Cults, Curses, and a Boy

by Youmissmedarling

Summary:

Jin Ling grew up cursed, and not metaphorically. He's literally cursed! I mean, he didn't believe at first, but after he died for another time... yeah, he knew it. He's immortal. After growing up researching and hoping for answers, he decides he could find them in Gusu when his uncle sends him there to learn. He's about to find out that this whole immortality business is bigger than it seems.

Fic for a friend

WARNING I HAVE NEVER READ OR WATCHED THE SHOW OR BOOK TO THIS FANDOM. I AM BEING PROVIDED INFORMATION BY A DEAR FRIEND!!! (I might watch tho...)

Notes:

This is an old fic that I've created years ago, so I know this might be quite bad to read. I hope to expand more on it, but I make no promises!

Chapter 1: The Start of Something New

Jin Ling was a stubborn child in a good and bad way.

 

He was resilient against the worse and proud against the proudest, but he was also too proud. His righteous behavior has earned him a few slapping behind the heads, horrified looks, nasty glares, and more. Jin Ling has even gotten used to the slappings that the back of his neck has grown sensitive to any contact.

 

If he could pick the worst out of all of them that he has received it would be the curses. Not the vile words people spit out of their mouths at others but literal magical curses. Curses that could be cured with just some clarity, others that take extreme measures to be cured, and some like Jin Ling’s that are incurable.

 

In his opinion, he didn’t even deserve it.

 

It started when he turned the ripe age of eight. He was studying some words that are normally hard for other kids outside. Jin Ling was sitting in an open room that was next to the outside area where younger soon-to-be-disciples were playing. He was bored after finishing the third page, but that was only after staring at the other two very confused for an hour. Other kids had come over with the intent of belittling him on the fact that he had to study and write while they were able to be free and play. Little Jin Ling didn’t find that a fair argument. He couldn’t say no to his Jiujiu when he told him to study. Jin Ling curled his tiny fist in and tried to not lash out at the kids and ignore them instead.

 

“Look at him, having to study. I heard he can’t play with other kids because his mother never taught him to!”

 

Some of the kids snickered as Jin Ling could feel his fist crave punching the other children in the face. He remembered that the head maid had tried to tell him to withdraw from fighting other kids as she cleaned up his face from the last fight. Jin Ling knew that as a future sect leader, he would have to at least try to not get into fights and have some type of control.

 

Another kid came up to Jin Ling and tugged at the side of his hair, “Look, even his hair is crazy like his other uncle.”

 

Jin Ling pulled his head away roughly and started to grab his things. By now his face was red with anger and he knew he would have to leave now before anything got worse. Then the big bully came up. The leader of it all, Jin Chan. Before Jin Ling could leave Jin Chan grabbed his whole ponytail and yanked him to the floor, gasps of surprise came from the other boys around him.

 

One even said, “Jin Chan, we don’t go this far to hurt him…”

 

“Shut up Ding Li!” Jin Ling winced as his hair was pulled back even more, making him grip Jin Chan’s hand, “I heard your mother left you, Jin Ling. She left you to go to her brother. She must love your uncle so much more than you. I bet she died just so she wouldn’t have to go back to you!” Jin Chan had now whispered into Jin Ling’s ear menacingly.

 

Jin Ling snapped at his words and the kids screamed in surprise when Jin Ling jumped onto Jin Chan. Jin Ling had let his fists rain down on him while Jin Chan tried to block his face. One kid ran off and got Jin Chan’s mother who had yanked Jin Ling off of him.

 

“Devil child you are! Devil child! A child like you is cursed!” Jin Chan’s mother had yelled at Jin Ling while cradling her son’s head.

 

Jin Ling had felt his face darken and his eyes well up with tears. Suddenly, he felt a wave of pure coldness run through him. He looked at his hands and realized they had gone as pale as a ghost’s. Everyone looked at him in surprise, and screamed when his eyes rolled to the back of his head.

 

That was the day Jin Ling had died, and miraculously came back to life. Nobody knew how or why, but they could all assume that the devil child had done something.

 

Jiang Cheng, Jin Ling’s JiuJiu, had been the most affected by this. He had spent days in his chambers when Jin Ling died, and, for the first time in Jin Ling’s life, Jiang Cheng had spent a whole month with him when he awoke. After that his uncle had gone straight into learning and studying about what had happened. After all this time, he still doesn’t know, but Jin Ling does. He found out when he turned ten, and he had died again.

 

He had wandered off into the nearby woods after beating up Jin Chan and his colleagues, gaining a few bruises himself. He wasn’t paying attention to where he was going and he had fallen into a hole made for catching animals. He had died from breaking his neck, but the next thing he knew he had awoken up perfectly fine. The only thing that could provide him with a memory was the scar on his neck that was too small to see, but could be felt with touch. He had found out that he was cursed, and it was proven when he remembered the day Jin Chan’s mother had yelled at him. Whether she did it on purpose or not, she had cursed Jin Ling with immortality; that didn’t stop his aging. At first Jin Ling couldn’t see the down side in this, but now he was thinking about how people could take advantage of this, or how his uncle could die before him, and how horrible the scars could get. He had to keep this to himself and find a way to break it.

 

He is seventeen now and the events with Wei Wuxian coming back to life, his other uncle dying, and many more revelations having been revealed, he hadn’t been thinking much about his immortality.

 

He had minimal deaths in the past years. The only one that had happened after falling into a hole was the poison or the accidental injury from a night hunt by himself. Otherwise, he had been a healthy kid, who was still perceived as the devil child.

 

Now he was on his way to Gusu to hunt with other disciples. JiuJiu had sent him to get more education from his peers and the leaders of Gusu, as much as he hated to admit that they taught him well in the past. Jin Ling didn’t want to leave, and he had never gone to Gusu before. The disciples around him seemed to be in the same situation as they had grouped up with their own clan, and they walked without knowing what was going on.

 

Jin Ling sighed as he walked in front of everyone and on the right path.

 

Everyone was following him as though he was some leader of the group, although he was just following the map provided. And even during his time of “leadership” everyone talked about him like crazy. Jin Ling learned to show constraint, but the pure look of hatred on his face couldn’t be hidden. He was lucky that no one could see it, or they would actually believe him to be a devil child. Sadly, he wouldn’t be able to keep peace, as Jin Chan and his group had loudly talked and shared rumors. Jin Ling clenched his fist around the map and kept on (the trail to Gusu was unknown to the disciples). He couldn’t believe that his sect disciples that were allowed to come just had to include Jin Chan!

 

All Jin Ling could do was sigh and hold back.

 

They all made it to Gusu safe and sound, and Jin Ling still continued his way up the stairs while everyone else rested at the bottom. He couldn’t help but let his self adoration surface and flick his hair with pride.

 

“You talk so much about me, but you can’t even navigate or climb the stairs to Gusu!” Jin Ling had whispered to himself with a boastful and quiet voice.

 

He had made it past the rock full of rules and into the clan itself. There stood the famous Hanguang-Jun, and, surprisingly, Lan Sizhui with Lan Jingyi.

 

Jing Ling groaned to himself while Jingyi let a comment slip out, “Well, hello, mistress! You must have been so excited to come here, seeing you’re the first!”

 

Jing Ling sputtered while Hanguang-Jun just shook his head at Jingyi.

 

“Excitement would be the last thing I ever felt! I didn’t even want to come here.” Jing Ling couldn’t help but mumble the last part.

 

“Oh as if-” Jingyi had started.

 

“Stop teasing him, Jingyi.” Sizhui had said and Jingyi had ceased with an eye roll.

 

Jin Ling didn’t have the courage to say thank you to Sizhui, but he did gift him with not fighting Jingyi. He, instead, sat down on a nearby bench and waited for the other disciples quietly.

 

Jin Ling mindlessly played with his hair and started to just stare off. He thought of these moments, and how long he would have to spend with them. His mind drifted off to how there was one reason that made him want to be here. Gusu’s records and scrolls could have the answer to his curse, but getting in there was a stretch and a dangerous one at that. He needed to see though. This was his last chance after checking Lanling and Yunmeng’s libraries.

 

He was snapped out of his reverie when Sizhui came up and tapped him on the shoulder. Jin Ling looked up, surprised, but Sizhui just pointed over to the disciples who were finally up the stairs. They all straightened their backs when they came in the presence of Hanguang-Jun. Sometimes Jin Ling couldn’t help but do the same in the cold man’s presence. What made Jin Ling feel better from earlier was how Jin Chan looked a little scared of Hanguang-Jun. He couldn’t help but do a small smile at how Jin Chan stood up as straight as he could.

 

Jin Ling got up from his spot on the rock and flipped his hair.

 

The disciples stared at him in astonishment, or jealousy.

 

Jingyi and Sizhui stood next to each other and bowed politely, welcoming them, “Welcome to the Gusu sect. We hope you enjoy your stay.”

 

Hanguang-Jun just hums and starts walking into the sect. Jin Ling and the students had followed behind them, sometimes even glancing at some well made structures. He leads them to where their quarters will be, shows them the place where they will learn, and some off limit areas. Of course they pass by the library where Jin Ling needs to go, but that is for another time. They make a circle back to their quarters where they are left alone by Hanguang-Jun who tells them to stay there. Everyone immediately gathers up in their groups and starts talking.

 

Jin Ling watches as Sizhui and Jingyi come over and sit near him.

 

Jingyi goes right into riling him up while Sizhui, oddly, watches from the sidelines, “You looked so lonely, mistress. We couldn’t help but come over and cheer you up!”

 

Jin Ling rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. He had to ignore Jingyi’s comments and get more information on the library right now.

 

“Why is the library blocked off? Shouldn’t it be open to learning students?” Sizhui had sent a quick glance at Jin Ling, and Jingyi looked confused.

 

“Don’t you know the story?” Jingyi had started with, but continued with a sigh when Jin Ling shook his head, “In the beginning, those books were made by a very powerful cultivator. Those books hold valuable information that anybody would die to get their hands on. Why do you ask?”

 

Jin Ling had taken in this information with a hum and just shook his hand, waving him off, “No reason.”

 

If the books had such information in them then they must have information on immortality curses! And, besides, Jin Ling might be dying to get his hands on the book, so lucky him that he can’t die.

 

Soon enough Hanguang-Jun and his partner, Wei Wuxian, appeared in the doorway.

 

“Ah, so many new students. You all look so eager!” Wei Wuxian raised his arms in welcoming.

 

The students looked at him in awe. People were fully accepting of him, mainly the older people, but the newest generation was more inspired by him.

 

“I know, I know. You must have expected another teacher from here to teach you, but they are busy with… matters!” Hanguang-Jun and Wei Wuxian made small eye contact before he continued, “Who better than the man who went here to teach you, me! Now, for our first lesson, we will be doing a regular night hunt.”

 

The disciples looked excited to do a night hunt with the Wei Wuxian and Hanguang-Jun, but Jin Ling just couldn’t wait until he got alone time. Then he could finally look in that library. All the disciples had walked out of the room, still respectively in their grouped up clans. Jin Ling and the two Lans had walked out last, and they were joined by Wei Wuxian quickly. Jin Ling watched how Sizhui looked the smallest bit brighter to see Wei Wuxian, even smiling a bit more.

 

“A-Ling! I heard you were coming, but I couldn’t believe it! I never knew that you would willingly come to Gusu!” Wei Wuxian had said, while trying to bring him in for a hug, but Jin Ling dodged.

 

“Jiujiu said I had to. I’ll be a sect leader soon, so I need the best education.”

 

Wei Wuxian’s face darkened a bit, but it relaxed immediately, “So you really didn’t come to see me or your dear friends?”

 

He made a fake sad face. It made Jingyi snicker and Sizhui smile into his hand. Jin Ling shoved him away by his face, making him cry out and fall into Hanguang-Jun’s arms. He looked up at him lovingly, but still kept up the act of a dramatic maiden.

 

They walked in a group behind the disciples who were whispering. None of them really cared. But the occasional clench in Jin Ling’s fist was made. He almost couldn’t help himself from punching a kid who said something about how he must only be violent with normal people. The indication that his family wasn’t normal angered him, but he had to admit that they weren’t a normal family. It was when they started talking about his Jiujiu and him again that he sent them glares to the back of their head.

 

Jingyi looked surprised that Jin Ling hadn’t already started throwing his fists and yelling profanities.

 

“You seem pretty held back… don’t tell me that you grew more mature!” Jingyi had said with a feigned voice of surprise.

 

Jin Ling flicked him on his nose and crossed his arms before retorting, “I have always been mature! More mature than you at least.”

 

Jingyi rolled his own eyes and poked his shoulder, “As if! You still complain like a spoiled princess!”

 

Jin Ling never liked that. Being called spoiled. That was one aspect of him that he really just couldn’t hold back.

 

He felt his thoughts start to race, and just when Jingyi was about to ask him why he was being quiet, sudden low growls and groans were heard. Now there was definitely a group of undead somewhere around them. Everyone had pulled out their swords, but Hanguang-Jun had just grabbed Wei Wuxian by the waist and hoisted him up onto his flying sword.

 

“First test is just a warm up. I want to observe your guy’s techniques!” Wei Wuxian had to yell a bit so we heard but he seemed happy nonetheless when the Disciple’s faces turned grim.

 

“What if we get hurt?"

 

"Or what if there are savage ghosts!?” A frightened disciple from the Yunmeng sect had said, holding his sword in the respective Yunmeng way.

 

“Don’t be so frightened! Both me and Lan Zhan will be here to watch over you guys!” He had started before his voice went a little low, “Just don’t do anything stupid.”

 

The disciple shivered, but he kept his guard up as the undead came closer. At first there were just some walking ones, and they seemed to be fine with them. None had attacked. Jin Ling had an inkling that it was because they were from a village that had burned down recently. The people there were benevolent and travelers who would pass by had always been welcomed with open arms. Every sect disciple did a small bow to the passing by undead, a way of bowing your head in front of a grave as a sign of respect. Except for Jin Chan who had occasionally poked one with the hilt of his sword. They passed by fine, but the confusing part was that there were still growls. Nobody knew where they were coming from, and from how the sounds were approaching, it was terrifying the students.

