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Chapter Text

The Black Jade (Yiling Patriarch), a Demon among Alphas, was a name know all across the Cultivation world and greatly feared. He supposedly singlhandledly attacked and killed Qingshan Wen, only sparing a few who joined him. He vanished not long after the Wens were killed and now he is back, only 5 years after he vanished. What does he want? Will there be another slaughter like last time?  And what does he have to do with mystery surrounding the Red Lotus of Yunmeng?

Snippet:

Wei Ying looked up from where he was tending his little horde of rabbits. The soft giggles of his 4, soon to be 5, year old son playing not to far from him the only comfort the Omega had these days. After Sunshot campaign that was won by one man while the rest of them hand been scrambling around trying to gather their strength and rescue loved ones, things had gone rather pear shaped for him.

He remembers Wen Chao about to take advantage of his forced heat with the aid of Wen Zhuliu and then waking up in the recovery hall of the slowly rebuilding Yunmeng Jiang's Lotus Pier with Jiang Ch- Sect Leader Jiang glaring at him. He was then accused of being Wen Chao's whore and carrying his bastard. Wei Ying, as an Omega, knew that no matter what happened his reputation was beyond saving and that he would be ridiculed for the rest of his life. When Sect Leader Jiang ordered him to terminate his pregnancy; he refused. He would not punish the child for the sins of the father, if Wen Chao was truly the sire of his baby. Needless to say, everyone minus perhaps Jiang Yanli, Nie Huaisong, his recently discovered Uncle Xiao Xingcheng, and oddly enough Lan Xichen and the Lan Sect seemed to be on his side. He was no longer allowed to go on Night Hunts or any kind of hunt. He wasn't really allowed to train or train others. He spend his days inventing new talismens and tools to aid others while raising his child.

Wei Yuan gave a shriek and Wei Ying looked up just as he saw Jin Guangshan, Jiang Wanyin and Elder Lan Queen marching toward him. He quickly grabs his son close, a son who looked nothing like a Wen. He looked almost like Lan Xhichen, but that was impossible and the one Alpha he wanted had vanished when the Cloud Recess burned at the start of the Sunshot campaign. Whatever was going on, he felt like his world was going to til again on its axis and he is not sure of he will be able to land on his feet or if someone will catch him this time...

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Wei Ying sat in a palaquin, Wei Yaun held tightly to his chest. He was in a state of shock after the two Sect Leaders and a Sect Elder informed him that it was past due to for an Omega his age to find a mate. They had arranged a few suitable candidates that were willing to claim a-Yaun as theirs if he pasted the tests. When Wei Ying asked what tests, they has said that, again, it was past due to find out who sired his son and if said father was indeed Wen Chao, they needed to... "Cleanse" the Wen Stain. Wei Ying had quickly summoned Suiban and Told Wei Yaun to go into their quarters and hide. However before a fight could break out. Zidian had wrapped tight around his wrist and his world faded into pain and screaming. He woke up here, His son pressed tight to his chest and fron the sounds of things their things were in a cart behind them. Riding with them were Xianxian and Jiji, their favorite rabbits. But that offered little comfort.

Anyone with eyes would be able to tell that Wei Yaun looked nothing like a Wen! In fact, Yaun looked a bit like a Lan, and that was not his wishful thinking talking. He made certain expressions that reminded him of--

No, he could not think of the dead, no matter how much he loved and missed him. How he wished he sired Yaun. He peeked outside the curtain to see they were surrounded by Lanling Jin disciples and that Jin Guangshan was riding his horse beside them. Wei Ying growls low and curls up with his son, if they want to "cleanse" his son, they would have to do it over his dead body and even then he would rise as a Fierce Corpse to protect his only child...

Word had spread throughout the Cultivation world about the tournament being held for the Red Lotus of Yunmeng's hand in marriage. Every Alpha available was coming to compete. Wei Ying had been one of the few Omegas to not only participate in the Sunshot campaign before he was "injured" toward the end, but he was a prodigy and highly skilled Cultivator with ties to the Baoshen Sanren! Anyone who took him for a mate would gain not only fame, but wealth since he was the adopted son of the Jiang Sect as well as power from bonding with such a powerful Omega!! Their children would be gifted in both power and looks!

While some were fueled by greed, a few were entering to protect Wei Ying and his son from being made into a scapegoat for the corrupted elders and those to blinded by their own hubris to see what is really before them. Nie Mingjue, Lan Xichen and a few others were hoping to protect the Omega from further harm and humiliation. It was bad enough everyone believed Wei Ying's son was Wen Chao 's bastard or worse Wen Zhuliu's son. The Core Melter was more feared and hated than Wen Chao, Wen Xu and Wen Rouhan combined!

Word had indeed spread and a certain Black Jade awoke. It was time to claim what was rightfully his and he will kill anyone who dares to think otherwise....

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"Shameless!" the voice is sharp and strained but barely more than a whisper.

"Sorry, sorry! But it--" he cuts off with a strangled whimper and the heady scent of heat finally hits the young Alpha who gasps.

"Wei Ying!" He hisses in horrified realization.

"Please.... I... Just let me stay in the water.... Please leave!" He begs.

Silver eyes blink as he gazes at the cold pond, the same place he could have finally confessed to HIM but because he looked so scared, more so than Wei Ying who had not expected that someone would steal his suppressants and force him to go into heat. He couldn't. He begged him to leave and sat under the natural waterfall in the frigid water for the whole week and half of his heat. It was so much worse due to the suppressants and alcohol he took to keep it at bay for as long as possible. It was never his intention to have a heat here of all places. Back home, he had Jiejie and even Madam Yu could not ignore his needs or well being because Omegas literally forget anything that was not sex, breeding and their Alpha. Many have died because they became too dehydrated or starved. It wasn't until fewer Omegas were being born that anyone realized how precious they were.

Madam Yu had hated him from day one, but even she knew how rare he was and with his gift for dual Cultivation and his high level of Spiritual energy he would be of value to her one day so she helped care for him. Wei Ying had no dellusions that she was prepping him to marry Jiang Wanyin. Perhaps if he had not met Lan--

"Young Master Wei?" He turns to see Lan Huan, he is a bit flushed from not running to find him. "Please, I did not agree to any of this, I would not allow this if I had more sway... But with everything.... I am so sorry. This one Will do all he can to protect Young Master Wei and Wei Yuan." He goes as far as to kowtow and it is nearly too much.

"I know Xichen-ge... I just... Can be alone for a bit... Why not go see a-Yuan?" He offers and Huan slowly stands and nods when he sees that Wei Ying just wants to be alone for a bit.

"I will take him to where the bunnies you gifts... I am sure he shares that fondess if the two rabbits you brought with you are any indication..." He knows better than to say HIS name near Wei Ying.

Lan Huan feels for this Omega. He has searched tirelessly for his brother, even if it was to properly bury him, but nothing. Not after these last five years. He sometimes wished Wen Rouhan and When Chao especially were still alive so he can unleash the full wrath of a Lan in grief. Not only did these kill his father and many members of his blood family, they tortured his brother and then he vanished, Wen Chao bragged about killing him and feeding him to the Tortoise of Destruction but no one but a sickly and feverish Wei Ying had been there and even then as soon as the Omega had been found, he was recaptured by the Wens and when he was seen again it was after the Sunshot Campaign and by then...

By then Wei Ying had been mated and was carrying Yuan. The Omega refused to full the pregnancy, refused to damn an unborn babe for the sins of the father. But anyone with eyes and half a brain could see that Wei Yuan looked nothing lile a Wen. In fact he thought the child was a more expressive and silver eyed version of Wangji when he had been that tiny. He has heard of Omegas becoming pregnant by the souls of their dead lovers and wondered if Wangji's spirit had impregnanted Wei Ying since his brother had been to shy and unsure of how to feel about Wei Ying before? Even when no matter what his attention was always drawn to the Omega? How he saved him or made sure he was safe first before the others?

Huan cannot help but smile softly as he remembered Wangji playing the song he made just for Ying, still new and clearly needing refinement but never the less beautiful and deep as is a Lan's love...

He looks up to see Yuan playing with the Recess bunnies, all with their own headbands while his own have bows in their ears.

"Little Rabbit, what are you doing?" He asks.

"Uncle! Lookie, Xianxian and Jiji have mirror!!"

"You mean twins... And yes they do look like twins." He chuckles as he sits down and is quickly surrounded by the bunnies. "A-Yuan... I fear something bad may happen soon and I want you to know that this Uncle will do all he can to protect you and your mother."

"... They want a-niang to marry someone who is not a-die... Mama is very upset, I hear him crying at night...." The child admits and the serious look on his face is too much like Wangji's that Huan would be damned if his late brother was not this child's father. "Auntie says that Many want to hurt me because of my a-die.... Why? Why do they hate a-die so much? Why do they hate mama as I much to hurt him because of a-die?" Yuan begins to cry and Huan pulls the child close feeling a dark curl of resentment take homd and refuse to leave because Lans were fierce in their love and the protection of what was theirs.

He may not love Ying as Wangji had, but he respects him far too much to allow some brute to have him. He Will do whaht he can to protect Wangji's beloved and he would do anything for this precious child who should not know such hate so young for somethign beyond his control.

"I do not know, Little Rabbit, but I promise you, no matter what happens, I will protect you and your Niang for your Die... But I am going to show you how to protect yourself and your Niang because no matter what your love for your Niang is so much stronger than mine and will protect him even better."

"Realy!?" He gasps and he nods and in that moment he gets a brilliant idea one that will bring a bit of pain but also give Wei Ying hope again.

"In fact... Let's go somewhere; I have an idea and surprise..."

Chapter Text

Wei Ying sat in the thick branches of the cherry blossom tree that grew beside the Jingshi. From here he could see over most buildings to the main area of the Recess and the steadily growing stream of Alphas coming to compete for his hand in marriage. He scoffs in disgust and glares hatefully at them, but he cannot fight this. Huan had explained to him what had happened. It seems that many who were still sour over what the Wen did were looking for retibution and hoping to establish a strong line.

Since Ying had been Wen Chao's favorite target even when he came to study at the Lans for a short time, everyone pegged him for the sacrifical lamb. And given how he was the mother of "Wen's spawn" it was very easy to get him placed on the executioner's block. However, Yuan told him about entering, not because he believed the lies and delusions, or because he wants any gain, but rather he is entering to protect him and Yuan.

"It's what Wangji would have wanted and as such I shall honor it. We will only be husbands in name and should you need me for a heat, I will not deny you, but know I do not love you in the sense that a husband should love his wife."

It was nice to know at least he had someone in his corner. Later he was cornered by Nie Mingjue, who said something similar. Nie Huaisong was his best friend and he knows that Mingjue often spoils the Omega. If Huaisong asked, he would do it. That and the fact they were injusticely punishing Ying for someone else's crimes sickened him into a boiling rage. He was also shocked by Jim Guangyao, however the Omega was nit competing but rather had a champion competing for him.

Guangyao had also voiced his displeasure that the two men he loved would tie themselves to Ying, but knows they only do it out of a sense of duty and protection as well as filial kinship. Ying had actually laughed so hard he cried and then he jjst sobbed. The older Omega had pulled him close and they just sat mourning for a while. Guangyao apologized, but Ying just shook his head. He would be upset too if their roles had been reversed. So he harbors no I'll will for him. He is introduced to the young man competing for Guangyao and is rather amused and a bit concerned.

Xue Yang was on a fast track to becoming a monster, but Wei Ying could stop that. He spent time with the newly presented Alpha, one who presented very young and was as power as he was often burned bright and burned out even faster. He was only 8 and already so strong and powerful. Wei Ying decided to teach him a few techniques he uses to calm the mania that often comes from dual Cultivation as well as seems to plague most prodigies.

So now here, he sat, watching the big flashy clans make a show of parading their Alphas and the gifts they would give to Wei Ying later tonight in hopes of earning his favor. The smaller clans were less boraitious. He could almost hear HIS voice hissing a soft "shameless" or "excessive noise is forbiddin in the Cloud Recess." Gods above, he missed him so...

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As Ying ahd predicted, he was sat between Jiang Yanli and Madam Jin, since ge has no attendants to speak of, dressed in his best red and black robes, the Baoshen Crest, a lotus under the full moon stitched into the breast of his robe and across the back with the Yunmeng Jiang sash around his waist, the tassles he earned as their Head Disciple tied in place on his hip with Chenqing, who sported the tassels from his Uncle and one with a tiny bunny carved in bluish white marble, that had been given to him sneakily no less by HIM.

His hair is picked up into an elaborate hair style with Lotus and spider lily pins in red and purple throughout the deep black of his hair. His face is only lined with red paint in the traditional Bride Offering of the Baoshen Clan. His Uncle who was seated by Yanli as his only living family member had painted the lotus on his brow, the sharp wings in red around his eyes and a dark rouge stained his lips. He did not need to powder his face bor did he wear too much. He was a sight to behold.

Everyone was enthralled by the change and found themselves falling for the vision before them. Wei Ying was. Expressionless, which to those who knew how always smiles or at least is more open with his feelings, are worried because he looked carved from marble. The Alphas lined up and began to parade up and past him, leaving the first of gifts before him, something small and handmade.

He does not look at either the Alpha or the gift save for Huan, Mingjue and Little Yang, to show who he favored to win him. He was instrad of thinking of Yuan with his Uncle by marriage, Song Lan, for the evening. His son had been in awe when he saw how pretty his mother looked. Ying was also surprised to see a child's Guqin resting on the floor before him where he was practicing the musical alphabet. With his hair picked up like HIS sans the Head ribbon, his heart nearly stopped and then bloomed eith both warmth and pain.

He startles when everyone gasps and the sounds of swords are heard. He looks up seeing people clothed in black with blue, red or gold accents walk in the clan. Members taking a seat near the doors as the sole competing Alpha, tall and imposing walks up. His robes are black silk and royal blue clouds with lotus blossoms dance around it with twin Dragons curled over his back, arms and their heads resting on his breast. He has a mask of black on as well only his mouth is visible and it too has a similar cloud and lotus motif. His hair is picked up into a took not and encased in a fierce dragon head similar to Huan's, but in black with ruby eyes glaring at him and in the dragon's new, a massive pearl that sits in a ruby lotus. It is not lost on Wei Ying that this Alpha knows he was of the Baoshen line and was showing a subtle claim to him.

The Alpha bows and then carefully pulls a tassel in the blue and black colors of his robes with a pearl cut into a Moon sitting in a lotus charm. There is a swell of spiritual energy in the pearl and when it is held out. Ying cannot help but hold both hands up to accept it. Silver eyes bever leaving the eye holes of the mask. The tassel is dropped into his palms and the Alpha turns to sit with his Sect. The tension is palpable. And then someone yells:

"The Black Jade! How dare you show up!!"

Chapter Text

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The first time he had seen the fabled Shen hongse de Lianhua(Crimson Lotus) of Yunmeng, he remember suddenly seeing the world in color for the first time. As if a thick veil of monochrome had been draped over his head. How foolish he had been to think this beautiful Omega a shameless Alpha or Beta. As he sips the tea that Wen Qing serves him, he thinks back on when things had been so much simpler...

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He had been walking beside his brother, the Acting Leader of their Sect while their father was in  seclusion. They were hosting the Lectures this year and were watching as the various disciples from Sects both big and small trickled in like a steady stream. Suddenly there was a shout of anger and a fondly amused laugh, the loud sounds were startling in the normally peaceful quiet of Cloud Recess. The two brothers turn to where two disciples in the royal purple and violet of Yunmeng Jiang were getting their white robes for the duration of their stay, and young man in black with hints of red. Lan Zhan will never say it out loud, but he forgot to breath in that moment, the young man's face was bright with a wide smile, his eyes glittering like polished silver. He turned and for just a second, their eyes connected and it was as if the world fell away and all he could see was Silver and sunlight, could only hear the bell like laugh. He startles and looks away, muttering about excessive noise being forbidden. Beside him Lan Huan just smiles, asks him if he sees someone he wishes to possibly befriend besides Nia Huaisong. He knows the question was posed both in serious curiosity and to lightly tease him. He gives a mild glare and walks away to go prepare for patrol...

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He learned the troublemaker's name, Wei Wuxian, and made it his mission to curtail his mischief making whenever possible after he had managed to sneak out of Cloud Ress to buy alcohol and had nearly snuck back in undetected if Zhan had not opted to stand on tower patrol in one of the least guard areas of the Recess. the insuing fight was more like a dance. Wuxian moved with a speed and grace that he's never seen another Alpha use before and very few male Betas could hope to obtain. And the childish pout when the jar of alcohol had been smashed had made his heart stutter in his chest, the slight flush on those puffed up cheeks lending him a more fetching appeal. This thought startled him so much that he allowed Wei Wuxian to escape for the moment.

Though the joke was on him for the next day, Wei Wuxian was forced to sit with him copying the Lan Sect Rules until he memorized them.

And in hindsight the joke had also been on Lan Zhan for he did not expect to look forward to seeing Wuxian, to having his attention solely on him or to grow fond of his annoying habits...

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The Water Abyss had been the first time he realized he truly cared for Wuxian's safety. They had been on the boats and Wuxian had called to him like he was wont todo, dancing and waving until he looked and then he sent a wave of water at him using his sword scabbard. Instinctively, he jumped toward his brother's boat just ast water ghouls were about to tip his boat and him into the water. then there was a flash of light and the sound of a sword singing beautifully and the ghouls were slain, allowing his boat to fall back into the water and for him to jump back onto it.

"Did you see? Did you see?!" He crows, looking like an eager pet waiting for praise. like an excited bunny.

"Young Master Wei, how did you know the Ghouls were there?" Huan asks him.

"Yunmeng is built on a massive lake and Water Ghouls, nymphs and sprites are quite common, though they are mostly harmless. They seem to enjoy startling some of the fishermen by tipping their boats. However Lan Zhan's boat was much lower than the others, like it was weighed down. Lan Zhan's not that heavy to sink that deep. So I knew something was clinging to the bottom." Wuxian explains calmly, even if his grin never fades.

"I see... I am glad I asked for both your and Young Master  Jiang's presence." Huan nods.

"You are welcome... huh?" He saw a flash in water, something dark.

It happened a few more times drawing their attentions and then Zhan called Wuxian's attention, and much like he had done to him, he sent water at the young man, who jumped up and landed on his boat with him, but there was nothing under his boat and large clumps of hair clung to the boat. Seeing the perplexed look on the normally smiling Jiang Disciple made him pay closer attention. It took only moments for things to go down hill from there. Even though they had stopped rowing, they were still being pulled forward and  Su She  had lost his sword after he sent it after what they thought was more ghouls. It was the gasps of the two Water experts that mde them look up.

"It's a Water Abyss and by the looks of it, a very big one! We need to get away now!" Jiang Cheng had shouted.

They were ordered to mount their Swords, but  Su She  was trapped without his and Wuxian attempted to aid him, but as he was about to pull him up, they were both falling into the water, Wuxian's sword vanishing into the depths and leaving them vulnerable. Zhan felt light headed, his vision had tunneled and all he can think was that he needed to save Wuxian. He comes back to himself when he has his arms full of a wet Wuxian, riding his sword,  Su She  clinging to another Lan's back. He feels Wuxian's coughs and gasps, can smell the faint loquat on his breath from the ones he had eaten earlier. It wasn't long after that the young man, because he could not tell his secondary gender, had managed to summon back his sword even after it was supposedly lost. Wuxian had walked off, claiming to want to wring out his clothes, but Zhan had followed, worried he would be lured back into the water. However he saw a Water Nymph rise from the water holding up two swords, Wei Wuxian's and  Su She's.

He accidently snapped a twig and the creature vanished back into the water, leaving the swords. Wuxian seeing him pretends to be shocked that the swords had been flung up on the shore...

He never calls him out on the lie, they were not in Cloud Recess after all..

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Then the incident that led to Wei Ying("You saved me from the Abyss, the least you can do, Zhan, is call me by my name, Wei Ying!") leaving...

He was meditating in the Cold Pond when he heard panting breaths and suddenly Ying was pitching forward in a roll and landing in the shallow of the water. He was flushed and smelt like sex and Omega. This infuriated Zhan and he demanded he leave this instant. However, Ying had looked at him pleadingly, looking like he was near tears.

"It's not-- I know this looks bad-- I mean, it is bad, but-- I swear I didn't--" Is the panicked rambling, which normally would be endearing, but right now it was only serving to piss him off even more.

"Shameless!" He hisses, cutting him off. He is about to grab Wei Wuxian and throw him back up the path when he is suddenly hit with the scent that he's noticed lately. Freshly blooming lotus, the tingle of spices, rich and heady, and something sweet, yet forbidden. Something Omega. He gasps as Ying collapses into the water, face flushed and the scent grows stronger, but it is now soured with fear and panic.

"Sorry, sorry! But it--" He keens high in his throat, a sound only an Omega can make as he shudders.

"Wei Ying!?" He gasps, quickly covering his mouth and nose, but it is too late, he can taste the Omega on the back of his tongue and he wants to drink in more.

"Please... I... Just let me stay in the water... Please leave!" He cries and he does as asked, but not before catches a glimpse of Wei Ying stripping out of his wet robes, small breasts that he mistook for slight muscle.

He wrenches his gaze away just  as he hears several people running this way and with a quick sniff, he realizes it is the Alphas. Snarling low, he marches up the patch and while he never raises his voice, the smell of Pissed off Alpha and the deadly growl in his voice forces them stop and flee, only Jiang Cheng remains and he is with Jiang Yanli. He is about to grab the hotheaded Alpha and drag him away when his infamous temper flares.

"Damn that Wei Wuxian! Did he forget to mix the suppressants with the Alcohol!?"

"Wanyin!"

Both men are shock at the angry shout from the normally mild mannered, soft spoke Yanli. She even slaps her brother across the mouth with a glare on her face.

"Not now! Go and send a message to father and mother... NOW!" And for a moment she sounds like Madam Yu which makes both Alphas flee, but not before Lan Zhan points her in the right direction...

A week and half later, Jiang Fengmian is meeting with his Uncle. He is sitting in the window of the library watching  as a despondent Wei Ying is tying the last of his things to the wagon. No one is outside, ordered to remain in their rooms to study. Yanli is there trying to cheer him up and points up politely at the window and their eyes meet. He watches him slowly make his way toward the Library and he is expecting something outrageous like climbing up to the window, but when no one comes climbing through the window, he blinks only to hear the door slide open and there is Ying. he looks miserable, bags under his eyes from the sleepless nights he spent in the water, his nose is flushed with a head cold, but he cannot stay here any longer. According to what he heard from the Jiang Siblings, because it is not eavesdropping if one of the people pretty much screams what you are talking about for all to hear, Ying's suppressants had been replaced with something else and that he had ended up sick before waking up in full blown heat and to someone trying to break through his protection talisman. He fled when more Alphas showed up and shorted out the ward. Zhan has been searching ever since for the culprit and he would make sure that they not only served a severe punishment at his hands, but also at the hands of the Jiangs for endangering their adoptive son's virtue and life. Gone was the bright smiles, the laughter that crinkles his eyes like crescent moons. Instead is this pale, clearly unwell Omega, eyes red from crying and so diminished.

"Ah. ha, ha..." He tries to smile and laugh it off, but it comes out hollow and it is clear to both of them that he is fooling no one. "I guess you finally get your wish... this annoying one is leaving... but I would like to give this to you..." He carefully pulls something out of his robes and sets down two bunnies, one is pure white and the is black, they both have a bit of ribbon tied around their necks. He slowly approaches and sets them on the window seat and then pulls out a few rolled up pieces of parchment. "Thank you for indulging this shameless menace, Young Master Lan. May the Gods bless you always." 

He leaves without another word. without a glance back and as the doors shut, he feels his heart shatter...

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It is not until the attack on the Cloud Recess does he learn who had stolen the suppressants. It boils his blood that after Wei Ying's kindness and mercy, such a heinous act took place. How dare the spineless Beta sully not only their Clan name, but Lan Zhan's Wei Ying! But he cannot deal with the pissant because they were under attack. He saw red and knew nothing but blood, fire and hatred...

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Oh as if Zhan was not already going to kill this bastard when things settled, but he outed Wei Ying as an Omega when Wen Chao had been already beating him for not only humiliating him during the Lectures, but also for stopping Wen Zhuliu from melting Jiang Cheng's core. Ying had been dragged off after that and the next time he saw him, it was in the Cave of the Tortoise of Slaughter. He was again pale, sickly looking and battered. Jiang Cheng kept everyone away from him, berating him at the same time. It was just an utter mess. They were trapped with limited provisions and with a sick Omega. It wasn't until they were the only ones in the cave, having been trapped because once more that stupid little SHIT had made noise and the Tortoise caused a cave in, that he learned why he was so sick. On his shoulder, just above his breast was a brand with the Wen symbol in the center, festering with infection. He tried his best to take care of the Omega, but Ying was stubborn, he refused to be treated because Zhan had a broken leg which was getting worse as the days went on and if it kept up, he would either have a permanent limp or might have to amputate the limb. But between the pair of them, they managed to devise a plan and executed it with Zhan doing all the heavy work while Ying concentrated on burning the Turtle to death. they both passed out after it was dead and when he awoke again, he realized he was flying over what looked like the Burial Mounds and Wen Chao was glaring at him.

"So you're the one that bitch kept crying out for... tsk, how pathetic... no matter, Wei Wuxian is mine now, I marked him and I can't wait to tell him how you died... happy landing!"

And he fell...

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 He would wake up in the Burial Mounts, Golden Core severely cracked, but not shattered, Resentful energy filling in the gaps and filling him with power, anger and a thirst for revenge. The Demons recognize him as their new master and tell him as he recovers what has happened while he was in limbo. Golden eyes changed to Alpha red, but instead of the normal red color, they were a hellish red on black...

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Blinking out of his thoughts, he slowly looks up at Sect Leader Jiang Cheng, who is standing, Zandu in hand and aimed at him. Merely scoffs and continues to drink his tea until THAT voice speaks up and his head snaps towards the Bastard. One of his demons whispers in his ear, unseen by all but Wei Ying, who has not taking his eye of him much like he himself has not looked away until now.

Sect Leader Su She...

Chapter Text

Hello Readers of the Black Jade Prompts!

I am happy to tell you that I was inspired by your requests and have started a new fic from the Black Jade Prompt I made. While I will leave it open for others to try, this is to tell you to please check out the Heiyu's Shenhong Lianhua!

Thank you very much and happy reading!!

Chapter Text

Snippet:

"You should have become mine, Wei Wuxian..." Growls Wen Chao as he holds Wei Ying's face in a bruising grip, the young man looks pale and bone weary, but it hardly takes away from his beauty. Too bad to waist such beauty.

"... Never!" Wei Ying spat at him.

"Big mistake... hope for a soft landing...." and like that he falls...

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 Wei Ying gasps awake, but is instantly wracked with pain and unable to move. He doesn't have long to panic or writhe in pain before a handsome man appears, a black ribbon with golden clouds. The gold matches the gold of his eyes. He is devastatingly handsome. The sight shocks him enough that the man is able to make him drink a tonic of unknown origins and he coughs at the strong bitter taste. He wants to gag, to spit it up, but he cannot because his mouth is held firmly shut.

"Do not move...." he says and Wei Ying has no choice. "Broken bones... Fever."

"Where...what--?" He does not get to say more as he falls sleep, but before he is fully under he thinks he sees the body of a spider where legs should be...

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan has lived for as long as he can remember in the Burial Mounds. He grew up under the care of the demons and monsters who lived here. They told himnhe looked like a Lan and thus gave him the name Lan Zhan because his spiritual energy was a pure azure blue before he matured and was able to use the twisting black energy of the Mounds. He still has the blue energy but has little reason to use it beyond his Cultivation training. The Lans wore robes with clouds on them and a head ribbon with the clouds stitched into the center of it.

On of the demons wore tattered Lan Robes, she was beautiful in a horror story sense. She often cooed and coddled him and he thought of her as Niang. She was the strongest among the demons, the other claim that no fool would dare go up against a mother who was hellbent on protectingbher child. She had a body like his own human on top but where normally human legs should be he had the body of a spider. Hers was bigger and stronger. She said that the females are always bigger than the males so they van eat the inferior males, but she would never eat her child or allow another to eat him.

So here he grew, learned and Cultivated. He could make himself appear human but he had to avoid touching impure iron or he eould change back. He learned early that humans were terrified of him when he tried to help a lost child find their Niang only to be chased by an angry mob. Cultivators use to come here to try and kill not only him but all the others who lived in the black bamboo forest. But after they were killed and their spirits and spiritual energy was drained and feasted on to make them stronger. They stopped. No only someone lost or incredibly stupid comes this way.

So imagin his surprise when he heard someone screaming and rushed to find out who was in trouble, best to get the fool away before someone opts to make them into lunch or dinner. But he looks up when he finds where the sound it coming from and sees a beautiful creature falling from the heavens. He sends out his energy, the black tendrils wrapping around them and slowing them down as he quickly weaves a get frombhis silk and catches them. Carrying the human back to his cave, he lays them down on the single cot in a mostly forgotten desire to have a mate. He keeps it fresh and comfy and it paid off. Laying them down he begins to check them. His catch was not as good as he had hoped. A few bones took more damage than they had before and a couple broke on impact but they were alive. He sets to work undressing then to the soft crimson red under robe and the black one that was torn and beyond dirty.

He sends his smaller spiders to collect what he needs and crushes and mixes medicine to heal the injuries the human has. They are bruised in a way he recalls a few of the younger demons had when they first died and came back as demons. He growls because he now knows that the only way to get such bruises was to live with an abuser or to have been sexually assaulted. This human was beautiful and did not deserve to be treated with ill intent! If he learns who did this he will hunt them down and train them of their fluids. He set the bones of a clearly broken leg and cracked ribs before he carefully weaves a half cocoon of silk to keep his guest from moving too much and hurting themself. He had just finished securing the last bit of the silk when they bolted awake and in clearly blind panic and pain tried to get away only to hurt themself again. He easily stops them them and feeds them a strong tonic to ease their painand force them to sleep so their body can focus on healing. He says as much as silver eyes blink heavy and drugged before slipping shut once more...

Lan Zhan spent a week caring for his human guest. His mother was not pleased at first but then she became excited after she tasted his blood.

"Oh my darling, Lan Zhan, this is an Omega!! Out kind onlybhave Alphas so this human is very special and must be protected! Omegas can have babies no matter with who or what as long as they are an Alpha." She says and he blinks slowly. His mother checked the Omega frequently mumbling about heat suppressers and poor care and diet.

She even went and made a beautiful black robe with red flame like matters arojnd the sleeves and edges when he told he had to burn the old ones. She demanded he be in his human form and went to tell the others that they had to adopt human forms or normal animal forms to not scare the Omega. He was not use to his human legs but he would make due for now. He put on his best robes the black silk embroidered with deep azure blue cloud patterns while his head ribbon was decorated with gold to match his eyes. He tended his human and after three more days they awoke.

"Wh--"

"You are in the Burial Mounds... Safe." He is not one to talk, but the human seems to relax at the sound of his voice.

"Wa- wat...."

He grabs a clay cup and dunks it into the jar of fresh water his mother brought him this morning and helps the human drink. They blink their eyes and the silver orbs are clearer now and look like pure starlight, they are so beautiful.

"Thank You... My name is Wei Ying, courtesy Wei Wuxian... I would greet you properly but I cannot seem to move..."

"Do bot move, injured still. Lan Zhan, Lan Wangji." He gives a proper bow to the bedridden Omega and they blink.

"Lan? I though Grandmaster said that there are no Lans outside of the Sect...." Wei Ying muses before he looks around what he can of his dwelling. He had worked hard to make it warm and comfortable for himself and a future family with a nice set of tunnels that branch off into other areas and a few tunnels that lead out. "Anyway, it doesn't matter, the Wens scattered everyone... But it is strange tobsee a Lan not dressed in white or with such dark blue... Sorry I am rambling.... How long have I slept?"

"A week and 3 days."

"Forgive my son, he is not use to company... My Lan Zhan, come help mother set up dinner for our guest." A woman dressed in Lan Colors with black accents says. Her smile is a bit too sharp but not threatening as she smiles at them and sets the heavy pot she was carrying down on a low fire and then between her and her son they clear abd set up the table before Lan Zhan comes and unbinds the blanket he had draped over him fromnthe bed. With the release of pressure he whimpers in pain but it leaves when he feels the cool tigle of spiritual energy enter him and he gasps, slapping the hand away.

"No!! Don't I don--"

"Your core will take a while to heal, young master. Do not fret..." The madam says.

"But... It was melted.... I..."

"Not melted only cracked. You are very powerful and it would take someone of equal power to break it. Or enough people to overwhelm it. Relax. Lan Zhan will ease your pain... I made soup. I also have chili oil, I like my meal a bit spicy my son has a cat's tongue and cannot handle it..." She giggles as Wei Ying reluctantly allows him to finish feedingbhis spiritual energy to him.

"I love spicy food." He admits. "If it isn't red, it is not spicy enough..." He tells her and she laughs with delight. "Thank you Madam Lan--"

"Don't call me that. Call me Jun Li." She says so fiercely it scares Wei Ying to hide beyond Lan Zhan, who brings an arm up holding his sleeve so very little of the Omega is seen.

His mother blinks awaybher unbridled rage at the title and then bursts into giggles seeing the pair. Oh yes, she will coach her son in how to win this Omega's affections and hopefully they will become a bonded pair unlike herself and her abductor turned husband....

Chapter Text

Wei Ying didn't know what to think about Lan Wangji or Madam Jun Li. After his first mistake in calling her Madam Lan and she spazzed out slightly on him, he began tiptoing as it were around her. Clearly living in the Burial Mounds(and wasn't that a shock to learn) was clearly not doing her favors. However, Lan Wangji seemed immune and was like a calming draught for the woman or she seemed to realize she was scaring Wei Ying and calmed down. Wei Ying liked toing the lines in the sand, but even he was smart enough to keep his toes away from dangerous waters. He couldn't very well move much and needed to be helped into sitting positions during meals and just to have a few hours of being awake. The strange bedding was comfy, and a strange sticky silk to the touch. He watched Lan Wangji carefully unravel it from him when they needed to check his injuries and to begin moving his legs especially to make sure they would be strong enough to support him when it was time to leave. It was sort of like webbing. He supposed there was an abundant of spiders for them to collect all the webbing from and have adapted it to use daily. He wasn't sure how long he had been here, but he wasn't bored. Lan Wangji, while not a very talkative person, listened to him attentively and when Wei Ying would fall silent, he liked to watch those elegant hands, so big and so strong, but incrediably graceful, mix medicine or stew. He's fallen asleep to watching him play a pitch black Guqin, the melodies soothing if a bit haunting in their quality.

"Ne, Lan Wangji?" He calls one day, the man, not looking up from where he was copying a text, the brush moving in beautiful calligraphy across the blank sheets of parchment, "I know you said I was in a bad way when you found me... but how much longer? I need to find my Shijie and Didi... I'm worried." And he is, he doesn't bother trying to tease or weedle. He hasn't since he woke up.

"...." Lan Wangji paused in his writing, carefully setting the brush on an ink stained cloth and getting up to come over to where he was half sitting up. "Will check...."

Wei Ying held still, feeling the by now familiar icy caress of Lan Wangji's Spiritual power filling him, scanning him from head to toe. He gets lost in the oddly comforting chill that he doesn't realize it at first that Lan Wangji is removing the webbing like blankets from his legs until a hand suddenly appears in his line of vision. Blinking the daze away, he looks up at the stoic young man's golden eyes, how oddly lumious they appear in the dim lighting of the cave before falling back to his hand. Carefully putting his own hands into the offered hand. Wei Ying carefully sits up fully, feeling a bit stiff and sore form the long bed rest, but other than that nothing else. He slowly moves his legs, Madam Jun telling him that his back and legs took more damage than they had thought from the fall and that they had to be extra sure there was no permanent damage or he could lose his ability to walk. That frightened him because it would mean he would not be able to keep his promises or to enjoy his freedom ever again. So Wei Ying, perhaps for the first time in a long time, listened and obeyed the healer's orders to the letter. Shaking his head, Wei Ying takes a breath and stands up. At first his legs are wobbly like a newborn calf, but he slowly gets himself under control.

"Will try walking." Lan Wangji says once he's certain he can leave Wei Ying standing alone without him toppling over suddenly.

The man moves back a few paces and it honestly feels silly, an almost grown man taking shaky steps as if he were a baby learning to walk for the first time, but he doesn't let the thought fester. He walks towards Lan Wangji, steadily getting more assured that he can walk as he moves. He tires quickly however, but it is progress and he is elated.

"Mn.... three more days." The man says firmly after he helps Wei Ying back into bed, but does not bind him to it with the blanket, but rather passes him one that is still silky to the touch, but without the odd sticky quality to it. "Will practice again in an hour. Rest."

Wei Ying obeys, dozing off for a light nap, oddly a peace with this strange Alpha's commands. Was it because he didn't use the Voice like many others? Or perhaps it is because it is not truly a command, but a strong suggestion? Even Madam Jun says things that to others sound like an order, but they leave this subtle window for one to disobey, to refuse to follow and there is no consequence to follow. Or was it because it was Lan Wangji? The man was handsome, his presence was powerful in an oddly unabtrusive way, kinda like Wen Qing's the Alpha Female was a Healer so many often forget she is in fact an Alpha and very protective of her Omega brother, who much like Wei Ying, defied the norms of an Omega. They can be soft and delicate, Wen Ning was often a nervous stuttering mess, but he was a very strong young man, perhaps stronger than some Alphas physically, as well as a good hunter. Wei Ying believes they are on par with their archery skills, but he would need to test that theory out when he can finally meet up with his friends again. He hopes they are alright. Last he heard from Wen Ning, he and some of his relatives were going into hiding because Wen Rouhan, their father's older brother, was clearly mad and killing off members of his own family for defying him. Not to mention everyone outside of Qishan would not stop to think of the innocents who want nothing to do with the fighting would only see a Wen and kill them regardless. War was terrifying to say the least. He is roused from his doze an hour later and made to practice walking again...

"Lan Zhan, my Lan Zhan... you are letting the Omega go!?" His mother looks torn between pleased, angry and heartbroken late that evening as she spins silk from her spider half, weaving it into new robes for Wei Wuxian, carefully stitching protective spells to protect the Omega from harm as well as to allow him to use Resentful energy as a back up tool without needed to Cultivate it. She learned this after a few times her precious Lan Zhan tried to save a few fools who wandered into their lovely nest. She needed to prefrect them for her future daughter in-law(this goes for both male and female Omegas) and her future grandchildren. "Do you not see how rare he is? Male Omegas are incredibly rare, only one is born out of 20 female Omegas, who are only born 2 out of nearly a thousand Betas with Alphas being born every couple of hundred or so Betas."

"Will not force him... will not be HIM." He growls darkly and the shadows shake dangerously as his eyes turn black and red. She coos, reaching one of her legs over to lightly pat him on the head. "I did not mean to imply that... But there is a very high chance he will not come back..."

".... will follow." He finally said after a long pause, watching his mother stitching a beautiful lotus flower under a full moon in what looked like a divine garden into the back of the robe, the flame like patterns she noticed that the Omega seemed to like on the edges of the robe took a more flower like shape so when he bowed to greet someone they would see the Lotus the sleeves will make. It was done to represent his Sect, the Yunmeng Jiang's crest was a Lotus, but in royal purple. She even added a few touches in the royal purple to say the Clan's motto: To attempt the Impossible. along the lapels and hidden in the flames of the sleeves.

".... Are you certain?" She paused fully now, turning to look at him critically. She had been selfish so long ago, stealing away into the night, heavily pregnant with her precious Lan Zhan, running here, to the Burial Mounds where she died and came back as a Demon, gave birth to this monsterous, but beautiful young man. She abandoned her first born and she often voiced her regrets for not staying, even if she remained unhappily married to that MAN. She should have brought him with her so she could have both of her boys. She often told Lan Zhan stories of his big brother Lan Huan. Using him as a template for how her youngest should behave himself. She has managed to keep tabs of what her Eldest was doing and how he grew up, she even managed to use some of her Raven familiars to deliver letters to him and recieve them. She always enforced that he should never tell his father or anyone from the Lan Sect about the letters. Her boys always listened well to mother and it made her proud.

"Mn... Wei Wu- Wei Ying's special... I really like him, mama..." he says in a soft voice that melts her because it is so rare that he speaks normally or even using affectionate names and titles! And the fact he used Wei Wuxian's proper name made her know how serious he was. "And I would like to meet brother, finally... I am not a child anymore... no one can tell me what to do. I canot hope to take a mate if I cannot prove myself a man..."

"...." She sighs and smiles. "Very well... let Mama finish this last gift for Wei Wuxian so he can be protected always when you cannot be there to do it yourself... He's powerful, he's survived this long without much aid from us... I wonder if perhaps he has used Resentful energy before..."

"Mn... Fighting the Tortoise of Slaughter... He found a sword embued with resentful energy, could hear the screams of those who were sacrificed to it, their hunger for revenge. He promised them peace if they aided him in killing it while rescuing some of the others who were left behind due to severe injuries and sickness. He does not recall the actual fight but some of them opted to stay and have formed a half familiar bond." He explains.

"That sweet thing fought and killed that monstreous beast alone!?" She gasps and then grins with far too much teeth. "No Omega, no matter how pretty would ever be worth more... unless they are godborn, but still that much raw power should have only the best mate!" She practically crows. While she is biased, she believes no one but her Lan Zhan and Lan Huan would ever be worthy of such an Omega. And even then, she knows that Lan Zhan has already made his claim. She will simply have to find a suitable mate for her eldest when they can finally meet again and she properly begs his forgiveness for leaving him all these years. "Well, off to bed, it is nearly 9, a good boy like you must be well rested if he is to leave with his intended as promised."

"Mn... This one retires now... good night, mama..." He kisses her cheek after he bows to her like a good Lan would and leaves for his web, changing his form so he can sleep one last time in it for a long while. As he drifts off to sleep, he wonders if Wei Ying would accept him as he is or flee from him?

Chapter Text

Wei Ying is not too sure how to feel about the mystery that is Lan Zhan. He is very quiet and hard to read, but he is also very kind and surprisingly safe. Wei Ying rarely feels safe with anyone who is not his Shijie or Nie Huaisang. Both of whom are fellow Omegas. He was trapped in bed for a month an half, but he was not without good company. Hard to believe he was in the Burial Mounds. Even more shocking was the lack of demons... Unless his hosts were the demons?

But if that is true, they are much too nice to be ruthless killing machines. But he no expert. Their depature was delayed by a terrible storm but that gave him time to heal a bit more and to practice walking. He wanted to find Wen Qing, the grumpy Alpha would be able to tell how badly he was hurt and if he could recover, though Madam Jun was a skilled healer herself. He just trusted Wen Qing more even if she acted like his existence offedned her.

"Wei Ying..." Lan Zhan calls and he looks up, blushing because how can one man be so beautiful!? He was evrn more so than Xichen-ge! "Time to leave..."

"Ok!" He carefully gets up and grabs the qiankun pouch Madam Jun packed for him and moved to grab Lan Zhan's arm as they walk out of the cave abd into the deadly black forest. Wei Ying soon begins chatting, because he doesn't like silence. Lan Zhan listens closely and adds input every now and again. By the time they get to Yiling, Wei Wing is tired again and it frustrates him but Madam Jun is there with a donkey waiting for them.

"Can't have you over exerting yourself. Now then Lan Zhan, you take good care of him!" She says brightly and her son nods once. "I will meet you in Ciayi town in two months."

"Mn." Lan Zhan nods once as he accepts the donkey from his mother. The thing seems to give them a judging look but does nothing else.

"Also I booked you a room for a few days. This way Wei Wuxian can try and get in contact with one of his siblings." She smiles and hands over one of her crows, the red eyed bird happily perches on Wei Ying's shoulder as she waves and walks back towards the Burial Mounds.

"Thank You, Madam Jun!!" Wei Ying bows as much he can without making himself dizzy and then stands up, holding obto Lan Zhan as they head into town get the donkey settled and go to their room. Wei Ying quickly scribbles out a message, purposely making it messy so only his brother and sister can read it. He then carefully draws a symbol in blood to prove it is him. He lets it dry before rolling it up and sticking it in the tube harness that Lan Zhan has put on the bird. "Could you take this to my Shijie? She should be in Meishan if not being secreted away to Lanling."

The bird nods once, intellegent red eyes piercing into his own, the demonic bird reading his memories in the moment of eye contact before it sees "Shijie" and takes off heading toward Meishan first.

"Will take a day or two. Wei Ying needs to rest..." Lan Zhan says and Wei Ying smiles.

"Ok... But only if Lan Zhan reads to me..." He chirps cutely. "I like Lan Zhan's voice. It is calming and soothing..."

"Mn, will read..." He agrees and pulls a book of poems out of one of the punches. Wei Ying gets comfortable leaning on him and as that rich deep voice reads he slowly drifts off. If he dreams that this was another time and another place where it would be his mate reading to him as the soft shrieks of children at play echo around him. No needs to know but him...

Chapter Text

The morning of the fourth day dawns with no sign of the crow, but Lan Zhan promises Wei Ying that his mother's birds are incredibly smart and will find them no matter where they are in the world. So they left Yiling and headed towards Yunmeng first. Wei Ying explained that the reason he fell into the Burial Mounds was because he managed to escapse the Tortoise of Slaughter's cave after coming up with a rather insane and very dangerous plan to kill the animal from the inside out. He even still had the strange sword that helped him. Showing it to Lan Zhan, he watched in amazement at quiet companion seemed to strum the wisps of resentful energy that danced off the blade as if he were playing his guqin. The energy danced to his motions and seemed to calm down and the blade began to change shape as his fingers moved until it was a circular shape with bright red string running through and around holding a black crystal in the center and what looked like twin tigers chasing each other's tails were carved into it. Lan Zhan nods at his handwork and gives it to Wei Ying.

