Fractured Brothers

by Haru_Okami

Summary:

13 years Lan Wangji mourned never believing he would be given a second chance with his love, but the desperation of a young man and a sacrifice had brought him once again to his side, but the cultivation world was full of corruption and hypocrites lusting after power and money fate was not kind to the brother's of this world.

An AU. The story at the temple goes differently. After Wei Wuxian is killed again in the worst betrayal, three different brother's are sent back in time to change their fates.

Not for hardcore Jiang Cheng/ Meng Yao/ Lan Xichen fans, though there may be redemption for some, don’t like don’t read and don’t leave hate comments please.

Contains Original Characters required for world building
Check author’s notes for plot changes that will help with the story plot progression. Tags will be updated as I progress, rating may also change as story progresses.
Some of the bashing tags come from past actions and memories
(Monthly updates when possible)

Notes:

Chinese is not my native language so if I make mistakes please let me know. First time writing a fanfic so please bear with me on speed of updates.

Chapter 1: The beginning of the end

Summary:

Majour Edit. 14 Jan 2025

Lan Wangji wept as he held his dying zhiji. Again, he had failed Wei Ying again he had been too late, believed in righteousness. How had it all gone so wrong. Some hours before Wei Ying and him had been in bed in the inn. There had been a moment when he had pulled away from Wei Ying hearing the words he hated most, maybe in another time he would have let Wei Ying leave but something made him grab his arm forcing them to talk. With tears and misunderstanding behind them and Wei Ying’s joy about finding out about his radish they had started to make their way back to bed only to be interrupted by the innkeeper. After the embarrassing moment with the innkeeper behind them they quickly found themselves enjoying each other in their new room which led them to arriving later then they would have and straight into a trap that sealed their spiritual powers. 

To Lan Wangji’s surprise his brother was beside Meng Yao, they were arguing with a furious Jiang Wanyin, whose Zidian was sparking with every word.  

Nie Huaisang was unconscious on the floor a horrified Jin Ling was at his side whatever had happened had traumatised the boy it was then that he noticed the boy had been injured.  

Upon noticing their entry Jiang Wanyin had begun screaming at Wei Ying. 

"Wei Wuxian!" Jiang Wanyin screamed crashing into the temple the smell of burning ozone and purple lightning illuminating the area. "This is all your fault how long must I remain in your shadow!" he continued the blame game he had continued to parrot for all those years spewing his anger his resentment.  

Wei Wuxian turned to his former brother tired, so tired of his temper, so tired of all the blame. He barely managed to dodge the blade coming towards him a blue sword glare knocked the blade aside before returning to its owner. 

"What are you doing?" demanded Lan Wangji, his zhiji had done so much for his so-called brother, who still knowing the truth blamed him for everything. 

Paying more attention to Jiang Wanyin, Wei Wuxian gasped in pain as a blade ran him through. "Seriously, the same place." he hissed in an attempt at macabre humour. Turning his head and hissing in pain his eyes widened in surprise, he never thought he would be looking into the eyes of a Lan. 

"Wei Ying!" Lan Wangji cried out catching him as Lan Xichen pulled his blade free. Blood quickly soaked Wangji's white robes. Looking up at his brother his golden eyes filled with loathing and betrayal, part of his mind breaking. 

"Why, why would you do this?" he asked in a chocked gasp as he tried feeding his zhiji qi, but he knew it was futile his energy was still sealed. 

Laughter from behind made him realize that Jiang Wanyin was loving the development. 

Lan Xichen looked down at his brother in pity and frustration, all of this was to protect him from his mistake.  

"Why? Seriously didi he is nothing more than your mistake. He has caused you pain and led you down our father's path." 

Lan Wangji's breath caught in his throat as movement made him look down at the only one, he had ever truly loved since his mother had died, silver eyes where dimming and he hated it, leaning down he placed a kiss on his lips. 

"I'm sorry my love. I am so sorry I failed you again." his sob caught behind his teeth as Wei Wuxian reached towards him. 

Wei Wuxian was fading he could feel it, but the overwhelming pain was not from his injury but knowing he was leaving his beloved behind.  

"Lan Zhan," his bloodied fingers touched the tears running down his zhiji's face. 

"I'm sorry I can't keep my promise to stay with you and A-Yaun." his words coming out in a rasp. 

"No, between us there is no thank you or sorry." grief was overwhelming him, he couldn't do this again he couldn't go through the pain of separation again. After all the misunderstandings, the pain of the past they had finally admitted their love and spent one blissful night together before his brother had stolen it from him. 

Looking up at his brother his molten gold eyes hardened noticing Jin Guangyao smirking behind Lan Xichen and it all made sense to Lan Wangji. 

"Isn't it hilarious that you condemned me for my love, yet your love was more toxic. Know this Lan Xichen there is no forgiveness for this you are nothing to me!" he cursed, he had sided against his beloved before believing his brother and Gusu Lan would do the right thing, but they hadn't they had condemned the innocent and followed the corrupt, going against their own principle, tainting Gusu Lan's precepts. 

His word and the hatred in his eyes snapped his brother from the scene before him. He looked down at his brother annoyed. 

"Don't you dare compare them A-Yao is nothing like him!" he bit back, shaking his head his brother would come to understand, oh how he lamented that he had once encouraged their friendship. 

"No, he's worse!" Time seemed to slow as Baxia spun across the temple taking off Jin Guangyao's head to everyone surprise the hate filled blade had been thrown by Nie Huaisang who had taken the time and chaos to put his plan into motion he knew using his brother's sabre would take a toll he could feel the qi deviate coming on but he didn't care he had his revenge he just wished it hadn't cost him his best friend again. 

"No!" Lan Xichen screamed at the headless corpse of his sworn bother, he shuddered as he felt a breath by his ear and a bone breaking grip on his shoulder. 

"Now you have a small taste of what I felt all those years ago Lan Xichen." his once emotionless brother hissed in his ear before pushing him away. 

Having watched the whole drama laughing Jiang Wanyin shook his head his emotions swaying between grief and amusement as always, his so called "brother!" appeared and chaos followed. "Good riddance" Jiang Wanyin muttered. He looked at the grieving Lan Xichen in disgust loving others not family left you weak, fake brothers where a weakness. He reached for his nephew ready to take him away, but the boy watched on in horror. He had learnt all the bad thing his uncle had done and felt disgust and pain and his other Uncle had filled him with hate that was misplaced. 

Lan Wangji moved back to his love's side and gathered him in his arms as resentment flooded the temple, gathering in thick choking clouds around them he pulled it in wanting it to end. 

"Lan Zhan," he looked down in surprise red eyes met his, the resentment answered its master's call to give him what he wanted; his last words. "I love you Lan Zhan may we find each other again." 

"Love Wei Ying." he whispered as the resentment left his loves body taking the last of his breath. Darkness gathered ready to destroy all around them, but Lan Wangji no longer cared. 

Chapter 2: Choices

Summary:

Immortal's made some choices and time turns back.

Notes:

A change to canon lore for plot purposes. After Lan An’s soulmate passed he returned to temple where he thought he would spend the rest of his life before passing away, that is the legacy his descendants believed however much to his horror he ended up ascending becoming a heavenly immortal, his love story had become even more tragic as he had to watch his soulmate reincarnate again and again always failing to cultivate to immortality, always hoping that the next time they would be reunited. Lan An’s partner was always left as ambiguous in the story for my story his partner was male since this world story build allows m/m f/f pregnancies through dual cultivation or medicines.

For this story Lan Yi had met her grandfather on occasion at his temple though they never spoke of the sect. Despair at what he had lost true to Lan style made him apathetic and despondent to the world around him and just spent time talking about music she was still a little girl when she was told he was gone.

Wei Changze is a Jiang but he took his mother’s name he’s related to Jiang Fengmian but he gave up his right to inheritance as he wanted to honour his mother’s family, he stuck around to make sure that his nephew by his much older half-brother's side was settled into his position how he ended up getting labelled a servant was because of Fengmian’s jealous mother and then it was continued by Madam Yu who took little time to pay attention to the actual details of the Jiang sect as long as she ruled she didn’t care.
(Change in character dynamic for Wei Changze inspired by Transpose by Marinelifeclub)
Wei Changze's mother came from a fallen sect between Yiling town and the Burial Mounds

In the Donghua version, Wei Ying’s eye colour came from his father, but I played fast and loose with the plot, so I wanted his silver eyes to be from his mother’s side. I made Wei Changze’s eye colour violet to represent the purple version lotus flower.

Qi signatures influenced by the parents it was a way in the past that cultivators used to be able to fully identify what families' cultivators came from, an ability lost to the new generation of cultivators, all that remained was the general ability from sword glares and the feel that was generalised to an area like Gusu Lan and their cold coloured qi and Qishen for their hotter coloured qi etc. It's also the ability that could allow a certain smart inventor to create a family chart talisman perhaps to disprove rumours for those snotty cultivators *cough* Jin’s.

I threw out the plot for Xiao Xingchen he deserves a better fate some things change somethings stay the same.

 

Minor Edits 14th Jan 2025

From her mountain Immortals Baoshan Sanren and Lan Yi watched the unfolding events in horror. 

"It wasn't supposed to be like this!" Lan Yi cried out. They had watched it all go wrong twice now bound by foolish rules to not interfere. 

"No, it wasn't," Baoshan wept at the fate of her grandson the last part of her daughter dead once again. 

A mocking snort made them start; they turned in surprise as another Immortal stood watching. Time seemed to slow around them. 

"Yeye," gasped Lan Yi, it shocked Lan Yi how much the ethereal man looked like Lan Wangji, golden eyes glowed like molten gold, when she had seen him last, he looked old and his eyes dull. She had only recently learnt of the true fate of her grandfather from Boashan and was glad her clan did not know how star crossed his love had been. 

"Ancient One why have you left the heavens?" Baoshan Sanren asked after bowing in respect her zhiji following soon after having snapped out of her surprised awe. 

"To correct a mistake. There is a path available, one chance without backlash that we can change fate but there is a choice to be made one only you can make, the others have been chosen." 

"I thought that was not allowed," having figured out the plan Lan Yi suddenly felt hope but dreaded the cost after all he only said no backlash that didn’t mean no cost. 

"The Heavenly Emperor discovered a curse upon them a twist in the time line using this he has found a way to reset time to where the curse began the price has already mostly been paid but you have to choose what is left to pay." he warned his anger at the events and his sect was leaking out of him in waves causing thunder to echo off of Baoshan's mountain. 

"I see. What do you need from us?" her voice faded as she had to fight to keep the grief for what she had lost contained. 

His golden eyes briefly lost their anger and sympathy suddenly coloured them. Dread made Baoshan shudder. 

"What choice?" she asked again her words becoming even more quiet as her silver eyes dimmed. 

He watched her his expression tense. "The fates of mothers and fathers." he replied. 

Both women gasped at what was being asked it was a fate and choice they would have to bear, right or wrong only pain of their decision would remain with them. 

"We can't save both, for any of them?" Lan Yi asked she knew it was a rhetorical question but she needed the confirmation. 

Baoshan was lost in thought she wanted her daughter back but at the same time she had already mourned her passing but the possibility of having her back... she turned pained eyes to her zhiji. 

“What do we do?” she asked her voice becoming small her heart hurting. 

Lan Yi sighed. “Everyone called Wei Changze a servant, but it didn’t make sense to me your grandson had an almost invisible pale violet Jiang qi signature that could only have come from his father...” 

“I can answer that,” another Ancient Immortal appeared before them in a golden ray of light. 

“Well, it seems my mountain is a day care for Ancient immortals today,” Baoshan snipped she was feeling weighed down with the thought of choosing other’s fates something as an immortal was normally prohibited.  

Lan Yi snorted beside her keeping her laughter in check she knew what annoyed her zhiji and how she was trying to deflect. 

Deciding to ignore the earth bound immortal Baoshan’s remark Immortal Jiang Chi cleared up some family history. “Wei Changze is the younger half-brother to Jiang Fengmian’s father. When his own father passed Changze took his mother’s name as Fengmian’s mother put pressure on him to leave. Not willing to see the disciples and the people of Yunmeng suffer from the uncertainty of leadership he gave up his inheritance to the Jiang and as his mother’s sect had fallen decades before, it briefly left him struggling with where he would go or do. He was a gentle and caring man, worried for his sister-in-law's harsh nature he ended up staying to help stabilize Fengmian’s leadership. The common people are unaware of how hierarchy works within sects it was easy for people to confuse Changze for a servant a narrative his sister-in-law encouraged beyond the borders of Yunmeng. After she died the two slowly started to drift apart, the relationship worsened with Fengmian’s marriage finally leading to him breaking ties when Madam Yu attacked your daughter at their wedding, as his nephew did nothing to stop his wife Changze he left to become a rogue cultivator with your daughter.” 

"Wei Changze's mother was from a fallen sect?" Baoshan asked 

"Yes, a small sect of hunters their buildings and land are between the town of Yiling and the Burial Mounds tucked just on the edge of the wards they used to help keep the resentful energy from the town but it took a toll and their numbers where small and the bigger sects care very little for the area to lend any help." 

“How different life would have been if the rumours had been corrected!” Lan Yi squeezed her zhiji’s arm hoping to give her some comfort. 

Lan An, chuckled it held a musical quality, but the others turned to him scandalized not seeing the funny side. 

“Seriously yeye!” Lan Yi was appalled at her grandfather not finding anything funny at the situation. 

“Sorry it's just what has become of our legacies. My own is filled with hypocritical judgmental practices that are held up on a mountain sized pedestal.” his scowl marred his beautiful features. 

“It’s not your fault.” Lan Yi tried to defend but he just shook his head. 

“Really you don’t think so. My legacy has segregated the genders to the point the don’t even share classes, not thought of or treated with the same respect. The whole sect strangled by rules with no context, contradiction added in the disguise of righteousness. 300 rules I created to guide the next generation, but each one had context.” He clenched his fist in anger. 

“300,” Lan Yi gasped outraged. “When I took over leadership there was already 1800 rules, where did it all go wrong!” she was furious. “I would have loved only having 300 rules.” she muttered almost wistful imagining how different her life may have been, Baoshan chuckled at her expression. 

“It started with your father and the council I left hoping to protect your mother my daughter. Instead, they followed the flow of politics at the time they started amassing the power for themselves and began to slowly strip your mother’s power away whilst still using all the knowledge and scores of music I left.” 

“What!” tears streamed down her face so much had gone wrong straight from the start by the time she was born she had believed that her father had been Lan An’s decedent “so you’re actually waigong no wonder you used to give me a confused look whenever I addressed you that way, I had the wrong parent the whole time.” How the elders pushed back against her leadership all began to make so much more sense and the more she understood the more furious she became but why hadn’t her grandfather done anything before she could ask, they were interrupted 

“Time is about to re-start make your choices.” Immortal Jiang Chi warned he had remained quiet knowing all the information added was needed to inform their decision. 

Baoshan Sanren and Lan Yi spoke at the same time “Very well I choose...” 

