shuffled closer to the fire, still shivering a little in his wet robes.
“Lan Zhan, you should undress,” Wei Wuxian noted worried.
Lan Wangji immediately shot him a heated look and it took a few moments until Wei Wuxian’s words caught up with him, since he was mostly concentrated on his worry for Lan Wangji at the moment.
“Ah, I just mean, you need to get out of your wet robes, er-gege! You’ll get sick. Your qiankun sleeves should be water resistant at least, do you have a change of robes?” Wei Wuxian was quick to clarify. It seemed as much as Lan Wangji would have liked to start something right now, he also knew that Wei Wuxian was right. Still, Weil Wuxian decided that it would be for the best if he took himself out of the equation for now.
“I’ll, uh, take another look at our surroundings!” Wei Wuxian said as Lan Wangji started undressing. “Maybe I can find something for you to eat,” he added, unable to bear the sight of Lan Wangji’s bare shoulders for a moment longer. He shouldn’t tempt his strange instincts again either, he decided, and hastily submerged himself again and left the grotto.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t much food around the river Wei Wuxian could gather. Lan Wangji didn’t eat fish, which was a bummer, because that was the main source of food available to Wei Wuxian. Still, he didn’t want to return empty-handed and luckily, he found a few plants by the side of the river. An even more thorough search even led him to some water chestnuts, which he knew Lan Wangji was fond of. Wei Wuxian would have liked to find some lotus as well, but there weren’t any growing around here. Oh well, it couldn’t be helped, he thought to himself. Though lotus seeds and roots would have made a good meal, he knew the water chestnuts would be appreciated. Also, there was only so much he could carry one-handed, using only large leaves he had crafted into convenient containers for his spoils.
Once the leaves were filled and he couldn’t carry anything else, Wei Wuxian decided that he had probably given Lan Wangji enough time to get changed and so, he returned to the grotto. Inside, Lan Wangji had hung his wet robes on some qin strings so that they could dry. He had also taken care of his hair and dressed only in a single layer of underrobes. His hair remained open, looking soft and slightly wavy from the water. It left Wei Wuxian speechless, how beautiful, and soft Lan Wangji looked, and so he wordlessly offered what he had gathered to Lan Wangji.
“Thank you, Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji replied, smiling slightly at the sight of the water chestnuts.
Wei Wuxian grinned in reply, displaying his sharp teeth. “There is no need for thanks, Lan Zhan!” he managed to say, the animal part of him pleased that he was not only able to provide food to his partner, but that it was also food his partner enjoyed. He watched satisfied as Lan Wangji prepared himself a small meal. Unfortunately, there weren’t any spices he could add, but then again, it’s not like Lan Wangji wasn’t used to bland food. He cooked diligently using his night-hunting equipment and then ate, looking completely recovered and content by the time he had finished his meal.
“What will the beasts do to the Nies?” Lan Wangji asked him after he had cleaned up and sat down on the edge of the platform, letting his feet dangle in the water.
With parts of Lan Wangji in the water again, Wei Wuxian couldn’t contain himself and immediately swam closer and then half-deposited himself in Lan Wangji’s lap, making himself comfortable and trying to look cute as he did so. Lan Wangji looked at him softy and started combing his fingers through Wei Wuxian’s hair. A low fumbling noise started sounding from inside Wei Wuxian’s chest. It sounded a little as though he was purring. Maybe he was? Wei Wuxian couldn’t tell for sure what sort of noise it was, he only knew it was a noise of contentment.
“Well, who knows?” Wei Wuxian replied after a long time of simply enjoying Lan Wangji’s ministrations. “I didn’t control them,” he added. “I merely freed them and offered them the chance to take their revenge in order to be liberated. I don’t think they’ll kill the Nies or anything like that though. I feel as though their main goal was destroying everything connected to the Nies’ cultivation style. Weapons, forges, books and scrolls, training equipment. Maybe some art and stuff that’s connected to sabre cultivation too,” he then explained.
Lan Wangji hummed in consideration. He didn’t sound unhappy, so Wei Wuxian thought he probably didn’t mind what had happened. However, it was then that he remembered that he should probably tell Lan Wangji about what happened to his brother and uncle as well. He moved a little closer, hiding his face in Lan Wangji’s stomach.
“This morning… I also happened to eavesdrop on your brother and uncle,” Wei Wuxian quietly admitted. “They were walking along the river, discussing how to continue their negotiations with Chifeng-Zun…” he continued, already sounding quite unhappy. “They really didn’t… They didn’t fight all that much for you at all, did they?” he couldn’t help but ask.
Lan Wangji remained silent for some moments, still petting Wei Wuxian’s hair soothingly. Then, he made a sound of confirmation. “Though brother assured me that they would try their best, they were also clear that they could not risk their relationship with the Nie Sect,” he replied after some moments of silence.
“Yeah…” Wei Wuxian sighed. “That’s basically what they said this morning too. I still can’t get over how willing they were to sacrifice you to appease the Nies. They didn’t even question the Nies’ story, despite how suspicious it was!”
Lan Wangji hummed in consideration. “I did not make it easy for them either. I did not speak of what we had encountered, because I could not sufficiently back my claims,” he explained.
“Still, they should’ve trusted you!” Wei Wuxian replied hotly, turning to look up at Lan Wangji. “You were always the perfect disciple and you are one of the highest skilled cultivators out there! They should have trusted that you wouldn’t just blindly attack some ancestral burial grounds, because you felt like it! They should have insisted that you must have had a reason, they should have questioned what happened! I’m sure they didn’t even ask to see the scene of your supposed crime! Didn’t even ask to see any evidence of your wrongdoing!”
“It would have been different, if Chifeng-Zun was not respected for his strong sense of justice,” Lan Wangji replied quietly, attempting to calm Wei Wuxian, but it only made him angrier.
“Don’t even get me started on Sect Leader Nie’s so-called sense of justice! He’s a hot-blooded fool, who was a decade away from dying a violent death just like his ancestors before him. Even from a distance, I could sense how imbalanced his energy was and yet no one noticed anything wrong with him?” Wei Wuxian protested and tsked annoyed.
For a few moments, Lan Wangji said nothing, though his expression betrayed that he felt similarly. Then, he noticed: “If you eavesdropped on brother and uncle, then their disappearance…?”
Wei Wuxian nodded. “It was me,” he confirmed readily. “But don’t worry, they are fine, if probably pruney. With the way they talked about you and how they weren’t willing to defend you, I couldn’t have them around when Sect Leader Nie was already having everything prepared for your execution. So, I dumped them in the river and let the river take them far, far away. I’m sure by now they are already on their way back to the Unclean Realm though,” he explained mulishly.
“I see,” Lan Wangji replied. “I cannot say that I am sorry to hear it.”
“Me neither!” Wei Wuxian agreed. “Though I was impressed by those other Lan disciples, who stood up for you when Chifeng-Zun declared your punishment. There is hope for the Lan Sect yet, I thought to myself.”
Lan Wangji huffed out a short laugh. “I would hope so,” he said. “Though under these circumstances, I do not plan on returning to Gusu,” he then admitted.
Wei Wuxian looked up at him curious, hoping to prompt Lan Wangji to explain himself further.
“I am tired of politics getting in the way of our duties as cultivators,” Lan Wangji said after some moments of silence. “It is one of the reasons why I did not explain myself further to my brother and uncle, when I realized that they were not interested in my reasons. I was also already planning to spend my life beside you, in Yiling,” he explained. Then – devastatingly – he removed his hands from Wei Wuxian’s hair and moved to remove his forehead ribbon carefully. Wordlessly, he asked for Wei Wuxian’s hand and then gently wrapped the ribbon around Wei Wuxian’s wrist.
“It is yours,” Lan Wangji said. “Only parents and partners are allowed to touch our clan’s forehead ribbon,” he then explained. “It is also a symbol of restraint. Removing it also means letting go of our self-restraint. I have held myself back all my life and I have grown tired of it,” Lan Wangji then declared and what else was Wei Wuxian supposed to do but pull him down with him into the water to kiss him absolutely breathless after such a declaration?
A small noise of surprise escaped Lan Wangji’s lips as he was pulled into the water, but he didn’t let that surprise hold him back and immediately returned Wei Wuxian’s kiss with fervour. It’s been too long since they were last intimate with each other, something that became apparent by the desperation of their movements.
Wei Wuxian awkwardly started pulling on Lan Wangji’s underrobe, wanting the fabric off him as soon as possible, but not making much progress with his one hand while he was keeping them both afloat. He wrapped his long tail tightly around Lan Wangji, who struggled against the hold even while he was kissing back. In his horny frustration, Wei Wuxian started slashing at Lan Wangji’s underrobe with his claws, literally cutting Lan Wangji out of his clothes when they had to break apart to breathe. In his mission, he drew some blood as well, but Lan Wangji didn’t seem to mind. Instead, it only spurred him on further. He replied by tangling his fingers in Wei Wuxian’s hair and pulling it hard, forcing Wei Wuxian to arch his neck.
Lan Wangji immediately attached his mouth to Wei Wuxian’s neck, sucking dark bruises into his skin, inspiring some truly embarrassing whines from Wei Wuxian. Then, he started biting Wei Wuxian’s neck as well, not holding himself back at all. Wei Wuxian was sure that Lan Wangji was drawing blood with his bites and the thought left him light-headed and even more aroused, as did the stinging pain.
“Ah, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian whined. “Which one of us is the beast, huh?” he couldn’t help but ask as Lan Wangji pressed a soothing kiss to one of the bites he had left. He moved his mouth closer to Wei Wuxian’s gills, the area especially sensitive and Wei Wuxian hardly managed to think a single thought, his mind completely wiped clean. There was only the feeling of Lan Wangji’s mouth. There was only pleasure.
At the core of Wei Wuxian, a new desire made itself known. Until now, whenever the two of them had been intimate, they had always held back in some regards. Lan Wangji had fingered his slit or they had simply rutted against each other until they reached completion, but this time… This time, Wei Wuxian wanted to go further. He felt almost as if he was drunk. His body felt as if it was lit on fire, the smell of their combined blood and arousal in the air. There was also a resonance of spiritual energy from the earlier transfer. His own energy inside of Lan Wangji singing to him. Mine, mine, mine.
Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but squeeze Lan Wangji a little tighter still, drawing a groan out of him, before he started fighting back against the hold, wanting to take control himself, wanting to manhandle Wei Wuxian to his liking. A part of Wei Wuxian craved to submit, but another part of him wanted to fight back first, wanted to make Lan Wangji work for it. He fought back and none of them held back, biting and clawing at each other without hesitance.
Under different circumstances, it wouldn’t have been difficult for Wei Wuxian to win the upper hand. The length of his tail alone gave him an advantage, since he was so much bigger than Lan Wangji. Even the Lans’ legendary arm strength wouldn’t have been able to keep up with that, despite Wei Wuxian’s disadvantage of only having one arm. However, Wei Wuxian already felt completely undone by his need, all rational thought long gone. He fought back instinctually, but he was also losing himself in the pleasure of the sweet attacks Lan Wangji dealt him, especially when Lan Wangji used his chance to attach his mouth to Wei Wuxian’s pebbled nipples, sucking and kissing the sensitive buds. Wei Wuxian found himself getting completely lost in the feeling. That’s when Lan Wangji finally managed to free himself off Wei Wuxian’s hold, though he didn’t distance himself from him. Instead, he straddled Wei Wuxian’s tail, his tattered pants coming off in the process. Already, his hard dick rubbed up against him, so close to his slit, drawing more needy noises out of him.
By now, the two of them had grown more familiar with Wei Wuxian’s new anatomy, his new equipment, and while he himself still felt a little strange about it, Lan Wangji had always been more than enthusiastic about it. It seemed as though as long as the body belonged to Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji would love it. The it in question here being his slit, which was actually more of a sheath. Inside, Wei Wuxian’s new body came with a dick of sorts as well, even if it was more on the tentacle-side on the scale of phallic objects. Usually, whenever they were intimate, the tentacle remained inside, only venturing out from time to time, usually to pull Lan Wangji’s fingers deeper inside of him.
Right now though, Wei Wuxian was hungry for more than just Lan Wangji’s fingers.
“Hah, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian moaned, as Lan Wangji’s cock continued to rub against him, so teasingly close to where he wanted it. “Inside, want you inside, er-gege,” he said, his own dick making a rare appearance, reaching for Lan Wangji’s to draw it inside.
Lan Wangji looked at him hungrily, his eyes all pupil. “Are you sure?” he asked, somehow still able to control himself enough to ask.
Wei Wuxian nodded. “Yes, yes, yes, and now!” he demanded. Just like his tail had wrapped itself around Lan Wangji earlier, his tentacle was now wrapping itself around Lan Wangji’s dick, teasing it and urging Lan Wangji to speed up.
Lan Wangji answered by pressing another bruising kiss to Wei Wuxian’s lips, nicking his own lip on Wei Wuxian’s sharp teeth, but evidently not minding, because he continued to kiss Wei Wuxian. The taste of Lan Wangji’s blood flooding his mouth destroyed the last piece of Wei Wuxian’s sanity. At this point, he felt like a feral animal, having only one goal in mind.
At long last, Lan Wangji guided his cock to Wei Wuxian’s slit, slowing guiding it inside. However, Wei Wuxian’s tentacle urged him to move faster and as keyed up and wet as he was, there was no need to go slow either. Luckily, Lan Wangji got the hint and quickly thrusted inside the rest of the way, sheathing himself completely inside Wei Wuxian for the first time. A guttural moan tore itself out of Wei Wuxian at the feeling.
He felt so full. So incredibly full. What a strange feeling it was and yet, he loved it so much. He felt as thought he had been made for this.
Lan Wangji cradled his face in his hands and looked into his eyes, breathing heavily as he adjusted to this new sensation as well. For a few moments, the two of them simply looked at each other as they breathed. Then, Lan Wangji started to move. It took a few attempts until he managed to find a good rhythm, since their position in the water with Lan Wangji straddling his tail was a little awkward, but once they did, neither of them could be stopped.
Lan Wangji thrusted inside of him harshly, his strong thighs having a tight grip on him as well. The hold he still had on Wei Wuxian’s face turned punishing as well, forcing him to look into Lan Wangji’s eyes as he fucked him. All Wei Wuxian could do was take. Finally, he completely submitted himself to Lan Wangji. There was nothing holding either of them back anymore.
Every thrust seemed to hit him deeper and deeper, Wei Wuxian’s tentacle continuing to urge Lan Wangji on, wrapping itself around Lan Wangji’s cock in a movement that seemed to mirror jerking him off. Wei Wuxian moaned desperately as the water sloshed around them while Lan Wangji hit just the right spot again and again. He would have loved to say something, would have loved to egg Lan Wangji on even further, but whenever he opened his mouth, moans and whines were the only thing he managed to get out.
Inside of him, the pleasure kept on building and building, searching for a release. At the same time, his spiritual energy was still resonating with Lan Wangji’s. The two feelings intertwined and as his pleasure finally met its crest, Wei Wuxian released the energy that had pooled inside his lower dantian with a burst, having absolutely no control over it as he orgasmed. The energy found its target in Lan Wangji as he clenched down on his cock repeatedly.