"For Wei Ying... smaller, safer..." He tells him.

"But..." Wei Ying blinks and slowly takes it. The seal, because that what it looks like, hums and even vibrates in his hand as if recognizing him. "I don't know what to do with it..."

"Wei Ying used it to kill Xuanwu, Xuanwu was made of Yin as well... Wei Ying can use Yin and Yang energy." He tries to explain himself, but grows a bit frustrated when he cannot find the right words.

"... Oh! It's because I used Yin to fight Yin! So I can actually use Yin energy! Yes, I can finally prove to everyone that I'm not crazy! But Lan Zhan uses Yin energy too." He blinks and silver meets gold as the Alpha nods once.

"Since young..." Lan Zhan agrees and then blinks as he turns and there is the crow. "Yaya is back."

"Yaya?" Wei Ying smiles at the cute name for the crow, who circles them once and lands on Lan Zhan's hand. "Thank you, Yaya, such a pretty girl."

She preens at the praise and lets him lightly scratch at the underside of her chin and the top of her head before he grabs the message out of her tube harness and then hops up onto Lan Zhan's shoulder. The pair had been resting on the side of the road, letting Lil' Apple graze and get some water. The donkey had a bit of an attitude, but seemed to understand that Lan Zhan would not take her shit, though she seemed to take her annoyance out on Wei Ying, who only wanted to be friends. Cranky demon donkey. He shakes his head and reads the note, smiling at the 'recipe' his sister sent him.

"Oh good, Shijie is safe... Oh no... Yunmeng was attacked!" Wei Ying gasps. "Based on the time frame, I was still with the Xuanwu or it was after I escaped and got captured by Wen Chao... Tsk, that's why he said no one would come save me! He attacked my home... Uncle and Madam Yu..." He sighs as he keeps reading, hoping his sister hand seen their brother. "Oh thank the gods! A'Cheng's safe and has met up with some of the Rebels heading to Qinghe."

"A'Cheng?" Lan Zhan asks, his tone a bit cooler than he intended, but he was feeling a bit jealous.

"My didi, he's a prickly thing, always gets mad when I remind him that I'm a week older than he is so he should listen to me, but does he? Nope!" Wei Ying answers, missing the relief on Lan Zhan's face. "So there is no point going near Yunmeng... not unless we want to run into Wang Lingjiao, that fucking conniving bitch..." He hisses. She had tried to brand his friend, Mianmian's face just because she was jealous of how pretty the Alpha female was, but she was an Alpha! Wen Chao may be a pig, but even he knows better than to get his dick near woman who's dick is bigger than his and can easily break him in two... Okay so maybe not, but he likes to believe that Mianmian is a super strong woman because no one who puts up with the Jins like she does is weak!

"Should still go... lay Sect Leader and Madam to rest..." Lan Zhan tells him and Wei Ying considers it for a long moment. There is the chance to also get some revenge for his Sect and rescue anyone who is still alive, but it is just the two of them and Wei Ying's still too weak to do anything. "Will protect Wei Ying..."

"... But... alright, but if it looks hopeless, the most we will do is get a count of who is alive and as soon as we get to Qinghe, we'll ask for help to rescue them. I don't want to cause any needless trouble for you."

"Wei Ying, no trouble." Lan Zhan assures and then gets Lil' Apple, who gives a token bray, but follows him. Wei Ying is helped onto her back and after giving Lan Zhan a heading they are on their way...

It is the dead of night when they get to the edge of Lotus Pier, the half burned city on the lake is a horrible parody of her former glory and Wei Ying cannot stop the mournful Cry that falls form his lips as he skins to his knees into the muddy bank of a lotus pond nearest them. Even from this distance he can see the Golden Sun insignia of the Qishan Wen Sect and his blood begins to boil with anguish and rage. Lan Zhan is shocked at the devastation mere humans can bring and Wei Ying's pain is a bitter thing on the back of his tongue mixed with the lingering smell of burn wood and flesh. He spots a boat of Wen Soldiers and discreetly flexes his fingers and harder version of his webs coil around his hand like steel wires and he throws them out, catching the two men unawares and with a quick yank, he slits their throats silently and pulls the boat closer with their bodies in it. Wei Ying gasps and looks at Lan Zhan, who silently pulls the two bodies out and strips them of their Uniforms and thankfully they have similar builds so when Lan Zhan hands him the smaller uniform, Wei Ying quickly understands what they are doing and moves over to some tall reeds to change his clothes, rubbing silt and mud onto his scent glands and onto the blood patches on the uniform so no one realizes he not the guard or an Omega. He carefully fits the helmet on his head, it is almost comically big on him, but it hides most of his face which is good.

"Come..." Lan Zhan says after he carefully hides the two corpses in the shallows and weighs them down with rocks so they cannot float away but also are not visible from the single road that circles this lake. Once in the boat, the Alpha begins rowing, following Wei Ying's instructions to get into the waterways. As they go, He discreetly sends out his tiny spiders to help them find where everyone is. Though finding the dead is not hard since the Wens have laid all their bodies along the main river path in and out of Lotus Pier and have disgracefully hung the bodies of the former Sect Leader and his wife from the main arch leading into the Jiang House. Wei Ying has to stuff a fist into his mouth to keep his anguish in check, seeing the disgrace the Wens held for his family and so many faces he grew up surrounded by. The Uncle who always scolded him whenever he caught the naughty Omega stealing lotus pods from his lake, the three shihis who always begged him for another fanciful story before bed time. The Shixiong, who once promised to win an archery contest for Wei Ying, but ended up in 7th place and very embarrassed to have lost. And the pretty jiejies he always flirted with as he helped them with their wash or sell flowers. The Auntie who gave him free steamed buns! Though what crushed him so much worse was that not even children were spared!! Their tiny bodies dumped without care and it hurt, gods, it hurts!!

Lan Zhan does not know these people, but even he can feel rage and not all of it is just his own, no he sees many are resentful and itching to rise and Lan Zhan will let them, he will guide them to getting revenge! But first he needs to help Wei Ying locate the living. They dock and Wei Ying can only stare up at his dead Uncle and his cranky aunt. He does not see Zidian on his aunt's wrist anymore and wonders if it was stolen.

"We cannot get them down just yet." Lan Zhan tells him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Patrols will notice they are missing..."

"Tsk..." Wei Ying nods bitterly, but he still gives them the three bows and says a prayer for their souls to rest before he gets up and leads the way to where the prisoners would normally be held. As they walked through Jiang House, Wei Ying had to resist punching every Wen he saw, especially those he found in his and his Shijie's rooms.

"Damn what I wouldn't give to have caught the omegas! Breaking those sweet virgin cunts open on my cock!" one man laughs as he sniffs one Jiang Yanli's night robes and Wei Ying nearly sees red.

"Tch, assuming you got to them first! But hey, a lose cunt is just as good! Easier to slide into! Would pop my knot and breed them nice and good!" Laughed another as he makes a vulgar thrusting motion.

"Hey, I think this Omega was inventing something..." Wei Ying mentally curses as he and Lan Zhan get closer to where there area bunch of noisy bastards in his room looking through his research. With a well practiced eye, Wei Ying sees that nothing is missing... Yet, but that doesn't mean he wants to risk it. Checking the Hall, he quickly draws two symbols in the air, one is an infinite loop ward and the second is a silencing spell, both of which are his inventions and once he sees the faint shimmer of purple of the two wards in place, he nods to Lan Zhan, who smirks and unsheathes his sword.

"If you're looking for me... I'm right here..." Wei Ying calls and pulls off his helmet and they gasp.

"Wait, the Head Disciple, Wei Wuxian is an Omega?! Holy shit, these people are fucking retarded!" another rude Wen pig laughs and gets up. "Well come here, little Omega, lemme show you your place... on your knees with my cock in your mouth!" The man makes a jerking motion at crotch level and Wei Ying adopts a seductive smile.

"Ohh, yes... lemme have it..." He moans making the men all flush with desire, but then his coy smile turns wicked as Lan Zhan darts forward, decapitating the bastard that talked about forcing Wei Ying to his knees followed by the two who talked about breaking and breeding the Omegas before the others come alive. The fight is quick, but noisy. Thankfully no one dared to come down the hall or escape into said hall or they would find themselves walking the same length of hall for however long the ward is up, not that they would notice since Jiang House was something of a maze to begin with. Lan Zhan flicks the last of the blood off his blade, he was that good that he did not leave a single drop on anything of Wei Ying's. The Omega wastes no time getting his draws open, finding his qiankun pouches and loading them with everythingin his room that wasn't touched by these bastards, doing the same to his sister's and brother's rooms. He breaks the spells and they hurry further in until they get to the inner throne room not to far from his aunt and uncle's rooms, he sneaks in to try and salvage what he can, such as his Uncle's formal Guan and the hair pins his aunt always wore, her wedding pin and another one that his uncle gave her. He found the bodies of her two handmaids and he carefully arranged them into a more respectable position and closed their eyes. They may not have liked him, but he always respected their skills and dedication to his aunt. He prayed for them as well before turns to see Lan Zhan sitting down on the floor with his guqin out.

"Lan Zhan?"

"Will make them pay now... Wei Ying, find the survivors..." He orders as he begins to play a dark lullaby of some kind, the melody deceptively calming.

Wei Ying shivers as the room grows darker and then gasps when his aunts maids begin to get up their undead eyes looking at him and for a moment recognition in their eyes and he is half expecting them to slap him, but they bow and shuffle off. More shuffling is heard and soon screaming. Wei Ying wastes no time grabbing the keys to the dungeons out of his uncle's desk and racing out a door and towards the prison. He wats for the guards to run towards the commotion and then enters. Those he finds are alive are far too few, He quickly calls for a few that he recognizes and when they see the uniform they spit curses, but Wei Ying gives them one of his one-liners and they gasp.

"Wei Wuxian!? You're alive!!" They gasp.

"Yes, if barely... come on... we need to get you guys out of here!" He hisses and opens up the cages. Many are civilians and the few Cultivators are all too young or too old. This does not bode well. "No one else survived?"

"Most of us didn't, but when we saw they had killed Master Jiang, we sent as many as we could out into the wilds..." One of the instructors says and Wei Ying sighs in relief, glad that more than he thought had survived.

A particularly loud scream rented the air, Wang Lingjiao's constant screams of 'save me' brought a twisted pleasure to his belly.

"What the hell is happening out there!?"

"I met a new friend and... well he's having some fun right now... This way... take these and swim to the south east lake, you should be close enough to the Lanling Jing roads." He passes them each pouches of medicine and rations with some money, he always made a bunch of them in case he lost one or in the event of an attack on Lotus Pier. Thank god his paranoia paid off for once.

"What about you?"

"I got my friend... once he's done playing, we're going to meet up with Shijie and a'Cheng."

"Young Master Jiang and Lady Jiang are safe1? Oh thank the heavens!"

"Yes, Shijie is in Lanling for now, a'Cheng is on his way to Qinghe." He tells them.

"We'll make our way to Lanling first and those of use willing to fight will head to Qinghe... be careful and see you soon." The instructor says and they all bow and carefully slip into the water as Wei Ying whistles and water nymphs appear to help protect them as they make the long swim. Once he's sure he got everyone, he hurries back to where he left Lan Zhan, only to find him missing. Worried he follows the screams and sees the Fierce Corpses carefully laying his Aunt and Uncle down on the dock while the Wens try to cut them down only watch them get back up. Lan Zhan is sitting on the steps, playing a faster, more fierce song, the sharp twangs almost grating in a beautifully angry song. However he notices that Wang Lingjiao is safely on a boat and quickly getting away. He growls, but he's not going to let his anger win. He will get her later. The song goes from angry to peaceful and to his amazement the Fierce corpses all begin to lay themselves down in neat rows and when the song is done, they are simply back to being dead and the oppressive resentment calms and vanishes.

"Could not get the woman..." Lan Zhan says apologetically.

"No... you did so much more than I thought you could... thank you Lan Zhan..."

"Mm... Will help you bury them..." He promises.

"Thank you again..." Wei Ying smiles. "I should honestly be freaking out, that was scary, but... I'm not scared of you..."

"Am glad." Lan Zhan gives the tiniest smile and Wei Ying nearly has a heart attack at how devastating he looks with it. But he quickly turns away to find supplies to get everyone buried and laid to rest even making memorial plaques for them. They will join the others eventually...

Chapter Text

This is what happens when you have a drunken dream and the first thing you do is write a prompt instead of going to get an aspirin....

Prompt: Wei Ying was a normal high school/college student when one day he stumbles upon a pair of Cat Demons, Xiao Xingcheng and Song Lan, who give him a magical Flute and tell him he must help them find their lost Princess. What is an Omega to do but help out? And who is this mysterious Hanguang Jun who keeps popping up to help him when the Qingshan Generals seem to almost have him cornered!?

All Wei Ying wanted was to attend his lessons, fail at flirting with his tutor, Lan Zhan, play his flute and try and make sense of these dreams from a past ling forgotten due to a deadly car crash that killed his parents and left him suffering from terrible memory loss.

Sailor Moon/Moon Princess= Wei Ying

Tuxedo Mask= Lan Zhan

Luna/Artemis & their daughter, Diana = Xiao Xingcheng/Song Lan & their son, Xue Yang

Queen Beryol= Wen Rouhan

Generals= Wen Chao, Wen Xu, Wen Zhuliu, Wang Lingjiao

Sailor Scouts= Wen Ning, Nie Huaisang, Mo Xuanyu, Jiang Yanli, Wen Qing, Jiang Cheng, Lan Jingyi, Lan Sizhui and Jin Ling

Snippet:

"You will not beat us, little flowers! This is where your future ends!!" Cackled that witch, Wang Lingjiao as she summons up more ofnher mindless demons to kill the three Scouts who claim to have come from the future to save their parents and to prevent the corruption of the Yiling Princess.

"Dammit I knew following you two would get me killed!!" Shouted the young man dressed in beautiful gold and cream robes as he holds his hand out to the side summoning his bow and jumping high into the air to start raining blessed arrows down on the demons. The two white and blue dressed boys nod and one pulls out a small Guqin while the other twirls a white ivory flute into his hands and they quickly begin playing a powerful song to create a barrier but suddenly a monstrous broar startles them and theybturn to see something barreling through the demons, destroying any that do not get out of the way in time and when it stops they see a man in black with heavy chains wrapped tight around his arms and chest.

"Uncle...." The one playing the flute gasps, tears springing tk his eyes recognizing the one nicknamed the Ghost General in their era.

"DAMMIT WHO LET HIM OFF THE CHAINS!?"  Bellows someone in dark purple robes as they land and quickly spin, several whips shooting out and producing purple lightning.

"Uncle....." The golden clad boy breathes out just as emotional as his friends as he lands between them. They turn when a piercing bolt of light circles them and then shoots up and bursts into flowers. The demons whobhad been struck suddenly becoming impaled on flowering spires of wood before a woman glides gently down in soft lavender. "M... Mother..." The boy whimpers out.

"Huh? What the hell are you three doing here!? It is dangerous, this is no place for baby disciples to be running around!!" The angry purple clad man demands stomping up to them but gasps when suddenly the demons begin killing each other and turns to where they can see their leader, the Head Scout floating gently through the air on a bed of black energy.

"Finally!!" Lingjiao cackles as she summons up her best demons, made just for this little pissant! She snaps her fingers and the four demons appear and attack. But before they can get close to the startled Scout they are knocked back by a powerful blast from a Guqin.

"Who is that!?" The mini Guqin player asks seeing a man in pure white and a half dragon mask.

"Hanguang Jun..." The other two boys breathe remembering the description from their studies. "He's out King and...."

"My dad.... Before he lost his power...." The younger blue and white clad boy breathes as tears fill his eyes. "If we are seeing them so young and alive for more than half of them... It means... It means The spell worked! We can help find and save my mother and save our family!!" He gasps and then gets a firce look in his eyes. "Sky, Peony; cover your ears..."

They do just as the black and red flutist and he put their flutes to their mouths and as if they are of one mind they play a shrill, piercing sound and the Ghost General roars and suddenly great wings of black mist burst from his back and the chains turn into great snakes. He lunges at the four demons as the pair play and then to everyone's shock a black figure suddenly joins the Ghost General, giggling and laughing insanely.

"You brought him with You!?" The gold clad boy yells, just as angry as his Uncle was rumored to be.

"Shut up he needs to concentrate to keep A-Yang under control." The other boy hisses. "A-Yang is only a danger to those who get him mad or try to disrespect the Princess!"

"Considering that the Yiling Princess went evil in our time--" he cuts off when a sour note is hit and he winces. Now is not the time. He Will wait. Between the two berserkers the demons or defeated but Lingjiao has fled once more and Hanguang Jun gave chase. This allows the others to finally arrive and finish off the remaining demons. When all is said and done. The flutists put their flutes away.

"Crimson Lotus!?" The older Scouts hurry to where he is falling the Ghost General now back to his senses, quickly catches him and between himself and his sister they begin treating their leader. "I told you to stay home you fool..."

Chapter Text

"This damn idiot!! You are sick why would--"

"Shut up, Spider!!" the woman in red and white snaps. "Ghost, hold him."

The three Junior Scouts watch her pull very thin needles out and carefully place them in specific spots. Once she does, his body goes painfully still, almost like he is dead. But before the three young teens can panic, she opens his robes and they gasp seeing a festering curse wound.

"Shit... I knew he was acting strange..." She mutters as she holds her hand out and scroll appears in it and when she unfurls it in a fluid motion, a bag appearing and the scroll flashes and she reads it. "Damn it, the demon from last week has a necrotizing curse bite. Alright I know what I need to do. Qinghua, I need these herbs." She points at the list that appears closer to the lavender dressed woman.

"I got it..." She takes her cross bow and chants a spell before shooting the bolt into the floor and several plants appear. She harvests them and begins to prepare them as the instructions say.

"Tsk...." The darker purple clad man growls and turns to start clearing the demon bodies when he remembers the Juniors. "Hey didn't I tell you brats to leave?"

"Hey, that hag attacked us out of nowhere and when did we have time to run!?" Shouted one of the two hot heads, causing the youngest of the three to facepalm but then the boy yelped as he was picked up.

"Sky, don't go mouthing off to the old man!" The black clad teen, who looked perhaps 18 or 19, says grinning meanly. "And you, Peony, how dare you think that I would leave you three by yourselves. Yinyu... follow." He says and turns to leave, but stops seeing a scout in green, black and gold, holding a fan before his face, eyes calculating and beside him is another scout in light brown and red, his face is artfully painted like one of the male actors of ancient China who would play the female roles of epic plays and operas. "You must be Wudaomi and that makes you... Nandan, then... and the old man with the short fuse is Leizhizhu... Hi, now bye--"

When he goes to teleport away with his charges, having grabbed Yinyu as well as Tiankong and Mudan to get away. However, he vanished for only a second only to land in the same exact spot before two new arrivals appeared. He gasped because he knew them and the last time he had seen them alive, he was only a boy of 11. And his mother, he had his eyes back as did his father! He felt his emotions suddenly static out and knew they needed to go. This was too much too soon for the four of them, they needed to call High Councilor Yao!

"It is rude to leave before you introduce yourselves and even ruder to call names." His mother scolds in that gentle way he always remembered. Only a hint of disapproval in his voice, to make you feel even more guilty.

He cannot help how his head bows, how he scoffs his foot in the way he always did during a scolding, peeking up at his parents through his bangs and shifting side to side. he would have his hands behind his back if he didn't have three Juniors in his hold. He got the strength from his father, but he was fast and light on his feet like his mother.

"Oh now you two show up!" Leizhizhu yells.

"...." the black clad teen watches his father spin and strike faster than he could follow and the angry spider is passed out in his arm from taking a chop to the back of the head. "I can't believe we left the army to this hothead..." He mutters.

"We didn't exactly have a choice. And you cannot deny that the army was very well trained under his command. Now then, please tell us who you are and why you were here? I do not recognize your robes." cam the gentle voice of his mother again.

"We were just passing through when that hag attacked us. We defended ourselves." Tiankong says in a calmer tone of voice now that he's not being yelled at. Though he can see where Mudan gets his short temper from. How that works is beyond him since his mother is so gentle and mild mannered and even his father was a calm individual.

"So we gathered... but that doesn't tell us who you are." his father says, he shifts slightly and it makes them tense slightly.

"We're not enemies if that's what your worried about. Trust me, we aren't with Qishan, we would rather be chopped up into millions of little pieces than ever side with them..." He says and then thinking, he stands up straight, which puts the others on high alert. "Alright, I'll bite and tell you something, but first how old are you, Wudaomi?"

".... 15... why?" those grayish brown eyes narrow slightly behind the fan.

"15... that means Princess Yiling, is about 14 going to be 15 now..." He muses.

"Princess!? You know the Princess?!" His mother gasps, looking both hopeful and cautious now.

"Yes, in about 5-8 years, an attack happens, I don't know what happened, but the Princess becomes corrupted and adopts the name Yiling Laozu... The Scouts band together and kills the Princess and in the following 13 years after that, our world begins to fall to a being called the Yin Master. Almost all of the Scouts die during that time and the King, Hanguang Jun, sacrificed his Golden Core to create a crystal barrier to keep the Yin Master trapped. The man who raised me after my parents were killed when I was a child, had developed a spell, but we didn't have time to test it out. He sent us back to a point in time that could help drastically shift the future. So no, we are not with Qishan or Yin Master, those bastards orphaned us! Destroyed our home and corrupted our Queen! So now that you know, let us--"

"Shenhong Lianhua!?" Zhiyu Zhiji cries out and they curse.

"Put me down!!" Yinyu demands and wiggles free before running back to where the leader of the Scouts was clearly in distress. "I can help... please?"

"You are a child--"

"I am not!" He snaps and his eyes flash from their silver to gold in his anger and she blinks. "Forgive me, it is forbidden to yell at an elder, unless they are being bullheaded. I can help. I know Cleansing and Restoration." He holds up his flute, the mirror image and yet exact opposite of Chenqing. The tassel is blue with a single black pearl where Chenqing has a red tassel and a white pearl.

"Fine... It will help me clear this curse and keep him from bleeding out." Zhiyu Zhiji nods. "Shishigui, help me."

"Ok..." He nods, trans forming the chains into ribbons and quickly tying his billowing robes against his frame and leaning down to help his sister.

When he is given the signal, he begins playing and soon is joined by Tiankong playing on his guqin and Mudan sings the healing song, all three helping as they try to reverse the curse. Unknown to them, Shenhong Lianhua hears another guqin, playing a song without a name, but somehow very familiar allowing him to relax and allow the others to help him fight off this curse...

Unknown to them, this very moment helps to shift the future onto a new path...

Chapter Text

Prompt:

Wei Ying lost his eye sight due to the stray dogs that attacked him as a child. When he and his siblings go to Gusu Lan for the lectures, Jiang Fengmian requests that someone guide and read to Wei Ying so he can keep up with his studies. Lán Wangji is assigned the task and is admittedly smitten with the cheerful young man who can see the world in a unique way and comes up with alternative uses of both Spiritual and Resentful energy, much to Lan Qiren's displeasure.

Now what if the Wens attack the Lectures and capture all the Disciples in attendance, taking particular pleasure in harassing a Blind Wei Ying. However the more they harass him, the darker the Second Jade gets and when Wei Ying is locked away for the night with a monsterous dog, leaving him a sobbing mess come morning. The Jade finally cracks and decides to take things into his own hands to protect his Wei Ying...

Snippet:

Lan Zhan watched Jiang Yanli carefully administering medicated drops to Wei Ying's eyes as Jiang Cheng holds the boy's hands firmly down. They explained the drops protect his eyes from further damage but they sting horribly and there is little they can do. So it takes the twonof them to keep Wei Ying from hurting himself further. After half an hour Wei Ying is released and Jiang Cheng gently, which is odd for the brash, hot tempered young Alpha, wipe the excess away from the Omega's eyes. Wei Ying offers a bright smile and his thanks before he tells themnto go enjoy their free day. He would be spending his in the garden listening to sounds of nature.

Lan Zhan cannot help but follow at a distance, wondering if perhaps in another life time Wei Ying could see. Would he be this calm, but cheerful young man or would he be a loud and charasmatic nuisance? Would Lan Zhan have fallen so readily for him or perhaps it would take time for those feelings to take root and bloom?

"You can join me, Hanguang Jun..." He is startled at the causal way Wei Ying calls to him. "You're good, I will give you that, but I have long find tuned my other senses and adapated the energies around me to make it next to impossible for one tonget the drop on me..."

Lan Zhan hesitates before joing Wei Ying in the bench he has chosen and he cannot help but look at hazy Silver eyes as Wei Ying turns to smile at him, just slightly off center.

"See, isn't this better? Tell me, what color are the flowers?" Wei ying asks and Lan Zhan looks at the sea of white and pale yellow blooms around them.

"White and pale yellow... Gentians." He says, feeling strangely off kilter.

"Oh, pretty!" Wei Ying smiles. "I miss being able to see colors... I especially miss seeing the various shades of red. My mother's robes were always some color of red and black; the colors of her clan. I were them in her honor but I wouldn't know if I am indeed wearing them or pink and orange. Some of the kids use to purposely lie to me about the color as a prank... I can tell by the material these are Gusu Lan robes. And I heard you wear predominantly white with accents in light blue, almost sky blue and paler."

"Mn." He hums with a nod and Wei Ying laughs softly.

"Hey, Lan Wangji, would you tell me a story about your home? Paint me a picture with your words so I can see your home?"

"Gladly..."

Chapter Text

Wei Ying was not like anyone else he's ever met. The Omega listened closely as he told him stories or read to him, drew him into debates and theorized with him. When they were out on patrols, the Omega offered aid to everyone, never asking for repayment; only accepting the gifts when those they aided insisted. While he could not see the world like Lan Zhan could he saw the energies that flowed through the world. The Yin and Yang flowing like a pair of koi fish in a mating circle. never mixing but always in perfect balance. It would explain that despite his disability, Wei Ying had earned his place as the Head Disciple of the Yunmeng Sect. Jiang Wanyin did not allow anyone to disrespect his adoptive brother and often had to be held back by said male. Zhan grew to love Ying more and more with every moment they spent together in the library or taking walks. His uncle, who had been displeased at first because Wei Ying was mischievous, straightforward and open minded. It didn't help that when his uncle learned that he was the son of Cangse Sanren, the man had nearly Qi deviated, but now, seeing how much the calmer version of that woman, had brought his quiet nephew out of his shell, he could not be angry anymore. For the most part. Lan Huan absolutely adored Ying for drawing his little brother out and helping him bloom.

"I'm going to miss being here when we're done with our studies and I have to go home to Lotus Pier." Ying said one day as they sat in the field of gentians. "Though I will be glad to go home where it's warmer and the food doesn't taste like medicine all the time." He giggles, poking his tongue out cutely with a wrinkle in his nose not unlike a bunny.

"Will miss Ying..." He says without hesitation. "Will try to visit... Will Ying visit as well?"

"Of course! I will be sure to bug Auntie ZiZi until she throws me all the way here!" He throws his hands up as if he were flying in the air and then falling back to imitate how he will land in the Cloud Recess.

"Please do not." Zhan begs, taking him a little too serious. He has heard of the Purple Spider, she was a fierce woman and could cow even his bullheaded Uncle. If Wei ying harassed her enough, she really would throw him back here from all the way in Yunmeng.

"I'm only joking. Auntie would tie me up in warm blankets and put me in a wagon here. She's too worried about hurting me too seriously to actually throw me. ChengCheng on the other hand would get tossed like day old rubbage! He can handle it!" He laughs.

Zhan gives a soft huff, that is his laughter and Ying giggles, cheering that he made him laugh. Lan Zhan wished these days would last forever, this gentle peace and happiness. He takes Ying's hand, lacing their fingers together and Ying looks at his cheek, blinking confused.

"Zhan?" He wonders.

"This-- I love you, Wei Ying..." He says and the gasp Ying gives and his sightless eyes actually lock onto his and it feels like something slots into place between them.

"Re- really?" He whispers.

"Mm... Will always love Wei Ying... Lans only love once; it is a love so fierce and so deep, it is both a blessing and a curse." He tells him. "May I tie my ribbon around your hand?"

"Ye... Yes... I... I love you too, but I can't see... if we have children... I--" He starts, tears filling his eyes, but Lan Zhan kisses him softly, making him gasp in shock.

"Wei Ying need not see, I am your eyes, I will see them for both of us. Wei Ying will see them with his heart." He says firmly. "See them with his soul... See them in a way I cannot." He swears and it makes Wei Ying cry around another kiss. "Wei Ying need never fear..."

"As long as you are here..." He promises. "I love you so much.. you are too perfect..."

"No, Ying is perfect." He denies and kisses away any protest that might have cropped up...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

He should have known better than to hope the days of peace and happiness would last. The attack came late one night, He had stayed up past bedtime, working on his composition for Ying. Wangxian as its title. He had just worked out where Wei Ying could harmonize with him when someone burst into his room. He barely dodged the blow of a sword, rolling out of the way, kicking up Wangji and with a shrill strum, blasted the attacker out of the door. He holds onto Wangji as he grabs Bichen off her stand and runs out. As soon as he is out his door is when the warning bell finally sounds. But it is too late, there is fighting all over the place. He runs out of his dwelling and runs into his brother.

"Wangji--"

"Get the scrolls out of the library and run... NOW!!" He yells and it shocks his brother, but he nods. "Be careful, brother... We will meet again."

"Wangji... Xiao Ying!" He gasps recalling one of the few Omegas in attendance and would be vulnerable right now.

Zhan snarls, turning towards the fighting and bolts before his brother can stop him. He cracks the sheath of Bichen over a few skulls of the attackers, allowing the few Omegas to flee towards the evacuation tunnels with the children and Elders too old to fight. He sees his father for the first time in years standing beside his Uncle, but he does not stop to watch or say anything. His sole focus is getting to his beloved. It wasn't hard to for people to realize the gold and blue ribbon he wore every day of his life since he was old enough to not want to play with it had been replaced with a simple white one with a pair of red lotuses sewn into the ends. His scared ribbon was tied into a braid that Ying asked him to make so he can know that he always has it with him. If anyone noticed that Ying sported the new hair decoration, they either kept quiet not sure how to feel or thought it was a joke of some kind. He didn't give two shits, his only focus was making sure no one who bore him ill will realized that Ying was his and tried to hurt him to get at Zhan. He arrives at the Lotus Pavilion where the Yunmeng Sect disciples were staying. The place was on fire and he does not remember screaming for Wei Ying and running into the building.

He pulls Bichen out and muttering a small release spell he sends out a wave of ice to clear a path. He calls for Wei Ying and hears his Omega crying in his room. He hurries in, bashing through the wooden doors and quickly grabbing his frightened beloved.

"Do not breathe...." He tells him as the smoke grows thicker. He banishes Wangji into his qiankun pouch and swings Bichen once more to clear the flames once more. His Omega has Suiban in his hand, his medicine and his qiankun pouch before he bolts out. He curses when the original path was engulfed in flames again, but then he sees Jiang Cheng, who is soaking wet to keep from catching fire and has a wet blanket with him. "Jaing Cheng!!"

"Lan Wangji-- Wuxian!! Shit... Toss him to me!!" He yells tossing the wet blanket to him.

He quickly wraps Ying in it, ignoring him asking what is happening, what he is about to do.

"Shh... trust me." He tells him before kissing him and then tossing him over the flames and into his fellow Alpha's arms. He waits for them to clear the path and then he is about to swing Bichen when burning beams land on him... 

Chapter Text

Wei Ying held tightly to Jiang Cheng's arm as he stared sightlessly toward their temporary home. Jiang Cheng had shouted for Lan Zhan many times, and then there was a thunderous crash. After that Jiang Cheng had gone stiff, so stiff that if not for Wei Ying's fingers practically digging into his pulse, he would swear he was holding onto a statue.

"J-Jiang Ch- Cheng.... Where... Where is--?" He whimpers out frightened of the answer more than the chaos running rampant around them.

"...."

Wei Ying covers his mouth to keep the Omegan keen he wanted to let out at bay. Jiang Cheng shook his head and pulled the smaller male along, only let him go to quickly dispatch attackers. Many aimed at Wei Ying, thinking he was an easy target but when they were met with Suiban and precise strikes of pressure points, they learned it was a fatal mistake.

The brothers fight trying to get to one of the even tunnels that the Lans had shown to them when they first arrived and learned that the three disciples from Yunmeng had two Omega's and one Alpha to guard over them. If anyone thought that insulting or meant easy pickings, they quickly learned the hard way that Jiang Cheng was not to be triffled with especially when it came to his older brother and sister's safety and virtue. However they were soon captured, a knife held to Wei Ying's throat and the startled cry he let out had distracted his brother.

"Wuxian!?" He cried out and would have charged if the knife did not press close enough to draw a bead of blood. "Tsk... Let him go!!" He growls.

"Drop your sword and I might spare the runt." The Wen behind Wei Ying challenges.

"Didi, don't!!" Wei Ying orders pulling rank quick tryibg to stop his brother and the Heir of Yunmeng from doing something potentially stupid and life ending.

"Shidi, I have to...." He stresses out, sheathing his sword and tossing it at their feet, his eyss on the Wen bastard that had Wei Ying by the throat. He could see the man was much too close and if he took a deep enough breath he would know what Wei Ying was and Jiang Cheng could not risk it.

"Heh, good... Take these-- huh?" The man pulls Wei Ying back to him and sniffs deeply and Wei Ying squeaks and elbows him, quickly dropping his fist into his crotch next, kicking Sandu into the air and pulling Suiban out as well. A moment later Jiang Cheng is at his side sword back in hand and Wei Ying closes his hazy silcer eyes and takes a deep breath and soin his inner eye lights up showing him the currents of energy and he can see how many they are surrounded by.

"Didi.... We cannot win.... It Will get us killed... There is no one who can aid us near by...." His tone cracks as it seems to confirm Jiang Cheng's suspicions that Lan Wangji was most likely dead.

"Shidi...." He whispers because he had seen how close the pair had gotten and had a letter to his parents from Lan Zhan that he is certain is a formal request to court and mate Wei Ying.

Seeing as they have no choice now, Wei Ying grabs their swirds and slaps a talisman on them and they vanish from sight. He highly doubts these people will let them keep their weapons, never mind shattering them. They get on their knees when the first Wen recovers from the nut shot and more quickly circle them. It isn't long after that they are bound. Jiang Cheng in suppressing chains and Wei Ying with rope. They are not the only captives as they later find out when they are shoved it o two different groups.

"How nice of You to join the Qishan Indoctrination... We Will provide yoh with all you need!" Laughs an arrogant voice, nasally and grating. "Now then, let's start walking... It will be some time to get to the Nightless City!!"

And like that they are taken captive...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wei Ying slapped Wen Chao when the bastard tried to feel him up while making him recite the Wen Sect rules, after mocking him for being blind and unable to read. The meaty hand on his ass had been greatly unwanted and Wei Ying had spun, slapping him hard enough he fell and many others had laughed.

"You bitch!! I will teach you to strike your betters!! Wen Zhuliu, take him to the dungeons... Make him comfortable... In fact put him in the last cell with fresh bedding and clean water...." Wen Chao orders his body guard, who had came and grabbed Wei Ying by his hair and forced him to his knees, neck bared in submission. His collar, much like the other Omegas, had been cut off his neck it left him a constant state of unease. He could not see with the suppression cuff on his wrist blocking his own spiritual energy so he could not draw any in and use it to see. He was truly blind. For the first time in a long time and without his collar he ran the risk of being disgraced or mated to a monster! He wished he was home and could hide behind his Auntie, who would no doubt bring down Zidian's wrath on the offenders 10,000 fold.

Jiang Cheng tried to rush Wen Zhuliu but when the man wnt to strike and destroy Jiang Cheng's golden core, Wei Ying grabbed his wrist, using their close proximity to do it and in a move none have seen before, he jumps up, wrapping his whole body around the arm and using his weight and momentum flipped and twisted them so they laned on their backs and Wei Ying kicked the man once with his heel in the stomach before sitting up for just a moment, hooked his arms properly around the Core Melting Hand and threw himself back, the sickening crunch and crash of an arm breaking drew everyines attention.

Jiang Cheng, having seen Wei Ying do this many times before, being on the recieving end of it a couple times too, he did not waste time grabbing at Wei Ying and pulling him behind him growling when they were surrounded. Wen Zhuliu was in agony his lower arm hung unnaturally limp from the elbow down as he glared at Wei Ying, who was pressed tight to his beother's back.

Wen Chao snarled as he threw his whip out and it grabbed Wei Ying by the neck and yanked him away from his brother who was quickly subdued and held at sword point. Wei Ying sensing the danger goes submissive and begs for his brother's life, accepting any punishment in his place.

"Oh don't worry.... As long as you behave Yunmeng Jiang will still have an Heir...." Wen Chao says in an oily voice. "Take him and do as I ordered... As for this upstart Alpha, he can scrub the courtyard clean. No fokd or rest until it is done..." He smirks meanly because the courtyard is massive and no doubt the guards will make it extra filthy just for him. Wen Qing!! Attend Wen Zhuliu!!" He shouts up the stairs to where said woman stood by Wen Rouhan, who enjoyed the spectical.

Everyone was shuffled away, Jiang Cheng to his chore, Wei Ying to the dungeon where after veing locked into a large room he learned why it was so big when a large hulking dog barked and Wei Ying's screams of terror echoed throughout the Nightless City, unknowingly alerting an injured Alpha of his distress.

"Wei Ying..."

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan limped steadily forward just as dawn pierced the sky not long after he heard the screams of his beloved echoing through out the mountains and valleys of Qishan Wen. As he entered the great citadel, the guards all looked on stunned as he marched forward, a biting icy wind circling him as bits of frost was left in his wake. What shocked them was that his hair was streaked with an icy blue so pale it was white. His eyes had taken on a less than human appearance and if he were so inclined to sneer or snarl, they would see in human teeth ready to tear and rend. They allowed him past until two took up rank on either side of him as he walked up the great stairs that lead to the Wen Palace. The other hostages were gathered out in the blazing sun, an exhausted but furious Jaing Wanyin was cradling someone in his arms, the hysterical sobbing and clearly distressed Omega scent had everyone on edge minus a laughing Wen Chao. Lan Zhan's eyes flashed Alpha Red as he sent a bolt of spiritual ice at the bastard, slapping him in the face and leaving a nasty frost burn. He knew very well who Jiang Wanyin would be curled around like that and thankfully Young Lady Jiang was protected by a group of Jin Disciples with her fiance standing protectively before her. So it could only be his Wei Ying.

The attack had the desired affect of drawing everyone's attention to him.

"Hanguang-jun!!" Gasped his fellow disciples, the few Omegas present being safe guarded.

"Oh, what's this, the Second Jade Lan showing up so late to lessons?" Wen Chao mocks, nervously stepping back as the white clad Alpha stalks up like a great predator on the hunt. "But then again, I thought you perished in the burning of your precious Cloud Recesses..."

Jiang Wanyin turned toward him and gasped, whispering into the tiny Omega's ear, keeping him tucked into his arms. Wei Ying spun in his direction and the pale face, bruises and streaks of filth did little to subtract from his beauty, but he was clearly stressed, trembling like he could not get warm or control of his fear. It made Lan Zhan snap his golden eyes up at the Wen bastard, who yelped as a second attack of ice slapped him across the face, slicing his face open on the other side. The scream of fright and pain had Wen Rouhan, who was watching these events stand up, eyes glittering with mad glee.

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying's voice is small, hoarse and raw from how much he screamed the night before, reaching out for him.

"Hold still... you're not okay..." Jiang Wanyin tells Wei Ying, holding him steady.

Lan Zhan stops by them and can see that his beloved is covered in injuries, bite marks by the looks of them. They looked canine. Lan Zhan grips Bichen tighter as one more streak of his hair starts to bleed to the icy blue-white.

"Well, I am impressed, a Lan rising from the dead!" Wen Rouhan laughs, "I guess hording all that knowledge was for something.... So how was your journey? Especially with that clearly broken leg of yours?"

Wei Ying whimpers, but Jiang Wanyin muffles him, keeping him tucked into his chest, glaring at the guards around them, not daring for one second to let his blind brother out of his arms. He spent the whole day and night cleaning the courtyard from top to bottom, enduring the hazing and the harassments with little complaint, but he had to really restrain himself as he had to listen to these motherless bastards talk about having their way with not only the other Omegas that had ben captured during the siege of the Cloud Recesses, but his brother, who was blind and could not tell who raped him. They laughed about turning him into a cock hungry whore for the Qishan Wen Army. It was infuriating. He was pissed, no Jiang Cheng was beyond pissed, he was nearly white hot with rage because these monsters were talking about raping his older sister and brother, both of whom were Omegas. He had to listen to them detailing what they would do, how they would take every Omega and make them all cock hungry whores. Jiang Cheng has never had much patience, short tempered and hothead, something he gets from his own mother.

However, he also gets his patience from both her and his father. His father, unfailingly kind and patient, has stayed by his mother's side since they were afianced and later married. He was patient with her bouts of irrational anger and jealousy and patiently showed her that he was loyal to her and had fallen in love with her. Sure they argue a lot, but with a woman like Madam Yu, it was actually their form of flirting since the Madam became too embarrassed being soft or gentle, things she was never allowed to be in a warrior clan like hers. Madam Yu had patience when it came to things that were important to her. She was patient with her children, when her husband was in a very rare state of aggitation or distress. And the Madam was the most patient when her husband had finally tracked down their friends only to bring home an orphaned child, painfully thin and badly injured. She showed extreme patience hunting down doctors and nursing the child back to good health and then when the child began to lose his vision, she patiently exhausted herself to teach him to read and write using other methods, she patiently trained the child, raising him as if bore him herself. She taught this patience to her blood children, making sure that if she were to suddenly die, she knew that all three would look after each other. Jiang Cheng has not failed to protect Wei Ying and Jiang Yanli until now. He could hear his mother coaching him to channel his anger into a leash. Pull it tighter and tighter until it finally snaps and make sure to aim it at those who deserve his full wrath.

"Never take your anger out on a'Li and especially a'Ying. You are their sword and you are their shield. break their trust and they will never trust you again. Remember that well, a'Cheng. If your sister and brother cannot trust you, it puts them in more danger... So  no matter how much you get angry, how much you want to lash out, never aim it at them. aim it at those responsible and find yourself a balance... someone who can help to temper you."

He had his own list of rules he lives by, rules that keep him in check and they helped keep him from slaughtering the Wen bastards, these mangy dogs that were salivating to chomp their fangs into the Omegas in their clutches. And even now, as he watches this standoff with Lan Wangji and the Wen Sect Leader, he was reciting his rules to himself, keeping his temper from hitting his breaking point. Like when Shijie makes soup and lets it sit just enough on the fire to keep it hot, but not boiling or over flowing. Simmering, she had called it. Yes, he was simmering, keeping it just hot enough to be ready to unleash, but not letting it have control. He keeps Wei Ying pressed close to his chest, subtly feeding his spiritual energy into the slightly older Omega to help heal him. He's heard of the Wen having bred monstrous dogs, but to use one of them to terrorize Wei Ying? Unforgiveable. He's raised his dogs and trained them, had to work like hell to build trust between Wei Ying and them. and even then only Jasmine has the closest bond to him. Wei Ying trusts her because she doesn't bark unless she has to and she is beyond patient with his nervousness and fear, waiting him out. If they can just break out of here, he will call her to guide Wei Ying back home and hopefully mother will keep her promise to rip Heaven and Hell apart for Wei Ying.

"A'Ying... calm down, Lan Wangji is here... He will not let them keep hurting you... I need you to be brave... As soon as we get a chance, I am calling Jasmine and she is taking you home... tell mother..."

"Bu- but...."

"Shh, a'Ying..." He soothes even as he glares hatefully at the Wen Guards laughing at the whimpering Omega. "Do not fight with me... you may be older by a few months, but I am your big brother as the Alpha... do as I say."

Wei Ying doesn't even pout, just whimpers in acceptance, curling slower to his brother as he listens to Wen Rouhan and Wen Chao, when he's finally able to speak again, mocking Lan Zhan, who says absolutely nothing, but the scent of winter, Alpha, the smoky smell of anger and sandalwood tells him all he needs to know.

"Very well, since our most prestiegous guest has finally arrived, I think it is time to go on a training excerise! We are going to Dusk Creek Mountain to look for the Legendary Tortoise of Slaughter. Once we find it, we will kill it. If you can manage this, you will be free to go home!" Wen Rouhan says, the mock cheer in his voice does little to fool anyone. They know that this madman will stop at nothing to see his plans to fruition. "However, fail and I will sadly have to ask for your Clans to send their next best disciples... And to make sure you have some motivation...  The Omegas will be taken and held in trust, except a few of them, who will be used to lore the beast out of hiding... I think the Nie Omega, that Jin Omega over there, yes the pretty one, and this pretty little flower right here will be enough bait..." Wen Rouhan laughs as he snaps his fingers and the guards force Jiang Cheng away from Wei Ying, the Alpha struggling as Wei Ying screams, kicking and punching wildly because with the suppression cuff on, he cannot use his spiritual energy to show him where his targets are.

Lan Wangji, growls and goes to attack the guards, but Wen Chao cracks his whip against his busted leg, dropping him without a sound, but the murderous look in his eyes holds a promise that will be kept.

"Take the three Omegas up ahead, the rest will leave this evening!"

"No!!" Nie Huaisang screams as he is carried away as well.

"Lou Qingyang!?" screams a few Jins as she goes with them quietly even as she trembles in both fear and anger. Wei Ying is still flailing wildly and then he lets out a scream that is not something they heard before and the guards holding him fall dead as he lands on them with a yelp.