 

Notes:

爷爷 yéye, grandpa (father's father)

外公 wàigōng, grandpa (mother's father)

Chapter 3: Wei Changze remembers

Summary:

A father watches and carries the knowledge of tragedy of what had passed.

Notes:

Minor Edit. 2025-01-16

Wei Changze gasped feeling disorientated he tried to get his bearings as stood in the middle of a quiet room. Silencing and locking talismans were on the doors and windows, windows had he not just been in the forest with his wife? He looked over to the bed where a little 5-year-old Wei Ying slept peacefully. Wei Changze frowned as he tried to piece together how he was back at the inn.  

Shaking his head as images began swarming before his eyes with a pained cry, he fell to his knees his jaw clenched to bite back the scream as he watched first the images of his and his wife's death then what had become of their son’s life. Blood dripped from his clenched fists where his nails bit deep into the skin, but he cared for none of this all he could do was kneel there in agonizing horror. For what felt like hours he was made to endure the pain his son had gone through his missed life with his soul mate, the agony of war and losing those he called family. Pitching forward he puked, sweat covered his body causing him to tremble.  

Minutes passed and Wei Changze knew he would have to move it wasn’t safe staying at the inn and he needed proper time to process what he saw, and he needed his little sunshine boy to be safe whilst he muddled through his raw emotions. Cleaning up the mess he started grabbing the qiankun bags they had left on the side the horrible realisation of how much the innkeeper had stolen from his son when he was thrown from the inn almost blinded him with murderous rage. Determined to leave before dawn to be far away he approached the sleeping toddler.  

“Ying-er,” he gently shook his shoulder to get only a sleepy murmured response. “Ying-er, wake up.”  

“Baba,” he blinked trying to wake. Finding his father crouched beside his bed made him smile.  

Wei Changze sucked in a harsh breath trying to steady his emotions. His son may share many of his features, but his eyes and smile were all his beloved wife's.  

“Where’s Mama?” his son asked looking around him as if expecting to see her warm smile, his smile began to falter.  

“We need to leave,” he couldn’t bring himself to answer for all the good it did what child would accept such a reply?  

“ Baba where’s Mama!” he sat up becoming frantic his father’s usually soft expression looked pained and it scared him.  

Grabbing his son, he pulled him close trying to hide his tears, but he was too tense, and his son began to cry breaking him.  

“I’m so sorry Ying-er, I’m so sorry.” he kept repeating as his son wept and wailed in his arms. His silent tears continued to run down his face as his son’s cries and words of denial filled the room.  

A little over an hour passed. It was starting to get light outside. Wei Ying had cried himself to sleep, briefly laying him back on the bed he grabbed the water basin and cloth, using a warming talisman he heated the water and cleaned his and his son’s face. Moving to retie his inner robe, shaking hands stilled his eyes widening. Over his lower dantian where his golden core would form was a faint but powerful sealing sigil, with unnerving clarity, he realised that it was a seal to repress memories and over the very centre of his son's change in fate. Dressing him in dark grey robes he then wrapped him up in his spare cloak to act more as a blanket. He picked him up and left the room.  

Making his way quietly downstairs he approached the startled innkeeper's wife. “Master Wei you are back,” she stammered.  

His eyes narrowed, his fury barely suppressed and only the presence of the child in his arms kept him from violence.  

“Obviously and we’re leaving, we left you with funds for the week since we are not staying...” he held out his hand waiting for his money back.  

“Of course,” her voice overly bright but her manner clipped as she handed back the money left for food and board giving her a darker look, he had to remind himself that protecting his son was more important than murdering her for what she had done.  

He left heading to the inns stable to retrieve his wife’s donkey ‘little carrot’ he closed his eyes as amusement crept into a small smile on his face his son and wife were terrible at names. Though it would have been easier to sell the donkey and head off on his sword he didn’t want Wei Ying to suffer anymore loss. He grabbed the donkey’s reins, making sure his little boy was securely tucked into his side and covered to protect him from the winter winds, though not as cold as the winds and snow of the Gusu region Yiling was still cold compared to the rest of the area at this time of year.  

Reaching the town gates as they opened, he showed his pass and moved only pausing as he reached the crossroad that led to the forest that led to the Burial Mounds, he burned with his want for revenge but knew it was not time. If he made a move now, he would lose and that would leave Wei Ying vulnerable to the vultures of the cultivation world. Shaking his head he moved on there was only one place he would go where he could leave his little sunshine whilst he planned the very village where he was born. Again, Wei Changze was hit with the painful tragedy that his little Wei Ying was unaware that it was the healers of the Dafan Mountain branch of Qishan Wen that had seen him come into the world, oh how fate went round in circles.  

Notes:

Chinese is not my native language I tried to research as best I could on forms of address please let me know if I get any wrong.
Hope you enjoy the next chapter.
I'll try to answer comments as soon as I can, thank you
The Dafan Wen exist in this story but this will have little elements from The Untamed, many of the relationships will be more canon or ooc as the have different life stories since this is a canon rewrite.

Chapter 4: Seclusion invaded

Summary:

A broken soul and an immortal’s mercy. Despite a mother’s love she would stay gone her once bright soul still dimmed, chipped away, a wisp of what once was, the soul mourned. She waited for reincarnation, hoping for a better future for those she once called her own.

A short chapter this time have also edited the previous chapter.

Notes:

Some OCs in this story have eye colours that you wouldn’t normally find in Ancient China or without contacts these days, or rare health conditions like heterochromia, but I wanted some features to be affected by their spiritual energy like Wei Ying’s red eyes when he uses resentment.

Outside of memories since Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji would not be old enough for their courtesy name yet they’re written using their birth name.

 

Warning
Implied attempted rape, plus dubious consent no graphic details depicted.

 

Majour Edit. 2025-01-16

On the night a man who would have been dead takes his son to safety in Gusu a six-year-old boy knelt in the snow waiting for his mother’s door to open. The kneeling child cared little for the fact his robes were wet making the cold seep into his bones. He promised he would do better he would follow the rules if only she would open the door. Month after month he had come and knelt, waiting but always left out in the cold.  

As he swayed from exhaustion he flinched away as hands reached towards him his mind screaming out in warning as if a danger reached for him. Through his foggy thoughts and confused thoughts, he managed to look up.  

“Nainai?” he frowned why had he thought it would be his uncle and why did that fill him with dread, was it because he broke the rules? His thoughts were chaotic and his head hurt.  

Making no protest when he was picked up, he curled into Nainai’s warmth. Though he didn’t like physical touch Nainai was Nainai. Even though she looked old and frail, she was a strong cultivator many believed she was an immortal she did not care for lofty titles, in fact, no one even remembered her name, but she looked after the children and wards of Gusu Lan, so everyone just called her Nainai. But to him, she reminded him of his mother’s embrace, a safety he felt nowhere else. The thoughts of his mother made him cry though tears ran down his cheeks he tried to keep silent, excessive grief was not allowed.  

Nainai frowned as she watched the child in her arms weep. She reached down and picked him up. Her dark blue eyes softened as little Lan Zhan relaxed in her arms, she knew he allowed few people to touch him, but she looked after him and snuck him sweets when she could, she had always disliked how the Elders abused their power and what they were doing to the Lan heirs.  

With determined steps, she headed towards a house hidden and tucked away where a man lived in seclusion. She did not need to knock on the wards the wards meant nothing to her, she instead took a small amount of pleasure as she knocked on the door and heard the startled voice from within.  

“Nainai, what...” noticing Lan Zhan asleep in her arms, his question trailed off.  

Ignoring him she barged her way in and moved to put the sleeping child on his father’s bed. Without ceremony, she moved around his room making her way over to one of the storage chests and found some of Lan Zhan’s old robes. She found it almost sardonic that the absentee father cared enough to keep mementoes of his children yet couldn’t pull himself out of his own self-loathing and be the father his children needed.  

“You’re sentimental but a fool Lan zongzhu,” her tone was clipped as she turned to him.  

Zhijun later known mostly as Qingheng-jun had once been an outstanding cultivator strong, and intelligent and helped those who needed it. His eyes were dark brown much like his eldest child, of the descendants of Lan An, only A-Zhan had inherited the golden-coloured eyes.  had once been a tall well-built man but now there was an air of frailty about his frame his robes were basic and his once beautiful long black hair seemed brittle and dull, however, Nainai could sense his core had remained strong.  

“Well at least he had not let everything go.” she deliberately grumbled making him wince.  

Sitting like a fool and remaining silent at her not-so-subtle digs of his character all he could do was watch as she changed his son’s wet robes, he hadn’t expected to have his seclusion invaded by Gusu’s Lan’s grandmother.  

“Why are you here Nainai and with A-Zhan?” he asked as the atmosphere grew heavier.  

Nainai remained silent until she was finished dressing Lan Zhan in dry robes. She had found the memory repression sigil on the little boy’s back making her wince. It was connected to his past trauma and one she hoped would never repeat. Finally finished she made her way to the table and sat. She pulled out a small pearl from a sealed pouch. The energy pulsed; its freezing energy began to saturate the room.  

“This contains memories of a different life,” his eyes widened at her words. “I would have used Empathy, but I would have to stabilize you with music, and it would take too long. Your other son will be looking for A-Zhan soon then he will alert your brother, and if you haven’t noticed it’s less than an hour from curfew.” She placed it back in its pouch she had a few things to talk with Zhijun about first.  

The man just sighed as he took one more look over at his youngest.  

“Was he kneeling before his mother’s house again?”  

“What do you think,” she hissed her eyes flashing as a little qi leaked from her. “What you did to your wife was wrong A-Jun. It was the pinnacle of arrogance and stupidity!”  

“Nainai!” he exclaimed  

“What? You let those stuffy elders do what they wanted! She had every right to defend herself that piece of trash was a monster...” she all but snarled in fury.  

“Respect your teacher! Respect your elders...” he started only to be cut off.  

“Don’t interrupt!” she shot back, eyes darkening and stormy. “Don’t quote just listen.” She bit back her growing ire. “He was a monster, but you ended up being the hidden one in the dark. She started to care for you but between her prison and the fact you caved once again to the elders to produce an heir, then a spare, she withered her soul dimmed, she had not wanted children that way, who would! They took them from her did you know that? Did you even care to check? I know she wouldn’t have told you, why would she, to her you had become no different to him, you just hid it behind the fact you loved her. You failed your wife; you failed your children so make it right!” She stood unmoved by his tears.  

“My children are fine with A-Ren,” he tried to defend  

Her derisive laughter filled the room. “Is that what you think? Qiren is a scholar and he was once an unbiased teacher,” she trailed off placing the pouch in front of him. “Swallow and see for yourself what is, what was and make it right.” She walked towards the sleeping child and placed a protection barrier around him so he wouldn’t wake up until morning.  

“He’s staying here?” Zhijun asked his hand hovering over the small pouch containing the pearl.  

“Yes. I’ll inform Qiren. I suggest you lock him out of your barrier tonight.” with that she swept from the room.  

ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ  

Lan Huan was frantic. It was close to curfew and his brother was not where he thought he would have been. He didn’t want to have to get his uncle, he didn’t want his precious didi to get punished for excess grief, breaking curfew, and disobeying their uncle. Ever since his brother had not turned up for bed. He had been feeling an overwhelming dread for his brother all night, a fear of his brother getting punished and with no context for his fear he had been left unmoored.  

With no other course left to him, he continued to speed walk around searching hoping to find his didi on his way back to their shared rooms.  

“A-Huan,” he spun at the soft voice of Nainai. She gave him a small frown.

“If you're looking for your didi he’s with your father.”  

“What?!” he exclaimed. “How had that happened?”  

“He will be back in the morning.” she never answered his question.  

“But...” he trailed off at the look she levelled at him. “I understand.” he bowed his voice quiet in resignation. Since that evening nothing had felt right.  

Making his way to the Hanshi he knew all he could do was wait for the morning to get answers. Sect precepts tied his hands; moderate your behaviour, be patient, do not give into excessive emotion, do not argue with family for nobody wins, respect your elders, the rules rolling one after another through his mind as he walked home.  

Returning to his room he found himself unable to relax, with his brother missing he was left feeling anxious. He couldn’t understand why his brother was with their father. What had happened? A ball of anxiety knotted his stomach.  

“Why am I so worried he’s not here?” he whispered. “Nothing bad can happen to him here.” his voice wobbled as if he feared that his words held no weight. Knowing there was no point worrying he got ready for bed. He’ll see A-Zhan in the morning and all will be fine, he told himself over and over until sleep claimed him.  

Notes:

奶奶 nǎinai, grandma (father's mother) but for this little old Lan keeper it stuck as her name even after her grandson had passed away, and the longer time passed the less she cared for others to know her birth name.

Zhijun is the name I decided on for Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji's father.

智 (zhì) wisdom, knowledge, intelligence 君 (jūn) gentleman; monarch; sovereign, monarch, ruler, chief, prince

Chapter 5: Divine Punishment and the start of a new future

Summary:

A father faces some truths and receives some punishment from his ancestor at the same time.

Notes:

Introducing some new characters. The grandparents to a cute future duckling, the most un-Lan Lan there ever was.

There is no mention of names for any of Jingyi’s family, so he gets grandparents and the name of his father who at this point in the story is 5 years older than Lan Xichen. OC’s 1, 2, 3 go!

(Lan Zhan/ Huan wouldn't have their courtesy names yet so only in the memories they might be referred to as Xichen or Wangji)
Reminder courtesy name is Zhijun

 

Majour Edit. 2025-01-17

Zhijun had waited until Nainai had long left the wards before he overrode the locks to keep his brother out. He had no idea what he would see but for her to ward A-Zhan he decided to be cautious. Plus, if he was honest with himself Nainai terrified him in that ‘I was there when you were birthed you have no secrets from me’.  

Assuming the lotus position he swallowed the small cold pearl. He waited. Doubling over in pain as freezing energy all but burned through his veins, with painful clarity he realised this was to be his punishment for his past misdeeds. 

As the initial pain began to dull, he watched on in horror as his son’s life was shown to him.  

He watched the awkward awakening to love. The struggles with rules brought pain to a spirited silver-eyed boy. The destruction of Cloud Recesses. The indoctrination. The battle with the Xuanwu of slaughter, and a song filled with love and a name whispered.  

Leaving Wei Ying behind at Lotus Pier to return became another moment of regret as the news of the destruction of Lotus Pier rippled out across the lands. War came but all A-Zhan's thoughts had been consumed by was that Wei Ying was missing. 

Being reunited with the one he had come to love turned into encounters that each time they had parted their relationship had worsened, their words pained and angry, one in confusion, the other just in pain.  

Zhijun all but wept as he watched. Why had no one just asked the obvious question? Wei Wuxian had loved his sword and his cultivation, only a problem with a core would make a cultivator like him abandon it, but of course, A-Zhan had been made to try and feel nothing to repress all that went against the rules. To forsake those who walked the crooked path for that would be to befriend evil. Zhijun bit back a curse, where had it all gone so wrong?  