 

Jingyi, Sizhui, and Jin Ling had gotten into a circle of sorts. It protected all three of them from different sides. Jingyi sent a face to Jin Ling that just said, “Told you that you were lonely” Jin Ling just rolled his eyes and turned his attention towards the trees. It was suddenly quiet. The growls stopped and the multitude of groans stopped along with it. All that could be heard was the sounds of the woods.

 

Quiet and way too quiet.

 

It was when a stick snapped that a disciple from the Nie sect rashly struck out at a bush. Soon he was bombarded with a foul stench and a large amount of demonic and resentful energy. The student fell backwards onto their arse and let out a loud scream. Everyone ran over to see what was going on, even Hanguang-Jun and Wei Wuxian came down from their place with his sword.

 

In the woods was a hanging corpse. It wasn’t any normal corpse. This corpse was growling and groaning, imitating the sounds from earlier, but it didn’t have the amount that everyone expected. It was also missing some fingers, toes, and an ear. Their clothes were too destroyed to decipher which sect they were from, so this could have been a cultivator or a random villager.

 

Wei Wuxian sighed and looked at Hanguang-Jun with a look that no one could understand.

 

He turned back to the disciples after using a bush to cover the horrible display, “What you have seen today is a daily occurrence now. We have no idea who is doing this and why. All we know is that they are using demonic energy. If you see anything like this please come to us immediately.” He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

 

Jin Ling had a feeling that there was more to this. There was something that Wei Wuxian wasn’t telling them, but nobody dared to question him.

 

Sizhui had a different idea in mind and grabbed Lan Wangji’s arm. He looked up at him with confused eyes, asking him with just his body about what was going on. Hanguang-Jun just shook his head and raised his hand, telling him that they couldn’t talk now.

 

Wei Wuxian had pulled out his flute and nodded at Hanguang-Jun while talking to us, “I would want you guys to go back to your rooms. Jingyi and Sizhui, I need you guys to bring Zewu-Jun, immediately.”

 

Everyone nodded their head and started their way up the mountain. Jin Ling followed behind them all, not entirely with the group, and slowed down with every step until he turned around and looked over to Jingyi and Sizhui who were making their way to another path.

 

Jin Ling couldn’t help but feel curious about what was going on.

 

“I wanna join.” Jin Ling said from behind them, stopping them in their tracks.

 

“Uh, what?” Jingyi had said, “Why do you want to come with us? We’re just getting Zewu-Jun.”

 

Jin Ling sighed and felt the urge to flick Jingyi’s nose again.

 

“Because I’m wondering what’s going on, of course.” Jin Ling crossed his arms and continued down the path they were going on.

 

He didn’t care if they were following or not. A hand on his arm stopped him from walking, and the person was Lan Sizhui.

 

He looked confused and spoke as such, “Please do not take this the wrong way Jin Ling, but who gave you permission?”

 

Jin Ling had to admit that nobody even allowed him to do this, and it was very odd that he would even want to get involved, “No one gave me permission, but as a future sect leader, shouldn’t I start learning about mysteries and gain more knowledge?”

 

Sizhui sighed, knowing he couldn’t stop him anyways.

 

He let go of Jin Ling’s arm and walked next to him, “You’re going in the wrong direction anyways.”

 

He let a small smile across his face, making Jin Ling turn away from the embarrassment. He forgot that he doesn’t know this place like his sect.

 

“Hey! Wait up for me!” Jingyi had called out, barrelling into them and wrapping his arms around their shoulders, “I guess we’re all back together again!”

Chapter 2: Concealing

Notes:

Sorry for this one being short and boring :(

They had walked for only a few minutes more before arriving at Zewu-Jun’s place.

 

After retelling the situation they had all hopped on their swords and showed him to the place.

 

Wei Wuxian didn’t look surprised to see Jin Ling there, and just started talking.

 

He knew that these three juniors would try to find out anyway, “Zewu-Jun, we have found another corpse.”

 

He moved the bushes to reveal the corpse again. All of them had to instinctively take a step back from the strong odor, and the amount of mixed resentful and demonic energy.

 

“We don’t know who’s doing this, or if they were using the demonic energy. We still can’t decipher what clan they are from too.” Wei Wuxian looked at the corpse with a scrunched up face.

 

It wasn’t from disgust but from a mix of emotions like anger, sadness, and confusion.

 

Lan Sizhui decided to step up in the moment and take a closer look at the still flailing corpse. Hanguang-Jun looked a bit worried and stepped closer just in case. Sizhui did a circle around the corpse before stopping behind it and looking worried. He peeled off a bloody talisman.

 

“I believe that this might be something for you to recognize, baba.”

 

Wei Wuxian had physically softened at hearing his name from Sizhui’s mouth and taken the talisman for further inspection. His eyes widened and he laughed a little bit.

 

“This is my own talisman. It is the exact one I used on… the mistress of Wen Chao.”

 

a silence had fallen over them. Both of the jades had closed their eyes tightly. Everyone had bad memories of that man, and rightfully so. Jin Ling just stood still, head low. He didn’t even know what to say. As much as he didn’t have such a connection to the man as the others did, he still knew how much pain he had caused to his family.

 

Wei Wuxian had shook his head to get everyone out of it, “I have only made a few of these, and I have never taught such a talisman to anyone. If they are using the copies of my talisman, and not making their own, I can assume that they aren’t that powerful of a demonic cultivator. There’s a good chance that it’s a group that is doing this, and they need my talismans to complete their plan.”

 

As Wei Wuxian was talking, Jin Ling had turned his head around to face a bush. There wasn’t any sound from it, but it was as though there were eyes on him. He stared good and long. If there was a person or animal behind it, they didn’t have enough bravery to move from their position, and they hoped Jin Ling would move on. Jin Ling unsheathed Suiha and struck out at the bush.

 

On the other side was an insane looking man who shot out a talisman at him. Jin Ling was lucky enough to move, but not lucky enough to dodge the pounce the man had did. He landed right on top of Jin Ling and grabbed him by his hair. He started whispering words into his ear, spitting on him. Everyone had pulled the man off of him, and Hanguang-Jun had delivered one blow to his neck before the man passed out.

 

Sizhui walked over and grabbed Jin Ling’s arm to help him up, but Jin ling slapped his hand away. He flinched fully away from Sizhui. He could see the surprised look in everyone’s eyes. Whatever the man said, it had affected Jin Ling.

 

The words he said followed the lines of, “I want it. Give it to me. The curse. Give it. Give it to me!”

 

Jin Ling was lucky that the man seemed so dehydrated that he couldn’t speak louder than a whisper. Jin Ling did have to admit that he was in shock and that made him flinch from Sizhui’s touch.

 

“Sorry about that.” He said to Sizhui, “You just caught me off guard.” He got up on his own and held his elbow, turning to look at the man.

 

Zewu-Jun put a hand on his shoulder and turned him around, “What did that man say to you?”

 

He sounded serious, and Jin Ling almost blurted out everything right then and there. He knew he couldn’t tell them about his curse. He hadn’t even told Jiujiu.

 

“Uh… He said that he was hungry. He might have been from the village that burnt down. I heard that it was far from civilization.”

 

Jin Ling was good at making out lies. He had been lying to everyone about many things, so creating an excuse was easy. Not looking into Wei Wuxian’s peering eyes was hard.

 

Zewu-Jun nodded his head and grabbed the man’s arm, putting it around his shoulder, “We’ll continue this tomorrow. We need to help this man, and you juniors need to go back to your rooms.”

 

The three of them nodded their heads and started their way back on their swords.

 

He could feel Wei Wuxian’s gaze on the back of his head, but he didn’t turn around.

 

He forgot that if he was a good liar, Wei Wuxian was even better.

 

~

 

Getting sleep that night was rough.

 

He was worried about plenty of things. First would have to be how that man knew of his curse. He wasn’t really advertising the fact that he was cursed to never die, nor did he have an aura of some sort that stated the fact. There was a good chance that if this random man knew of his immortality, more did. The thought made him wring his hands under his blanket and bite his lip. Why did he have to be cursed? Second of things to worry about was the matter with the corpse. There was so much more to unload with this mystery, and they had already found many more. Jin Ling would have to guess that they were keeping the undead until they could find more about them. But that entire thing could not compare to the last worry. The third worry would have to be Wei Wuxian finding out. Jin Ling would never worry about him sharing the matter to the world, minus for the fact that he would share it with his beloved. He was just worried that Wei Wuxian would get caught up in this crazy man's problem. And the fear of him being required to tell his Jiujiu was a horrible emotion.

 

How would Jiujiu react?

 

Would he yell at Jin Ling for not telling him?

 

Would he feel betrayed for Jin Ling not telling him?

 

Would he… avoid him?

 

Jin Ling shivered just at the thought.

 

At that moment he knew that he wouldn’t be able to fall asleep. He got up from his mat and walked out of the dormitory. He knew that being out of the dorms was against the rules, but he didn’t care at the time. He was wearing his underclothes and a long Lan robe Sizhui had gifted to him. He was grateful because now the winds of the mountain were freezing him. These worries he was fearing would never find comfort. He knew that he couldn’t tell anyone here, and staying up doing nothing was quite boring.

 

He wasn’t bored for long when a familiar voice called out to him, “What are you doing up so late, Jin Ling?” Sizhui asked.

 

Jin Ling whipped around to face him, asking the same question, “I could ask the same of you, Sizhui.” Sizhui just gave him a look, “Fine, I couldn’t go to sleep. What about you? I would have assumed that you would go to sleep when your parents asked you.”

 

Lan Sizhui just shrugged, “I’m having the same sleeping problems.”

 

They were in a plot of grass where the rabbits would normally congregate, but it was night so they were most likely sleeping.

 

Sizhui made his way over and sat down on the grass next to him, “Let’s suffer the feeling of not being able to fall asleep together.”

 

Sizhui nodded to Jin Ling while giving him a hand to help him down. Jin Ling couldn’t help but let a small smile across his face and sit down with him. They sat in silence for a moment, just relishing in each other’s presence.

 

They stayed like that until another familiar voice, much more tired, was heard behind them, “Young Mistress, Sizhui, what are you guys doing up?” Jingyi had said, holding up the blanket he brought with him around his shoulders.

 

His eyes looked closed, but they were just barely peering out to them through his lids. He tumbled down next to them, sitting next to Sizhui and laying his head on his shoulder.

 

“We could ask the same of you.” Jin Ling had replied with.

 

He didn’t like how Jingyi ruined the silence, but he was also welcoming for the distraction from his thoughts.

 

“Young Mistress, you always require something, don’t you? I lost my personal fire.” Jingyi said as he wrapped an arm around Sizhui’s and closed his eyes.

 

Sizhui looked down at him with a sigh, “I knew that someone was on my mat.”

 

Jingyi laughed lightly, “You guys still haven’t told me why you’re awake.”

 

“Can’t sleep.”

 

“Couldn’t go to sleep.”

 

They had both said at the same time.

 

By now the dark sky was looking a little lighter. The sun was preparing to rise. Jin Ling didn’t know that they had sat in silence for that long.

 

“We should head back before they wake the others up.”

 

“Yes, you should.”

 

The trio snapped their heads to see Wei Wuxian and his husband Hanguang-Jun standing next to him.

 

Wei Wuxian had his hands on his hips and a slightly exasperated face.

 

Hanguang-Jun just looked a little worried as to why his husband and his son were up at this time.

 

“I do encourage you guys to be rowdy kids and break the rules a bit, but I don’t mean to stay up and not get sleep.” Wei Wuxian spoke, making all of them get up.

 

Sizhui had his head lowered a bit, Jingyi looked oddly proud of himself, and Jin Ling just had his usual resting face. Wei Wuxian’s eyes drifted over to Jin Ling, and Jin Ling just turned his head away and crossed his arms.

 

“Why did you lie earlier? What was the reason for doing so?” Wei Wuxian crossed his own arms and examined Jin Ling.

 

“What he said to me had nothing to do with your mystery case, so it has nothing to do with you.”

 

Jin Ling watched at how his words had slightly jabbed at Wei Wuxian, who only became more protective and intent on getting him to answer.

 

“A-Ling, I am your uncle, and I care for you. So whatever that man said to you that made you lie, is something I need to know about. Why won’t you just answer me? I do not want to force an answer out of you, but I am going to need to know.”

 

Jin Ling softened a bit as he knew Wei Wuxian just wanted the best for him. He was worried, and rightfully so.

 

Jin Ling breathed out his words, “I’ll tell you another time.”

 

Wei Wuxian’s eyes had narrowed, but not from anger, but concern and confusion, “I trust you’ll tell me before you have to go back to Lanling.”

 

The time limit was understandable, so Jin Ling accepted it. Sizhui and Jingyi looked back and forth during the conversation not knowing what was going on.

 

Hanguang-Jun put his hand on the lower back of Wei Wuxian and pulled him back, indicating they only had a few hours or so to go back to sleep.

 

Wei Wuxian just put back on his goofy, but tired, smile and cleared the air, “Head back to your quarters, and I do not want to find out you guys awoke during the night again.”

 

They all nodded their heads and started their way back. Jingyi and Sizhui had trailed behind Jin Ling, waiting to see if he would say anything. By the time they made their way back to the dorms it was clear that Jin Ling wouldn’t speak. They all laid back down on their mats and stayed quiet. When Jingyi’s snores filtered in and Sizhui’s soft breaths were heard, Jin Ling could finally go to sleep.

Notes:

What did you think? Please correct me if I'm wrong with literally anything.

Chapter 3: Fighting

Notes:

This one starts off quite exciting!

All of the disciples were awoken to Wei Wuxian pranking them by screaming for help.

 

All the disciples had rushed to put their clothes on and grab their swords, but when they made it outside and saw Wei Wuxian there, comfortably leaning against his husband’s body, everyone groaned. Of course Wei Wuxian had played his pranks to rile them up in the morning. Some looked surprised to see the Yiling Patriarch playing pranks, and Hanguang-Jun by his side with a small smile. Jin Ling and the two Lans just made eye contact with each other and shook their heads.