By the time Wei Wuxian came back to himself, Lan Wangji seemed to be glowing. Hanguang-Jun is worthy of his title, he couldn’t help but think dazed. He watched mesmerized as Lan Wangji continued to fuck him, punched out sounds escaping his throat as he continued to take it while Lan Wangji took his pleasure from his body. It only took a few more thrusts until Lan Wangji climaxed as well, his hot seed filling Wei Wuxian up. He hadn’t expected liking the feeling of it so much, but he did. Now that he had gotten taste of what it felt like, he couldn’t help but crave it.
Once Lan Wangji came down from his high as well, he grew almost boneless on top of Wei Wuxian, so he quickly wrapped his tail around the other again to keep him upright, his partner leaning against him sleepily. Cute. Lan Wangji was so cute. It shouldn’t have been allowed for him to be so cute after he had so thoroughly fucked Wei Wuxian just moments before. How was Wei Wuxian supposed to deal with this?
As he held Lan Wangji in his arm, he couldn’t help but note the clear change in Lan Wangji’s energy. It looked like Wei Wuxian had accidentally transferred way too much spiritual energy, though luckily Lan Wangji didn’t seem close to a qi deviation or anything like it. However, he was still glowing subtly, his body filled to the brim with spiritual energy. The excess of it lingered in the grotto around them, making it feel almost like Cold Springs at the Cloud Recesses.
As much as Wei Wuxian hated it, he knew that he shouldn’t keep Lan Wangji in the water for much longer. So, he carefully swam over to the edge of the platform and helped Lan Wangji rinse himself off before he climbed back on land. Wei Wuxian grimaced when he saw that Lan Wangji’s underrobes were completely unsalvable, but Lan Wangji didn’t seem to mind, pulling a spare set out of his qiankun sleeve and dressing himself again. Then, he made himself comfortable in front of the still glowing embers of the fire.
“How are you feeling?” Wei Wuxian asked, a little concerned.
“I am unsure,” Lan Wangji replied, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes to focus on circulating his spiritual energy. He frowned a little as he did so and Wei Wuxian stayed quiet and held on to the edge of the platform where Lan Wangji was sitting, watching over him, as he regained his inner balance.
As he watched Lan Wangji meditate, he couldn’t help but think again how nice it would have been, if they could have remained next to each other. Awkwardly, he half-climbed onto the platform as well, his long tail remaining in the water, while he made himself as comfortable as he could be, curling up beside Lan Wangji, the crown of his head resting against his thigh.
Wei Wuxian closed his eyes and felt one of Lan Wangji’s hands returning to his hair, his fingers combing through strands of hair soothingly. No matter how much he wanted to have Lan Wangji beside him always, this was nice too. He would just need to learn to be content with it.
Notes:
The horny™ has been unleashed. I hope you all enjoyed it!
Chapter 12: Return to Yiling
Summary:
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji receive some good news.
Notes:
Content Warnings (click to expand)
References to sexual content including Lan Wangji bottoming and topping at the same time.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Wei Wuxian was almost completely certain that the so-called post-sex glow wasn’t a literal glow and yet.
Lan Wangji kept on glowing.
It lessened a little as Lan Wangji meditated and circulated his spiritual energy, but the glow never really disappeared completely. Wei Wuxian would have been concerned, if it didn’t look so good. Lan Wangji looked stunning, truly worthy of his title. The glow brought a certain vitality with it, that beautifully contrasted the paleness of Wei Wuxian’s own skin post-death. He couldn’t really articulate it. It just looked right.
Wei Wuxian could hardly look away from Lan Wangji at all these days, his eyes always drawn to the other only to find his gaze reciprocated. They could also hardly keep their hands off each other, even as they continued their travels further south. Both of them were keen on putting as much distance between themselves and Qinghe after what had happened there.
A few days later, Wen Qing send them a message that the discussion conference in Yiling had ended as well, though she hadn’t given the all-clear for their return yet. Still, they found themselves slowly circling back towards Yiling anyway and waiting for their call to return. Knowing how these events went, some sect leaders had probably stayed behind for a few days longer to gossip. Especially after what happened in Qinghe. So, they were forced to continue their travels and also took the chance to keep exploring each other’s bodies.
As much as Wei Wuxian would have liked to pretend that they did some successful night-hunting in the following days, they mostly fucked. Now that they had crossed the final threshold between each other, neither of them felt as though there was a reason to hold back anymore, especially since Lan Wangji’s ribbon remained tied around Wei Wuxian’s wrist.
Just like Wei Wuxian had thought during the first time they had done this, he didn’t want to live a single day without having Lan Wangji inside of him in some way or another and luckily, Lan Wangji seemed to feel similarly. They were extremely compatible and well-matched in that regard and almost frighteningly in-sync. Even a single look was enough to escalate a situation and both of them always hungered for more, were always willing to take it just one step further. They also both enjoyed experimenting with each other, though currently Wei Wuxian’s favourite position remained having Lan Wangji straddling his tail while he fucked him. He learned that he loved teasing Lan Wangji with his own tentacle while he was getting fucked as well, having it emerge from his slit slowly and reach for Lan Wangji, caressing his balls and pressing against his hole. The first time he had tipped it inside and fucked Lan Wangji while Lan Wangji himself fucked him had felt like a revelation. Sadly, Lan Wangji wasn’t always in the mood for it, but when he was, Wei Wuxian always made the most of it.
All the while, Lan Wangji kept on glowing. Wei Wuxian really couldn’t help himself when it came to the eruptions of spiritual energy. They happened completely outside of his control whenever he climaxed. His own abundant spiritual energy yearned for an outlet and Lan Wangji’s own energy sung to him as well, accepting those exchanges without fail. So. The literal post-sex glow. For now, Lan Wangji didn’t seem to mind, though it caught people’s eyes as they continued their travels and of course, he needed to meditate each time after they finished. That was a bit annoying, in Wei Wuxian’s opinion. He knew that lengthy post-sex cuddles weren’t really achievable either way, because sooner or later Lan Wangji needed to leave the water, but still. Wei Wuxian would have appreciated some post-sex cuddles. Especially when they were rougher with each other. It wasn’t happening though and so, Wei Wuxian needed to be content with half-crawling on land and curling up beside Lan Wangji as he meditated, keeping watch over him, and making sure no harm came over him as he circulated his spiritual energy. Sometimes, Wei Wuxian also left to hunt a snack; fish for himself and whichever edible plants he could find for Lan Wangji.
For now, it was enough. It had to be.
Wei Wuxian also took the chance to work on his own spiritual balance. He was different from Lan Wangji, since he now had a dual system of sorts, circulating both spiritual and resentful energy. Despite the almost daily energy transmission though, his own energy levels remained unchanged and luckily, the resentful energy never reacted to Lan Wangji at all.
Almost daily, because sometimes Lan Wangji travelled through towns, gathering information, and taking the opportunity to rest and clean up at an inn, while Wei Wuxian sulked in whatever river was flowing through the town. He understood, he really did. There were only so many times in a row Lan Wangji felt comfortable camping out in the forest, especially after the entire Qinghe ordeal, but still. He recognized he was being unreasonable, but he didn’t want to be parted from Lan Wangji, feeling weirdly possessive and also fearful. He knew that people were looking at Lan Wangji differently now. That his glow was noticeable enough that people couldn’t help but look at him.
This time around as well, Wei Wuxian continued sulking, looking up to see the distant flickers of light above the water surface, where the night lights of the town were reflected. He really hoped that Wen Qing would reach out to them soon and tell them, that it was alright to return to Yiling. In Yiling, things would be easier again, he told himself. In Yiling, Lan Wangji would be able to sleep with the comfort of a roof above him at night, had shelter and human company that would not treat him as though he was alien.
In Yiling, they would be reunited with A-Yuan.
Even Wei Wuxian couldn’t keep on sulking all night though and so he continued working on his secret project: possessing various small animals. He found out that it worked best when the animals submitted their bodies to him voluntarily, which could usually be achieved by promising them treats. Unfortunately, there weren’t any rabbits around, so he still couldn’t test how that would go, because he had already found out that there were differences between animals. Oh well, he would surely come across rabbits sooner or later. Until then, he would continue testing his powers while Lan Wangji slept and once, he found some rabbits, he would finally surprise Lan Wangji with this power. He hoped his partner would like it.
In the morning, they reunited and continued their journey together, travelling further south. They also made up for their time of separation and Wei Wuxian found himself happily appeased.
Unfortunately, as they continued their travels, there were rumours popping up as well and soon enough, Lan Wangji needed to disguise his identity when he went into towns, dressing in simpler robes, and only tying his hair with a simple ribbon instead of an ornate silver guan.
Wherever they went, the people were whispering about the decline of the great sects. How what happened during the Wen attack on Lotus Pier had been strange, especially considering what was known about Madam Yu murdering Wei Wuxian to appease the Wens. It seemed like that had kickstarted something, it seemed like Madam Yu had angered some spirits. Because both her and the Wens had faced judgement.
Then of course, there was also the demise of Wen Ruohan, which was linked to ancestral spirits of the Wen Sect, who were dissatisfied with their heir and disposed of him, despite Wen Ruohan being close to immortality himself.
And now, Qinghe.
The common folk were in agreement that whatever had happened there had been some sort of divine intervention as well. To them, it was clear that the sects were merely getting their due because they themselves had disrupted the spiritual balance as they neglected their duties as cultivators and behaved more and more like lords reigning over their subjects, focussed on amassing more and more wealth, demanding high taxes for their services, and yet still only focussing on those hunts that proofed themselves to be challenging and prestigious enough.
Wei Wuxian understood their frustration and was glad that it seemed like no one linked the attacks on the sects on a single individuum.
That was until a new wave of rumours started spreading at least.
Suddenly, there were rumours about Lan Wangji’s involvement in what happened in Qinghe. He had been imprisoned by the Nies after the destruction of those ancestral tombs, which had happened a few days prior after all, but not only that. The people also started whispering about how he had been carried off by the very same spirits that had wreaked havoc upon the Unclean Realm. Was he an innocent bystander or had he aided the spirits somehow? Some claimed that he had been seen controlling a water ghoul as well, which helped him escape. Had Hanguang-Jun turned to unorthodox cultivation to bring justice to the sects? Had he become a demonic cultivator? The public opinion on the subject was divided. While it seemed believable that maybe Hanguang-Jun had helped enact heavenly justice, him becoming corrupted by resentful energy still seemed pretty unlikely. Especially since he had been spotted a few times after his escape from Qinghe. No one had dared to approach or question him, but they too had noticed the glow…
It seemed that unfortunately, no matter how nondescript Lan Wangji’s clothing was, he was still too recognizable. Especially since he was literally glowing. So, they started avoiding towns and villages altogether after all, leaving the broad roads behind them and making their own paths instead. Fortunately, though, they didn’t have to continue much longer, because soon enough, Wen Qing finally sent them a message.
It was finally time to return to Yiling.
Wei Wuxian couldn’t describe his feelings at the news as anything else but relieved and overjoyed. All this time, he hadn’t allowed himself to truly miss Yiling, to miss the Wens and miss A-Yuan, but now that they were called back, the homesickness for Yiling hit him all at once. He had thought that after his death he had grown to become an unattached spirit, but that wasn’t true. He had found a new home. In Yiling.
Neither him nor Lan Wangji were willing to waste any time and so they made their way to Yiling as quickly as possible, not even stopping at night to rest. Both of them had enough stamina for it and both of them were filled with determination to be reunited with the others as soon as possible. It only took them a little less than two days until Wei Wuxian was finally back in the stream leading up to the Wens’ settlement at the foot of the former Burial Mounds.
As he spotted the settlement in the distance, Wei Wuxian called out for A-Yuan while he was swimming closer. If the child was currently in the water, then he would hear Wei Wuxian’s calling. A few moments passed and then, Wei Wuxian could spot A-Yuan swimming closer to him quickly, making cute chirping noises in reply. Wei Wuxian speeded up even further and then, finally, he could pull A-Yuan into his arm, hugging him close and twining their tales together. At long last, they were reunited.
As much as Wei Wuxian had enjoyed his time alone with Lan Wangji, there had been this constant feeling as if something – someone – was missing. He hadn’t allowed himself to think about it at all, but now with A-Yuan back in his arm, it all came rushing back him and he felt so incredibly relived to be back and to see that A-Yuan was doing alright. A-Yuan wasn’t… Wei Wuxian knew that A-Yuan wasn’t… But he couldn’t help but think of the child as his.
They continued hugging for a long time, but eventually, Wei Wuxian swam them both over to the Wens’ pier, where Lan Wangji was already waiting for them. As soon as A-Yuan saw him, he reached out his arms, silently demanding to be picked out of the water by Lan Wangji, who of course complied and easily lifted him into his arms.
“Lan-gege, you’re back!” A-Yuan cried out happily, his tail smoothly changing back into legs the moment he was safely settled in Lan Wangji’s arms. He threw his arms around Lan Wangji and hugged him just as fiercely as he had just hugged Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji’s expression softened as he returned the hug and for the first time since they had left Yiling, he too seemed to be completely at ease again. It was only now that Wei Wuxian realized that there had been a certain tension clinging to the both of them, that now melted away. Being separated from A-Yuan and having the sect leaders visiting Yiling had stressed them both to some degree, but it seemed as if everything had gone well.
“Wei Wuxian, you look well,” Wen Qing greeted him, walking across the pier as well. Her expression softened as she took in the sight of A-Yuan in Lan Wangji’s arms, but she said nothing about Lan Wangji’s glow so he assumed that they must have already spoken about it while Wei Wuxian had greeted A-Yuan.
“You as well, Sect Leader Wen,” Wei Wuxian told her with a cheeky grin, looking up to them out of the water. “How was the discussion conference? Were the sect leaders being a nuisance?” he wanted to know.
Wen Qing rolled her eyes in annoyance and rubbed her temples as if she was fencing off a headache. “Of course, they were! Though now there’s one person less to deal with and I’m guessing you’re involved in the fact that I won’t be seeing Chifeng-Zun anytime soon?” she retorted.
Wei Wuxian’s grin only broadened, revealing his sharp teeth. “Maybe so! He’s totally fine though, even if he has to walk if he wants to come here again. No more flying on Baxia, that’s for sure,” he told her.
“And what about Sect Leader Lan’s abduction?” Wen Qing then asked.
“What about it?” Wei Wuxian asked her in turn. “And anyways, he turned up again, didn’t he?”
“He did, he did,” Wen Qing agreed and then sighed. “I can tell that you’re not feeling sorry at all, but this time around, people saw you,” she told him, frowning. “Have you heard the rumours yet?” she then wanted to know, looking at Lan Wangji as well. “And you, Hanguang-Jun, how do you feel about people whispering about the fact that you might be some sort of demonic cultivator, who is being linked to the attack on the Nie Sect?”
Lan Wangji was exactly as unrepentant as Wei Wuxian. “Rumours should not be trusted,” he merely said, adjusting his hold on A-Yuan.