The memories continued unrelenting: a banquet that sealed his son's soulmate's fate, an encounter in Yiling, and the adorable child who clung to A-Zhan's leg. To his amazement and horror, he watched what happened at the Burial Mounds leading up to the point he left Wei Ying behind, hoping he could still find a way to save his love.  

Zhijun wanted to scream or cry maybe both at the same time. His sweet silent child what a fool a meal and a butterfly. He could have done so much more for them he lamented his son’s lack of sense, raised in the gentry he had never had to make money whilst having nothing. He could have helped the Wen’s more, handed over the money he would have carried he would have carried a lot as an heir he was afforded a sizable allowance for travel and emergency, but of course ‘Frugality is a moral’ as if they didn’t drape themselves in expensive silks and other luxuries, as if their food wasn’t of the highest standard.  

His heart squeezed as he sensed his son’s turmoil and frustration as he tried to get Lan Xichen to go and see the truth with his own eyes to not listen to rumours or judge without proof. But his words were thrown back at him he was too emotional, love and affection blinded him, and his uncle bit back about filial piety. Zhijun wept for A-Zhan, his family who he loved, who had ingrained the rules so deep into him that he didn’t want to watch them as they turned their back on Lan An’s teachings but he was stuck they wouldn’t listen as they continued to break the very rules that shackled him in place. 

Schemes and betrayal followed leading to the Bloodbath of Nightless City.

Watching as A-Zhan had taken Wei Wuxian from the battlefield. The boy's for that’s what they were, barely into adulthood tempered by war and loss. A-Zhan had hidden himself and Wei Wuxian in a cave, trying to pour energy into the broken one before him, his words not enough answered with ‘Get Lost’ seemed to echo all around. Zhijun wept for them both, one whose spirit was all but broken, another catatonic with loss.

Members of the Lan Clan arrived leading to the next milestone of destruction to his son’s life. Defending his love turned into more tragedy for A-Zhan an unjust punishment was demanded, no true trial just punishment.  

Zhijun cried out as the frigid spiritual energy flared up again lashing across his back, again and again, the power flared leaving his son’s punishment in his flesh, an echo that wouldn’t bleed as it did for Wangji but it would leave the scars. How had Wangji survived the pain? How broken his son had been. How he endured the punishment all but silent, biting back his cries behind blood-covered teeth and ignoring the blood that ran down from the corner of his mouth. How the discipline whip hit harder after he dared to ask ‘Who is right, who is wrong? What is black, and what is white.’ The condemnation from those who watched; his family, peers and the younger disciple a message to them to follow the rules, to not befriend evil, those who watched were as blind as Zhijun had been when he had allowed them to corner him and his wife. Their puffed-up sense of worth about their righteousness. Oh, how much they had lost, he lamented as more pain washed through him. How could they? How could his brother and his oldest child condone it? Tears streamed down his face as he tried to endure what his son had. 

Zhijun marvelled at A-Zhan's strength. Hearing about the siege body still broken, uncaring that he reopened his wounds, he flew to the Burial Grounds. A-Zhan's grief washed through him at the destruction he found—the blood-stained houses and ground. The only reprieve from his consuming grief was finding little Wen Yuan. No to his A-Zhan, the child was a Wei, not Wen, the last piece of his love.  

The child was fevered but alive. Biting back the bile rising in his throat Zhijun couldn’t believe it took A-Zhan getting drunk and branding himself to force his Qiren’s hand to allow the child to be raised as a Lan, his birth name lost for the world would not allow a Wen to live.  

The memories gave him a reprieve, making him think it was over. Oh, how wrong he had been.  

He watched and he saw his grief-stricken son be known to ‘go where chaos is’ and had closed himself off even more from other’s only spearing time for the younger disciples. Weighed down by his grief, and music never answered. He saw snippets of his eldest son through the eyes of his youngest during the next years. The growing unease of Wangji but he remained silent constricted by the rules that kept him silenced all those years before. 

The sound of a flute brings life back to his son’s heart. A different body but the same smile, his son was determined to not make the same mistake. Their journey to uncover the truth, the continued denial of Lan Xichen in the face of his blood brother who had never lied. Horror filled his breast as he watched befall them at the temple. Happiness, followed by a soul-shattering loss as Wei Wuxian was snatched away again. Zhijun screamed feeling his son’s soul fracture. His son’s grief and thoughts had become chaotic, betrayed twice by the brother he loved the brother he had chosen to stay beside, believed in, the brother he now cursed as darkness surrounded him. The fleeting touch of the one who released their souls into the void. 

Zhijun’s back burned but he knew that if he looked, the marks would be nothing more than ugly scars however the energy still flared now and then. Judgment for what he did to his wife, for what he had done by hiding away from his children, what he had made his brother shoulder. He would bear it and make it right for his children, for his sect. 

He should have known Qiren would have taught his children to follow the rules, the perfect little Lan’s, his love for them conditional, honour and glory to their sect. He felt disgusted, under his brother’s rule it was all but a petty dictatorship for the elders and teachers. He thought of his brother and his interaction with Wei Wuxian. The man had let his trivial hatred for the boy’s mother to fester and lashed out at the child, allowing rumours and gossip to fuel his thoughts and words. He had hidden behind his title, his so-called righteousness to berate Wei Wuxian knowing that since he wasn’t a sect heir and not liked by Madam Yu there would be no consequences for him. 

Qiren had raised Xichen to be the Elder’s puppet instead of being the one to have the last word. To make the decisions that would change and move their sect with the times whilst keeping the core of tradition, not to allow tradition to stifle, restrict and destroy what could bring new heights of learning and cultivation. 

Blood sprayed across the floor as he coughed up the pearl. Blood ran down his cheeks from his eyes. He reached down to his Jade token, sending qi through it he sent an emergency pulse to his cousin’s token whose wife was a talented healer. Relaxing the wards around his home he waited, trying to keep himself calm to keep himself from qi deviating. 

Less than ten minutes past when he heard hurried steps. With a wry humour, he decided to change the no running rule to allow it in an emergency. Without ceremony, a husband and wife all but crashed into his room making him smile. 

“Lan Zongzhu,” Lan Yueliang rushed to his side. His guqin materialised in front of him as he began to play cleansing. Lan Yueliang was like most Lans. His skin was pale, and long black hair cascaded down his back. His and dark brown eyes were narrowed in concentration as he expertly directed the healing energy. 

Lu Meihua moved into the room quietly putting down her apothecary bag. Meihua was a tall woman, she had once been a powerful rogue cultivator who spent her time travelling to the poor area with her healing and sword offered to any who needed it. She kept her dark brown hair braided and styled up with a jade hair stick a small orchid hung from the end. Though she wore mostly Lan colours her cuffs, jade pendant braid and sash were a deep purple, a colour she favoured before she married into Gusu Lan. Her pale green eyes widened as she noticed the sleeping child. 

“Is that A-Zhan?” She approached the barrier surrounding the boy to make sure he was okay. She flinched back from the energy; it wasn’t harmful; it was Nainai’s energy. 

As if reading her mind, Zhijun chuckled. “Yeah, Nainai brought him here. It’s a long story.” His thoughts were still jumbled, and the pain in his back was relentless. He wondered at Lan Zhan's willpower and strength despite his injuries to fly in so much pain, both to the burial mounds and back, with a sick child no less. 

Focusing, he blocked out the memories. He would take time to put them in place, and he needed to fight a home battle first. With an un-like Lan smirk, he knew that the sect leader was the biggest hypocrite when it came to the rules. His father had taught and trained in war, strategy, subterfuge, and politics. Though it broke many of the precepts, the forbearers knew that just because the clan followed the rules, the rest of the world didn’t. 

“The Gusu Lan will not be swayed by others. Conflict exists in all things, even between family, friends, and allies. To bend to others is a weakness, not a strength,” he blurted out to the surprise of his companions. 

“Tangxiong,” his cousin lowered his voice as he took the man’s wrist to check his meridians. His wife placed a calming tea in front of him and took his other wrist. “What has happened? You all but qi deviate, and your youngest child is protected by a barrier sleeping in your room. A room that you let practically no one in since you went into seclusion.” 

“There’s also your back,” Meihua elaborated at her husband's raised eyebrow. “I sense residual energy centred at his back an energy much like a discipline whip but stronger.” she frowned she wanted to check his back but since his robes were not showing signs of blood she just sat back with a frown 

“A warning? Punishment?” he sighed. He knew that was not an answer, but it would take time. “I’m sorry for calling you out it’s almost mao...” 

“Don’t be stupid.” Meihua waved his concern away interrupting. She may follow most of the rules, but she also found many of them foolish. Zhijun bit back his chuckle. From what he had seen of the future she must have past her ways to their son Lan Xingfu, who went on to have the most un-like Lan to ever be. At that moment he swore to himself he would do all he could to protect his cousin’s family. The constricting rules had led his cousin and his wife to travel from the sect a lot and they had died when Xingfu was young. Xingfu married before the sunset campaign, his wife had died in childbirth near the end of the war and Xingfu had died at the Bloodbath of Nightless City. 

“I’ll be fine. Just keep it from the Elders for now please.” 

“As if we would tell them. Just drink your tea and get to the clan healers when you're ready. We wouldn’t want the healers to find out and tell the Elders and then be called in for overstepping our authority,” Meihua mimicked the last part struggling to hide her contempt. As an outsider to the clan, she had had her share of scorn despite the clan’s so-called rules: Do not belittle others. Honour knowledge. Do not disregard other’s knowledge. Moderate your behaviour. Be transparent with your words. Do not gossip. Be compassionate and loving. She let out a huffed laugh as her husband placed a gentle hand on her shoulder aware of thoughts there was a sad frown, furrowing his brow. They were glad they still spent most of their time away from Gusu night hunting, but it still saddened him that his wife was disrespected. 

“I understand,” he noticed their pained looks, there was so much he had to make up for. They left with one last reassuring check of his health. Though exhausted he waited for his youngest to awaken. 

  

;𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ 

Lan Zhan felt groggy as he looked around the unfamiliar room. His confusing feelings from the night before had still not settled. 

“Zhan-er,” a gentle voice made him start he rose from the bed and moved towards the middle of the room. 

“Fuqin,” he bowed as he had been taught. He hid his vulnerability; he didn’t want to get in more trouble.  

His father motioned for him to sit.  

“Do you remember what happened?” his father asked his tone gentle. 

“Waited for muqin,” he replied lowering his head.  

His father sighed making him clench his fist in his robes thinking he was in trouble. 

“You’re not in trouble Zhan-er it’s just your mother is gone, and she won’t be back.” Lan Zhan looked up not yet able to mask all his emotions, but he tried. Seeing this his father grew pained. He walked around the table and knelt beside him, ignoring the pain in his back. 

“Look at me,” his voice soft. His son turned to him, his eyes misty. 

"Your mother loved you, A-Zhan, but she got sick, and she couldn’t get better.” Zhijun could tell that A-Zhan didn’t completely understand, but there was nothing more he could say. 

“I know this doesn’t make sense to you yet, but for now you’ll have to go back to your brother,” seeing his distress he hurried on. “I’ll arrange for you to be moved to your own room soon if you want.” 

“Mn” he nodded and stood with a bow. 

Leaving his father’s house, he had no sooner exited the wards than he was pulled into a hug from Lan Huan. Squirming more than usual, all he knew was that deep down, he didn’t want to be touched, especially by his brother. 

Lan Huan looked confused and concerned. “A-Zhan?” His closed-off eyes, which he once could read, looked up at him. “What happened? Are you OK?” 

“Need to change.” That was all the response he gave. 

They soon reached home and as Lan Zhan went about his morning routine his brother kept trying to ask him questions but got no response. Their uncle entered sending him an annoyed look but as they were sitting down to eat the room became silent and Lan Zhan was for once so very glad of the no-talking rule. 

No sooner were the bowls removed than his uncle turned on him. “How dare you disturb your father, why were you there?” Only silence met his angry outburst. 

Lan Zhan silently recited the rules his uncle was breaking, trying to calm himself to the punishment he would be given.  

“Humph, how many times must I tell you not to return there she is gone? As punishment you will kneel in the ancestral hall until lunch, perhaps then you will understand who you should be loyal to.” He swept from the room whilst Lan Huan tried to calm him but he had worked himself up and now he had to go talk to their father. 

Turning to his little brother Lan Huan tried again to comfort him. “What is wrong will you not tell me did,” defiant eyes locked with his he knew his little brother was stubborn but this... sighing he had to go to lessons he gave his little brother a weak smile.  

“We’ll talk at lunch.” 

“Mn,” was the only response he got. Unfortunately for Lan Huan, there would be no lunch with his brother.  

Lan zhongzu had come out of seclusion announcing that he would soon be returning to his position. He also instructed that Lan Zhan was to be moved to the Jingshi and that he would be taking over teaching leadership skills to Lan Huan, this had caused quite a stir through the sect.  

Lan Huan wept in secret his whole world was falling apart. Only a few months had passed since his mother’s death, yet he was also losing his brother. He wanted to fix whatever had happened but didn’t even know where to start so he continued to weep. 

Notes:

Yueliang (月亮) – Moonlight
Meihua – Beautiful flower
Xingfu (幸福) – Happiness, blessed

堂兄 tángxiōng older male cousin on dad's side

Chapter 6: A fevered waking nightmare?

Summary:

One collapses after crying out, another panics and one rushes home. Onward to Bùjìng Shì (Impure realm)

Notes:

I decided to add Nie Zonghui and I give him new family dynamic to the Nie brothers.
I couldn’t find a birth name for Huaisang for the story I went with Niao (鸟) – Bird
Father’s name Nie Yong, sabre name bì'àn 狴犴, (Hybrid of tiger and dragon) since Mingjue’s baxia was named after one of the nine sons of the dragonking I just picked another for the father’s blade.
Mingjue is old enough for his curtesy name so I didn't add a birth name.
Master of blade smith Huobao (火爆) – Explosive, fiery
The Impure realm 不净世, Bùjìng Shì

Edit 2025-01-20

14-year-old Nie Mingjue already the height and build of most adult men paced his little brother's room Baxia rattling on his back in his distress.  

Earlier that night Nie Mingjue looked up from his work at his brother's distress cries. His eyes widened in surprise, leaping to his feet shock he failed to reach his brother before he collapsed. His 6-year-old brother’s face was flushed, and his brow covered in sweat Mingjue called out for help and the healers to be sent for. His brother was so tiny compared to him. He was a premature baby lucky to have survived and that left him small, frail, and prone to sickness causing Mingjue’s protective instincts to go into overdrive. He thought about his brother’s mother she had been a kind woman who cared for him as much as she cared for Niao. He had been heartbroken when she had died less than two years after his brother was born.  

The healers worked quickly. Though they tried to reassure their heir they also advised he sent for his father as they felt foreign energy lingering on the child’s small frame. This had briefly angered him but his cousin Nie Zonghui, squeezed his shoulder grounding him.  

“Zonghui...” he trailed off words failing him.  