"Run, a'Xian!!" shouts Jiang Cheng as Wei Ying scrambles up and picks a random direction and bolts, but screams when he grabbed by the Core Melting Hand, who holds him hostage while Wen Rouhan checks the dead guards and then comes to check the cuff. "Get away from him!!"

"... Interesting... you killed them without seeing them and with a suppression cuff on... Wen Zhuliu, take him and the Omegas to the Cave, keep an eye on them... if this little one does it again... bring him to me." Wen Rouhan purrs darkly as Wei Ying whimpers, flinching when the man touches his cheek. "I wonder if you're that Woman's son...."

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Empress Liang Minghua had labored for nearly 2 days before she gave birth to twin sons. The moment she held them inbher arms, she loved them with her whole heart and knew they would be destined for greatness. Before she was shipped off to her private palace which would then becomenher prison, she decreed that her sons may marry for love and only the one they love can be given a royal title. She did not want her sons or their future mates to go through what she has to. She decreed that never again shall the Council of Elders hold power over the royal family. The Scribe wrote down her decrees and passed them onto the Emperor who signed and stamped them with his blood and Royal seal before he went into the room to see his sons.

"My Lord, your sons Lan Huan and Lan Zhan." She nods to each twin in turn and he carefully takes them to hold. "They will be great...."

~Skip 20 years~

Lan Huan and Lan Zhan stood before the council of Elders, whom had steadily lost power and sway over the years leading up to the deaths of the Empress and then the Emporer. After the twins were put on the throne, though Lan Huan seemd to be the one ruling and his brother onlybacted as a mute guard. Their Uncle raised them as vest he could, trying to honor his brother's final request, but he was a traditionalist and felt only a bride of royal blood and a harem of desirable Omegas would do. However it was decreed and sealed by the Empress and Emporer that the Princes may only marry for love and only their mates were allkwed royal titles.

So here the twins stood, having just placed the Kingdom in the trusted hands of Menu Yao, a good, but crafty friend of theirs with General Nie as his guard and council. Meng Yao's council held his brother in arms, Nie Mingjue, his half brother, Mo Xuanyu and his spymaster/personal assassin, Xue Yang. They would keep things running smoothly in the twins absence. Being nearly 21 and just now going on their Hunt was unheard of and was seen as an ill omen. However, it was not their fault. No, that fell to the Council trying to curry favor and when that failed they attempted to manipulate and coerce the young princes turned Emporers.

So they left with only one guard, Song Lan, to finally go on their Hunt. Dressed in their clan colors but in a lesser quality to avoid people realizing who they were, to find potential mates. However the twins were always of one mind and knew that there would not be two mates but rather one. They would share even this aspect of their lives as they have all others. They just had to agree on such a mate...

Chapter Text

The Twins and Song Lan traveled for three days before stopping at a small village on the very edge of their kingdom. There they restocked on some of their supplies and sat down to discuss where to start looking for a bride.

"Not Lanling Jin... Last." Lan Zhan murmurs, tapping a well maintained claw on the section of the map.

"We will also avoid Qishan Wen as well..." Lan Huan nods in agreement. "It is best not to tempt fate. King Wen Rouhan will either force us to pick an Omega from his kingdom to be our mate or declare war for the 'insult' should we decline his 'generous offer.' That leaves Qinghe Nie, Yunmeng Jiang and the Burial Mounds."

"The Burial Mounds are a Mass Grave, no one would dare live in them." Song Lan points out. 

"No, but there are many small villages that are on the outskirts of the Burial Mounds. I would rather search there before even considering Lanling Jin. King Jin Guangshan is another one who would try to force an Omega or twenty upon us in hopes of having not only a high seat in the Council but now familial ties to the Royal family as well as a blood claim to the throne through the heir we would have to produce with our mate." Lan Huan points out as his twin gives a soft hum of agreement, a frown of distaste twisting his lips.

"Well for the Council's choice from both Qinghe and Yunmeng would be Princess Nie Huaison and Princess JIang Yanli. However, seeing as you've both grown up with Princess Nie, and have never once shown an interest in him, It is safe to assume we will not be staying long in Qinghe... Most Omegas are engaged upon presenting to ensure they are safe and protected from attempted rapes and kidnapping. I doubt there will be available Omegas, but we can start in Qinghe and make our way from there to Yunmeng. I hear Princess Jiang is a soft spoke and gentle Omega with a calming disposition. If it is not a love match, she would be ideal for an arranged match. She is not so soft to be a mindless puppet, but neither would she make demands or dare to step out of bounds. She would respect your wishes and only ask the same in return." Song Lan points out, tapping his own clawed finger at the two captials of the neighboring kingdoms.

"Mn, logical... will keep in mind." Lan Zhan murmurs.

"We want a love match, but we will also make a list of ideal arranged matches if needed." Lan Huan agrees and after they work out travel plans and expenses, they order dinner and then head to bed at 9pm on the dot...

When they arrived in Qinghe's Board village they were met by Princess Nie Huaisang and a small entourage of guards. They had lunch in the Headman's home and the Princess handed over a list, a very small list.

"Brother sent me warning that you might be stopping here first just to clear it out of the way while avoiding Lanling and Qishan like the plague." He say behind his fan, the semi transparent veil over his head covering his eyes while his fan hid his mouth. it was impossible to tell what his expression was, but the two Alpha Princes hardly paid him mind. "Brother also asked me to begin brushing up on Lan Culture and ettequite in the event that should you not find a love match, you will pick a wife. That list is the available Omegas who have yet to see the Match Maker and have an engagement arranged or their fiance has recently died or broke off the engagement. They are at the Inn and will be informed when you wish to spend the day with them. We are also trying to avoid you coming to the palace because our own Council is trying to take advantage that brother is not here to gain more control and to sell me off into marriage either to one of their own or to you. They wouldn't be above shoving their own progeny onto you as well."

"We figured as much." Lan Huan sighs as he looks over the list, only 15 Omegas. "Let us rest and in two days we will begin with Maiden Hu."

Chapter Text

The Twins give soft sighs as they leave behind the Qinghe boarder where the small escort from Nie Huaisang left them. They had spent a good month or two getting to know the 15 Omegas and attempting to form a connection, but sadly they did not click and quickly lost interest. They traveled through towns, cities and settlements of all shapes and sizes, scoping out the offerings in each. Song Lan kept out of their way, chuckling softly as the twins enjoyed their trip. It was rare for them to leave the palace and even then they were kept on strict schedules and only allowed to go to certain areas. So it was nice to see them fluttering about like over excited butterflies. Though that was a bit of a stretch when it came to Lan Zhan, who was so expressionless, that an uncarved stone would be jealous. But never the less, he's caught sight of him not quite smiling at anything with bunnies on it and he's certain he bought a bunny charm from that sweet young lady who hand carved them from polished white stones she found by the river banks. They were slowly making their way toward Yunmeng before they would head on toward the outlaying villages. Form there they would have little choice but to go to Lanling and then home because it was agreed that no matter what, they would avoid Qishan. Even if the rumors reached Wen Rouhan about their Hunt, it would be too late and the man is likely to take offense one way or another so there was no point anyway.

Days and months passed and the Twins grew into themselves. Lan Huan was beloved by all because he was so personable while everyone was in awe of Lan Zhan's quiet beauty and oddly touching actions when one is lucky enough to see him do something kind, like buying steamed buns for a group of orphans, aiding an old woman carry her packages home and sitting quietly beside some men on night watch, just quietly offering his company. Song Lan enjoyed watching every moment and has taken the time to try and find himself a wife as well, though so far no one has truly caught his eye. He guesses it is because of the ridiculously high standards of the twins, but oh well. They made it to Yunmeng proper almost five months into the Hunt and were riding in a boat toward the palace, Lotus Pier. Apply named for it was built on and surrounded by piers and lotus filled lakes and rivers. As they rode by, the Twins suddenly perked up. There was a sweet scent in the air, not unlike the lotus flowers, but with something citrusy like loquats and spicy, like many of the scents in the air. They look frantically around for the someone who might have the scent, just missing when a young man dressed in black runs past, angry yells following him. When they turn to see what the commotion was, they are instead met with Madame Yu of the Jiang Sect, her two maids behind her and all three looking quite imperious.

"Welcome young master of Lan... We did not receive any notice that you would be arriving or we would have prepared for your arrival." Madame Yu says bowing to them and they give her one back.

"We did not want anyone to know. The point of a Hunt is to make a connection on our own." Lan Huan reminds the Madame, who scowls but says nothing as she guides them into her home and towards the greeting hall where she hopes her daughter is, dressed in full regalia. Like any woman, Madame Yu is looking for an advantageous marriage for her daughter and there is no place higher than the Queen or even concubine of the future Emperors of China. She had to chase that street brat, Wei Wuxian away to make sure he did not ruin Jiang Yanli's chances at being picked. If neither prince picked her daughter, she would beat them into submission, no one turns down Madame Yu!

The Twins silently calculate the chances of leaving Yunmeng still allies if the mix of scents the Madame was giving off were any indication. They would keep a close eye on her while hopefully finding the source of that wonderful scent from earlier...

Chapter Text

Lady Jiang was a soft, delicate beauty as the rumors had depicted. She was demure as was expected of not only her secondary gender, but as a Princess as well. She talked softly and moved with a gentle grace that reminded them of a crane gliding elegantly through the air. However, neither of the Twins felt anything more than a mutual friendship with her and she admitted the same when they were finally away from Madam Yu's hovering.

"I am sorry about mother... She is determined to see me married to either one of you and will be greatly upset if neither of you select me as your bride to be. However, I can tell you do not see me in a romantic light, nor I you." She says softly as they walk around the edge of a lotus filled lake. "She went to such extremes to ensure that I had the highest chance of catching your eye, going as far as to order every of age Omega to be shipped off to  the next town for at least a week and even ordered the guards to arrest a very good friend of mine." Jiang Yanli sighs, looking worried for her people and this friend of hers. "I have been prepared all my life to marry a Jin, and now suddenly she wants me to marry into the Royal palace."

"If we do not find a suitable bride by the time we return to the capital, Madam Yu just might get her wish... out of the candidates thus far, Lady Jiang is a gem amongst swine." Lan Huan says as he pauses to watch some birds dart at the water to catch small fish or bugs. "However, we will not force you to be our bride if that is not your desire."

"I thank you, my lord... But please, forgive my ignorance, you said 'We' as in the royal 'we' or...?"

"We seek only one mate." Lan Zhan tells her, speaking up for the first time and she blushes softly at his deep, magnificent voice.

She wonders if many others felt bereft upon hearing him or found it a pity he does not speak often? Shaking her head mentally, she smiles softly at them.

"I would not know how to handle a husband, never mind two, but if I am indeed selected, I will gladly learn you." She bows but gasps seeing a bunny sitting between them. A bright red ribbon tied on its ear with a red leather color that held a simple white stone lotus charm on it. "Shouyue! What are you doing here?"

The twins startled, Lan Huan clasping his hand to his sword when she said its name, but blinks when she carefully stoops and picks up the black bunny that they just now noticed.

"Shouyue?" Lan Huan asks, watching his twin close his fists to fight the urge to reach out and pet the bunny.

They've never seen one of this color before. The wind shifts and suddenly that scent from much earlier hits them and they both breathe it in greedily. Jiang Yanli notices their action and smiles a soft secret smile. However, she is quick to shake it off and turn her attention to the bunny, who is lightly digging at her for attention. She sees a scroll attached to the collar and quickly removes it, being gentle as she then sets the bunny down, who is content to curl up on her feet as she opens it. She reads the letter and looks sharply around.

"We should head back... It is not safe here..." She whispers and the two Alphas become alert.

"How do you know?"

"My friend sent this message and they are never wrong when it comes to me..." She says seriously as she picks up the bunny once more and begins guiding them back the way they came. "Best to have your swords at the ready, Young Masters..."

They do not argue, though they are wary of trusting the message from a stranger. The Princess walks briskly, but managing to look elegant and poised still. She holds the bunny, Shouyue, close as she moves. They are coming around the last bend that will bring them back to Lotus Pier when a large group of bandits ambush them. JIang Yanli steps back, a small frown pinching her lips as she counts about 50 men. She snorts softly, Yunmeng was famous for having strong and swift disciples, so large numbers were normally best, but this much seemed over compensating like a'Xian has said in his letter. She stooped to set Shouyue down, the black bunny shaking itself and then giving a bark. The Bandits blink down at it and laugh.

"I think the princess is trying to threaten us with dinner!" Laughs one man, mockingly before suddenly a white blur bashes into his side followed by a grey one and then two more bunnies land beside Shouyue.

"Suiban, Bichen, good timing!" Jiang Yanli praises as the twins stiffen again at hearing the names of their swords, but Suiban was one they have never heard before and made their brows wrinkle.

"Shit!! I think those fur balls broke my ribs!" Groans the downed bandit as the others blink at the very obvious pain he is in and looking at the two rabbits, who were bigger than the black bunny and seemed to be hiding the smaller one.

"Hand over the princess and you two pretty boys won't get hurt." Growls the leader as two of his men tend to the injured man.

"Sorry, but we cannot do that, my good sirs..." Lan Huan smiles a soft, benign smile that is anything but kind. "My lady, if you would kindly step back, it is going to get messy and shortly..." He asks Jiang Yanli as he flexes the claws of his free hand, Shouyue in his other hand already while Lan Zhan held Bichen and flexed his own claws. The twin dragons bare their teeth in mockery of smiles at their opponents who tense seeing the less than human teeth in their mouths.

"Shijue, duck!!" a voice shouts out and the three duck as a hail storm of arrows rain down from the sky, the men screaming as they are impaled and killed under the onslaught. When it is over very few are left alive before a figure floats down riding a giant feather. "Shijue, are you ok!?"

"I'm alright, Xianxian... though I think you stole victory from my two gentlemen callers..." She giggles softly and the young man blinks and blushes seeing the twin Dragons standing there stunned. "Young Masters, this is my friend, Wei Wuxian... a'Xian these are Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji from Gusu..."

"Oh, sorry for this one's impertience... but young masters would have been overwhelmed and Shijue kidnapped. Madam Yu would have had my head for it if I allowed it happen..." the young man in black says, bowing lowly.

"How do you know that?" Lan Huan asks, watching the figure carefully, noting that no weapon was visible and yet the bodies behind him said otherwise.

Lan Zhan was studying the 'arrows' and realized they were large black feathers of some kind of bird. He wanted to grab one and study it to figure out the type when his focus was shifted to one of the Bandits managing to stand and lunge at the unaware young man. Moving fast, he cleaved the man's head from his shoulders just as the young man spun around, eyes glowing red and a sharp wind that sounded like the angry cry of a phoenix struck the man and blasted a hole through his chest. Lan Zhan gasped and grabbed the young man, who yelped and stared startled at being so suddenly grabbed.

"You...."

"A'Zhan?"

"Him..." He says again and his twin gasps as he moves quick to his side and sniff and sure enough the sweet floral and spice scent from that morning is coming from the young man.

"Lady Jiang, we must apologize, but we believe we found who were looking for..." Lan Huan says as the young woman giggles softly.

"Nothing to worry about. I figured as much when I said Shouyue and Bichen... a'Xian, these are the ones you've waited for... now then, I best go head off mother's fury while you get to chat..." Jiang Yanli giggles softly into her sleeve and moves around them all, sweeping by the dead men as if she noticed nothing out of the ordinary.

"Shijue--"

"No, a'Xian, you are deserving of love and freedom. You should not be bound if you do not wish it and I know you do not wish to be bound here... take this time to learn what your future could possibly have. I will be fine, Shouyue, Bichen and Suiban will keep me safe." She smiles at the three bunnies tailing her before she turns and leaves, three balls of fluff hopping after her.

"Um..." Wei Wuxian mumbles, nervous. "I shouldn't be here... Madam Yu wants you to pick Shijue..."

"We have already spoken with Lady Jiang and she agrees that while a match is possible, it would not be one none involved would enjoy long term... We were teased most of the day by your scent... sweet like lotuses and loquats, something spicy, but homey... It is beautiful..."

"Like Wei Wuxian..." Lan Zhan adds as he and his twin box the smaller male between them.

"I'm... um... Sorry!!" He suddenly drops a talisman and with a shout, they twins are blinded for just a moment and when they can see their elusive little bird has escaped, only  the silver bell from his belt and the red ribbon from his hair remain in their hands.

"Brother... our mate is crafty..."

"Indeed, little brother... we best go speak with Lady Jiang and see where we can find our sweet bird..." Lan Huan purrs, letting his tail out and grabbing a black feather only for it to turn to ash upon pulling it free of the ground. "Phoenix... a black one?"

"And one gifted with foresight... Baoshen Sanren's sect." Lan Zhan nods, knowing the hallmarks for what they are.

"But so far away from the Divine Mountain?" Lan Huan frowns. "And from what Lady Jaing implied, he's not here by much choice..."

"Lady Jiang is best..." Lan Zhan nods and turns to leave, sweeping his tail as well flicking it lightly at a feather and shivering at the dark feel of it. "She is willing to aid."

"Indeed she is... but first, let's go face the real dragon..." Lan Huan laughs as his brother shakes his head at the poor joke, but could not help but find it accurate when describing Madam Yu...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying hid in his nest far from Yunmeng, almost on the border of Qishan Wen territory where a village lay abandoned by all. The people greeted him as he floated down on his crimson feather and it vanished back into a feather tipped hair pin that pierced his ponytail.

"Young master, how was your trip?" Asks a local vendor as the young Omega is surrounded by the people in the market bowing and pawing at him in awe. The young phoenix smiles brightly as he sheds a bit of wild fire to burn away the miasma of the Burial Mounds that lay just out side of the northern gates. The resentful energy coils around the flames and allows them to purify it. The Phoenix was a child of the Baoshan Clan and much lile his predocessors he could cultivate both Yin and Yang energy and thus made his nest deep in Burial Mounds where the demons have pledged him loyalty. They do not dare come near the village in fear of being sent on and away from the rich calming energy their young Master puts out.

The people thrive here now that Wei Ying practically lives here, all but kicked out by Madame Yu who also tries to collar him and enslave him. He was a Divine birth like his mother and as such he was not meant to be bound in any form he, himself did not choose. But still he is caged by his love for his shijie more than his Didi. He could not get along with the canine no matter how he tried. He was too scared of dogs and Jiang Wanyin lile Madame Yu often took advantage of his fear to control him.

"I made it intime to protect Princess Jiang... I am tired now, I would like to go rest." He tells them, leaving out that he ran into the Twin Jades and there was possibly a future for him as their mate, but he ran like a coward to leave them to pick his Shijie who is more than worthy of their love and bed.

The people bow and fuss, giving him cooked meals, bundles of fruits and vegetables and a few large jars of wine. He was their guardian and protector. He was worshipped and protected in return. He was cared for in a way has not been since he was a Hatchling. He loved his Shijie like a second mom, but sje could not stand against both her mother and brother. Never mind that Uncle Jiang is too placid at times and often lets his mate run everything.

"I'm home!" He calls once he lands once more in the hidden oasis he made in the heart of the Burial Mounds. A couple of sentient Fierce Corpses hurry forward and begin helping him with his items and then changing into a thin red robe with a sheer black over robe. "Thank you, Ming Lin and Yue Hu." They bow again and hurry away after leaving some wine and one of the cooked meals for him at his table. He pulled his work to him to make more tools and items for both Cultivators and non-Cultivators. He also had a scroll where his visions were recorded, he ignored it because after he had seen his Shijie's would be kidnapping was meeting his mates and another of twin boys of his own, a little dragon and a fluffy little chick with an infant little girl at his breast with his Alphas behind him.

Chapter Text

Prompt:

Chang'E, the Goddess of the Moon, is only allowed to go to earth every few millennia to attempt to find the reincarnation of her husband's soul. She always manages to find him and fall in love and they have a happy and wonderful life full of laughter and sweet children. But the Sun Goddess, still enraged and hateful for the deaths of her children, kills Chang'E's husband and children every time.

So when it is time to once more find her beloved, she hatches a secret plan. She appears before her now immortal servant Baoshen Sanren and breals a small piece of her soul off and fuses it to the Immortal Cultivator. She vanishes soon after and is born nine months later and takes on the name of Cangse Sanren. She grows up as Baoshen Sanren's daughter and aiding the humans as she looks for her husband's soul. She finds it in Wei Changze and like before. The fall in love and have a family, but this time Chang'E has a plan.

When she can no longer mover her family out of the path of the Sun Goddess's wrath, she takes them to Baoshen's mountain and kisses her son goodbye, but not before leaving him a pair of her Lunar Rabbits for him. She makes him promise to study hard and to find a love deep like the oceans and stronger than any mountain. She blesses him, knowing that there was a strong warrior waiting for her son in the future.

Cangse and Changze leave to face the Sun Goddess and when the Goddess kills them, Chang'E returns to the Heavens as the Heavenly Moon once more, but the cycle gas finally been broken because her son was alive and safe hidden with her most loyal Servant in the future he will be mated and bonded to a powerful warrior, a child of the Jade Emporer. No one will dare to strike down her children ever again...

Snippet:

Wei Ying was chasing his rabbits, Jīnyù and Yín Liánhuā, a happy smile on his lips. Even if he was newly presented at 15 as an Omega and should act more his age, he cannot shake off the carefree child in his heart. His grandmother never minds and even encourages him at times when the few other disciples complain that he shouldn't be allowed such freedoms. His uncle, Xiao Xingcheng, normally makes them face off against Wei Ying in hand to hand combat and they are often left embarrassed by getting beaten down.

Wei Ying studies hard, he trains even harder, but as a genius he quickly grows bored and if left idle, he is prone to mischief so his grandmother often lets him go and play or sets him on a random errand. It was by chance that she learned that sometimes a board Wei Ying led him to creative fits and he produced several new talismans, a few new areays and even new techniques that allow him to handle almost any situation. So if she gifts him items he needs to craft his Cultivation devices and talismans, that is her business and the happy smile he gives her is so worth it.

But today was his last day here before he will be meeting up with the son and daughter of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect and heading to the Cloud Recesses for studying and lectures as well as training. When he first learned this. His grandmother gifted him a beautiful pitch black bamboo Dizi and she and his uncle wove him a special tassel toat he died to the end and with a small spell permanently kept it attached so he would never lose it. Jingyu and Yin Lianhua were gifted with red ribbons like their master's that marked them as Spirit Animals and thus could not be removed or harmed unless the offender wanted to face the consequences.

"Ying!!"

He turns to run to his grandma and his bunnys hop after him, one white like fresh snow and the other black as pitch. He skids to a stop, smoothly sliding into a warm hug with Baoshen Sanren. She chuckles warmly as he nuzzles her a moment.

"Yes granny?"

"Come, child. We are about to have dinner and I made your favorite." She chuckles. "Now then, I must warn you many are very close minded when it comes to using certain techniques or even considering using something like Resentful Energy to stop some of the horrors we face. Try to not antagonize the lecturer, I know him and he is very stubborn, rather quick to anger and once he makes a snap decision he rarely changes. Fair warning they have 3000 rules and one of them is that you cannot consume Alcohol."

"But the medicine--" Wei Ying panics in fright.

"You will simply have to avoid getting caught. I cannot very well tell them that you need for health reasons... Now the main thing I must stress, Ying, whatever happens, wahtever you do. You cannot let them know you are a Male Omega... omegas are too few and precious and yet there are those who will snatch them away and do unspeakable things to them. Swear to me that no matter how bored you are, no matter how angry you get; do not let anyone know... Only Jiamg Yanli and Jiang Wanyin know. They will help you and as long as you take your medicine once a month your heat will be held back until you are back home with me..."

"I will do my best... Umm, do you think I will find a good Alpha?"

"I am certain... I did have an Alpha once but... Well you know the ugliness that happened... And please do not give away your Musical Cultivation secrets. The Lans are a but... Prickly about it." She makes a face.

He laughs and kisses her cheek.

"Granny, stop or you may get wrinkles! I will be sure to pay Granny An my respects if I find her. I will do my best to behave and I will make sure I take my medicine! Now you promised me pork rib and lotus root soup! Did Jiejie teach you how to make it?" He wonders as she laughs and nods. "Then it will be good! Jiejie and Granny's cooking is the best!"

Chapter Text

Wei Ying sat on the boat with Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli, his bunnies were curled up on his lap, Yin Lianhua was sleeping while Jingyu was alert, ears twitching every now and again. He smiled softly as the Jiang Siblings spoke quietly, though the punched expression on Jiang Cheng's face made him giggle a little. The warm humid weatger of Yunmeng slowly bled away as it changed to cooler, crisp with a mountain wind weather. His Granny had fussed about as did his uncles until he had to leave for Yunmeng and join the Jiang siblings. Lord Jiang always wore a bitter sweet smile on his face whenever he saw him.

Madam Yu had been at first a real right bitch until his Grandmother had shown up and cowed the Purple Spider and reminded her that she has no say or any power over Wei Ying as he is nothing to them other than the son of a close friend to Lord Jiang and as the Heir of the Yiling Wei Sect, there was noting for her to worry about. After that the Madam tried to stay away until she realized Wei Ying was an Omega and needed to be taught proper ettequite. She took it upon herself to do so and has reluctantly grown fond of him. He has a purple tassel that marks him as a someone important in Yunmeng Jiang but no direct ties to the Sect itself.

"Hey!" He blinks and realizes they docked while he was lost in thought. Wei Ying gets up and sets Jingyu and Yin Lianhua on the dock before pulling a string of coins out of his sleeve and pulling 10 bronze pieces off to pay the ferryman.

"Thank you and have a fortuetous future." He bows and then climbs out, his things all in his qiankun pouch on his hip as his bunnies scamper off ahead.

"If your rabbits get captured and eaten, don't cry to me!!" Jiang Cheng complains.

"They won't. Jingyu went to deliver our letter to let the Lan Sect know we arrived and Yin Lianhua is gettingbus a room at the inn, grandma said that there might be a few idiots who would book an entire inn for only a few people. So she sent a few letters. You know, just in case." He laughs softly as they begin making their way into the bustling town.

Wei Ying and Jiang Yanli gasp and coo over the things they see, trinkents and pretty bolts of cloth. Wei Ying bought a few treats that had been shaped like bunnies made of dragon beard candy. As they passed by a tea house, Wei Ying paused, a wintery scent tickling his nose with a woodsy undertone, similar to sandalwood and something powerful. He sniffed again and the scent was gone. Blinking, he shrugged and quickly caught up to the siblings as they arrived at the inn. As he expected, Yin Lianhua was sitting patiently, or as patient as the hyper black bunny could be, with the confused hostess beside her.

"Good afternoon, Miss. I hope you recieved my letter?" Wei Ying asks as. The woman blinks and blushes softly and laughs.

"Yes... Your little friend was most insistent. I also recieved one a week ago informing the owner to reserve one suite with one bed in one room and two in another. With the common spacd in between them. She says pulling out a key from her sleeve as she guides them inside. Yin Lianhua hops along, the soft clicking of her tiny claws telling them of where she was. Climbing the stairs they gigfle seeing her too up and wait impatiently for them to join her. "She is well trained!" The woman laughs softly.

"She is, her and my other bunny, Jingyu, are very well trained and well behaved. Though I should warn you now, they like to chew and toss things, especially if they get in a mood. And fair warning they will try to get to any fresh vegetables you might have on hand." He warns her. "Though we only plan to be here for the night, I will pay for any damages they might make."

"Thank you for informing me and that is fine. Shall I bring in a basket for them and bedding?"

"Please. Fresh hay and any old rags you fonnot mind if they use them as their little indoor bathroom if you can spare them." Wei Ying says as they pause outside of the room his grandma rented for them.

"Right away, young master. Please relax and I Shall bring tea up as well. Would you care to try our seasonal tea? It is wild berries and a few of the early spring flowers." She asks.

"Oh, that sounds lovely, thank you. We Will go out for dinner this evening but if we can order breakfast for tomorrow?" Jiang Yanli asks after she inspected the room and found it pleasing.

"Of course, young Miss!" She bows and excuses herself as Jiang Cheng begins checking for vulnerabilities and nodding his head.

"Alright, so we will relax, have some tea and then explore the town." Jiang Cheng nods as he goes to sit down at the sette by the window and looked out seeing the bustling town. Other than being colder it wasn't much different from Yunmeng.

"Good job, Yin Lianhua... Here I bought a few fresh strawberries at the market." Wei Ying says as he pulls a few out of the bag and carefully feeds them to her. She nibbles away, her tooth thumping happily as her ears wiggle ij excitement. He chuckles as she gets so worked up she sprints around and binkies a few times before darting back over to finish jer well earned treat. By the time the young woman comes back with their tea, Jingyu is on her heels and quickly comes to hand a letter to Wei Ying.

"Thank you, Jingyu. Here some strawberries for you as well." He sets a few down for him as the white bunny begins to eat at a calmer pace than Yin Lianhua, but not by much. It isn't ling before he is darting around and binkying too and then he settles to eat and just cuddle againt the black bunny.

"Huh, LaoLao wasn't kidding when she said the Grandmaster was a prickly one." He says after reading the curt letter stating they will be expected to arrive before 3pm the next day and they must present the jade tokens given to each of them. The man also told him that His pets weren't allowed in the Cloud Recess. Wei Ying folded up the letter and handed it to Jiang Cheng. "Well he will be in for a shock when he sees what these two can really do... Sorry you could not prince Princess with you."

"You were traumatized by wild dogs as a child, that is not something some gets over easily, if ever. Besides I did bring them but they are under orders to keep out of sight until we settle in our rooms. Besides you seemed to be okay with Princess and Bumblebee." He says.

The two Omegas snort soft laughs into their hands and Jiang Cheng turns bright red as he glares at them. It is something of a running joke between them that he is terrible at naming things and always a good laugh for the pair.

"Oh just shush!" He huffs embarrassed as he sips his tea.

Chapter Text

Prompt:

The Jade Emporer has passed away leaving his very young sons to assume the throne. However, Lan Huan presented as a Omega and cannot assume the throne. This means that Lan Zhan, as an Alpha must assume the throne of Heaven. Lan Huan knows exactly what will happen to his brother so he assumes the role of parent and brother, raising his precious Wangji into a steadfast and kind young man while leaving the rule of heaven for the mean time in his Uncle's hands, but controlling him from the shadows.

By the time Lan Zhan is 1,000 years old, he is ready to assume the throne but due to the riggers of royalty and being orphaned so young, Lan Zhan has not been able to go out on his Hunt. Many of the nobles of Heaven have done their best to prevent him from going on his Hunt so that he would have to simply pick a bride among themselves or their children. However, Lan Huan, who had his own Hunt and found his match in the young immortal Nie Mingjue and a half immortal Menu Yao, stepped in. If there is anything to say about the Omega, it was that he would do anything to ensure his little brother's happiness and well being.

Needless to say, Lan Huan got Lan Zhan the time be needs to find himself a bride of love rather than convenience. He has 200 years to find himself a bride or assume the Throne of Heaven careless until a later date...

Snippet:

Lan Zhan stood surrounded by bandits, he was calm as always, golden eyes sliding from one man to the next, counting how many there were, what kindn of weapons they had and calculating the possibilities of how many would be hurt or left dead. He remains impassive even as they jeer and mock him. It takes only an instant and suddenly they are engaged in battle. He moves with grace and precision, Bichen singing through the air as he moves, disarming and crippling, only killing when he has little choice.

The groupnof 10 quickly fall before him and he flicks the blood from Bichen's blade, sheathing her once more. The bandits are left groaning and moaning, only two are dead. Calmly pulling his hood back over his head he turna to keep on his way when he gasps, an arrow piercing him in the chest. He pulls it out, seeing it coated in something and then his vision goes fuzzy and he mentally curses. It was poisoned. He staggers, using Bichen as a crutch but whatever was used seemed to be moving rapidly through his body. He stumbles against a tree and sees someone dressed in red with a black and gold sun stitched into the breast of his vest. He growls, coughing as his breathing becomes short and he feels numb.

"Hm... Stupid princeling-- uck!?" He blinks and sees an arrow pierced into his attacker's throat and then he is falling....

Lan Zhan gasps as he wakes, coughing and choking. He spasms uncontrollably as he tries to breathm she feels someone roll him onto his side and he feels a few pinches of what could be acupuncture needles hit certain spots and he sicks up, his airways suddenly opening and he can feel a gentle hand rubbing the back of his neck.

"Easy, Gege.... Wen Qing, will he ve alright?"

"In a few days. Best to leave him on his side so he can breathe and to avoid him choking to death as he expels the poison. It is a miracle he is even alive right now. He is lucky you found him.." A woman's voice says as he drifts, oddly safe abd content as the one holding him keeps rubbing his neck and the back of his head.

"Thank you... Say hello to a-Ning for me. I will send a spirit to summon you if he suddenly changes anytime soon..." The gentle voice says again and it takes too much effort for him to look up and he blinks seeing silver eyes before he is back under.

Chapter Text

Wei Ying hums softly as he carefully stirs the stew he was making, simple vegetables and herbs. He lets it simmer as he checks the small clay oven, making sure the bread does not burn. He turns away from the small stove and over only when he is sure everything is fine, he turns to check on his unexpected house guest. The tall man was still in limbo between the poison induced fever dreams and waking. Wen Qing had done a wonderful job, but it was only a matter of time. Wringing out the small cloth he left soaking in the cold water to gently wipe sweat from a pale face. He startles however when a hand snatches his wrist and he is met with eyes of the purest gold.

"Finally awake, Gege?" He asks, calmly. "Feeling achy? Nausea?"

The hand slowly lets go and falls down onto his chest as Wei Ying blinks and cocks his head to the side. They only stare at each other for a moment longer before Wei Ying gently wipes the sweat away and then grabs a clay cup and dips it into the large pot of drinking water he keeps on hand. Carefully helping the white clad young man sit up, he helps him drink some water.

"Sip slowly... the doctor said you would feel very thirsty due to the poison. You will also feel very weak because it was mixed with a very strong paralytic agent. If you want, I can feed you some vegetable broth I am making." Wei Ying says, refilling the cup two more times before the young man makes a soft sound that he had enough for now.

"Where?"

"My home. It was a bit of traveling, but at least you will be safe from another kidnapping or assassination attempt in this particular forest." Wei Ying smiles in what he hopes is a reassuring manner for the young man. He couldn't be more than a few years older than himself if not the same age.

Wei Ying helps get him in a half reclined position before turning to the food and pulling the fresh loaf of bread free of the oven and letting it sit and cool as he finishes up the stew, he's stopped eating meat due to his early life in these trees, but no one has to know that. He ladles out a couple of bowls and grabs the spoons before he makes his way over. He sets one bowl down and begins to help the young man eat when the first attempt to let him feed himself nearly spilt the soup on his front.

"Aiya... can't have you burning yourself... Here, let me feed you."

"Yours will get cold." The young man says.

"It won't be that cold and it's not the first time I've had a cold meal either. Now then open up." Wei Ying orders softly.

It is quiet, something he's grown use to, but when he would leave and eat in towns or in near by villages, he got to enjoy talking to others. However the young man before him was eating with a grace and the odd glare he sent when Wei Ying opened his mouth to speak that spoke of some kind of rule that he grew up with. So Wei Ying took this time to study the handsome face. He had deep gold eyes with a long fine nose. His lips were a pale pink and thin, but not unattractively so. his cheekbones were defined and his skin was so pale it was like pure white jade and unblemished in anyway. Wei Ying knew such a handsome young man would have an army of admirers falling at his feet, begging to be the lucky one to claim him as their husband. Silver eyes blink when the other gently pushes his hands away and he realizes the bowl is empty.

"Is that enough or would you like some more?" He asks.

Wei Ying hopes that the young man is full because he was hoping to make the pot last a few days yet. Fresh food was impossible out here in the Burial Mounds, but he made due with what he could and when he really needed it he went into town to predict a few futures and sell some of his wares to make enough coin to buy food to last a week or two. He was somewhat infamous, the Witch of Yiling. No one has seen him and those who have do not speak of what they know. Wei Ying shakes his head, no need to go down that road right now. He turns to see his guest has declined seconds and nods, secretly relieved. He sets the used bowl in his washing bucket and grabs his own soup and begins to eat. It is a bit bland, but chili oil is expensive in this area and he's been a bit too busy with the sudden surge in Undead to make a trip out to Yunmeng. He is about halfway through his bowl when suddenly an unearthly scream echoes around them and he sighs. His guest, jolts, hissing when he aggrivates his wound and the sudden action drains what little strength he had gained.

"Gege, don't move!" Wei Ying scolds, gently pushing him back down, just as another scream, closer this time, sounds. "Oh bother!! Why can they not do this when I'm not eating or sleeping?" He complains as he stands up and grabs a black flute and some talismans before he walks over to the door and just hovering outside of it is a fierce corpse, it goes to shriek a third time, but suddenly stills and backs away in fright.

This is a strange sight for the young man on the bed, not knowing what to make of this sudden development, even as he weakly reaches for his sword that is just a few feet from the bed.

"What is it? Why are you bothering me?" Wei Ying demands and the corpse croaks and groans. "What do you mean there are a group of people at the edge? A Mob?"

It is a strange sight for Lan Zhan, who was not sure what to make of his host upon his waking. The mortal was kind and gentle, a bit talkative, but otherwise he's not done anything to make Lan Zhan distrust him. However seeing him talking to a Fierce Corpse was startling. He watched as the young human left, closing the door and feels wards sealing the hut, clearly keeping Lan Zhan safe while vulnerable. However the young Prince was not comforted. He felt trapped and until his body was back under his full power, he had no real choice but to remain prone. He gave up trying to grab Bichen at his point, but he would request that she be moved closer to him. A bit of frost leaves his nose as he exhales in a not sigh, waiting...

Wei Ying followed the corpse towards where the trouble was and sure enough there was an angry mob. As soon as they saw him, they were yelling and demanding he turn himself in. He merely rolls his eyes as he leans back on a thick black tree.

"Why are you bothering me?" He asks boredly. "I warned you about the storm and the flood and how many lives would be lost, but you ignored me and threw me out of town. now that several people have either died or been displaced, you are here to harass me?"

"Witch!! You did this to us!! Bring my son back!!" screams mother, clearly older, so her son had to be an adult already.

"Why would I do that? And even then, he would be a Fierce Corpse, not something you want to claim as family..." He snorts as she gives a loud wail of anger and sorrow.

"Get him!!" Someone yells and Wei Ying sighs, pushing off the tree and walking further into the trees.

"Come get me, if you dare... if not, go away. I told you if you ignored my warning, I would not waste my time with you again... now leave before I left the monsters attack you. It is only because I am here they have not... however as soon as I am far enough, they will... this is your final warning..." He tells them as he keeps walking.

When it sounds like they are coming after him, he shakes his head sadly and brings his flute up to his lips and begins playing a dark, eerie lullaby and soon the screams of the mob resound and just as quickly die off, the resentful energy being absorbed into the Seal he created  to help him control the level of Resentful Energy filled an area as well as control an army of the undead. He takes the time to learn of the souls stories and how and why they died and tries to bring them peace so they can finally move on to rebirth. Those who refuse to leave or have become demons remain and recognize him as their master and often fight for him when summoned. The new souls will feed some of his older Demons. They would not take kindly to these people blaming him for something they brought upon themselves. If they had not built the dam where they did and had not angered the Water spirits to create a terrible rain storm, the river would not have overfilled an broken the cheaply made dam and flooded their village. He had warned them, but they chose not to listen and their hubris cost them more than their homes. He warned them again to not follow and to just leave, but they didn't listen.

'I am a Witch, I should not care and yet I still do... stupid fools should have listened...' He sighs and unseals his house and blinks seeing his guest, a bit of ice circling his bed. 'This will be interesting...' 

Chapter Text

Prompt:

Lan Zhan is Prince in disguise attending college at the infamous Lotus Academy of Yunmeng. He does what he can to fly under the radar, but his handsome good looks and his strong domineering presence makes that hard.

He gets word that his fsther was assassinated and as the Heir to the throne, after his brother abdicated to live with his mates, a Private Security firm director and their sly as a fox Traditional Drama actor, he is expected to marry a lady of good breeding.

He is torn between tradition and following his heart. While attending Lotus Academy, he met a young man who both attends and works at Lotus Academy, is barely legal and already the mother of a problem child and a toddler. A young man who smiles and laughs to mask his pain and suffering, but shows it through the beautiful art he paints and the heart wrenching songs of his traditional Dizi playing. Will he choose love or filiality?

Snippet:

"So you're the Alpha sniffing around mom this time, huh?" Came a rude voice and he turns his head up from where he was watching the young toddler, a-Yuan playing with a fabric book on numbers, babbling as he did so. There sitting on the stairs is a young boy with black hair and dark grey eyes his face is comely for a child and seems to favor the father even if the coloring belonged to Wei Ying.

"Sniffing?" He asks confused. He had not sniffed anything other than the dirty diaper that a-Yuan had soiled to the point that Wei Ying needed to bathe the child and then himself. He was waiting for Wei Ying to finish showering so that they may study for the up coming exam in Ancient History.

"Look, no one shoes an interest in my mom unless they wanna put a baby in him and leave him." The boy accuses.

"Will not do that... Your name?" He says firmly and such a sharp tone the child looks momentarily frightened but then a coyly evil smile dances on his face.

"Xue Yang... My sperm donor took advantage of mom in his first heat and put me in him and then left. A-Yuan was a bit more consensual, but still the jerk who put him in mom dumped him like a bag of potatoes. So are you gonna put a baby in my mom and leave too? If so, get the hell out now." He growls.

"Will not. Onlybif Wei Ying asks."

"Ask what?" They turn to see Wei Ying coming in from the shower, toweling off his long hair and for the first time Lan Zhan hlis smacked in the face with Lotus blooms and something warm and spicy. The scent is heady mix and it takes every ounce of the infamous Lan restraint to keep from marking the clearly Omega man as his.

"Mom!!" Yang's voice startles them and then Ying's eyes go wide and he pales and it looks like he about to bolt, but Zhan stops him.

"Stop." It is simple, soft spoken and yet they all freeze in place. "Ying need not fear. Will not cause trouble or harm... If Ying wants; will leave..."

"Mom?"

"Yang.... Go get the baby bag and my pills... Hurry..." He tells him and he quickly bolts back up the stairs. "Lin Zhang...." Zhan winces hearing his alias instead of his name. "Please... I already have enough trouble without every Alpha trying to stick their dick into a rare Male Omega. I barely scrap by as is and I refuse to lose a-Yang and a-Yuan... So please.... If... If you want to fuck me... I can send the boys to my Uncle.... But please--"

"Will not touch Wei Ying with out Wei Ying's permission. Not like others. Will only do what is allowed... Shall we study?" He says and it clearly throughs the Omega for a loop because he nods and slowly moves to his books and grabs what he needs and slowly joins him at the coffee table. Yang comes a moment later with the bag and bottle of pills. He hands then to his mom, who takes his suppressants and then calmly pulls a taser out of the bag and leaves it close to his hand.

Yang comes to play with his half brother, keeping a wary eye on Zhan, who does his best to ignore the tension in the air. As he focuses solely on studying the tension slowly bleeds away and is all but gone. When they finally stop Ying realizes it is too late to cook and preparing himself for the fight aboht to break out but before he can even speak, Zhan offers:

"Would Wei Ying and his children like to eat out with this one?" He asks. "Can order takeaway if preferred?"

"You--"

"Too late too cook, Wei Ying is tired. It is this one's treat." He cuts him off softly and Ying is too tired and hungry to fight. He agrees and quickly pulls a menu out. He let's his son pick one meal and one sweet, if he leaves it Yang, his son would pick only a dessert for his meal. He knows what he will ger do he let's Zhan pick his next. Once he as their orders he calls for a delivery, after double checking if Zhan was paying with cash or credit, and then cleaned up a bit. Zhan picked up a-Yuan who decided that his pant leg was going to be a good chew toy.

"Like rabbit... Chew chew chew... Always chewing this one's clothes..." He says seriously and the baby giggles.

"You have a rabbit?" Yang asks, watching the Alpha with his baby brother.

"Mm..." He nods and pulls out his phone and shows the boys pictures of his horde of bunnies. There was one of when he fell asleep meditating and was literally covered in his rabbits. His brother was the culprit for the picture.

"Is that your foot?" Yang asks seeing said foot just barely seen.

"Mm. Was mediating but fell sleep surrounded by rabbits... Brother took picture."

"You have a brother?" Yang asks.

"Mm, older, but look alike. Married and lives with his mates. Good mates, all too protective." He makes a face and Yang laughs.

"Dinner!!" Ying calls when the doorbell rings and Yang jumps up with a cheer anf hurries to help se the table. As Zhan stands with Yuan his arms and heads toward wherenthe noise was coming from. The clinical scent of Beta masking that alluring scent and making his inner Alpha mourn the loss...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying, stood in his house robe, waving as Lan Zhan got into his Uber. Once the Alpha drove off, he goes back into his small house on the edge of the campus, near the infamous Lotus Pier, an ancient historical landmark from way back in their history. The building was well kept and the lake surround it was filled with various colored Lotus flowers. He turns to clean up only to blink in realization that not only did an Alpha not want to have sex with him, but said Alpha had managed to get a-Yang to clean up after himself for once and helped him get his children into bed. He must have cleaned up while Ying was reading his children a bedtime story. He starts to smile, but then quickly shakes his head. No! He will not fall for it, not a second time! Damn that Wen Xu! Making him feel like he something special, something precious! And what does he go and do!? He tells the man his secret and the bastard convinces him to sleep with him. Then when he learns he is pregnant and shares the exciting news, Xu calls him a cock hungry whore in front of the whole school!

Ever since, he's been the school pariah. He learned then how fickle some of his "friends" were. Thankfully he still has Nie Huaisong, Wen Ning and even though she will never admit it, he has Wen Qing who was a much sterner, and violent (If you count how she likes to hit you with acupuncture needles to cause pain or to paralyze you) of Jiang Yanli or as she asked him call her "Shijie or Jiejie." Sadly Jiang Cheng was one of those who turned on him, yelling at him and calling him stupid and that he's always causing trouble like this. That he was to blame for 'seducing' Professor Xue the first time. That had hurt...