 

“Nice to see that you are all ready for today’s real lesson!”

 

It seems that they weren’t going to recall last night’s scene and the disciples weren’t going to actually do the “trial round”.

 

“We all know how you guys can fly on swords, have your own respective ways of fighting with your swords, but none of you use complex talismans yet.” Wei Wuxian saw the worried looks on people's faces when he spoke so he just sighed greatly, “No, you are not learning demonic cultivation. You all are just learning some basic tricks before your sect teaches you the way they do their talisman.”

 

Jin Ling and the two Lans should just sit out on this. They already know, since Jin Ling was an upcoming sect leader, and both of the Lans were taught early by Hanguang-Jun. Instead they had helped Wei Wuxian with his teachings.

 

They walked around the students and helped them draw the signs. It was actually quite peaceful because the students were listening quietly, there was only a small amount of talking, and Jin Ling was paying more attention to the plot of grass he and Sizhui sat on. That was his first time ever doing something of the sort with Sixhui, and he didn’t believe it would be the last.

 

It was when Jin Ling walked over to Jin Chan did he snap out of his peaceful reverie, “This is my first time seeing you as a teacher, Jin Ling. I never took you for the teaching type, more like rash, reckless and hasty.”

 

Jin Ling just rolled his eyes and instructed Jin Chan to follow along with what he was doing.

 

He did follow with a few comments along the way, so you can’t blame Jin Ling when he responded, “This is my first time seeing you actually listen to me, Jin Chan. Do you finally see me as a sect leader, and you as a person soon to be under my order?”

 

Jin Chan growled and stood up, pulling Jin Ling closer in by his front shirt.

 

“You really think you’re all that high and mighty because you will be the next sect leader?” Jin chan scoffed, “You could never compare to the many sect leaders before, not in any of your future lifes!”

 

Wei Wuxian looked at the commotion from afar and sighed, “Jin Ling, Jin Chan, please do not fight. It was such a pleasant moment before!” Wei Wuxian had faked whining, but they could both hear how serious he was under his words.

 

Jin Chan ungracefully let go of Jin Ling, almost making him fall to the ground.

 

Jin Ling had flattened out his clothes and intended to leave, but Jin Chan muttered words under his breath to his group of juniors, “He always needs the help of his cut-sleeve family. I would be angered that my mom saved the Yiling Patriarch.”

 

Wei Wuxian got up at those words, but he couldn’t do much when a flash of yellow clothes collided with another.

 

The disciples yelled in surprise, but soon they were chanting the name of Jin Chan and surrounded them with a circle.

 

Of course they were.

 

Jin Ling had landed on top of Jin Chan and started a barrage of fists onto his face. When Jin Chan tried to fight back Jin Ling put both his knees on his flailing arms and held him down. He was doing good with his punches, but soon a hand from the crowd pushed him off of Jin Chan, giving his opponent enough time to tumble and start throwing punches himself. He could hear Wei Wuxian telling him to stop, and he was clearly having a tough time maneuvering through the crowd of excited students. Jin Chan had landed a good punch to his face, knocking him backwards into the small crowd, but the small crowd only pushed him back into the fight. It was when Jin Ling had swept him off of his feet and let his entire body fall to the floor with a yelp that he landed back on him. Before he could land another punch arms wrapped around his arms and pulled him back. Jin Ling struggled and managed to kick Jin Chan square in the gut before he was dragged a few feet away from him.

 

“Who the fuck do you think you are? Never question my mom! Never say anything about any of my family again or I’ll break your legs!” Jin Ling had yelled at a very weak Jin Chan.

 

The anger coursing through him was all fueled into his punches when he punched Jin Chan, and it was still wanting to push whoever was holding him off and run back over to Jin Chan and beat him black and blue. Even more than he already was. Jin Ling had small injuries of his own. His nose was bleeding and he had a split lip and a bad bruise to the side of his head.

 

He managed to wriggle his way out of the person’s hold, and when he turned around he saw Hanguang-Jun and Lan Sizhui.

 

Sizhui looked disappointed, but also worried. Jin Ling saw his hand go towards the bruise on his head, but Jin Ling slapped his hand away.

 

He couldn’t be near Sizhui right now. He couldn’t be near anyone with this anger still inside of him. He walked past Sizhui, and Hanguang-Jun didn’t stop him. Sizhui grabbed his arm, making Jin Ling almost snap at him, but he calmed down when he saw the concerned look on his face.

 

“Come back quickly.” Sizhui said letting go of his arm, stupid Lan strength, and walked back over to the crowd.

 

Jin Ling didn’t understand what he meant, but he ignored the thought and walked down a path.

 

He crossed his arms and muttered words of anger under his breath, “Stupid Jin Chan. All he can talk about is how I am an orphan!”

 

Upon wiping his nose he got a red smear of blood, and he could feel some more coming down. Jin Ling growled and kicked a tree. He shook the birds out of it, but behind that tree was the familiar plot of land. The land from last night.

 

Jin Ling walked over and plopped himself down. He forgot that this was where the bunnies grouped together, so being surrounded by bunnies was a small comfort. He heard of how Hanguang-Jun liked the small things, and he couldn’t blame him.

 

He slowly stuck his hand out to a pure white bunny and let it sniff. It must have been in human contact before, because, upon seeing a hand, it easily nuzzled into Jin Ling’s. He scooped up the pure white bunny and used one finger to pet its head.

 

“At least you aren’t out to get me.” Jin Ling knew that the people around him weren’t out to get him, but he couldn’t really confide in them anyways.

 

He sat the bunny down in his lap and started to pet its stomach. It was open to pets anywhere, and it was satisfied with how comfortable Jin Ling’s lap was.

 

Jin Ling could feel his anger fade into nothing, and the feeling of relaxation replaced it. He knew that he needed to get treated, not as badly as Jin Chan though. Maybe that was what Sizhui meant by “Come back quickly”. Now that Jin Ling was relaxed, he knew that he would need to go back. He wanted to get up, but with how snug the bunny was he just couldn’t. Its cute, chubby face pleaded for him to stay there. Jin Ling could go for a few more minutes anyways. A few minutes had turned into an hour quickly, and, since he was sitting still, more bunnies came and sat near him. They occasionally climbed into his lap and tried to join in on the petting, making Jin Ling laugh a bit.

 

“Now that’s a sound I was waiting to hear.”

 

Jin Ling snapped his head around and saw Sizhui standing there with a soft face.

 

When he saw Jin Ling’s still untreated face he sighed, “You need to go back now. Baba is looking for you, and he’s worried. And if he’s worried then so is Pa”

 

Jin Ling nodded his head but he still turned his attention back to the bunnies. Sizhui didn’t protest and just sat next to him.

 

It was like last night, but now they had a bit of fluffy company.

 

“I had an odd feeling that you would like these little guys.” Sizhui picked up one of them and sat them down in his lap as well.

 

The one he picked up was brown, and it was rowdy at first. It was a new wild one and it started to fumble around in Sizhui’s white clothing. Once Sizhui had laid a hand on its head, stopping it from moving but not suffocating it, it seemed to freeze up. When Sizhui started a slow pet with his other hand the bunny relaxed in his hold and settled down.

 

“You’re good at that.” Jin Ling said as he watched in awe.

 

“Sometimes, instead of punishing them, you just have to show them that you’re not threatening.” Sizhui spoke with a soft tone to his voice.

 

It was almost as if he was saying it for other reasons.

 

Jin Ling nodded his head, finally ready to get up. He lightly placed the white rabbit on the ground. It looked a little sad, but it only nudged his leg before running off. Sizhui did the same, but this rabbit tried to climb up his leg, and begged for more pets. They both laughed at the round eyes it made, but they both left without it anyways.

 

They made their way back and into the infirmary, where Jingyi was waiting.

 

“I knew that he would bring you back, Young Mistress.”

 

He had already opened a kit and some bandages were already bloodied, meaning that Jin Chan had already been here. He was lucky, for Jin Ling would have smashed his fists into his face again if he saw him. He hopped onto a table and let Jingyi do his work. Sizhui must have left to go get Wei Wuxian and his following husband.

 

Jingyi had cleaned up most of the blood that had dried from his time away, and stuck up some cotton to catch more blood. He was starting to treat his split lip when Wei Wuxian came rushing in.

 

First he had given Jin Ling a hug, squeezing him tightly. He was confused as to why he was worried about him. It was just another fight with Jin Chan, so why did his eyes look a bit watery?

 

“Why do you worry so much? It was just another fight with Jin Chan.” Jin Ling had said, hissing when Jingyi had dabbed some of the alcohol cotton onto his lip.

 

Wei Wuxian just pulled back from the hug and chuckled, “These aren’t tears of worry, but from proudness. I’m happy you stood up for your mom.”

 

“You too,” Jin Ling interrupted before he could stop himself.

 

“What?” Wei Wuxian looked confused.

 

“I wasn’t just going to just let him call you that.” Jin Ling knew that he had called them cut-sleeves before, and, after further realization, he had realized how rude that was.

 

He fixed his mistake by quickly apologizing to Wei Wuxian while walking past him one day. He wasn’t left alone for one second after he said those words that day.

 

Wei Wuxian’s eyes softened and his entire face turned to one of pure love.

 

Wei Wuxian wouldn’t let himself keep that face, as he pretended to faint into his husband’s arms, “Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan! Jin Ling has changed into an entirely new man! Where did this sudden change come from?”

 

Everyone laughed, except for Hanguang-Jun who just looked happy to have Wei Wuxian in his arms, and Jin Ling whose face turned red and sputtered out rebuttals.

 

“We should get back to the disciples. They were restless when we left them.” Wei Wuxian nodded his head and waved goodbye to the three disciples.

 

Jingyi immediately started to ask questions and even slipped in a few comments about how he got Jin Chan bad. Sizhui stayed quiet and helped with the process of putting on bandages and cleaning Jin Ling up.

 

Sizhui piped up, “I think you shouldn’t go back to the dormitory. Who knows what will happen with Jin Chan there?”

 

“I can hold myself back.”

 

“I can’t.”

 

Jin Ling was shocked by his words.

 

Was he saying that he was also irritated by what Jin Chan said? Instead of fighting back he just nodded his head and got off of the chair they were treating him on.

 

“Well, where can I go then? I don’t really have another place to hide away from Jin Chan.”

 

“You can stay in Sizhui and I’s chambers. We planned to leave the dormitories soon. I was sleeping next to this Yunmeng disciple who was so adamant on trying to cuddle me in his sleep! The gull of…” Jingyi trailed off on his rant of who this disciple was and what he did.

 

Jin Ling listened a little bit, but not too much. He knew that their quarters must be closer to the library, so that would help him get in and out quicker and faster. He still didn’t know when he would enact this plan, but he needed to wait until everyone was distracted by something. He planned to wait until the tensions with the odd corpse from yesterday were brought up. Then no one would be paying close attention to any of them, and he would be able to look through the library.

 

Jin Ling smiled with the assurance of his plan working in his mind, and they started their journey to their quarters.

 

Sizhui started by saying some of the rules, “As you know, you can not be out at night for too long, do not be too loud, and no messes.”

 

Jingyi piped in with a few rules of his own, “No touching my things, do not get too close to my mat, do not litter our room with you beauty supplies Young Mistress, if your dog ever comes over make sure she doesn’t dirty the room,”

 

He was cut off by Jin Ling flicking his nose roughly and complaining back, “Fairy isn’t dirty. I bet she’s much cleaner than you are!”

 

Jingyi and Jin Ling fell into their typical arguments while Sizhui just listened between them. They made it to the dorms still arguing. Jin Ling looked around and halfway admired their neat room. Everything was organized, and it just screams Lan energy. Jingyi plopped himself onto his bed that was raised from the ground, unlike the mat he had talked about earlier.

 

Jin Ling couldn’t hide the look of surprise from his face that Jingyi laughed while acting as though he was insulted, “Do you really think we are barbarians? Of course our rooms are clean.”

 

“Because of me, Jingyi.”

 

Jin Ling’s surprised face dropped and Jingyi feigned anger, “So? I do the laundry!”

 

“For the first week we moved in together.” “Well I do the cooking!”

 

“You burn it too much so you were banned by Lan Qiren in person.”

 

“You can’t deny that I at least clean the floor.”

 

“No, you dirty it much more than you clean it.” Jin Ling found this entire interaction odd, but he just moved to sit down onto Sizhui’s bed and relaxed at the comfortable feeling.

 

“I missed a comfortable bed.” Jingyi laughed at how Jin Ling got comfortable in Sizhui’s bed. During Jingyi’s laughter, and Jin Ling’s exhaustion, he didn’t see the look Sizhui gave him as he stayed in his bed.

Notes:

I might take a small break after this. I'm getting too eager and posting too much before I've even finished writing 😅

 

But I promise that the next chapter might be longer ;)

Chapter 4: Locked Doors

Summary:

It's just a little bit longer!

Some days had passed, and the tension was thick.

 

Jin Ling and Jin Chan knew the normal routine for when one of them beats the other up. Jin Chan would sulk to his friends and avoid Jin Ling until his injuries healed, and then he would go back to teasing him. Jin Ling would have to settle on relishing in the fact that Jin Chan’s face couldn’t even scrunch in anger. What ruined this routine was that everyone was tip toeing around them, and quite literally for Jin Ling.

 

Wei Wuxian wasn’t necessarily worried for Jin Ling, but he still kept them about ten students away from each other. He even set Sizhui and Jingyi around him to “keep him calm” Wei Wuxian would say as though Jingyi doesn’t also get on Jin Ling’s nerves. And if Wei Wuxian’s antics weren’t enough, both Jingyi and Sizhui were also acting as though Jin Ling was a ticking time bomb.

 

As much as he had an attitude, and a temper that spoke volumes, he was capable of holding back to small things.