“I’ll bring him back.” Zonghui rushed from the room leaving Mingjue to fret.  

Mingjue knew his father had been heading out to a night hunt he hoped Zonghui would reach him before he got there or started the hunt or if it had started then he could help them finish quicker and get home.  

It was getting close to dawn. Mingjue felt drained his eyes burning as he forced them to stay open despite how tired he felt. Not sure what to do he gently rubbed circles on the back of Niao’s hand hoping he would wake, or perhaps it was to comfort himself more either way he waited. The healer who had remained quietly to the side put some tea in front of him whilst he once agian checked Niao’s condition before returnig to his seat just in case he was needed.  

The door banged open startling Mingjue who almost yanked his brother’s arm off in surprise. His father stood in the doorway his appearance dishevelled his panic almost filling the room with qi. It always amazed Mingjue that his father that toward over most men in both height and size could move so quietly without using qi to hide his steps.  

“What happened?” Their father asked the healer who stood bowing to him.  

“A-Niao collapsed from a high fever...”  

“A-die he was crying out before his collapse.” Mingjue interrupted.  

“Crying about what,” his father moved and sat on the edge of his youngest son’s bed and gently touched his flushed cheeks then rested his cool hand on his fevered brow.  

“Bi'an, he was crying out about Bi'an being hurt.”  

“That’s oddly specific,” his father frowned. He turned back to the healer. “Is there anymore to be done?”  

“No Nie-Zongzhu he’s been fed medicine all we can do is wait for his fever to break.” he bowed without a golden core medicine was the only option available to them.  

“Very well get some rest.” the doctor bowed again and quietly left the room.  

Nie Yong turned to his eldest and watched with affection as Mingjue rung out and replaced the cool cloth on his brother’s fevered brow.  

“Jue-er,” his son turned his concerned and bloodshot eyes towards him.  

“Go get some sleep I’ll call if there is any change,” he gave him a hard look when he made to protest, he held back a smile at the stubborn look shot back at him. He and his son look so much alike that it was easy for people to know who Mingjue was but with Niao he took his looks and personality from his mother. Biting back the pang as he thought of his deceased wife he watched as his eldest finally made to go to his bed.  

Nie Yong walked to the door and stared at poor half-sleeping Nie Zonghui barely keeping himself upright by leaning on the wall.  

“Zonghui,” the lad started his eyes widening as he focused on his him.  

“I need you to go get Huobao,” he chuckled at the horrified look on the lad’s face.  

“You want me to wake that mean old...” he trailed off at his uncle’s look, with a quick bow ran off. Chuckling he shut the door the bladesmith master was well known even as the sect leader he was not spared the man’s tirades if he was woken up or interrupted in his work.  

Less than twenty minutes passed when the door opened and his master bladesmith walked in. Despite the man’s age, there wasn’t an ounce of weakness in his large frame his Nie-style braids kept his hair neatly away from his face and out of his way as he worked. He was of average height but because of his muscular build from his work, he seemed bigger than he was, dark brown eyes flashed in annoyance then softened slightly as he noticed the sleeping form of the youngest sect master.  

“What it couldn’t wait until morning I was just about to get some sleep after you demanded I get the latest batch of blades finished.” usually Nie Yong would play along with the old man’s grumpy tirades but not this time. Before he could get angry the bladesmith seemed to finally notice Niao’s state.  

“Oh no little master is sick, sorry Zongzhu I'll grumble to you later.” that got a snort of laughter from the sect leader he knew the bladesmith had a soft spot for Niao who seemed to be one of the few Nie’s that appreciated the little details that where crafted into the hilts of the Nie sabres.  

“Shifu, I know this is a strange ask but I need you to check Bi'an, apparently Niao mentioned it before he collapsed.” Though the man looked back at him confused he moved and reverently took the sabre for his sect leader and with a nod left to return to his forge.  

The sound of running feet startled Nie Yong from his light sleep he had fallen into. He moved to open the door to reprimand whoever was making noise when the door slammed open Huobao looked horrified.  

“Bi'an has hairline fractures through the blade. You were on a night hunt?” at the nod Huobao’s expression worsened. “She would have shattered!”  

“What!” Nie Yong’s was furious and lucky Bi'an was not near him as his fury flooded the room. A distressed noise from the bed made him pull back his energy his fury had been close to hurting his sick sleeping child.  

“Shifu, keep this between us. When my son wakes I’ll try and find out how he knew.”  

“Perhaps he sensed her, she is crying a lot. Maybe he is sensitive to...” There was a rare gift within the Nie that would normally be found more within the Lan clan that allowed one to hear the songs of energy. For them, it was refined to being able to hear the energy of beasts, especially resentful beasts.  

“Perhaps,” Nie Yong replaced the damp cloth on his son’s head.  

“I’ll fix her but I must sleep first the process is delicate and I’ve been awake for too many days to be able to focus. I hope the little master gets better soon Zongzhu.” With a bow, he left the room.  

;𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐   

It was three days before Nie Yong could finally talk to Niao.  

“Niao-er,” tired eyes locked with his. “How did you know about my sabre?” he asked quietly.  

“I started feeling sick, it was like a nightmare a waking dream I saw her shatter you were badly hurt but it made something in you break as time went on you died.” his words grew quieter as he finished his sentence tears were streaming down his pale cheeks.  

Nie Yong wished he could put it down to loss anxiety, he knew his little boy had suffered since his mother’s death. He knew the feeling he feared losing his family something he knew he would loose to their family curse but it felt like his little boy was hiding something. Bringing his thoughts back he again focused on Niao.  

“So, you didn’t hear anything form Bi'an?”  

With a little frown Niao shook his head.  

“No baba I didn’t hear anything. I’m sorry my sickness made you rush home.” In response, Nie Yong gathered him into a hug.  

“You saved me little one,” he whispered kissing his cheek, his little boy gasped and tried to look at him, but he continued playfully squish him in.  

“Now you rest, and I will get you a gift,” he pulled back and chuckled at the excitement in Niao’s eyes. Leaving his son’s room, he walked into Mingjue who was pacing in the hallway, a part of him worried for the floor.  

“He’ll be fine a-Jue he’s awake and waiting for get-well gifts,” Mingjue’s shoulders relaxed, and he chuckled he wanted to run to the market right then. Something must have shown on his face as his father chuckled and squeezed his shoulder.  

“Eat first. Don’t think I didn’t know you were pacing here all morning.” he gave him a reassuring smile, but it faltered at the look Mingjue gave him.  

“What are you going to do about Bi'an?” of course Mingjue had heard about his blade and had figured out who had done it.  

Scowling he clenched his fists, “His attempt failed. She will be fixed and now we have the advantage.”  

“We do.” his son looked doubtful.  

“Yes. It’s time to start planning for counter measures.” Unlike many of the Nie bloodline and despite the image Nie Yong had he was actually a lot more level headed them most of his family though they all had the same trigger, family.  

Mingjue sighed he hated subterfuge. He was the kill your enemies before they kill your type.  

“The Wen’s are dangerous are we just going to let them carry on as they have been!”  

“Mingjue,” the sharpness in his father’s tone startled him. “It is not all Wen’s that have done this we know who to watch out for. What is the point of watching the masses or blaming the masses for its leaders.” He warned.  

“But they do nothing to stop him, look at what he does along the border,” he almost whined remining Nie Yong just how young his son was despite his size.  

“Of course they don’t. They don’t stand a chance against him on their own. Would we stand for rebellion Mingjue.” his look was dark and Mingjue sighed.  

“Do you blame your grandmother?” The question startled him.  

“Father? Why would I blame Grandmother?”  

“Because she is a Wen from a small village near our border, sadly the village no longer exists there was a forest fire that took out the village so they never rebuilt and moved, that is how she met your grandfather.”  

Mingjue was surprised. Even though he learnt their family history certain members weren’t spoken about and Mingjue wondered if it was because she lost her home that she never spoke of her family, though he knew she had a small shrine in her home that he had often noticed she kept clean and there were always fresh flower and incense but he had respected her privacy and never went to close.  

With a little scowl Mingjue contemplated what he had learnt and the fear of what could have happened to his father had coloured his thinking, it was easy to blame some moments passed before he sighed. His thoughts troubled; how would he have reacted if his father died.  

“I’m sorry father I understand.” Mingjue gave a small bow.  

Nie Yong gave him a gentle smile. Despite his size and battle prowess, he had a soft side he shared only with family and a few friends.  

“I know you prefer action over words but don’t lose yourself to anger, more than we already are destined to a-Jue.” startling his son he pulled him into a hug. The last few days had left his feelings raw, and a bone-deep weariness settled within him.  

Mingjue understood. He was aware there was a family curse and the fear of losing his father even earlier than he should always put him on edge.  

“We will be careful a-Jue. We will make allies. It will take time, but we will snare our enemy eventually.” His father released him from his hug leaving the teenager slightly bereft. With a nod, his father walked off towards his study.  

Mingjue went to check on his brother. Seeing him sleeping he decided to head to the training grounds, he needed to get stronger, much stronger he didn’t want to lose anymore loved ones.  

Notes:

Sorry this chapter took longer to update. I had some emergency work that took longer for me to finish then I wanted.

So added some Wen's to the family line not for any other reason then a what if thought. Could you imagine the dilemma Mingjue would have with that knowledge if his father had died like in canon and there was a wen in his family, would he kill them or would he over look it because their family?

Thank you for all your lovely comments and Kudos

Chapter 7: A father and son travel onwards to new friends and family

Summary:

Wei Changze and little Wei Ying slowly make their way to the old and new friends.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
Introducing Li Enya (恩雅) – “graceful kindness” the Wen sibling’s mother

温情, Wēn Qíng

(温宁, Wēn Níng, courtesy name 温琼林, Wēn Qiónglín

Had to use the internet for some of the names of the OC’s or birth names for some of the characters so please forgive any inaccuracies and lack of knowledge for how naming may work in family or generation dynamics when naming.

 

Majour Edit. 2025-01-23

It had taken two weeks for Wei Changze and little Wei Ying to make their way to Dafan Mountain. Wei Changze watched as his son struggled, he knew that this had happened in the past to. His little boy had tried to live by his wife’s words; to live with a smile so during the day the little boy gave him wobbly smiles but wept at night. 

One evening Changze sat Wei Ying on his lap he wanted to help his son.  

“Ying-er,” his voice was gentle, and his little boy looked up at him trying to give him a bright smile. He paused the glow from the fire gave his son’s skin a sun kissed glow making him wince, it was the fake smile he had often seen the child wear when he was in pain at Lotus Pier biting back his fury he took a steadying breath. 

“You know there is nothing wrong in telling other’s when you are sad right?” the smile faltered at his words. 

“But mama said we should always smile at life.” Changze quickly hid his trembling hands as his son climbed off his lap to sit by the fire as he seemed to think on his father’s words. 

Wei Changze loved his wife but he struggled to keep back his grief and the anger about how they had been set up in their original life and what had happened to their boy. There was a part of him that cursed his beloved's words to their little boy, she, they had not been around to teach him context. He had memories of Wei Ying quoting to himself ‘remember the things others do for you, not the things you do for others. Only when people don’t hold so much in their hearts would they finally be free.’ She had wanted him to be selfless to not hold onto the pain allowing it to fester and cause him his own heart demons. She would have never wanted her words to be used to incur debts with others, or for him to laugh off his abuse whether verbal or physical. She had wanted him to learn self-preservation however he had only learnt it in the most destructive way, he made himself forget covered over the bad made himself less with a bad memory, but the truth was he didn’t have a bad memory he just chose to forget but forgot too much so he could hold onto any little bits of happiness. He gave and gave and gave and others just expected it told him it was all he was worth. Changze swore he would do better he would teach his boy love, self-worth so when his memories returned, he could help him work through the bad, understand that it wasn’t all his fault. He wanted his loving son to understand who had really loved him in his past lives, and who had truly sacrificed themselves for him as he did for them. 

His jaw clenched as he cursed Fengmian, Yu Ziyuan and their children. His heart ached at the anger as he thought of them even the daughter his son’s silent killer. Complacent in the family abuse, standing up for him only when it made her look better, anything for the fairytale life she craved.  

His energy flare electricity pulsed around him as he thought of the Nightless City battlefield and the new mother’s stupidity as she ran headlong into danger. Her begging for him to stop just as her husband had as if it would stop those around them from trying to kill him at the first chance. She may not have blamed him, but she had not thought about the consequences she never did, naive to the end though there were times where he wondered if she had just wanted to die and had blamed him, those dark thoughts swirled adding to his anger. 

“Baba!” his son’s panicked voice made him jump and he realised he was still circulating his cursed blood, he barely held back his snort. Yu Ziyuan was given Zidian a Jiang family heirloom, created by the family founder using his own qi, purple lightning and its secret core that later strengthen it. It was an ability that should have passed through the family line but only a few had ever been born with it, his own half-brother hadn’t been, but he had, and he hated it. It was the one ability that made it his sister-in-law's mission to destroy him, to start rumours that persisted even to colour his own son’s life. 

“Sorry I was... bad memories.” he trailed off as he released his qi. His son frowned at his sad tone. “Did you understand what I was trying to tell you?” he would keep talking and teaching until his son was less likely to kill himself in every way for others after all being dead helps no-one he should know. 

“Yep, I feel sad now but smiling helps me feel a bit less sad.” he accepted his son’s response he was a smart child who had at this age manage to survive on the street until he was almost nine but deep down, he knew his son had hidden all that pain this time he would have support a way to process his grief. 

Ruffling his son’s hair, he was rewarded with the first true smile he had seen in the two weeks travel. His smile made him think of another who was often affected by his son’s smiles, he hoped that Lan Wangji would also have an easier life this time. He smiled back, all he wanted was his little boy to admit when he was sad or even hurt. Thankfully his destination would take them to friends a lost family and the start of what he could do to change his son’s fate. 

As Wei Ying slept Changze started sending messages to some old contacts including secret messages to people within Lotus Pier, he needed access to his private vault within the Jiang family vault, he needed to retrieve its contents and he would prefer to do it when that pathetic excuse of a sect madam was away. He sent messages to merchants and craftsman’s he knew informing them of his plans for his mother’s families old sect rebuilding. He let them know where they could send their replies and that he would inform them ahead of time for if there is a change of destination. 

Wei Changze and Wei Ying’s arrival at the village at the base of Dafan Mountain was met with happy recognition from Wen Popo and Li Enya, the mother to Wen Qing and Wen Ning. Enya was a pretty woman with pitch black eyes much like her son’s, she kept her hair tied up and practical, always ready for any emergency. Despite the easy to come to smiles that flickered across her face. Wei Changze knew the woman had a spine of steel that contradicted the easy-going facade she gave off. He had watched first hand as the woman had brow beaten his stubborn wife into submission when she was having problems in the last weeks of her pregnancy with Wei Ying. 

The more genuine happy smile appeared as she saw him. “A-ze and oh my is this a-Ying?” the boy looked up and gave her his own blinding smile his silver eyes crinkling catching her off guard. 