“Well, of course not, but they still deal quite the damage,” Wen Qing replied. “I’m afraid you’ll have to lay low for a while. As the only sect that hasn’t been affected yet, the Jin Sect has started behaving more aggressively, lashing out because they fear an attack,” she told them.
“The Jins?” Wei Wuxian asked, now frowning as well.
Wen Qing nodded, shuddering slightly. “Here’s to hoping I don’t have to host Jin Guangshan again in the near future. That man is vile,” she said.
Wei Wuxian’s expression darkened. His opinion on Sect Leader Jin wasn’t particularly high to begin with, so even that vague comment was enough for him to decide that he should deal with Jin Guangshan sooner or later as well.
“That can be arranged,” he promised Wen Qing.
For a moment, it looked as though Wen Qing would add something else to the topic, but then she just shook her head slightly and turned to Lan Wangji and A-Yuan instead. She reached out and booped A-Yuan’s nose playfully.
“Now, this one should actually be put down for a nap soon,” Wen Qing said. “When he heard that you were coming back, he’s kept as all awake, too excited to sleep,” she told them. “A-Yuan, would you like to go nap inside or in the water with your Xian-gege?” Wen Qing asked the child.
Still comfortably nestled in Lan Wangji’s arms, A-Yuan looked conflicted for a moment. Wei Wuxian understood his struggles perfectly. If he would have been in his place, he wouldn’t have been able to say no to Lan Wangji’s comforting hold as well! Still, to his surprise, A-Yuan reached out for him again instead.
“Wanna nap with Xian-gege!” the child declared, stretching out his hands towards Wei Wuxian and the water. Lan Wangji carefully crouched down and returned A-Yuan to the water. Again, the child transformed smoothly and soon, Wei Wuxian had A-Yuan nestled in his hold again, their tails twined together as A-Yuan was already slowly falling asleep.
“As for you, Hanguang-Jun,” Wen Qing then said. “I insist on a thorough examination,” she said, eying Lan Wangji. Yes, evidently the two of them had already discussed the glow. Wen Qing shot Wei Wuxian a look as well. “I can’t believe you two didn’t sent a message about this sooner,” she told them.
“You were busy and, in our defence, Lan Zhan felt fine!” Wei Wuxian replied with a pout. Lan Wangji nodded in agreement.
Wen Qing only shook her head in disbelief. “The two of you…” she said. “Now, before I take a look at you, Hanguang-Jun, there’s something else I want to show you two. A little surprise we’ve been working on,” she told them and then motioned for them to follow her.
It became clear soon enough what Wen Qing wanted to show them. It seemed as though the Wens have been very busy while they had been away and not just with the discussion conference. While they had travelled, the Wens had expanded the pier and the house that was built the closest to the river. A new room was now elevated above the water and when Wei Wuxian, still carrying A-Yuan, swam over to investigate, he found that there was an opening in the floor of the room. He popped his head inside and found himself inside the room, which was rather unusual from the inside as well. There were two levels to the room, a higher and a lower one. The opening to the river was part of the lower level and Wei Wuxian could picture himself easily climbing out of the water here and comfortably resting in the little nook the Wens had built. A moment later, Lan Wangji and Wen Qing walked into the room as well.
“Wen Qing, this is…” Wei Wuxian started, but then fell silent, unable to even voice everything he felt right now. Lan Wangji seemed to be in a similarly speechless state, his eyes had widened at the sight of Wei Wuxian being inside the room as well.
“We’ve been meaning to built something like this for you for a while,” Wen Qing started explaining, a satisfied expression on her face. “And now, with Hanguang-Jun basically having moved here as well, we thought about turning it into his bedroom, but decided against it. He doesn’t get to hoard you,” she said, shooting them both a look. “So, it’s a community space instead. Somewhere, where both you and A-Yuan can easily spend time with all of us, where A-Yuan can enter the river covertly when we have visitors,” she explained. Wei Wuxian nodded along and his hold on A-Yuan tightened at that. It was really the perfect solution and he couldn’t have thought up something better himself even if he had tried.
“Thank you,” he told Wen Qing earnestly.
Wen Qing smiled pleased. “Of course,” she said. “You’re a part of the family and we look out for each other,” she told him.
“We look out for each other,” Wei Wuxian echoed.
“Well then,” Wen Qing then said and turned back to Lan Wangji. “We still prepared a permanent bedroom for you. It’s one of the rooms by the pier. I’ll show you the way and then, I’ll examine you,” she told him and Lan Wangji nodded in agreement.
Since A-Yuan was already napping peacefully in Wei Wuxian’s arm by that point, he decided to return to the river while Wen Qing examined Lan Wangji. He felt the need to hide for a while either way, a little overwhelmed by the gift the Wens had given him.
A part of the family… Wei Wuxian realized that he had never felt like this before, like he truly belonged somewhere, like he had found a place for himself, like he belonged somewhere just the way he was. It was an overwhelming feeling and he spent the rest of A-Yuan’s nap letting the feeling settle inside of himself.
After A-Yuan’s nap, they both returned to the house, A-Yuan happily crawling out of the water and Wei Wuxian following him and making himself comfortable on the lower level of the room. A-Yuan changed back to his human form, but remained by Wei Wuxian’s side for a while longer, telling him about everything he had done while Wei Wuxian had been away. Eventually though, Wen-popo picked him up and Wen Qing and Lan Wangji reappeared.
Wen Qing’s expression couldn’t be described by anything other than judgemental.
“You really don’t do things half-way, do you?” she asked him.
Wei Wuxian grinned at her. “Of course not,” he replied, not knowing what she was talking about.
“Well, congratulations on the successful dual cultivation then,” Wen Qing said and Wei Wuxian spluttered a little. “It seems as though you two are very close to dual cultivating Lan Wangji to immortality,” she explained to them, gesturing to Lan Wangji, who was still glowing even though it’s been a while since Wei Wuxian last transferred energy to him.
“Ah… Are you sure?” Wei Wuxian asked, looking at Lan Wangji, whose ears were quite red already.
“Very much so. I thoroughly examined Lan Wangji’s core and his meridians,” Wen Qing replied. “And from what I can tell, it won’t take much longer until he’s reaching that point. He has already far surpassed what my uncle had managed to accomplished. Hanguang-Jun flew here at full speed without rest and throughout the night for two days and yet, doesn’t feel tired at all. So, yes, I’m very sure,” Wen Qing told them.
Wei Wuxian grinned up at Lan Wangji. “What do you say, Hanguang-Jun, how to do you feel about achieving immortality later tonight?” he asked in a singsong voice.
Lan Wangji’s expression darkened with lust. It was clear that he wasn’t against the idea at all. Before he could reply though, Wen Qing interrupted them with a pointed cough.
“No mating calls where I can hear them,” she said. “And anyways, we’ve got a feast planned for tonight to welcome you two back, so don’t you dare it miss it, alright?”
Obediently, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian nodded at her and she left satisfied. Lan Wangji immediately took the chance to come to the lower level of the room as well and press a bruising kiss to Wei Wuxian’s lips, who couldn’t help but smile into the kiss.
“So, immortality…” Wei Wuxian then started. “How do you feel about that?” he couldn’t help but ask. His own achieving of immortality hadn’t been planned either and he didn’t think about it a lot, but the perspective of having Lan Wangji here with him for an eternity… That thought was quite pleasant.
“An eternity beside Wei Ying sounds like a dream come true,” Lan Wangji replied, echoing Wei Wuxian’s own thoughts. In turn, he couldn’t help but pull Lan Wangji down for another kiss. They continued to make good use of this new room the Wens had built until Wen-popo and Si-shu appeared to start the preparations for tonight’s feast. Apparently, Wen Qing had another special reveal planned for the evening, but no matter how much Wei Wuxian needled the others as they prepared the room for the festivities, no one would tell him what it was all about – not even Wen Ning!
Eventually, all preparations were finished. Lan Wangji had dressed down a little for the evening and was now shamelessly offering his lap as a place for Wei Wuxian to rest his head as the Wens served dinner, which included fresh fish Wei Wuxian had caught them earlier as well. A-Yuan started the evening on the lower level of the room with them, but soon grew a little fidgety and changed back into his human form to run around between his other relatives. Somehow, he always managed to steal the best pieces out of everybody’s bowls. Probably because he was more than a little spoiled, but all of them couldn’t help but indulge him. He was such a sweet child after all. Still, when it came to A-Yuan, almost everyone was a bit of a pushover. Only Wen Qing and Wei Wuxian managed to say no to him even when he unleashed the full force of his adorable pout. Unlike Lan Wangji, who despite having grown up with thousands of rules, never enforced a single rule with the child.
Finally, it was also time for Wen Qing’s announcement.
“Now that everyone is gathered together again, there are some big news I would like to share with everyone,” Wen Qing started once they had finished their meals. From the tone of her voice, Wei Wuxian knew that she was speaking to them as Sect Leader Wen and he too couldn’t help but straighten a little where he lounged in Lan Wangji’s lap.
“As you all know, the other sect leaders were very inspired by the change that has come over the Burial Mounds. They interpreted it as a sign that my reign over the Wen Sect would be a blessed one,” she said, rolling her eyes as she repeated what she had been told. Wei Wuxian could picture very well how the sect leaders must have danced around Wen Qing during the discussion conference, attempting to court her favour and build a good relationship with the new Sect Leader Wen. After all, the Qishan Wen Sect remained the largest and most influential of all the major sects, especially after what happened in Qinghe and Lotus Pier…
“And since we have built our home in Yiling and Nightless City merely remains a reminder of our sect’s dark past,” Wen Qing continued, her expression clouding over for a moment, “I have decided that the Wen Sect’s new seat of power will be in Yiling instead,” she declared and Wei Wuxian’s cheeks started hurting from how brightly he grinned at the news. Those were good news indeed! He had missed her and Wen Ning dearly whenever they left for Nightless City and they needed the support of their close family as well.
“Of course, that means we’ll have to build new headquarters in Yiling as well, but this settlement here will remain our family’s home and we’ll make sure that everything is connected to the water as well,” Wen Qing then said, smiling at both Wei Wuxian and A-Yuan. “It’s time for our Wen Sect to truly turn over a new leaf.”
Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but think that it all sounded too good to be true.
It was.
Notes:
Sorry for the wait, been going through a little writer's block with this story. Hopefully, I won't keep you waiting too long for the next chapter!!
Chapter 13: Night-Hunt
Summary:
Though they have to lay low, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian decide to continue night-hunting together.
Notes:
Content Warnings (click to expand)
Minor character death, light gore, depictions of dead bodies, major character injury, MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
After much consideration, it was decided that the Wen Sect’s news headquarters would be build in the heart of Yiling. The citizens of Yiling had been consulted as well of course and were overjoyed at the news. After the Cleansing of the Burial Mounds, Wen Qing had already become a highly esteemed sect leader in their eyes, but this decision only cemented her iconic status.
Preparations began immediately and it almost seemed as if the town itself had been revived just like the Burial Mounds had been. Soon, merchants started frequenting the town more often, various artisans settled down and offered their services for the new seat of power and many citizens found employment where there had been none before.
At the same time, the Wens’ family compound at the foot of the Burial Mounds remained wonderfully secluded. Something, Wei Wuxian was incredibly thankful for. Apparently, he had become quite the territorial creature, when it came to his little river that bordered the Wens’ family compound. He didn’t like strangers visiting and of course, the isolation also allowed him to spend his time freely with the Wens without anyone spotting him or A-Yuan.
If he wanted to visit Yiling though… That was a different matter. An unfortunate side-effect of Yiling becoming the new seat of power of the Qishan Wen Sect was the fact that now, more and more cultivators started frequenting the town. Especially the Jins always seemed to be lurking in and around the town, desperately attempting to gain Wen Qing’s favour. Since Jin Guangshan and Wen Ruohan had been allied, they now tried their best to cozy up to the Wens again. Wen Qing wasn’t having it though and was just as vocal in her annoyance about their constant presence as Wei Wuxian was.
Another annoyance was the fact that in the months after they had freed the sabre spirits of Qinghe, the gossip mill hadn’t calmed down. At all. In every village, in every household, people seemed to whisper about this or that, about Lan Wangji and demonic cultivation, about divine intervention and restitution. Of course, Wei Wuxian didn’t feel bad that the sects’ public image was suffering, but him and Lan Wangji were forced to lay low, which he detested. The rumours also weren’t doing him justice at all. No, no, if you asked Wei Wuxian, then Lan Wangji surely got the better end of the deal! While Wei Wuxian got portrayed as a ghastly water ghoul that Lan Wangji had controlled, people actually started worshipping Lan Wangji. He gained quite the following. Across the lands, more and more people started to revere Hanguang-Jun and shrines were popping up everywhere as well.
If things continued like this, then maybe Lan Wangji would soon gain more than just immortality. Maybe he would actually ascent.
Eventually, a shine revering Hanguang-Jun was built close to Yiling as well. It was a located a little outside of the town, by the river leading up to the Wens’ family compound and Wei Wuxian suspected that the Wens might have played a part in getting the shrine placed there. Its position was just a bit too convenient. Easily reachable for Wei Wuxian as well. Well, he certainly wouldn’t complain about it. Not when he could visit the shrine whenever he wanted as well.
He often visited the shrine at night, when the others were sleeping. He would ensure that the shrine remained completely untainted by negative energies and wasn’t disturbed in any way. Of course, he also left offerings at the shine. It was mostly water chestnuts and cool rocks he found at the bottom of the river and he felt a little silly about it, but it also gave him something to do at night, when he was missing Lan Wangji. Luckily, Lan Wangji didn’t have to sleep as much a regular human anymore. Not with how close he was to achieving immortality, but still. He couldn’t remain in the water with Wei Wuxian all the time. Unfortunately, they weren’t actually joined at the hip, not matter what Wen Qing said.
One day, Wei Wuxian found a very cool rock that was shaped like a bunny. He decided right then and there that he needed to gift that one to Lan Wangji personally.
Lan Wangji’s eyes softened as he took hold of the rock. “Thank you, Wei Ying,” he said, smiling a little. These days, he glowed so brightly that it was hard to avert one’s eyes from him at all.
Or maybe it was just Wei Wuxian who couldn’t look away.
Lan Wangji gently hid the bunny-shaped rock away inside his robes, in a little pocket by his heart. Wei Wuxian watched him with a smile, pleased that he had found a nice little gift for his partner.
“Now, how about we sneak away for another night-hunt, Hanguang-Jun?” Wei Wuxian asked him. Though they were both laying low, the nights were long and good opportunities to go on some night-hunts in the area surrounding Yiling and the Burial Mounds.
Lan Wangji inclined his head. “Sishu mentioned that there was some kind of disturbance in one of the villages north of Yiling,” he replied. “Cattle was being killed, but the marks left behind were unusual.”
“Oh?” Wei Wuxian asked, curious. “Unusual? How? Were the animals killed by yao or corpses?” he wanted to know.
“Inconclusive,” Lan Wangji replied.
Wei Wuxian grinned. “Then we should find out, shouldn’t we? Definitely something that needs to be taken care of,” he said and Lan Wangji hummed in agreement.