 

Jingyi stopped teasing him for the first few days before going back to poking fun at Jin Ling, and Sizhui wasn’t much better. He wasn’t acting any different, but it was like he was more attentive. He still kept up a soft smile, had an understanding attitude, and made sure that Jin Ling’s small, miniscule injuries didn’t get worse. What changed was that Sizhui wouldn’t leave him alone!

 

Jin Ling was glad that Sizhui was spoiling him, as he couldn’t lie that he loved it, but Sizhui just wouldn’t stop! He brought Jin Ling snacks, helped clean up his mat, and even helped him understand what Wei Wuxian was teaching even though Jin Ling knew all about it. What made it worse was that Jin Ling didn’t stop him, and he would begrudgingly admit that he was liking it. When Jin Ling told Sizhui of a snack that he had in Carp Tower, Sizhui immediately went to the town below the mountain and searched for it. He came back up with a replica, and it tasted nothing like the original, but it might have tasted better since Sizhui bought it. Jin Ling acted like a spoiled brat when Sizhui first helped him clean, but then he slowly started to thank him for it before running out of the room so Jingyi couldn’t tease him. The one that Jin LIng liked the most was the retelling of Wei Wuxian’s words. As much as he already knew everything that Wei Wuxian was teaching, he still hadn’t told Sizhui this as when he saw him relax while pointing out things. Jin Ling felt his own body relax at how calm Sizhui was, and how his voice seemed so much more… intimate? He sounded so interested in teaching Jin Ling these things even though they were so easy to understand.

 

Jin Ling might not tell him that though.

 

Jin Ling suddenly shook his head and wiped the thoughts from his head. He was in the cold spring water washing up. He could have gone to the public springs that the other disciples went to, but he had to admit that he liked it here better. Here wasn’t even the famous springs that Gusu was known for. Jin Ling had stumbled upon these springs during one of the night hunts he went on with the two Lans.

 

He hasn’t told them about this spring because he just knows that Jingyi would take this entire place for himself and claim, “It is under Gusu’s name, and I’m a disciple of Gusu, so this spring is now mine. Oh, and I demand compensation if you ever want to get in!”

 

Jin Ling rolled his eyes at the thought and got back to washing his body. He looked at the small scars he had gotten from “dying” and his hand drifted to the one on his neck. One thing he didn’t like about this scar was that if he tilted his head the wrong way he could just remember the feeling of twisting neck. The sound when he fell into that hole, and how it hurt like hell. He was lucky that the pain came quickly and he “died” fast, but since he came back the pain was memorable.

 

Jin Ling couldn’t help but rub soap roughly into the scar before just forcing his hand into the waters. It would be weak of him to waste time on it anyways.

 

He moved to sitting on a nearby rock and worked on washing his legs. Jin Ling wasn’t a clean freak, but he did like a good wash to his body. On his stomach were more of markings than scars, but there were waves that represented the poison he was given.

 

He believed he was alone until that intimate voice came from behind him, “Ah, Jin Ling! I’m sorry for the intrusion. I didn’t know you knew of this pond as well.”

 

Jin Ling twisted his neck so hard it gave a small crick sound.

 

There stood Sizhui, neck red, and more disheveled than Jin Ling had seen him earlier.

 

“You seriously need a bell on you!” Jin Ling knew that it was most likely that he wasn’t paying attention instead of Sizhui being quiet, “And it doesn’t matter anyways. We’re both men.”

 

Jin Ling tried to keep up the “I don’t care what your body looks like” facade, but he felt his face grow red and match the smudged dot at the top of his head.

 

He turned his head back into cleaning his legs, but right as he put his hand back down, Sizhui jumped into the water nude. Jin Ling sputtered as water flew everywhere. He looked at Sizhui incredulously and Sizhui just kept his back to him. He started washing up far away from Jin Ling and he snapped his head away. He didn’t mean to stare at him, but he jumped into his eyesight! What was he thinking? It didn’t matter anyways!

 

Jin Ling washed off his legs and hopped in for one more wash. He came back up to be surprised by how close Sizhui had come. He was about just a few feet away and he was drenched. But why did that oddly look good on him? What? What was Jin Ling thinking? Sizhui had reached his hand out to smudge off the rest of the red dot at the top of his head.

 

“Let me help you paint it back on.”

 

Suddenly Jin Ling couldn’t move, and Sizhui didn’t take his hand off of his head. He just stayed there, staring at him for a good moment. Jin Ling thought that he was looking at the top of his head, but as their eyes met his heart couldn’t help but pick up a bit. Jin Ling’s breath hitched as he let out a little gasp, and Sizhui’s eyes fell right down to his mouth. Jin Ling felt his legs move before his mind and he quickly left the spring. He was slipping on his robes and shoes while he was running, making him look disheveled when he made it back to their shared dorms, but the worst that could happen was that Jingyi would bully him.

 

“What tornado picked you up?” Jingyi had said just like Jin Ling guessed.

 

Jin Ling just rolled his eyes and walked over to his mat that they brought in for him. His hair was still wet so Jin Ling needed to pat his hair down as Jingyi looked at him.

 

“Are you okay? You seem feverish.”

 

Jin Ling narrowed his eyes at him and said with a confused voice, “What do you mean? I feel fine!”

 

“You’re so red right now, Jin Ling. I don’t think that’s normal.”

 

Jin felt his face and he realized that he was actually burning hot right now. No way did Sizhui make him flustered. It wasn’t long before Sizhui came back looking much more put together than he did.

 

“Ah, Jin Ling…” Sizhui looked nervous for a moment before turning to look at him with an apologetic face, “I’m sorry for disturbing you in the springs. I can still help paint it back on.”

 

Jin Ling turned his head away and just waved him off, “No, I’m fine. I only do it in the mornings anyways.”

 

Jingyi looked between them with a flabbergasted face, “What is going on with you two? You’re acting as though Sizhui is confessing to you.”

 

“Shut up, Jingyi!” Jin Ling yelled at him while Jingyi just flipped him off.

 

Sizhui shook his head and took his place on his bed.

 

“Quiet down you two, it is time for us to go to sleep. And I mean it, Jingyi.”

 

He didn’t even have to look Jingyi’s way to see him sneaking a book under his bed.

 

Jingyi tossed it onto the stand next to them and groaned, “Good night Sizhui, good night princess.”

 

Jin Ling scowled at Jingyi’s words but stayed quiet.

 

“Good night Jingyi… Good night Jin Ling.”

 

Jin Ling almost wanted to look back at Sizhui and see if he was looking at him because it felt like it.

 

“Good night Sizhui.”

 

Jin Ling slowly got comfortable on his mat, but an annoying voice popped up, “Fuck you too Jin Ling.” Jingyi had said as he hadn’t gotten a goodnight from Jin Ling.

 

Jin Ling didn’t answer him and just fell asleep on his mattress.

 

~

 

A few days had passed and Jin Ling realized that getting into the library was much more complicated than he expected.

 

He thought that the distraction with the mysterious corpse would help, but it seems to just make everyone protect the kids more. He should’ve thought of this, but he was too blinded from the fact that it would take their mind off of them.

 

Maybe he should just ask Jiujiu or Wei Wuxian for help… but the thought of revealing anything to them makes him sick. It makes his stomach roll just from the thought of telling them the times he died. Anyways, that isn’t the point because they’ll never find out.

 

Right now he was alone in Sizhui and Jingyi’s chambers.

 

Jin Ling laid on his back, looking up at the roof with a conflicted look.

 

It was clear that he couldn’t do this by himself anymore. He needed help from someone in Gusu.

 

Wei Wuxian and Hanguang-Jun were immediately crossed off the list, for obvious reasons. Zewu-Jun had access, but Jin Ling wasn’t close enough to him for him to be allowed in or even near. Jin Ling would love it if his own sect would help, but of course most of the people from his sect were Jin Chan’s friends. Suddenly Sizhui came into his mind, but he quickly erased it. He could not trouble him like that. But Jingyi… Yeah he seems like a good choice.

 

“If you keep staring so hard into the roof you’ll make a hole in it.”

 

Speak of the devil.

 

Jin Ling knew that no matter how he approached this Jingyi would most likely react the same.

 

“Can you help me sneak into the Library Pavilion?”

 

The silence was loud as Jingyi had his back to him. He slowly turned to Jin Ling, his face horrified.

 

“Why the fuck do you want to go in there?”

 

Jin Ling shrugged, feigning nonchalance while on the inside he was panicking out of his mind, “I need to look for a book in there.”

 

“Of fucking course you do, but what book do you need? Why do you need a forbidden book when you can just get a regular one in the village?”

 

Jin Ling didn’t know if he should tell Jingyi about his curse so he hesitantly answered, “I just need a book in there. Will you help me or not?”

 

Jin Ling didn’t lift his head as he asked. He didn’t want to look at Jingyi’s face as he said no and ran to Wei Wuxian to tell him.

 

The room fell in silence again until Jingyi groaned loudly and fell onto his own mat.

 

“I’ll let this slide. I have a feeling that this is important to you. Like really important,” Jingyi said, pausing, before continuing with a calm voice, “Do you at least have a plan?”

 

Jin Ling knew that the serious atmosphere was going to be changed by teasing when he told Jingyi that he doesn’t even know how to get near the library.

 

~

 

It was the middle of the night when he and Jingyi slipped out of their shared dorm and hurried through the night to the library. Jingyi said that the library isn’t guarded, for the fact that everyone knows not to break the rules. Sadly there are wards, but luckily the robes that the Lan’s wear help them walk through them all. It was odd to wear the robes, and Jingyi definitely teased him quietly the entire time there.

 

Upon making it to the library a familiar face was seen and Jin Ling almost fell right onto his face.

 

Sizhui, standing there as serene and peaceful as ever, looked their way and sighed, “Jingyi I thought you guys were joking around, but it seems that you’re not.”

 

Jin Ling felt his face burn bright at being seen in these robes in front of Sizhui.

 

“Hope you don’t mind that I invited Sizhui along.” Jingyi said, shrugging. Jin Ling turned to him, clearly upset.

 

“Why didn’t you tell me he was coming along?”

 

“Jin Ling, we should get going.” Sizhui looked at Jin Ling, placid as always.

 

As astonished and humiliated Jin Ling was, he knew Sizhui was right.

 

“Fine.”

 

Jin Ling waved him off before just walking into the pavilion. The rest should be a breeze if they don’t make any noise.

 

Jin Ling walked further in front of the both of them, feeling restless as he was so close to the answers he needed. His hands clenched at his sides, barely holding himself back from running into the pavilion and tearing every book from the shelves and reading their contents.

 

As they approached the doors Jin Ling looked back to the twins, feeling guilty if they continued, “I’m going to go in. You guys should stay outside.”

 

“Hell no. We’ve made it this far and didn’t get caught, so there’s no way in hell I’m letting you go in alone.” Jingyi said, sauntering to the doors and pushing them open.

 

Jin Ling let him through, but turned back to Sizhui with a sad look, “You really don’t have to.”

 

Sizhui just shook his head and made his way inside as well. Jin Ling knew that if they got caught this could be damaging to all of their reputations, hell maybe even of his sect. Oddly enough Jin Ling didn’t care. He normally puts his sect above everything else, as it is one of the few things his dad left him, but right now he has the answers to the cruel curse just a few steps more. And the first one was taken now.

 

Jin Ling told the others to bring books based on curses over and he would look them over. He wanted to do a broad search so he could find the answer no matter how useless the book was.

 

The first book went by, then five more, and then ten. Jin Ling didn’t let them look inside, fearing that if they did get caught they would get punished horribly. Slowly the anticipation turned into mortification. The last book in his hands, thoroughly looked through, had nothing about his curse.

 

Fucking nothing.

 

Jin Ling looked down at the book, letting it fall into his lap. Sizhui noticed his distress and came over but paused when he saw how Jin Ling looked.

 

His lip was quivering a bit, but he slipped it between his teeth and held it. One hand was gripping his hair back from his face, shaking as he stared at the book in his lap. His eyes were wide and he seemed so intent on staring the book down, like it would falter and reveal its contents to him if he stared long enough. It didn’t seem to be working. The thoughts going through Jin Ling’s mind were too many. “Where is it? Maybe I skipped over it when I was skimming through the books. It’s pretty dark so I could’ve easily not noticed it.” Jin Ling knew that he was so intent on finding his answer that he definitely read efficiently, but he also was paying attention to whatever book was in front of him. “I’ll be stuck like this forever. Jiujiu, Wei Wuxian, Jingyi… Sizhui. All of them will be dead. I'll still roam this earth. I’ll roam it till its end. This isn’t fair. I didn’t ask for this. But do I deserve this? Maybe this is my punishment. No, it can’t be. Not when I haven’t even lived my life” All these thoughts in his head made him spiral down into a hole of two sides. One fighting for the fact that he skipped over it, or it's in another library, he will find it. He must find it. That side was yelling for Jin Ling to know that nobody would curse him to be this way forever just because of a few small things he did. The other side was slowly, but surely, yelling louder to Jin ling that he deserved this for the many people he’s hurt. That he’s such a bad person, he hurts anyone that he comes in contact with, that he should watch as the people he loves die while he prospers.

 

“Jin Ling…” Sizhui said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

 

Jin Ling flinched away. Sizhui didn’t look like Sizhui, his entire body was pure black and he seemed larger. His figure wavered and faded out randomly, but that vision was only for a second. Jin Ling quickly regained his senses and buried his face into his hands.

 

“I… I’m sorry Sizhui. It's not here. We should leave.”

 

Jin Ling felt as though his legs were a little weak when he got up for a moment, but he fixed himself. He didn’t look back at Jingyi or Sizhui as he left the pavilion. He could hear their footsteps behind him, but he didn’t look at them, he didn’t want them right now, he wanted answers. Ever since he found out about the curse he’s been looking for answers, so where the fuck are they? Everywhere. He’s searched everywhere. Every-

 

The Old Man.