“So much like your mother.” her smile faltered as her words made the child’s eyes tear up. Dread filled her chest as she turned to look at Changze just one look into his eyes and she knew. Biting back her own pain she turned and gestured him to come into her house. He followed and watched as she set about making tea. 

“A-Qing,” she called opening the sliding door to a side room. A seven-year-old Wen Qing came through looking more serious than a child should at her age. 

Wen Qing had paused as she noticed Wei Ying a frown appeared on her face as if she was puzzled, Changze wondered if she remembered anything or perhaps it's the feeling of familiarity like he had felt when he noticed some of the villagers and he knew they had more to do with his son's memories he carried, that and what he carried of the mountain. 

“A-Qing this is A-Ying will you take him and your brother to go play whilst we talk,” her daughter nodded and moved to Wei Yings side. 

“Hi A-Ying, I’m Wen Qing would you like to come play with me and my didi, we have toys?” she added. 

Wei Ying’s eyes lit up he gave his father a brief pleading glance before taking the hand offered to him. Much to his father's amusement he wasn’t even spared a backwards glance after he nodded. 

“Replaced by toys so easily.” he mocked causing Li Enya to chuckle despite Changze being known for being quiet and protective and his wife the playful one there were times Changze’s own humour would make an appearance.  

She waited until the sound of the children grew distant before turning on him. 

“What happened Changze?” her voice was quiet but there was a hard tone in her question. 

“Cangse died in a night hunt we got... separated,” he added after a pause of hesitation something she instantly picked up on. 

“Changze, despite being a doctor, I am still a Cultivator, and not to sound arrogant, I’m a pretty good one at that despite the fact I use a non-traditional weapon of choice. Plus, I have spent many years studying resentment. A few weeks ago, I noticed my children and some of the villagers had traces of resentment clinging to them. So let me ask you again, what happened?” her tone almost biting. 

Over the next few hours, he told her the whole truth: about all that had passed with her family, his family, the war, and its aftermath. 

She openly wept when she thought of her children’s and villagers' fate. She was horrified that she had died leaving it easier for Wen Ruohan to take notice and use her little medical genius. Squaring her shoulders as his story came to a close, she decided to look at it as if she had been handed a medical mystery. 

The look she gave him made him chuckle. He had seen from his son’s memories that Wen Qing often had that look usually before she was stabbing needles into Wei Ying. She held out her hand waiting for him to give her his wrist, he did so, allowing her to check his meridians. 

“Well, you’re no worse for wear from your experience. So, what are you going to do next?” 

“Set up the Wei family old sect. One not affiliated with any of the great sects, well that probably won’t stay true when Ying-er grows up but for now, it's time for the Wei’s to return. My family's old sect was a safe haven for rogue cultivators, and a network of resources for others.” he paused. “That’s also the one of the many reasons I came to you. I want to save your family and this village. The old sect had land that could be turned into medical fields and food fields that would also help the town of Yiling.” 

“You want us to move to Yiling?” she asked with a small frown. Since he had no idea when Wen Ruohan began to target the village, he assumed it was some years after Enya had passed so he hoped he had time. 

She nodded. “Look, stay for now. We’re not going to figure it all out right away. I'll go talk to Shi-shu. He has spare rooms, and Popo always cooks too much. She will love having extra mouths to feed.” She smiled and wouldn’t take no for an answer. 

  

;𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐   

Over the next few days Wei Changze watched as the village all but adopted his little boy, they watched as he ran around smiling and playing with all the children he could. The villagers spoiled Wei Ying they snuck him sweets and toys hoping to help distract him from the loss of his mother and allow him to grief when he needed, there was always someone willing to hug him if he cried, many times Changze had found Ying-er and A-Ning curled up with each other at nap time and a sharp-eyed Wen Qing watching over them. 

Changze had received messages back and started putting more plans into action. As he put his plans in motion Wei Ying would stay at Dafan where he would be protected and have family around him. Taking a calming breath and kissing a teary-eyed boy goodbye he mounted his sword and headed out to put the next steps of his plans in motion. 

Notes:

A little about the story going forward.

Though there will be elements from the different genre's arcs there are also world building elements to allow for the new characters and circumstances.

The whole events that passed at the temple leading to Wei Yings death and Lan Xichen’s ultimate failure as a brother (in this story more so) will be revealed as well as what happened with the immortals and how time was reversed.

I would like to add that personally Xichen doesn’t normally bother me as a character, yes I get frustrated at his naivety, his refusal to see he’s being played even in the face of evidence and the fact he takes it out on Wei Ying, but then I think all those rules just crushed him after all even Wangji faltered and if it hadn't been for Mo's sacrifice he would have had to live with his regrets until the day he died. However one thing that always annoys me about him his the fact he kept asking for evidence when it came to A-yao but just listened to hearsay when it came to wei ying just another shinning example of hypocrisy, though I do enjoy reading stories where he gets to grow into a better character. (Excuse the little rant lol)

Xiao Xingchen is older in this version and already in an established relationship with Sang Lan.

Why I added elements allowing for same sex cultivation partners to be able to have children because why not the fact they can fly on swords using qi, as well as reach immortality already breaks the rules of reality as we know it so why not break some more 😊

Chapter 8: Lotus Pier

Summary:

Wei Changze visits Lotus Pier for two reasons and he'll be damned if he lets Fengmian have any say in the matter.

Notes:

Gave Changze a birth name Wei Xian (贤) – Virtuous, worthy.

The flight from Dafan had only taken him three days he had stop to rest at Yiling and to hand over the down payment money to his contacts who would be arranging the rebuilding of the old sect which had fallen into bad disrepair. There was also money to hire anyone that could work to clear the old farmlands.

It was still early morning when Changze made his way through the gates of Lotus Pier. The guards had recognized him and just let him pass however a disciple he had never seen before had tried to stop him but noticed his unique clarity bell on his belt. His clarity bell was topped with a delicate looking lotus flower chemicals added to the metal gave it a light purple sheen. The disciple dashed off and Changze rolled his eyes he started to mentally prepare himself. Fengmian came rushing towards him as he reached the family quarters.

“Changze,” he smiled and moved to grab his arm, but Changze took a step back.

“Fengmian,” he gave a shallow bow clenching his teeth he needed to just get what he needed and leave before he murdered the man in front of him.

“Changze?” Fengmian’s brow furrowed at the tone he seemed to shake himself. “I heard about A-se...” Changze surged forward and grabbed the front of Fengmian’s robe his expression dark and his eyes flashed.

Fengmian gasped as purple lightning flickered over Changze’s skin burning his robes, he flinched as images of his wife and her anger filled his vision, he so often forgot why his mother had feared Changze, his uncle, oh how it burned that his mother had weakened the sect by trying to drive Changze away, he hadn't even been allowed to call him uncle. He held back a frustrated sigh why was it that the women in his life never understood the importance of a sword and shield for the heirs and leader.

“You will not speak so familiarly of my wife Fengmian is that understood the same goes for my son,” he warned knowing the predictivness of the man before him he knew he would inquire about A-Ying. Releasing the Jiang leader’s ruined hanfu he took a step back and a deep breath to steady himself.

“Changze I understand it must a trying time for you,” the bastard had the audacity to come across as if he was putting Changze’s attitude down to his grief and that all things will be fine with time. “You and A-y... Wei Ying should come home.” he pleaded.

“Are you mad Fengmian, I nor Wei Ying will ever return here, I am here for two things and then I’m leaving.” he bit out furious at the fool.

“What...” he was cut off when an Elder walked round the corner holding one of the sword boxes containing an ancestral sword that had sealed itself long ago, the blade no longer had name or master, but the quality of the craftsmanship had once been unrivalled from what the records said.

“You can’t take that,” Fengmian protested but Elder Lanyi snorted. He was one of the few elders that had no love for Fengmian and his wife. In the other time he had been forced out when Fengmian had brought back Wei Ying and he had tried to take the child away after the Violet Spider had put Wei Ying in the infirmary for the first time.

“I can it is a Wei sword not Jiang. I am also here for my vault so either you open the first ward or Elder Lanyi will.” with great satisfaction he watched Fengmian blanch as they reached the wards that hid the doors to the family vault. Changze had found out from Elder Lanyi that Madam Yu had changed the first wards after he left.

Fengmian turned to look at his distant cousin Elder Lanyi, but his silent question was met with indifference, the older man had an intimidating aura. He had golden kissed skin that was often attributed to those who lived there and spent a lot of time outside. Despite his age his cultivation made him appear no older than his early 40s a fact that often amused him as a child but now it just gave him one more person with power to worry about whenever he had to sooth the elder council with his wife’s latest shenanigans.

The wards gave a light violet glow as Fengmian opened them. They silently made their way through the large double doors and inside to the family vault. Walking away from Fengmian, Changze made his way past the open area and toward the back heading to the individual family vaults section.

He stopped in front of his own sealed door and scoffed. Purple lightning had burned the stone door, she must have been furious it didn’t open for her, that there was something that wouldn’t submit to here in Lotus Pier. He gave a dark chuckle the power required for her too actually burn the stone was impressive if he didn’t know how she was corrupting poor Zidian and that was what was giving her the extra power.

“My it seems Madam Yu couldn’t steal her way into my vault how disappointed she must have been.”

Fengmian spluttered. He was feeling somewhat wrong footed and knew without a doubt that Changze had deliberately made sure to turn up at Lotus Pier when his wife and children were absent and with a sinking feeling his wife was going to be furious when she returns.

Changze gave him a withering glance and took off his father’s clarity bell and held it before the door. Cutting his finger on the lotus petals he allowed his blood to drip down the metal towards the small garnet in the centre. The bell started to chime, a slow rhythm and the door before them began to open.

Fengmian gasped as he briefly saw the shelves of treasure within the room. The fortune that had been out of reach until now.

He moved to follow but Elder Lanyi held him back. “That is his private vault Jiang Zongzhu.”

With a grateful nod, Changze went into the vault and allowed the door to close behind him. As he scanned the riches around him, he gave a chuckle thinking of how Madam would qi deviate if she knew. There where pegs on the wall with qiankun pouches hanging from them, grabbing them he began to fill them with large amount of gold, silver, and jewels that were lining the shelves. When finished with the shelves he started on the chests on the floor which had family jewellery from his mother’s side. Land deeds including the old Wei sect and the surrounding farms and some a large part of Yiling. He scoffed when he thought of what his son had later been known as, it seemed their blood always brought them back to Yiling. There where family records for both Wei and Jiang something he would later need. He turned to the last chest it held qiankun's that had the Wei family memorial plaques, he would make sure there was a family memorial shrine, and he would add his wife so his son would have a proper place to honour and remember those that had past, just another thing denied to his son. Standing he dusted off his robes and with an almost sadistic amusement he knew how he was going to get under a certain woman’s skin. He was thankful he had worn his only robe that had been enchanted by a Lan tailor after he had his wife had saved his daughter, he had enchanted his robe with the Lan qiankun sleeves technique allowing him too hide all his other pouches.

Exiting the vault, he hid his amusement as Fengmian’s face blanched when he took notice of the empty vault, his expression worsened when he could see Changze had nothing on his person. Reaching back Changze broke the seal that had been on the door so the vault would remain open a gift for the lady of the family.

Fengmian was panicking he knew his wife had been trying to get into the vault for years and she would not be happy to find it cleared out. He himself had only known half of the riches stored inside, many of the riches where from when his grandfather had married Changze’s mother part of her dowry. The rest was added when Changze was paid his monthly allowance as well as his percent of the money paid from the hunts he was sent on.

Fengmian swallowed and looked to the man that was really his uncle despite there only being a few years between them. He flinched at the look in his eyes, but he needed him and his son, if A-Ying was anything like his parents and from the one time he had been allowed to meet him he could see the child was already smart and had his mother’s lovely smile and eyes.

“Changze, I know my wife made things hard here but...”

“Hard!” he scoffed his eyes darkening as he cut Fengmian off. “Your wife screams that I am a servant. Your mother’s poisonous words, words that you know are not true ‘nephew’.”

“It's just words Changze.” he replied which just made Changze angrier this weak man had allowed rumours to destroy a-Ying's life and he had allowed his wife to abuse his precious boy.

“Your wife called my wife a whore and tried to strike her on our wedding day. If I had not been trying to prevent my wife from killing, you both I would have released Zidian that day and your wife! So, knowing this, why are you trying to get me to return? Because I won’t. I won’t help you with the clan you have allowed that woman to ruin our family's legacy, terrorize the merchants and commoners yet you do nothing.” Taking in an annoyed breath Changze noticed Elder Lanyi was trying to hide his amusement.

With a very respectful bow to the Elder he wanted to get out of Lotus Pier. “Elder Lanyi thank you for your help today, and my son’s sword.” He took the sword box and hid a gasp he could feel Suibian hum, there was a build-up of energy that the box barely contained as the sword spirit’s excitement and anticipation seemed to all but burst to life. He needed to get away quick it would not do for Fengmian to discover the blades spirit had awoken.

“Best of luck to you Changze.” The Elder bowed as Changze went passed.

Wei Changze enjoyed the silence he left behind, but he was no way delusional that this would be the last time he would hear from Fengmian or that Fengmian would continue to try and get him or his son into the sect. Briskly leaving his once home with new purpose he took the time to leave messages for certain merchants and craftsman's that he knew weren't happy with the current leadership he was going to take more steps for his own revenge.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

Six months later the cultivation world would hear about the return of the Wei sect in Yiling many wouldn’t care for an unaffiliated sect and by the time the Wei sect would begin to make waves through the gentry they would discover the advanced and unbreakable wards that now surrounded the Burial grounds and the town of Yiling in its entirety but by then they wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

Notes:

So, to clarify again this story only has a few cannon components many only mentioned from the memories of the past, think of it as its own parallel universe and not all canon compliant. Main cannon arc that will be added will be the Cloud Recesses study arc because who doesn’t love that one. Other's to be added well that depends on how the story goes.

So I haven’t added a confrontation with the violet spider I feel it's too early in the story and personally I think Changze would just kill her outright at this point and be done with it but then that would be no fun we need her to feel the humiliation when she’s taken down from her deluded state of greatness. But worry not for there will be future chapters where we'll get to enjoy her loosing to her biterness

Next what is needed is to give the lovable little A-Ying a new home and a way to save the family of his heart. Alas though it is also a little too soon for our beloved Wangxian to meet but fear not the chapter where they are reunited will be soon and they won’t have to wait until they are teens to do so.

Chapter 9: An Elder makes plans

Summary:

Elder Lanyi makes plans to change his families fate.

Notes:

Thank you for all the lovely comments. Sadly I can't answer them all especially when it could reveal spoilers but I do read them and appreciate them.
So there was a delay with my scheduled post, after seeing all of the comments and wanting some justified revenge on Fengmian I decided to shuffle parts of the story around. This chapter was supposed to be a brief visit to the Nie but instead enjoy some more chaos at Lotus Pier.