So, they informed the Wens of their plans and said their goodbyes to A-Yuan, who pouted unhappily (and cutely) but had at least forgiven them for their long absence during the discussion conference.
Since the night-hunt was located just a little north of Yiling, they decided against packing any special provisions and travelled in the late afternoon. If all went according to plan, then they would be home in time for breakfast. While Wei Wuxian followed one of the side streams of the Great River to their destination, Lan Wangji flew above, using the clouds for cover.
Unfortunately, when they arrived at their destination, it turned out that the affected village wasn’t actually located by the river itself and from his position in the water, Wei Wuxian could just barely make it out in the distance.
“I will see if anyone has any information for us and then return,” Lan Wangji offered and then applied a talisman Wei Wuxian had designed. It dimmed his glow for a short while and made his face forgettable, allowing him to interact with the villagers pretty anonymously.
Wei Wuxian nodded, pouting. “Be quick, er-gege. Or else I’ll wither away in despair because you aren’t around. I’ll miss you too much!” he told Lan Wangji, who smiled one of his devastating small smiles and then leaned down to press a soft consoling kiss to Wei Wuxian’s lips.
“I will be swift,” Lan Wangji promised and then, he left.
Wei Wuxian looked after him by the edge of the stream. In the distance, Lan Wangji grew smaller and smaller as he walked away and it hurt Wei Wuxian’s heart to see him go, even if it was just for a short while. Why had those people even built their village so far away from the river? It made no sense at all! It was completely inconvenient as well! Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but feel a little childish anger towards those villagers, as though they were at fault for the fact that he couldn’t leave the water.
Suddenly, he heard a quiet rustling sound by some bushes close to the river. Wei Wuxian immediately froze where he was, remaining still as a predator, his eyes just barely peeking out of the water as he listened and watched. After what felt like a small eternity, a small black rabbit made its way out of the bushes and hopped towards the stream, where it drank. Excitement bubbled up in Wei Wuxian and he immediately infused his spiritual energy into the air, reaching out for the rabbit in a silent question. Unfortunately, the rabbit got spooked immediately and ran away, disappearing into the bushes again.
“No, little bunny, come back!” Wei Wuxian cried out sadly.
Ah, that would have been the perfect opportunity to finally surprise Lan Wangji by taking the form of a rabbit! Alas, the rabbit didn’t reappear again, no matter how silent and unmoving Wei Wuxian remained as he started at the bushes. Hopefully, there would be other rabbits around which wouldn’t get spooked as quickly.
Soon, Lan Wangji returned from the village. He had already taken off the disguising talisman and was glowing beautifully once more.
“The marks left behind indicate some sort of wolf or doglike-creature,” Lan Wangji reported, making Wei Wuxian cringe. Maybe it wasn’t so bad that he couldn’t come along after all. “Only the size of the marks was unusual, which made the villagers fearful,” he added.
“The size?” Wei Wuxian asked nervously, disliking the thought of an oversized dog even more than the thought of a regular-sized dog.
Lan Wangji inclined his head. “The paw prints were at least three times the size of a wolf. I could also sense some resentful energy from the direction the villagers have pointed me,” he replied. “It reminded me of Qinghe.”
“Ah,” Wei Wuxian said. “Beastly energy?” he asked.
Again, Lan Wangji inclined his head. “I assume that we are dealing with a yao.”
Wei Wuxian hummed in agreement. “Yeah, it sounds like it,” he said. “Will you be alright taking care of it on your own?” he then asked and Lan Wangji voiced his agreement.
“Though the villagers are terrified, I do not believe that it will be a particularly challenging night-hunt,” he concluded.
“Then I trust you to handle it,” Wei Wuxian told him. “And I’ll just wait here for you,” he added, happy to leave that particular creature to Lan Wangji. Above them, the sky was slowly growing darker as the sun set. It was the ideal time for night-hunting. However, there was just one thing he needed to do before Lan Wangji left…
“Before you leave though,” Wei Wuxian said and once again leaned up towards Lan Wangji, puckering his lips in a clear demand for kisses. Lan Wangji complied without hesitation, leaning down, and pressing a sweet kiss to Wei Wuxian’s lips. However, this time around, the kiss remained sweet and chaste for all but a few moments. Wei Wuxian was still a little disgruntled that he was missing out on this night-hunt after all. So, he took his sweet time kissing Lan Wangji, opening his mouth for him to explore and whining needily when Lan Wangji started nibbling on his lip. He always knew just the right way to make Wei Wuxian weak.
“Come back to me soon, er-gege,” Wei Wuxian said when they finally broke apart. “Or else I’ll miss you too much,” he echoed his earlier words.
“Of course,” Lan Wangji promised and stood up again. They exchanged another look and then, Lan Wangji left. This time, he mounted Bichen and flew off into the direction the villagers had pointed him. Again, Wei Wuxian looked after him until he couldn’t make out his form in the distance anymore, then he focussed on his surroundings again, sighing.
Unfortunately, there were no rabbits in sight.
Though Wei Wuxian wasn’t fond of sitting still and doing nothing, he could be patient if he needed to be. So, he made himself as comfortable as possible by the shore of the stream and continued watching his surroundings. The other animals that were around were all quite friendly and easy-going, but the rabbits remained elusive. However, after a long while of waiting, some of them finally re-appeared by the edge of the stream. This time around, Wei Wuxian let his spiritual energy linger in the air around them before the animals reached the water, not wanting to risk spooking them away. It seemed that it was the right tactic, because he only needed to wait another incense stick of time before the bunnies felt comfortable enough to hop closer to him.
“Hello, little bunny, don’t be afraid,” Wei Wuxian cooed softly. “I’m just a little water spirit, I won’t eat you,” he said, keeping his voice and demeanour calm as he reached out with his spiritual energy once again. He cheered internally as he managed to establish a connection with a bunny.
“You know, little bunny, my partner is very fond of cute little critters such as yourself,” Wei Wuxian said softly, attempting to get the bunnies used to his voice. “Would you maybe mind lending me your body for a little while so that I can surprise him? How about it? In exchange, I’ll get you lots of treat I collected earlier, only the freshest and best greens for you, what do you say?” he asked, reaching out with his spiritual energy again.
It seemed like had been convincing enough, because the little spotted rabbit readily submitted its body to him. Again, he hid his own body under the surface of the water, curled up and safe from all harm, and then, he let his consciousness drift into the body of the rabbit.
Wei Wuxian immediately found himself feeling quite nervous as he opened his eyes in his temporary new body, but maybe that was just what being a rabbit was all about. His nose twitched as he got used to his new eyesight. It was a very different experience to his improved eyesight as a water spirit. As a rabbit, he needed to move his head to get a better understanding of where objects were located. Everything was also kind of blue and purple. It looked a little depressing to him. Maybe that was why rabbits liked Lan Wangji that much, because he was often dressed in white and thus stood out to them.
Wei Wuxian hopped around a little, getting used to the feeling of this new body. Around him, other rabbits had gathered as well and were now watching him with suspicion, though then they quickly became side-tracked by the grass at the edge of the river. In their defence, it looked very delicious, in Wei Wuxian’s rabbit-brained opinion.
Since he had already experimented with other animals in the months after Qinghe, Wei Wuxian got used to this body soon enough. Despite a lingering sense of anxiety that seemed to be ingrained into this body, he even found himself enjoying being a rabbit. It was certainly more comfortable than being a duck or a fish, that was for sure. He could hardly wait to show Lan Wangji this form. He just knew that Lan Wangji would love and Wei Wuxian already prepared himself for all the wonderful cuddles he would receive from his partner in this form.
Suddenly, Wei Wuxian felt a large eruption of spiritual energy disturbing the peaceful quiet of the evening. Immediately, the other rabbits disappeared back into the bushes and Wei Wuxian found himself frightened as well. What was happening?
It took a moment for him to gather his bearings, his rabbit-heart racing inside his body. Once he did, Wei Wuxian realized that the blast of energy he had felt, had carried Lan Wangji’s energy signature. The eruption itself had felt unnatural, involuntary. Definitely something that must have happened in a moment of pure desperation.
Wei Wuxian didn’t hesitate. Immediately, he took off in the direction Lan Wangji had left. He felt completely panicked, couldn’t bring himself to think rationally for even a moment, to consider his options. No, somewhere out there, something had happened to Lan Wangji. All that mattered now was that he got there was quickly as possible. Time was running out. Fast.
Lan Wangji’s spiritual energy lingered in the air and Wei Wuxian soon realized that he had definitely chosen the right direction, because the lingering energy grew stronger and stronger. At the same time, he himself grew more worried, because it was a frightening amount of energy that lingered in the air. Even with how close to immortality Lan Wangji was, that amount was too much. Lan Wangji’s body couldn’t have expelled that much spiritual energy without risking a qi deviation at the least. Wei Wuxian needed to get to him quickly. He couldn’t let anything slow him down.
He ran. He ran as quickly as his little rabbit body allowed him to. He ran and ran and his heart kept on hammering inside his chest. He feared that it would leap out of his body any moment now with how fast it beat and yet, he kept on running. Lan Wangji was the only thing on his mind. Lan Wangji needed him. Whatever had happened, he needed to get to him. Now.
The closer Wei Wuxian got, the denser the spiritual energy in the air got. It was almost unbearably dense and Wei Wuxian actively felt his current body fighting against it, the rabbit trying to regain control over its body so that it could flee.
“Please, little bunny, bear with it,” Wei Wuxian begged the creature internally. “I need to get to him. Something happened. I need to get to my Lan Zhan,” he tried explaining, but finding the right words was hard and so he opted for projecting his feelings instead, hoping that that the rabbit would understand the depths of his love for Lan Wangji. Apparently, it did, because it calmed down again and let him continue his mad sprint across the dark fields of the village that had called for their help.
Then, he came across the corpse of a Jin cultivator.
It was more than a gruesome sight, as the cultivator had apparently been thrown off his sword mid-air and then plunged to his death. Still, underneath the blood and gore, his robes were unmistakably Jin robes. Due to the state of the body, Wei Wuxian wasn’t sure whether it was someone he might have recognized, but he didn’t allow himself to linger either, instead continuing to look for Lan Wangji. He was close, he could tell.
However, before he reached Lan Wangji, he came across the sight of another dead Jin cultivator.
This one was identifiable and hadn’t plunged to his death. Instead, he had been felled by Bichen. Even now, Lan Wangji’s magnificent sword remained buried inside his chest, glowing, and resonating with the spiritual energy in the air, but not returning to Lan Wangji’s side. This corpse, Wei Wuxian recognized, though only vaguely. It was Jin Zixuan’s obnoxious older cousin. Wei Wuxian couldn’t say that he was sorry to see him dead. He couldn’t spare him another thought though, because Lan Wangji was still his priority and he was close. Very close. Close enough, that Wei Wuxian was finally able to see him.
Lan Wangji was lying not far from Jin Zixun. Wei Wuxian found his prone body in the middle of an array, drawn in blood, and trapped under heavy deity-binding nets. The nets were made from the strongest golden rope that money could afford. Even if it hadn’t been for the two Jin cultivators, Wei Wuxian would have guessed the Jins involvement at that point. Wei Wuxian hopped over to Lan Wangji’s side cautiously and scared, afraid that a single wrong movement would somehow make everything worse than it already was. Lan Wangji’s beautiful glow wasn’t there anymore, but.
He was alive.
Somehow, Lan Wangji was still alive, though his breathing was laboured and he made horrible rasping sounds as he stared unseeingly to the sky. Under the heavy nets, the shape of his chest was wrong. It seemed almost concave in a way, Wei Wuxian knew, couldn’t be fixed easily if at all.
Wei Wuxian pressed his small paws against Lan Wangji’s arm and started transferring spiritual energy into him. He didn’t have much energy in this body, but still. However, the transfer failed immediately, because around them, the array came to live again. Panicked, Wei Wuxian attempted to erase it with his small body, but the array remained active and from his position and with his current eyesight, he couldn’t get a good look at it.
“Wei Ying?” Lan Wangji somehow managed to ask, his voice already faint. He sounded confused and his head dangled to the side a little. Immediately, Wei Wuxian hopped over to him again and pressed his face against Lan Wangji’s as best as he could through the deity-binding nets.
“Wei Ying, it is you,” Lan Wangji said, sounding relieved. He pressed his face against Wei Wuxian’s soft fur as well. Still, his eyes remained unseeing.
“Wei Ying, be well,” Lan Wangji then breathed.
In his current form, Wei Wuxian could do little else but reply with sounds of protest. What Lan Wangji was saying… It sounded like a farewell. He wouldn’t allow it. No. Whatever was happening, he wouldn’t allow Lan Wangji to leave like this. If he needed to pour all of his energy into Lan Wangji and bring him back from the cusp of death, then he would do so without hesitation. He would do anything.
“Be well and look after A-Yuan,” Lan Wangji continued with difficulty. Again, Wei Wuxian squeaked in protest, pressing his face firmly against Lan Wangji’s. He had yearned so long to surprise him by taking the form of a rabbit, but now this body felt like a cursed shackle. Even now, Lan Wangji couldn’t see him.
“I love you,” Lan Wangji breathed. “Loving you was my greatest honour in this life,” he continued and it seemed as if he wanted to say something else, but then he started coughing violently. It sounded awful and incredibly painful and Wei Wuxian wished that he could take the pain away. Again, he desperately tried to channel spiritual energy into Lan Wangji’s body only for the array to activate itself again, not allowing any of the energy into Lan Wangji’s body. When Wei Wuxian felt for Lan Wangji’s own energy, he found it completely depleted. Even worse, he couldn’t feel Lan Wangji’s golden core and considering the state his body was in, his prognosis was more than damning.
Lan Wangji’s coughing finally subsided and his head lolled to the side listlessly once more. It took a few moments until Wei Wuxian realized that he wasn’t breathing anymore. Panicked, his jumped up on Lan Wangji’s ruined chest, attempted to gnaw through the deity-binding nets himself and poured more of his energy, both spiritual and resentful, into Lan Wangji’s body, but to no avail.
Lan Wangji was dead.
However, so was Wei Wuxian and thus, he didn’t allow himself to give up. He worked hard until he had finally freed Lan Wangji’s body from the nets, until he had managed to dispel the array that had been drawn into the ground. He was filled to the brim with determination and fear, just like he had been when A-Yuan had almost drowned and now, he used that very same desperation to bring back Lan Wangji.
Nothing happened.
Lan Wangji’s body remained unchanged, remained broken beyond hope, remained unmoving, remained dead. No matter what Wei Wuxian tried, no matter what he did. Nothing changed. Eventually, he didn’t even have enough energy in him to move anymore and so, he collapsed beside Lan Wangji’s body, pitifully curled up in the crook of his neck.
I’m sorry, Lan Zhan, I’m sorry, I failed you, he wanted to beg, but he couldn’t. He was just a small rabbit, incapable of human speech and either way, Lan Wangji couldn’t hear him anymore. In fact, Lan Wangji’s body was already growing cold in the dark night. Wei Wuxian couldn’t bring himself to do anything anymore. Lan Wangji had asked him to be well and take care of A-Yuan, but how was Wei Wuxian supposed to be well without Lan Wangji beside him? How was he supposed to care for A-Yuan without Lan Wangji beside him?