 

Jin Ling abruptly took a turn and started running through the sect, uncaring if his robes were slowly becoming a mess. Jingyi yelled in surprise and started running after Jin Ling, soon followed by Sizhui. Jin Ling could see some of the lanterns come on in the dorms near him, but he didn’t care. The one last place he could find answers was from that man. He remembered Hanguang-Jun saying that they would care for him, so he made his way to the infirmary and bursted the doors open, uncaring if its residents complained or the nurses jumped in surprise. He looked through the matts lined up against the walls, the privacy curtains pulled open. He found the man resting on the bed reading a book. He looked much more composed and slightly more healthy, but upon seeing Jin Ling he looked both elated and worried.

 

Jin Ling didn’t hesitate to march up to the man and grab him by his shirt, pulling him closer to yell at him, “The curse! The curse! Tell me about the curse! How do I break it? Tell me how I can get rid of this curse!”

 

Sizhui and Jingyi had to pull him back from the man, as the latter just looked ecstatic.

 

“What is wrong with you, Jin Ling? Leave the poor man alone! He…” Jingyi yelled, still holding Jin Ling back, but he paused upon seeing how the man looked at Jin Ling.

 

It was almost mistaken for disgusting desire, but if you looked close you could see that from his eyes there was greed, desperation, and want .

 

“Give it to me” The man said, his eyes slightly unfocused and his face unsettling.

 

The nurse finally came back, looking at the scene in horror.

 

The old man started to repeat the words, “Give it to me. Let me have it. It’s mine.” a slow but steadily getting louder mantra.

 

The man lunged out of his bed again, straight for Jin Ling, but Sizhui tapped a spot on his neck, rather roughly, knocking the man unconscious. The nurse gasped and shooed them away as she looked at the old man with an anxious face. Jingyi and Sizhui had to drag out a screaming and struggling Jin Ling, only to come face to face with the sect leader himself and the elder, Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren. Zewu-Jun had a slightly strained smile on his face while Lan Qiren looked like a bird whose feathers got ruffled.

 

“What is going on here?” Lan Qiren had said, perfectly between yelling and reprimanding.

 

Jin Ling finally calmed down and turned to face the sect leader and the elder with a bowed head. None of them spoke. Jingyi didn’t want to snitch on his friends, Sizhui was waiting for Jin Ling to say something, and Jin Ling… well he found himself at a loss of words.

 

When he couldn’t make a sentence Sizhui stepped forward, “Can we talk about this in a less public area? It seems we have gained a crowd”

 

Jin Ling finally looked around to see disgruntled disciples wearing their underclothes come out looking confused. They really only woke up because of Jin Ling’s yelling, and they knew so they openly glared at him. But this would've never happened if Jin Ling just didn’t get them involved.

 

Zewu-Jun stared for a moment before turning back to Lan Qiren and nodding his head, “I’ve got it from here, elder. Can you please tell everyone to go back to sleep?”

 

Zewu-Jun looked like he needed it himself.

 

Lan Qiren got one last glare at the trio before leaving, doing as Lan Xichen asked of him. With all of their heads now lowered to the floor, the three of them followed the sect leader back to their chambers. It was clear that they were found out by Wei Wuxian and his husband, because by the time they got back, they were both there. Wei Wuxian was leaning on Hanguang-Jun heavily, even snoring a bit, but when he saw the three of them he quickly stood up straight and glowered down at them.

 

“Where the hell have you all been? I excused the first time you guys stayed up late, but now you’ve made a ruckus in the middle of the night!”

 

Hanguang-Jun didn’t say anything as his husband went off on them, just looking at Sizhui with disappointed and concerned eyes.

 

“It's my fault. I asked them to come with me.” Jin Ling said.

 

Immediately Jingyi piped in, “What do you mean? I came willingly to this knowing there could be consequences. If anything, it's my fault for telling Sizhui to come along.”

 

“I also came out of my own free will, Jingyi.” Sizhui said.

 

“None of this takes away from the fact that you guys broke the rules! I know I used to be troublesome when I was a kid, but that doesn’t mean you guys do too!”

 

Wei Wuxian looked troubled at the fact that the three of them were more concerned about whose fault it was rather than the fact that they all broke many rules.

 

“What's past is past. I’m tired, let's go to sleep.” Jin Ling said, crossing his arms as he unconsciously fiddled with a strand of hair.

 

“We aren’t skipping over this again. I told you to come to me when you were ready, Jin Ling.” Wei Wuxian really did look more worried than angry.

 

“Well I guess I’m still not ready.” Jin Ling said, looking away from him.

 

Zewu-Jun walked in the middle of the yelling spree, raising his hands to quiet everyone, “That is not the point anyways. We still need to know why you guys were out at night making so much noise.”

 

At that Jin Ling went quiet. He turned to look at the ground. He looked angry, but his slightly turnt up brows and the frown on his face said otherwise.

 

“We went into the library pavilion to look for a book for Jin Ling.” Sizhui said, taking the initiative once again.

 

He stepped in front of Jin Ling, slightly blocking him from his parents and uncle. He glanced back at Jin Ling for a split second before turning back to his parents.

 

Hanguang-Jun spoke up this time, looking as stoic as ever, “What book were you searching for.”

 

Jingyi said, “We were… actually… I don’t know what we were searching for.”

 

He also turned to Jin Ling, confused.

 

The amount of eyes on him was terrifying, but he’s had worse. He gripped his elbows before stepping out from behind Sizhui, thanking him with a nod.

 

“I would rather Jiujiu be here for this as well.”

 

Hearing that, Wei Wuxian knew that it was serious.

 

He opened his mouth to rebut, but paused and held his tongue, “I’ll contact him, but for now you all are staying inside your chambers until he comes, alright?”

 

Zewu-Jun also accepted the idea by staying quiet, nodding to them all, and walking off.

 

The three of them walked to their chambers, but Sizhui was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He was stopped from going inside while Jin Ling and Jingyi walked in. He knew that Sizhui was most likely getting scolded and asked what went down, but Jin Ling felt like the worst person ever. He didn’t mean to get Jingyi and Sizhui into trouble. All he wanted to do was find a solution to this curse. He shouldn’t have asked Jingyi for help. He should’ve just gone on his own and accepted his punishment by himself.

 

Instead of telling that to Jingyi, or apologizing, he instead just laid on his mat, curled up under the blankets. He heard Jingyi walk to his own mat, pause, and then get in.

 

This felt worse than being teased.

 

He would rather Jingyi tease him so hard that he gets mad, rather than this silence. It was clear through Jingyi’s words that he didn’t blame him, but that didn’t stop him from feeling like the start of this was a bit Jin Ling’s fault.

 

Jin Ling didn’t wait for Sizhui to come back for him to just fall asleep, dreading the day his uncle came.

Notes:

Uhm, yeah, so I guess the revelation might come faster than most expected, but I have an idea. I do plan for this to at least be over twenty chapters, so don't worry!

Chapter 5: Revelations With No Resolutions

Notes:

I'm sorry if I slowly take longer to upload, I'm also working on another story for ST (Stranger Things.) I am apart of way too many fandoms with a mind that just aches to do stories for them all! I can promise to finish the story, but I'm not a consistent writer, so I apologize in advance if I go missing for a week or more.

Of course, after sending the message for Jiang Cheng to rush over, he sent a message that he would be there today or early tomorrow.

 

Jin Ling fiddled with his hair as he leaned against the wall.

 

With all three of them confined here they all had nothing to do. Sizhui still had extra books to study from so that’s what he did. He also would send glances to Jin Ling, almost nudging him with his eyes to just talk. Jin Ling would occasionally open his mouth before closing it, so it was clear as to why Sizhui was just silently asking him to speak. Jingyi was rolling a pencil on the floor, looking extremely bored watching Sizhui exchange glances with Jin Ling, and Jin Ling’s random tries to talk.

 

It was later proven as he sat up abruptly with his hands crossed over his chest, “Okay, this is getting nowhere. Sizhui just ask Jin Ling to speak to you and Jin Ling just say what’s on your mind. Watching you guys trying to quietly communicate is frustrating!”

 

Jin Ling was slightly startled by this but he knew he was right, so he also blurted out what was on his mind, “I… I feel bad for including you guys into this mess! And I know, I know, you guys willingly went with my plan, but still! I can’t help but feel as if some of this is my fault. I shouldn’t have gone to that old man.”

 

Sizhui shook his head silently, putting his book down, and trying to get Jin Ling to meet his eyes, “None of this is your fault. I don’t know what book you were searching for, but I have a feeling that you were desperate for a good reason. I know you wouldn’t do anything that would hurt someone for no reason.”

 

Sizhui’s voice seemed so promising that Jin Ling almost believed it, but the thoughts that continued to plague his mind erased that thought. He lowered his head and accepted that though, that they were consenting to do as he wished.

 

“And anyways, if us getting in trouble was your fault then me yelling through the sect was my contribution to this punishment and Sizhui… well Sizhui is Sizhui so you get what I mean.” Jingyi tried to cheer Jin Ling up, but this just opened Jin Ling’s Mistress side up.

 

“You were yelling quite loudly when I was just a few feet ahead of you.”

 

“Excuse me? Young Mistress, it was you who ran like a maniac! You really need to learn the grace of a woman!”

 

“Why the hell would I need to learn that?”

 

“Well you need to find yourself a husband of course!”

 

“I’m not a girl!”

 

“You act like a hard headed one.”

 

At that the argument over who was worse last night started up. Jin Ling glared at Jingyi and Jingyi did the same. Sizhui just kept reading his books, sometimes letting out a chuckle.

 

Soon enough a hand came knocking on their door and the familiar voice of Wei Wuxian came through, sounding hesitant, “Jin Ling, your uncle says he’ll be here later tonight, so get ready for whatever you’re going to say.”

 

It wasn’t that they got into a fight last night, but the tensions were slightly high.

 

Jin Ling stayed silent for a moment before he let out a, “Okay.”

 

Wei Wuxian stayed by the door for a minute before leaving them be. Jingyi and Sizhui sent a look at each before turning back to Jin Ling who forced himself to hold his head high.

 

“I can’t leave to the springs or a private area to get changed so turn around.”

 

“Does the Young Mistress need her space that bad?”

 

“Jingyi, just turn around.” Sizhui knew that an argument similar to the one earlier would come down if he let Jingyi continue.

 

Jin Ling appreciated Sizhui’s help and stood in the corner as he got changed. He slipped back on his yellow robes and helped touch up the red dot at the top of his head.

 

“I’m good now,” Jin LIng said as he turned back around to find Sizhui’s back to him, reading a book, and Jingyi hiding under his covers. As much as they were his friends that would tease him and make him feel better, they were still polite Lans. Jin Ling huffed out a laugh, “Can’t believe you can be a gentleman, Jingyi.”

 

Jingyi slipped out from under his covers, glowering at Jin Ling, “I’m not an ill-mannered Mistress like you!”

 

Jin Ling let it slide as he just gave him an eye roll.

 

Now physically prepared to meet his uncle he still needed to ready himself to not keel over under his uncle’s natural glare. Jingyi did say he had a resting bitch face, just like Jiujiu, but Jiujiu’s was more terrifying. The amount of times Jin Ling had cried just from getting a look from his Jiujiu. He doesn’t fold under his uncle’s gaze anymore but when Jin Ling was younger he was more sensitive. Maybe he’s still the same to this day

 

~

 

The sky darkening came way too quickly. It felt as though earlier today was only a few seconds ago and everything changed with the blink of an eye.

 

Jin Ling was back on his mat, looking even more nervous than yesterday. If he was afraid to tell Wei Wuxian he was even more terrified to tell Jiujiu. Jin LIng could normally guess how Jiujiu would react, but to this curse that has been on his life for a long time… well that would be a first for everyone.

 

Well no more time to prepare as his thoughts were cut short when the door to the trio’s chambers was slammed open, and in came Jiujiu. Jin Ling felt both happy and wary to see Jiujiu, but he still came up to him and hugged him tightly, tighter than usual. Jiujiu looked a little startled, as this felt much more tender than before.

 

Jiujiu just shook his head and patted Jin Ling on the back, “Don’t act like such a child. Hurry and sit down so you can tell us what’s going on.”

 

“Us?” Jin Ling questioned. He looked behind Jiujiu to see Hanguang-Jun holding a terrified Wei Wuxian in his arms, Zewu-Jun laughing slightly, and- is that… “Fairy! Come here Fairy!”

 

Fairy went from walking around Hanguang-Jun to running over to Jin Ling, who was now kneeling so he could pet her. He felt better knowing that she was going to be there for him now. He looked up to thank his uncle who wasn’t looking his way. It was clear that his uncle was embarrassed for trying to comfort his nephew.

 

“Thank you, Jiujiu.” Jin Ling said, walking inside with Fairy.

 

Instead of being guided to his mat, Sizhui tapped next to him, telling him to join his upped bed. Jin Ling accepted, feeling comfortable next to him. Fairy didn’t hesitate to join him. Now that Jin Ling thinks about it, how did they get her here past Lan Qiren’s peering eyes. Nevermind that, it isn’t the point. Everyone settled inside the small room. Jiujiu took a chair at the table with Zewu-Jun, Hanguang-Jun sat on the pillow on the floor where Sizhui would study, Wei Wuxian sitting on the table itself, and Jingyi had the other bed to himself.

 

Jin Ling knew they were all waiting for him to talk, but he couldn’t help but glance at Sizhui for some help. He didn’t know why his eyes were compelled to look to Sizhui for some idea of what to do instead of Jiujiu, but he still did.

 

Sizhui looked a little surprised before nodding his head and asking a question first, “Can you first tell us what book you were looking for in the library?”

 

Jin Ling didn’t look at the others, only at Sizhui as he spoke, “I was looking for a book on curses.”

 

“Well that was clear.”

 

“Jingyi.”

 

“Sorry.” Sizhui continued, keeping eye contact with Jin Ling as well, “What curse?”

 

Jin Ling’s eyes traveled to Jiujiu for a minute, but the latter only nodded his head for him to continue, in more of a demanding rather than encouraging way.

 

“A curse… a curse on immortality.”

 

Upon looking back at Sizhui he looked conflicted, “Did you want to become immortal?”

 

Jin Ling quickly shook his head and reassured him, “No! No, no, it's quite the opposite.”