New characters.
Elder Jiang Lanyi's wife (Jiang) Shuqing 淑青 – gentle and clear water
Their daughter (only mentioned this time) (Jiang) Baozhu 宝珠 – “precious pearl”

Elder Lanyi watched Wei Changze leave his amusement plastered all over his face as he watched the retreating back. Resetting his expression, he turned back to his irate leader with an impassive stare and watched.

Fengmian was pacing his distress and annoyance palatable in the air and his expression well that just made Lanyi want to laugh however he kept his amusement in check and silently remined standing there.

“Elder you have to help me close this!” Fengmian demand snapped him out of his revere.

“Oh, I sorry what did you need?” the furious look that Fengmian levelled him left him unbothered.

“The vault I need it closed before she gets home.”

Making a deliberate show of it, Lanyi walked to the door and checked the sigil. He coughed to cover the choked back laughter as he noticed what Changze had done.

“It’s not possible to fix the door sigil without Changze’s lotus clarity bell.” he bowed as he answered.

“Oh, she is going to be furious.” the tension leaking from Fengmian annoyed Lanyi, so he decided to add to the man’s woes.

“But you now have a very large vault you can store valuable. After all you saw that it can hold a lot.” he needled the man about the vast fortune that had just walked out.

Fengmian was pale, his eyes darting around muttering about his wife’s anger and Zidian. At the mention of Zidian Elder Lanyi became openly angry.

“Yes Zidian!” he snapped; his voice made the man jump. “On the note of Zidian why it is still in your wife’s possession Jiang Fengmian?! The council have repeatedly asked you to return it to the ancestral hall.”

“Well, she’s its master so,” he shrugged his nonchalance pissed Lanyi off more.

“Rubbish it is a Jiang relic, a main family Jiang relic I might add. When your foolish mother,” Fengmian flinched and opened his mouth to protest but Lanyi was having none of it. “You heard me Jiang Fengmian your mother was a fool. She plundered treasures that where not for her. She included Zidian into your betrothal gifts to Yu Ziyuan. We objected but it was too late you had already handed it over by the time we had discovered the duplicity it was too late. You promised the council when your mother passed that you would retrieve Zidian and return it, but no you had to hand it over in a way that gave her guardianship, foolish child!” His anger at the man before him, the supposed leader of the Yunmeng Jiang had only increased over the years. Jiang Fengmian had once showed promise as a leader and fighter whilst he had been under his uncle Wei Changze’s tutelage. However, it had been whittled down by the man’s mother and then his wife, very little of the man others had known him to be in his youth remained.

“Well, it only responds to her now so what difference does it make. Plus, it's not like she can hit me with it I know how to redirect the current!” Lanyi saw red he grabbed the front of FEngmian’s robe where Changze had.

“You!” barley holding back a growl. “We maybe family but there are times you sicken me. Others can’t redirect the lightning, we have had reports of her using it on people, Fengmian it is a spiritual tool for spirits, what next will you allow her to use it on your disciples!” releasing the startled man he tried to calm himself.

“If one is strong of will or Zidian chooses another she will come when called.” He bit out his own violet-coloured eyes still stormy with anger.

“Father used to say that.” Fengmian whispered then grew annoyed. “It’s just a spiritual weapon, it will still remain in the family why do you Elder’s all make such a fuss?” he demanded.

SLAP

Elder Lanyi stared down at the shocked man who held his red and fast bruising cheek.

“Never have I been so ashamed to be a Jiang. Your ignorance of Zidian disgusts me. Mark my words Jiang Fengmian there will come a day when you learn of the damage your complacency & her bitterness has done to the spirit of Zidian.” Storming off he couldn’t stand to look at his so-called leader who just looked back at him stunned.

Still seething Elder Lanyi made his way toward the lotus silk weaving pavilion. His wife job was overseeing the spinners and weavers of the Lotus Pier exclusive lotus silk. His daughter worked within the embroider house she had worked hard and was known for her skill at embroidering talismans within the families' exclusive robes. She had a knack for being able to conceal the work within lotus flowers in a way that didn’t negate the charms effects. She had been so proud as a little girl when she had first succeeded. A pride that her parents shared. The thought of his wife and daughter made his next decision easier, his steps faltered when he thought of his young son who was currently studying to form his golden core and was looking forward to being a disciple of Yunmeng but would it stay a safe place for him. Sighing he entered the pavilion ignoring the woman at work he made his way to his wife's side she looked up startled and seeing the expression on his face.

“What is it my love?” she asked quietly so not to startle those around them, her aqua coloured eyes dulling with his silence.

Elder Lanyi took a moment to soak in his wife’s presence Jiang Shuqing. She was still beautiful in his eyes. Her long black hair still glossy and with no signs of grey decorated with silver hair pins decorated with lotus’s. Her Jiang coloured green inner layers and purple outer layers where richly decorated a reminder of his families place within Yunmeng. She pulled him away towards the inner court gazebo and made him sit whilst she called a servant for refreshments.

“My love,” she tilted her head at him as she waited for him to carry on. “Our lotus lakes, how tied to the main branch are they? How much silk directly comes from our lotus lakes” he asked in a quiet voice.

She sucked in a breath instantly realising what her husband was really asking. “Our lakes produce enough bolts of silk to keep our family wealthy but only if we sold what was left after making clothes, but we wouldn’t be able to sell large amounts. We need to reopen the weaving pavilion that is in the middle of the eastern lake. The initial output needed will cost a bit but if nothing happens to the lotus then the investment should see returns in the first year if we just sell the silk.” she smiled. “It's not like we don’t already have clothes for now.” Her expression turned troubled. She waited until the servants carrying their refreshments had left. She poured them some tea before continuing.

“What has happened?” she asked dropping her voice.

“Wei Changze was here,” her eyes widened with delight at his words.

“Is he coming home?” she asked, hope softening her voice.

“No, he means to bring back his mother’s sect in Yiling.” he replied drinking his tea but ignoring the food he was still feeling annoyed and didn’t want to upset his stomach more.

“You wish to join him?” she asked her brows furrowed.

“It is within my legal rights to break away from the main family branch if I don’t actively start my own sect then they can do little. The lotus ponds and lakes around our family home belong to us not Jiang Fengmian.”

“This is going to be a large loss for Jiang Zongzu.” she whispered staring at him as if assessing what may have happened. “You mean to give the wealth to Ze-er?”

He snorted unable to keep back his surprise. “My love you know he would never ask that. He may wish to purchase from us, but he wouldn’t take the money that would keep our family fed. However, there is one project he mentioned in his letter that he wants to put in place that we can afford to fund.” he smiled at her. “He wants to open an orphanage first in Yiling then other areas especially aimed at having safe havens for rogue cultivator’s children.”

Jiang Shuqing started laughing. “He leaves the sect after marrying, travels and decides to open an orphanage as well as settle back into his mother’s sect lands.” her expression was both surprised and affectionate.

“Cangse Sanren has died my love.” his words stopped her laughter she dropped her teacup; it shattered on the floor.

“How?” tears streamed down her cheeks.

Elder Lanyi wanted to tell her the truth but knew it was too dangerous. He remembered when he had received the concealed letters from Changze he had revealed what had really happened on the night hunt, he hinted at there being a reason he had been able to get away but couldn’t tell him in the letter. The blow Lanyi had felt at the truth had almost brought him to his knees, but the lie he had to tell those he loved all but crushed him.

“A night hunt. They were misinformed about the danger so since A-Ying is so little Cangse went by herself.” he lied. His wife wept as he gathered her into his arms. There were many in Lotus Pier that had been fond of the free-spirited rogue cultivator.

His wife gasped causing him to look down at her. Her eyes had hardened, and she angrily wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“I think I understand.” she leaned in close to his ear causing him to raise an eyebrow.

“The Madam...” he clamped a hand over her mouth.

“Not here!” he leaned down giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Just know we are leaving. The Yunmeng Jiang we knew is changing it is far from what we knew as children.” He chuckled despite the seriousness of his words. His wife was blushing from the kiss on the cheek, it always amused him that no matter how many decades they had been together she still blushed at his affection.

They stood and started walking. “What will you do next?” she asked causing him to chuckle and flash her an evil grin.

“Why I mean to spread the good news that Wei Changze visited. If it just happened to fall into the certain ears and it travel away well...” he trailed off his eyes twinkling.

“She’s going to be furious.” his wife chuckled at his grin.

“Indeed, she will.” still laughing he walked off leaving his amused wife to return to her work and plan for what they would do next.

Much to Elder Lanyi’s surprise it took almost a week before the calm of Lotus pier was shattered with an angry cry and purple lighting.

“Fengmian what is the meaning of this!” Yu Ziyuan screamed as she marched through the gates and towards the training yard where her husband was working with some of the younger disciples helping them with their archery.

Notes:

Many of you had questions about what happened to the vault in the first timeline, worry not that will be explained soon by Changze. As the the continued hints about Zidian and its spirits origin that will also be answered.

Next chapter will bring you the furious petty Violet Spider and her husband.

Thanks for the continued support.

Chinese is not my native language so if I make mistakes please let me know.

Chapter 10: Lotus Pier, Purple Lightning & a scheming Elder

Summary:

A Violet Spider screams, an Elder schemes and Jiang Fengmian, well he does what he always does steps back and lets others make the decisions, but this time there's fallout that will force his hand.

Notes:

On a plot change from canon well I have lots of those lol but on this I must mention that in canon the Meishan Yu clan forced through the marriage between Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan after Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren eloped. For this story I had it that the Meishan Yu clan forced it through as soon as the announcement of Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren betrothal. At this point the Meishan Yu clan where also mistaken as to Wei Changze’s actual birth right due to his sisters-in-law's lies during the betrothal negotiations.

Yu Ziyuan isn’t quite stewed in her bitterness yet as much as she was later in the story so she’s not as bad but worry not she’ll get there which will make her downfall so much more entertaining.

Introducing the father of Sixth Shidi (poor character was never given a name time to change that). Sixth Shidi courtesy name Jiang Ming (明) –
(meaning: Bright) but most of the time he will just be called Sixth Shidi when he appears (so no need for birth name).

Elder Jiang Chao (超) – surpass (I see no need to add birth name as he will mostly be known as Elder Chao.)

I have taken literate and most likely cultural liabilities with how a council of Elders would work within a sect but I kind of have the feeling that they would have some sway over the sects as well as have perks of their positions, plus I need it that way for the story lol.

Thank you to all those who kudos and commented I'm so glad many of you enjoyed JFM being slapped in the last chapter😂

“It hurts!” Sob

“So much darkness!” Sob

“Time flows back, but still, I burn cold instead of warm!” Sob

“Why? I’m supposed to protect, to cleanse so why? Why do I have to carry their sins, their taint?! They killed, they brutalised, maimed, tortured, murdered!” words screamed out within the dark void that once held light. Light that was cocooned within a crackling purple energy born and enhanced by a mother’s wish. The desire to protect and serve lost. All that remains for her is darkness and despair.

Energy was being pulled.

 

Again, she was unleashed with screams, more of her soul consumed.

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“Fengmian what is the meaning of this!” Yu Ziyuan screamed Zidian sparked to life scorching the training ground floor around her. Turning he ushered the young disciples away whilst his wife just glared at him.

“San-niang I wasn’t expecting you, I...”

“I’m leader here too Fengmian why shouldn’t I be here!” she yelled interrupting him.

He took a calming breath before answering. “I thought you were with the children have they returned from Meishan also?” he asked hopeful for the distraction.

“How dare you ignore my question!” she hissed Zidian had returned but crackled always reflecting her anger.

He bit back his annoyance. “I didn’t, you never stated what this is!” he pointed out.

“Don’t you dare turn this back on me Fengmian. How dare you let that servant waltz in here and steal from us!” Zidian was unleashed again the light drew Fengmian’s eyes as he followed its destruction. He inwardly groaned as he noticed many of the Elder’s now watched the spectacle before them.

“You will retrieve what is stolen or I will.” she hissed not caring about their audience.

“That is enough Yu Ziyuan!” Elder Lanyi was stood at the front of the Elder’s he looked furious but when he turned his eyes on Fengmian, Fengmian tried not to squirm he often wondered why was it that the Elder’s especially Lanyi had a way of reminding him even without words on how unhappy they were with the current state of the sect. “Wei Changze has stolen nothing. He retrieved his property that is all, you will not slander a child of Jiang!” he barked out.

“How dare you he is not a Jiang!” She all but screamed as if saying so would make it so. (In the timeline since lost that would be exactly what happened.)

“Don’t be ridiculous you know for a fact he is your uncle-in-law you have seen the registry you do yourself no favours denying who he is!” another Elder pointed out.
(In the last lifetime it would be a Jiang Fengmian that had altered the registry to shackle a vulnerable, trusting orphan with debts a child should never have been burdened with.)

Fengmian watched in fascination as his wife’s face purpled, the moment was short lived as she turned and sneered at the Elders but for the moment held her tongue.

Yu Ziyuan was struggling her contact had disappeared. Her maids where badly injured and hidden in Meishan; her family believed they had been hurt in a night hunt. Then news came to her that Wei Changze was alive and had emptied his vault. There had been hints that there was a large wealth inside and she had never been able to get to it, she hated anything that should be hers being taken from her.

Jiang Fengmian was struggling with his own annoyance, but he didn’t want to antagonize his wife more. He had plans, he wanted to bring Wei Changze back, he wanted his skills and the skills his son most likely would have in the future, but he needed his wife to let go of her anger... he almost snorted at his own thought when had his wife ever let go this caused him to sigh.

Yu Ziyuan turned on him. The sigh made her skin crawl. “What still lusting after that whore that you would go against me!” she screamed Zidian burned its way through more of the surrounding area. Her voice cutting through the watcher’s all having different reactions to her words. Most watched her furious they knew her words would be heard, and more whispers and anger would pass through the common people, merchants and traders many who still had fond memories of the rogue couple. They shook their heads not thinking it could get worse.

“Cangse Sanren is dead San-niang.” Jiang Fengmian spoke quietly he was tired of being accused of lusting after Cangse even if he had cared about her, wanted her, she was out of his reach the moment she had laid eyes on Changze and he knew it.

A flash of satisfaction crossed her face before her lip curled in her usual sneer. “Good Riddance!” she spat out.

“How dare you, you disrespect the dead! She was a student of the only known Earth bound Immortal Baoshen Sanren!” Elder Lanyi was incensed his fury palatable around him, his anger was mirrored by many of the Elders behind him.

She snorted. “So, it didn’t do her any good. She dead just proving she was all talk!” she scoffed her contempt marring her features.

“She had her own prestige from her master. She had skills, knowledge, and presence that could have benefitted Yunmeng Jiang but you chased her away. You chased away her husband a direct descendant of the Jiang main bloodline with her. And here you are screaming, disrespecting your husband and the dead. Have you no shame!” he all but growled baiting her whilst defending his family.

“How dare you!” she screamed lost in her fury she took the bait. “What gives you the right, I am one of the leader of Lotus Pier!”

“San-niang no!” Jiang Fengmian yelled, but too late. She had unleashed Zidian aiming for the Elders.