Inside of him, it felt as if his heart had grown to become a gaping void and his body was as heavy as lead.
Above him, the clouds finally parted again, revealing a beautiful full moon. It felt incredibly unjust to Wei Wuxian, that there was still beauty such as this left in the world, when Lan Wangji was gone. Then, the first ray of moonlight shone down on them and slowly, Lan Wangji’s body started glowing once again. It was the same glow that had clung to him in recent months, the same glow that had betrayed the fact that he was on the brink of immortality. Carefully, Wei Wuxian managed to get back to his paws. He didn’t dare breathe as he watched the moonlight completely envelope Lan Wangji as though he was part of it. As he glowed in the soft moonlight, Lan Wangji’s injuries weren’t visible anymore. Instead, he almost looked as though he was made of jade, as though he was merely sleeping.
As slowly as the moonlight had enveloped Lan Wangji, it was fading once again. However, Wei Wuxian soon realized that it wasn’t just the moonlight that was fading. Not, it looked as though it was taking Lan Wangji along with it. Wei Wuxian moved panicked, but instead of touching Lan Wangji’s body, he phased through it as though it wasn’t there anymore.
In front of his eyes, the moon was stealing Lan Wangji away and there wasn’t anything Wei Wuxian could do but watch. Eventually, clouds moved in front of the moon again, blocking the light, and Wei Wuxian was left in the darkness, alone. Nothing remained of Lan Wangji. Not even a hair.
Shaking, Wei Wuxian curled up on the remains of the deity-binding nets.
Gone. Lan Wangji was gone.
Notes:
Sorry not sorry. BUT! I promise, there's going to be a happy ending for Wangxian! I promise!
Also, two more chapters and then we're already at the end, but before that the Jins are going to get their due :D
There has also been more stunning fanart over on Tumblr! Please check it out and give it much love!!
Chapter 14: Interlude
Summary:
Darkness consumes the world.
Notes:
Content Warnings (click to expand)
Minor characters deaths, torture, mentions of Jin Guangshan and his treatment of women, mentions of past abuse.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Everything was clouded in a dark and deathly silence.
Nowhere was safe. Yunmeng. Qishan. Gusu. Qinghe. Lanling. It didn’t matter. Everything fell silent, everything was shrouded in an impenetrable darkness.
For many, it happened out of nowhere, but some had a dark suspicion what caused this calamity. It was the wrath of the heavens, for the mortals had intervened in a heavenly tribulation. They killed Hanguang-Jun, the Light-Bearer, and now they were doomed to live with the consequences of their actions.
It was the Jins who killed Lan Wangji, who proudly declared their victory over the supposed demonic cultivator. They said that they had caught him in the act, just as he was about to commence a demonic ritual. Fearful villagers had begged them for help and of course, they complied and confronted Lan Wangji, who immediately attacked the Jins. It was unfortunate that Lan Wangji was killed during the confrontation, that he couldn’t be given a proper trial, but it couldn’t be helped. It was self-defence. It was unfortunate that his body got eaten away by resentful energy before their very eyes and even more unfortunate that Sect Leader Jin’s own nephew was killed in the fight. He died a hero.
Or so they said.
As soon as the Jins had announced to the world that they had killed Hanguang-Jun, darkness fell over the lands, silencing everything in its wake. The people could do little else but flee into their houses and hide. They didn’t dare come out when it seemed as if an eternal night had fallen. Even the animals fell silent. No birds were chirping and in every stable, the animals cowered silently in fear.
The silence that accompanied the darkness was oppressive. The kind of silence that made you fearful, the kind of silence that made all sleep evade, the kind of silence that settled in your bones and let you know that something terrible was drawing close. That was how non-cultivators described at least. As for the cultivators themselves, they knew better, but their knowledge wasn’t comforting.
The cultivators could tell that it wasn’t just darkness that surrounded them. It was pure resentful energy, so dense that it even clouded the sky and hid the sun from their sight. They couldn’t help but feel just as frightened and powerless as the non-cultivators, because the amount of energy that was surrounding them was just so overwhelming. It made even the Burial Mounds pale in comparison.
Of course, the cultivator still attempted to fight back, to cleanse the resentful energy surrounding them, but it was to no avail. They were no match for it. Not even the re-designed barrier array surrounding Lotus Pier stood a chance against the resentful energy. The original barrier array had failed them when the Qishan Wen Sect attacked, but they were confident that the new one would keep the danger out. It didn’t. After all, they had only prepared for human enemies and there was nothing human about their adversary. They weren’t prepared for nature itself to turn against them.
Maybe, if for once in her life, Yu Ziyuan would have actually managed to overcome her own pride.
Maybe, if for once in her life, Yu Ziyuan would have been courageous enough to face the truth.
Then maybe, this could have all been avoided.
But now, it was too late.
Now, everyone knew that she was responsible for the death of Yunmeng Jiang’s former head disciple. Everyone knew that she had whipped the boy within an inch of his life at the Wens’ flimsy demand. Everyone knew that she had held him down as she sawed through his forearm with her hunting knife, that she struggled to cut through the muscles and bones and eventually chose to cut through his upper arm instead. Everyone knew that she hadn’t said a word when the Wens had chained the then half-dead boy with weights and thrown him into the lotus lake behind the Jiangs family’s main residence. They hadn’t even attempted to recover his body later on, had left him to rot at the bottom of the lake, where he died.
Had he drowned or was it Yu Ziyuan herself who killed him? That was unclear. Only one person had known the truth, the Core-Melting-Hand himself, but he had died shortly afterwards. He had drowned in barely knee-deep water. Just like the rest of the Wens who had come to attack Lotus Pier.
Some said that it was Wei Wuxian’s revenge against the Wens, that he saved the Yunmeng Jiang Sect despite being discarded by them without hesitation. It would certainly explain why Yu Ziyuan had been dragged into the lake herself, why her tongue was cut off and her famed Zidian destroyed.
Of course, she never told anyone what happened that day inside the water. If she had done so, if for once she had faced the truth and revealed what happened to Wei Wuxian and how he indeed saved them from the Wens, then maybe, Lotus Pier would have been graved with mercy a second time as well.
If only they had crafted just a single memorial tablet for their fallen head disciple. If only the junior disciples would have been allowed to mourn their beloved head disciple freely. If only the Jiangs had made even one attempt to recover his body or if someone would have called for justice, then maybe it wouldn’t ended like this.
If only.
Now, instead, Lotus Pier was shrouded into darkness as well, wasn’t spared either.
Within a day, the hundreds of lotus flowers that surrounded the estate started wilting and rotting, turning the water dark and leaving only a putrid smell lingering in the air. Jiang Fengmian could do little else but watch as the once dreamlike scenery surrounding Lotus Pier turned nightmarish. The resentful energy wasn’t content with letting the surrounding greenery rot either and couldn’t be locked out, no matter what suppression talismans the Jiangs threw at it. It found its way into the halls and floors of the estate. Like acid, it ate away anything that could be considered a senseless display of wealth. Inside their closets, the fine silk robes of the Jiang Sect were eaten away until mere rags remained. Precious and rare spoils of night-hunts and valuables locked inside their coffers turned into ash. Just like the flowers wilted and rotted in the water, the wooden walls of the estate started rotting as well, until the Jiangs were forced to evacuate. They couldn’t hide inside Lotus Pier any longer for Lotus Pier was no more.
In the end, the Jiangs were left with only themselves.
Long ago, Jiang Chi had been a rogue cultivator. Before he had settled down in Yunmeng, he had gone where he was needed as he developed his own unique style of cultivation. Before he had founded the Yunmeng Jiang Sect and followed Wen Mao’s example of a bloodline-based cultivation sect, he had served the people.
Now, his heirs stood before the ruins of Lotus Pier. Nothing much remained of it. Their cultivation tools could be salvaged and Lotus Pier’s small library was spared any destruction as well. They could do little else but gather the remaining books and scrolls into qiankun pouches and search for shelter.
Then, finally, the resentful energy receded and the sun rose above Yunmeng once again.
Many disciples left immediately, returning to their families, or searching for employment elsewhere, but many more remained loyal and of course, there were also a number who were part of the Jiang bloodline as well. They were forced to seek shelter elsewhere for now, because Lotus Pier remained uninhabitable.
Jiang Fengmian, his wife, and his children were forced to search for shelter as well. They found themselves reliant on other people’s kindness. Though he felt awful about it, Jiang Fengmian also couldn’t help but feel grateful that his wife had lost her tongue and could do nothing but glare at people in anger. No more barbed words of anger, no more sparks of lightning. It made it much easier to ask strangers for help. Though his son had always seemed to grow up to be like his mother, he too had changed after the Wens’ attack on Lotus Pier, after Wei Wuxian’s death and everything that came with it. He too remained silent even as his expression betrayed that he felt that they shouldn’t have to lower themselves to this behaviour. Truthfully, the only one of them who actually took everything in grace was Yanli. Surprisingly, she adapted the best to their new life, always finding a smile for those who sheltered them and helping where she could.
However, they soon encountered different problems. No matter where they found a place to rest, whenever they dared to stay longer than a few short days, the food in their bowls would rot and their meagre belongings would start to fall apart again, just like Lotus Pier had fallen apart. It took a while until Jiang Fengmian recognized the problem, until he could feel curse mark inside his body, but no matter what he attempted, he couldn’t break the curse. Neither him nor any members of his family were exempt. A curse had taken root in the Jiang bloodline and it forced them to keep moving. They soon found out that if they moved and night-hunted along the way, then everything was fine, but as soon as they rested, as soon as they made attempts to rebuilt their sect’s headquarters, rot would follow in their wake.
Just like that, the Yunmeng Jiang Sect became a sect of rogue cultivators again.
Though the resentful energy had drawn out of Yunmeng, it still held the other lands in a tight hold.
Qishan was affected as well, though Nightless City had already been abandoned by Sect Leader Wen Qing and her immediate family, who had moved to Yiling. However, not everyone had left Nightless City. There were still some who had remained, who still coveted the Qishan Wen Sect’s former glory, who still believed in Wen Ruohan’s dream of superiority above all other sects. There were some, who were lucky that they hadn’t been around that fateful day when Wen Ruohan and his followers lost their lives. Chief among them was Wen Ruohan’s favoured torturer, an illegitimate son of Jin Guangshan who had served the Nies before.
Unlike everywhere else, it wasn’t completely dark in Nightless City, no matter how dense the resentful energy was. It was a city truly worthy of its name. The many volcanic flows that were ever-present brought a gift of light, revealing that the poisonous gases and vengeful spirits of the Wens’ ancestor had returned once more. It seemed to them as if Wen Mao himself had returned to impart his wisdom on his heirs one last time.
Those that abuse the authority of one’s sect to bully others and do evil should get beheaded and displayed in public as a warning for future generations, was written in the Quintessence of the Wens. An army of ghosts moved through Nightless City, followed by poisonous gas and resentful energy alike. The cultivators fought valiantly, but they stood no choice, not with how weak they grew when they could hardly breathe. Soon, their heads fell to the ground even as their bodies remained standing, turned into stone by the resentful energy.
Then, slowly, the resentful energy receded and daylight returned to Nightless City. Though turned into stone, the bodies of those who had dreamed of a Wen empire now stood as a warning for all future generations.
Sect Leader Wen Qing soon travelled to Qishan herself and took stock of the situation. She declared that it was a warning of her ancestors that she would yield and decreed that the stone bodies would remain where they stood. She also renewed her vow to lead the Wen Sect to a more prosperous and peaceful future, transforming it into a sect that focussed on healing and ending the era of the bloodline-based inheritance. As long as they proofed themselves to be worthy, anyone would be taught by her, anyone had the chance to make the Wen Sect their home.
She would take the warnings of the resentful energy to heart.
Wen Mao hadn’t been the only one who had written down his teachings to guide his successors. Just as he had written the Quintessence of the Wens as guidelines for all who would come after him, Lan An had carved the first few hundred of the Lan Sect Rules into stone himself. The monk-turned-cultivator, who had laid the foundations of the Cloud Recesses, had believed in order and self-discipline above all else.
This was also symbolized by the Lan Sect’s sacred headband, that could only be touched by one’s loved ones. Only surrounded by them could one let go of self-restraint and be true to oneself. It was a romantic notion for a sect of romantic. However, recently, the Lan Sect had gained an unfavourable reputation.
One of the reasons, was the debacle surrounding the Waterborne Abyss. For years, the Lan Sect had allowed the abyss to exist in Biling Lake, which was located at the foot of the mountain where the Lans themselves lived. After the burning of the Cloud Recesses, they had focussed on rebuilding their own sect and hadn’t dealt with the problem even as Caiyi’s population continued to suffer. Even though the new Sect Leader Wen had offered restitution and donated valuable books to the Lans’ rebuilt library, they didn’t start purging the Waterborne Abyss. No matter how many civilians drowned in the meantime.
In the end, the ghouls in Biling Lake actually walked out of the water themselves and confronted the Lan Sect! It almost seemed as though they had been disappointed by the Lans’ lack of response themselves. So, they had made their move and left the Lan Sect no choice but to finally deal with the problem once and for all.
Considering what was later said about Hanguang-Jun, his dabbling with demonic cultivation and his supposed affinity to control water ghouls, the people of Caiyi couldn’t help but wonder whether this was where everything had started. After all, Hanguang-Jun had been long famous for going where the chaos was, for taking on any night-hunt no matter if they didn’t offer high rewards or prestige. Maybe he had grown fed-up with his own sect’s unwillingness to deal with the Waterborne Abyss that he toom things into his own hands. Maybe he was the one who controlled the water ghouls and made them walk onto land to surrender themselves….
Whatever the truth was, the Waterborne Abyss was finally dealt with and the Lans’ reputation would have recovered, if it wasn’t for the fact that soon afterwards, Lan Wangji attacked the Nie Sect! That was what the Nie Sect announced at least. However, soon new rumours spread, about how the Nies themselves had been involved in unorthodox cultivation and how Lan Wangji, angered by their hypocrisy, called them out, destroyed their weapons and forced them return to the path of righteous cultivation. Then again, wasn’t Lan Wangji supposedly a demonic cultivator himself? It was all very strange and confusing and at the end of the day, it didn’t really matter all that much to the non-cultivators. Most of them didn’t understand the ins and outs of cultivation, but understood that the Nies more often than not ignored simple night hunts and instead preferred to go after strong beasts that promised rich spoils and glory. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji was known to be a serious and honest man, who helped wherever he could, no matter the reward. It was no wonder then that the people were happy to take Lan Wangji’s side, that the citizens of Qinghe were especially certain that whatever the Nie Sect had done had deserved Lan Wangji’s judgement. Which led to another stain on the Lans’ reputation, because they were quick to take Nie Mingjue’s side and even voiced their agreement when it was decided that Lan Wangji should be executed. Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren themselves agreed! Where was that famed lack of self-restraint and passion when it came to those one loved, the people couldn’t help but wonder.