 

Sizhui slowly pieced the pieces together and his eyes widened, “Jin Ling, you have a curse of immortality?”

 

Jin Ling bit his lip, albeit he rather slowly nodded his head.

 

Sizhui went silent, and Jin Ling knew that if he looked at the others in the room he would get mixed faces, but he couldn’t help but look at Jiujiu. Jiujiu looked uncertain, but not unbelieving.

 

“What do you mean you’re immortal? Do you mean that you can’t die, or you will live forever?” Jingyi asked, stepping up to ask.

 

“I believe it's that I can’t die, but I can still grow old. I’m not sure if I’ll die at old age, but we can’t really find out about that can we?”

 

Wei Wuxian also asked a question, his eyes narrowed a bit, “How do you know?”

 

“What?” Jin Ling questioned.

 

“How do you know that you can’t die? You didn’t try, did you?”

 

Jin Ling quickly shook his head as some of their faces became horrified, “No! Of course not! Who do you think I am?”

 

Jin Ling turned to Jiujiu, trying to keep a calm face and voice while doing this, “Do you remember the day that I passed out and woke up a few days later? Well I believe that day Jin Chan’s mom had placed a curse on me.” He could remember the exact words she said to him that day. It was ingrained onto him after he found out the truth. “We believed it to just have been a cold or a random phenomenon, but I believe it was the curse taking place. When I turned ten…” Jin Ling paused, unsure, but a hand nudged against his. Hidden behind them, Sizhui caught his gaze and held half of his hand. Jin Ling didn’t want everyone to see how flustered he had become so he just spoke, “When I was ten I had fallen into a ditch made for animals and died again.” Jin Ling pulled down some of his robes to show his neck, where a slight scar was, “I had twisted my neck. I shouldn’t have come back to life, but I did.”

 

The room went silent again and.

 

“What about the markings on your stomach, or your back?” Sizhui said suddenly.

 

Everyone looked at him, Jiujiu looked horrified while Wei Wuxian looked as though he was about to burst out laughing.

 

Jin Ling turned to him, eyes wide and face red. “Uh, what do you mean?” Jin Ling asked, making Sizhui realize his words.

 

“It's not that I was trying to look, I just! I!” Sizhui’s neck turned red and he rested his face on his hands.

 

Jingyi bursted out laughing, not looking at Jiujiu’s glare that was being sent at Sizhui and him.

 

Jin Ling decided to save Sizhui and spoke up, “Oh you must mean when we went to the same spring by accident! We ran into each other so, yeah!” Sizhui didn’t raise his head as Jin Ling spoke for him this time. “Anyways, that isn’t the point! He is right that there are markings on my back and stomach. The ones on my stomach look like waves, for that was when I was poisoned.”

 

“But we saved you. Every time you just passed out and you were healed later in a few days.”

 

“Jiujiu, as much as I was young, I wasn’t dumb. I knew of my immortality when I died in the ditch, but as you now know, I hid it from you all. I told the servants who helped me get better to keep quiet about my rapid healing or how the poison was gone from my entire body.” Jiujiu looked slightly heartbroken, thinking that Jin Ling must really not trust him. “I know what you’re thinking Jiujiu, but it's not because I didn’t trust you to keep this quiet or that you couldn’t find an answer. It was because I was scared that if I didn’t find an answer you would find yourself in a state of despair. I also didn’t want to trouble you with something this small. I will find my answer soon anyways.” Jin Ling shrugged, but Jiujiu looked angrier.

 

Before he could act on his anger Wei Wuxian spoke up, “Jin Ling this isn’t small. Just how many times have you died?”

 

Jin Ling didn’t know the answer to that himself so he just shrugged his shoulders. There were many times when he didn’t know if he died or just badly injured. Some times when he died he would wake up seconds later, other times it would take days.

 

Zewu-Jun spoke up, sounding held back, “Did you die when A-Y-” He cleared his throat, “Jin Guangyao?...”

 

Jin Ling couldn’t tell at the time since he was distracted, but upon searching his neck he could actually feel a thin scar wrapped around his neck, “I’m not sure, but I feel the string still.”

 

Jin Ling looked to see Zewu-Jun’s face fall a bit but he fixed it into another strained smile.

 

“Why did you attack the man?”

 

Hanguang-Jun asked, surprising Jin Ling for a second but he answered, “Well on the day that we found him he whispered for me to give the curse to him. When I found nothing in the library I ran to him, but he won’t stop telling me to give it to him and lunging at me like crazy.”

 

Wei Wuxian made eye contact with Jin Ling for one second but Jin Ling just turned away. Well now that this is out on the table, Jin Ling knew that they were definitely going to join in on his search for the cure.

 

Jingyi couldn’t help but ask though, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but why would you want to end this curse? We still see you today because of the curse.”

 

Jin Ling didn’t hesitate to answer, “I don’t want to keep living off of that woman’s words. And the many times I’ve defied fate is too many. I also don’t want to test the theory if I’ll still be alive when I get older. I don’t want to watch…” Jin Ling looked at Jiujiu, making him look away with a scrunched up face, “I don’t want to watch you all die.”

 

The feeling in the air was emotional, but of course Jingyi didn’t want Jin Ling to dwell on those thoughts, “Awe, I didn’t know you could be so sentimental!”

 

“I can be sentimental! Tell him Jiujiu.”

 

Jiujiu thought for a moment before a laugh hidden by a cough came out, “He can be quite sentimental actually.”

 

“I need to hear that story.” Wei Wuxian said, looking very interested in this.

 

“I’ve seen him sentimental as well.” Zewu-Jun said, “But it was when he was younger.”

 

Wei Wuxian didn’t stop from sauntering over to him, sitting on the table while looking at him with puppy dog eyes, “Please tell us the story!”

 

“Yeah, please!” Jingyi also joined in, resting on his knees in front of the sect leader, also having puppy dog eyes.

 

Zewu-Jun shook his head and laughed, “I don’t think everyone would want to hear it, as it is quite long.”

 

Jin Ling looked horrified and hurried to shush him, but Sizhui stopped him from doing so, “I want to hear the story as well, don’t you want to too Pa?”

 

Hanguang-Jun looked at Wei Wuxian’s begging face and nodded his head.

 

Jin Ling was jaw dropped. Was everyone against him? Jiujiu didn’t answer, he just leaned on the table, looking at Zewu-Jun. Jin Ling didn’t know what Zewu-Jun knew, but he knew it would be embarrassing.

 

“When he was younger, about eight or seven, it was a few days before Jin Guangyao had gifted him Fairy. I came to visit with him and to talk with Jiang Cheng.” The pieces started to click in Jin Ling’s head and he put his face into his hands, “I strayed off to look around, and to my surprise, I ran into a line of muddy footprints on the floor, they were so small and pieces of food were there as well. It was quite an odd sight.” It sounded as though Jin Ling was just sneaking snacks. “I followed the footprints for a while and ended up in the forest, where I found Jin Ling near a lake, crying. The food that he brought was next to a small cave, and inside I saw a litter of little wolves. You would’ve thought that he was crying because he couldn’t touch them, but that was very wrong. Want to know why he was crying? It was because he found them earlier, starving and with no mom. So he stole food from the pantry and brought it to them, but his hands were bitten and scratched. He wasn’t even crying because of the pain, but because of the situation of the poor things.” Sizhui had a smile on his face while Jingyi and Wei Wuxian laughed softly.

 

Jiujiu had a hand on the bridge of his nose, “So that was why he came back with his hands like that.”

 

Zewu-Jun didn’t stop there though, “You should’ve seen his face. He was crying balls of tears and wouldn’t stop, not even when he got to pet one of them. Guess what he said? He said that petting them wouldn’t heal them and wouldn’t bring their mom back. He was quite empathetic but also serious as a kid.”

 

“I didn’t know you could cry over little wolves!” Jingyi said, looking at Jin Ling’s bright face with a smirk, “I wonder if you still cry over them today?”

 

“Shut up Jingyi!” Jin Ling said, wiping his face with his hands, trying to rub away the embarrassment from it.

 

“I think that it was kind of you to do that, Jin Ling.” Sizhui said, still holding Jin Ling’s hand behind his back.

 

Jin Ling looked at him with a redder face, “You can’t talk about being kind when you do it everyday, Sizhui.”

 

Sizhui just smiled more.

 

“Let's go back to the matter at hand.” Zewu-Jun said, “So our only lead on your curse is the man, so let's go question him. I heard from Wanji that he hasn’t talked to anyone, but he does at least say something to you Jin Ling.” He got up from where he was sitting and nodded for them to come.

 

Jin Ling looked at Jingyi and Sizhui, questioning if they were going to come, but he was proven right as they were already up. It was a little weird to see three sect leaders walking through the sect, but nobody questioned them. It was already getting dark so not many people were out, luckily. Upon making it to the infirmary the nurse was wary of letting them in, but did so from Zewu-Jun’s command. Most of the patients were already asleep and not many spared them a glance.

 

The nurse came back up one more time, “We only allow three visitors at a time so as to not startle the patient.”

 

Jin Ling understood this and turned to the others for them to decide who to come in.

 

“I don’t care what the rules are, I’m going in.” Jiujiu said, as Jin Ling assumed he would.

 

He turned to Sizhui, hoping he would come along, but Sizhui just shook his head. A little dismayed, and confused, he looked at Wei Wuxian. He only glanced one time, but Wei Wuxian took that as a yes and ruffled Jin Ling’s hair and walked in with them.

 

The man was reading a book, upside down, so clearly listening to whatever was going on around him.

 

Upon seeing Jin Ling enter he was about to start up his mantra, but Jin Ling held a hand up, “Lets not do this, okay? I know you can talk, so tell me about the curse.”

 

The man closed his mouth and set his book aside. He was clenching his fists and holding back, most likely from jumping Jin Ling.

 

He grabbed the water next to him and downed it in a second before speaking, “The curse inside of you was caused by a woman, right? I only know because she was the last one with it.” Jin Ling was surprised by the clearness in his voice. He sounded much better than the begging he was doing earlier. “I also know that you came in contact with a corpse. That corpse and I are a part of the same group. I trust you’ll keep my existence silent.” Jin Ling didn’t answer, making the man sigh before continuing, “The cult I’m in provides wealth and power. We are also taught demonic cultivation, but not many of us are very good at it. I only joined to get money, but they make you complete a vow that says that you will stay forever. I didn’t believe it, but soon I got roped up in their god and sacrifice bullshit!” He acted up a bit, yelling some, before calming down and taking a breath, “Anyways, I ran away with some money, but I didn’t get far. I was forced to do a task of hanging men around the Gusu sect with talismans or I would be one of the men getting hung up. I don’t know what it was supposed to do, but you took down the corpse I put up.” Well this was getting quite interesting.

 

“That doesn’t explain why you attacked me and how you knew I had the curse.”

 

“Ah, so about that…” The man rubbed his hands against the blanket nervously, “During the cult thing I was patrolling around some area and found you dead in a ditch. I was going to take you out or bury you, but suddenly your neck snapped back together and you walked out perfectly fine. That’s how I started to believe in the immortality that the cult was pushing on me. They said that if I brought you to them I would be paid, but then I couldn’t find you.” Jin Ling didn’t know that he was there when that happened. But that happened six years ago, so he has been looking for him for that long? The man looked guilty and closed his mouth before he could say anymore.

 

Jiujiu noticed and narrowed his eyes at him, “Talk.”

 

The man took one look at him and blurted things out, “I, uh, I’ve been in this haze of how much money there was and I might’ve followed you for some time. It was very unhealthy and sinful of me. When I found out you were coming to Gusu I followed you around. I even tried to leave the infirmary. I wasn’t doing it for other reasons except for the money or the curse. I won’t do it anymore though! I promise I’ll be good, and I won’t ever do that again!”

 

Jin Ling felt his face scrunch up in disgust and he saw his uncle’s ring light up with purple lightning.

 

Before his uncle could strike out, Wei Wuxian said, “You spoke of gods and sacrifice, what do you mean by that?”

 

The man was happy that the subject of the conversation switched, “What else would I mean? Those crazy cultists have said that a god had blessed the leader and for the entire cult to rule the world they need to sacrifice a god. Of course they must be lying, but they told me of an immortal curse that gets passed around. Since they couldn’t get their hands on said god, they were going to kill whoever had the immortal curse because they are considered a god.” Jin Ling shivered at the thought of trying to be killed by crazy cultists, “They heard of a woman with it, but then the lead went cold.”

 

The man looked at Jin Ling, but Jiang Cheng stepped in front of him, blocking his view. The man confessed to have followed him, but not for lustful reasons, and Jin Ling could protect himself… but he didn’t stop Jiujiu’s acts. He would never admit this but sometimes it did make him happy when his uncle acted that way.

 

Wei Wuxian just continued on with his questions, scooting just an inch closer to Jin Ling, “How would they kill an immortal?”

 

Now the former cultist shrugged, “I haven’t the faintest clue. All I know is that they know how to.” Jin Ling felt fearful, but not for long.

 

“Then why would you want the curse if you know that they’ll just kill you?”

 

The cultist jumped up in his bed and looked happy to speak, “Well, I would just fake my death and change everything about me, of course! They wouldn’t know that I have it if I never tell them!”

 

Everyone in the room looked at him oddly and Jin Ling just shook his head slowly. Jiujiu and Wei Wuxian looked ready to leave, and so did Jin Ling.

 

He just had one more question.

 

“How do you get rid of it?”

 

“Well you just curse another person… Actually, it’s not that easy anymore.” Jin Ling groaned and put his face into his hands. Wei Wuxian rubbed his back and Jiujiu just looked even more angered. “In the past, it was given to another by just cursing them while killing them. Then that woman only had to curse you, not kill you, so we don’t have an exact answer as to how, but I know there is a way!” The cultist was like a hopeful kid, and it only made everyone feel even more awkward while he talked.

 

“Come on, A-Ling. Let’s just go for now. You’ll only exhaust yourself if you keep trying with him.” Wei Wuxian had ushered him out of the room and Jiang Cheng followed them both, but paused.