To basically be told that he asked to be raped and impregnated at 14, his first official heat hitting him so suddenly when he had been asking Professor Xue to clarify a few things about the essay he assigned them about the fall of the Qishan Wen clan of the ancient world. It had been so sudden, he didn't have time to react, to realize what was happening before he had a cock shoved into him and he was held down and taken again and again! He had woken up in the Professor's house and held captive until his heat ended, being raped repeatedly! Madame Yu, who barely tolerated him before, was an absolute nightmare after because 'how dare he repair their kindness by giving away his virginity which should have been given to Wanyin as repayment!' After that, Uncle Fengmian had to get him a small apartment and set him up with a job because Madame Yu would not stop her abuse, her hateful words and stressing the pregnant teen out and would not allow him to sully her home anymore. So he worked and lived on his own with since he was 14. Uncle Fengmian visited him twice a month to bring him money and groceries and Yanli refused to let her mother separate her from her little brother. Cheng had been angry on his behalf back then, but now? Now suddenly he was to blame for what happened to him.

After that, he kept to himself, he focused on his studies to keep his scholarship since Madame Yu refused to allow Uncle Fengmian to pay for his tuition. He video chatted with Shijie twice a week so he can keep up with his sister and her own son, Jin Roulan, or as they call him affectionately a-Ling. He wasn't too fond of her husband back when they had been teens, but after he was ended up pregnant with Yang and then Yuan, Jin Zixuan has helped provide for them because even with his measly jobs, he could not afford two children. This house was thanks to Shijie and Zixuan and the location helped make it easier to get to classes.

Sighing, Ying checks the windows and doors to make sure they are secure before he checks on his boys, smiling at how Yang curls around Yuan, protecting him even as they sleep. Yang only acts out when someone talks bad about Ying or someone is trying to get into his pants. It doesn't help that he has a bit of his father's nasty temper in him. The fact that Xue Chonghai hasn't been arrested yet, sets his nerves on edge and it makes him paranoid because the man promised to get him back. He really hopes that the man stays away. Going to his own bedroom, he takes off the robe and combs his long hair out. He stares at his phone and wonders if he should... No. it was best to let them think he was dead. he didn't want to bother his only blood relatives with the shame and drama that hunted him like rabid dogs. Giving a defeated sigh, he lays down and goes to sleep...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When morning comes, he gets up, prepares breakfast, gets dressed and then wakes his children. Yuan is content to sit in his rocker while he deals with his 7 year old's crankiness. However soon they are eating their breakfast, school bags packed up, a boxed lunch packed for his eldest son, Ying gathers up their things, takes his pills to mask his scent and gender before he grabs the carriage and straps a-Yuan in. They have to get up early just to make sure Yang can make his 7:15 pickup for his school bus. Once his son is on his way to school, he turns to head to his first lecture of the day, Classic Literature. As always people stare and whisper as he walks by, dressed in the college uniform, hair pulled into high ponytail, his school bag on shoulder, diaper bag on the other and pushing his youngest in the carriage. Thankfully no one dares to say anything bad in front of the baby, many of the females and Omegas coo over how adorable Yuan is. He just wished they had the same reserve around a-Yang. But beggers can't be choosers. being newly 21, he was recognized as a full adult now and had take more responsibilities. However, unlike his fellow classmates who drink and party on the weekeneds, he's a mother 24/7 and has to deal with teething, tantrums and making sure Yang doesn't have too many sweets. The child was a right menace on a sugar high... maybe he should hop him up on sweets and set him on Xu, his asshat of a brother and the bitch that clings to them.

"Ying."

He almost squeaks in fright as he turns to see Lin Zhang walking up to him, his uniform crisp and neat as always. The Alpha's long hair is picked up into half topknot. He always has this fancy looking ribbon in it. Ying tried to see it once and the Alpha had caught his hand so fast, Ying was surprised he didn't snap it. Shaking his head, he smiles wanly at him.

"Ahahahaha! Zhang, morning!" He greets, cheeks warm. He internally panics wondering if he told anyone about him, what he was. Everyone thought he was a whore and suffered delusions about being pregnant. Thank god only a very small group of people harass him to find out if he really is an Omega.

"Mm... Hello, a-Yuan..." the way he bends down to give a very serious greeting to his two year old, makes the Omega in him melt and want to spread their legs for him, but he has to snap at him about not being fooled again! He swore off Alphas for a reason damn it!!

"Mo'ming!" Yuan tries out his newest word and it just makes Ying smile like the proud mama he is.

"He learned it! He can now say 'YanYan' for Yang, 'a-Nia' for me, 'chichi' for chicken and now 'Mo'ming' for Morning!" He sounds so pleased with himself. "And he is learning to count by himself too!"

Zhang nods, his usual 'Mm' sounding very pleased and is that a tiny smile on his stoic face? Oh my, his children my actually break the infamous stone face of his! They continue to walk into the school, Ying chattering at Zhang, who adds in a few words here and there before leaving him at the door to his classroom to head to his own just down the hall. Ying blinks confused because that never happened before. Normally they have a small chat and at the door to the building they part ways. But he's not about to look a gifted horse in the mouth. He walks in and nods to the teacher, Professor Song, gives him a warm smile and comes over to unstrap Yuan and play airplane for a bit while the rest of the class trickles in before putting the toddler in the little play area he set up when Yang had still been too young to go to primary. There were blocks, stuffed animals and a few musical toys for him to play with. Professor Song was mated and had a daughter a little older than Yang, about 10 or 11, he thinks, so he doesn't worry about the genuine affection the man shows them. Though at first, the man had been on the receiving end of not only Ying dropping him with pressure points that Qing-jie showed him or having Yang try to tear his hair out when he mistook the Alpha pulling Ying off of a Beta who had called him a whore as the Alpha trying to attack his mom.

"Alright, Little Bunny, you be good for mama and Uncle Lan so we can get work done, yes?" He asks the baby who gives an affirming sound and then starts to play with the blocks as Professor Song turned to his class to start his lecture just as the bell sounded...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying waited at the bus stop for a'Yang to come home, thinking about how ever since his study session with Lin Zhang, things have become more managable for him. The Alpha often come over to study with him, spending his evenings entertaining a' Yuan and helping a'Yang with his homework. He sometimes brought groceries with him and even extra things like blankets, warm sweaters and even a new scarf for Wei Ying after Wen Chao set his old one on fire after beating him up a week ago. It was hard to believe so much changed in under a month and now it was winter. Lin Zhang never once made a move on him and if Wei Ying hinted at something sexual to compensate him, he shut it down rather harshly, but was quick to explain that he would never ask such things of anyone, especially not someone as kind as Wei Ying. Wei Ying had sworn off Alphas, but he was slowly falling in love with Lin Zhang and was wondering if giving him half a chance would be so bad?

'No!! That is what we thought with Wen Xu and look what happened! I would never regret having a'Yuan, but that man has ruined me in more ways than I thought possible. I will not allow myself to be put back in that position, not again!' He mentally slaps himself and perks up as the shuttle bus comes to a stop near him. He sees Xue Yang climb down and wave to the driver before hurrying over to him, wrapped up in the coat Lin Zhang had brought him when they realized he had out grown his old one and Wei Ying had a break down after the boys were asleep because he didn't have enough spare money to buy a new coat for his oldest.

"A'Niang, where's a'Yuan?" his eldest asks seeing a distinct lack of his baby brother.

"He's with your Auntie a'Li." He smiles and Xue Yang's face lights up.

"Auntie is here!? Let's go back, hurry, hurry!!" He quickly runs behind his mother and begins pushing him along, trying to hurry them up.

Wei Ying laughs and starts walking as his son chatters excitedly beside him, dashing forward a few paces and waiting for him to catch up. Jiang Yanli has always been his favorite. not only was she the best older sister any one could ask for, she was pretty much his mother. Jiang Yanli had been by his side through thick and thin, when he had been pregnant with Xue Yang, she went with him to all his appointments and helped him exhaust every research option on pregnancies and parenting they could thing of, had been at his side during the labor and birth of Xue Yang and helped him raise him. She was there for him when he had been humiliated by Wen Xu after he told him about his pregnancy and she was there once more during the pregnancy, birth and first year of Wen Yuan's life. Jiang Yanli stood by him when Madam Yu had kicked him out and cut off his allowance. Had defended him tooth and nail when her father for the first time in their lives would not stand up for Wei Ying. She was just awesome and his boys loved her. He recalls her wedding to the Peacock, how absolutely radiant she had looked, like a goddess desended from heaven to grace this unworthy world with her kindeness and mercy. He also smiles because she has a son a few months younger than a'Yuan and already he can see the pair being the best of friends as they get older, as long as Jin Ling doesn't get Jiang Cheng's or even Jin Zixuan's worst personality triats. In fact he hopes he gets all of his mother's personality traits, it would be the safest bet.

He laughs as they turn the corner to the house and he sees his Shijie in her coat kneeling in the snow with the toddlers, both dressed warmly and currently mesmorized by the cold, fluffy, wet stuff. Xue Yang runs up to his aunt and carefully crashes into her in a big hug as she coos and kisses his cheeks. He fills her in on all she missed from his life, such as school, some of the fights he been in, Lin Zhang who was kinda sorta dating his mom, but so far hasn't tried to get into bed with him. Wei Ying turned crimson and sputtered as his Shijie took particular interest in this and interrogated her nephew, using the homemade candies she had in her purse to bribe him.

"Jiejie, you traitor! And you, a' Yang, I thought you loved a'Niang!! Why would you tell?" He cries dramatically, though he did feel genuine embarrassment about this weird dance of his with Lin Zhang.

"Xianxian, Shijie wants to know about this man... make sure he will take very good of Xianxain, a'Yang and a'Yuan.... You've been hurt twice now. I refuse to see it happen a third time. If it does..." She suddenly has an uncanny resemblence to her mother with how she raises her head, the icy cold fury sparking in her pale violet gray eyes and the firm set of her mouth. "This Shijie will make sure his body is never found..."

He wants to protest, to deny, but he feels warmed and comforted and nods his head. After that the scary aura is gone, even a'Yang had cowered away behind his mother, because Auntie a'Li was super scary. However, he is soon back at her side, tattling away as he suck on the lotus and loquat flavored milk candies his auntie made, humming happily at the subtle sweet flavor and the love he can feel she put into them. They spend an hour outside before heading in. Wei Ying getting them all out of their winter gear while Jiang Yanli finishes making the lotus and spare ribs soup she's long since mastered. Soon they are sitting down to eat, the two babies given some dry cereal to nibble on between small sips of soup. Xue Yang ate his own bowl with gusto, while he did not like spicy food, he loved his auntie's cooking, it was the best! When he was done, he cleaned up his area and pulled out his homework. The two mothers talked softly, catching up as the babies tried to feed each other the cereal and babbled to one another.

It felt good to have this sense of family and calm again. Now if he can just have it every day, that would be even better, but he will take what he can get...

Chapter Text

The strange dance between himself and Lin Zhang kept up for weeks after that. The Alpha often coming over, bringing delicious food with him, which apparently he made himself! He brought groceries and when they would order out, he paid for it, refusing to let Wei Ying pay him back or offer anything else as compansation. Lin Zhang watched his boys with a calm patience, even when Xue Yang was in a bad mood and gave him attitude. It helped the man brought a couple of his bunnies with him one time and that finally sold Xue Yang because no matter what or who the fathers of his boys had been, all of Wei Ying's boys loved bunnies. He himself found it cute that he was being followed around by a hyper black bunny and a pure white one, who followed leisurely and was content to watch the black one preform Zoomies and Binkies or paw at Wei Ying's legs when he would prepare dinner, looking for a treat or a snack. Wei Ying laughed at the sight of Lin Zhang, Xue Yang and Wen Yuan all laying on their backs with a bunny laying on their bellies as a few others curled around them.

Wei Ying was falling for this gentlemanly Alpha and he knows he shouldn't, he really shouldn't, but how can he not?

How many Alphas would refuse to take sex from an Omega, when offered? How many would help an Omega raise children that are not the Alpha's? How many would spend large amounts of time and money on an Omega and their kids without asking anything in return?

Lin Zhang was something else and the Omega was falling...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lan Zhan felt guilty for his continued ruse, but could not help getting to spend so much time with Wei Ying and his two sons. Xue Yang was a smart and talented young boy with a big heart, but often hid it behind this rude and mean persona to keep from being hurt and to chase away undesirables from sniffing after his mother. Wen Yuan was a happy baby, growing well adjusted and loved, clearly showing the same intelligence his brother and mother has, if how he grabs things, even if he babbles still. He knows what something is, what time it is and even what is asked of him when spoken to. The boys loved it when he brings over his warren of bunnies, letting them play and cuddle with the balls of adrable fluff. Wei Ying even joined them or fed them little treats of fresh fruit while he cooked.

However, Lan Zhan that the longer he let this go, the higher the risk of hurting Wei Ying's trust in him and he would die if he lost his trust, lost his Wei Ying and their sons...

Yes, he's been secretly calling the two boys his sons because he was in fact their father without blood or paperwork to prove it. He is helping to raise them and he would happily give up the throne to stay with Wei Ying and their boys. Looking at the tubawares he filled with a Yunmeng special dish that Wei Ying loved. He also had a small Gusu special cake and just for Wei Ying, a jar of Emperor's smile. He needed to tell Wei Ying tonight...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wei Ying cursed as he checked his watch, it was getting close to clock out time, but he's still not done working!! He had cleaned up one of the labs and had worked on another, but then he heard that bitch, Wang Lingjiao laughing and talking loudly about him and when he went to tell her to shut her fucking mouth before he used her as a mop, he froze in anger seeing the lab he just cleaned trashed! And what was worse, some of the equipment was smashed on the floor and regardless of what he says, it will come out of his pay and this shit was super expensive! So yes he was in a really foul mood because Lin Zhang was probably on his way and Wei Ying would not be home to greet him or to relieve the babysitter. He wasn't even gonna have enough to pay her!! Shit, he hated whatever curse was on him because his life was just one shitfest after another.

"Excuse me?" a voice startles him and he spins to see someone dressed in a fancy white suit, a cloud motif stitched into the shoulders and a white ribbon wrapped around their brow with two others, clearly bodyguards by the way the sheer size of them. They were also dressed in white with that Cloud motif, forehead ribbons included.

"Um... yes...?" Wei Ying's sixth sense was kicking in, the hair on the back of his neck rising.

"I'm told that you are close to Prince Lan Wangji... Where might I find him since he was not home?" the person asks and Wei Ying's mind shorts out.

Wait....

What?

PRINCE!?

Chapter Text

Snippet:

"N-no... La-Zha--!!" He gasps, back arched. His ankles and wrists are tied together leaving him open and exposed to the hung snow leopard currently devouring his blushing quim.

He mewls and moans as that long wicked tongue fucks into him as deadly fangs tease dangerously along his soaked walls and clit as his small cock strains with the need and want to cum. Back arching eyes rolling back as his ears press to he I skull in submission.. He cums and it takes him a few minutes to regain consciousness. In that time his Alpha moves smoothly up his body.

"Wei Ying tastes heavenly."

Prompt:

Madam Yu kicks Wei Ying out after the Fox refuses to marry her nephew, Yu Hanqing. She cuts him off from his allowance and even his heat medication. Growing desperate for money to by at least his suppressants, Wei Ying attempts hooking only to be caught his first night by Officer Lan Zhan. Who may look and act straight laced, but has a wild, darker side. And Wei Ying is caught in the snare without realizing it...

Chapter Text

"Wei Wuxian, it is time that you start paying back your debt to this family. You will do so by marrying Yu Hanqing, my nephew. The wedding--"

"Are You fucking insane!?"

The woman looks up in shock and then with rage on her face as she glares at the worthless brat her late husband brought home. While he claims that this worthless little shit was not his bastasrd, she never believed him.

"We are Uncle's funeral for the Gods sake!!" The little bastard has the never to yell at her and she stands, slapping him, feeling pleasure at finally being able to hit this little pissant when any time before she had to use one of her personal servants to do it because Jiang Fengmian had forbidden her from laying hands on Wei Wuxian after that one time he saw her whipping him with her family's heirloom. "He isn't evrn buried yet and here you are doing as you please!! I refuse to marry your nephew or anyone you think of!! Uncle would bot approve and neither would a'Cheng or a'Li!!"

"How dare you speak to me this way!" She grabs his jaw and digs her nails in a mockery of a smile on her face. "If you will not agree to this marriage you can leave right now, take only what is on you and never come back. Your college tuition? Gone, your allowance? Severed!! I can ruin you, Wei Wuxian and I will ruin you... I never liked you you blithering little shitstain... You look too much like that Bitch!"

"My mother was not a bitch, you are!" He snaps back, slapping her hand away. "Uncle knows you hate me, i know it; Everyone and their mother knows it! You may win for now, Yu Ziyuan, but you will not win in the end..." He sneers and just because he can, he grabs her wine glass and throats it roght in her face vefore storming out of the funeral home.

If only he had listened...

Hours later after hebhad cooled off, he went to go home only to be barred from the house by the guards who woulf not look him in the eyes. He could see Jiang Cheng struggling tonget out of the house and Jiang Yanli fretting and directing people about. They caught sight of each other and three siblings tried tonget to one a other but they were held back. Madam Yu walked up to the gate and grins meanly as she holds his pet rabbit who is too still in her hold, his head hanging too low for comfort.

"I told you would not be welcomed back. I told you if you would not listen to me, I will ruin you... Take you filthy beast and get off my property before I call the police and have you arrested for trespassing... Oh and get a good look because you will never see them ever again not as long as I live and breathe..." She sneers throwing the bunny at him and when he catches Suiban he gives a startled abd choked scream.

"You bitch!!! You killed Suiban!!" He cries cuddling his bunny's body tight, sobbing. He screams and yells at her, demanding to be let in, that this was his home as well!.

"This was never yoyr home, you were never welcomed in my home... You are nit family, you are not a Jiang! You are worthless, loveless and an eyesore... Go die like that whore who birthed you... Oh and good luck getting your medicine, would hate to be in your shoes when your heat finally comes..." The couger grins evilly as the fox pales.

"What have you done!?"

"You want back into this house, want to see MY children? Then you better play my game. Marry Yu Hanqing, you get everything back; even a new oversized rat. But keep being stubbirn and you can be like your mother, a whore." She spits in his face abd leaves as the guards gently usher him away, still refusing to look at him.

"A'XIAN!!! A'XIAN!!!" Jiang Yanli's cries are but wrenching as Jiang Cheng struggles harder to get to him, only to be downed with a tranquilizer.

With a heavy heart, Wei Ying leaves, only Suiban's body in his arms...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wei Ying cursed yet again as he checked his apartment, the door was busted open, the cheap lock doing absolutely nothing to keep thieves out. As if he didn't already have an issue with his landlord who wanted to up his rent because he was "protecting" Wei Ying from being attacked by the Alphas in the building. He originally wanted a "favor" and Wei Ying had said no, not even on the verge of dying of alcohol poisoning levels of drunk would he ever crawl into bed with that tub of lard!

Now here he was checking his ran sacked match box of an apartment. His bag was open and he cursed because he can see the contents all over the table, his cellphone was gone, but not the bunny charm Shijie had given him when he first got a cell when he had been 13. His pills were also gone too! He checked his hiding spots. His last refill was also gone, the scent of desparate Omega clinging to the area it had been in. He would have given 4 away, but whoever it was took all of them and they were the really good kind coming from Yiling Pharmaceuticals. They suppressed the heats at a safe enough level that it feels like a mild fever with no side effects out side of the occasional cramp and mild headaches. The only problem is with how effective they were, they were also supper expensive. Not because the YP wanted more money, but because their rival companies wanted to keep peddling their cheaper meds abd thus kept YP almost out of the ball park. Wei Ying had been using them since he presented and had a set date to go off them so he can have a natural cycle to clean his system out, but with the last bottle being stolen and him not having access to his accounts or anything else, he was 4 months too soon and he didn't even have the placebos to ease the warning signs before he went into heat! Fuck!!

His hidden cash was all gone minus the lousy $60 hidden inside the photo frame of Suiban. Good gods above, what was he going to do!? He just started a job at a local kennel that had shit pay, but it was something at least. However he could nit ask for an advancement on his pay check! Biting his lip, he knew what he had to do. Leaving his apartment he ran down to 3D and knocked. A nervous voice called out a moment later.

"A'Yu.... It me, a'Xian... I will need to borrow one of your... Work outfits...." He felt sick just saying it.

A long pause and then the door opened and Mo Xuanyu, who could have passed as his twin brother, let him in. He explained what happened and why he needed the clothes.

"Ok... But it dangerous, even if you have a pimp... Here you can borrow this one..." The bobcat hands him a set of booty shorts, some fishnet stockings, a pair of hooker heels and a strip of cloth that was supposed to be a shirt. "I will take you to Hooker Row, but because we are alone and you are definitely new, we cannot be on the main streets or the others will atrack us, but the street I work is near a rather nice gay bar sometimes the owner let's me stay and find johns there as long as I clean up and help take out the trash..." Mo Xuanyu says as he bites his nail nervously. "Cops are also in that area uniformed and not... So we need to be super careful... I will talk to Meng Yao and see if he would be willing to let you pick up johns at his bar too... It is safer and warmer... And if we are lucky we can get some free food too... Or work for the food... Are you good at mixing drinks?"

Wei Ying feels only a little better abiut this as Mo Xuanyu tells him about the bar he sometimes haunted, the do's and don'ts of Hooking and even spotted him a brand new pack of condums.

"If the John refuses to put the rubber on, get away. No amount of cash is worth getting impregnated by someone sleeze bag or catching something from them... It is going to be okay... We can get you some cheap suppressants until you get a better job or save up enough to get your old brand..."

"Thank you, A'Yu..."

Chapter Text

Mo Xuanyu helped Wei Ying move his few belongings into his apartment, it was slightly bigger and he had saved up a lot of money to replace the cheap wooden door with a metal one and had at least 10 locks on it. It would be safer for them both, especially after the break in. He made Wei Ying take a nap as well because they were gonna be up all night long, so Wei Ying couldn't afford to feel sleep or fall asleep at all. While the other Omega was curled up on his small bed, sleeping, Mo Xuanyu called the Lianfang and sighed softly as he stepped out onto the pitifully small terrace in his living room.

"A'Yao? I'm sorry to call and ask this of you, but you know that friend of mine, the one who got kicked out by his family because he refused to marry some strange Alpha? His apartment got broken into and almost all his money, things of value and his heat suppressants were stolen... He asked me to help him start... Moonlighting if you will.... and I know you let me use your club some nights... but if possible could he use it too? He's willing to clean whatever, dump all the trash and while he's not sure how well you will like his bar tending skills, he's willing to learn and not half as clumsy as I am... Really?! Oh thank you! Thank you so much!! Yes, I already told him the rules and he knows what to do in case someone gets too handsy or is threatening... Yes, I'm always careful... huh? Oh um... I haven't... I scared he will hate me when he learns I... I sell myself just to eat..." He wipes his eyes as tears to start to form. "No... I'm fine... just... you know me, I'm an emotional mess... how can you hide your feelings so well? ... I guess, but anyway, I need to try and get a nap in... Alright, thank you again, a'Yao... We will pop in for a bite to eat around 2 or 3am depending on how busy things get... Alright, thank you again, bye..."

Sighing and feeling a bit better knowing that his friend would be safe with him at Lianfang's, he heads into his apartment only to startle when his phone rings and he mutes a squeal seeing the name on display, but his elation falls quickly because the man is too kind and pure to be with someone like Mo Xuanyu, but he still picks up and a small smile graces his face.

"A'Hu..." He sighs happily...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wei Ying fidgeted as he tried to adjust the super tight shorts once more. It was impossible to put on underwear with it and he didn't exactly like that it could open so easily, but then again he figured it made fucking in the winter a bit easier since he wouldn't have to get naked. But Wei Ying is also hoping to have a steady job before then. This was only to get himself some suppressants, may the next three months rent and a little extra to do some grocery shopping. He has never been so under dressed before and he's nervous as well. There were a lot of dangers to Hooking, STDs and being raped were the the highest on all the pros' lists of top 10 nightmares. Being killed fell to number three because for most of them, death would be a much needed reprieve, there was being sold into human trafficking and slavery, Pimps who abused their Hoes and so much more. The least of their troubles would be being caught by a cop. Most cops would accept a blowjob or a quickie and let you go, others would bring you in and basically give you a small fine, but kept you there all night so you can be warm, fed and get so much needed sleep and there were the ones who actually did their job, but still, the cops came as a mixed basket, never know what you were getting. Wei Ying fidgeted again only to have Mo Xuanyu slapping his hand.

"Stop that... it screams 'Virgin, please rape me!' Trust me a wedgie is not the worst thing you can have up your ass." He hisses softly as they make their way towards Hooker Row. They both have on platform stilettos to give them both some height as well as it being the standard shoe for all hookers, not only for the asthetics, they were a convenient weapon when one needed it. Fishnet adorned their legs with the shorts Wei Ying was wearing and the strip of cloth that was Mo Xuanyu's skirt topping off the bottom half of their bodies. Their tops were tube tops that barely covered their tiny Omega breasts with their faces painted up nice and pretty, they kept a clutch each with their makeup to touch up between Johns and to store their money.  Their hair was styled up in a 'just had sex' style that would help lure in customers.

"But it feels weird..." Wei Ying whines a bit, but leaves it alone, he didn't want to attract any more attention than he was already getting.

"I know, but trust me, with all that going to be going on, a wedgie is the least of your worries right now... this way... I can already see Wang Lingjiao and her group of bitches and they look ready to start anything...." Mo Xuanyu says spotting a pretty woman, dressed like the Empress of all whores and she did look like she was spoiling for a fight or some kind of drama. "She brunt another girl's face because she was prettier than her, left her horribly scarred."

"Bitch..." Wei Ying hisses. "Is that girl okay?"

"She's fine, last I heard. She got a nice job in one of the brothels over in the Red Light district, making the costumes for the workers. She some times gives me the spares and well you are wearing one of her creations." He admits and Wei Ying blinks and looks at his shorts and gives a soft, 'huh, what do you know...' as they turn another corner and there sitting on  the corner is a classy looking club. Classy for this trashy area that is. "That's Lianfang... come on, Meng Yao is waiting for us. I guess you can consider him our Pimp, without actually being a Pimp."

They head over to the club the Bouncer looking them over before letting them in. Mo. Xuanyu waves to a few people, shares air kisses with a few others before they are walking down an Employee only hallway and then knocking on an office door. After getting permission to enter, Wei Ying blinks at the Omega sitting behind the desk, looking over some numbers and typing on his computer.

"Hi a'Yao!" The slightly young Omega greets him as he hurries over to give him a big hug.

"A'Yu... oh you must be Wei Wuxian, a'Yu told me quite a bit about you and explained your situation to me. Here, they may not be the same as your old ones, but its something at least..." He pulls open a draw and pulls out a small bottle and hands two pills to each Omega. "Take those now and eat these before you head out. If you need the bathroom or just want a break feel free to come back. If someone causes trouble, let me know and I will sent Xue Yang after them."

"Thank you, a'Yao, though you don't have to share you pills with us..."

"They are better than that dollar store crap you keep buying. We are all Omegas here and we need to look out for one another, the fact someone stole your suppressants, while understandable, is also very terrifying. The World is still not a safe place for us, no matter how much progression we've had... I think the ancients had the right idea to safeguard and pretty much idolize their Omegas..." Meng Yao huffs. "Right, take those and eat..."

He points to a tray of gourmet sandwiches which the pair of younger Omegas thank him again, take their pills and eat. After a drink of water and a quick bathroom run, they are ready to begin their night...

~*~*~*~~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~

Wei Ying was not having a good night, so far he only had two handjobs  and foot job, which was a nice $200 dollars, but then one of the more professional women came and stole a few of his johns and forced him to move to another street, this one was much more deserted, darker and he was growing very nervous. He is about to say fuck it and go back to Lianfang's and see if he can take up dishwashing or scrubbing puke off the floor when a sleek black car pulls up and he adopts a flirty smile. He walks over to the rolled down window and leans in to see the guy.

"Hi, need directions?" He asks, batting his eyelashes.

"How much?" the man asks, his voice deep and powerful, the fox felt his ears pop up and his tail appear, he normally hid them because of the reputation foxes had as tricksters and being sluts. But he could not hid them from such a powerful Alpha and it was only his voice!

"What are you looking for?" He asks, turning on the charm. "Blowjob? Handie? Maybe some thigh action?"

"Get in..." He orders and Wei Ying pulls back, his smile fading a bit.

"Sorry, but I don't-- Hey!!"

Wei Ying had been about to turn and leave when the man grabbed his wrist and yanked him into the car through the window and started driving. Wei Ying had little choice but to sit there once he righted himself.

"This is kidnapping, you know..." Wei Ying says after too long a silence.

"This is an arrest..." the man says back, grabbing up a badge from the center consul and Wei Ying panics. "For soliciting sexual favors."

"Wha-- Ok... so I was hooking, but it's not because I want to!! I need to! Please you have to believe me, my suppressants got stolen and my apartment is in the shitty area so I couldn't even report the break in! Please, I'm sorry!!" He instantly panics because oh dear god, Madam Yu was still listed as his guardian all he needed now was for her to learn what he was doing!! She had kept her promise to ruin him, any job that was above minimum wage, he was denied instantly! She was purposely keeping him down, drowning him until he gave in and accepted marrying her nephew, which he had done some research. Apparently, he's a very strict mysogonistic bastard who believes he is some kind of Godsend to all Omega kind! He's been in trouble with the law a few times, but because of his family name and their influence, he's never faced a single charge or day in court! "Please, I'll do anything, please!!"

"Mark your words..." he blinks confused before a large palm lands on his thigh much to close to his private to be mistaken for anything else. Wei Ying yelps, and slaps the hand away, but the firm growl makes him whine and submit. He opts to look out the window and blinks because they are heading toward the inner city and soon pull into a private parking garage of some big fancy building. He waits to be let out, the cop quickly grabbing him so he doesn't try to run away and is pulled toward an elevator as they are getting on he sees two others climb in.

"A'Yu!?"

"A'Ying!? A'Hu, what-- what's...." The slightly young Omega begins panicking looking at the taller Alpha, who blinks his eyes and gives a small, charming smile, but it is tinged in something. "... Sorry, I meant Officer Lan...."

"Lan!? As in the Gusu Lan Police force!?" Wei Ying really panics now. Madam Yu has been trying to get Jiang Yanli married to one of the two prominent Heirs because the Gusu Lan family were famous for their private police force and were often tasked jobs protecting prominent figures like the HIs royal Majesty, the Emperor and his family. So why would they be out arresting a pair of hookers, granted Wei Ying wasn't even a proper Hooker, but still!! And Mo Xuanyu seemed to know one of them personally.

"One and the same... Mo Xuanyu and I know each other... but now I see why you have refused my offers of engagement..."

"A'Hu, no! That's not-- I knew you wouldn't want me once you learned what my job was! And a'Ying only just started tonight because he need the money and no job is willing to take him!! Please, I'm sorry! Punish me, not him!!"

"With me... not Xiongzhang..." the other Lan speaks up and Wei Ying, now that he can see him, blushes because holy shit, was the man sexy.

"You both will be punished... Though how a'Zhan plans to punish your friend is beyond me... But I personally am hurt you did not trust me enough..." Lan Huan backs Mo Xuanyu into the wall and Wei Ying blushes because clearly this is not a standard arrest if the way the man suddenly makes out with his friend is any indication. He grows fluster as the scent of arousal begins filling the elevator as they ride it up.

Wei Ying startles when a hand suddenly cups his ass and he turns, slapping the hand once more.

"Stop that!!" He hisses. "Stop doing that!"

"You said you would do anything... Mark your words..." the Alpha growls and he whimpers, feeling weak kneed and did he just... cream him self a bit? Oh gods, he was in trouble and then the Lan let their ears out and he paled, they were really in trouble, Snow Leopards were incredibly rare and famous for their high sex drives...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Wei Ying awoke from hypersleep when the rather loud chimes of his pod sounded. It took him a minute too long to realize he should not be hearing that sound! His eyes snap open and he fumbles sleep heavy limbs and half frozen fingers to grab his O2 mask just before the glass like metal dome opens and he blinks seeing his fellow crew members.

"Oh thank fuck!" His Uncle's husband breathes, his voice a bit distorted under the O2 mask and the pitch black space suit he was wearing. "Something hit the ship and now were dead in the water... We lost the captain though. His pod malfunctioned and well... Just keep looking at me, YingYing." He says blocking the gory mess of their imploded captain. He is helped out, body too weak from the heavy drugs used for Hypersleep. He is carried out of the Cryo room and to medical. His Uncle is there was someone in a white suit.

"Xingchen, a'Ying is alright." And his uncle, also in white turns and runs up to them. He is holding a black and red suit for Ying, once he is examined and cleared to work.

It is then that he realizes the other man has blue accents on his suit and not pure white like Uncle Xingchen's.

"Put him here." His uncle orders and he is laid on the bed. "A'Ying, this is Lan Wangji. He will be stationed with you in Medical until you are recovered. A-Lan, let's go see what we can do to repair the ship. We need to get to the station and fast."

"Alright... Wei Ying, behave." Uncle Lan orders before he is left alone with the stranger.

"Lie back." He does as told and yelps at the icy cold instrument that touches his chest. "Mm, good. How do you feel?"

"Tired... Weak... And thirsty, but I can drink water without taking the O2 off." He says.

"Mm, expected. A moment." He walks away and Wei Ying wants nothing more than to go back to sleep, but startles when he feels a bit of tubing sliding carefully into his mask and then he grabs it with his lips. "Hold on." He watches the doctor connect the tube to a water station and then slowly he raises the dial until a steady stream of water flows and Wei Ying is able to drink his fill...

Lan Zhan watched 'a'Ying' drink and them he made a motion for him to stop. He did. Though the predator part of him wanted to raise the dial to max and then hold the human down until he drowned in the water. He is contemplating what to do when he feels the ship come back to life and the hiss of the O2 system coming online. He has a split second to make a snap decision and when he turns to check if he is still alone with 'a'Ying' he freezes because said young man has removed his O2 mask and he is starstruck by the heavenly beauty.

The predator part of his brain goes from demanding to kill the human to keeping him, to mate and breed him. He smells So fertile and since he is mostly naked, he can see how appealing his body is. Fine, Zhan will have to simply kill everyone else...

Chapter Text

Not long after the ship was back online was a meeting called in the cafeteria. Wei Ying had to lean heavily against Lan Wangji to get there. They were a very large party, their government was getting tired of sending off teams of 10 and people being killed with no reports on who or what was doing it. So they opted on a large team of mixed people to try and weed out the cause and to finally get to Polaris and get the planet set up to house humanity. Wei Ying pointed to his uncles and Lan Wangji carefully guides him over to them. As he walks by someone in pale blue with white accents on his suit, He cuts his golden gaze at them, his pupils bursting like a drop of ink in water. The black steals over his eyes fully in an instant and is gone the next. It happened so quick that even one carefully watching would miss it, but the one in pale blue did see and gave a subtle nod. Wei Ying gives his Uncles warm hugs as he settles down beside the one in all white and turns to their acting Captain.

"Alright, as you all know by now, Wang Jun, our captain was killed when the ship was hit by that sudden hailstorm of astroids. We cannot risk going back into hypersleep, at least not all of us so it would be best to set up a cycle of who is going to be sleeping and who will be awake to keep the ship on course and functioning. Once we get to the station, we we will keep this cycling system going until we are up to speed and finally get down to Polaris and hopefully get the planet functioning for humanity's survival... Our best bet is to have as few Omegas awake as possible so that way if whatever the hell keeps killing our crews, doesn't kill the very thing keeping our people from extinction." Wen Rouhan states, as the image of their late captain appeared on a floating holo screen, she was a beautiful Alpha with a kind face. Too bad she died. "So to make this easier, I am going to read out the names of the Omegas and everyone is going to memorize their faces this way we can protect them."

"Sir, I believe that is endangering the Omegas because it's not just whatever keeps killing the crews that  we have to worry about, at this point the government isn't even bothering to do proper screenings and exposing the Omegas to potentially dangerous persons does not sit well with me. Perhaps one trusted guard, you and the Omegas speak privately in the Captain's ready room would be better? Assign a guard to each Omega that will stick with them the whole time they are active and will guard the room they are sleeping in until the next cycle?" Song Lan speaks up, nervous for his husband and nephew, his adoptive son was on the other side of the room, eyeing everyone with that sly, twisted grin which made him wary because Xue Yang only got that look on his face when he sensed others with ill will near by. Beside him was his adoptive daughter, A-Qing, who was playing up her 'helpless blind girl' act, but she was carefully watching the lot of them.

"...." Wen Rouhan scowled, but then blinked and thought it over. It was better that way, he knows plenty here are not Space Certified and even then, looking through the files on his pad, he can see a number of them were quite questionable. There was even an openly wanted criminal, who sadly was their expert on Weapons. It was best to keep the Omegas secret until they can weed out the threats. "You're right... fine, you're with me, Black. We will go around collecting a guard and the Omega and setting them up. I think a team of three would be best to keep things running smoothly... for now... let's just get something to eat. Those of you still suffering Hypersleep sickness follow Dr. Lan and Dr. Wen back to Medical to get treatment and to await to find out if you are staying awake or going back to sleep once you have finished eating. no one is to go anywhere without at least two people with them. The government has named the unknown killer, or rather killers, to be Imposters. So keep your eyes and ears open. Anything remotely sus, report it immediately, keep an eye out for bodies and for the love all things holy, do not engage the Imposter by yourself!"

Everyone gives an affirmative before several get up to start passing out the premade meals while a few others start replicating items to cook actual food for the near future. Wei Ying just leans tiredly on Lan Wangji, who doesn't seem to mind as the medical expert is talking to the one in sky blue, who has come to their table. it seems they are brothers. They talk in medical jargon with too many big complicated words, but their deep voices are soothing so Wei Ying dozes off, still under the effects of Hypersleep. he only wakes when Lan Wangji gently jostles him and slides a hot plate of soft foods in front of him.

"Ah, thank you, Dr. Lan." Wei Ying stifles a yawn, to not be rude by doing it in the man's face, rubbing his eyes to try and rid them of the heavy lidded feel and grabs his plastic fork and spoon to start eating.

"Lan Zhan..." the man intones and Wei Ying blinks and looks up at him cutely. "My name."

"Oh! Lan Zhan...Lan Zhan... very pretty Azure Blue!" He smiles, liking the way it rolls of his tongue. "I am Wei Ying... My mother had a strange sense of humor."

"Child of the Gate Keeper or Guardian is one meaning... or Ghost Child is another." the sky blue clad male muses. "I am Lan Huan, Lan Xichen. Wangji rarely let's anyone call him by his birthname. It speaks of how much he likes a person. I only call him by his name when I want to stress the severity of the situation or I need to talk him down. He's calm and quiet, which sadly makes it hard for those who do not know him to tell when he is stressed or angry." the newly named Lan Xichen smiles.

"Brother, too much." Lan Zhan sighs.

"I am only teasing... but you best eat as well. I need to speak with our new Captain." He gets up and leaves, discreetly signaling another of their kind who is hovering over a pretty, but short young man, who much like those who wear a similar color scheme to him, has a red dot between his brows. This was going to be a very interesting mission...

Chapter Text

Several hours had passed since they had been woken up, those who were suffering Hypersleep Sickness had been treated and were left resting in Medbay with Dr. Wen and Dr. Lan as everyone else worked on repairing the ship's exterior next. Wen Rouhan had kept his word, he approached specific people carefully and soon they were back with at least one constant companion. The few who were mated were kept together with their Alphas, the others were paired up with someone who passed inspection. Wei Ying looked at the room besides medbay, to have it's own emergency generator, life support, O2 and if need be, could be ejected form the ship and act as a mini shuttle. He knew this was the Omega room because his Uncle Xingchen was with him along with his best friends, Wen Ning and Nie Huaisang. Meng Yao, their communications Expert, was there as well with Jiang Yanli and his cousin A-Qing. Wen Ning, Uncle Xingchen and Jiang Yanli were mated to the three guards currently standing guard outside the door, the three men working out a quick cycle between themselves as well as a code to make sure they were who they claimed to be and to communicate without raising suspicion.

"A'Xian?" Jiang Yanli asks as she waves a hand in front of his face, a worried frown on her face.

"Sorry, I was thinking that there are so few of us... Only 7 of us?"

"Yes... we need to make it to Polaris so we can get the rest of our people here..." She sighs sadly, sitting beside him and he leans into her.

Omegas were very tactile, they were often liken to Bunnies who if left alone for too long or not given enough love, could die of loneliness. In the corner of the room his Uncle and Meng Yao were building a bit nest of the blankets and pillows in the room, even the spares they found in the linen closet both inside and out side of the room, only leaving three pillows and blankets for the Alphas to use, to make it. They were able to remove the gel mattresses from the beds and use them as the base and to make walls around them. a few heavy blankets on top created a burrow like nest.

"Alright, we are done... c'mon..." Meng Yao says, wiping his make up off, being a bit rough with the red dot on his brow. "Finally can clean that off..."

"Come, a'Xian..." Yanli says as she helps him up and gently pushes him, Wen Ning and A-Qing in first, with Nie Huaisang after them, they were the youngest of the Omegas hear before she climbed in with her brother in-law and Wei Ying's Uncle behind her, the two older Omegas checked the pulse pistols, making sure they were full y charged and set to stun before they got comfy as well.

After a bit of shifting around, they were all curled up and dozing off, the lights left at 20% so it was not completely dark in the room. Wei Ying almost giggled because there was not one part of anyone who wasn't touching everyone else. They looked like a warren of bunnies all piled together for warmth and comfort. Smiling again, he closes his eyes and soon drifts off to sleep, still bone tired form Hypersleep...

Song Lan came to check on them after a while and smiles when he looks into the burrow only for his husband's eyes to light up ultraviolet in his 'True Eyes' before they dimmed and then his husband, huffs softly, going back to sleep curled around their daughter, the youngest in the group at 14 and newly presented. He can see Wei Ying curled up like the tiny bunny they all knew he was, at the heart of the group with everyone touching him. As quietly as he came in, he left once more nodding to Jin Zixuan, who looked upset with being on guard duty and a deadly quiet Wen Zhuliu, who if you did not pay close attention to, looked with softened eyes at the door and then back at Song Lan.

"Their' sleeping." He assures and the man relaxes just a little bit, the change mircoscopic, but still there. They turn as someone comes around the bend and Song Lan smiles at Xue Yang, who waves at his adoptive father.

"I'm on patrol... a'Niang, Little Blind and Xian-ge?" He asks, cocking his at the door.

"Sleeping, especially your cousin."

"Mm..." He nods and then glares at the Jin who is glaring back at him.

"You are supposed to be with two others!" the man hissed.

"Tsk... no one with half a braincell would want to be left alone with me..." He grins wide and manic, eyes lighting up a soul searing orange red, like hot lava.

"A' Yang." Song Lan, drops a hand on his son's head making him pout at him. "Where are the other two?"

"The Rapist and the Serial Killer? Yeah, I left them tied up in one of the Jefferies until I'm done with my sweep." He states.

The three bristle at the casual info as Xue Yang shrugs. but Song Lan is not upset at the dismissal, but the fact there is are KNOWN criminals on the ship.

"Keep an eye on them, yeah?" Song Lan asks as the younger Alpha nods his head. "Good, go... I will clear you if some idiot tries to Sus you."

"Of course, Old man... Tell a'Niang and sis I said sweet dreams. A'Xian is most likely doing his best impression of a bunny right now and so tell him I said he looks adorable!" He teases and keeps going down the hall pausing when he thought he heard something in the vent. "What..." He turns on his flashlight and aims it up into the vent but sees nothing. "We need to get a cleaner droid in the vents... wouldn't be surprised if we have some kind of rodent in there making that noise..."

"Perhaps you shouldn't go by yourself, you know that Captain Wen ordered us into groups..."

"Mm.... Fine I will take the Peacock with me... He seems bitchy from not getting his beauty sleep, maybe moving around will help him stay awake." Xue Yang grins meanly at Jin Zixuan, who growls, flashing his own burnt golden red eyes.

Before the two two younger Alphas could get into a fight, Song Lan, cuffed his son on the back of his head and told him to behave himself before he gave the Jin Alpha a sharp look that said to no antagonize his adopted son or there will be hell to pay. The two growl petulantly but do as told, heading off down the hall as he and Wen Zhuliu lean back against the walls, just listening to the ship hum around them. They would check the Omegas in another thirty minutes...

Meanwhile in the vent, unholy red eyes watch the pair of Alphas before slipping into the room and out of the only vent opening in the far corner away from the Omegas. The entity moves quietly and seamlessly. Looking at the empty and stripped bare beds, the being blinks confused before the tendrils that make up its hair moved not unlike the snakes of Medusa's head toward the nest in the opposite corner. Sliding quickly toward it but being careful to not alert anything or anyone to its presence, it looked in and saw all the Breeders of this annoyingly presistent species and gives pleased nod as it carefully sends 7 tendrils to collect samples from the breeders and then as quick as it had come, it slipped back into the vent and away towards Medbay where it carefully drops down and becomes Lan Xichen once more in his brother's private office and holds out the 7 vial s of blood to him.

"I do not believe we should kill everyone this time... only those who are clear threat or cannot be reasoned with..." He says to his younger brother. "I already do not like the gold dressed ones... minus one or two of them, I do not like them."

"Mn..." Lan Zhan nods his head, also not overly fond of the arrogant group. "Targets?"

"There are some who... are very offensive... They should be the ones we get the rest to vote off, but I think we should start with these three..." Lan Xichen smiles evilly as he shows him three pictures. "I am taking the one on the left..."