Everything that happened to Lan Wangji seemed to be an injustice and non-cultivators all across the land bemoaned the fact. More so, after the first temples and shrines appeared, which worshipped Hanguang-Jun.
It seemed that they weren’t the only ones who thought it to be an injustice either, because darkness had fallen over Gusu and Qinghe as well.
Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen were quick to rouse their disciples. They strengthened their wards and played the strongest of cleansing songs, but as it was everywhere else, the darkness wasn’t deterred in the least. Out of the darkness, deafening screeching noises were heard, immediately overshadowing the Lans’ playing.
With the screeching came hundreds of angry ghosts, who crawled up the mountain and bemoaned their early deaths, all of them dead because of night-hunts that had been left unattended for too long. Of course, the Lans tried to exterminate the ghosts, once again using their instruments and even swords, but it was too no avail. The resentful energy was just too strong and the ghosts couldn’t be stopped. They dragged themselves through the entire complex, not caring who stood in their way.
Then, it was time for the ghosts’ counter-offensive.
Their first victim was the Wall of Rules. The ghosts dragged themselves to the wall and then started clawing at the stone with their nails, which grew unnaturally sharp and long, hardened by their resentment. The noises they made as they clawed at the stone were horrible, almost torturous in nature, especially to the Lans and their sensitive musical ears. Bit by bit they erased more and more rules from the stone until only those few hundred that Lan An himself had carved into stone remained, reminding the sect of its core teachings.
The ghosts weren’t content with the destruction of the Wall of Rules though. Instead, they moved on to the library. Now, true fear set in. After Lan Xichen had managed to save the library’s contents from destruction when the Wen forces attacked, were they now doomed to be destroyed after all? Again, him and Lan Qiren attempted to stop the ghosts or to save their books and scrolls at least, but again, it was to no avail. Luckily for them, it seemed as though the ghosts hadn’t planned to destroy everything inside the library pavilion after all. Instead, they merely moved to destroy the hundreds upon hundreds of copies of the rules that generations of unlucky disciples had been forced to copy as punishment. Not a single full copy of the rules of the Lan Sect remained.
Again, the ghosts moved on and the Lans prepared themselves for another fright, having accepted that there was nothing they could do but let it happen. Around them, the resentful energy seeped deeply into the buildings. Just like the other major sects, the Lan Sect had changed throughout its history. It couldn’t be compared to Lan An’s simple monastery anymore. Of course, there were still rituals and rules that mirrored Lan An’s lifestyle, but those couldn’t hide expensive tapestries displayed and other riches that clearly marked the Lan Sect as equal to the other major sects. Their displays of wealth were more subtle of course, but their fine silk robes and exquisite jade hairpieces didn’t lie and as the resentful energy made its way through the corridors of the Cloud Recesses, the many riches of the Lan Sect turned to dust. As did their tools of discipline. Neither simple bamboo canes nor the discipline whip itself were safe from the destruction. Soon, they were no more.
Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren could only watch and of course, in their minds, they rationalized that the damage wasn’t too bad, that everything could be rebuild and restored. However, unbeknownst to them, a curse was placed on their bloodline as well.
Whoever would abuse their position of power, whoever would done out unjust punishment or betray their own principles for politics sake, whoever fell victim to hypocrisy… They would fail in their endeavour and be punished instead. If any Lan would dare to raise a hand against another, they would only end up hitting themselves instead.
Then, slowly, the resentful energy pulled back again and the army of ghosts that had haunted the Cloud Recesses was laid to rest as well, all their resentment burned out, finally at peace. Soon, peaceful silence and a sense of tranquillity settled over the Cloud Recesses again, but the Lans were left shaken to their cores.
A part of them knew. Whatever had happened, it was connected to Lan Wangji. It was connected to Hanguang-Jun, who had been close to ascension, who was already worshiped as a god across the lands, who had been the Master of Discipline once, who they had betrayed. The Lans couldn’t help but think that they had committed a terrible mistake.
Within a week, the first shrine to Lan Wangji was built within the walls of the Cloud Recesses. Another one was soon built in Caiyi as well, close to Biling Lake.
Discussions soon broke out amongst the Lans. They soon accepted that what happened had been some sort of heavenly intervention too and agreed amongst themselves that they had been spared only because they had the potential to do better. Many argued for taking Lan Wangji as an example, that they should all go where the chaos was.
Only one person didn’t take part in these discussion. Lan Xichen. Instead, he secluded himself for solitary meditation. If only the discipline whip hadn’t been destroyed, he would have gone and asked for punishment himself, for what happened to his brother, for the role he played himself. As it was, he was forced to actually work on himself and learn from his mistakes or else he wouldn’t be the Lans’ sect leader much longer.
Lan Xichen wasn’t the only sect leader whose future position grew tenuous those days.
In Qinghe, Nie Mingjue faced similar problems. The Unclean Realm already laid in ruins after the spirits that had fuelled their sabres had been freed and yet, resentful energy shrouded Qinghe in darkness as well. It didn’t wreak further destruction, but its presence was terrifying nonetheless.
In Qinghe, the people intensified their worship for Lan Wangji as well. They didn’t know what exactly happened in the Unclean Realm, but many had seen Lan Wangji travelling afterwards, had seen how he night-hunted freely, how he glowed with vitality and power.
Now, as resentful energy seemed to shroud the entire world into darkness, the shrines and temples dedicated to Lan Wangji remained as safe havens, full of light and warmth. All over the land, non-cultivators sought shelter there and were greeted with a warm, welcoming breeze that made the tension bleed out of their bodies. Of course, it also made it apparent to the people of Qinghe that what was happening was definitely connected to Lan Wangji’s death.
As they hid in the temples and shrines, they felt as if they could fear the faint song of a qin. None of them had ever heard Gusu Lan’s famous Calming music, but all of them agreed that this must have been something very similar to it. Even without words, the song was a clear promise that everything would be alright and that they didn’t to fear the resentful energy, even as the outside world remained completely without light.
The song revealed more though. It told the truth about what happened that day in Qinghe, told the truth about the Nies’ corrupt cultivation, about their hypocrisy and soon Nie Mingjue’s greatest enemy was not the resentful energy, but the people he was governing. Both cultivators and non-cultivators revolted against him. Generations of disciples who had pledged their allegiance to the Nie Sect felt betrayed. They had joined to make a life for themselves, but that life ended up cursed. The stronger they grew as they honed their cultivation, the shorter their lives became. Their sabres were already destroyed and the sprits inside of them freed, but the anger remained. The distrust remained.
It was only when Nie Mingjue officially resigned as the sect leader of the Qinghe Nie Sect that the resentful energy finally disappeared from Qinghe, appeased for now.
Now, there was only one place left that still in the resentful energy’s frightening hold.
Jinlintai.
By now, everyone knew what happened to Lan Wangji. Everyone knew that the Jins had grown both power-hungry and paranoid after Wen Ruohan’s imperial ambitions failed. Jin Guangshan saw the power-vacuum Wen Ruohan’s death had left and realized that it was a unique opportunity for his sect to expand its borders and influence.
He was also deathly afraid.
Wen Ruohan had fallen victim to his own ancestors in a way and Lotus Pier as well had been left in chaos after that head disciple of theirs was killed by the Violet Spider. Around them, it seemed as though nature itself was turning against them, be it the Waterborne Abyss in Gusu or the sabre spirts in Qinghe. Jin Guangshan couldn’t help but feel as though something was coming for his sect – for him – as well. Especially after his nephew died when he had been sent to capture Hanguang-Jun.
Resentful energy came for Lanling and Jin Guangshan’s worst fears came true. An enemy had come for him, an enemy he couldn’t defeat. The resentful energy wasn’t as gentle with Lanling as it was with the other sects. No, this wasn’t feeling like a lesson to be learned, this was deeply personal. This was vengeance and there would be no mercy.
The smell of sulphur lingered heavily in the air as complete silence reigned in Lanling. No one dared to breathe too loudly, feeling the oppressive weight of the resentful energy in the darkness surrounding them. They didn’t know yet what happened to the other sects and a sense of dread settled inside their minds.
There was one group of cultivators who were particularly nervous, who tried hiding in the twisted corridors of Jinlintai. It was the ones who had accompanied Jin Zixun on his quest to capture Lan Wangji that ended with both of them dead. They knew that they had messed up, had already been punished by Sect Leader Jin for their failure. They also knew that a worse punishment was now awaiting them.
Traces of old resentful energy lingered everywhere in Jinlintai, no matter how often the Jins cleansed their headquarters. Some stains could not be washed away. Mistreatment and abuse were a daily occurrence here after all. Everybody knew about it too and nobody did anything against the many injustices committed here on the daily. Servants were beaten or thrown down stairs if they displeased somebody. Women were pulled into Jin Guangshan’s quarters at night and efficiently discarded in the morning. Supervisors bullied those beneath them at every opportunity. Corruption was so deeply rooted in Jinlintai’s culture that no one batted an eye when somebody bought themselves favours with a peace of gold.
Every bit of mistreatment left its traces, even after the victims had long since been disposed of. Now, as the darkness was making its way through Jinlintai, those traces of mistreatment whispered to it.
Revenge, revenge, revenge.
All those traces of resentment, all those traces of mistreatment, they made dealing with the Lanling Jin Sect a child’s play for the resentful energy. The members of the Jin Sect had painted targets on their own backs and now, every one of them would pay for the wrongs they committed.
As their own wrongdoings became their undoing, so did the Jin Sect’s gold.
For a long time, silence reigned. Then, suddenly, screams of pain echoed out of every corner of Jinlintai.
Jin Guangshan screamed where he had hidden himself inside his chambers and so did the disciples who had helped murder Lan Wangji. Their skin burned as the golden threads inside their robes heated up and melted, burning away fabric and skin alike. Desperately, they tried to undress, tried to get their robes off, but they stood no chance and fell where they stood. It was a torturous and agonizing death, but it also didn’t take unnecessarily long. Despite all, the darkness had no appetite for senseless cruelty. It only did what was necessary to calm those who had been wronged by the Jins, whose resentment was slowly fading away with every act of revenge.
Next, the walls of Jinlintai started coming down as golden tapestries and wallpaper started melting as well. The sudden and intense heat was too much for the buildings to stand, even stone collapsing under the destructive force. The many secret chambers and vaults of Jinlintai became deadly cells of liquid gold. Those few Jins who hadn’t been killed immediately had no choice but to run outside, many of them stumbling and then falling down the stairs in front of their burning palace. Not all of them escaped either. Some were pulled back inside and drowned in the molten ruins of Jinlintai.
The molten gold made fires erupt in every single chamber and though the surviving Jins tried extinguishing the fires, nothing happened. They could do nothing but watch just as the rest of the sects had been forced to do. Lanling itself wasn’t touched, the fires being contained only to Jinlintai itself and soon, the once magnificent and ostentatious seat of the Lanling Jin Sect was nothing more than a pile of ash.
It took days until the fires finally went out and once they did, the remaining disciples were quick to search the rubble. Most of them assumed that if the gold had melted, then it would surely harden again and could be used to rebuild their sect. They were wrong and they found only ash. None of the treasures of the Jin Sect survived the fire. Unlike in Gusu or Yunmeng, nothing remained. Not even books of scrolls. There had been nothing the resentful energy had considered worth sparing. There was only ash.
While the Jin Sect needed to reckon with this destruction and the death of Jin Guangshan and most of the senior disciples and extended family members of the Jin, people all around Lanling suddenly came across hidden riches. Bastard children whose mothers had only been given cheap pearls before. Servants who had been kicked out of Jinlintai for this or that. Common folk who had stood up to the Jin Sect and demanded they actually provided the services they had heavily taxed the people for. Courtesans and prostitutes who had long since learned that there was little that they could do but endure it when the now-dead Jin Guangshan visited their establishments. Suddenly, the found themselves and their families financially secure. More than secure, they found themselves freed.
With Jinlintai burning down and all their riches disappearing, it was of course highly suspicious how so much gold suddenly appeared in people’s homes, but. The citizens of Lanling found themselves in silent agreement and nobody said a word. Instead, they left a token of gratitude at the closest shrine or temple worshipping Hanguang-Jun, thanking him for the light he had brough to Lanling.
At the same time, Jin Zixuan, one of the few survivors of the main family, walked through the remains of his home. He was in complete disbelief. His entire life had been turned upside-down in just a few days. Suddenly, he was no longer the heir to the richest and grandest of the major sects. Suddenly, he had nothing but a set of underrobes and his sword. Even Suihua’s beautifully decorated sheath had melted and now, though his sword still sang in harmony with his spiritual energy, it looked like nothing special. Just like he himself didn’t look like anyone special, wearing not even a guan anymore. His hair was tied up in a simple white ribbon instead.
Jin Zixuan couldn’t help but lament his fate. All his life, he had lived like a little princeling, had been pampered and spoiled and now, many of his remaining disciples were already deserting. Still, if he wanted to rebuild his sect, he needed to go on. As long as he and the others night-hunted again and maybe increased their taxes a bit, there was hope yet.
However, his hope soon dwindled. His own bloodline had been cursed as well. Whenever the Jins received payment for their hunts, it would turn into ash as soon as it passed into their hands. No matter how many times they attempted to repel the curse, they remained unsuccessful. Some left then and pursued other trades and yet, the curse persisted even then, determined to punish them until their last breath. All they could do was work hard and accept payment in the form of a place to rest the night and a warm meal to fill their stomach. If someone attempted to trick the curse by asking for payment in rare delicacies or by being gifted lavish manors, the food itself would turn to ash in their mouths and they would completely lose their sense of taste and their ability to draw any pleasure from eating. The manors they claimed for themselves would close their doors to them, not allowing them to enter no matter what they tried.
Just like the Jiangs, the Jins had to find their footing for themselves again. Just like the Jiangs, they were forced to become a sect of rogue cultivators. Unlike the Jiangs, their numbers continued to dwindle until they could hardly even be called a minor sect. Jin Zixuan struggled in his new position as a sect leader and under those circumstances. Soon, the Lanling Jin Sect was no more. There were only a few remnants, who became unaffiliated rogue cultivators since that was their only option with the curse.
The darkness was laid to rest once again. The entire cultivation world had been shaken to its core and yet, the non-cultivators couldn’t help but feel grateful for what happened. They felt as if their prayers had been heard. Now, many rogue cultivators roamed the lands, sharing their knowledge as they night-hunted and the constant threat of a war between the major sects had been eradicated.
Sandalwood incense was lit.
Sweet rice cakes were offered.
Words of gratitude were spoken.
Hanguang-Jun had brought them light again.
Notes:
I've written a few self-indulgent things in my like, but this chapter was so self-indulgent. What can I say but I love forcefully humbling the powerful. I hope you enjoyed it too and your thirst for revenge has been quenched? It might take a little longer for me to get the last chapter out because I have two event deadlines in March, but I will do my best!
Chapter 15: Jade Rabbits and Cassia Trees
Summary:
Wei Wuxian has to learn how to live with the grief.
Notes:
Content Warnings (click to expand)
Some suicidal ideation, grief/mourning.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
To Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji’s death felt as if he himself had died a second time as well.