 

“If you ever,” Jiang Cheng started, “and I mean ever, follow my nephew again, I’ll break more than just your legs.”

 

“Ah, you guys really are alike.” Wei Wuxian said, shaking his head solemnly.

Notes:

What do you think? Anything I've done wrong?

Chapter 6: Sweet Liquid Relief

Summary:

Sorry about not posting in like ten days. I just got myself a cute little kitten from a shelter and she has been an insane improvement to my mental health. Like a burst of energy and also such a relaxing moment for me. Anyways, I hope you enjoy some drunk Juniors! I promise you'll see them again in later chapters ;)

They had all split up and planned to do their own investigation tomorrow. Wei Wuxian with his husband going around to investigate the burnt corpse and the talisman more, Jiang Cheng with Lan Xichen to research more about Jin Ling’s curse, and the juniors being on house arrest. They understood why they were here, I mean, Jingyi and Sizhui were being punished and Jin Ling had the chance of becoming a sacrifice to a cult.

 

It was odd to explain what he heard in there and it was more odd when Sizhui excused himself.

 

“He’s just worried about you.” Jingyi said, laying on his bed as he laid a book over his head. He’s been trying to catch up on sleep after skipping it through the entire night. Jin Ling was sitting at Sizhui’s desk, writing a few notes down while Fairy rested her head on his thigh. He was mostly writing about how it felt and what would happen afterwards. Even if he was on house arrest he would have to contribute because this was about him. He doesn’t know why he’s not included in his own investigation!

 

Jin Ling sighed and put the papers away, looking to the door as he noticed that Sizhui wasn’t back yet.

 

Jin Ling really shouldn’t have gotten any of them involved in this. He felt guilt claw up at his throat and he decided to sleep it off.

 

“Night, Jingyi.” Jin Ling said as he laid down on his mat with Fairy after taking off his outer robe.

 

“Goodnight, Young Mistress.”

 

~

 

Later that night, probably in the morning by now, Jin Ling woke up to the sound of the door opening. He instinctively reached for Suiha and held it against his chest as he kept quiet, pretending to sleep. He heard footsteps coming closer and he was shocked to see Lan robes. This has to be Sizhui, but why is he just standing there? Jin Ling forced himself to keep calm, even as Sizhui took a shuddering breath and walked away, back to his own bed. Jin Ling turned around to see Sizhui’s back to him, so he tucked Suiha back against the wall and fell asleep.

 

~

 

The day started off quite hectic. The trio woke up to Wei Wuxian busting in their room and waking them up, only to just remind them not to leave their room. They had to watch the other students learn with different Lan teachers, and, even if they already knew everything they were teaching, it was boring just staying inside all day. They would occasionally get visits from Jin Ling’s Jiujiu and Wei Wuxian, but they only came to make sure that the trio didn’t run away.

 

Jingyi groaned, “This is so boring! Why can’t we just go outside?! I mean, I get that they’re worried and we’re being punished, but this is worse than writing one hundred pages… actually, no, this is better.”

 

Jin Ling just sighed and went back to taking care of his sword, but it was proving difficult when Fairy kept nudging him for attention.

 

“Hey, Jingyi, why don’t you play with Fairy?”

 

“In here? You’re just asking for me to get punished.”

 

“I thought you were bored.” Sizhui piped up, making Jingyi glare at him.

 

“I am bored, but if I destroy our quarters then…” He shivered, “I don’t know how many pages Lan Qiren will give me!”

 

They all fell into silence again.

 

Jingyi went back to groaning and moaning every two seconds while Sizhui was writing stuff down and studying.

 

“Oh! How about we play a game!” Jingyi hopped off his bed and pulled Sizhui down to the floor, startling him from his work.

 

“How about we study?”

 

“No!”

 

"No way!”

 

Both Jin Ling and Jingyi yelled, glaring at each other when they said the same thing.

 

“Come on, let’s do never have I ever, or truth or dare, or two truths and a lie!”

 

Jin Ling gave Jingyi an incredulous look and he was about to deny the request, but he was also quite bored, “Actually, yeah, let's play.”

 

Sizhui looked at Jin Ling for a second before just nodding his head.

 

“Okay, okay, let's do the first game! If you’ve done it you have to drink!” Jingyi dug under his bed and pulled out three bottles of alcohol, surprising the other two.

 

“What the hell, Jingyi! How did you hide this? What if we get caught?!” Jin Ling exclaimed, trying to take the bottles away from him, but Jingyi held them close and pulled away.

 

“An alcoholic never shares his secrets! Anyways, we’ll be fine! If you guys haven’t noticed, they’ve stopped checking on us. There’s a good chance they’re distracted by something, so this is the perfect time to do this!” Sizhui just shook his head and got up to head back to his desk. “Don’t you go anywhere, Lan Sizhui!” Jingyi commanded, still holding the bottles close, “If you don’t join our game then I’ll tell them about your little stash!” Sizhui paused at that and came back quickly.

 

“Stash? What stash?” Jin Ling questioned, but Jingyi only stuck his tongue out at him and sat back down.

 

“Nothing of your business, now are you going to play or am I going to have to reveal a secret of your own?” Jin Ling just waved his hand and decided to play.

 

Jingyi somehow knew something about all of them and neither of them knew how. Jingyi poured three cups and put them in front of the others.

 

“Okay, never have I ever… cried over baby wolves!”

 

Jin Ling scoffed and tossed his drink back easily.

 

“Hey, that should be cheating!”

 

“I never said you couldn’t aim for people!”

 

“Well, never have I ever!-”

 

“Nuh uh, it’s Sizhui’s turn!” Jin Ling groaned and refilled his own drink.

 

Sizhui thought for a moment before laughing under his breath and speaking, “Never have I ever had to copy a hundred books.”

 

“Sizhui!” Jingyi exclaimed and Jin Ling laughed at his demise.

 

“Drink up, Jingyi!” Jin Ling said, and Sizhui just smiled as he watched Jingyi glare at him and throw back the cup easily.

 

“Okay, my turn. Never have I ever snuck alcohol around!”

 

Jin Ling crossed his arms with pride and Jingyi took another cup, but he was shocked to see Sizhui turn his head away and drink as well.

 

He couldn’t even linger because Jingyi shot up with his own, “Never have I ever got peeked on in the springs by my friend!”

 

Jin Ling’s face went a bright red and he gasped in anger, “Jingyi, you!” He raised his fist to strike him, but Jingyi only brought Jin Ling’s cup to his face.

 

“Drink.”

 

“Oh, fuck you!” Jin Ling sat back down and took the cup down with ease.

 

He knew that his sect wasn’t known for holding their liquor, but he knew that Jingyi would be out sooner or later.

 

They both turned to Sizhui to hear his "never have I ever" and he was prepared, “Never have I ever fought someone over simple matters.”

 

Both Jingyi and Jin Ling glared at Sizhui as they both drank.

 

“Okay, never have I ever!-”

 

“Nah, let’s go to a different game.” Jingyi interrupted him.

 

“Hey, I was about to do mine!”

 

“So what, you can start the truth or dare game!” Jin Ling knew this would be an opportune moment, so he turned to Jingyi, “Truth or dare?” Jingyi, never one to back down from a challenge, easily picked dare, “I dare you to take five cups with your head outside of the window!” Jingyi shrugged and snatched the jug of alcohol.

 

He could see how the sky was slowly darkening and smirked, “Should’ve said this earlier!” Jin Ling sighed as he realized his dare fell through, but the good thing is that Jingyi was definitely about to get drunk soon. Jingyi chugged the bottle instead of taking five cups and came back inside, slightly wobbling. “Sizhui, truth or dare?” Jin Ling was surprised he didn’t just go for him.

 

Sizhui, still sober as ever, said, “Truth.”

 

“Hmmm, how much did you see of Jin Ling’s body?” Jin Ling let out a shriek and aimed to tackle Jingyi, but the back of his clothes was held back by Sizhui, who’s ears and neck had turned red.

 

“I saw enough.”

 

“No, no, no, answer the question. Lan Sizhui, how much did you see?”

 

The room went silent and even Jin Ling looked back at Sizhui’s red ears and guilty face.

 

“Most of it.”

 

That was enough to make Jin Ling shriek again and pull away from Sizhui to pull his robes over himself more and make Jingyi guffaw.

 

“Poor Young Mistress! Poor you!” He laughed while Jin Ling just stared at Sizhui with wide eyes and a red face.

 

Sizhui cleared his throat and asked Jingyi, “Truth or dare?”

 

“Truth.” Jingyi intuitively said.

 

“How much did you see of Lan Qiren’s body when you snuck back into Gusu?”

 

This time Jin Ling burst out laughing at Jingyi’s shocked face and laughed harder as he tossed back a cup.

 

“Too much… Way too much…” Jin Ling fell backwards, trying to hold back his laughter, but he couldn’t.

 

Both Jingyi and Sizhui looked at him with wide eyes. They’ve never heard the spoiled Young Mistress laugh so much, or smile that much.

 

“Okay, I’ve got to say, Jin Ling, you do not smile much!” Jingyi exclaimed, making Jin Ling give him an odd look.

 

“What do you mean? I smile a lot, actually.”

 

“I mean an actual smile, not that haughty mistress smile!”

 

“Jingyi, I can literally count how many times I’ve ‘genuinely smiled’ on my hands!” The room fell silent, much to Jin Ling’s confusion.

 

“I should’ve expected that… Anyways, let’s go to the next game! We haven’t even finished the second bottle!” Jingyi cried out sadly, but the other two could both tell that he didn’t need to finish the second bottle to pass out.

 

“Fine, let’s do another game.” Sizhui agreed, feeling more energetic from the drinking game.

 

“Okay, we can do two truths and a lie, or this other game I came up with!”

 

“Two truths and a lie.” Both Sizhui and Jin Ling said, knowing this other game might knock them both out.

 

“Come on! Please? Just three rounds of my game! Three!” Jin Ling contemplated this, and maybe the alcohol was getting to his head because he agreed. Sizhui only sighed and then also agreed. “Okay, now that you’ve agreed you can’t take it back! It goes like this,” Jingyi pulled another item out from under his bed and Sizhui’s head fell from defeat as he realized what it was, “We all take turns pulling out cards in rapid fire and drink when they’re true.” Jin Ling didn’t know why Sizhui looked so scared, but when he saw the first card he wanted to back out. “Come on, Jin Ling! I see your face, don’t worry! It’s not too bad!” The first card literally read: Has had first kiss. Jin Ling just sighed and let the alcohol take over.

 

“Okay, let’s just do this.” Jin Ling grabbed the deck and put it in the center. He grabbed the first card and placed it down. Jingyi was the only one to drink, but he almost spat it out.

 

“What?! None of you guys?...”

 

“Moving on!” Jin Ling said, grabbing his cup as he wanted for Jingyi to go.

 

Next card read: Drank more than ten bottles. Jin Ling and Sizhui were the only ones to drink. More rounds went around and everyone was getting hit by the alcohol. They didn't even mean to do this many, but the alcohol must've clouded them. Sizhui was the only one who was buzzed, Jin Ling was wobbling around and tripping over himself, and Jingyi… Well he was fading in and out. The cards were sprawled everywhere and the game was done after finishing the bottles. They must’ve been some strong bottles of alcohol.

 

Jin Ling struggled to help Sizhui clean up the place, and in the end, he was mostly getting in the way.

 

“Jin Ling, just go lay down.”

 

“No! I can be helpful!”

 

“Jin Ling, you aren’t really helping.”

 

Jin Ling looked down at the pile of cards he had collected, but he was mostly bending them.

 

“Oh… I can still help!” Jin Ling exclaimed and rose up, stumbling on his feet. He grabbed the bottles of alcohol and put them back under Jingyi’s bed, just in case someone came in the night. “Hehe, Jingyi’s sleeping!” Jin Ling chuckled, pushing Jingyi’s body onto his bed.

 

Jingyi’s face was bright red, along with Jin Ling’s, and he was chuckling in his sleep.

 

Jin Ling only laughed and got back up, only to come face to face with Sizhui.

 

“Just go to bed, Jin Ling.”

 

“No!” He tried to move past Sizhui, but he was shocked to be picked up from behind. “Hey! Hey! Put me down!”

 

“Please be quiet, Jin Ling. I wouldn’t want us to get caught after all of this.” Jin Ling still struggled, even while he was laid down on his bed. Fairy watched with wide eyes, but still stayed where she was. “Jin Ling, just calm down!” Sizhui said, putting his hands on top of Jin Ling's, holding them by his sides.

 

“No! I can help! I can help!” Sizhui just sighed and was about to reprimand him when he heard voices outside.

 

Jin Ling was still speaking, so he put both of Jin Ling’s hands into one of his and put his other hand over his face.

 

“Shh.” Sizhui whispered against Jin Ling’s ear as he tried to keep quiet with him.

 

Sizhui was resting next to Jin Ling’s body, but he was almost on top of him with how close they were. Jin LIng fell silent as he looked up at Sizhui’s face with his own being dazed. Wow, does Sizhui normally look this good? Sizhui was still staring at the door ahead and calmed down when he heard the voices disappear. He was shocked to find Jin Ling just staring up at him. His eyes were blazing and Sizhui assumed his was angry, but his brows weren’t furrowed like they normally would and his mouth was resting peacefully against his hand. Once Sizhui noticed that he was staring for too long, and holding onto Jin Ling for too long, he quickly pulled away.

 

“Sorry, I just… Never mind.” He got up to leave, but Jin Ling’s hand caught onto the side of Sizhui’s robes.

 

“Don’t go…”

 

Sizhui didn’t like how Jin Ling’s voice sounded. It sounded so desperate and so wanting. So, no, he didn’t like how it sounded. It made him seem high above Jin Ling and in charge. So, no, he didn’t like it, he just didn’t. Maybe because he loved it. Sizhui took in a breath and grabbed Jin Ling’s hand, bringing it to his mouth. He barely brushed his lips over the knuckles before taking his lips away. “Goodnight, Jin Ling.” Jin Ling whined for a moment or two before settling down and falling asleep.