Elder Lanyi lifted his clarity bell. A lotus shaped barrier appeared, and a peal of a bell rang through the pier the power behind the note drove the more vulnerable and weaker cultivators briefly to their knees. Zidian reverted to her ring form, sealed for now though temporary Elder Lanyi hoped it would allow Zidian to heal if even just a little. The fact that he had been able to briefly seal Zidian just proved to him she was reaching her limit. The energy that had brought some to their knees had actually come from Zidian reacting to his lotus barrier, an ability that few knew how to do however since he and a few of the other Elder’s where the ones that maintained the barrier that protected Lotus Pier he had learnt with help from Wei Changze how to create a small Lotus barrier, the sigil carved into the metal activates automatically on sensing killing intent.

“You dare try to strike us the Elders Jiang Furen! You better punish her Fengmian or there will be consequences!” Another of the Elder furious words cut through the stunned silence.

“I’m Madam Yu,” Yu Ziyuan ground her teeth her words made her husband all but facepalm she just couldn’t help herself. Suddenly there was a shift in her posture as a realisation struck her. “What have you done to my Zidian!” she had tried to call out Zidian, but it had been silent, and she felt vulnerable, she heavily relied on Zidian and now, nothing.

“Your Zidian! You whose spiritual signature once burned the colour of fuchsia still think you understand why it now burns violet. How can you not understand whose power vibrates through your meridians!”

She scoffed hiding her insecurities behind her usual disdain. “None of you were strong enough to tame the Zidian, you are weaker than I obviously!”

Elder Lanyi scoffed at her in return. “Zidian responded to a command, to a mother, poor Zidian. You would do well to stop treating Zidian as nothing but a tool. This is the last warning you will get about her. Zidian sleeps now, she will not respond to you for the next month, reflect on your behaviour in seclusion over that time.” As an Elder there wasn’t many times they could intervene or overrule the leader’s decisions but there are a few exceptions, including a threat to those that made up the hierarchy of the sect, especially those of clan blood, the very rule Elder Lanyi was now going to take advantage of.

“You think you can punish me!” she shrieked but her posturing trailed off as still Zidian slept.

Jiang Fengmian had watched the scene before him both frustrated and angered but as usual he kept silent, it didn't serve him to antagonize his wife further. He was glad that it wasn’t his words that would have to be the one to hand down punishment to his wife for the sect rules she had broken however, he was able to enforce it after the Elder’s had cleared the path for him to do so. Before he could speak up he suddenly realised his wife’s shadows where missing he was pulled out of his musing by Elder Lanyi’s next words.

“I’m done.” there was a tiredness behind his statement. “I Elder Jiang Lanyi descendant of the branch family of the Jiang founder Jiang Chi announce my retirement from the council of Elders and from clan work. I retain my rights as a Jiang to my lands, lakes and pavilions as awarded for my service to the clan over the decades of service. My wife and daughter will also leave with me. I rescind the rights to the lotus lakes I own so they can be used to support me and my family as to not impact on the sect,” he paused watching the horrified expression on Jiang Fengmian’s face his last words all but a joke as he knew it would take clever trades to make back the money from losing the lotus lakes his family owned. “All above concessions are allowed as I will no longer receive a monthly stipend from the clan, however I also am allowed to empty my personal vault.”

Jiang Fengmian felt wrung out to lose another vault, one that could be called into use for emergencies if the clan struggled as per the elder agreement for sect prosperity. However, when an Elder retires, they are allowed to empty their funds, and it cannot be called back into use.

Four Elders step forward, one was Jiang Lanyi’s younger brother. The youngest of the Elder’s his eyes a beautiful plum colour where damp with tears. He reached for him to comfort him.

“Are you sure?” Elder Chao asked, his brother nodded a soft smile on his face.

“Very well.” with a nod to the other four Elders that stood forward. “We the Elder’s agree to your retirement and wish you success, so passed by the minimum amount of us the council of Elders of Yunmeng Jiang.”

“Fengmian you can’t let them do this!” he turned to his wife angered she had no Zidian to use on him and even she wasn’t foolish enough to draw her sword on him a fact that emboldened him.

“That’s enough San-niang,” he called for some of his senior disciples. “Show my lady to her pavilion where she will remain for the next month.” He marched towards his wife, his bearing threatening. Her eyes widened in surprise at this and without Zidian she kept her silence for once. In time her usually timid husband would fold to her wishes he always had and always will, with that thought in mind her nose up in the air she spun and marched away.

Jiang Fengmian sighed as he watched his proud wife march away followed by the two disciples, who scrambled to catch up to with her sudden decision to do as she was told. Fengmian turned back to the council in a hopes of soothing their ruffled feathers but one look at their united front stilled his words, With a sigh he gave them a small bow and made his way towards his office, he needed to do damage control and he knew without a doubt that this whole affair would be spoken about across the pier and markets before the end of the day. What hurt more was he felt played, and he was losing Jiang Lanyi’s daughter and wife's skills also but what could he do they had a duty to Jiang Lanyi as his spouse and child.

Sitting down at his desk Jiang Fengmian contemplated his next move. It was not possible to bring Wei Changze back now but when the waters settle, he would find away. Little did he know but others had already taken measures to keep him from getting his claws into the Wei family.

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Elder Lanyi smiled as he emptied his vault then left to meet his family at the gates. Disciples, servants and merchants that he passed bowed and expressed different well wishes or regrets on seeing him leave he just smiled and returned their greetings. His family waiting for him at the gates smiled at his approached and wordlessly took the qiankun bags containing their wealth he handed some to them to carry. Jiang Lanyi paused as they reached a sampan they could use to get home, after all they were in no rush, and they could enjoy their time on the water.

“Regrets my love?” his wife asked.

“No. I will always be Jiang and will help Yunmeng but the Yunmeng Jiang of the past is dying in their hands I do not wish to see it as it slowly crumbles with them at the helm.”

“What of shushu?” his daughter asked her green silk veil embroidered with the nine-petal lotus covered her lower face was a showcase to her skill. The lotus was so well done that you almost felt like you could pluck it from its silk binds.

“He will be fine and it's not like we are far from him and his family.” she nodded and went back to getting settled for the journey home. She snuggled into her mother’s side as she sat down.

As lotus Pier faded in the background Jiang Lanyi pondered what would happen when the Madam’s confinement ended. Knowing her he knew it would probably add more loss of face for the Jiang, though she would never admit that she could ever be wrong when it came to running lotus pier.

 

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Elder Lanyi's thoughts came true. And another incident where Yu Ziyuan would lose Jiang face, and another town would know her as nothing more than a shrieking Yao. On being released after only two weeks. Madam Yu’s anger would begin to fester as bad as when her (in her mind) rival was alive. Upon trying to enter Yiling she was stopped by both guards and a barrier they were tucked behind at the time. It was a basic barrier with added protections to make it so one couldn't fly over it, but without Zidian Yu Ziyuan was unable to break it and by the time she would get over her embarrassment the next time she tried the barrier it stopped her permanently from ever being able to get close to the Wei Sect just another point for her to be angry about.

Yu Ziyuan felt there was only one course left to her. She would prove her sect and her A-Cheng where better than all the others. After all he is the son of the violet spider and she was trained the Yu way, her way would make Jiang stronger then ever.

From that day forward storm clouds would be a constant of Lotus Pier, the sounds of arguments and burning ozone a reminder of who ran the Yunmeng Jiang sect.

Notes:

Father's younger brother: 叔叔 shúshu

Not going to lie I struggled a little with this chapter in the end. Since Yu Ziyuan isn’t quite stewed enough in her anger as she would be years later on the timeline it made it more difficult to decide how defiant she would be at this point. I also tried not to give too much, away after all it's still early in the story, sadly I think I might have failed oh well onwards with the plot.

Next chapter covers when Changze left lotus pier and will answer many questions, about the vault, who he had also sent letters to whilst he had travelled to Dafan and his plans for the future. Forgive me little Nie your chapter has been pushed back again but worry not we will soon visit in with our favourite schemer.

I have tried to research to the best of my knowledge about ancient Chinese culture especially more about servants position within society, how wards within family dynamic work as well as information on Xianxia stories and there is a lot of variations, so I apologize for any inaccuracies. Please let me know, if I make any mistakes especially if they cause offense. Thank you.

Chapter 11: From Lotus Pier To Yiling

Summary:

Wei Changze dives into his own memories of his past death.

Notes:

Bold and italic sections are Changze’s memories

Additional tags:

Cangse Sanren critical. Not bashing as much as a husband angry at himself and his wife's actions

A bunch of internal swearing 😉

After leaving Lotus Pier and sending some massages he made his way to the docks and hired a sampan from a grumpy old man that made him smirk which only seemed to make the man even more annoyed. Settling down in the small cabin he placed silence talisman around him then closed his eyes and allowed his own memories and not his sons to surface. 

 

“A-Se, what about Ying-er?” he asked concerned.  

 

“He’ll be fine we’ll leave money, and he has toys and books to keep him entertained. The innkeeper said it was an easy hunt a simple haunting.” her silver eyes pleading he sighed.  

 

“Fine but if there’s even a hint that it's not what it seems we must come back and inform either the sects,” she pulled a face, “Or call in some help from our rogue friends.” he stared her down when she made to protest.   

 

“Okay,” she reached down to Ying-er who smiled up at them. “We’ll be back soon little one wait for us.” she kissed his cheeks making him giggle. “I'll go sort it with the Innkeeper.” she grabbed some money from their packs and left.  

 

He reached down squeezing his son a heavy feeling in his chest. Since they had reached Yiling he had felt like he was being watched and he didn’t like it. He had convinced Cangse to come here because he wanted to look into returning to his mother’s home. It would mean him having to retrieve the sect token from Lotus Pier but the main housing from the old Yiling Wei sect was inside part of the Burial Grounds wards. Extra wards had been placed around it and a vault carved into the inky black craggy mountains.   

 

He came out of his memories are tears filled his eyes. If only his son had known of the estate within the wards, how different he and the Wen remnants could have lived, close to town but safe in many wards where there were grounds for a small plot to grow food where no bodies were at risk of being dug up. He leaned back closing his eyes his ancestors had purged that plot of land whilst wrapping themselves in the wards, but they were mainly hunter’s and rogue cultivators, and many didn’t want to stay where they had to fight the resentment from the accursed lands. 

 

They moved closer to the forest away from Yiling towards the Burial Mounds. There was something wrong and even his wife had noticed, she turned to him confused.  

 

“There are no tracks, no signs of recent... do you think whatever it was ended up being swallowed by Luanzang gang.” a trickle of cold made him shiver he looked around as the hair on his nape was all the warning he got before dozens of fierce corpses rushed them. Falling into battle mode and sensing his wife close they fought. When the numbers began to dwindle, he sensed too late two female cultivators rushing to his side, he spun blocking their attacks, but he was tired and their coordination was impeccable, he gasped as a dagger dug into his side. He felt his eyes widen.  

 

“You two!” he growled it was Yu Ziyuan’s maids. He sneered, of course it was that bitch! He managed to counterattack and injured them as he burned through some of his life force to summon his own purple lightning qi. Moving to deliver killing blows a scream and a grunt of pain as he felt his wife’s qi disappear stayed his hand.  

 

His body shuddered at the memories but still he kept sorting through them. 

 

He spun and watched in horror as his wife collapsed and stood above her was Zhao Zhuliu, Yu Ziyuan’s past love interest. Leaving the heavily injured maids and using the last of his energy he grabbed his wife and tried to get away, but it was too late he screamed as his core was melted, he fell to his knees exhausted his injuries no longer had a source of healing. He reached for his wife knowing he was too late he had felt the last of her qi and her breathing had stopped not long after she had collapsed, he felt for a pulse, nothing, all gone, he bit back his scream of pain...  

 

Grabbing at his chest he gasped taking steadying breaths and calming his core as his energy flared and purple lightning illuminated the cabin, his senses assaulted with the pain of his wife’s death and the ghost feeling of losing his dantian made him shudder, how had his son lived with it? With the pain of the ghost feeling for so long warmth turned cold, gasping he struggled to pull his mind away from the feeling he was alive, Ying-er was alive and he would make a place for him to grow and be protected. It took almost an hour to really calm himself and block his son’s memories which clawed to the forefront again and again. Steadying himself he returned to his memories. 

 

“Zhao Zhuliu!” he bit out his name like a curse.  

 

“It’s Wen Zhuliu now.” he replied, he spat at the man in response he knew then why he was there and why he had worked with the maids of that woman. Unable to move as the man reached down and detached his blood-soaked clarity bell and his wife’s blood jade pendant he thought of Ying-er and wept his physical pain was nothing to the realization that his little sunshine boy was going to be alone. He would not let the monster before him know about his child. He didn’t want him to be a prize for Wen fucking Ruohan. The man had wanted to bring Cangse into the fold and she had refused he started laughing as he spat up blood. Wen Zhuliu looked down at him confused which just made him laugh harder, Wen Ruohan had no idea that Cangse was Baoshan’s birth child, he had no idea that the pendant wasn’t the source of the power he sought but his beloved wife. She was the power needed to break the barrier of Baoshan’s celestial mountain as to his clarity bell, he could guess what the man would be after. His vault that he thought held the key to his ancestors' warded home and the vault carved into the mountains of the burial grounds that hid much of his family's knowledge of the ghost path and demonic cultivation few knew there was a difference, but his family had known.  

 

He felt his lungs as they struggled to inflate. His vision swam. He felt himself being picked up. He was losing consciousness when energy flared and with horrifying clarity, he realised his fate and the fate of his soul. He was going to be cast into the fucking burial grounds and become another resentful soul, so be it he grinned at the man who threw him through the barrier. His wife’s body fell beside him, his wife’s spirit flared and was consumed by her rage she howled against her fate. Resentment consumed him but there was no release for his soul he was suspended in time.    

 

Time passed he had no idea how much time when his energy flared. His spirit filled with energy he was able to drown out the louder spirits and reached for the falling body of his son. He screamed as his soul touched his son’s memories, his pain and his sacrifices and he burned with hatred. Spirits filled his child coreless broken body putting his broken bones back together but not being able to heal them. He didn’t know if it was his agony or his precious child as time passed, as he was watched him filled inside and out with the dead his mind breaking a little more with having to eat the dead to survive vengeance was all that burned though him. He felt his wife’s spirit twisted in her own vengeance latch onto their boy waiting for her own revenge. His own vengeance filled him as he waited what was left of his soul left with his son as he walked from the Burial Mounds a spirit of Vengeance.  

 

Once released from the barriers that had kept him chained, he reached out through the spirits using his son as an anchor he made his way to Lotus Pier where the dead lingered. There was satisfaction as he learned of the death of the bitch that had stolen his family, their future an hurt his son all because she was jealous, so much jealousy burned through the woman like her own poison she spread to her family. He was saddened that so many had been sacrificed for her pride. Inviting the enemy in, punishing his boy and then throwing away her disciples oh he burned he wished her soul was there for him to destroy. He made his way down to the vaults and grinned his vault was empty he touched on the energy and that remained listening to the whispers of the dead. The vault had been cleaned out and sent to Wen Ruohan. Returning to his son’s side he watched as the war raged around his boy. His spirit tried to shield him from the worst of the spirits that screamed but he was weakening, and he slept.  