At first, there was only a sense of numbness. Wei Wuxian couldn’t fully comprehend what had happened, couldn’t understand what he had just witnessed.
A simple night-hunt. They had supposed to be on a simple-night. Something they could have easily dealt with. A-Yuan was waiting for them. They had been supposed to be back for breakfast.
Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but think of his own parents and their last night-hunt. To this day, he still didn’t know what had killed his parents in the end, why they hadn’t returned to him. As unfilial as it was, a part of him couldn’t help but wonder why they had even taken on such dangerous night-hunts at all while he had still been so little and dependant on them, but now, he realized, that even the simplest night-hunt could end in an unexpected catastrophe. In this world, there were some things one couldn’t control.
But A-Yuan was still waiting for them. A-Yuan was waiting. That was the thought that made Wei Wuxian slowly uncurl from his position on the destroyed deity-binding nets, even as he felt as if his little rabbit heart was made of stone.
He started the journey back to the river. After everything that had happened, he could tell that the rabbit’s body was struggling to contain him much longer, but somehow, he still managed to return to the river at least, managed to return to his own body. At the shore of the small river, the rabbit collapsed. Its small body had reached the limit of its strength. The moment Wei Wuxian regained awareness in his own body, he started feeding the rabbit spiritual energy unthinkingly. If something had happened to the rabbit now as well, he wouldn’t have been able to bear it. He wouldn’t have been able to bear it, if the rabbit had died, just like Lan Wangji had died.
Luckily, his spiritual energy seemed to be doing the trick and slowly, the rabbit got to its feet as well, though it wasn’t as keen to run away as Wei Wuxian had expected. Just then, a number of Jin cultivators appeared in the sky above them, scaring the rabbit away. With their ostentatious golden robes, Jins were always easy to spot when they flew, like small little suns in the sky. At the sight of them, Wei Wuxian felt rage ignite insight of him. The numbness ceased and now, there was only anger. Anger and hatred and the purest resentment. Enough of it all, to shoot all suns out of the sky.
Since his death and transformation, Wei Wuxian hadn’t allowed himself to completely lose himself in the calling of the resentful energy. He had always kept a masterful control over the energy inside of him. He had cleansed abysses of it and had even taken the ancient resentful energy of the Yiling Burial Mounds into himself. Now, that energy was singing to him, screaming at him.
Wei Wuxian, do you want revenge?
Wei Wuxian, they murdered him.
Wei Wuxian, an eye for an eye.
Wei Wuxian, you have already given them a chance, but they did not heed your warning. Make them pay. Make them choke on their own rot. Let them be devoured by their own demons.
He saw no point in controlling it, saw no point in holding back and so, Wei Wuxian let himself get lost in it. He submitted to the bloodlust and the thirst for revenge and it immediately overwhelmed all of his senses. He was plunged into a world of darkness as he shot down sun after sun, cursing them all, making them pay for every single one of their sins.
Wei Wuxian burned through all of the resentful energy he had accumulated over the months. He burned and burned and burned until there was nothing left of him and he almost thought that this was it, that he had reached his own end, despite his promise to return to A-Yuan.
It took a while for him to realize that he hadn’t burned out completely. He was still here and slowly, but surely, he regained consciousness, though it took him longer still to wake up. When he finally opened his eyes, blinking rapidly to adjust to the light surrounding him, Wei Wuxian realized that he was in Yiling. He couldn’t tell how he had made it here. Maybe the last dregs of resentful energy had returned him home, had tucked him into his nest lovingly.
“Wei…Wei Wuxian…?” a voice asked carefully and Wei Wuxian rolled to the side. He was back in the room the Wens had built for him, the room that was connected to the river. While his tail was submerged in the water, his upper body was comfortably resting on a nest of pillows and blankets, most of them probably belonging to A-Yuan, who often slept in a similar position. Beside him, curled up, a pair of rabbits was sleeping. Wei Wuxian recognized one of the rabbits immediately. It was the rabbit, which had lent him its body when Lan Wangji—The other rabbit, Wei Wuxian didn’t recognize, but judging by how the two rabbits were curled up closely together, they probably came as a set.
Wei Wuxian blinked a few times, unsure how he came to be here, how the rabbits came to be here as well. Then, he looked up and saw Wen Qing watching him worriedly. It was her, who had called his name earlier.
“Wen Qing,” Wei Wuxian said, his voice sounding rough from disuse.
Wen Qing breathed out, a number of emotions flitting over her face. She mostly seemed worried and pained as well. When she regained control over herself, she kneeled down next to Wei Wuxian.
“Thank you for coming back to us, A-Ying,” she said softly.
But Wei Wuxian shook his head, still confused. “I don’t… I didn’t,” he stammered out, feeling off-tilt. He noticed that he was feeling strangely weak as well and when he reached out to the energy inside of himself, he was somewhat unsurprised to find his energy levels almost completely depleted. What was surprising, however, was that he couldn’t feel any resentful energy inside him at all. It was completely gone. Since his death, the resentful energy had co-existed peacefully with his spiritual energy and his golden core, but now, it was gone. Just like that. Only pure spiritual energy remained inside of him.
“I don’t know how I returned, I don’t—” Wei Wuxian continued, shakily, feeling panicked all of a sudden. He was breathing raggedly, his heart racing inside his chest, beating faster and faster.
His heart racing inside his chest.
“Jiejie, I—What’s happening to me? My heart, I—” Wei Wuxian asked, reached out his shaking hand to his chest to feel his heart beat, though even without the touch, he could feel it. His heart was beating so wildly that he could hear it inside his ears.
Carefully, Wen Qing shuffled closer, reaching out to him with slow movements to not spook him further. Wei Wuxian would have appreciated the care, if he wasn’t so busy freaking out. She took hold of his arm gently and felt his wrist, her eyes widening as she felt his pulse as well.
“You look different too,” Wen Qing noted and then reached out to carefully comb her fingers through his hair in a calming motion. “Not so much like a Fierce Corpse anymore. You used to have those characteristic black veins and that deathly pallor, but now, you look more like you used to look. Before. You look alive. More than that, you have that glow,” Wen Qing described as she continued probing his meridians with her own spiritual energy.
Feeling her familiar energy, Wei Wuxian felt himself calming down a little. He concentrated on watching her continue examining him and listened how she described the changes in her brisk, matter-of-fact way.
“It’s different, isn’t it? It has changed, but I don’t exactly know how,” Wei Wuxian said, having regained some composure.
“Don’t you?” Wen Qing asked. “The way your core feels… You must recognize it. It feels just like Hanguang-Jun’s core… felt like,” she told him, her expression shuttering at the mention of Lan Wangji. At the mention, Wei Wuxian too felt a piercing pain in his chest. No matter what else was happening, whatever had happened to him. One fact remained unchangeable.
Lan Wangji was dead.
Wei Wuxian shook his head slightly, yet again attempting to focus on Wen Qing’s words again. He focussed on his core… She was right. It felt just like Lan Wangji’s core had felt, but still, there was a difference. His spiritual energy felt even more refined, even more condensed inside his body despite its currently low levels.
“You were already functionally immortal before,” Wen Qing continued. “On account of, you know, being dead. You retained your cognition, probably due to being fuelled by resentful energy,” she said and waved her hand a little vaguely, since neither of them knew for sure why exactly Wei Wuxian hadn’t turned into resentful creature after his death. “Now though… You are alive again. I don’t know what happened either, I don’t know whether it’s something you did or something else entirely, but you are alive. More than that. You have achieved a cultivator’s immortality. I will need to monitor your body closely to see if there are any adverse effects. I don’t want to risk anything going awry, a qi deviation or something similar, because of your emotions being in turmoil and all of this being a big shock in your system,” Wen Qing explained to him.
Wei Wuxian felt his attention slipping away. It wasn’t a conscious decision. On the contrary, he had tried very hard to listen to Wen Qing, but. Now, slowly but surely, he realized that he had achieved what Lan Wangji had been so close to achieving. He had gained immortality. From now on, his golden core would sustain him until his body was destroyed. Illnesses and most injuries wouldn’t affect him anymore. Already, his golden core had strengthened his body in ways that made even receiving injuries highly unlikely. If he cut his skin, the wound would heal before it could bleed. If he even managed to cut his skin at all.
He was alive again and he would not die again. No matter what happened to him.
Lan Wangji was dead and Wei Wuxian would continue to live. Forever. It didn’t even matter if he wanted to live or not. It was completely out of his hands. He had an eternity before him. An eternity without Lan Wangji.
“…A-Ying? A-Ying, look at me!” Wen Qing demanded and Wei Wuxian shook himself as he found himself suddenly focussed on her again. Wen Qing was cradling his face in her hands and looking at him with an almost heart-broken expression.
“A-Ying?” Wen Qing asked again, her voice uncharacteristically soft. Wei Wuxian hated it a little bit.
He nodded. “Yeah,” he managed to say, his voice still rough.
Wen Qing sighed and leaned back. “A-Yuan has been asking for you,” she said after some moments. “Can I bring him here? He… He already knows what happened. We told him.”
Again, Wei Wuxian nodded. “Of course, yeah,” he confirmed.
Wen Qing finally let go off his face, but not before gently wiping away a stray tear that found itself clinging to Wei Wuxian’s cheek. She threw him one last worried look and then, she left.
Next to Wei Wuxian, the bunnies remained cuddled up and fast asleep through it all. Carefully, Wei Wuxian reached out to stroke their soft fur, taking care not to accidentally hurt them with his ever-sharp claws.
Nothing made sense anymore, he couldn’t help but think. Everything was so surreal. For a moment, he wished that he could just close his eyes and stop existing, but life went on, cruelly so.
Soon, Wen Qing returned with A-Yuan. The child looked awful. He was still crying softly and from the way his face looked, Wei Wuxian could tell that he had been crying for a while. He reached out for him immediately and accepted the child into his arm. A-Yuan immediately made himself comfortable in his hold and in the nest as Wen Qing slowly backed out of the room again, giving the two of them some privacy.
As it was, Wei Wuxian could do little else but hug A-Yuan close and hum a soft lullaby to him as the boy cried until there were no tears left inside his tiny body. Later, he kept holding the boy as he slept, completely exhausted from his grief and later still, Wei Wuxian introduced him to the rabbits, who presumably would stay here with them as well.
Lan Wangji had asked him to take care of A-Yuan and even if he hadn’t, Wei Wuxian would have continued to do so. He wouldn’t have been able to abandon A-Yuan. Not when he was the only one around who was like A-Yuan, the only creature A-Yuan would twine his tail around while they curled up at the bottom of the river. Not when he was the only one remaining, the boy had imprinted on like a little duckling.
Over the next few weeks, the two of them spent a lot of time hiding away in the depths of the water. The grief laid heavy inside their hearts and they held on to each other almost desperately, seeking comfort in each other’s presence. The other Wens mourned Lan Wangji as well and made sure to build him a small shrine in their garden, where they lit incense and left offerings, something Wei Wuxian deeply appreciated, since he himself didn’t feel as if he had the strength to do so. The grief inside of him felt like a heavy weight that was growing heavier and heavier day by day, weighing him down even further, making his movements slow and his mind lethargic. Around him, time seemed to slow down and even his thoughts turned syrupy. As the weeks passed, he continued to take care of A-Yuan, but outside of that, he felt barely able to function, not with how painful everything was.
If he hadn’t been immortal already, he would have died of heartbreak for sure.
For all that he was alive again, for all that he was no longer a resentful creature, Wei Wuxian felt like a ghost these days. Numb and apathetic towards almost everything that was happening around him. Still, he went on. For A-Yuan. A-Yuan was his only reason to keep on trying to do things right. A-Yuan was his only reason to surface in the mornings after curling up inside dark underwater caves all night.
Time passed and Wei Wuxian continued watching after A-Yuan and the Wens. He started helping where he could when the Wens started constructing their new seat of power here in Yiling. He taught A-Yuan everything he needed to know about life underwater and everything he could teach him about life on the surface as well, taught him cultivation and how to write and read. He told him stories of Lan Wangji and comforted him as best as he could, whenever grief became too much for him, even while he himself still felt as if he was drowning in grief.
Like that, life went on.
Wei Wuxian discovered that he could turn back into a human almost accidentally.
It was one of those nights where he felt too restless to simply hide away somewhere underwater, where he craved to shout and vent his anger to the world, where he considered going out and hunting the remaining Jin cultivators for sport.
Instead of giving in to his anger though, he went to visit Lan Wangji’s small shrine at the foot of the mountain. Since it was the middle of the night, the shrine was completely deserted, but during daytime, it was still well-cared for and loved. Like all temples and shrines dedicated to Hanguang-Jun. These days, the common people attributed the wave of resentful energy that blanketed the world in darkness to Hanguang-Jun’s death. Though they were unsure if he himself had caused it or if it was done due to what happened to him. In a way, Wei Wuxian thought, they were right.
He dragged himself on land awkwardly and looked at the shrine forlornly.
“Hanguang-Jun… Lan Zhan… Have you really ascended?” Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but wonder as he gazed at the shrine. “Are you in the heavenly kingdom now, governing over your own realm?” he asked and chuckled softly. “I bet you hate it, don’t you? All the bureaucracy of it, all the administrative tasks that need to be taken care of and all that talking! You were never fond of politicking and giving speeches and now that’s probably all you need to do all day. No, no, no, that just won’t do, Lan Zhan. You have to come back down quickly, hm? Come back to your Wei Ying… He’s very lonely down here without you…” he said, his voice cracking a little at the end.
With a sigh, Wei Wuxian leaned back and looked at the shrine thoughtlessly. However, something soon caught his attention. On the small table in front of the shrine laid a very familiar stone. It was shaped like a rabbit and Wei Wuxian immediately recognized it. It was the stone he had gifted Lan Wangji on the day he had died. How did it get here?
Wei Wuxian’s heartbeat sped up, but he couldn’t make sense of it. No matter how the stone came to be here though, he knew that he couldn’t just leave it here. He couldn’t bear the thought of someone discarding the stone. It belonged to Lan Wangji.
Maybe Wei Wuxian was feeling a little irrational. It was honestly a bit silly, but he got really worked up about that weirdly-shaped stone. Something about it just hit Wei Wuxian hard. That stone had been his last gift to Lan Wangji. He just couldn’t bear seeing it there, even though the shrine was dedicated to Lan Wangji as well.
Awkwardly, Wei Wuxian stretched out his arm and tried dragging himself closer to the shrine as well. But no matter how hard he tried; he just couldn’t reach the stone. It was always just a little bit out of reach, almost as if it was taunting him. The longer he spent trying, the more frustration built up inside of him. It was such a simple thing. It was just a little stone and yet, it was the one thing that finally made his anger overflow.
He couldn’t help but feel as if the world was a cruel and uncaring place, as if he had been punished by the heavens, as if he was everyone’s laughing stock as he tried and failed again and again to take hold of a small stone. His chest started feeling hot and his vision started blurring in front of his eyes and then, his golden core gave a strong pulse as if it was reacting to his anger, burning away his entire body.