 

He just left Sizhui flustered and yearning.

Chapter 7: Just Let It Pass

Summary:

Tell me if I'm forgetting any tags pls!

“Jin!-”

 

“Go away.”

 

“Jin Ling!”

 

“No.”

 

“Jin Ling!” He felt his head roughly hit the floor as someone shook him and a poorly tossed out apology was heard.

 

Jin Ling hissed and forced himself to rise up. His hair was out of its normal hold and dropped around his body. He really needed to brush it.

 

“Jin Ling, wake up!” He was pulled up from his spot on the floor and that was when he heard the familiar crackling sound of fire.

 

His eyes shot open and he came face to face with a distressed Jingyi.

 

“What is going on?” Jin Ling questioned, getting up and pulling his yellow robes over himself haphazardly.

 

“Someone set the disciples' quarters and the forest on fire!” Jin Ling shot up at that and quickly tugged on some shoes while rushing outside, Suiha instinctively at his side.

 

As much as he hated Jin Chan and his gang of bullies, he was cousin. The sun was still taking its time to rise and made the fire look like its own star. The entire place was ablaze and people were yelling for help. Some people's voices were hoarse and probably said a lot about how long the fire had been going on for. He could hear the structure creaking and how the roof was soon to fall down, taking anyone inside down with it. He ran to the building and he felt relief to see that the Jin disciples were out, but he didn’t see Jin Chan.

 

“Where is Jin Chan?” Jin Ling asked Jingyi, but he just shrugged, “Fucking pain in my ass.” Jin Ling mumbled under his breath and walked over to the building to see Wei Wuxian and his husband coordinating the place. It was clear that the former must’ve done something stupid because there was ash all over him and his husband had a tight hold on him from behind. “Have you seen Jin Chan?” Jin Ling asked them.

 

“I don’t know where everyone is right now, but I haven’t seen him. I’ve been trying to track the talisman, so look for Sizhui or Zewu-Jun. They’ve been the ones taking care of the injured disciples. Jin Ling, we don’t know who did this, so watch out.” Jin Ling nodded his head and quickly ran off with Jingyi on his tail, but he paused when he saw a torn strip of yellow on a branch in the woods just waving around and taunting him.

 

He took a quick turn and Jingyi watched him.

 

“Where the fuck are you going? Sizhui is that way!”

 

“This is from Jin clothing. He might’ve gone into the woods when everything was going down, and I don’t know if he’s injured or not.” Jin Ling felt as though something was off, but he pushed it down. The further he went into the woods the hotter it got until he came to a small cliff, just his height, and saw the flames below. “Jin Chan!” Jin Chan, are you here?” Jin Ling called out and he was shocked to get an answer, but one that came in muffled screaming.

 

He wasted no time hopping on his sword and heading off, leaving Jingyi on the cliff to watch his back as he searched for Jin Chan. It was hard to find the same yellow cloth before since everything was decorated with bright yellow flames and licked the edge of his sword everytime he dipped just a bit too low. He listened for another muffled scream and it came close by, so he dipped down into a circle, his stomach turning when he saw blood splattered on the grass. He hoped he wasn’t too late. He ran through the trees and bushes, finding Jin Chan with three other people. Demonic cultivators by the way were dressed in red and swirls of red that wrapped around Jin Chan as well. One was by Jin Chan’s side and holding his arm and the same for another, but their hand was tightly around Jin Chan’s mouth. Another stood in front of Jin Chan, slashing specific marks into his stomach to make a symbol. It was very much unfinished and Jin Ling was lucky to come in when he did because the knife was edging just too deep when Jin Ling brought his sword down onto the back of the first demonic cultivator. He quickly aimed for the other but they were fast enough to move away and bring the other cultivator with them. Jin Ling caught Jin Chan’s body before he could topple to the floor and placed him against a tree.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“Does it fucking look like I’m okay!? I’m bleeding!”

Jin Ling rolled his eyes and pulled his robe off and dropped it over Jin Chan, “Hold that against your wounds."

 

He turned around to see one of the cultivators attempt to slap a talisman on him but he sidestepped the guy and kicked him away, knocking him into a tree. The other cultivator took that time to take out his own sword.

 

“Jin Ling!” Jin Chan yelled as the fires started to get closer and he had to quickly jump away from the burning tree.

 

“We can’t stay here for long.” Jin Ling said to himself as he launched forward to the other cultivator and they started to deliver blows.

 

Something was wrong here and he would want to take at least one of these guys back with him. Probably the knocked out tree guy. Jin Ling tried to push the guy into the fire, but he knocked Jin Ling back with a sudden strong blow. This guy had experience. From his height and the way he held himself it was clear that he was a grown adult. Well, Jin Ling has won against people older than him, so he hopes this will be an easy and over fight. The man was mumbling something incoherent under his masked face and his swings started to get slower and more sloppy. Jin Ling finally injured the man's arm, making the guy jump away. Jin Ling raised his sword to attack only to pause once he heard Jin Chan cry out. He attempted to block the guy’s blow and turn back around, but he was shocked to feel a sudden pain in his stomach. He pushed through the pain and used his sword to slice into the guy’s chest, finally taking him down. He rushed over to Jin Chan just to find that he burnt his thumb a bit.

 

“Oh you whiny bastard!-”

 

“Jin Ling, your stomach!”

 

He looked down to find a small dagger right in his stomach, “Oh.”

 

“What do you mean ‘Oh’?! You’re bleeding out!”

 

“I’ll be fine, Jin Chan. Let’s get out of here.” Jin Ling got up only to topple to the floor as the pain kicked in and made Jin Ling clench his fists. “Grab that guy, I’ll fly us out of here.” Jin Ling got onto his sword and waited to feel Jin Chan get on the back.

 

He took off back to the cliff and left Jingyi and found him there waiting with Sizhui and Jiang Cheng. Everyone looked angry that he was gone, but he could tell their were relieved. The relief was short-lived as they saw the bright blood stain decorating Jin Ling’s white robes.

 

“Jin Ling!” his Jiujiu yelled as he fell down off his sword and to the ground.

 

“Jiujiu…” Jin Ling moaned as he clutched his stomach, “I’ll be fine. It’ll be over in seconds and I’ll wake up as good as new.” his Jiang Cheng looked horrified and his face went dark for a second before he hooked his arms under Jin Ling and brought him up.

 

“We’re going to the infirmary.”

 

“Jiujiu, you don’t have to. Other people need help and Jin Chan’s also injured.”

 

“Jin Ling, you’re bleeding out!”

 

“Yeah, and I can come back, he can’t!”

 

“That doesn’t matter!”

 

“It does!”

 

“No it doesn’t!”

 

“Guys, can we just go?” Jingyi interrupted, looking at Jin Ling’s state with a pale face.

 

He looked as though he was going through shock and he was just moving past it. He probably is now that he is seeing his friend literally bleed out. Jiang Cheng ignored any more yelling from Jin Ling and rushed forward. They ran past Wei Wuxian and his face went pale. For a second Jin Ling swore he could see his mouth move to say a name, but his husband just shook him out of it and helped tug him along. He must’ve remembered the curse that Jin Ling has because he snapped out of his reverie and quickly followed behind them. Jin Chan was being carried by Sizhui on his back and the cultivator by Jingyi. They burst into the already filled infirmary and Jiang Cheng quickly placed Jin Ling down on a cot, but he was still struggling to get up.

 

“Stop it! Just stop, I’ll wake up in like two seconds. You’re just prolonging it.”

 

“Jin Ling, stop moving!” Jiang Cheng yelled as the nurse came in with supplies, but she hesitated on working with a patient so boisterous.

 

“Come on, I’ll be in pain for just two minutes and then it’ll heal away!”

 

“Don’t make me break your legs.”

 

“Do what you want, just get her out of here and work on Jin Chan! I promise you that it will be fine! I’ll just close my eyes and wake up! You’re making such a big deal out of nothing!”

 

“Jin Rulan,” Jin Ling’s heart paused for a minute as he heard his name be called in such a cold voice, and he finally stopped just to look at the source of it.

 

Lan Sizhui.

 

“Just because you can die and come back doesn’t mean you should. Just let them take care of you.” Jiang Cheng looked affronted to hear his nephew be talked to like that, but his face dropped even more as he saw Jin Ling lay back in the bed.

 

“Thank you, Jin Ling.” Sizhui said as he left the cot to put Jin Chan down.

 

His parents followed, Wei Wuxian worried to see his son act like that and Hanguang-Jun as unreadable as usual. Jingyi also left with them to give the cultivator to Wei Wuxian. Now left alone with his uncle, Jin Ling finally realized how his words could’ve hit deep for Jiang Cheng. The nurse stepped forward and got to work, nervously looking anywhere else than the terrifying sect leader and the guilty soon-to-be sect leader. Jin Ling sighed once it was over and they were left alone.

 

“Jiujiu,”

 

“Yes, Jin Ling?” Jin Ling winced when he heard how rough and angered his uncle’s voice sounded.

 

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said what I said.”

 

They fell into a silence that made Jin Ling wince and bow his head. He can't believe that he said all of that to his uncle now that he thought about it.

 

“Do you even know why your words hurt to hear?” Jin Ling couldn’t even speak, “I’m your uncle, one of your only family members left, and to hear you so willingly wish to give your life away like that…” Jiang Cheng’s voice cracked and he turned away for a minute.

 

“Jiujiu…”

 

“No, just listen. I should’ve done more. I should’ve asked for help from everyone I knew, even from those stupid Lans. From Wei Wuxian. I let my own pride get the better of me and I practically gave up on you. This goes for when you first died and all the way back to when the mess with the old sect leader happened. I should've done more for us both.”

 

“Jiujiu, you never gave up on me. Maybe you did leave me many times and you are kind of emotionally damaged," Jin Ling earned a raised eyebrow, so he stopped pointing things out, "but I never thought that you gave up on me. You never would. You've worked harder than most of the people I know. You make mistakes, but we all do.” Jin Ling’s voice was firm, even if the pain in his stomach was harsh. He actually shocked himself that he was able to speak in such a profound way.

 

“I’m sorry, A-Ling. I’m sorry for not being there for you. For not saving you from those deaths, or that curse.” This was clearly hard for Jiang Cheng to say, and Jin Ling felt proud that his uncle was able to say this.

 

“As much as I don’t think there’s much to apologize for, I forgive you, Jiujiu. I love you.”

 

“I love you too, so much.” Jiang Cheng brushed back Jin Ling’s unruly hair and kissed the top of his head.

 

It was rare to see acts of affection from the cold sect leader, and Jin Ling felt so happy, so complete just for that small contact that he couldn’t stop the smile that came across his face.

 

Guess that finally makes enough smiles that he couldn’t count on just his hands anymore.

 

~

 

Sizhui and Jingyi come back moments later without Sizhui’s parents. Jingyi, finally out of his shock, steps up and flicks Jin Ling’s nose. Jin Ling knows that he deserves it.

 

“Oh you’re so stupid! You scared me, no, us so badly!” Jin Ling was shocked by the sudden hug, but he slowly melted into it.

 

“Yeah, sorry about that. How’s Jin Chan.”

 

“He’s crying like a baby and whining about how it’s going to scar.” Oh yeah, those carvings on him.

 

Wei Wuxian will probably have to examine that.

 

“That’s him alright.”

 

“You will never do that again, right?” Sizhui spoke, still standing at the entrance of the room.

 

Jin Ling looked to the side, grumpy.

 

There’s a good chance that this won’t be the last time he rushes into danger.

 

“I don’t think you can stop him from running to death.” Jingyi gives Jin Ling an apologetic smile at the death part.

 

“That’s not what I’m talking about,” Sizhui made his way to the bed, taking a seat on the side, “You won’t say what you said again, and you won’t just give up and die.”

 

Jin Ling sighed and laid back in the bed, “Sizhui, there will be times when you guys have to prioritize other lives over mine. I mean it’s bound to happen-”

 

“I don’t want to prioritize other lives over your’s just because you can come back!” Jin Ling looked up along with a shocked Jingyi when Sizhui raised his voice. “Please, just tell me you’ll at least try to live for as long as you can. Dying like that should be the last option you choose.”

 

Jin Ling bit his lip, wanting to fight back, but he knew that he always put himself lower than everyone else. Ever since he became the Sect Leader he is, everyone has been of much more importance. If he ever even pretended to put himself first, people would think he'd end up like any other failed sect leaders in the past. He definitely did not want anyone to suspect him for continuing any of Jin Guangyao's plans.

 

Jin Ling sighed and nodded his head, "Death will be my last option."

 

"Thank you."

 

Jin Ling couldn't keep up the tense eye contact that Sizhui tried to chase. Fortunately for him, Jingyi stepped up and saved him.

 

"Well, it's good that you two made up because I think, with all of this happening, we're back in the investigation!" Jingyi gestured to Jin Ling's state and to the room beside them.

 

Well he was right about that. When Jin Ling tells them about the demonic cultivators and the one, he hopes is still, knocked out in the forest, Jin Chan and Jin Ling would become a question. Jin Ling is still very curious about why the cultivators attacked his cousin when he was the one that they wanted. He can't even remember the symbols or the words that they wrote on Jin Chan's body, so he can only hope that Wei Wuxian will be able to identify them. Maybe it's the same situation with the cultivators using Wei Wuxian's old talismans.

 

This is all very interesting.

 

"I was getting quite annoyed with sitting around all day with all these theories in my head." Sizhui said, "I have been doing some research during my studies and there is much to be discussed."

 

"I can't tell if I'm happy or angered that we're being brought back into this. I mean, yeah I was turning a little crazy the more we did nothing, but now there's going to be so much work!" Jin Ling complained, laying back in the bed.

 

"Of course the Young Mistress doesn't want to work!"

 

"Oh shut up, Jingyi!"

 

"Guys, please don't start this."

 

Unfortunately, It was too late for Sizhui to stop it.

Notes:

I apologize for anything that is wrong. Please correct me if there is!