"Middle."

"No fair, having the meeting before I get here..." their third partner's voice gripes and they turn to see Nie Mingjue. "Fine I get the one on the right. Now what's the plan...."

Chapter Text

Jin Zixuan and Xue Yang did not talk to one another as they walked down the hall, their flashlights being shown into every crevice possible for anything out of the ordinary. the ship was super creepy now that there were very few people awake. Jin Zixuan checked his tablet and frowned when he saw a few indicators that were just up the hall.

"Hold it... there's a couple of people up ahead... One just left...." Suddenly there was a strange rattling in the vent above them and both pulled out their laser pistols and aimed up at the vent. There were no openings here. "The fuck was that?"

"... Don't know... let's go, someone could be hurt." Xue Yang says, slowly moving down the hall, keeping his back to the wall.

"Right... we'll check and then hit the Emergency button." Jin Zixuan agrees as they slowly make their way up the hall, Xue Yang keeping his eyes on the vent shaft over their heads while the gold clad young man kept an eye out on the ground. Getting to the fuel storage room, he opens the door. "Holy fucking hell!?"

Xue Yang looks down and pales. Lying in before them was someone's left leg and right hand, over by the fuel panel was their head and strew across the rack of cleaning supplies was their insides. Suddenly on the tablet a red alert button appeared and Jin Zixuan pressed it and fast. The halls turned bright orange and an automated voice recording began playing as an alarm sounded off. It took only a handful of moments for the others to join them, Captain Wen looking unhappy to see that two of his crew were not with their designated buddies, but that could be dealt with later and in private.

"What is it?" He demands.

"Sir, we found these two and they got blood on their hands..." Nie Mingjue says as he and Lan Xichen shove the two men, that Xue Yang could have sworn he left hogtied up in one of the jefferies tubes somewhere near reactor, at the feet of the captain. they both looked a bit wild eyed and had blood splatters all over their dark grew suits.

"Wait blood...?" Wen Qing, one of their doctors gasped and looked nervously at the room behind the two younger men. "Is--"

"It's a mess in there..." Xue Yang says. "From what we could see in the limited light of our flashlights, not everything is there..."

"Oh fuck..." someone mutters sounding like they were gonna be sick to their stomach.

Wen Rouhan takes a long breath before he quickly orders everyone to the caf to wait for a report. he kept the two possible culprits behind with Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen as well as Jin Zixuan and Xue Yang. once it was just them, they step into the room and it takes every effort for Wen Rouhan to not want to throw up, especially after what looked like half a liver fell right onto his red and gold shoulder pad with the Captain stars pinned it.

"We didn't do this!! That kid is fucking insane!! He threatened us!!" the rapist yells, pointing at Xue Yang, who growls at him.

"Yeah! He threatened to kill us!!"

"Xue Yang may be a deliquent, but even he knows better than to fuck around..." Wen Rouhan says. "You two have history with violent crimes... so please, convince me to spare your lives...."

"We started our patrol like you ordered and when we leaving the engines this little shit attacked up and said he would kill us if we breathed the wrong way near him! He left us tied up in the Jefferies!" The Serial Killer is quick to explain.

"I can confirm that I did threaten them, but they are leaving out one key piece of info: I said that I would kill them if they even thought to touch any of my family, especially my ma, sis or my cousin." Xue Yang growls, flashing red eyes. "The knots were supposed to be impossible to untie, but somehow you two are free. I wandered around alone from the Jefferies through the only hall that leads to the Medbay hall. I met my old man and he already scolded me for being alone and told Princy over here to walk with me. We came down this hall, about 10 paces back we heard a strange sound in the vent."

"Like something crawling through it, but before that I was checking my map and saw a couple of markers in this room, one suddenly vanished and the one remained when the sound happened, we pulled out our pistols and slowly made our way. We thought someone was hurt and was gonna administer first aid, but then....." Jin Zixuan waved at the mess. "After that I called the EA and here we are now... We haven't moved from here and if the punk wanted to kill me, he had more than enough time to do it. If he did kill, why are you two still alive?"

"...." Wen Rouhan sighs and turns to the two older males who have not said a word since they found the pair. "Anything to add?"

"I found him trying to pry open a vent cap near where those needing close medical attention were sleeping. If I recall correctly that vent leads to several of the rooms in the Med ward and there is only one in that particular room." Lan Xichen says. "I was going to check the vents in the morning to make sure they were still sealed shut since whatever keeps killing the crews that get sent out here seems to like using them. Since we managed to escape the last ship, we agreed to keep the vents sealed and monitored."

"I personally welded them all shut, sir... the brats heard something in the vent... that means someone opened one up... and there are four vents in this room. One here next to the door, two over in the back corners and one just above the middle of the room. The branch out over the whole ship." Nie Mingjue adds and carefully picks his way around the room to check the vents finding the one in the back left corner opened. ".... this is the one that goes towards medical and from there to the Engines..."

"I bet if we check the vents in Engines, one of them will open up..." Xue Yang growls. "So not only did you get free, but your trying to sabotage the crew!"

"Mr. Xue calm down!" Wen Rouhan says. "You are both covered in blood, how did that get on you if you were tied up?"

"We... we don't know!"

"Sir, perhaps we should check for a weapon? Something sharp, possibly serrated..." Lan Xichen suggests.

"We find the weapon we find the killer... if not we will put it to a vote." Wen Rouhan agrees and has Mingjue search the two unsavory men.

It is tense for the two minutes it takes to check and the Rapist has a bloody knife in his side pouch and the right hand of the dead man, the one keyed to the biometric lock to the weapons armory.

"No! I didn't!! I swear!! I don't know how I got this-- no!! Please you have to believe me!!" the rapist screams as Wen Rouhan grabs him and marches to caf as the others follow behind him, Xue Yang growling at the Serial Killer, who is trying to plead the Rapist's case, they had been trapped together the whole time, that it couldn't have been him.

"So it had to have been you, since you are a known killer. Who is to say you didn't scratch the itch and when you got caught, you pinned it on you so-called 'buddy?' For all we know you both planned this..." Jin Zixuan snarls, glaring at him, the fact that at any point they could have found his wife and the others set his fangs on edge. They walked into the caf and the two men were tossed before the whole crew, though the Rapist was clearly in cuffs.

Wen Rouhan explained what had been discovered and had them all plead their cases. He didn't even get to ask for a vote when everyone was demanding the madman get sent out the airlock without his helmet. Especially after the man admitted to being a rapist, not a murderer. Needless to say he was sent out into the vacuum of space and the other man was locked in the brig for the time being. A clean up crew was put together the remains were given last rights before they were incinerated. After that the groups were remade and all was well...

That is until a week later when the body of Jin Crewmate was found...

Chapter Text

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uctPlt1AWDw

Prompt From Samstagram903:

Su She covets everything LWJ has and decides he wants WWX. Since JGS /JGY want the Stygian Tiger Seal or his power, they help brainwash WWX to think he is in love with SS(don’t care how: talismans, arrays, poison, whack to the head). Thinking WWX is in love with SS, LWJ goes dark to get him back. In the process, uncovers the Jin’s plot and saves everyone. This can be during canon or in the modern era with cultivation.

Snippet:

13 years ago

He grunted as he stumbled down the alleyway, trying to get away from the crash sight. He left a trail of blood behind with every step. His vision was fuzzy and kept fading in and out. there was a ringing in his ears and he's sure he has a concussion and is bleeding from more than his head wound. He makes... He's not even sure how far before he collapses into a pile of trash sitting in a small suburb alley and he is pretty sure he's about to die, how embarrassing, to die at 15 in a pile of trash. All be cause his father was going to be the Prime Minister and wanted to improve lives for all of China...

He must have passed out because he wakes up when he feels someone gently cleaning the wound on his head. He hisses in pain and opens a golden eye to glare at the person and is met with a sweet face, eyes like the silver moon looming behind them. It is a child, about 7-10 years old. They are carefully cleaning him with a water bottle and cartoon character themed plasters. They realize he is awake and smile sweetly.

"It's okay, Xianxian is making it better. Not as good as Shijie, but Xianxian watches Shijie and learned!" He says proudly, and it is a little boy.

He wants to tell the kid to leave, to let him die, but the child doesn't pay him any mind and then once he is done cleaning him up, Lan Zhan breathes because he will finally be left to die and join his parents, he can only think that thank goodness Xiongzhang  had gotten sick and had to stay at home. He is about to let himself go, but gasps as he feels powerful energy entering him and looks. The child, "Xianxian", is holding small hands over him and they glow a rosy gold color as he manipulates spiritual energy to heal him. His own spiritual energy is roused and accepts the boost the child is offering him and he can feel the aches and the pain fading.

"Wei Wuxian!!" Someone shouts and the child startles, stopping what he is doing. "Where are you!? Mother's going to be furious you didn't listen!!"

"Oops... This one needs to leave... but you should be ok to find a doctor! Bye-bye!" The young boy says hastily and runs and as the child does, he sees a dark shadow following, he is about to get up and save the child, but he gasps seeing the child look at the child and hears, "Thanks for telling me he was there a-Ning! Let's go before ChengCheng sends his spirit Hounds to find me..."

He watches them turn a corner and a moment later a man in black comes running from where Lan Zhan had come from.

"Young Master Lan! Oh thank goodness... When we heard about the accident, Master Qiren asked me to come find you..."

"Mm..." He nods and allows the guard, the only one in the Lan Clan to wear black, pull him up to his feet, but in doing so the world turns and he knows nothing more...

8 years ago

He made no sound even as he was beaten with an old fashion bamboo whip. He glared the arrogant son of Wen Rouhan, Wen Chao. After his parents deaths, his family was systematically attacked and killed off until they were but a third of their original size. It shattered something inside, Lan Zhan. Through all the hell he suffered, dealing with his Uncle's strict and suffocating rules, attending far to many funerals, the random ambushes that left him beaten and broken, when he should have died too many times over, he kept a spark of light in his heart. Even now, he was enduring this torture because the Wens have kidnapped the Heirs of the most prominent families and was torturing them to get them to support Wen Rouhan's regime as the Prime Minister. The Wens had been behind the attacks and the assassinations of his parents. they took the Prime Minister post not too long after the deaths of his parents made it to the news. His uncle was the headmaster of school and thus had no political standing and could not take the Proxy and neither he or Lan Huan had been of age to take over either.

He keeps glaring at the smug face of Chao as he feels the skin on his back split open again, blood pouring down to join the other pools of blood from some of the others that had been tortured. To the side of the room, the others were forced to watch and his treasured Light was pressing his delicate hands to his mouth to keep himself from sobbing at the sight, his adoptive brother's head on his lap, half conscious form his own beating. The others were no better, sobbing quietly or growling in fury. Wen Zhuliu stopped hitting him as Wen Chao frowns and glares at him.

"Stubborn, aren't you?"

He says nothing and when the stupid shit gets closer, he uses the infamous Lan arm strength to pull his body up and wrap his legs tightly over the idiots neck and with a twist of his hips, snaps his neck. After that it is pandemonium and makes it his goal to find and protect Wei Wuxian. By the time their little revolt spilled into the main mansion and into an important gala that was being televised, SWAT had also stormed in with Nie Mingjue at the head of the charge because one of those that had been kidnapped was his younger brother. He enjoyed watching Rouhan get arrested, enjoyed the scream of agony the man let out when his son's body was wheeled out and when the man caught his eyes, he gives a wide smile that is more like a baring of fangs as his eyes flash Alpha Red. The man knew it then and had hurled abuse at him and even admitted that he should have killed both him and Huan with their parents. It was a dark pleasure to watch the man get dragged away and slapped in cuffs. He would figure out how to get him later. He turns to get medical attention when he suddenly has his arms full of Wei Wuxian, who has tears in his eyes. The Omega is fussing and fretting, pulling medical items out of nowhere and much like when they first met, he was cleaning up his wounds.

"Fine as long as Xianxian is alright." He murmurs and the Omega blushes.

"How-- nevermind... You are not fine! You're back is practically shredded!" He scolds. Zhan knows that Wei Wuxian has a bad memory, due to the accident that killed his parents when he was a very young child and partly his brain blocking out the trauma. He had done his research and has watched Wei Wuxian whenever they were at a function together or sometimes in the same areas. "And Lan Zhan, my name is Wei Ying. Wuxian is my nickname..."

"Wei Ying..." He says it and it is like tasting heaven. "Wei Ying."

"Yes-!?" The 15 year old Omega looked up and gasps as he is kissed by the 23 year old Alpha. "Lan Zhan!?" He squeaks out cutely, covering his mouth as his cheeks turn a burning pink.

"Forgive... wanted to kiss Ying for long time..." he admits.

"Shijie says when someone kisses you, with love you have to marry them... do you... do you love me?" He asks.

"Mm... can wait for Ying to be of age..." He nods.

"Then take responsibility and marry me!" The Omega shouts, stomping and then turning and running away, face as red as ripe cherries...

5 years ago

"In other news, Prime Minster Jin Guangshan's PA, Su She, has announced his engagement to the Heir of Baoshen Co., Wei Ying. However due to the heavy work load of the Prime Minister and his cabinent, the wedding is being postponed for now."

The glass of water he had been drinking was crushed in his fist as he watched a cellphone video of his Ying kissing Su She, a former member by marriage of the Lan Family. Su She had once been assign as his playmate when they were children, but the slightly older boy had always been annoying and jealous of him for some reason. And now, he dares to take his Wei Ying! He will ruin this marriage if it is the last thing he does on this earth!! Beside him a young demon appears grinning.

"Xue Yang, this one has a task..."

Present

Wei Ying slowly woke up in one of the guest rooms of the Prime Minister's mansion. He was confused about how and why he was here. He knew his memory was bad, but surely something had to be very wrong for him to be losing time. He needed to see Qing-jie, she was the only doctor he trusted to not lie or sugarcoat. yes he was an emotional mess 99% of the time, but he actually handled stress pretty well. He grimaces as his mouth feels sticky and tastes like he ate a tube of fish past like that one time he lost a bet to Cheng and had to do that. He remembers being sick for a whole week after that. Never again. He sits up slowly and the door opens and he sees his fiance of the last 5 years walk in holding a tray of soup and thankfully water with a pitcher of water.

"You ok, my love?" She asks.

"I need to see my doctor... I've been losing more and more time lately... I'm scared." He admits.

"What? No, don't bother Dr. Wen... If you're that worried I can ask one of the doctors assigned to the Minister. After all the Prime Minister gets only the absolute best staff, medical personnel and the like in the whole country." She placates in a gentle tone, after setting the tray down. "This means that they would be able to take better care of you than Dr. Wen since her treatment seems to be failing lately."

"... I guess you're right..." Ying pouts and accepts the kiss She bestows him before he sips his water, which tastes strange. "Is there something in the water?"

"It's electrolyte water, it's gonna taste funny." She tells him. "The pitcher is normal water."

"Pleh... but if you think it will help, I'll drink it." He makes a cute little face as he sticks his tongue out.

As he drinks the water and then the soup, he does not notice the malicious smile on his fiance's face. He doesn't notice him asking him to summon a-Ning and order him to go take out Nie Mingjue. He doesn't hear a-Ning begging him to stop doing what She says. He doesn't realize he is nothing more than a puppet. He doesn't know that She takes advantage to use his mouth since Madam Yu is far too formidable to try and deflower the Omega before their official wedding. Wei Ying doesn't even know that Guangshan has used his mouth nor does he realize that the reason he is a permanent guest of the Minster's mansion is because the two men he 'trusts' with his life, plan to use him like a harem whore. But deep in the back of his mind a voice, too far and distorted cries for help...

Chapter Text

Wen Ning was a class 10 Demon, the highest rank one could get, and was the bound familiar to Young Master Wei. His young master was a kind and selfless young man. Had always been since childhood. Wen Ning would do anything his master asked of him, which normally fell into things like playing or helping him sneak away from his keepers for a little while. Aiding those in trouble and the very obvious, protecting him from harm. However lately, his young master has been taken advantage of and he can do nothing to help because his bond was being suppressed. When his master does call on him, it is to do the bidding of his fiancé and his fiancé's boss. He growled darkly, wanting to tear them limb from limb and then beat them to death with their own body parts before he slowly rends their souls apart piece by piece until nothing is left. However because he has been pretty much locked into his 'ghost' form until summoned otherwise, he cannot harm the living. Floating above the city he uses his senses to find "Lan Wangji" and eliminate him...

He doesn't want to, but Wen Ning doesn't really have a choice, the bond recognized the order even it knew it was not a genuine desire. An order was an order. Finding the soul he was looking for he flash steps towards it quickly and slips easily through walls and any barriers set up because he is not feeling malicious. However when he finds the person he is met with a younger demon, a class 7. The younger demon is hanging by his tail, grinning at him upside down.

"You're hear to kill my master... sorry, Ghost General, but I cannot allow that... I'm Xue Yang, Class 7. My expertise is to cause pain and a lot of it..." He drops down and lands on his feet before he gives a genuine bow of respect to the older and higher classed demon. Wen Ning was a Legend, a Fierce Corpse with a Conscious mind from a time long forgotten and brushed off as old myths and legends, stories to tell little ones at night. Xue Yang was brimming with excitement as well as feeling a bit anxious. This was not his first fight against a higher class demon, but this was THE Demon among Demons and he will likely lose. However to go toe to toe with the Ghost General!?

"... I do not want, but I've been ordered..." He admits around slowly bared teeth, his nails growing long and deadly  as his pale complexion takes on a ghastly cast, black veins becoming visible.

"Then, I'm afraid, Sir Ning, that I have to stop you... However I have been ordered to render you immobile. Not that I believe I can beat THE Ghost General..."

Wen Ning nods once, jumping back as black chains form over his arms and chest, he uses them like whips to both attack from far and near by, at the ends of the chains are deadly black rock like daggers that are near indestructible. Xue Yang, pulls a sword out of nowhere, a bead of sweat forming on his brow as he grins with manic glee and nervousness. He has more weapons, Merchant of Death was his name among Demons and he lived up to it. Selling deadly weapons or souls was his main job when not contracted, but a ruthless spy and assassin when under contract and he liked his current master. You would not think someone so righteous or upstanding would summon and form a contract with someone like him. But hey, looks are deceiving.

It takes but a second and they are clashing. The shockwaves of their blows alert the guards to danger and a team of Demon Hunters rush in, but stop short when Xue Yang growls at them to back off, to not ruin his fun. They are not sure what to say or do, but then the Second Jade walks in and tells them to remain on standby. He watches the two demons go at it. He notes that the Ghost General is holding back, fighting the command and it is allowing Xue Yang the advantage, just at they thought...

4 years ago

Lan Zhan was looking over the books for his... side projects, doing his own book keeping to make sure no one tried to mess with him. He hasn't told Xiongzhang yet nor Uncle and is debating whether he should. He is also investigating the mysterious deaths of some of Prime Minster Jin's rivals and competition as well as a few prominent figure heads or people who once funded his campaigns but were going to support the new comer this coming election. Questionable decrees in their last wills leaving Jin Guangshan either the majority of their fortunes or the entirety of it, leaving their remaining families desuetude. It was far too strange if one actually thinks about it. But then again, Jin Guangshan has had a strangle hold of the Prime Minster seat since the fall of Wen Rouhan a few years back...

Speaking of him, Lan Zhan should finally put him out of his misery...

The man was nothing more than a catatonic shell of what he use to be and it was no longer fun torturing him if he doesn't react any more. Oh well, If Lan Zhan has his way, Jin Guangshan and Su She will soon be taking his place. Especially Su She...

"Master! I've the reports you requested." Xue Yang calls out suddenly, appearing from his shadow as he likes to do on occasion usually just appearing in a random spot was his more preferred mode of travel. He liked to scare the daylights out of unsuspecting people. However he can never seem to get the drop on Lan Zhan must to his disappointment.

"Mn, good work..." He pulls open a draw and pulls out loquat and strawberry flavored candies from it, the pale pink bag was set down on the table. "A treat for a'Yang."

"Ohh, master you spoil this one!" He bows in a seemingly mocking manner, but he is genuine. Lan Zhan was not like his pervious masters, he actually cared in his strange detached way and took what he learned of those around him too heart and often made sure they had things they liked available.

Xue Yang had a sweet tooth, even back when he had been human, and would do anything for something sweet. Lan Zhan used it as a reward for a job well done and would take away some of the sweets if Xue Yang did something he wasn't supposed to do or was too excessive. It tempered him down and calmed him down. He may not always like doing things the 'boring way' but it was also more effective to sometimes leave his prey alive.

"You were right about the sudden change. Dr. Wen's records about her sessions with your Omega, show a clear change in personality and he's been coming to see her less and less. I'm pretty sure he will stop seeing her all together and not just for his sessions, but as his primary as well. As for the deaths, you were right on the money again, Master! Demon assassin... a very powerful one... I took samples from each scene and I am gonna need these things to test them to check who did it. But by the power alone, there are only a handful of demons that could pull this off and out of all of them only one of them can freely move about the human world at this time." Xue Yang began his report, no longer smiling. He hands over the files and a list of things he needs.

"Mn, will have the Demon Hunters get them and set up a workshop in their department for you in the 4th subbasement." He says once he finishes looking over the list.

"I cannot get close to the Prime Minster's compound, when I just toed the line of the barrier an entire SWAT team of guards  and Demon Hunters nearly took me out... But I can bet you that they are keeping Wei Wuxian hostage in there. What they want with him specifically is beyond me, though the obvious reason would be his grandmother's company. Old Lady Baoshen is sitting really pretty on an ancient throne of wealth and with her current companies and investments, the next 20 generations can do nothing with their lives and still have a pretty penny to show for it." Xue Yang says, showing the chard flesh of his left hand, his pinky was beyond saving from the damage done to it, but he at least had something to study.

".... Good work, rest. Have Dr. Mo look at your injuries..."

"My pinky is gone, but the rest I can treat on my own, but I will still go let Dr. Mo fuss at me... Night master." He bows and turns to leave when he is called again, turning he catches his candies and smiles, almost forgetting them.

Lan Zhan reads through the reports and knows that in a few days he would have his answers.

And indeed, he did get them: The Ghost General, Wen Qionglin.

'Time to make a nuisance of myself....' He thinks, smirking as he knows just how to start...

Present

The battle rages on for over three hours and then Wen Ning stumbles, he feels his master's distressed mind and is distracted trying to asses what is wrong, which allows Xue Yang to jump away from him just as the Demon Hunters throw out subjugation talismans and pin him in place.

"Enough... you are captured..."

"Please, Young Master..." Wen Ning sounds very worried. "He's distressed... I--"

"You will be released, but not before I get some answers... Wei Ying will be fine for a while longer..." Lan Zhan grinds out because he wants to let the Ghost General go, but he knows that this might be his only chance to learn what goes on in the Minister's compound...

Chapter Text

Prompt:

Lan wangji x wei ying x lan huan

Omega wei ying has two mates, and they just happen to be the most powerful people in the underworld.

Too bad Wei Ying did not a mate let alone two mates!

Lan Wangji and lan Huan will most definitely not let their little Omega go now would they?

"Haa~ don't touch you little bastard!" Wei Ying moaned out clearly enjoying but had still not wanted to tell them that he was in a cloud nine.

(Boypussy wei ying)

(Pure filth and smut)

Requests for smut undertaken

Strictly bottom Wèi Yīng and top twin jade's

No jadecest (for the love of god)

1) no jadecest
2) only bottom wei ying
3) lots of smut , requests are open.
4) no switch (plis)
5) I will write a chap after the requests start coming in or some chaps by myself.
6) this will have very little plot, just a lot of smut.

Snippet:

There was the wet sounds of mouths sucking and smacking together. The Omega writhed in esctacy even as between devouring kisses he mewled and moaned, clearly riding the pleasure being bestowed upon him. His hissed that he did nit like it to stop, but if he truly wanted them to stop he needed to only say a single word, a name that can instantly the mood, bur he doesn't.

He cries out as his hair is yanked. Forcinf his head back as sharp fangs graze one of the twin marks on his neck. He screams as he cums, his pussy dripping obscenely and the loud slurping of an eager tongue drinking up his juices makes him whine shyly, curling up to his but he is quickly pinned back down.

"Our beautiful A'Ying has been so naughty... Running away from poor A'Ning, he was so worried you would get hurt..." The sweet voice of his oldest Alpha croons, the dark hiss of anger making the Omega whine, no longer feeling indignant, but thoroughly chastised now. "I know you do not like having someone follow you... At least we took the consideration to assign someone you get along well with... We are not trying to control you, A'Ying, but there are people who would try to hurt you just to get at us..."

"I... I.... Ying is sorry..." He whines pitifully around another whine his other mate happy to keep eating his oversensitive pussy out, letting his brother do the talking as he normally does. "But you kept me inside... For a month!" He whines again, "A'Zhan please!! Too much!! Ooh gods, please.... F-fuck!!"

Lan Zhan pulls away, wiping the slick from his face and then smearing over the Omega's, his other hand shoving three fingers in and viciously fucking them into the sloppy whole. The Omega quick reaches a second Orgasm and blacks out for a few seconds as the Twins quickly devest themselves and Lan Huan settles between spread thighs and slowly sinks in because no matter how mad they get. They can never hurt their precious Wei Ying. Once he is sunk deep, he coaxes Wei Yong back to the waking world.

"If you want this to stop, you know what to say or what hand sign to give. This is your punishment for scaring us and then tomorrow you will apologize to A'Ning."

"Yes, Alpha Huan..."

"Good.. A'Zhan?" He cocks his head wondering what his brother wanted and then seeing what he was thinking he smirks and and grabs Ying's hands and pull off his hair ribbon and binds then tightly together before accepting Zhan's and tying it around Ying's cocker, teasing the cute little penis before he ties the ends of the ribbons together and then forces Ying's arms above his head, which pulls on his cock at that right level of pleasure and pain.

"Nyaaa!?" He cries out as his head is pulled back until he csn only see Zhan's cock and balls. He opens his mouth and moans at the heady scent of sandalwood, winter and something wholly Lan Zhan. He coughs and swallows until his nose is buried in the thick of his Alpha's scent and already he is fading into subspace, becoming soft and pliant, a living fleshlight for his Alphas to use and abuse. He feels Zhan move his right leg into his hands, the scars from a vicious animal attack that had broken his leg years ago were invisible to the eye but felt. He k ow if it is too much to squeeze them the pain will force them to stop because they never like to cause too much pain to one another.

Taking a moment to make sure their Omega was alright they nod and start of slow. Just enjoying the wet warm, the slow drag. Ying whines because he is so sensitive, twitching twitching and fighting but clearly enjoying it. They begin to pick up speed and power. 

"That's it, Xiao Ying, you are nothing but our bitch... Yes... Fuck you were made for our focus. Look how eagerly you want A'Zhan to fuck your mouth, too bad this isn't your heat or we would knot you so you were locked on our cocks...."

Wei Ying moans wantonly. Sucking more eagerly as he squeezes through another orgasm and moans as he is filled with hot him from Huan. He whines when he pulls away, Zhan pulling back but quickly flips him onto his knees and slides home as Huan pushes his cum covered cock into the Omega's eager mouth.

"A'Ying... Perfect, sweet..." Zhan growls in his ears and he moans, moving more eagerly. He had a praise link because he was never praised by the Jiangs other than Jiang Yanli who always supported him and took care of him when they were little. So any amount of praise especially during sex, made him eager for more, to know he was being so good.

"Good for us... Do you wa t our babies?" Zhan asks and Ying goves a loud scream. Eyes rolling up as he drops fulling into oblivion allowing his mates to cum and if they wanted they could keep fucking him, but they never do.

Zhan carefully pulls out and picks him up. Huan strips the bed and replaces the sheets as Zhan gets a bath going and soon the three are soaking, Ying kept between them, passed out and at absolute peace to allow two Alphas to handle his unconscious body. It was not this way in the beginning, they they would never change things. A'Ying was theirs...

"A'Ying is in bed. A'Ning has also brought in Mo Yuan..." Huan says as he walks into the office where Zhan is working on some of their less than legal books.

"Good. Let's find out what he indeeded to do with A'Ying...." He snarls grabbing Buchan off her stand as Huan grabs Shuoyue.

"That stupid young master should have listened to A'Xuanyu.... How is his broken arm? A'Ying was very worried about that before we started punishing him..."

"Not broken, bruised. But he Will be alright with rest. Ning Will enjoy breaking Mo Yuan's ribs... Such a shame a good name wasted on a horrible human..."

"Yuan... Yes it is a good name more befitting a child of our A'Ying... Maybe Qinghua for a girl? I like Jingyi too." 

Chapter Text

Prompt from Samstagram903:

WWX and LWJ are friends in college. WWX thinks LWJ is straight or not interested so he dates around eventually meeting Wen Xu. They become very serious and get married after finishing college. At WWX’s wedding, LWJ gets drunk after giving his best man speech. He wakes up the next morning, naked, next to Mo Xuanyu (or JGY/OMC). He runs away.

WWX and WX move away to work for Yunmeng Jiang. WWX loses touch with LWJ and haven’t spoken to each other for a few years. During this time, LWJ goes on blind dates set up by LQR and meets MXY again. After a few dates, they agree to marry. Meanwhile, WWX’s world falls apart. Wen Xu had been embezzling money from Yunmeng Jiang and gets arrested. He also racked up a huge gambling debt with loan sharks with WWX as guarantor. Disowned from the Jiangs and shamed by the business world, WWX is unable to get a job and when the loan sharks come to collect, he is forced to sell his body at a brothel. There he meets Jin Guanshan and has his contract bought by him. He gets taken to a private island owned by the Jins and is forced to invents things for Jin Corp and also becomes a sex slave for JGS and cronies.

A month before LWJ and MXY’s wedding, JGS invites them to the private island. As JGS is showing off the facilities where most of the Jin Corp inventions are created, LWJ spots WWX in the lab thru a one- sided mirror/window. LWJ is unable to talk to WWX and WWX is not aware LWJ is there. That night, as LWJ is wondering how to talk to WWX, he wanders upon JGS’s cronies dragging WWX to a special place. He follows secretly and watches WWX get physically and sexually abused by JGS and co.

*Jiang Yanli and Jin Xizuan have never been to the island because they are working in a different country and just had Jin Ling so they couldn’t travel.

Figured you can flesh this idea out much better than I ever could. Have fun! Also on a side not, you can pick anyone to be LWJ's fiance, even Jin Zixun to show it is not a love match but rather an arranged marriage.

Snippet:

Wei Ying slowly awoke in the room he had been dragged into. His body was so sore, he was covered in cum and gods knew what else. His mouth tasted horrible and he just really wanted to curl up and die at this point. He only makes it as far as the corner before passing out...

Wei Ying bolts awake with a gasp and quickly turns over to throw up, he sobs through it and startles when someone moves his hair out of his face. For one terrifying moment, he thinks it is Jin Guangshan. It wouldn't be the first time the man pretended to care for him before he'd force Wei Ying to take his cock. If it wasn't because he had been careful about his suppressants, he had has avoided pregnancy thus far. When he can no longer force anything out of his stomach he turns his eyes up to see just who found him and almost wishes it was Jin Guangshan. Knelt before him is Lan Zhan.

"L- Lan Zh- Zhan!?" He squeaks, shock, happiness, fear and some more emotions mix together in his belly. They would be threatening to make him throw up if he had anything left. "Wh- what are you--"

"Honey, Mr. Jin's-- oh..."

Chapter Text

Prompt:

Wei Ying was born into a world where Omegas had been all but eradicated from the Human gene pool. What few there were left in the world, vanished after they were arrested for being Omegas. One day Wei Ying's secret was found out when his heat struck him in the middle of work. The two officers he had been serving coffee to sprung into action and he ran away. As he ran, he didn't pay attention to where he was going until it was too late and he struck by a Sonic Bus. He wakes up to the Goddess Baoshen Sanren, whom he met in his old world as an old lady with a cute cat garden and her favorite cat, Momo. She offers him a better life in a new world, granting him a few gifts so he can blend in and to help him find a good Alpha. Wei Ying isn't so sure about the latter, considering Alphas ruined his life in his previous world. But Baoshen Sanren promises that things are better in the world she is sending him. In this world Omegas are extremely valuable and highly sought after. Even Betas compete for an Omega's hand in marriage. Wei Ying eventually agrees and Baoshen Sanren offers him two powerful guardians in the form of a pair of bunnies and a token with her symbol on it so he can speak with her whenever he desires or needs aid.

Wei Ying awakens to find himself laying in a field out side of Gusu Lan, where a group of of mixed disciples find him. He is quickly gathered up and moved into their camp, the Alphas making sure that he and the few other Omegas in the Party are warm by the fire, given a good meal and protected from anything that might come after them in the night. Wei Ying is dizzy with the 180 of being hated to being treasured and wonders what he agreed to...

Snippet:

Wei Ying was unwanted.

He was unlovable.

He was an Omega.

Being orphaned from a young age, Wei Ying's had it rough from the very beginning. After his parents died when he was barely 6 years old, and having no one to take him in or willing to keep him, he's been living on the streets. Always scrounging through waste bins and getting chased by both stray and domestic dogs when the owners caught the lowly Omega digging out scraps of food in their outdoor trash cans. He's nothing to anyone, only his dead parents and the odd elderly granny or gramps who offers him at least to sleep in their sheds or on the sofa during the winters, seemed to care about him. The world is a loud noisy place, great cities of nothing but metal and glass where the poor live in horrific slums and the elite live in cities in the sky. There was no natural beauty of any kind or even real animals left in the world. Humanity had all but taken over everything. And to make it worse, some long time ago some scientist found out how to eradicate undesirable traits from the DNA of humans and while it killed off sickness and diseases of all kinds, it was used to eliminate Omegas from the gene pool as well. The Scientist's reasoning was that Omegas required far too much attention and offered very little to society. So instead he took the hormones and chromosomes that dictate one's fertility and injected them into beta women. When the first successful Alpha/Beta pairing produced offspring and an Alpha to boot, slowly it became a trend and then the norm and finally Omegas were being arrested and drained of the things that made them unique.

Once that was done, the Omegas were given a chemical treatment that sterilized them so they could not reproduce. A few hundred years later, and one is lucky to see even one Omega because since the Omegas hormones and chromosomes were being used, there would be one who pops up every now and again. However the occurrences were happening lesser and lesser until they've become extinct. All but one. Now during the rise of the Alpha/Beta pairings and the down fall of Omegas, any Omega who is born is arrested and taken to a facility where no one know what will happen to them. Wei Ying was born an Omega and has done all he can to hide himself. He has always been resourceful and smart. Teaching himself to read and write as well as a few handy skills to survive the streets. He did  odd jobs for any kind of credits that he could get his hands on and bought cheap, but good quality pheromone blockers. He bought cheek colognes to mask his scent and dressed in unflattering clothing to hide his smaller, more delicate body. He got the odd help from kind elderly seniors who always had a warm meal or a job for him. His favorite had been Granny Baoshen. She was a quirky old thing. She had a small house and a garden with real life plants and not machines or synthetic knock offs. He remembers loving the smell of real plants, the natural aromas were indescribable! His job was to weed the garden and to keep her cats entertained, especially Momo. The cat seemed to be part Cheshire Cat, always vanishing in ones spot and then appearing in another.

He was sad when one day, after landing a job at a small café in midtown, to find the burnout husk of Granny Baoshen's house. The garden too. When he asked around, no knows what happened. He mourned and he worked. All was going well for about a year, he was now 17, he got all the supplementry certificates he needs to get into a free university. All was going well! And then one day his heat hit him out of nowhere while he was at work. He was too small to pretend to be an Alpha and even then Alpha pheromones were a bad idea. So he went with an effeminate Beta, he was a Beta to all who met him. His plan had been perfect, so why did it have to go wrong now!? He knew the instant everyone realized what he was because several Alphas stood up, salivating, looking feral. The police officers he was serving immediately jumped into action, attempting to tackle him and slap him in cuffs, but he ran. Wei Ying didn't stop, didn't pay attention to where he was going or what was around him so he didn't see the Sonic Bus before it was too late. He only heard the screams and turned his head to see it and then nothing...

Waking up in a strange place that looked similar to Granny Baoshen's tea room. Sitting up, Wei Ying blinks seeing the old woman, her comfy house robe over a really old fashioned Hanfu with her hair in a very tight bun on the back of her neck. She hadn't changed; her hair was silver with age, on stubborn lock of picth black hair standing out on the left side of her head. Her eyes were a deep grey, almost black color and held a spark in them that always made her stern features less intense as she smiles, the faint laugh lines becoming more visible. Baoshen Sanren hands him some tea.

"You met a rather unfortunate end, my dear...." She says in the same soft, if slightly raspy voice, her favorite cat, Momo, at her side. "How sad, you had such great potential... but let's not waste it, ne?"

"What do you mean, Granny?" He asks, sitting there confused and sipping the sweet and spicy tea she always made. It made him feel warm and loved, he missed it when she died. "We're in heaven... or at least I hope it is..."

"Not quite, this is the world in between or Limbo to put it simply." She tells him a basket of cinnamon tea cookies being sat down between them. "I am the Goddess of Balance, Baoshen Sanren. I was having a bit of a tiff with an old friend of mine and opted to spend some time in another realm or two for a few centuries. I wasn't expecting to come across your old and or to watch what happened to your world. I certainly didn't mean to make you so attached that he felt so lost when I had to finally leave. I am sorry."

"Goddess-- what, no Granny! Don't bow to this stupid one!!" He protests, hands flailing because he wanted to reach out and stop the Goddess from bowing to him, a lowly human, but at the same time he did not dare to presume to touch her Holiness!

"You are not stupid, Wei Ying!" She snaps, her tone like a sharp slap and he quickly bows his head like a scolded child. Baoshen sighs and softens her tone as she moves to sit beside him, pulling him into a hug. "I did not mean to raise my voice... Come drink and I will explain when you are here..."

Wei Ying took a long sip of tea as he listened to the Goddess's tale of the Scientist who convinced the whole world over that Omegas were a danger to their way of life all because he fell in lust with the Omega mate of the Chief Ambassador of Earth and she, very rightly so, declined him. She was a happily married woman, had five beautiful children and was devoted to her Alpha and wife! Why would he think that she would ever leave her family behind for some strange Alpha man she's never even heard of, never mind met? She wasn't a bitch or even rude about her rejection. She explained to him calmly why it could never work out and he seemed to take it with a grain of sugar, but apparently it was too bitter a pill for him. He decided if he could not have the Omega of his dreams, no one should be allowed to have Omegas. a few centuries down the line, he was heralded as a "Hero" of Humanity for "saving" them from the archaic confines of society. However what the Government later learned was that by removing Omegas as a whole meant that the Alphas being born from an Alpha/Beta couple, were not as strong, not as smart or as potent. Alphas were slowly declining and it was a problem. By now the Omega Gene was thought to be a myth, and trying to reverse engineer their once "savior's" work proved impossible.

Wei Ying snorts, serves them all right for buying into his bullshit. The kook deserved to rot in hell for what he did to his fellow Omegas. Baoshen Sanren's story wasn't done though. Another issue they learned about the lack of Omegas, the few Pure Alphas left in the world were slowly backsliding into a feral, primal state. They were growing more and more unstable as time drew on and would eventually lead to them either going into a deadly Alpha Rage and their hearts just explode from the strain of the aggression and anger or they would fight and kill each other over any Omega they happen to come across. it was decided by the Earth Congress and even some of their Otherworldly supporters that any and all Omegas should be arrested and brought to a facility where they would be carefully guarded, some of their pure DNA would be used to either reverse engineer the Fool's work or synthesize a new one to change some Betas into Omegas and then select a compatible Alpha to impregnate them. They hoped to revive the Omegas. But sadly for them, Wei Ying had been the very last one and he died getting hit by a warp drive Sonic Bus wrapping in from across the galaxy and splattering him all along the pavement all because no one bothered to make an announcement to avoid scaring any and all potential Omegas into fleeing once they have been discovered.

"So I guess my old world is about to suddenly go into chaos when they realize that I was the last of my breed..." He says, rather than asks. "So what happens now? For me that is?"

"Well I like you a great deal, you are incredibly bright and far too talented to waste your time in the Heavenly plains until Rebirth. I can send you to a new world, where your secondary gender is common or the norm so you will not have to worry about being whisked away and experimented on should you take a lover and they discover you have a vagina in place of a set of testicles under your cock." She says bluntly and Wei Ying blaushes.

"Gr- Granny!?" He yelps.

"What? I'm several millennia old. I've had my fair share of pretty much everything. Man, woman, Trans, Non-binary. Alpha, Beta, Omega, and quite a few other surprises in between those. I even had an Asexual husband at one point, she did not care for norms or titles. However she insisted on being my husband and I respected her to not ask for sex of any kind and she still managed to bring me pleasure because she wanted to see me feel good. I miss Lan An..." She sighs, a dreamy look on her face. "Anyway! As I was saying, the world I will send you has Secondary Genders so you will blend in quite fine. However it is a world of Magic and Legends so I will need to grant you a few things. Or I can send you somewhere almost identical to your old world--"

"No!!" He shouts, looking panicked. "No, anything but that... no... I already feel like I've gone insane. to wake up in a world so similar to my own and yet so alien..."

She nods once with a grim look on her face. Baoshen Sanren then glowed and gone was the old woman and in her place be beautiful young woman sat, her Hanfu 20 times more regal and fluttered around her in an invisible wind as she glowed faintly.

"The world I am sending you is called China, similar to your old one, but there are no other contents like America or Africa. If anything it a world with a Pangea. One gigantic land mass in place of several smaller ones. There are islands and the like around it, but one unified world. Geographically." She shrugs as she waves a hand and an image of the world she describes appears. She high lights five great nations in  purple, gold, white, green and red. "There are five great kingdoms, to the North the Gusu Lan Kingdom. They are famous for their simple, spiritual lifestyle, strictly adherring to 3000 ridiculous rules if you ask me, and are masters of the Frigid Elements since they live in the Mountains, their home being the Cloud Recess, just within the Clouds that fill the sky." The nation in white is highlighted and key images appear showing him what the Cloud Recess looks like and some of the people there. White was a common theme with accents in varying shades of pale grey or pale blue and silver being scene. "To the far south is Qishan Wen, again a Mountainous riegon, however they live around active volcanos so even at night it is never dark. Their capital is aptly named the Nightless City. They are a war like tribe, very confrontational and will take any excuse they can find to fight. They have been held back for the last few centuries due to inner house politics but it seems they will act soon and I fear I may be putting you into the middle of that madness." She worries her lip as images red highlighted reigon pops up. It was like looking at miliarty war camps rather than towns or a city, even the Palace looked like a massive fortress. "They believe themselves superior in every way and will do anything to prove it. Next up is Yunmeng Jiang to the West in the tropical reigon." The purple area lights up next showing lush wetlands, rivers and even a beautiful city floating on the water surrounded by lotus flowers.

"Yunmeng Jiang is famous for their trading of imports and exports, they are relied on by all of the other nations and thus often take a neutral stance in any skirmishes that break out. They are a respected kingdom with a kind and just King, whose mate is like the patient black widow waiting to strike at anyone fool enough to mess with her beautiful web. They have their own army that is raised to both fight and work in everyday society. So if you ever visit, that old Granny selling dragon beard candies might be an expert swords woman or the young boy herding chicken a sneaky scout and a quick knife when needed." She laughs as the images change to the green region next. "This is Qinghe Nie. They rule the East, they are a military state, they are quick to join a fight and will end it. Their home is called the Unclean Lands because of how much blood has been spilt over time, the plants have a naturally darker hue to them from being nurished by blood. Nothing like the Yiling Kingdom at the heart of all the nations, but I will touch on that in a moment. As you can see they live and breath the art of war, but they are not like the Wens. They are content to remain in the east, fighting great demons and monsters, earning accolades and living their life to the fullest. But they are like an angry beehive if one pokes them too much." She says as they look over the images of drills being run, a group of like 30 men fighting what Wei Ying knew of back home as a Greek Chimera. "And now Lanling Jin, the infamous Golden Realm." She sneers here, not as bad as the one she held for Qishan Wen, but damn near close. "The most arrogant, self intitled lot you will ever have the misfotune of meeting. Espcially if you run into their their current leader, Jin Guangshan. The man whore is not above using underhanded tricks to get what he want, espeically if it is a pretty Omega. While not everyone in the kingdom is as bad as he is, they all have a bit of 'holier than thou' attitudes because they are the Kingdom that is the richest, being broken up into for smaller kingdoms that sit at the Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest of the other kingdoms. This means they have easy access to all Kingdoms and it can very easily attend meetinfs if needed." And boy was she right with how guady the place looked. everything was gold plated or made from gold with white and the odd splash of coral  to bring out the intensity of the gold.

"Ok... out of all them, I think I would prefer to land near if not in Yunmeng... Gusu Lan doesn't sound that bad, but I've never been anywehre with so much plant life! Are they real, like your garden was!?" He asks with excitement, before he blinks. "What about that Yiling Kingdom you were talking about?"

"Ah, the Heart of China. The Yiling Wei Kingdom..." She smiles softly at his gasp, his silver eyes begging her for a story. "I had a human daughter once, she left my mountain at the very heart of the Burial Mounds." She lightlighs the area and shows what he quickly realizes was before and after pictures. The before pictures had been beautiful and breathtaking, the myraid of colorful flowers and trees, the bustling city and smiling people of all shapes sizes and colors, people of the other Kingdoms in the market place and a picture of Baoshen Sanren's daughter and a man, who was dressed in very expensive black robes. they both wore accents in red but the woman's robes had been white and together they looked like the Yin and Yang symbol of balance.

However the After images showed  one or two pitiful villages, the once bustling city and kingdom a ghost town of half burned or demolished ruins, the odd skeleton slowly rotting away in the elements. The once breathtaking forests and fields, empty and dead, only the black skeletal remains of the trees reached like clawed hands towards the sky, a bamboo grove, pitch black like a mire of misery surrounded the mountain  and the sky seemed to be perpetually grey and dark, threatening to rain and yet not a drop to be seen. The changers were drastic.