When he came to again, Wei Wuxian found himself lying on the ground in front of the shrine. Completely naked and human again. He was still missing most of right arm, but his legs and everything else… He looked just like he had done before he had died. He could still see the faint scars on his legs from his time on the streets, could feel the numbness on his back where Zidian had scarred him.
It took a few moments until he felt like he had regained control over his body and once he had, Wei Wuxian shuffled to his feet awkwardly. He was a bit shaky, but luckily it didn’t look like he had to learn how to walk again. The moment he was sure he stood safely on his two feet, he snatched the stone from the shrine and clutched it in his hand tightly, pressing it to his chest. Now, holding it in his hand, he felt even more silly for having gotten so worked up about it, but he also didn’t let go of it again. Though now that he had accomplished his goal, he felt a little lost. What was he supposed to do now? He was standing naked in front of a shrine in the middle of the night. Should he just return to the water and hope that his tail would grow back again? He had taught A-Yuan how to change forms, so he was pretty confident that he would be able to figure it out himself as well.
Wei Wuxian looked up the mountain, in the direction of the Wens’ family residence. It was calling to him. Going there felt like the better decision.
Slowly, he made his way back up the mountain. When he arrived at the houses, he realized that he had been lucky. Someone had washed clothes recently and had hung them to dry outside. He stole himself some robes he recognized as Wen Ning’s and somehow managed to put them one, despite it being more difficult that he had anticipated one-handedly while still clutching the rabbit-shaped stone. Still, he managed.
It was still the middle of the might though and everyone was asleep.
Well. There was nothing much he could do, really. So, he went inside only to realize that he didn’t know his way around the inside of the house. He had never been here before and suddenly, he felt really emotional about just standing here, inside the Wens’ house.
All this time, he had always felt left out when everyone retired inside in the evening, had craved to join them inside as well. Now, back in a human form, it was so easy. Just a small step and he was inside. His poor, beating heart was struggling to keep up though, pulsing quickly inside his chest with excitement. Wei Wuxian took a few calming breaths and then, he guessed his way through the house.
He listened carefully as to not disturb anyone by accident and searched his way through the side of the house that was facing the river. His strategy paid off soon enough when he found the room that connected to the river, where his little nest was located as well. For a moment, he considered just curling up there and waiting for the Wens to wake up, but then his eyes drifted to the stairs leading to a different part of the house. He was familiar with that part of the house as well, since it was newly built and connected to the pier… Lan Wangji’s room was located in that direction.
Without a conscious decision, his feet started taking him in the direction of Lan Wangji’s room. Until now, he had always just seen it through the windows, but now, he was actually here…
He wasn’t alone inside the room.
It shouldn’t have surprised him, but somehow the rabbits that had followed him had made themselves at home in this room, comfortably sleeping inside a miniature-sized bed. It seemed like someone was taking good care of the little critters. There was food and even a toilet for them as well. Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but wonder who had decided to keep them here, but he didn’t mind. Lan Wangji would have surely enjoyed their company as well.
Apart from the rabbits, the room remained largely unchanged, as far as Wei Wuxian could tell. Lan Wangji’s possessions hadn’t been moved, though someone was clearly dusting them at least. It all seemed a little as though Lan Wangji was merely away for a short while, as if he could return any moment now.
With a sigh, Wei Wuxian made his way across the room. He placed the rabbit-shaped rock, which he had been clutching in his hand until then, on a small desk and lit an incense stick. Soon, the familiar smell of sandalwood enveloped him and he immediately felt like crying. Instead, he started mindlessly rafting through Lan Wangji’s possessions. There were poetry books and scriptures, Lan Wangji’s clothes and the many, many silly gifts he had received from Wei Wuxian. He had kept them all. All of his gifts had been treated with care and were displayed on a shelf next to Lan Wangji’s bed. Seeing all the small rocks and other knick-knacks neatly lined up, Wei Wuxian couldn’t hold back his tears anymore. For once, he let his tears flow freely from his eyes and shuffled over to the bed, where he collapsed. He hid his face in Lan Wangji’s pillow and a fresh wave of tears escaped him as he caught a whiff of Lan Wangji’s familiar smell still lingering to the bed linens. He pressed his face close to the pillow and curled up under the blankets, desperately to feel a sense of warmth surrounding him. His heart was beating again and it should have been enough to keep Wei Wuxian warm, but it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t the right kind of warmth. He longed for Lan Wangji’s embrace.
Somehow, he still ended up falling asleep like that, curled up and crying in Lan Wangji’s bed.
It was Wen-popo who found him the next day. She woke him with a scream of surprise when she found him in Lan Wangji’s bed when she had gone o feed the rabbits. At first, she thought he was a stranger who had snuck him, but as soon as she recognized him, she called for Wen Qing instead, who appeared shortly afterwards.
Wen Qing raised one of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows, a single look of her saying more than a thousand words. Then, she sat down on the bed next to him with a sigh. Wordlessly, Wei Wuxian offered her his wrist. Wen Qing checked his meridians for any inconsistencies, but found nothing out of the ordinary.
“Can you change forms now, like A-Yuan?” Wen Qing asked.
Wei Wuxian shrugged. “Probably,” he told her. “I haven’t really tested it yet. I changed last night, because… Well, it wasn’t really planned. I was just really frustrated and angry,” he admitted.
Wen Qing nodded and combed through his hair with her fingers comfortingly. “To be fair, it’s not the weirdest thing you’ve done this week. I’m sure you can figure it out and A-Yuan will be glad to have his Xian-gege outside of the water as well,” she told him.
Again, We Wuxian shrugged. He just… Wanted to go back to sleep, wanted to hide back under Lan Wangji’s blankets.
Despite having felt left out all this time, despite having wanted to be part of everyone’s life more, Wei Wuxian didn’t really know how he felt about being back in a human form again. He had never really wanted to turn back after all. If he was being honest, it felt a little like a waste. He had a human form again, but Lan Wangji was dead. What use was it without Lan Wangji around?
Still, Wen Qing was right. A-Yuan would surely be ecstatic to have him around in this form as well and Wei Wuxian once again focussed on doing right by the child. Even if he was tired, even if he just wanted to hide away and sleep forever, A-Yuan depended on him and he wouldn’t let the child down. No matter what happened, he needed to go on. For A-Yuan.
Figuring out how to change back into his other form turned out to be as simple as he had expected. It took him all but one afternoon until he had it figured out. Unlike A-Yuan, who was a toddler and didn’t really care, Wei Wuxian had to make some preparations for his changes though, like depositing clothes in accessible places so that he could get dressed quickly whenever he returned to land.
Soon, he found himself spending as much time on land as he did in the water and over time, Lan Wangji’s room became his room. He even ended up being responsible for taking care of the rabbits. Wei Wuxian suspected it was one of Wen Qing’s ploys to get him more involved in being alive again. It was working, slowly. Wen Ning helped with the rabbits too though, because they didn’t really like Wei Wuxian all that much. Small animals never did, no matter how earnestly he tried to bribe them with food. It also didn’t help that taking care of them one-handedly often was a bit uncomfortable for the rabbits.
In his human form, his missing arm became more of an annoyance. In his other form, he had quickly adapted to this change and it had never really felt that inconvenient, but as a human… Everything became a struggle. He felt as if he needed to relearn even the most basic tasks, like putting on clothes or helping A-Yuan with his lunch. Wei Wuxian hated it a little bit and whenever he grew especially frustrated, he quickly disappeared back into the river, sulking in some underwater cave until he felt ready to try again.
Maybe he had been too easy on Madam Yu after all.
It was an uphill battle, but as the months passed, Wei Wuxian adapted in his human form as well. He even learned how to write with his left hand and soon was working on developing new talismans again. Though the grief always lingered, he slowly started feeling a little more alive.
However, there were still days when all he could do was curl up in Lan Wangji’s bed and bury his face in his blankets and robes. They had long since stopped smelling like Lan Wangji, but if he lit some sandalwood incense and closed his eyes, Wei Wuxian could pretend at least. He still didn’t know how he was supposed to spend an entire immortal life without Lan Wangji, but he started planning for the next again at least. He didn’t know what would happen in a week or in a month or in a year, but tomorrow he could figure out.
It was just a matter of taking one step at a time.
One night, three years after Lan Wangji’s death, Wei Wuxian found himself slowly drifting in the river, letting the current carry him as he gazed up at the moon.
A-Yuan was spending the night with Wen-popo, so Wei Wuxian didn’t need to watch over him and since he didn’t need to sleep, he watched the moon instead, feeling a sense of melancholy. He didn’t know why, but it almost felt as if the moon was calling for him that night, as if it was asking him to look at it. It was a cloudless night with a full moon that seemed bigger than usual, almost as if it was closer to the earth’s surface.
Wei Wuxian couldn’t stop looking at it.
Suddenly, the edge of the moon seemed to light up brighter and Wei Wuxian watched mesmerized as it first shined brightly before the entire moon seemed to dim down to an unsettling red colour. A lunar eclipse. A part of him wanted to go and wake the Wens so that they could witness it as well, but he felt almost paralyzed by the sight, as if he couldn’t move even if he wanted to. He just couldn’t take his eyes of the moon. What a breathtaking sight it was.
A sense of uneasiness came over him, as he continued to feel as if the moon was calling out to him. Slowly, the moon and the night sky changed before his very eyes. One by one, all the stars dimmed down and disappeared until the blood-red moon was all that Wei Wuxian could see. At the centre of the moon, a small black dot appeared and as more time passed, it seemed to grow bigger and bigger, as if it was coming closer. Wei Wuxian couldn’t make out what it was, but it reminded Wei Wuxian of a comet. The closer it came, the less it looked like a back dot and the more it seemed to shine.
Maybe it was a part of the moon falling down to the earth?
Whatever it was, it kept coming closer and closer and Wei Wuxian started to become a little worried. It seemed as if it was coming straight towards them. Now, finally, he managed to break out of his trance and hastily swam to the shore. He changed into his human form and dressed quickly. He didn’t have his sword anymore, but he had already learned how to direct his abundance of spiritual energy even with one arm. Hopefully, it would be enough to keep them all safe.
For a short moment, Wei Wuxian closed his eyes. Then, he let his spiritual energy erupt around him, feeling a little as if he became the comet’s twin with how brightly he lit up his surroundings. He blasted off the ground with a loud noise, carefully controlling his energy to steer himself. Whether it was really a comet or something else that was coming for them, Wei Wuxian would face it head-on.
The closer Wei Wuxian came to the supposed-comet, the more evident it became that it wasn’t a comet after all. It was still shining brightly, but Wei Wuxian realized that it was actually shining in the same way he did. It wasn’t on fire. Instead, it was surrounded by a halo of spiritual energy. It continued to draw closer until finally, Wei Wuxian realized it was a person, it was a cultivator. His own spiritual energy reached out towards the cultivator instinctually and the moment their energies brushed against each other; Wei Wuxian felt a familiar song reawakened in his heart.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian screamed, unable to believe his eyes even as Lan Wangji raced towards him, finally close enough that he could see that it was indeed him.
They collided in mid-air and Wei Wuxian could do nothing but throw his arms around Lan Wangji while they raced towards the ground, unable to stop so suddenly. Luckily, they didn’t crash into the ground where they would have surely left a large crater behind, but instead landed in the river, splashing water absolutely everywhere. Instinctually, Wei Wuxian changed forms again – his poor robes ending up discarded somewhere along the way. A moment later, he felt a strong tail curl possessively around his own.
“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan,“ Wei Wuxian whispered, his voice a mixture between reverie and desperation. He shakily reached out to cradle Lan Wangji’s face in his hand. His memory really hadn’t done him justice at all. Lan Wangji was so much more breathtaking than he remembered, looking otherworldly, his ember eyes reflecting like a cat’s eyes. At the side of neck, gills were prominent and his skin was marked with shining silver scales that blended into a long dark tail that was still curled around Wei Wuxian’s. Lan Wangji’s claws were digging into his skin where he was holding Wei Wuxian’s waist, equally as desperate as Wei Wuxian was holding on to him.
There was no doubt about it that Lan Wangji had achieved immortality as well.
“Lan Zhan, you came back,” Wei Wuxian said, a part of him still in disbelief. Above them, the stars returned to the night sky as the moon slowly transformed back into its regular beauty as well. “You came back,” Wei Wuxian breathed again.
Lan Wangji hummed in agreement. “Even if it took feeling a cassia tree on the moon, I knew that I had to return to Wei Ying’s side,” Lan Wangji replied. “Taiyin-niangniang has sent you rabbits for company, but I could not bear to see you grieve any longer,” he explained and what else could Wei Wuxian do but drag him under water and kiss him and kiss him and kiss him.
Notes:
太陰娘娘 (tàiyīn-niángniang): 'moon empress', another name for 嫦娥 (cháng'é).
And, that's a wrap! Sorry for the wait, but I needed to upload my contributions to the MDZS Mixtape and the MXTX Remix first. I hope the wait was worth it though and thank you again everyone for joining me on this journey! My next story is going to be a modern AU and I have bad news for Wei Wuxian's arm once again :D Hopefully, I'll be able to start posting within the next two weeks~
My greatest thanks goes out to all the incredible artists, who have created art for this fic! It was the first time someone has drawn something inspired by one of my stories and I cannot even put into words how much it means to me. Please, everyone, make sure to give the art some love!
Merxian and miserable Lan Wangji
Pages Navigation
old_pens on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 08:30PM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 08:35PM UTC
Comment Actions
kirk_spock_in_the_impala (ryokoyuy) on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 08:43PM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 09:07PM UTC
Comment Actions
CelesteArvalo on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 09:09PM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 06:42AM UTC
Comment Actions
cara_tanaka on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 09:11PM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 06:43AM UTC
Comment Actions
sydcity on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 09:12PM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 06:47AM UTC
Comment Actions
Unicornelia96 on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 09:16PM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 06:53AM UTC
Comment Actions
neng2ovid on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 09:21PM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 06:54AM UTC
Comment Actions
Yue41 on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 09:26PM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 06:55AM UTC
Comment Actions
channeling_inner_potato on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 09:32PM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 06:55AM UTC
Comment Actions
yllazy on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 09:33PM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 06:55AM UTC
Comment Actions
Ellaina on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 09:34PM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 06:56AM UTC
Comment Actions
vicantis on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 09:37PM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 06:59AM UTC
Comment Actions
irrelevant on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 09:48PM UTC
Last Edited Fri 07 Jul 2023 10:03PM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 07:00AM UTC
Comment Actions
enbysaurus_rex on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 10:03PM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 07:01AM UTC
Comment Actions
Chocolatechoux on Chapter 1 Fri 07 Jul 2023 11:24PM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 07:01AM UTC
Comment Actions
nessastraioto on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 12:37AM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 07:03AM UTC
Comment Actions
EmmaJane74 on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 12:42AM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 07:03AM UTC
Comment Actions
CeeLeeLEMT on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 01:37AM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 07:04AM UTC
Comment Actions
krazeekatlady on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 02:18AM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 07:05AM UTC
Comment Actions
flybabymichelle on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 02:29AM UTC
Comment Actions
thelastdboy on Chapter 1 Sat 08 Jul 2023 07:05AM UTC
Comment Actions
Pages Navigation