 

Returning through the barrier of the Burial Mounds awoke him again and he was once again chained to the mountain and weakened he could do little but watch as one year turned to two them, they came, and he screamed his soul shattering as his son died then nothing....  

 

Choking on his screams he came too.   Darkness was giving way to the sunrise many hours had passed since he had returned to his memories there was a weary look on the boatman's face as he exited the cabin. He bowed in apology and gave the man more money which seemed to settle him, with sudden clarity he realised the silence talisman’s he had put on the cabin had probably expired whilst he was under. 

 

He washed his face and thought of his next plans he tried not to think of his wife, he loved her, but he had ended up being more like Fengmian then he would like to admit. He had wanted to settle down when they had been blessed with Ying-er, but his wife was forever a wonderer determined to help others without the restriction of politics and sects and believed they would be safe. They had been foolish their own arrogance believing that if they avoided dangerous night hunts on their own, they would always be able to return to their boy, they had been so wrong, and their son had paid for their folly.  

 

Midday was approaching as he jumped from the sampan at the dock of Yiling with the last of the payment to the boatman he started to walk to the town’s gates but pulled up short. Two men waited for him and with horrifying clarity he realised that the timeline he was on was not the same as the one he had experienced before, he wanted to laugh of course they had not just rewound time they had been put onto the closest timeline possible to change the fate of the dying cultivation world. He wanted to weep as the young man in white and the young man in black bowed to him his body shaking, he returned the bow. What he knew of the future was all but ashes, of course it would be! Circumstances had already changed, people that would have died now lived, those that should be older could be younger, those that should be younger now could be older, why did he think that things would not have changed?

 

With determination he walked towards them, he needed to work fast, information, money and power would be key to keep his family alive. Every step forward was on step closer to protecting her son and those he called family.

Notes:

So next time the children will be stealing back their story starting with little Nie Huaisang.

Chapter 12: A little bird and the cage of his family's fate

Summary:

A nightmare

Notes:

A plot point on character appearance and why those with memories from their past life hadn’t realized things were different. Well, the ones that sent them back changed their memories to fit where they had been sent (thank you multi verse cliques you make such fantastic loopholes for all of us)

Though their first life followed The Untamed (I’m a sucker for the handfasting) this timeline their appearance is more of their official artwork but feel free to imagine them in which ever version you prefer.

ֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐

Reminder: Huaisang birth name for this story is Niao (鸟) – Bird
Huaisang will be used when in his memories.
Memories are in bold
Tags: A little Nie Mingjue critical. Nightmares
ֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐

Cries tore through his throat as he burned; one moment hot then bone freezing cold.  

 

It hurts, Da-ge it hurts! He screamed was the sound real or an echo from his death. 

 
Darkness tugged at him. Wrapped him within her cold embrace but it was not a comfort from the burning. It stifled, suffocated, constricted, burned like ice on wet skin.  

 

He tossed and turned as the screams, and the nightmares continued to grip him. His past death mocked him.  
 
Snippets of memories filtered through the dark as he ran. 

 

Voices pulling him closer to the surface only to find himself pulled back by invisible hands, away from safety. 

 
The scenes before him appearing as if within a dark fog where light briefly illuminates the figures within. But still it was light in the darkness drawing him in, even knowing that the memories could be painful, he didn't care it was light, he wanted a moment a brief break from darkness's embrace.  

 

How did his brother do it, hold it back! It was too much it was cold, and it hurt! 

 

 He ran closer to the haze.  
 
"What do you mean they haven't left the inn?" He sighed he should have seen that coming time to change tack. 
 
"Fine I'll be the fish that bites the bait the poor fisherman dangles." Leaving his men he headed towards where his men last told him of Su She's whereabouts, "time to get caught." He was tired. The game had been long and the fear of living had taken a toll. 
 
The image fades and again he feels the cold within his bones. A cry from a wounded beast all but turns him to stone. Sweat trickled down his back leaving him colder, or was it the darkness? He wanted to wake, to be free, free of resentment away from the voices mocking his steps. 
 
Voices surround him, a feeling of a cold floor below him and the heavy weight of his brother's hidden sabre.  

 

Was it Baxia he had heard in the darkness, was it his brother's beast that made his spine tingle and his organs feel like they had turned to liquid? He listened he knew where his dream had led him. 
 
"You know I am right. Your Didi has been poisoned against you." Urgh he even sounded like a snake he continued to listen. Movement made him still. 
 
"A-Yao I... They say there is evidence and we're here now and you won't tell me why?" Lan Xichen's tone pleading. 
 
Why? He wanted to scream this was supposed to have been his brother's friend? Lover? And yet here he was asking for answers weakening himself for the snake. Every word that passed he listened to Xichen being convinced, driven into madness, by the one he held above all others. Wanting reason within the twisted snake's schemes. Promises that he meant no harm, that Xichen was the only one who understood him. 
 
He felt hands reached for him. He needed to be still. It was too soon if they discovered he was listening, if he was awake. 

 

Fear crested over him like waves on the shore as hands grabbed him. 
 

 
"Wake up!"  

 

He gasped a small scream filling the air. Focusing he bit back a curse, his brother was holding him, his face pale and worry creasing his brow, he looked so young. He sighed he was young far too young for what came next in their past. In their past almost a year  in less than a year their father had suffered slowly descending into madness after his blade had shattered before he almost killed them when the qi deviated. He shivered at the memory trying to hold back the fear. 
 
"Didi are you awake now?" He focused on his da-ge he was pale, weary looking he must have been trying to wake him for some time. 
 
"No," he tried to reply but his throat was hoarse, he must have been screaming for a while. 
 
"Is that so. I guess I'll go back to my room then." Nie Mingjue moved but Niao grabbed him, he knew his brother was trying to ease the tension.  
 
"Don't leave me please." He whispered his tears coursing down his cheeks. He may have all his past life memories, but he was in a child's body and with it came a child's state of emotion and he was tired, so tired, but afraid to fall asleep again. 
 
"Shush, your save. I'll always protect you." His brother tried to soothe, but he tensed at his brother's words. They were a lie. His whole family and clan lied one way or another. 
 
His brother. His brother the so-called righteous leader had killed his friend for the path he took, and he had killed innocents whilst he also cultivated the same evil, the same no, he bit his tongue. Stilling in his brother’s arms. 

 

Wei Wuxian had been different. When he had been resurrected even with the little core, he had been able to use resentful energy without damaging his soul. No, the damage had been done by them. The clans, the greed, the power. Even he knew he had used his friend he had wanted revenge at any cost and had hoped at least his friend might have found happiness with Lan Wangji if all else failed.  

 

But no!  

 

The play had moved to fast; his friend had finally figured out who he loved and like always with his two idiot friends they figured it out at the worst time!  

Anger briefly flashed through him coiling in his stomach. He was surrounded by idiots! Why did he have to love them? He inwardly sighed as he thought of them. His stoic friend Lan Wangji who always refused to admit they were friends, but he knew better. Wei Wuxian who always saw him and didn't care about his martial skills, he was who he was, and his friend accepted that. 

 

His brother though. He started weakly hitting his brother in the chest as his thoughts spiralled. His brother, this protective, living, frustrating hypocritical ass of a brother. So many emotions threatened to overwhelm him as he continued to weakly hit him. His brother just rubbed his back making soothing noises this just made his tears fall faster. He wanted to swear, to throw things.  

 

If it hadn't been for intervention and being cast back through time, he would be dead. As well as the last of those he had cared for all lost! Bleeding and dying he had been consumed by Baxia. The moment she had sensed his intent she wanted death his and his prey. Madness left to roam in the dark, the never-ending cycle of resentment, his, his brother’s, those lost to Baxia.  
 
Shuddering he stayed in his brother's arms. Trying to hide his anger at the one that held him. Reminding himself of all he done to revenge him. This time he would save him even if his brother didn't know. He wouldn't allow his brother to be the hypocrite he was in his last life no he would pull his clan free of the dark even if it meant that would be where he would hide his true self. He was no fool despite playing it. If the persona saved his clan, then so be it. 
 
"Da-ge. Baba almost died." His voice was small. His brother tensed. "He's going to leave us." He looked up. His brother's expression was shattered. 

 

He knew his father may have been saved from death by Wen Rouhan’s but it was still just delaying the inevitable but at least he had already made it harder for his brother to fall into his hate. His irrational hate of a whole clan! Of innocent families, weak people who couldn't defend themselves from the cultivation world that they had no control over. He wept and hid his face in his brother's broad chest. The steady heartbeat under his ear a reminder of what could be lost if he fails. 
 
"Sleep" He felt a small amount of qi and a comforting warmth embraced him as darkness once again pulled him under. 
 
 

ֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ 
 

 

Over the last six months Niao had found himself often gripped by sickness just like his first life he was seen as a sickly child. For him though it was worse this time round. The moments of sickness allowed the memories to plague him. 
 
Sighing he sat in his mother's garden. He missed his birds. 
 
"Niao-er," he jumped and turned to stare up at his father.  

 

Dark bags under his eyes were the only indicator of the toll he was also suffering from. He made to stand and greet his father, but his father just scooped him up and sat him in his lap. "What troubles you? Your brother says you are still suffering from nightmares." 
 
He inwardly swore. Not like he could lie and hide it when he wakes screaming like his ass was on fire! 

"Its..." He bit his lip. "You're dying." He whispered, yeah now there a great excuse. His father flinched at his words. "Everyone in our family dies." Ah being a child allows for such pouty candour. 
 
He could practically hear his father trying to sort his thoughts. An adult would assume he was scared, having lost his mother and almost losing his father and they had already buried two cousins who had qi deviated already his father would try and distract, unable to admit it to his frail child, yep he knew how adults thought about children and their need to protect. It was how he got away with so much in his first life. 

 

“Even if something happens to me your brother will always protect you. You know that right.” He looked up at him, he made himself pout added some tears and watched as devastation flickered across his a-die's, the man was scrambling but he was going in for the kill. 

 

“He shouldn’t have to.” allowing himself to cry he twisted the knife within his father’s heart, whilst his father’s large hand rubbed his back, he bit back his amused thought as he wondered if his poor back could survive all the attention.  

 

There was a long pause after all what could his father say. It was simple truth their clan harnessed resentful beast energy, but he suspected that whatever measures they had used they had done it wrong and there was only one he knew who could change that, but he doesn’t have his memories! His internal frustrated screams made him tense and this seemed to spur his father to talk. 

 

“Hey, how would you like to hear about the gossip from the outside, don’t think I don’t know you like to hear all that is going on.” There was a teasing light in his dark green eyes a colour that Niao knew was more to do with whatever poor beast made the core of his father’s blade. It amazed him that Mingjue was almost a replica of their father except there father was broader, ever slightly taller than his brother had been when he was fully grown his tired looking father also now had traces of silver through his braids. 

 

He narrowed his eyes but plastered a pout on his face. His expression made his father laugh and he waited. The Jin’s were being their usual arrogant selves. There was some disagreement within the Jiang and one of the Elder’s had retired, now that was different and the timing interesting. Gusu Lan’s Qingheng-jun had left seclusion and Lan Qiren was rumoured to have taken some time to rest and entered seclusion. Now that tickled him. So, the old man had left hiding and shoved his pedantic critical brother into seclusion. He wondered how long it would be before there would be rumours of a major shake-up of Gusu Lan’s elders those old goats held too much power, and Lan Xichen had been to brow beaten to stand up for himself. He bit back a growl as the anger flashed through him again, he knew his faults he had fallen for the snake’s lies and smiles to but Lan Xichen! When it had come to Meng Yao he had given him a free pass to everything whilst believing his brother blinded by love when he was the one blinded, shame it cost him most of his brother’s trust and love, perhaps this time round he would do better, but would Wangji let him get that close after he had once again been the cause of Wangji loosing Wuxian. 

 

“Yiling Wei,” he brought his thoughts back his ears twitching at his father’s words. He had no idea how much he had missed whilst being lost in his thoughts it obviously hadn’t been that important since his brain had picked up news about Wei. 

 

“Yiling Wei?” his father chuckled he had obviously been aware he had been distracted. 

 

“Yes, my little bird Yiling Wei. They were an unaffiliated minor sect some decades past but their position near the burial grounds made it hard for them to keep members. They mostly helped rogue cultivators. Their ancestors used to be hunters. The current leader is Wei Changze. His wife, an amazing cultivator she was a disciple of Baoshan Sanren, sadly she passed on a night hunt. There is not much news about it just that the hunt had gone wrong.” He noticed a tightening in his father’s eyes he knew more but wasn’t saying no matter he would eventually find out. 

 

“So, he went home?” he made the question simpler than he wanted to ask being a child was hard.  

 

A chuckle rumbled through his father chest making him vibrate he giggled despite himself; it was strange to be able to be here. Held by his father. 

 

“He went to his father’s clan first.” 

 

“His father?” he probed. 

 

“Yep, he went back to Yunmeng Jiang, he’s the current leader's uncle.” 

 

“What!” there was no power in the universe that would have been able to hold back his surprise at that news. Fuck seriously! His internal swearing and screams made him all but want to combust. Wuxian had been Jiang’s cousin are you fucking kidding me!  

 

Laughter filled the garden. His father stood lifting with him, and he was carried to the pavilion where servants had put some refreshments. He nibbled at his treats but waited patiently for his father to continue and from the knowing glint directed at him his father knew he wanted to know more. Well shit fine he’ll take the bait. 

 

“So, he went back to Yiling and opened his old sect?” 

 

“Yep. He erected barriers to and a violet spider found itself unable to enter, it was very embarrassing for her. One of our scouts had been on his way home from a hunt and saw it such a shame.” There was so much mockery in his father’s words that he began to wonder what Yu Ziyuan had done to earn his father’s annoyance then again it wasn’t hard spend any time with her and her husband and you would end up insulted. 

 

“Do you know Wei Changze well?” he probed. 

 

“I did. We lost contact after he became a rogue cultivator. I hear he has a son perhaps in the future you and he can be friends.” his father smiled at him, and he returned a genuine smile 

 

“I hope so.” he whispered, it would be nice to see his friend again. He silently ate and enjoyed the time with his father but looking around he knew the first thing he needed to do. Get some birds. 

 

 

Chapter 13: Story Notice

Sorry this is not a new chapter

 

Story Update

 

Sorry, there hasn't been a new chapter recently. Holidays and a backlog of work took all my spare time.

 

The next few chapters are almost finished but before I post them I am going back over previous chapters to correct spelling removing the pitch lines that were added to the pinyin as I dropped the practice as the story continued now only found in notes information 

 

This chapter note will be replaced once the new chapter is uploaded which should be by the end next week

 

Again sorry for the wait and thank you to all the support and comments so far.