"You see, my daughter wanted to explore the human world a few centuries ago and being the daughter of a Goddess, even is she was only half Divine, her beauty had no parallel. She went unrivaled when it came to gaining the attention of others. However many a King, Emperor, Prince and Noble made a fool of themselves trying to win her love with money, fame and titles. She instead fell in love with a lowly Servant of Yunmeng. They traveled the world together, helping where they could and eventually they came back to my Mountain. However he was mortal and had no magical talent of his own. He was however an exceptional Swordsman and a very talented archer. What he lacked in magic, he made up for in humility and strength. I could not grant him immortality without a speck of magic, so I raised a kingdom for them. I built them a home and many they helped came to live under the newly named Yiling Wei Banner. Eventually he grew old and died. My daughter came back home and waited for his rebirth... she did this 5 times, however this last time, she never came home.... I was dealing with a War here in the Heavens and thus did not see when war broke out among the Great Nations. I was unaware that Qishan Wen had obliterated my daughter's kingdom, killed her husband and carved my newest grandson from her still pregnant belly. I only learned of their fates when I returned and the once thriving Yiling Kingdom became the Burial Mounds and the resentful anger and hate of not only my daughter but all who had died unjustly, their bodies strewn about, hewned and discarded like trash. No one was properly buried and by the time I came back there was nothing left of most. It quickly became clear no one would dare set foot in Yiling for fear of waking the demons that roam, the angry ghouls who do not care if you are innocent or not. Set foot into the Burial Mounds and it is your grave..."

Wei Ying was horrified, how could something so horrific happen.

"And what is worse... the Qishan Wen Lord who started it stole the golden core of my daughter and unborn grandson and ate them... He's lived until now and I take it that he's burned through almost all of the energy and is itching to find another half god to grant him more time.." She sneers darkly. "I hope someone will finally cut that bastard's head off!" She growls, the clear white clouds around then turning a dangeorus reddish black and the roar of thunder under him, unnerved Wei Ying.

"Granny... Granny...." he pulls her into a hug and she calms, the sky around them clears and she breathes a soft sigh.

"You remind me of my Cangse Sanren, my daughter. You look like her and her husband, Wei Changze... I guess it is why I could not help getting close to you... My daughter told me before I left for war, she planned to name her son Wei Ying, after my last husand, her father, Cangse Xueying. So it pleases me greatly to hear you call me Granny... and I should like for you to keep doing it even after you leave here... But now that I told you what happened and what is likely too happen, I doubt you will want to go there now..."

"Are you kidding me!? I want to go look around! I mean I saw a Chimera for goodness sake! And I definitely wanna look around Yunmeng and I thought I saw a dragon in one of those Gusu pictures! Sure, I don't know how to fight and I am pretty sure things are gonna get insane, but I want to look around! I also wanna at least kick that Wen jerk who killed your daughter in his nads at least once before I die, because there is no way I would survive kicking him like that!" He says with a mix of excitement and indignant rage. "Your daughter and son in-law had the same names as my parents did, so in away I owe all four of them this. If I die in this world, I hope I can come back here and just live with you. I like your tea and cinnamon cookies too much to risk going to hell! So if I have to live like a Buddhist Monk the entire time, I will!"

"Calm down and no need to becomes something you are not... If you are sure, let's create you a new life so you can easily tell others should they ask..."

Chapter Text

Moaning, he slow wakes up. Blinking his eyes, Wei Ying tries to remember what happened and where he was before he feels two warm bodies nuzzling his side and he sits up slowly, leaning on the tree he woke up under and sees a pair of rabbits. One is black with a white crescent moon waxing on their forehead while a white one with a black crescent moon waning  on their forehead too. They perk up seeing he is awake before gently nudging a few items towards him. The first is a sword in a beautiful black and red scabbard. Carefully taking it and sliding the blade out, he sees that the blade is a pure white with golden inlays of bamboo shoots, at the base where the hilt and blade meet, there is the name of the sword: Suiban. He smiles as he didn't think Granny would take him so serious when he said she could choose whatever she thought was a good name. Sheathing it again, he looks to see what else was given to him. A flute was sitting next to him, a Dizi by the style and it was carved from pitch black bamboo, a bright red tassel with a bluish green piece of jade was attached to it, the jade was cut into a perfect ring with characters for Purity, Kindness and Good Fortune carved into the surface. It hummed as he picked it up and he smiles as he can hear a song that sounds like it is trying to say 'Chenqing.' The next thing is a small pouch, a qiankun pouch if he recalled what Granny told him, and checking inside he found a lot more than he thought he would. There was plenty of money, medicine, bandages, spare clothes and probably more, but now was not the time to dig around in it.

"Okay, so I'm in the new world then..." He muses to the bunnies, who have been sitting patiently as he examined his new items. Slowly standing up, he admires his clothes and sees a golden bell on his belt  with a jade token with bamboo stalks and curling mist. it is black with red jade inlays filling the bamboo and mist outlines. "What's this?"

Hello, a'Ying!

"Gr- granny!?" He gasps.

The one and only!

"So if I wanna talk I can just use this? Or is this a one off?"

This is just for now, but you will have to use one of the Temples and make an offering to talk to me. I accept whine, moon cakes and moon flowers. some bamboo or catnip is not remiss either. But in the even of an emergency, you can use this to contact me. And if you have ever watched an anime or even played a videogame before your unfortunate passing, you can use this Token to teleport back to any shrine you've left me an offering at. Otherwise get use to walking everywhere.

"So cool! Thanks Granny! Where am I now and where should I go from here?" Wei Ying wonders.

You are near Gusu Lan because it is their turn to host the Young Heirs and disciples of all Sects, both major and minor, for 2 years of lectures and training. I brought you here because this would be one of the highest amounts of Alphas you will be surrounded by, but also fellow Omegas. Fair warning, there are some real pigs among the Alphas, but not all of them think of Omegas as just something to breed with. So keep an open mind. Now you should bee a few yards into the treeline so if you walk forward you will come out onto the road and should run into a group of disciples heading to Gusu Lan.

"Alright, thank you, but I'm still iffy about Alphas... I will talk to you later, Granny and as soon as I find some wine and a shrine I will pay you my respects!" He chirps as the stone stops glowing and cools in his palm again. He smiles as he sees the bamboo and lotus motif of the Yiling Wei Sect decorating the edges of his robes and the lotus and crescent moon guan wrapped around his topknot in black metal with rubies, pure white pearls and a red jade pin to hold it to his head. He will not see the full effect until he finds a mirror, but when they had been picking out his story and creating his existence in this world, he had seen the various hairstyles that he could wear as an Omega to mark him as both humble and yet being of high birth. "Well come on, Jingyu, Yin Lianhua!"

The two bunnies sit up at attention before they take off ahead of him, a few feet at a time as he gets up and walks after them. He holds his sword in his left hand, Chenqing slipped into his belt  and his pouch hidden in his robe by his chest. He smiles as they dart up ahead and back every few feet to make sure he was still following before he finally broke through the treeline. He felt suddenly dizzy and stumbled then, not sure what was happening as he fell to his knees. Up ahead a shout rang out and he barely looks up and panics seeing a group of men and women, bigger than he was and the heavy scent of Alpha surrounding them. He goes pale and backs away, falling over as another wave of dizziness hits mixed with fear.

"Shit... back up..." one of them in purple says as they back up, all but one, an Alpha in red and white and gold. "He's scared, back up!"

"I'm a healer, he's clearly not feeling well either and we do not know if it could prove fatal! Go get my brother and your sister, Heir Jiang, they will help sooth him while I examine him." she hissed back before getting down on her knees and crawling up to him slowly, stopping when he tenses or tries to flee until he relaxes. "I am Wen Qing of the Qishan Wen Sect, I'm a doctor in training, I am only a Healer right now, but I can help you. Can you tell me what happened?"

Wei Ying whimpers because he forgot granny had warned him that his body hadn't yet gotten over the shock and trauma of being ran over and it would hit him when he was in his body, but he hoped to have been somewhere well away from Alphas by then! But nope, luck was not on his side right now.

"S-sore... hurts..." He whimpers and backs away from the Alpha because seriously why was his luck so horrible right now!?

"Jiejie, back up... he's too scared..." a male voice speaks up and Wen Qing backs away reluctantly as a boy barely taller than her comes close and he smells like spring winds on a sunny day, something warm and fiery, but also soft and sweet, something Omega. It calms Wei Ying down almost instantly as the female in lighter purples also joins them and she smells like fresh water, something floral and a warm spice tickling the back of the throat. She also has that soft, sweet scent and it calms him fully, to the point he faints...

When Wei Ying wakes up, he is laid on a padded pallet near a warm fire with the lady in purple sitting nearby with a young boy, who is also smells like an Omega dressed in green and gold with black accents, chatting softly. He can hear others milling around and then Jingyu's white face pokes into view and he gives a soft gasp, which draws the attention of the pair by him.

"Oh good, you've finally awakened!" the pretty purple Omega says, her voice is soft and lilting like a song and she has such a lovely and sweet face, like a goddess made flesh. "I am Jiang Yanli, this is Nie Huaisang... are you alright?"

"Wh- what..."

"You went into shock after you were bombarded by the Alphas' scent." Wen Qing's voice says from near by and he turns his head to see her by the fire mixing something. "You're very bruised and it looks like you were walking around with a concussion as well. From what I could tell you haven't broken anything..."

"Oh... the Moon Tear helped to heal me.... I was running away from some Alphas who didn't look friendly... I fell off a cliff and rolled down a steep hill. I didn't exactly wait the full 3 minutes for the Moon Tear to work properly because I didn't want to risk them finding me alive..." Wei Ying tells the Omegas, finding it easier to talk to them.

"Moon Tears are pretty effect if used correctly, but I understand you didn't exactly have the luxury of time..." Wen Qing sighs as she comes over holding a steaming mug. "I need to lift you up and give you this so you don't feel the pain anymore. By the sounds of it, you either broke almost all the bones in your body or fractured them before the Moon Tear healed you as much as it could... Do you recall where they attacked you? Some of the others are patrolling the area to see if anyone else needs help or if there are any threats near by..."

"I... I think further back f... from where we met..." He gulps trying not to get too nervous around her being so close, but allowing her to ease him up and help him drink the bitter tea she mixed. "S- sorry... I have... I'm not good... around Alphas.... They always seem to hurt me..." He yawns and blinks.

"You're gonna sleep for a while longer, we should be in Gusu Lan by the time you wake up again... rest easy..."

"Sn- sneaky...." He groans as the other two Omegas giggle, clearly not worried about whatever she gave him. His last thought was that Granny had better have been right about these Alphas...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying slowly woke up to the smell of delicious smelling soup and sat up. He was confused for a moment seeing he was now laying on a bed, dressed in simple white robes, his hair left loose and his things have been neatly folded and left on a small chest of draws against the wall. Beside his bed resting on a pillow big enough for the two of them, was Yin Lianhua and Jingyu, both curled up alertly watching the others in the room. Wei Ying sniffles slightly, the sound alerting the others to his awake state and the woman in light purple hurries over, carefully kneeling down beside him to check his forehead.

"How are you feeling? No more pain?" She asks softly.

"I'm okay... where?" He wonders, still a bit dazed.

"We're at Gusu Lan, Sect Leader Lan sent an escort when he received my letter that we had found an injured Omega and that there were potential Rogue Alphas still roaming around." the Omega in black and green says, fiddling with his fan in a seemingly nervous gesture. But Wei Ying, who's spent his whole life carefully reading others around him to avoid being found out and to avoid being tricked, saw that while he was a bit nervous, he clearly knew what he had been doing.

"Grandmaster Lan requested to speak with you when you had awoken and felt ready for company. We've been sitting with you since you admitted to not being comfortable around Alphas." the Omega in purple says while the one in white and red carefully brings over a bowl of the delicious smelling soup.

"Here, Gongzi." he says softly, clearly shy and nervous. "Jiejie wants to re-examine you as well, she was able to heal your injuries, but she wants to be sure that they are all set properly. She also wants to apologize for giving you a sleep tonic without your permission..."

"Thank you... Um, who are all of you?" He wonders.

"Oh, how rude of us! I'm Jiang Mi, Jiang Yanli. I am the Eldest child of the Yunmeng Jiang Kingdom and affianced to Lanling Jin's Jin Zixuan." the Omega in purple introduces herself. "As you can see, I am an Omega."

"Greetings, this one is Wen Ning, Wen Qionglin of Qishan Wen, but I'm from the Dafan Branch Family...." the shy young man in red and white says, stuttering a bit as he spoke. Wei Ying cannot help cooing at how adorable the younger boy was, and he's certain he is younger by at least a year or two. Wei Ying wants to just mother the boy, maybe bully him just a little bit.

"I am Nie Que, Nie Huaisang of Qinghe Nie, the Heir to my brother, the current Blood King." The Omega smiles sweetly.

Wei Ying blinks, huh.

"Who are you, Gongzi?" Yanli asks, as she comes back from sending off a servant to get the Grandmaster and Healer Wen.

"Oh, sorry, my name is Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian--" the sound of glass shattering startled them all and they turned to the door where a wide eyed older man stood frozen.

"Di- Did you say Wei?" The man, a Beta with a neatly groomed beard stood, the tray of tea he had been carrying left forgotten and shattered at his feet.

"Ye-yes..." If Alphas made him uncomfortable due to his last moments in his last life, Betas really made him uncomfortable because his gender had all but been eradicated due to a jealous Beta who could have what he so greatly desired, and thus had to destroy it. "That's what my Mama said was my name..."

".... I see..." The man looked like he had seen a ghost, but at the same time like someone had just shot his prized pet dead. Wei Ying's not sure how to feel about this, but then the man shakes himself and kneels down to clean up the mess, handing the tray to a servant as two more come to properly sweep the spot, making sure no shards remain and a new tea service is brought in.

"Grandmaster." the Three Omegas bow to him, the stark differences in their birthrights quite clear, but nevertheless they execute them with practiced perfection. Wei Ying manages his own clumsy bow while still seated on his bed.

"Rise," he intones as he bows and together they all rise as one. "I am Lan Zhe, Lan Qiren, Grandmaster of the Gusu Lan Sect and acting Sect Leader." he says as he comes to sit by the bed. Wen Qing, who had been walking with him quickly gets beside the bed, waiting for Wei Ying's initial flinch and for him to slowly offer his wrist to her. "We've scoured the area, whoever attacked you, Wei-Gongzi, they've long since fled. Do you recall anything about them? Scars, tattoos, perhaps a symbol of some kind on their clothes?"

"It was dark, they acted like a pack of wild dogs...." Wei Ying pales, recalling how the Alphas had all looked at him in the cafe, wide wild eyes as if they could not believe what was in front of them and then how they charged him, especially the police officers who chased him in front of the Sonic Bus that killed him. Wei Ying quickly shakes his head, closing his eyes as he tries to shake off those memories. He's alive, he's fine, Granny promised him. He can trust Granny. "They kept calling me unflattering things, chasing me, but then I fell and barely took the time to use the last Moon Tear I had and just as quickly got up and ran again when I meat with the others..."

"I see." the Beta sighs, looking very upset and at the same time so very tired. "We will continue to look... I will need to send out a notice and have the boarders patrolled more regularly. Healer Wen, how are his injuries?"

Wei Ying blinks, having forgotten the female Alpha was there.

"The Moon Dew I gave him healed him almost perfectly, there are only a few lingering bruises and a sprained ankle, but nothing a bit of rest, some bruise cream and some pain killers will not fix." She assures him. "His core is also perfectly fine, no damage to his daitian or meridians, which is a miracle, considering his fall, but it might be due to how strong his core is that he even survived the fall in the first place."

"Good. Do you have a party with you? Anyone whom we can contact?"

"No... I need to get to a Temple so I can at least leave an offering for Granny..." Wei Ying says and everyone looks stricken, taking it that his grandmother had just passed and thus he was alone in the world.

"We will arrange it, but for now rest and stay as long as you desire. We are hosting all the Young Masters and their top 10 disciples this year for the Lectures, you are more than welcomed to join us." Qiren offers because he's not about to kick out a lone Omega to face the dangers of the world, especially if he is in fact a Wei, perhaps the very last Wei. This year was going to to be chaotic, he just knew it...

Chapter Text

Prompt:

The Heiyu is a name well known throughout the underground and even across national news, but no one has ever seen him. He strikes fear without much effort and no one dares to cross him. However one stormy night, the Heiyu stumbles into an Arts and Crafts store, badly injured from an ambush and passes out just inside the door. When he wakes up he is met with the sleeping figure of an angel sitting on the floor beside his bed, his injuries treated and bandaged in colorful bunny printed wrappings. He silently gets up and leaves, but not before leaving a rather large sum of money, a card with only the name of his exclusive nightclub and a jade token with blue clouds engraved into it...

Wei Ying is a normal everyday worker, running a small but popular art store called the Yiling Patri-Art. He works night and day making beautiful pieces of art to showcase as well as commissions for some his customers, teaching arts and crafts either in his shop or in after school programs during the weekdays. He loves his life and job, ignores the ranting from his rather abusive aunt about how art is not a proper career and that he is 'spitting on her late husband's kindness!' He enjoys calling his older sister and tries to have lunch with his little brother at least once a week. So he's fairly average all things considered. He wasn't expecting to find a man passed out and bleeding all over his workroom floor one stormy night.

Wei Ying's life is about to get a bit interesting now that he's on the Heiyu's radar. 

What does the Heiyu want with a skinny artist? Will Wei Ying accept the handsome, yet dangerous man or will he flee to the furthest reaches of the earth?

Snippet:

Wei Ying smiled as he finished ringing up the purchases for the young mother and her three kids, winking at them as he said that the best part about home made slime is making it yourself as well as coloring it yourself. He waved bye as the door opens and closes, the set of chimes above it ringing softly. Sighing he checks the time and decides it is time to close up for the night. He flips the sign to closed and begins by reorganizing his shelves, making not what he needs to restock in the morning when he comes in. Sweeping up the floor of some of his afternoon student's leftovers and some of the more 'hands-on' children who ran through his shop, he blinks confused when he hears the chime and turns around. He grows a bit nervous seeing a few men in very expensive black suits with shades on at 7:30pm. They surround a man in s shimmering golden suit, who is looking around his shop, half his face hidden behind a golden, jewel encrusted fan. It was clearly expensive, but looked incredibly gaudy and it was offending Wei Ying's artistic sensibilities.

"I'm sorry, gentlemen, but I'm closing up for the night. Perhaps you would like to come back tomorrow or would like to shop online from our website?" He says in his best charming little shop owner's voice. Coupled with a small apologetic smile, it has worked many times on some of his more stuffy and uppity customers and even a few snobby high end artists.

"Oh, no, I'm not interested in shopping... I'm looking for a Wei Wuxian..." The man in gold says, his voice was pleasant, almost like a lover's caress, but it did not make Wei Ying feel comforted or even remotely attracted. It set his nerves on edge and like a rabbit sensing a predator, he went into high alert.

"I'm him... I'm sorry but do I know you?" Wei Ying answers cautiously, holding his broom a bit tightly. It was an old bamboo and straw thing, but sturdy, as long as no one pulls a gun, he can beat them all back and out of his store if they cause trouble.

The men seemed to come to attention then, all of them laser focused on him. On second thought, running sounds good right about now. Wei Ying moves slowly and calmly as possible, making it look like he was going to his cash register.

"No, you don't know me... but you know someone very important... The Heiyu." the man with the fan coos and Wei Ying trips and catches himself on the counter as he chokes on air for a moment.

Regaining his footing and his breathing he looks startled at the man, "Are you kidding me!? There is no way I would know such a person! No, nuh-uh!! No way while I am still alive!!" He shakes his head and crosses his arms in an X as extra emphasis. "I do not mess with people like that! I run a shop and teach art, I live a nice quiet life with the odd hyper child for excitement! I do not know anyone shady, let alone the Heiyu!"

The man blinks at the rather extreme outburst and then begins laughing, his pale gold eyes crinkling like a sly frog about to devour an unsuspecting butterfly.

"Oh I know, I've run a thorough background check on you. You're an orphan, adopted into the late Police Chief's family and currently live alone above this very shop. You have a small group of friends, have only two other employees working here and are remarkably boring... But you see a few days back you helped someone who broke into your shop. An injured man... that was the Heiyu... ooh, you remember now..." the man coos evilly as the young man blinks and pales.

"I didn't know! I just saw someone injured and tried to help them out, he was gone by the time I woke up and I haven't seen him since! Now please leave, I know nothing else!"

"Ohh, I don't care about that... What I care about is why the Heiyu is interested in you? You are admittedly a beautiful young man, but you're average, you're mid to low working class, you're not from a well off family, biologically, and as I understand of your former guardians, while a well to do family, have disowned you. Not that you would have anything to gain if they had kept you." The man mocks. "I also want to know what he looks like, you have seen him and I know you can draw a rendition of him... do it willingly or I will force you to..."

"Ok, creeper, I have had enough." Wei Ying says, reaching discreetly under his counter and pressing the silent alarm. "You can kindly piss off or I will call the police. I already told you what I know. I found a man injured, treated his wounds and he vanished sometime in the middle of the night. I wasn't paying attention to his face, too busy making sure he didn't bleed to death on my floor. I also reported him to the police because while I did help him out, he did break into my store. Now please, get out."

"You can stop pressing your silent alarm. I had that disabled before we came in." The man casually says fluttering his fan as he laughs.

Wei Ying stiffens, not sure if he believes him or not and then he turns to flee only to bash right into a hulking goon, who had snuck up silently behind him. Wei Ying didn't get a chance to react before he felt prick in his neck and his world began to swim and dim. As he slipped into oblivion, the man in gold swam into view, finally lowering his fan as he smiles down at Wei Ying.

"You should have simply done as asked... but then again I still would have taken you... you're far too pretty to pass up... put him in the car."

Chapter Text

Prompt:

What if during the Siege of the Burial Mounds, Lan Zhan was killed to save him from 'being bewitched by the Devil's Whore?' What if not long after this, Wei Ying's very soul shatters and throughs the balance of everything out of whack? Well a pair of certain Gods are not happy and have opted to fix that.

The real question is: Is Lan Zhan willing to do whatever it takes to correct the sins of the past, to ensure that Wei Ying's life is better than it was the first time and keep him safe and happy? Will he become a monster to protect his beloved and the future they never got to have?

If you have to ask, then you do not know Lan Zhan.

Snippet:

"LAN ZHAN!!!!"

It was the last thing he could hear, the last image burned into his eyes and mind before the heavy ax was dropped onto his neck, was of his beloved, struggling against the arms of purple clad guards, his silver eyes a dull grey now that he could hardly see, pale and sickly, but still so beautiful. He burned the image into his memories, his very soul so not even Death could take it away from him. And then nothing...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Curious...

So very curious

How is it you have such a strong will to live?

When you are so very much dead?

Why bother fighting anymore?

Give in....

Give in to us....

Give into me....

GIVE IN LAN ZHAN!!!!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Golden eyes snapped open in total darkness before the demons and soul eaters suddenly screech and are blasted away as he sits up, his hand moving to his neck and he blinks, feeling the scar where his head had been chopped off. He looks around the still dark room but no he can see past the oppressive black. He is surrounded by polished ice, almost like mirrors and he can see he is naked, scars lining where his body had been chopped to pieces postmortem. He is confused. He is dead and yet he is not.

"A finally awake..." he turns and sees a short strange woman, her skin is pale white and her eyes burn a bright green in the dark. She is dressed in a long black dress with a long veil that covers hear hair and hides the rest of her face. "Your end was not meant to happen, but it seems that idiots, divine or not will always be idiots... Lay down and let me finish my work... sadly your mortal life was ended and your body was shamed in death so I cannot bring you back as who you once were... though you will be someone new..."

"W--" He chokes and she pushes him flat, sucking her teeth as she goes.

"Do not speak... it's every hard to put someone back together when they've been chopped up and burned, fed to wild animals and the like... my brother was most upset when one of his favored people was killed before their time..." She sighs, grabbing a strange tool that looked sharp and terrifying, but as she cut, nothing happened. No pain; no blood. He can only stare at her. "You are quiet dead, but I'm going to fix that... you see, I am an entity, much like my brother, who is neither made nor born. I simply exist. I am the Law and Order of the land, but I am also the Chaos and Mayhem that runs rampant. I am what you call Karma. And you've spent your whole life building up good Qi so it was bound to end in a good ending for you. Marrying the love of your life, having children and achieving immortality with your beloved... but some one had to go and break the chain... broke a single link and it all came crashing down because with all that Good Qi, there is an equal amount of Bad waiting to happen and it is spiraled too fast that by the time I caught it and stopped it, it was too late..."

He blinks as he watches her through the reflective ceiling as she moves the tool along his scars and body, bringing back his former glory, removing scars and healing damages he had not realized was there until she told him. He was butchered after his death, burned and fed to animals, disgraced and made impossible to resurrect or even find rebirth. He wanted to growl, but his voice was still beyond repair and he could only be patient as the strange woman worked.

"You can call me, Heimai." She says. "It is not my real name, but it is a name I like to go by in  many forms and in many places. Different and yet meaning the same." She muses. "Once I am done, I will bring brother and we will correct the grave mistakes that happened... especially because you were brother's favorite and my own favorite suffered far too much and in the end his soul shattered... my poor, sweet Wei Ying..."

He tenses, eyes wide and she looks at him. He asks with his eyes, his face, anything, and she looks away.

"Your son was carved from his belly and he was enslaved to make tools and weapons, forced to recreate the Stygan Tiger Seal and when he could take no more, his soul just broke, he died and not even reanimating his corpse could anyone bring him back. When a soul shatters, only the Gods can fix it and even then very few know how or are willing to do it.." She says. "I am almost done... hold still, this is the tricky part..."

He blinks confused and looks up to see what she was talking about and if he could speak, or even flush, he would have screamed in embarrassment or turned red from head to toe as she handled his private area.

"Gotta make sure that when we bring you back to life, it still works and you can impregnate Wei Ying again... because like hell am I letting that bullshit happen a second time." She growls, working diligently and with far more accuracy than even the most skilled doctors combined. But then again she was a godly being, so of course her skills were superior. "Almost... just a bit longer..."

He can only watch her, listen to Heimai ramble, but it wasn't nonsense. It was interesting and insightful. It oddly reminded him of Wei Ying's rambling. So it endeared him to her. It helped him feel like he was not trapped in some strange dream or not quite hellscape. He was devastated to know his beloved Wei Ying had died not even a year after his own death, that their son, who had not been born had been killed. He felt a deep seeded rage fill his heart and he heard a slightly insane giggle come from Heimai as she finally moved to his throat and head. He doesn't recall much after that but the next time he woke up he was looking at Heimai and another figure, this one he can only assume is her brother.

"Good, he's awake and we did a good job, Siwang... Sit up, Lan Zhan and drink these... they will help you regain vitality as well as power and strength." Heimai orders as he slowly sits up on his own, feeling every inch of his body as pain and soreness awaken his nerves. He sees several small glass jars of colorful liquids and begins to take them, knocking them back like he's seen Wei Ying do his cups of wine. It helps to lessen the less than pleasant taste. "Good..."

"Hm... As I am certain sister has explained, things did not go as we had hoped they would, it seems that even a God's best laid plans and can occasionally go awry..." Siwang says, his voice is soft, like the whisper of wind over a quiet grave, an oddly soothing chill to it. He is covered fully only pale white lips can be seen as he looms like his title, over them. "Sister and I have decided we would not only bring you back, but we will correct the mistakes... you will keep much of your knowledge and skill sets learned in the last life and we will bring you to a point in time so crucial, that even we cannot tell how the pieces will fall this time. But we have to know are you willing to shed the chains of your last life to ensure not only your own survival, but that of Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian?"

"Yes, anything for Wei Ying..." He says with such conviction, they do not even have a molecule of doubt.

"Good... We will not tell you some of the people who need to be... dealt with until the needed time, you will hear this bell..." Heimei holds up a black bell with a piece of green jade inside. she rings it once and it is a haunting sound, like a death toll being rung, "When someone who needs to be dealt with has made a decision that leads to too much heartache and death, all over again the bell will ring and the correlating memories will appear in your mind. If they choose to be good people this time, or a take a different route, there will be no need to correct them. But I also set it up so if anything they opt to do directly impacts or indirectly leads to the deaths of your loved ones, the bell will ring."

"Hm, I am also granting you the power to summon some of my strongest demons to do your bidding. They will do as told and follow any command without complaint... they can appear human or even like a harmless animal, or they can remain unseen by all but you. As long as you will it, they will obey." Siwang nods as he hands him a pitch black guqin. "This is Fùchóu Zhī Zhàn... I believe you will find him accurately named and a good partner along side Wangji and Bichen... though he will be much more powerful than both of them."

Lan Zhan takes the guqin, deep sapphire inlays of clouds, ice and gentians gave it a lovely appearance though the blood red strings that hummed on their own, as if speaking to him, let him know that the pretty façade was all it was. this was a powerful Spiritual weapon, one made by the God of Death and live up to its name.

"This one thanks you, he is not worthy..." He carefully sets it aside and moves to kowtow before them.

Heimai just giggles while Siwang gives a soft huff.

"Modest as always... good. Fuchou Zhi Zhan will fuse with Wangji and only turn black when you use Resentful energy or use Wangji in anger. Now then, we've spent too long here and need to move on... if you are willing to undertake this task to correct what has sorely gone wrong--"

"Anything for Wei Ying... if you try to stop me, I will figure out how to kill you..." Lan Zhan growls.

Heimai lets out a plea of giddy laughter, the sound similar to Wei Ying's bright laughs when he is shocked by one of Lan Zhan's subtle jokes. Clearly Heimai truly favored Wei Ying. Siwang just huffs again, amused and nods once before he grabs Lan Zhan by his head and the world bleeds into darkness once more...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lan Zhan blinks as he suddenly finds himself in Yiling, in his hand is a paddle drum, one his brother brought him just a moment ago before he paused hearing a soft sound coming from the alleyway. He knows this day, remembers it well. It was when he first met Wei Ying. Wei Ying! He runs into the alleyway and there, huddled under a half rotten wooden box covered in ice and snow, holding tattered and frayed straw dolls, of his parents and himself, is Wei Ying, dressed in rags, pale and cold, painfully skinny but still smiling warmly as he plays, ignoring the biting chill and how blue his hands and feet have become. Even now, at the age of 4, Wei Ying is still the most beautiful thing he has ever seen and Lan Zhan knows what he will do in this moment. instead of giving away a toy and hoping for the best, he marches towards Wei Ying and holds out his hand to him.

"Lan Zhan.... let's be friends..."

"Huh? Lan.... Zhan...? Friends with Wei Ying?" the innocent child asks and then like when he had given him a gift the last time, a smile so bright and so beautiful it outshines the sun stole over his face. "Mm, friends!"

The moment Wei Ying took his hand, the fates shifted, the paths that had been followed once before shattered around them and formed anew. Wei Ying doesn't know it now, but Lan Zhan would do anything to keep him smiling and happy forever...

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan took off his travel robe and wrapped it over Wei Ying, who gasped at the softness as well as the warmth. Then he seemed to remember he was filthy and tried to protest, but Lan Zhan firmly states that Wei Ying needs it before grabbing his hand, making sure they both had their toys and pulled him along. They had barely walked away from the alleyway when the much younger voice of his brother reached them and the concerned voices of some of the older disciples.

"Didi!" Lan Huan cries out as he runs up to him, looking worried, before seeing Wei Ying and blinking confused as well as worried when he notices the child's state. "A'Zhan, who is this?"

"Wei Ying is Wei Ying. Wei Ying is Lan Zhan's friend!" The four year old chirps proudly and Lan Zhan cannot help the childish urge to puff up his chest in pride at the innocent but heartfelt declaration.

"Xiongzhang, Wei Ying is alone. Want to bring him back with us... protect and care for him." He demands and it shocks the small group because this is the most he's ever said to them and even then this is the first time he's asked for anything!

"We will ask Uncle. But are we certain he is alone?" Lan Huan asks.

"A'Niang and a'Die went to fight monsters, but the monsters ate a'Niang and a'Die... Wei Ying waited very long for them, the Uncle at the inn kicked Wei Ying out after a while... Wei Ying went to look for a'Niang and a'Die... Wei Ying slept next them for days before they smelt bad and Wei Ying knew they were gone." The child explains and the others are horrified, but feel sympathy.

"I see... come, we'll talk to Uncle and get Wei Ying a warm bath and some soup." Lan Huan says, feeling instantly protective of this child who was barely younger than his own brother.

"Mn... want to see a'Niang when home..." He says in a firm tone that leaves no room for argument.

Again everyone is shocked at the tone and demand, but say nothing because this is a first for them. For now they are taken to the Inn where their Uncle proceeds to scold Lan Zhan, who ignores it in favor of helping Wei Ying hold his spoon properly and eat his soup. Lan Qiren is thrown for a loop because Lan Zhan was acting strange. Never before has his usually docile and obedient nephew dared to defy him or make demands. And yet the child, only 6, was making compelling arguments to accept this orphan into the Sect and to see his mother as soon as they get back home. Lan Qiren isn't sure what to make of this and seeing Lan Huan also doting on the child didn't help. He rarely gave into his more doting side, but when it came to his nephews, he tended to be a bit more lenient about indulgences. So needless to say, when they headed home the next day, Wei Ying was with them, bathed and wearing one of Lan Zhan's robes to replace the rags he had worn, little feet bandaged and covered in boots as well as his hands. The child was being carried by one of the female disciples after the healer stated that the child should not be on his feet or move too much due to the level of frostbite he had been suffering from.

Getting the new child settled was quickly dealt with because yet again, Lan Zhan demanded Wei Ying stay with him and a Pavilion be prepared for him near the Jinshi and the Handshi so Wei Ying could be close to the brothers. His arguments were sound and very little fault could be found and even fewer counter arguments dared to crop up. As the Lans got things going to build a new pavilion and the like, the Twin Jades took their newest friend to see their mother, a full two weeks sooner than the last time Lan Zhan has seen her alive. She was surprised to see them and welcomed them with a warm smile and could not help but tease Lan Zhan when he introduced His Wei Ying. the laughter brought so much life to her face and she cooed and doted as much as she could on them. Wei Ying seemed to be distracted with something before he startled them all by speaking to the air near Madame Lan.

"Stop making her sick! She's a'Zhan and a'Huan's mama! Don't make them sad or I will be mad!" He suddenly says and to their shock, he grabs something that comes into view and they realize it is a malicious spirit. "You're mean, go away now!" Wei Ying orders and when the spirit refuses, even dares to slap the child away, instead of crying, Wei Ying gets a familiar light in his eyes and Lan Zhan is quick to call Wangji, who looked gray which meant it was about to transition into Fuchou Zhi Zhan. His little fingers are braced, ready to strum if needed. "... A'Die!!" Wei Ying yells and the straw doll of his father moves and a spirit rises from it, forming a Fierce Corpse not unlike Wen Ning had been before Wei Ying's death, grabbing the spirit.

"A'Zhan, a'Ying!!" Lan Huan looks scared, worried even, but cannot do more than watch as the two dark spirits fight and then the Fierce Corpse suddenly wins.

Lan Zhan takes this time to play on Wangji, Clarity and Inquiry in something of a mash up. He listens closely to the Spirit before Wangji turns fully black and with a sharp strum, the Spirit of his father's late Laoshi is banished to never haunt their mother ever again. Lan Zhan is furious, but when Wei Ying places a small hand on his, he lets it go.

"It's okay, a'Zhan, Wei Ying is use to hits like that. A'Die, thank you, go back to sleep now!" He tells the Fierce Corpse, after hugging his leg. the undead being pats Wei Ying's head with a tender smile on his deathly pale face before turning to ash and then vanishing back into the doll.

"What..." Madam Lan gasps.

"A'Ying sensed something and was trying to protect you, a'Niang... He and a'Zhan banished it..." Lan Huan explains, floored at the raw power and talent of the two boys, hardly children, but so powerful. "A'Zhan who or what was that?"

"Sect Leader's Laoshi... Wanted to a'Niang, wanted her to die and be his. This one refused..." He says and Madame Lan pales before she sighs and makes the children come sit closer to her.

"You asked me once why I couldn't leave... I lied and told you it was because I am sickly. That is not it... Before you two were born, well all three of you really, but semantics, I use to be a rogue Cultivator. I traveled from town to town , city to city, selling my skills to those who needed it for room and food for the night, only accepting coin if they insisted on paying me properly. I met your father once and he fell in love with me, head over heels in love, but I did not love him back... I still do not love him... But he refused to leave me be. He petitioned the Elders to marry me and one of them, his Laoshi, came to 'test my worthiness.' He attempted to force himself on me and I fought back, I grabbed a metal insense tray and bashed him on the head with it. I didn't realize it at the time, but the blow killed him almost instantly. Your father was torn between his love of me and his hatred at my killing his beloved Laoshi, he never even asked me why I had done it. He married me to keep me from being killed and I had very little choice in the matter. So wedded and he came to me once a month to sleep with me. We had a'Huan first and then 5 years later we had a'Zhan... after that he stopped seeing me altogether. I was forbidden to leave and even then I wasn't even allowed to hold my own sons until they were old enough to walk and talk, visiting me only once a month..."

Her sons are a mix of heartbroken, angry and full of so much love for their mother, whom was more a parent to them than their father had ever been. Wei Ying is pouting fiercely, his 'angry face' as Lan Zhan recalled him saying in his last life time when he had seen it aimed at Jiang Wanyin, who was ignoring him. Lan Huan wipes his eyes and seems to get a determined look on his face.

"A'Niang, I might not be able to do much, but I am going to tell the Elders to let us see you every day from now on! How dare they punish you for protecting yourself!! I will tell them what happened today--"

"Do not mention the Fierce Corpse, Xiongzhang... They will not understand and will hurt Wei Ying." Lan Zhan orders fiercely, startling mother and brother. Wei Ying just giggles and pats his head.

"Aiya, a'Zhan's so scary! No worries, Wei Ying is Lan Zhan's Wei Ying no matter what!" He chirps inoccently and Madame Lan cannot help but giggle when her son's ears turn pink and he gives a shy nod and hum in agreement.

"This big brother will do his best. This First son shall return, a'Niang!" He bows and then runs off, ignoring the rules about running in the Cloud Recess.

As Lan Zhan watches his mother and his future husband bond, he feels Wangji hum with a darker song of praise from Fuchou Zhi Zhan. He sets it on the low table and decides to recompose Wangxian as they wait for Lan Huan to come back. He will ask Wei Ying later about how he was able to summon a Fierce Corpse. He had thought he learned that ability during his time in the Burial Mounds, but it seems he's always had a gift for Resentful Engery...

Chapter Text

Madam Lan laughs softly as she is pulled by an eager Wei Ying towards the picnic her boys had gone through the pains to make just for her as her first outing in years. Lan Huan and Lan Zhan had painstakingly laid out a fine blanket in the calming dark blues and soft golds their mother preferred with the basket of food sitting in the center on a small portable table for them to eat off of. Lan Zhan was also herding a bunch of bunnies he found in the area that Wei Ying had in his last life, though the two who would later become Wangxian and Biqing(Bichen and Chenqing combined) were not born yet. The bunnies were more for Wei Ying than his mother, but he is certain she would love their soft warm bodies or their random bursts of energy. Madam Lan gasps in delight seeing the picnic and the clouds of cute hopping around as her sons fidget and blush as they wait for her approval.

"Oh my beautiful darlings..." She coos and hugs all three of her boys as she gracefully sits down on the pillow that Lan Huan indicated for her as Wei Ying plops down beside Lan Zhan asking him how he found so many bunnies. One of the more playful ones hopping up to nibble on Wei Ying's sleeve and the boy giggles as he curls up like a bunny to and talks to it.

Lan Zhan smiles softly and ignores his mother's cooing and Lan Huan's soft teasing. His future husband is being an absolute angel and he will not be ashamed to indulge in this sight.

"Thank you so much boys, this is perfect! It's not too far for my legs to walk and its within the Gusu territory." She smiles at their clever thinking.

Lan Huan had delivered on his promise, going as far as to actually throw a temper tantrum until his father was forced out of seclusion and a meeting was called with the Elders as well. It had been a sight to see the normally calm and well mannered Lan Huan, laying on the floor, kicking and screaming his little heart out, demanding to see his father right this instant. When they tried to placate him or move him, he lashed out and screamed louder. Eventually Lan Zhan had been fetched to try and distract his brother's strange fit, but the younger boy simply laid down beside his brother, flat on his front and stiff as a board. Lan Qiren, their father's younger brother, blinked and asked him what he was doing.

"Tantrum." Was Lan Zhan's simple answer.

Lan Qiren and the others were not sure if they should coo and laugh or continue to stare in confusion at the rather polar opposite 'tantrums' happening in this moment. So when Qingchen-jun finally arrived to the scene, he was both confused and annoyed. However, Lan Huan had instantly stopped his tantrum, corrected his appearance and took a long sip of the lemon tea prepared for his hoarse throat. Then he recounted the events of what led to this meeting, keeping out the parts of Wei Ying summoning and using Resentful energy to protect their mother. The Elders all stared in shock at the youngest Lan Heir as Lan Qiren looked at his brother, who was just as shocked.

"You will allow us to see a'Niang whenever we please, you will allow a'Niang to leave her Pavilion when she desires and you will be changing the rules! If you don't then when I become Sect Leader, I will do it and I will kick you all out!" Lan Huan finished his empassioned speech with his arms crossed and a clear not pout on his face. Lan Zhan had by this point stood up and stood at his brother's side.

"And the other child who helped to banish the spirit, where are they?" Qingchen-jun asked.

"A'Ying is standing guard over a'Niang!" Lan Huan states, his tone leaving little doubt that that is where the child will stay no matter what they say.

"Mn." Lan Zhan nods once, a fierce look in his eyes.

"We will discuss this..." Lan Qiren speaks up finally when he can see his brother trying to stare his sons, whom he has had very little to no interactions with, down and cower them into submission. Lan Qiren had been more their father than their Uncle so when he gave them permission to leave, they took it, ignoring Qingchen's anger and demanding voice...

Needless to say Madam Lan, or rather Jun Mingyi was finally free, though she was forbidden to leave Gusu territory which covered the mountains, a few towns and a small sea port, she was able to leave at her desire. However after a little more than a decade trapped in doors, she needed to rebuild her strength and get use to walking again. But she didn't mind because everyday her boys promised to visit and take her on small adventures. She still has not seen her husband and she would gladly continue to not see him. If he had truly loved her as he claimed, he would have asked her what had happened, why she had killed his Laoshi and defend her tooth and nail, but he hadn't. He defended her enough to keep her from being killed, but imprisoned her and stole her sons from her. even worse he punished their sons by not allowing them to know either their mother and father on a personal level. Was it really a wonder when Lan Zhan refuses to call his father anything but Sect Leader or Sir? Lan Huan only used the title of father with the thinnest veil of being polite, but everyone can hear the scorn in his voice when addressing the man. The Clan was in a tizzy over a 6 year old and a 4 year old taking on a malicious spirit that they hadn't know was living in the Cloud Recess for years, slowly draining away Jun Mingyi's life and nearly robbing them of their Madam Lan, whom was a kind, headstrong woman. She may not have held a sword in years, but she still knew her katas and passed that knowledge onto those willing to learn from her. Lan Zhan proved that he could be downright frightening when it came to Wei Ying. When the Elders had tried to test the boy and were discussing what to do with the orphan brat, Lan Zhan had stormed in and let his spiritual energy freeze the whole room, only the patch around him and Wei Ying was free of ice. Wei Ying didn't even feel the cold because Lan Zhan was manipulating it to keep his precious Wei Ying warm. He was still to malnurished and skinny to survive a mild illness never mind the deadly bite of his ice.

The Elders could only watch in stunned shock as the orphan scolded Lan Zhan and made him unfreeze the room, stamping his foot not unlike when the bunnies would thump their feet in a sign of anger or displeasure. It was just this little thump of his heel and his 'angry face' which almost always worked on Lan Zhan. After he unfroze the room, Wei Ying then proceeded to talk to the spirits in the room, apologizing for Lan Zhan freezing their homes or favorite spots to watch the drama unfold. Lan Zhan blinked and called for Wangji again, pure white, and sat down as he played Inquiry, allowing himself to hear what is going on and sure enough one voice in particular laughed quietly in his ear.

~Sister was right about you, Lan Wangji.... you are entertaining to watch and so far you have greatly altered the future... I look forward to seeing what more you will do in the coming decade... Be ready...~

Lan Zhan gives an imperceptible nod to Siwang before focusing on what was happening. The Elders were in shock at the children's skills and how well they worked together, thought they have never seen someone simply talk to the dead before. They would need to do research, such a skill could greatly benefit not only this child in the future but the Clan as a whole. So needless to say Wei Ying was officially welecomed into the Lan Sect and Lan Zhan made sure to imply to his uncle that Wei Ying might be the son of Cangse Sanren and that he should send out a missive to find out if there are any living relatives. Lan Zhan was loath to let Wei Ying be taken away but perhaps his mother's adoptive mother would be both better guardian and teacher for Wei Ying. Anything to avoid him going to Lotus Pier with that bitch, Yu Ziyuan and that traitor Jaing Wanyin... He will arrange things for Jiang Yanli to meet and grow close to Wei Ying again and perhaps help her grow so she will die again and shatter Wei Ying's heart once more. He could not bring himself to resent her because he had felt her lose just as deeply. He may not have known her but she had accepted him and his feelings for Wei Ying without question and encouraged him in her quiet and gentle way...

In fact, he believes she would be a good match for Xiongzhang...

Chapter Text

~Time Skip~

Lan Zhan flicked his sword clean of blood before he pulled out Wangji and began to play his half of Peace and Serenity, in the distance, the other half could be heard played on the xiao and a dizi, letting him know his brother and Wei Ying were safe. Once the remnants of the Yao was banished and laid to rest, he turned to his group of juniors and began to check them for injuries. What was supposed to be a simple Night Hunt to get the Juniors feet wet, turned out to be a disaster. Lan Zhan is glad that Wei Ying has always had a sixth sense about how dangerous a situation could be. However it was saddening that he learned this skill when he lost his parents as a very young child.

"A'Zhan!!" Wei Ying calls as he leads his group of juniors over, they are bandaged up and holding more medical supplies and quickly help to tend to their fellow agemates.

"Calm, a'Ying..." He sooths, standing and gently brushing the beck of his knuckles down the fine cheek of his beautiful Wei Ying. "Brother?"

"He should be here soon, he is helping to treat the Jiang group." Wei Ying says and then smiles softly. "He was impressed by Shijue's skills! Never doubt a woman with a cast iron skillet!"

"Mm." He nods, he's seen the lady crack a few skulls with her good skillet over the years since he introduced her to his brother as children. "Happy?"

"He was blushing last I saw him, but he was focused on aiding rather than gushing..." Wei Ying giggles softly.

"Good..."

Lan Zhan had kept his promise to introduce the young lady Jiang to his brother as children. His plan to find extended family for Wei Ying worked when not only the Lady Baoshen Sanren had showed up with her only living son and son in-law, but the Jiangs too. Lan Zhan had played up being a concerned child for his friend, which made his Uncle think rationally even if he was still a bit bothered by some things. Lady Baoshen had immediately shut down the Jiangs about taking in Wei Ying, the Immortal stripping Madam Yu down with her words and cursing the woman for her hate and spite to curse a dead woman and daring to turn her ire and insecurities onto an innocent child. Wei Ying had asked her what she meant and that was how he learned he had a grandma and uncles. He was not too keen to go with the Jiangs, but Lady Baoshen had seen how Wei Ying had taken to Jaing Yanli and offered to train both the future Omegas for a few years, they would then train with the Jiangs for a few years and then with the Lans for a few years. Lan Zhan wasn't too happy, but he knew this would help Wei Ying in the long run so he convinced his beloved to go with his grandma. It wasn't until the Lectures that Gusu Lan was hosting this year, that he got to see his beloved again, having gone to train at the temple from which Song Lan, Wei Ying's uncle by marriage, had grown up in for five years.

According to the letters he got from Wei Ying, he liked Lady Jiang, she was a sweet and calm person, infinitely patient and kind, a goddess made flesh! He groused about her fiance, who they met a few times and was a super jerk to her for no reason! He recalls the letter Wei Ying sent when Jin Zixuan had made Lady Jiang cry at the welcome home feast Lotus Pier hosted when the two soon to present Omegas had finally got there after completing their training on Baoshen Sanran's Mountain. Lan Xichen and Uncle had gone to represent Gusu Lan and to welcome the pair back with the gifts Lan Zhan had set aside for them. According to the letter, Lady Jiang had been introducing Wei Ying to her Jiang martial brothers and sisters, nothing special when Jin Zixuan had called her shameless and unfilial. She had tried to appear unaffected, but she was already going through the pre presentation maturation, which made one's emotions very unstable, she began to cry. Lan Xichen who had been standing not to far away, and already gone through his own pre presentation maturation and had settled well into the role of a calm, but fierce Alpha, growled. Wei Ying's letters told him that Lan Xichen flashed Alpha red eyes and punched the Jin Heir in the mouth, sending him flying into the river not too far from where the children were all sitting and chatting. Wei Ying had to save the overdressed heir from drowning and calm Lan Xichen down by cuddling with his Xichen-gege. Wei Ying had painted a cute picture of Lan Xichen looking quite pouty, torn between wanting to cuddle his Xiao Ying and continuing to be furious on Lady Jiang's behalf. Lan Zhan would have paid handsomely to see his brother, who could put even the most skilled Zen masters to shame with his everlasting calm and patience, snap and punch the peacock in the face. He also secretly wanted to punch the Jin Heir because it seems he is destined to spit on Lady Jiang's kindness no matter the life time.

After punching the brat and scolding him, Lan Xichen presented Lady Jiang with Lan Zhan's gift and a gift of his own, stating that it was the first of courting gifts. That if the arrangement between her and Jin Zixuan fell through, he would not mind taking her hand for his own if she would have him. Ever since they have been corresponding to one another. Lan Xichen shamelessly using Wei Ying to learn what kind of gifts to get the Lady of Lotus Pier. He wrote her poetry and sonnets, he sent her bolts of fabric which she sewed into beautiful dresses that Lan Xichen found stunning on her person, hair pins to match then and spices from around the world that he could get his hands on, when he learned she enjoyed cooking. So Lan Zhan is not shocked at all that his brother is personally seeing to Lady Jiang's group.

"I'm pretty sure if your brother has his way, we will have a wedding before spring ends!" Wei Ying's giggling brings him back to present.

"Mm." He nods with his own not smile dancing on his lips as they finish getting their juniors wrapped up and into pairs. "Stay close, more danger could be lurking."

"Yes, Hanguan-jun!" they chirp like adorable ducklings and follow behind Lan Zhan and Wei Ying.

Nothing thankfully attacked while they moved the short distance to where the Yunmeng Jiang Sect's group was at. Lan Xichen was carefully wrapping Jiang Yanli's arm, a concentrated look on his face as the young woman blushes softly, giving him a coy smile through her lashes. Not too far away was Jiang Wanyin and Lan Zhan instantly went on the defensive, though subtly as he nods to the Juniors to spread out and offer aid where they could.

"Brother, Lady Jiang." He bows to them both, making Lady Jiang giggle softly.

"A'Ji, you do not have to be so formal with me..." She coos softly and he fights to not smile back. His Wei Ying was correct, his Shijie was everything good, pure and innocent with the world. It was unfair that she died so young. And it was a shame he did not get to know her so well in his previous life. "A'Xian are you alright?"

"I'm perfect, Shijie. Though we aren't in the clear... I'm gonna head toward that grave site and see if I can find the source of all this resentment... huh?" Wei Ying turns his head towards an apirition that suddenly waves frantically and he looks to where it is pointing and he pulls out several talismans and activates them while throwing them out to the for cardinal directions. "Do not leave the barrier; a'Zhan..."

"Mm... Brother, be back." He tells his brother, who looks up to see  Lan Zhan and Wei Ying already running towards the grave site.

"Be careful!!" He shouts after them.

"Are you insane!? Letting them run off like that!?" Jiang Wanyin bellows in outrage.

"I would kindly ask you to never shout at me again, Heir Jiang... Or I will spell you silent. As for allowing the two most capable and suited Seniors to this type of situation is my business and not yours. My brother is more than capable of protection Xiao Ying and Xiao Ying was raised by Lady Baoshen, if she felt he was not ready, he would still be training on her mountain, not here for the lectures. Worry about your men and not what others are doing." Lan Xichen reprimands calmly as he finishes tending to his lady, who gently pets his larger hand and allows him to help her stand.

"A'Cheng, that is enough. We are clearly not ready for this hunt and if a'Xian and a'Ji are able to handle it, then we should be focus on keeping safe until they get back. Do not leave the barrier, have your bows at the ready. We do not want to risk getting anyone injured further or killed." Jiang Yanli reasons out. "Are the Jins and Wens arlgiht?"

"Look there!!" a Junior shouts and they turned to see the mixed group of red and gold being chased towards them by a horde of Yao.

"Hurry!!" a couple of Juniors wave them over and as they pass through the barrier, they stumble and collapse feeling the powerful cleansing it gave them. The injured are quickly tended to as Lan Xichen grabs Beiling and begins to play the song of Offense, pitching the notes sharply like the blades of knives to cut down the Yao that did not bash into the barrier and were purified upon impact.

"Whoa..." a Wen breathes in awe.

"Lady Wen, if we could have your aid in healing the injured please?" Jiang Yanli asks Wen Qing, who was seeing to her brother first and foremost before she turned to anyone else. "We did a quick first aid, but I would feel better if you looked. You are training to be a doctor correct?"

"Yes." she nods and starts with the cut on Jiang Yanli's arm nodding. "We will need to clean it better later, but for now, whoever wrapped it did a good job compressing the wound without cutting off circulation. Do not try to lift anything too heavy for now."

"Alright, the most injured are this way..." Jiang Yanli says and then blinks as she looks around. "A'Cheng? A'Cheng!?"

"My Lady, I think Young Master Jiang slipped out to follow Second Young Master Lan and Young Master Wei!" a young girl calls pointing to where she saw the two other heirs vanish.

".... Little brothers..." Jiang Yanli sighs, rubbing her temple.

"Can't you keep your brother in line? If you cannot keep one measely heir in line, how can you hope to marry into a Great Sect and run the Household as a woman should?!" Jin Zixuan demands as he walks up to the two women.

Wen Qing felt her brow twitch, she didn't like the arrogant young man and judging by the sudden sour note, the First Jade of Lan was not too keen on him either.

"Considering I am busy trying to help tend to the injured and your group thoroughly distracted me, it is not a wonder my brother slipped off on his own. Now either help or be silent, Young Master Jin." Jiang Yanli says a bit tartly, shocking those who knew that she was infinitely patient, but then again, after being embarrassed so many times by her ex-fiance, there was little wonder. But it doesn't take away from the shock value.

Lan Xichen finished the song when the last Yao was killed and then he moved to stand with the four team leaders, subtly hovering over his lady's shoulder and glaring at the little uppity brat.

"I do not know how long it will take Wangji and Xiao Ying to find the source of this infestation, but hopefully it is soon. I can only preform that song two more times before it begins to tax me." He worries as he counts the students and breathes a sigh of relieve that they are all accounted for minus three of them. "I am assuming Jiang Wanyin has disobeyed and left the barrier."

"However did you guess?" Jin Zixuan snarks and Lan Xichen has to recite the Gusu Lan Rules to avoid punching him in the face once more, this time not holding back his true arm strength. It is said that a Lan could easily kill a man with a single punch, he wonders if he could do it.

"A'Chen, do not pay him any mind... we need to come up with an effective plan, we have a limited amount of arrows and too many of our best archers are injured." Jiang Yanli soothes him, gently placing her hand on his clenched fist.

"Mm..." He hums as he thinks and then gets an idea. "We can break the bamboo spears into smaller sticks, hallow them out and we can use small enough pieces of sticks as darts and rocks to take out any more Yao that might attack. We can mix some of the medicines into either a strong sedative or a poison to help take them down."

"... Yes, I think I can make something strong enough to slowly kill them or put them to sleep... I need to pool all our medicine though. But that can be done after I finish treating the injured." Wen Qing blinks as she thinks it over and nods.

"Then Lady Wen has the go ahead. We should carve as many darts as possible from any fallen branches, twigs or even rocks and bones."

"Right..." Jiang Yanli hurries to gather some of the girls to start gathering the items within the barrier and ask some of the boys to start carving the darts.

"You think that will help?"

"Got a better idea, Heir Jin?" Lan Xichen askes, narrowing his eyes at the golden peacock and huffing annoyed as he turns to gather up the archers and tell them the plan. Hopefully they can keep safe until the other three get back...

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan follows Wei Ying towards the source of this Yao infestation, golden eyes sharply focused on the forest around them. Bichen clenched tight in his fist as Wei Ying held Suibian and his flute, Chenqing in his hands. Cresting the hill that stood over the grave yard, they both frown at the desiccated graves, the coffins laying broken into and open as the bodies that had been buried in them were strewn about carelessly. Any riches or offerings that had been buried with them were either missing or laid smashed on the ground.

"... I know who did this..." Wei Ying scowls.

"Shopkeeper." Lan Zhan agrees. "Customers innocent and yet suffering."

"Because they are being sold stolen goods that were buried with the dead and the spirits do not realize the people they are getting revenge upon are innocent... Clarity and Inquiry?" Wei Ying asks.

"Mn." Lan Zhan calls Wangji out as Wei Ying, stabs Suibian into the ground and brings Chenqing to his lips.

They begin playing the combined songs, Wei Ying going into a trance as his guardian demon appears and speaks for them. It takes only two cycles of the songs to grabs the full situation and to explain what was going to happen shortly. Wei Ying Plays a shrill, eerie tune on his flute as his ghouls and ghosts appear and as he directs them to right the graves, carefully waking the dead to help move things along. Lan Zhan spins and starts to kill the Yao that show up, following the tantalizing smell of resentment and the call of the music. Lan Zhan is a graceful, but deadly whirlwind of pale azure and white, Bichen flashing as she slices through the Yao, keeping them away from Wei Ying. They are making good time, the grave is nearly back to rights, the only thing they would need to do is buy the needed offerings and jars of wine to honor the departed once more. Maybe remake a few of the grave markers and then deal with that disgusting Shopkeeper. The Yao are starting to thin out, but they are going from small and numerous to few and quite large.

"DAMN IT, WEI WUXIAN QUITE PLAYING THAT GOD AWFUL MUSIC AND BE USEFUL!!!" Shouts Jiang Wanyin, who is cutting down the Fierce Corpses that trying to put the graveyard to rights.

This causes a bit of trouble because Wei Ying has to let go of his control of his Ghouls and play Peace to keep the disturbed from attacking and killing the Jiang Heir, who should not be here! Lan Zhan pulls out Wangji and notices that its taken on it's black form and thus is Fuchou Zhi Zhan. Strumming the darker version of his guqin, he causes the ambient Resentful energy to explode outward, killing off the last of the Yao and sending Jiang Wanyin flying into the trees some distance away, he then plays his own little creation, Resonance, to amplify Wei Ying's Peace. It calms the area, the Ghouls crawling back into their graves as Wei Ying switches back to his earlier tune and gets his Ghouls to finish correcting the graves, leaving the coffins exposed until they can bring back the needed items to lay the disturbed souls back to rest. When they finish, Wei Ying slowly leans on his Demon, who coos and pets his head, crooning softly as it comforts their master.

"Damn it!!" Shouts out Jiang Wanyin once more and the Demon reluctantly passes their master to Lan Zhan's waiting arms and vanishes into crow form and flying off to let the others it is safe to break the barrier now, if it didn't fade on its own when their master passed out. "What... where the hell did all those Fierce Corpses go!?"

"Laid to rest...  Shouting is forbidden." Lan Zhan states, carefully picking up Wei Ying, who sighs contently in his hold, nuzzling closer and the Omega purrs softly. "Rest, Wei Ying... did very good."

"Mmm, a'Zhan..." He sleepily murmurs, dozing safely in the Alpha's arms knowing he is safe and that nothing will harm him as long as Lan Zhan is around.

"Damn it, Wei--Mmph?! MM!!! MMMMM!!!"

"Waking Wei Ying is forbidden." Lan Zhan says with just enough inflection to be sassy as he silences Wanyin and walks away, the muffled furious sounds following telling him the Jiang Heir was following behind, if for no other reason than to get him to remove the Lan Silencing spell...

When the three make it back to the group, Lan Xichen is pulling his sword out of the last Yao, the others who had not followed the call, lay in piles covered in what looked like hastily made darts and arrows. Jiang Yanli runs up to them, making the motion elegant and effortless somehow as she hurries to check Wei Ying.

"Only sleeping; exhausted." He tells her and she sighs and then cups his own cheek as she looks at him with those big soulful eyes. "Am fine. Merely annoyed..."

"Why--"

"MMM!!! MM, MMM, MMMM!!!!!"

She turns and sees her brother stomping up to them waving his hands around and clearly cursing up a storm but because his mouth was magically sealed shut they could not tell what he was saying exactly.

"A'Cheng, stop that right now... You were told to remain with us and we could have used your aid, but you ran off and now are being punished. Take it like a mature young man." She scolds him, even as she goes to make sure he too is alright.

"Wangji?" Xichen asks, flicking blood off his blade and putting it away in his sheath.

"Disturbed grave, laid the spirits to rest again, but the graves were robbed." He explains to his brother, who comes to check him and Wei Ying over, sighing in relief when he see that the two are fine and that Wei Ying is only sleeping. "Wei Ying believes it was the shopkeeper who tried to sell him 'vintage' wine earlier."

"No... you-- Shameful!" Xichen sputters as he nods his head firmly and then pulls out a few strings of coin from his qiankun pouch and passes them to his brother while carefully taking Wei Ying, who whines and fusses a bit but settles again once he realizes it is the only other person he can trust while sleeping. "Get what you need to appease them... we will bury the coffins again and pray for them to rest once more... hurry."

"Hm." Lan Zhan nods and calls his team of Juniors to mount their swords and follow. If Lan Zhan picks up a few extra jars of wine for Wei Ying, that is his business and no one else's.

Chapter Text

Prompt:

In a world where Wei Ying was never found by Jiang Fengmian or learned Cultivation, he lives a life traveling to the five major Sects to learn what he can. He lives his life being invisible to all but those who truly need his help, but he has to be very careful because his brand of 'Cultivation' was not something normal people did and often mistaken for demonic arts. But like all good things, it must come to an end, and his luck seems to have finally run out when he catches the attention of the Jades of Lan when he dissipates the Waterborne Abyss and calms the infestation of Water Ghouls it's caused.

Will Wei Ying be tried and executed for Demonic Cultivation?! Or-- wait, why are the Twin Jades looking at him like that!?

Snippet:

Wei Ying carefully tied the white robes he misappropriated from some jerk with an annoying face after he had kicked him into the mud and stole his last string of coins. He even had a pretty pendant made of jade! It was such a pure white color too, it would get Wei Ying quite a few strings of coins, in gold too! But first, might as well as sneak into Gusu Lan's famed Library! He's heard from the other sects he's snuck into over the years and studied at that the Lan Library was the largest collection of books form back during the Founding years, books from Xue Chonghai, Lan An, Wen Mao and even Baoshen Sanren! Once he was ready, wondering what he could do to make him pass as a disciple besides his 'borrowed' robes and token. He then recalls that the Lan Sect wore a long ribbon around their heads, some of them had designs others were plain. So he grabs his spare hair ribbon and grabbing some bits of white silk, he carefully stitches the white over the brilliant red fabric, so it looks like rivulets of blood on snow leading to a blood red lotus in the center. He admires his hasty work before looking in the broken mirror of the shake he was staying in for now, to carefully tie it in place. Once he was ready to go, he turns to the memorial plaque he carries with him that had his mother and father's names carved in gold on it, but smaller names in polished bronze surrounding it. He smiles as lightly taps the top of it.

"A'Ying's going out now, be good and protect the town while I am gone. Then tonight we will find a few naughties to make into a yummy dinner for everyone." He chirps softly, lovingly brushing his fingers over his parents names. the plaque vibrates under his touch and the air grows chilled and oppressive for just a moment, but it doesn't scare him or worry him. It is but a hug and the voices of those who chose to remain speak as one and wish him a good day.

Grabbing his qiankun pouch and the fans he made from the black bamboo of his home that matched his dizi, Chenqing. Since he wasn't a cultivator, nor did he have the money to commission a sword, he made his own weapons from the bamboo and papyrus from the black bamboo shoots and reeds in the Burial Mounds where he's lived since his parents were killed when he was hardly more than four, their unrestful souls coming back to protect him while he lived on the streets until he was chased by wild dogs into the Burial mounds one day and he surely would have died had his parents had not possessed a pair of demons who tried to feast upon him. Ever since he's lived in the land of the dead and demonic, learning to commune and master the powers of the Burial Mounds, finding a cave that became his home full of scrolls on Necromancy, or as the world calls it Demonic Cultivation. But that implies that he is developing a Core. Wei Ying doesn't have one, never developed one to absorb the negative energy. Offerings, rituals and the odd possession was how the Necromancy arts worked form what he could see. He had to study at the local temples to understand funeral rites, prayers and blessings, studied how to recognize and classify spirits of all kinds and the dangers they pose.

He had to learn Cultivation to  learn the more advanced spells and skills needed to deal with the more troublesome entities out there. So he eventually he did develop a Golden Core, but he doesn't use it so he doubts it will ever grow more than the meager thing it is. Shaking his head, he turns his attention to the massive stairs that lead up to the Cloud Recesses. Taking a breath, he begins to climb up the stairs and the token grows warm as he passes one of the first gates to enter the Lan Sect's main compound. It happens two more times as he passes the gates and soon he is walking through the main gate and sees the sprawling houses and buildings. The classrooms and training grounds take up the majority of the space. A sparkling city of whites, pale greys and blues with the odd splash of something dark to bring out the pale colors and add definition. It is almost like looking at a Master Painter's ink drawing in living color. There is a dull din of activity with groups of disciples walking in perfect lines and in snyc with one another. The dull sounds of training in uniform was oddly calming. Wei Ying easily slips in and joins a group heading towards what looks like the main lecture hall and decides he would join them for a few lessons and see what the Lans taught their young about the world....

Wei Ying giggles softly as he coaxes a bunny over to him, the little fluffy black ball of cute blinks big red eyes up at him, little nose twitching as it scents the air, ears high up in alert. He wiggles the lettuce leaf again and soon the little bunny is sitting on his lap nibbling away on the yummy treat. He's been staying in Gusu Lan for a few months now, the lessons were in depth and taught as neutrally as possible. The Grandmaster, Lan Qiren, either didn't realize he suddenly had a new student, or didn't care because said new student asked rather contreversal questions and even dared to argue back with valid points and theories, theories that Wei Ying has developed and proven in his young life. But no one needs to know that. He also enjoyed the training, but the crowning glory was the Library. He did not realize how massive it was and had to figure out how to keep his sneaking around undetected, but also make sure his familiars didn't get bored or hungry. But thankfully there seemed to be plenty of creatures to hunt in the mountains, mostly ice and illusion entities, but still it gave them exercise when they became restless. He now carried the plaque with him when he realized that the protective wards didn't pick up his weapon's less than pure energies.

So for 6 months, he's been stealthily infiltrating the Gusu Lan Sect, though he had much less to worry about than when he had done this at 12 with the Qishan Wen Sect, that had been nerve wracking, but so worth it to learn under Dr. Wen. If he had to rank dangers of being caught in a Sect, Qishan Wen and Lanling Jin were the two he wanted to avoid at all costs. He was pretty sure he would only get a beating and maybe some manual labor if he got caught by Yunmeng Jiang, but so far Gusu Lan looked like the least threatening Sect, even if they were quite formidable. He giggles when the little black bunny thumps their legs realizing the human had stopped feeding it. Breaking off another leaf from the head he had brought with him when he spotted the little balls of fluff in the back of the Recess. He noticed a few others of variying color gathering around and smiles softly, btreaking off more leaves to give away to the lovely horde. He blinks when a white one whereing a forhead ribbon hops over, sniffing both him and the black one, who jumps up onto Wei Ying's shoulder, wary of the other. The white bunny jumps onto his lap, picks up the leaf and then seems to lean up to offer it back to the black one. Wei Ying watches delighted as the white bunny coaxes the black one back down and another white bunny with a forehead ribbon nudges what looks like a freshly dug up turnip towards the black one.

"Aw, how cute, you seem to have a few friends..." He coos and offers each bunny a new leaf before letting an older pair take the last of it to slowly gnaw on. If he had to say he liked animals, bunnies were his favorite, their souls after passing were as fast as the wind and could carry messages far and wide. In life they rarely showed him fear and almost always horded around him. "Well you two be nice to this little one... I need to go now."

He stands up, brushing off his robes and turns to leave only  to freeze when he sees someone walking towards him. Panicking, he opens his fans, the black and red papyrus holding the prongs together let off a soft wisp of resentful energy that propels him into the air and away from the clearing quickly. He doesn't return for a week and when he does, it is to sneakily join up with the team of juniors heading to deal with a sudden infestation of Water Ghouls. He tries to remain at the back and as unseen as possible, partnering up with a nervous young master with green accents on his uniform and holding a beautifully painted fan. They ask around as was asked by the Twin Jades, which he mentally cursed about because they would definitely notice a new face since they interact the most with the disciples. However, he pushes that worry to the back when a mother screams and he turns in time to see a small child fall into the water, a water nymph rushing to rescue the child before the water Ghoul gets to her. Without thinking, he jumps into the water and allows himself to sink deep enough that no one will see what he doing. Opening his fans he begins to spin, gaining speed and power and it pulls the child toward him, the Nymph catching her and holding her in a safe bubble of water as the ghoul instead aims for him. Smirking, he stops spinning and closes one fan, charging it with some spiritual power from the water and spears it through the head, killing it instantly before he swims up and the Nymph eyes him moment before letting him take the child and he uses his other fan to push them out of the water and onto the dock. He gasps for air, having held it for so long and exerting so much strength. He sits up, holding the sobbing child to his chest as the crowd rushes over, his partner, quickly grabbing the blankets a few people brought over to dry both Wei Ying and the child off.

"Are you insane!?" the young master asks, looking paled. "Whatever caused that sudden whirlpool could have killed you both!"

"I'm fine and she's fine... Here you go ma'am... it's best you take her to see the healer and then get her home and into warm clothes... here to pay for anything you need." He pulls a silver coin of his string, passing it to the protesting mother, but she reluctantly accepted it before thanking him profusely for saving her little girl.

"You are so lucky that Er-ge and Lan Wangji didn't--"

"We didn't what, Nie Huaisang?"  a voice suddenly asks and the fan boy, now Nie Huaisang, squeaks and turns to see the others gathering up, the twins standing over them, one as blank as stone, staring intently at Wei Ying, who flushes while the other looks half amused and half impressed.

"Ah- ah... I... Um... I don't know, I don't know!!" He panics, shaking his head frantically.

A few others who seem to know Nie Huaisang, either laugh or groan as he keeps repeating that he doesn't know while Wei Ying gets up and bows to the Twin Jades.

"This one apologizes for not waiting for orders or instuctions. But this one could not let the Water Ghoul drown an innocent child." He says, keeping himself bowed so they could not see his face or notice his forehead ribbon.

"You did the correct thing, though perhaps jumping into Ghoul infested water was not the brightest option... come we  had pinned down where they seem to be originating. Will you be alright to continue...? Oh my, I do not seem to know your name..." the First Jade says, a coy smile curling his lips and Wei Ying is panicking now. HIs voice was rich and heady like fine wine, Wei Ying was feeling dunk just listening to it.

"Wei Ying, courtesy Wei Wuxian..." He mumbles, hoping he will not hear him correctly, but it is a vain hope.

"Wei Wuxian is alright to continue?" the Second Jade speaks up and his voice is deep and magical.

He nods and waits for them to turn to stand up straight again, missing when they both look back sneakily, golden eyes crinkling just so as the twins share an identical thought: Ours.

They are riding boats towards the lake when the annoying jerk who stole his money months ago pushes his boat closer.

"You! You're the filthy thief!" He shouts at him, drawing attention.

"If anyone is a thief, it is you. You stole what was left of my money and I had to do odd jobs to get it back. You shouldn't talk about thievery." Wei Ying tells him calmly.

"You stole my Jade Token! Give it back!"

"I stole nothing." He lies easily enough.

"Is something the matte, Su She?" the First Jade asks, though he sounds mild as always, there is a sense of... foreboding coming from him.

Wei Ying ducks his head and blinks before he swings his pole toward the Second Jade's boat. This causes water to splash up, the younger twin jumping to avoid the sudden assult , but they all gasp seeing five ghouls clinging to the bottom of it.

"You lot get down from there! Shame on you!! This is no time for pranks!!" Wei Ying begins scolding instantly, forgetting that he is not supposed to talk to the dead. One Ghoul turns and gives a watery warble and Wei Ying, plants his hand on his hip like a parent would when their child is talking back. "I said get down. Now." He growls and the Ghouls shriek and duck back into the water. "And stay there!! Now is not the time for causing mischief you still things!! Poor things must have been children some time ago..."

"Wei-Gongzi.... how did you know they were there? And why did you scold them like naughty children?" Nie Huaisang calls out, hiding behind his fan and Wei Ying pales for a moment, but too quick for anyone to notice as he clears his throat.

"Second Master is not that heavy for his boat to have sunk so low into the water. Ghouls often do this right before they tip the boat to knock you into the water. Not all ghouls are malicious. Some of them are children or young teens who've sadly drowned and as such like to prank the living. They don't mean anything by it, but still... it took five of them just to sink Second Master's boat so low, it might have taken 8 to tip him into the water without his notice..." He explains, looking away and flushing softly.

"Mn..." The Second Jade hums, eyeing the water.

"Young Master Wei, you seem to know the most about this situation, care to guess-- ah!?"

THey all startle when the water suddenly turns turbulant and they quickly pull their swords out, those who have them at least. The Twins send theirs into the water, hacking away at the black shadows they see darting about while others jump up onto their own swords to get away from the choppy water. Su She, seeing the Twins using their spirit sword technique tries to copy them but his sword does not come back out of the water when he tries to summon it. He pales as a massive whirlpool appears and the few remaining in the boats are trapped being pulled into the center.

"Wei Wuxian! Su Minshan!!" Someone shouts and the twins look to where Su She had fallen into the water and Wei Ying, for the second time in just as many hours, dives into the water to save him. While he is under he can see what is the cause of the sudden whirlpool and mentally curses. He pulls his plaque out and summons one of his water demons and orders it to take weaken the Abyss before it kills anyone else while he swims back up to the surface holding a flailing Su She.

"Stop struggling, you stupid bug!!" Wei Wuxian yells, when he gets hit three times in the face.

"Up here!!" He sees a young man with purple accents on his uniform and recognizes him as Young Master Jiang, he helps him pull Su She onto his sword and is about to climb back into a boat when he is grabbed by several ghouls, and these are clearly not the playful kind because they dig their claws into him and yank him back under with a startled yelp.

It is chaos under the surface for only three seconds before two swords sing by him, one like frost and ice the other like spring winds and new blooms. He is free a few seconds later and then being pulled up  onto the scabbards of the Twins, who hold him between them. He blushes as they glare at the water and in moments Bichen and Shuoyue come soaring back to their respective scabbard.

"Your sword?" Lan Wangji questions.

"Now is not the time, Wangji... take Young master Wei back, have his wounds looked at. I will seal this lake to prevent anymore trouble or suprises." He says as he pulls Liebing from thin air and begins to play a calming, but freezing song. The others flee back towards the Cloud Recesses, since clearly they were not skilled enough to deal with whatever the hell that was...

Wei Ying had to wait until the dead of night to be able to sneak out of the Cloud Recesses, especially after he was moved from his private healing room to the Jingshi where Lan Wangji spends most of his days and some of his nights living there, not far away is the Hanshi, Lan Xichen's residence and the twins often co-habit it when they can get away with it. Wei Ying had to wait for Lan Wangji to be called away before he snuck out, the man was ridiculously alert and a very light sleeper it seems because any little move Wei Ying made, the Lan was quick to turn toward him or ask if he was feeling unwell. Now here he was carefully scaling the wall and trees in a long abandoned area of the Recess and then flicking his fans open, he jumped into the air alike a graceful crane, a fine mist of resentful energy carrying him on the wind towards the lake and down to the edge. He checked the area to make sure he was unseen and alone before he summons his water demon who makes a pathway of algae and lily pads for him to walk along. They talk as a few other spirits and entities who in habit the lake poke their heads up and watch the human curiously. once he is over head heart of the Waterborne Abyss, he pulls out Chenqing and begins to use Empathy. He is pulled into the memories of not only the Abyss but the whole lake and it takes him hours to sort through it, playing the newly mastered Clarity from the secret Lan Arts that he sneaked a month back and finally mastered.

By the time he is done, he feels drained and dizzy, but the Abyss has been broken up and dissipated as he lets his familiars feast on those who refuse to move on or threatened to kill him. Once the Lake's energy is pure and peaceful again, he slowly gets up to leave only to gasp seeing the Twin Jades standing behind him. He pales and begins to panic, but before he can move or think of lying, he falls, his world turning black as his fatigue catches up to him. He does not hit the water as he expects, but lands on the young Master of Lan. His world fading fast he hears distantly.

"And now Wei Ying is ours..."

Chapter Text

Lan Huan thanked the healer after he finished examining and treating the minor injuries Wei Ying sustained during his late night exorcism. Other than a few minor abrashions and low Qi levels, he was fine, resting in the Hanshi on their bed with Lan Zhan sitting close by, keeping a close watch and guard. They had been interested in this little sly bunny since he first snuck into the the Cloud Recess. Su Minshan hadn't been lying about the stolen Token, but neither of the twins cared for the bug faced annoyance. However little did either young man know that Lan Xichen had followed Wei Ying one night to the rotting hovel he took up residence in for his stay, using a small frost sprite who bound itself as a familiar to him to switch out the tokens. Wei Ying has been using a specially made Jade Token that not only allowed him access to the Cloud Recess, but allowed the Twins to track him down no matter where he went. It was how they knew he snuck out and how they were able to find him so quickly.

Wei Ying didn't realize it, but they had noticed the new face among the disciples, none of the guests wore the Lan Sacred Ribbons, and even then, only those of the main family are allowed to have added color to their ribbons. Lan Zhan's was white and blue with the golden clouds naming him as Heir while Lan Huan's was white with silver Clouds, the dragon guan of the Sect Leader drawing everyone's eyes away from the deep sapphire designs on his ribbon. Their father was in seclusion and refused to even spend time with his sons, never mind actually leading their sect, so it fell to Lan Huan as the elder twin to lead. The suddenness of the red and white ribbon had drew their attention from their hidden places behind their uncle's raised lectern. It was perhaps the first time neither brother had ever paid attention to him since they were very young. Their golden eyes locked on the swirling red and white ribbon and then being drawn into the most beautiful silver eyes and a sweet face that looks like it was always happy and smiling. And then the angel spoke!

They could only watch with bated breath as the newcomer asked his questions, drawing their uncle into debates that he would later, reluctantly admit he enjoyed and now needed to plan a few trips to research the materials that the young man had listed in his counter arguments. Lans  liked knowledge and while heavily set in their ways, they are collectors of knowledge as well. So while the twins were certain their Uncle will never budge on the topic of Demonic Cultivation, they saw in him a spark that has long been snuffed out by the repetativeness of daily life. They were hooked! Over the next 6 months, they would spy on their little Bunny, watching him hope from place to place around the Recess and even around the town, helping people and late at night, when he was certain all were sleeping, he would sneak out and summon demons or Fierce Corpses and go hunting in the trees and along the roads, taking out threats to the town before they get too close. They had tried to approach him once when he found their little hidden horde of bunnies, well Lan Zhan's little bunny trove, but Lan Huan enjoys their cuteness and playfulness because it makes his younger twin smile and happy.

Wei Ying had seen them coming and had fled away and had not been seen for a week. The twins were going to use the trip into town as an excuse to hunt him down and bring him back, but they need not have worried because he joined up with them willingly. They had seen him dive into the water to save the child, had watched him create the whirlpool to safely drag the child and ghoul into his kill zone and taking out the threat while saving the little girl. He was selfless enough to pay for the child's medical needs and anything else that the family might have needed. He had looked so brilliant and adorable as he fidgeted and stammered his excuses, his explainations. He even caught on to the possible danger that would have taken a'Zhan by surprise and had scolded the Ghouls. He doubts it was simply because they where formed form the resentment of children who had drowned, but rather his talent in the Demonic Arts. Lan Huan didn't need to look at his twin to know that they had made their minds up. He felt it through their link, their connection as twins. Wei Ying was theirs.

When Wei Ying had been knocked into the water because of that damned fool Su Minshan, it took everything the twins had to not slice him to ribbons, even after he struck their Wei Ying three times in the face, 'failing in panic' as he was. When they saw the ghouls yank him underwater, they had nearly lost their incomparable control of their powers and tempers, sending their swords in as they both reached in and pulled him out, holding him between them, cradling him like the precious gem he is, so small and delicate in their arms. Oh how they wanted to whisk him away and come back married and with a child or two on the way. But no they needed to warm him up to them. They refuse to be their father, forcing someone to marry them who does not love them in return. No, they will work for Wei Ying's affections, but if he ultimately does not want them. They will try to be mature and allow him to find another... someone they approve of. Which is next to impossible, no one will ever be good enough for their beautiful little bunny. Lan Huan smiles softly as he walks up to the gate, thinking of the amazing show they saw of Wei Ying playing a beautifully sad song on his black dizi, the Yin and Yang energies of the lake roiling and coiling in the air and under the water as the Waterborne Abyss was torn apart, broken up and dissipated into nothing, the denizens of the Lake and Wei Ying's demons feasting on the remnants and  the lake purifying itself to where it was crystal clear and humming with spirit energy once more.

It had been breathtaking, something out of an epic poem or a scene from a grand opera for the royal courts! But it clearly drained their beloved because no sooner had he seen them, had he started to pass out from the fatigue. And now he was resting with Lan Zhan keeping guard while he was heading to the gates where there was a an insistent chiming from Su Minshan's Token. Oh yes, how could he forget Su Minshan. Call him petty, but he had sent him out not too long ago to go search the lake for Wei Ying's plaque. He had dropped it when they had startled him and didn't have time to get it before they had to jump away from quickly vanishing path of water plants. Su Minshan had approached them not long after they had returned, requesting to aid them in any manner possible if they will help him find his sword as well. Lan Huan had 'graciously' offered to summon back his sword if he found Wei Ying's Memorial Plaque. That was nearly 6 hours ago. Walking to the gate he opens it to see Su Minshan, soaked from head to toe in water, mud and dirt clinging to him as random bits of vegetation clung to him in the form of algae, leaves and the odd twig. He looked bedraggled and tired, in his hands was the plaque, oddly untouched by nature, wrapped in a rag and cupped in scabbed, bloody hands.

"This thing is dangerous..." Su Minshan says without preamble. "It kept attacking me whenever I tried to reach for it... I finally got it after I wrapped it in this... Acting Sect Leader should be careful handling it."

"Thank you for your concern and as promised...." Lan Huan takes Su Minshan's empty scabbard and summons his sword. Though he is sorely tempted to angle it so the sword would kill its owner upon its return, however he cannot with the night guards around them and several witnesses seeing him sending off Su Minshan earlier that night. Perhaps he can orchestrate a private Night Hunt and take him with him and Lan Zhan... somewhere where natural disasters occur frequently. No one can say they killed him if he fell off a cliff somewhere in the middle of a landslide and broke his neck. Nor can they say for certain the Twins hacked him up to pieces when the area they had been traveling through was infamous for its Fierce Corpse infestation! They got separated and he bravely sacrificed himself for their safety as his Sect Leader and Heir! Oh how brave he had been! Lan Huan almost laughs out loud at the absurd thought as the sword flies into its sheath and he hands it over to Su Minshan while taking the plaque in hand and it hums warmly in his fingers, not at all trying to hurt him. "It seems fine to me... perhaps the souls of Wei Wuxian's parents thought you were a threat? It is not unheard of..."

"Perhaps..." Su Minshan murmurs, though he eyes the plaque warily. "If Acting Sect Leader will excuse this one... it is very late, cold and this one will already be missing lessons come morning, it will be worse if this one gets sick..."

"Indeed. Off with you then..." He dismisses him and then just because he's a cruel bastard. "THough you will not be missing lessons, Uncle has returned and you know how strict he is about attendance. I tried to excuse you, but he is the Grandmaster and the Head of the Elders, this one cannot hope to fight and win all the time." He sounds almost sincere, but only he knows he is lying like a worm.

"It is not your fault, Sect Leader... This one... will try his best to show up to lessons... good night..." Su Minshan slumps off, grumbling and cursing as he goes, too bad he's not as soft as he thinks and Lan Huan grins evilly as he heads off to his uncle's room first, informing him about Su Minshan's late night jaunt, wording it carefully as an earned that Lan Huan had asked him to run much earlier in the evening before curfew, but Su Minshan had just now returned  and there was a subtle implication that he smelt like wine.

His Uncle had scowled fiercely but nodded and thanked him. He will make sure that Su Minshan and any Student who thought that while he was away it was perfectly fine to slack off and cause mischief, would regret any late night drinking. Lan Huan also informed him that Young Master Wei was not feeling well and would be missing the next few days of lessons. When his uncle blinked confused, Lan Huan told him that their new student with the red ribbon was Young Master Wei. His uncle showed concern and Lan Huan told him about the young man's selfless acts to save not only the child but all of them from the Waterborne Abyss and Water Ghoul infestation.

"I managed to triangulate where it originated from and it seems to have from from the Qishan area, however, I did not send out any letters or missives about it. The Qishan have been looking to provoke us and I feel that it is only a matter of time before they do attack us. Perhaps we should move the books out of the library and fill it with mundane everyday books? Secret them out to the Qinghe Nie Sect and ask Sect Leader Nie to safe guard them for now... In fact we should start moving the Omegas and children as well. It would be better to minimalize the amount of damage and death that will occur. We both know it is not IF they attack, but rather WHEN they will do so..." Lan Huan says.

"Indeed... Very well... I will gather up some of the Omegas to start packing up the books and sneaking them out the back of the mountain with some of the little ones and send them with a letter to the Nie Sect... You're feelings and premonitions have yet to be wrong so I will not doubt your caution or concerns... As for Young Master Wei, have you informed his Sect about what happened?"

"I do not believe he has a Sect... he carries this with him and has little to no belongings. In fact, Su Minshan has called him a thief several times during the Hunt and Wei Wuxian stated calmly that Su Minshan stole from him first. Su Minshan's Token has been returned to him but nothing of Wei Wuxian's things have been returned, more specifically his string of coins. Wei Wuxian had admitted that he needed to find work in town to earn back the coins stolen from him and even then I have seen he refuses to accept coin as payment so many have given it to him as gifts so he cannot refuse them. He was living in a ranshackle hut until we moved him into the Recess for his stay. He is currently resting in the Hanshi for now since it is closest to the Healer's quarters and away from the more public areas... It turns out he is an Omega and one who has not had suppressants so his scent is pure." Lan Huan says.

"A Rogue... and an Omega at that... sounds like that Woman..." Lan Qiren hufsfs a soft laugh, an oddly forlorn look and tone fleeting across his face. "Well return his belongings to him and he's more than welcomed, but if he is an Omega, he will need to be secreted out as well. Qishan will capture every Omega possible to ensure their strangle hold over an entire sect."

"Of course Uncle... I don't know when this will happen, just best to be ready..."

"Of course, good night nephew, you have earned yourself a few extra hours of sleep in the morning... go rest." His uncle dismisses him and he leaves, grinning like a shark as he knows that come morning Su Minshan is going to regret ever targeting Wei Ying....

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan had finished resetting the cool compress to Wei Ying's brow when a'Huan came back. His twin had a tray of food in his arms as well as some spare robes. He stood to help, but a'Huan shook his head.

"How is our sweet little bunny?" He asks as he sets the tray down with careful ease.

"Sleeping." Is the simple reply as he tucks the blankets around Wei Ying a bit more and then moving to help his brother lay out the dinner tray.

"That's good. Here, sit this by him." a'Huan passes him the memorial tablet and Lan Zhan carefully bows to it and accepts it. Moving it over to the small shrine by their bed with their mother's tablet , he sets it down and quickly sets out offerings, lights a couple of incense sticks before he offers a soft prayer to both tablets. a'Huan joins him after pouring tea and setting it down for the tablets and offering his own prayers as well. When they were done, they move to the table to eat their very late dinner.

"You are pleased... what did you do?" Lan Zhan points out, looking his twin in his slightly more amber colored eyes.

"Ah, can never hide anything from you, a'Zhan...." Lan Huan laughs as she wipes his mouth and leans slightly forward.

They often broke the rules where no one could see them, they found the rules ridiculous and unnecessary. They would be changing that when they took over soon enough.

"Uncle arrived back not too long ago." He informs which Lan Zhan is glad to hear. Their Uncle, who was never meant to be the leader of the Sect stepped up when their father refused to come out of seclusion and raised them when their mother could not. They had a bit of a soft spot for him, but he could be overbearing at times. "I informed him of our activities while he was away. I also implied that Su Minshan was sent out well before curfew and just now returned from the errand I sent him on. I also implied that he was a bit... influenced by wine. Hopefully the bug will come down with a severe fever come morning and Uncle will certainly not show him mercy."

"Good... not enough..."

"I know, baby brother, I know, but we have to be patient and careful.... Once we are ruling the clan and Sect, we can enact the plans we've wanted to since before mother's passing... we will never allow what happened to mother happen to anyone else ever again... especially our little bunny..." a'Huan hugs his twin close as they look at the painting of their mother hung over the tablets. She had been a beautiful woman, too good for this clan, too good for their father and unjustly imprisoned...

"Su Minshan needs to go..." Lan Zhan states one last time as they finish their meal, leaving the tray outside for someone to pick up come morning and getting ready for bed. They roll out a futon and lay down, carefully mediating until their minds quiet enough to sleep...

Lan Zhan's eyes snap open at 5am on the dot and he quickly pulls Wei Ying back into the room from where he was trying to escape out the window. The younger male flails with a startled shriek which wakes a'Huan, who chuckles seeing his stoic twin holding their bunny like a life sized stuffed doll. Wei Ying blinked as he saw Lan Huan sitting up in a futon and then looked up at Lan Zhan, who was  looking down at him with soft eyes.

"Where does Young Master Wei think he is going?" Lan Huan asks, chuckling as he carefully gets up and helps his brother settle the sneaky bunny down on the bed, moving to check his minor injuries. "You worried us last night, going by yourself to deal with the Abyss. You passed out from Qi exhaustion and would have drowned had we not found you..."

"You-- You saw!?" He panics and struggles to get away and they let him go, which shocks him into stilling by the door, looking at them nervously. "Wh-why are you..."

"Wei Ying saved many. Wei Ying is nor prisoner..." Lan Zhan says.

"What Wangji means, is why would we tell anyone about what you did and risk you being imprisoned for using a method that many often misjudge?" Lan Huan clarifies. "Wangji's right, we wouldn't tell on you. You saved the town, you saved Su Minshan and you saved us. It would be dishonorable to arrest you when you saved so many. You are still weak and should not be moving about as much, but if you are not comfortable here, we will not force you to remain... but at least the Hanshi is more protected verse your shack..."

Wei Ying sputtered and blushed then he saw his tablet sitting beside another, the remains of incense sticks sitting before it with a small plate of offerings. He gapes and slowly sinks to his knees, curling up as he watches the Twins warily. This was not what they wanted, but they would work with what they were given.

"Young Master Wei, we know you are not from our Sect or any of the guest Sects here... We have known since you first arrived, but you seemed eager to learn and had not caused any issue. You've actually helped us deal with the issues in and around the town, allowing our students and guests to venture out further to train against tougher threats. You have also saved many villagers from harm.  We could sense it whenever you used your gift, but it never felt malicious, just dark and powerful. We saw how you calmed and broke up the Abyss. We would not tell unless you brought harm to those within our territory." Lan Huan says calmly.

"But-- but... I'm not a cultivator... I... " He bites his lip and they are suddenly facing a Fierce Corpse who bears an uncanny resemblance to Wei Ying, who gasps and quickly grabs it from behind. "A'Die, no! Do not hurt them... they aren't hurting YingYing... go back to sleep, a'Die... please baba..." He pleads and the Corpse steps forward, glaring them down and then leans close to really study them.

The twins remain unmoving blinking slowly in confusion and surprise as the almost sentient Corpse pulls back and vanishes as quickly as it appeared. They looked to Wei Ying, who was pale and nervous.

"I'm... I'm a ... Necromancer.... I... I raise the dead and use the resentful spirits and energy as my 'cultivarion' It helps them to find peace.... I..."

"Wei Ying is very kind..." the twins say as one and he blushes and ducks his head. "Wei Ying may stay if he desires... but allow these twins to protect Wei Ying..."

Chapter Text

Wei Ying ran with tears in his silver eyes as the pack of wild dogs chased him; foam dripping maws and wild eyes seared into his young mind. He trips over a tree root and tries to get back up, but falls down with a pained cry. His foot feels funny and moving it hurts far too much. He cannot help but to cry for his mother and father, knowing full well that they have been gone for two harvests now. So he gives up and cries as his doom barrels down on him. However, there is the sweet song of a blade flying over his head and the abrupt yelps of the dogs that is then quickly followed by an eerie silence.

Wei Ying dares to look up and blinks seeing a woman crouched down by him her black and green robes are cut in a style he does not recognize, but the silver bells on her belt mark her as a Cultivator. She has green eyes that looked like they were glowing as she stares at him unblinkingly and then she smiles softly.

"Hello, little one. I am Heimai, who are you?" She asks. Her voice is as soft as a song by a cozy fire on a cold night. It sounds so warm and safe, Wei Ying wants to curl up in it and sleep forever.

"YingYing is Wei Ying." He tells her and she coos as she carefully picks him up. When she is standing up again, Wei Ying gasps seeing the huge weapon she wields. It stands tall at 7 feet and the three deadly blades seem to range from 3-6 feet, going from longest to shortest starting from the top down. Looking down he notices a much smaller blade on the opposite side of the weapon. There are intricate patterns and characters etched into each blade in a a shade of green similar to her eyes and in gold. The whole weapon is otherwise black as night and looked quite heavy. "Wow..."

"Oh you like my friend here, huh? He's been by my side for years. Want to say hello to him? His name is Zhìmìng Hǔnluàn." She laughs and pets her scythe before she picks it up with one small and delicate looking hand. Wei Ying is in awe of the ease in which she does it and gasps again as she spins it in a deadly but beautiful motion then it suddenly vanishes from sight, Wei Ying gasps and looks around for it only to notice in her hand is a simple baton. Heimai chuchles and puts the smaller weapon in her sleeve before wrapping both arms around the far too young child and looks around. "Now then, where are Wei Ying's parents? I am certain they are very worried..."

"Gone... Went to Hunt and never came back for YingYing... Only their bodies found..." He whimpers and Heimai softens as she hugs him close.

"I'm sorry, sweetling.... shh, hush now... It's going to be ok... Why not come with me, hm? I am heading home and could use the company and you look like you need a nice bath and something yummy to eat... I promise to take very good care of you if you wish to come or I can take you somewhere you want to be that is not with your parents, unfortunately..." She says when she sees him about to ask just that.

Wei Ying thinks hard for a barely 6 year old on what to do and whether he should believe her. But she did saved him from the dogs so she cannot be all that bad...

"Wei Ying will go..." And she laughs softly before she heads towards the town he had just left.

"Good. Now, first we need to get you to the doctor then some warm soup and bread, a nice bath and some good sleep. We Will leave after breakfast tomorrow." She lists off and Wei Ying smiles at her...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wei Ying wakes to see Ms. Heimai finishing pinning her hair with the pretty green pins she had him help remove from her hair last night, she was already dressed and ready for the day. Sensing his staring she turns and smiles at him.

"Morning, a'Ying... Come on, let me get you ready and then off to get some breakfast!" He cheers as she comes and helps him get ready, dressing him in the nice new clothes she bought last night for him. She even carefully redressed his splint around his bad foot so it can heal properly. It would seem when he had tripped over the roots last night, he had broken his ankle. Normally, it wasn't that easy, but because Wei Ying was so young and so small, from not eating regularly, his bones were very delicate and could be broke so easily. The doctor has said he  cannot walk on it for a long while, but Ms. Heimai said she didn't mind carrying him. Wei Ying liked it because it reminded him of his a'Niang holding him and carrying him while they traveled long distances or at night. He missed his parents, but he was quickly growing to like Ms. Heimai.

Once they were ready, the few items that needed to be packed away grabbed up and then they headed down to the dinning area. The have more soup and some veggie stuffed dumplings for breakfast because they were easier for Wei Ying to eat and not get sick because he's not eaten good food in a very long time. He doesn't mind because it is so yummy! Ms. Heimai says they need to pick up a few extra things before they can be on their way. After some shopping, they leave the town that Wei Ying called home for so long behind. He wonders if he will ever come back to it? Perhaps when he is much older and stronger. Heimai sensed his melancholy and begins to tell him stories of her travels and the places she has seen to keep him distracted from both his bad memories and the long journey. In turn, she laughs at Wei Ying's silly jokes and stories, gasping in awe of his 'heroic feats' and does not find him annoying or a bother. She is a good one in his eyes. The other adults hated him for no reason and did not try to help him.

Wei Ying hardly notices the great distances they cover in a week until they stand on a lonely cliff overlooking a giant valley filled with lakes and rolling hills. Overhead, a Roc takes flight and cries out as Wei Ying gasps, having never seen a bird so big before.

"Welcome to your new home, Wei Ying. Come, our ride is making his way towards us now..." She points at the Roc and Wei Ying is both scared and excited.

"That big bird!?" He gasps as she nods, stepping back and then running forward with him held tight in her arms. "Eeeek!?"

"Hahahaha!!!" She lands on the back of the great Roc, who easily banks and heads for the center of the massive lake at the heart of the valley. "Don't be so scared... Tiān Zhǎo, will not hurt us. He is an Earthborne God who protects this valley. Look there, my home." She assures and then points to what looks like massive flowers floating on the lake and as they get closer, Wei Ying can see that they are buildings built to look like flowers, the biggest one at the heart of it all looks like a massive lotus flower.

Tian Zhao banks again, slowly lowering himself down to a gigantic perch and lowers his body as low as he can to the small tower where a couple of handmaids wait to aid their lady off the great bird. Once they are safely on the tower, a large golden eye pins Wei Ying in place and the child holds still, holding his breath as he feels the god like being stare into his very soul, judging him and then Tian Zhao blinks and takes flight once more.

"He likes you! You should feel honored! Come, let's get you into your new bed and give you the medicine for the pain. Li Mai, Song Jun, prepare the chambers for my new heir. For now he will sleep with me until he is better and older."

"Yes, my lady." they say as one and giggle as they hurry off while Heimai lazily walks down the tower and around her home. it is a beautiful floating city and Wei Ying cannot help by be enamored with it all.

The respect the people show the tiny woman is inspiring! Is the Sect Leader of this place called the Flower Garden. He didn't understand why she giggled at the name, but he liked the sound. It was sweet and warm, but full of mischief. They eventually made it back to the Lotus Palace as her home was called and he gasped at the beautiful swirling colors around him, the way the inside seemed to be a living forest of vines, flowers and even trees and grass grew inside of it. It left the air smelling fragrant and clean. The transition from raw, natural beauty to opulence is gradual, but seamless as they travel towards the living areas and soon he is shown into a grand suite of rooms where his new guardian sits him in a massive bed. She helps him get comfy and take his medicine. As he grows sleepy from it, she tucks him in and begins to sing a sweet, eerie tune that sounds like she is a mermaid singing from below the water. It echoes and calms him until he is asleep...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In the days since their arrival, Wei Ying is quickly growing to love his new home, the people are all friendly and kind, his guardian is a fair and just leader. She remains ever kind and patient, but sometimes he can see this scary edge to her and it leaves a deadly silence in its wake that no one dares to break or overstep. He watches her closely and grows more and more to admire her beauty and strength, the easy balance between the quiet demure ways of a woman combined with the fierce strength of a typhoon, the way she waxes and wanes like the Moon between kindness and malice. And then one day, Wei Ying sees her sparring with her largest and strongest Alpha disciples. He watches her spin Zhiming Hunhuan with that same ease he saw that first night. in the light of day, the weapon is frightening and he's seen it at night where it looks hellish, but oddly comforting. She wields it like it is as much a part of her as it is its own being. He recalls her calling her weapon a 'He' as if it were sentient and he guessed it was because she lost hold of it for a moment, when she was tackled to the ground, the Alphas thinking they won by pinning her, but then he gasps as he sees the weapon suddenly change form and a man, tall and lean with eyes as green as hers and golden war paint decorating his mostly naked form knocks into them his hands are clawed with razor sharp talons. They move seamlessly together until the Alphas are pinned under the scythe once more, yielding with grace.

"Good, you are improving. Keep it up." She praises as she pulls each Alpha up in turn. She hefts her weapon easily onto her shoulder and turns to walk away, the silent dismissal taken as the Alphas bow and leave to rest and then to pick back up on their training. Heimai makes her way to where he has sat on the porch watching her with wide silver eyes sparkling. She blinks and smiles.

"Did you like the show, Yingying?" She asks, setting the now baton form of Zhiming Hunhuan down beside him as she grabs the jug of water Li Mai left beside the child with a snack for both the little boy and her mistress.

"You were amazing, Ms. Heimai! I wanna be like you when I get bigger! Please teach me!" Wei Ying begs, eyes shining brighter.

"Sure thing and you can call me Auntie..." She laughs softly and leans down to kiss his temple. "In the meantime you need to learn to read and write, there is more to being a Cultivator than being strong or a good fighter. One must be well read and well learned of the world. Manners make the Kings of Tomorrow." She says and Wei Ying nods seriously. "And Queens rule the Kings! Are you a King or Queen, Wei Ying?"

"I am the Queen of Queens!" He shouts with delight and a seriousness that she cannot help but burst into a plea of laughter.

"Very well, we begin after we've had our snack. You will be an Empress by the time I am done with you and all will bow before your glory..." She swears and kisses his temple.

"Yes, Auntie!!"

Chapter Text

"Alright, a'Ying, try again." came the calm voice of his beloved Auntie Heimai as he lay on the flat of his back, catching his breath.

"I need a moment..." He admits and she hums and sits down beside him.

"Good, only a fool full of pride would continue losing battle." She nods as she gently moves some of his messy hair away from his face.

"Not all who fight a losing battle are full of pride. Some are full of hope and are powered by love to keep fighting to the end." Wei Ying says back as he moves his arm away from his eyes and slowly relaxes. "A strong man stands up for himself, a stronger man stands up for others."

"Very good, my little one..." Heimai laughs again as they relax between bouts. "You were at act two, scene 1B."

"Alright." He gets up and she follows.

They take position once more for their sparring match and Wei Ying continues to recite the play based on the Legened of Chang'E the Moon Goddess. He spoke clearly, steadying his breath as he attacked and avoided his aunt's flurries in return. When he got to the end of the play, she named a song for him to sing and he did so, sounding a bit breathless, but never losing steam as they went back and forth.

The years have been kind to Wei Ying since he came to live in the Flower Guard Inn, he finally understood why his aunt always laughed when he called it the Flower Garden instead. He grew strong and healthy, thought he remained thin, but not sickly so. He grew taller than his auntie, but he was shorter than he should be. His health stunted so early, had left him prone to illness and even after he began cultivating, his bones were still delicate, almost like rabbit bones. Wei Ying had kept his fervent promise to study hard and learn all he could. His Auntie was strict when it came to studies, she did not let him slack off and refused to see anyone with atrocious handwriting. His calligraphy was beautiful and sold quite well on the market when he deigned to sell a few of them. He learned math, astrology, history, literature, and took up the arts, mastering all six branches of them. He skills laid more in painting and playing the Dizi, but he could dance and sing well when he so desired and he was very well cultured. Wei Ying studied Cultivation, the Elements and even magic. His Auntie Heimai knew many things and as her heir, he was expected the know them as well. He was graceful like a crane, but swift like a striking snake. He was as serene as a lotus floating along the surface of the water, but as deadly as the undertow of the sea.

 As his Auntie often would tease: He was Beauty, He was Grace, Piss him off and he's in your face.

Wei Ying yelps as he is tossed once more onto his back and pinned with a knife to his throat.

"You got distracted. You are now dead..."

"So are you, Auntie..." He laughs, his own knife pressed into her back, where her kidney was.

She blinks and then laughs, "Very good, Yingying... Come, let's go bathe... I am going to miss you while you are in Gusu Lan for the Lectures..."

"I'm going to miss you too... who else will try to wake me up with a gaggle of pheasants?" He laughs.

"Indeed and who will help me terrify the disciples into shape?" She mourns sadly. "No, do not go! Stay forever with Auntie!!"

Wei Ying laughs as she wails childishly into her hands, their servants ignoring the dramatics of their Lady as they keep going about their daily tasks and chores. Wei Ying kisses her cheek and promises to meet up with her for lunch as he heads into his own rooms, just as grand as his aunts and decorated in dark, warm colors with accents in crimson red. The Clan Crest, a moonflower surrounded by Spider Lilies and  lotus in an umbre pattern of gold, green and black was woven artfully into the décor with a large tapestry hung on his wall. He looks around the room with a sense of nostalgia. The trunk with his old toys sat in the corner with the trunk of his old clothes on top of it. Several book shelves stood around his room full of all the books and scrolls he's ever studied. One shelf holds his notes and manuscripts for his own projects and books to help educate the Cultivation world that just because something is strange and not normal for you does not make it evil for others. He would be packing some of them to take with him so he can work on his newest book and maybe sneak a few to the more open minded cultivators. His desk is a riot of things, talismans that he's been working on, some still in the beginning stages, a few in the testing stages and the rest perfected and ready for recreation and distribution. He trusts his Auntie to do that for him so he will leave her a set of the master copies and take the others with him. There are a even a few knickknacks he's been working on.

A compass to sense evil, powder to purify a possessed human or animal, flags to attract malicious entities into an array to purify them, banish them or capture them. He has a few sheets of music that he created. A song called Empathy, based off the spiritual skill of Empathy. However where the skill leaves one vulnerable to influence from others or even messing up and killing either or both the target and the cultivator. The song allows for the cultivator to either read one's memories or share their own with the listeners. It also works similar to the Gusu Lan technique, Inquiry. He would need to see if he can convince someone to play it while he plays Empathy and perhaps get a better reading on the souls of the departed to better help them find true peace. Another is called Revenge, though the name sounds bad, it allows the soul to gain the Cultivator's power for a short time and take solid form, as if a living human and get revenge on the ones who did them harm. He had an few arrays that allowed him to bring the mind of a Fierce Corpse back so they are as they were in life, only deathly pale, never weary or hungry.

"Aiya... I am so scatter minded..." He huffs and turns to grab fresh clothes and head into his bath that had been drawn and smiles when he sees that Song Jun has placed lotus and cherry blossom blooms into the water. The sweet scent wafting from the steaming tube is soothing and he smiles as he picks up the faint scent of the enhancer. "Good, I want to smell my best when the Lan escort arrives."

Getting undressed and slipping into the water, he slips under the surface, holding his breath and relaxing as lays under the water. His mind begins to quiet and he is better able to organize his thoughts. He will be bringing most of his work with him. Idle hands are the Devil's play things, as his Auntie once said. Devils were known to do horrid things when left idle for too long and humans were no different in that sense. His Auntie Heimai had set him to do many things as a child. He learned to cook and sew, he learned weaving and carving. He learned to sing and dance, he learned several instruments. He learned almost everything there was to learn just to keep his mind stimulated and him busy. It was discovered early he was genius, a prodigy with so much raw potential that could be a blessing to the world, or a curse. Auntie Heimai said she was much the same and he's seen her when she begins to grow bored. She is beyond terrifying. Wei Ying is truly glad he's never seen his aunt when she's actually bored or day he say it in a mood to cause untold pain for no reason. The mere thought of his fun loving, if strict aunt being a monster, terrified him and thus he took everything she gave him and learned.

Slowly sitting up, Wei Ying breathes as he breaks the surface and relaxes back against the tub. The faint sent of moonflower filters into the lotus and cherry blossom scents with something warm and spicy tickling at the back of the throat. He smiles at his own scent. Many have complimented him on how pretty it was sweet and enticing, but deceptive. Only idiots believe the old wives tales of one's scent expressing one's personality. A dominant and harsh scent meant a dominant and harsh person. Hah! Wei Ying's junior brothers had a wide range of scents and some of those with a harsh, powerful scent were timid Betas and Omegas. There was an Alpha who smelt like sugared Apples! All the Omegas loved to cuddle up to him because he smelt so yummy and safe. He was big and powerful, but he was as gentle as an Omega when not training or on a Night Hunt. Wei Ying smiled softly, if slightly evilly, around a giggle. He can be sweet and docile, demure like a proper Omega, but he was headstrong, vocal and steadfast.

"Weakness is not acknowledging your faults and accepting them, owning up to your mistakes and failures..." He says to the air, quoting his auntie just as Lou Ping, his personal eunuch came in to comb his hair and help him scrub his body. This was his last luxurious bath for the next couple of years while he studies away from home. "Lou Ping, has the escort arrived?"

"Yes, Young Master." He says in a slightly higher voice due to his status. "The Madame is meeting with them now and getting them situated for the evening."

"Good... I wish you could come with me... But I'm not so spoiled to rely solely on you, Lou Ping, but at least I can be myself around you and bitch up a storm without judgement or backstabbing." Wei Ying sighs.

"This lowly body servant wishes he can travel with Young Master as well, but I would only slow you down and be a danger to you..." He sighs.

He was no warrior, though all of the Servants and eunuchs were trained in stealth, knife work and poisons. And he was no Cultivator, he would not be able to keep up with the group. Besides it would be seen as Wei Ying could not live without his creature comforts. Wei Ying has been on Night Hunts, has slept in poorly made beds, on pallets and cots, even on the unforgiving floor! Like any human, he loves his comforts, but he was not a slave to them.

"Oh well, at least you get to spoil me one last time until I come home in two years." Wei Ying chirps happily as he stands and Lou Ping helps him get out dried off, using the handmade body butter and oils to make sure he looked his best and his hair would behave for the evening.

After that Lou Ping helped him get dressed in his good Heir robes, sitting down at his vanity to allow the eunuch to combe and style his hair into a high ponytail with twists and braids that have flower shaped pins woven into them. The flowers were the Clan's flowers, but they were in the black and red that Wei Ying favored as his colors. His Guan was pinned into place around his ponytail, the black metal gleamed like polished onyx while the crushed pearl and gold inlay of the flowers were surrounded by green jade to out line them. Wei Ying did not bother with makeup since it was not a formal event, however he carefully fits a veil over his face. It is held by his hair pins and the drops of rubies hold it down so only his mouth is visible while the rest of his face is hidden. For as long as he can recall, this was what his Auntie expected of him. She wanted him protected from outsiders who might try to take him for his genius and his beauty. Slipping on his house shoes, he leaves his room and heads down to where his Auntie was entertaining the guests, Lou Ping at his back.

"Entering, Sect Heir Wei Wuxian!" calls the Page, ringing a small gong of brass.

Wei Ying enters and gives a graceful bow like a woman would and sweeps through the group of white clad Lan Disciples and bows once more to his aunt and the leader of the disciples, who looks at him with curious eyes and a gentle smile on his face.

"This one greets, exalted Aunt and Aunt's guest. Forgive my tardiness..." He says demurely.

"You are not late, nephew mine, come sit beside this Aunt... May I introduce you, Heir Lan Xichen to my nephew, Wei Wuxian?"

"This one is greeting Wei Wuxian. I am Lan Huan, Lan Xichen. First Jade of Lan and acting Sect Leader." The handsome Alpha greets him with a polite bow and a charming smile.

"This one is greeting First Jade, Lan Xichen. I am Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian, Heir of Huāgǔ Yue Sect." Wei Ying bows back, a soft playful smile on his lips. "This one also greets, First Jade's men. May you find peace in our Valley."

"Greeting Sect Heir Wei..." they intone and bow to him.

wei Ying smiles softly under his veil and his aunt catches with a soft huff.

"Nephew, do not tease the poor Lans. They are not use to someone as vibrant as you." She warns.

"And that makes me want to do exactly that...." He tells her back with a soft laugh.

The Lans are blown away by the sound and the radiance of the smile. Lan Xichen cocks his head to the side in thought and smiles a softer smile, a more genuine one. He could imagine his darling little brother and Young Master Wei getting along, though Wangji would deny it or even become flustered enough to not be so stiff and formal. Lan Xichen is planning to se them up and watch what chaos unfolds from there. Heimai suddenly gives a mad cackle that startls them all and she clears her throat.

"My apologies... I just imagined my nephew making your poor Juniors combust from blushing so hard..." She easily lies, she looks Lan Xichen in the eye and it is in that moment he realizes they both thought the same thing.

"Oh dear." He says as the others subtly squirm. Wei Ying blinks, having missed something important but sighs and turns his head to look at the acting Sect Leader.

"First Jade personally came to escort this humble one to Gusu?"

"Yes, we have to pass through rather dangerous territory and since you are the sole representative of your clan, this one felt it best you had an escort." Lan Xichen explained.

"Only one? Auntie, the Shidis are not coming?" He frowns mildly.

"First Shidi is still hospitalized, Second Shidi is newly married and the others are far too young still. You are more than capable of going alone and I think it would be a fine test of your self control. If you always have someone to pull you back, how will you learn your own limitations?" Heimai says softly, cupping his check.

"Limitations are the spring board for limitless possibilities.." He says and she laughs nodding.

"Using my own quote against me, so shameless..." She laughs. "Now then, I have arranged supper for 6pm and your rooms should be ready now if you wish to follow the Servants and take a rest. the baths should also be nice and warm. If you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask. I will arrange things for your departure come the morn."

"Thank you, Madame is most gracious." the Juniors bow as one before getting up like a synchronized gaggle of ducklings and following the servants out as their leader remained behind.

"Aunt, I will be taking my work with me as a means to avoid possible boredom. I am leaving a set of the new Talismans to be copied and distributed at your leisure." Wei Ying says.

"Oh! Wonderful! And yes, that would be a safer bet. We may be a close knit community and rarely have issues, that does not mean we are completely without blemishes and the dregs of society. I will be sending you bi monthly packages and letters, I expect a letter at least once a month and do not cause trouble. The Lan Elders are quick to make snap judgements and once they think you are a miscreant, nothing you say or do will change their mind. I should know many did not get long with either myself or your mother when we were your age and attending the Lectures. Now then, study hard, when out on missions you obey your team leader unless he is a completely idiot, then you do what you must to keep yourself and the others in your party safe from harm."

"Yes Auntie. What about--"

"I have made arrangements, so you need not worry." She cuts him off when he was about to ask about his heat cycles.

His aunt does not allow him to use any of the medicines or herbs to suppress heats because they are addictive and cause Omegas  and women to lose their fertility the longer they take it. Many clans and families have died out because of suppressants. So Wei Ying had regular cycles and only took a tonic for the severe cramps, it is strong enough to render him unconscious for at least 24hrs. He tries to save it for the height of his heats so he can sleep through the worst of it.

"Young Master Wei will be staying in the Lotus Pavilion with Lady Jiang of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect. I have heard of her, never had the pleasure of meeting her, but if what I hear is true, she a remarkably kind woman, patient and steadfast. I believe you find her good company and should your cycle arise, she is well trained in the are of Caregiver as well as being a fellow Omega. You are in safe hands, Young Master."

"Thank you. I understand that your clan is very simplistic and practical. I will do my best to keep to your rules, but I am not a simplistic young man and I will beg your forgiveness now and save us from it in the future." Wei Ying says. "I will do my  best to not antagonize the Grandmaster, but I do have many questions for him and would like to hear what he could possibly shed on certain topics I wish to ask."

"Curious, that is a good trait in a student. Uncle will certainly look forward to speaking with you. I should warn you there are 3000 rules that all those who live or are invited to reside in the Cloud Recesses must obey." Lan Xichen warns.

"I am aware, Auntie asked someone to bring me a copy of them and I have them memorized already." Wei Ying smiles.

"Indeed, one must first know the rules, in order to break them." Heimai chuckles evilly and Wei Ying laughs brightly at his aunt's antics. "Anyway, you boys go rest,. I need to speak with Tian Zhao to see if he would be willing to get you to the southeastern edge of the Valley and closer to Gusu that way. You will have to travel the long way around the Burial Mounds, but over all the trip should be fairly smooth because you will closer to Yunmeng and if I recall correctly there is one river that flows directly to the Gusu Lan territories."

"I see, that saves us from taking an even longer trip. We came from the north having walked around Qishan Wen's territories." Lan Xhichen muses.

"I see, now then, rest, boys. I have things to do and I am certain a' Ying has packing to finish." Heimai says as she stands up and both boys follow her lead and they leave together, bowing and separating.

Heimai to go ask the Roc of the Valley for his help, Lan Xichen to explore the strangely beautiful town and Wei Ying to pack. Come morning, he would be on his way to Gusu Lan, he is excited. If the First Jade is this handsome, he wonders if the Second Jade is as good looking...

Chapter Text

When morning came and after a hearty breakfast made by his Auntie, it was time to leave. However the Lans were confused as to why they were climbing the highest tower in the Flower Guard Inn, instead if heading to the boats they had used tonget across the massive lake. Wei Ying only told them that they were meeting their escort, Tian Zhao. He giggles mischievously after that and it makes them a bit nervous as they climb up so tight and then out onto a wide platform.

"Wait here and be ready to bow." Wei Ying says as he moves with his aunt towards the unrailed half of the platform. His Aunt begins to throat sing and it carries well ovee the valley until a great shadow swoops over them and the following burst of wind would have bowled them over if not for the railing. Wei Ying bows and they follow as the shadow appears and lands at the end of the dock. 

"Greetings, Tian Zhao... I hope your morning hunt was successful?"

"Hmm, it was good...." The great Fox rumbles out and then turns to see the others. "Little Hatchling as grown beautiful and who are these strangers?"

"The first Jade of Lan and a team if his juniors to escort a'Ying to Gusu Lan... They need a lift to the southern edge of the Valley, well away from Qishan Wen, it my lord deems it a worthwhile trip." Heimei says bowing low in respect.

"This one sees.... Mm, step forward Jade of Lan..." He commands and Lan Xichen walks forward, bowing once more and ghen rising to look at the great bird with awe.

Large golden eyes peer down at him as the great head cocks this way and that, accessing him.

"This humble one greets Master Tian Zhao." Lan Xichen says and the great eagle chuckles.

"A good soul this one has... Yes I shall fly them, my lady. In exchange you must sing for me." The Roc commands.

"This one thanks You... And yes I shall sing for you!" She smiles as she then turns to let the others know it is safe to approach. The party, with Wei Ying was only 12 and all would fit on the great Roc's back with ease. He laid down to allow them to climb and after being instructed on how to hold on, to not pluck his feathers or he would drop them to their deaths, he stood.

Wei Ying waved at his auntie as she waves back with a watery smile. It would be two years before they can see one another again and he would sorely miss her. Soon they were flying at great speed and much higher than any Cultivator dares to fly. The wind is sharp and loud around them and none dare to speak or look around as they fly. The Roc making a beeline for the southern edge and lands on the mountains near a foot path that would take them close to the Burial Mounds after a five day walk. The group bows to the great bird who bows back, wishing them luck on their journey before he heads back to Flower Gaurd Inn, and thus his promised concert by the Lady of the Sect...

The trip down the mountain was filled with excited chatter about the great Earthbound God and Wei Ying happily told them stories about Tian Zhao and how often he came to visit them and the many favors traded between him and his auntie. Wei Ying admits he rode on the Roc's back many times before and loved the feeling of it. There were Many creatures who lived in Huagu Yue. Mermaids and nymphs, Rocs and even a friendly Naga whose cave was bear the eastern edge of the lake and he often swims up to the piers to trade handmade jewelry or crafts for wares.

Wei Ying is quickly liking the group as they share his enthusiasm of meeting strange and new beings and hopefully befriend them. They were confused when Wei Ying said there was a friendly Firece Corpse who lived in an old graveyard, tendinf the graves and helping the few lost visitors to the valley find their way. This shocks them because They recall the old man who was sweeping up the graveyard theybhad passed to get to Flower Guard Inn. He had not looked like a corpse nor had he moved like one. He moved like a man in his golden years and complained about his aching joints like one. They had not even noticed! Wei Ying laughs softly as he assures them that Old Man Mao is in fact dead but had risen and after a small controntation had taken the task of tending the graveyard and guide.

"Amazing... We have never heard of a Fierce Corpse retaining their mind and personality from their previous life before...." Lan Xichen muses one night around a small fire on the edge of the Burial Mounds. It is eerily quiet and they dare not speak louder than a whispering wind least they attract unwanted attention.

"You would not since the array that made it possible was not invented until a fee years ago and I tested it out on Old Man Mao. He was admittedly annoyed with me at first but got over it when he noticed the poor state of his grave. Ever since he cleans and guards the graves to make sure no one else rises though that is jot a fear since he was the only one who did after someone knocked over his offerings."

"You did that!?" One junior gasps mutely.

"Yep... I like to invent things when I am not training or studying. Many of my methods are not conventional and will likely be met with hostility and skepticism. However, I am willing to compromise and educate anyone who might be interested."

"Perhaps You should speak with the Grandmaster, my Uncle, upon arriving. He Will be most curious once you argue him down. He is a steadfast man and rarely wavers." Lan Xichen says, most curious about this strange young man, but now very curious as to how he and his brother would get along.

"I was hoping to ask him some questions during the lectures, so this works out perfectly. My thanks, Lan-Gongzi."

Chapter Text

Prompt:

NOTICE!!!!
In this AU, basically Hamunaptra is Shangri-La. So I am moving it into a huge valley surrounded by near impenetrable mountains and desert. Also in this universe Chinese, or rather traditional/Ancient Chinese is a dead language and thus is not spoken in the modern world. It would liken to Archaic Latin where you have to take a specialized class to learn it and study it. If you find this offensive in anyway, I am sorry. But I have to take quite a few more creative liberties than I normally do. There will be mild to moderate derogatory language in regards to women and possibly another race or two. I personally do not believe these and felt I should warn you.

There will be some semi major Character Death in this one!! And Surprise pairings, maybe. And even though I call it a Mummy AU, I have no real idea if it falls into that category...

That being said, enjoy!

As a reward for dedicated study, ingenuity and hard work, college Student Wei Ying is allowed to join the first ever expedition to ever reach Shangri-La, the mythical city that was likened to the Lost City of Atlantis. Headed Dr. Jin Guangshan, the group to go exploring this area consisted of experts in various fields, a few military personnel and private security with the added of Wei Ying and his small team that had finally decoded and located the lost city. What will happen when the find the lost city? Will it be the discovery of a life time? What about the ancient beings that were said to have once lived in the lost city? Divine Beasts of great power, Immortal Gods and powerful relics of great destruction?

Wei Ying is looking forward to finally proving his late parents theories correct and to get their names finally published and accoladed as they should have been from the beginning! His friends, Wen Ning, Mo Xuanyu and Nie Huaisang are excited to help him meet his goals as well as to prove to their families that their dreams are not silly or short sighted.

The Pros:

Jin Guangshan= Head Archeologist
Wen Rouhan= Head of Private Security Team
Jiang Cheng= Military Personnel/Team Captain
Wen Qing= Head Medical Doctor
Jiang Yanli= Paleobotanist/Team Cook/Backup Doctor

Assistant Pros:

Private Security
Wen Xu= Second in Command/Weapons expert
Wen Chao= Demolition expert/Scout
Wang Lingjiao= Chief Assistant

Military
Jin Zixuan= Second in Command(Commander)/Tactical expert
Jin Zixun= Sargent
Su She= Lieutenant/Recon and Gear specialist

Medical
Lou Qingyang
A-Qing

College
Wei Ying
Wen Ning
Nie Huaisang
Mo Xuanyu

And let's not forget the Canon Fodder!

If you are wondering about the others and where they are, that will be explained later if not right now...

Snippet:

"A'Xian, will you alright?" Jiang Fengmian worries, as he helps his adoptive son take his suitcase and carry on out of the car.

"Tsk, worry about our son and daughter who are being dragged on this wild goose chase!!" Snaps an irate Yu Ziyuan as she gets out of the car, slamming the door behind her. Said daughter climbed out on her own while said son pulled up in a military issued vehicle with his team and unloading only what they need.

"My wife, our son is a highly decorated Captain, he does not need this old man worrying after him. He has proven himself more than capable of protecting himself and I trust, a'Cheng to keep both a'Li and a'Xian safe as well as himself. Have faith in the boy..." Jiang Fengmian frowns at his wife before smiling a small proud smile at his blood son, who preens subtly under his father's low key praise.

It took years for them to work out their awkwardness, but now the Jiang Men could read each other fairly well. Yu Ziyuan scoffs and belittles the man she married and her son for accepting 'cheap words' before grousing about Wei Wei, who ignores her as he sets down his adoptive sister's bags, being very careful with the large white case that carried some of her delicate equipment.

"Mother, a'Xian worked very hard in his classes and dedicated hours and hours of time researching this project and they confirmed the location via satellite imaging. This is not a wild goose chase, but an exploration into a long lost piece of our history!" Jiang Yanli defends her younger brother, a disapproving frown marring her lips. "I do not know why you insist on disparaging him so. He's done nothing to you."

"Hah, I do not need to explain myself to you, daughter!" The woman huffs and stomps up to where she can see the large group preparing the military jumbo jet for the mission.

"I'm sorry, a'Xian..." Jiang Yanli says.

"I'm more than use to it by now besides, once we come back with irrefutable proof, she will not have a leg to stand on." Wei Ying smiles, though they both know that her words stung deep.

Jiang Cheng lightly slaps his shoulder, shaking him with a small proud smirk on his face. Jiang Cheng had been there when Wei Ying's coordinates got plugged in and the satellites got moved into position and zoomed in to see  the legendary city from space. It was hidden in  the wilds where Russia, India and China overlapped into a vast uninhabitable desert. He had been amazed as the room full of so-called geniuses, puzzled how Wei Ying managed what countless others have failed for centuries and no matter how many satellites they used, they got the same results which means that it was not a fluke and that Wei Wuxian managed the impossible. The Siblings also knew that Wei Ying was especially excited about this expedition because it meant that his parents research, their dedication and ultimately their sacrifice was not in vain and it means that finally they would get the recognition they should have gotten years ago.

"We will make Auntie and Uncle very proud..." Jiang Cheng promised.

"Thanks a'Cheng..." Wei Ying smiles softly as they make their way to the plane...

~Skip!~

It took hours to get everything loaded up, to run through all the checks and make sure that everyone was ready to go. Wei Ying and his friends, the guys in his Mythology Class and club who had helped him, were standing with Jiang Cheng, a huge man named Wen Rouhan and Dr. Jin, going over their research notes, using pint outs, various books and Nie Huaisang's laptop to show them everything they new about where they were going, how best to get there and what they need to be wary of.

"Shangri-La, much like the Artic Circle, is a Dead Zone, nothing is going to work once we get close and we will have to operate on man power alone." Nie Huaisang says, as he prints out everything they have from his laptop knowing that it is going to be useless until they leave. Thank the gods he backed up his harddrive at home already or he would be pissed as all hell otherwise. His dad had found his mother's old typewriter and gave him so many ink strips he could fill a mini mansion with them so he could type up reports and get his own personal writing done.

"The land is pure and there is no telling how we will be affected by it or vice versa... We will need to collect samples of everything we come across and examine it before we dare to eat or drink it. Jiejie will insist on it and I agree..." Wen Ning shyly adds.

"Alright, so until Dr. Wen gives the green light, its the rations and bottled water." Jiang Cheng makes a note in his notebook.

"We will be entering from the East, their location, West for us." Wei  Ying speaks up. "According to legend, there are strange beasts that guard Shangri-La and they will be very aggressive. We do not know what can penetrate their hide, if anything could penetrate it... so our best bet is to remain as undetected as possible. We can expect to see creatures we thought extinct living there or even rarities like the Crimson Tigers of Shangri-La or the Golden Chimpanzees... But there are also things like demonic beasts simply called the Yao. They appear as bigger, more dangerous versions of animals we know today or might encounter. If I am correct these creatures leave a wake of death and rot where they traverse, we need to avoid crossing them. They move inhumanly fast. There are also the Guardians, and the possibility of Gods roaming these lands. It is best to be as non-aggressive as possible."

"We have no concrete idea what's there ?" Sneers Wen Chao.

"Considering no one has found Shangri-La in centuries, millennia even, it is impossible to tell and if someone did, they died before they could tell anyone. So no, Mr. Wen, we have no idea what to expect. Just know that it is a fairly hostile environment and if anyone is living there, they will defend themselves aggressively if needed. We do not want to risk anyone's lives, so please refrain from lethal force unless there is no other choice." Wei Ying says, giving the slightly older man a serious look.

"Tsk."

"My son, do not pester the man who is leading our team..." Wen Rouhan scolds mildly, while studying everything. "What's this?"

Wei Ying and his team look at him pointing at a photo of a stone carving of what some believe is a divine relic.

"It's called the 'Sword of Shangri-La.' No one knows where this carving came from or why it is called that, but it is believed to be Relic used to protect Shangri-La in times of war or danger." Mo Xuanyu pipes up. "Though we're pretty sure it is actually a tower, like a watch tower and not an actual weapon of any kind. Look at these..."

As Mo Xuanyu explains the details of what looked like windows and archer nests to the Military and Security team, Wei Ying moved to speak with Dr. Jin and the pilots about where they should land and continue on ground from, the vehicles had solar panels to keep them functioning even in the dead zone, but they also had pack mules and a few horses to use as well. Wei Ying was excited, but he was also nervous. A life time of dreaming, hard work and studying was about to either finally pay off or blow up in his face. Pulling out an old locket, he opens it and smiles sadly at the photo of when he was but a small child of 2 smiling at the camera as his mother blew a raspberry into his cheek and his father was trying not to fall over laughing. It had been the last time he seen them alive, they were spending the day at the beach. He remembers going to bed and then waking up to his mother running into his room, covered in blood and looking scared. She quickly hid him in a small crawl space and told him to not come out until she came back. She closed the door and he recalls hearing strange sounds and then his mother's final scream. He stayed in that crawl space for days not daring to leave no matter how much he was hungry or thirsty. He was on the verge of death when he was found by Uncle Jiang ever since he's lived with the Jiangs.

"I hope I am right..."

~Skip~

As Wei Ying had predicted they needed to land about a day or two drive out form the boarder was and once they were ready to move out, Wei Ying smiling as he pets the biggest most ornery horse in the group whom he noticed had a fondness for apples and slipped him one  or two before climbing his saddle and rubbing at his ears.

"Alright, with the directions from our youngest members, we should be traveling fairly straight from here. Let's go!" Dr. Jin orders as they move out. It is mostly uneventful, traveling as much as they could in the pre morning light until about mid morning where they took a break and set up camp.

They waited until almost sunset to set out again and traveled quite a bit into the night, only stopping to get about three hours worth of sleep before they set out once more. It was a rinse and repeat session for a three days until the sand of the desert started to change into gravel and then finally hardpacked earth and finally rock and stone with smatterings of grass. They set up base camp and spent the next few days getting ready, leaving the camp here as a just in case with a small team to man it while the rest of the party moved on towards Shangri-La, but that is only after they find the right path. The mountains that surround the legendary city are a labyrinth and were very easy to get lost in and impossible to ever get out of again once lost. They all knew that the chances of casualties were pretty high, but they were optimistic in keeping the death count to a minimum.

Mo Xuanyu and Wei Ying were scoping out a path that had markings similar to the ones they have found previously in texts and photos, paintings and other documentations. While Wen Ning was helping his sister with her prep work to make sure they wouldn't die as Nie Huaisang was educating Dr. Jin and his team on the basics of the ancient Chinese language. The pair were unaware of someone watching them, dressed in furs and skins, a crude weapon in hand, but no less deadly. The spy curious as they listened to the pair speaking fluently in their native tongue while trying to read the markers over the Eastern Gate to Shangri-La. Sniffing the air, they are startled at the soft scents coming from there and the one with the silver eyes smelt Blessed. Moving out of view when the pair seemed to finally realize they were not alone. Grabbing a horn, the Guard blows and the haunting howl it emanates startles them into hurrying away, the guard following with the rest of their team, keeping careful watch of the strangers wonderingly...

Chapter Text

Prompt:

He moans weakly, the blaring red alert siren was giving him an even bigger headache. He hurt all over and when he tried to move, he cried out, the sound wounded and pain filled. Carefully looking down towards his legs, he whimpers because he's trapped under heavy slabs of stone and metal. Looking around with blurry eyes, he sees the glass, wires and debris of all kinds around him. he sees water slowly rising and curses because if he cannot get out or get help, he will drown. He whimpers and tries to get one leg free at least, but the slabs shift and dig jagged bits of rebar into his legs, making him scream in pain. Suddenly there's an inhuman sound and he turns and gasps as he stares into the Creature's eyes.

Snippet:

"Test Subject is still unresponsive to the stimulus." says a woman's voice.

"Damn it..." growls Jin Guangshan as he slams his fist into the computer counsel in frustration.

"Having a hard time, I see..." came a darkly amused deep voice.

"President Wen Rouhan, what an unexpected surprise... why are you here?" Jin Guangshan asks, turning to see the large man.

"Came to see this so called... 'Alpha' that you found and revived... " He chuckles darkly as he walks up to the tank where a motionless figure floated in an almost gelatinous liquid, wires connected to nodes and tubes connected to needles were spanning all over the body, an oxygen mask was secured firmly over the mouth and nose, the stead burst of air bubbles the only sign that the being was alive. Wen Rouhan's eyes traced the tall and broad form, the tightly coiled and compacted muscles that pulled the skin snuggly over them, the tapered waist, the long legs. Hands and feet tipped in what looked like claws, while long hair floated behind it like spilled ink in water. "It looks human... minus the claws, it could pass as human."

"Well the locals that worshiped this thing, claimed it was a God and it was sleeping. That it shouldn't be disturbed." Jin Guangshan snorted. "They resisted us and we... forcefully pursauded them..."

"You killed an entire village, is what you mean...."

"Well not all of them..." Jin Guangshan let's a lecherous smile steal over his face. "It would be a waste of such pretty faces, I generously offered some of them mercy... they are in holding cells in Block 2-D."

"I am not nearly as lecherous as you, but I will see if there is one that sparks my interest." Wen Rouhan snorts, because of course, the man would kidnap a few pretty young women to fuck and impregnate and then dump somewhere. He was a serial Breeder, but a brilliant scientist.

They two men talk about the thing before them, a God that had been sealed for a few thousand years, from the time of Ancient China, where myths and legends ran rampant, but they were far from impressed with it. The locals had called it The Alpha, but they didn't see anything... 'alpha' about it. They didn't know what an 'alpha' was outside of what they understood of animals and even certain kinds of men in their everyday society. As they were talking a pair of guards dragged in someone, who struggled in their hold, glaring at them with hateful eyes.

"Oh... are you a fiesty one..." Wen Rouhan laughs as he gets glared at and nearly bitten when he tries to grab the pretty face.

"How dare you attack my people! How dare you kill them!! Kidnap them!! How dare you desicrate a sacred site!" the young man yells, kicking a foot at Jin Guangshan, only to be pulled back at the last second so he was only able to hit the coffee cup in his hand splash him with the scalding hot liquid. Smirking, he suddenly gasps as he sees the figure in the tank and pales. "No!! What have you done!? You should not have disturbed him!!"

"You know that thing is?"

"He is not a thing!!" the young man snaps at Rouhan for his rudeness, trying to kick him as well, but once more pulled back at the last second so he just barely clips his hand when he brings it up to block the attack. "You do not know what you've done!!"

"And what, pray tell, have we done?"

"Sir! There's a reaction!" the same woman calls out and they turn only to see the thing had opened its eyes and they gasp seeing the inhuman color and shape of them as the young man bows himself as best he can in respect, not daring to look in its eyes. "Wait-- ah?!"

Suddenly the alarms began to blare as the thing began to rip the wires, tubes and everything that was not naturally apart of it off before it began thrashing violently only for a suddenly large scaled tale to slam into glass, cracking it, a second strike shatters it and then the view screen cuts out as an inhuman roar echoes around them. They young man begins whispering prayers, sacred rites. He would be doing the bows too if he wasn't being held by the guards. But he still prayed. He ignored the scrambling around them until he yelped, his hair being pulled back by Wen Rouhan who grinned evilly at him.

"What is that thing?"

"He is your death..." the young man sneers at him and them smiles a brilliant, but cold smile when a second roar sounds and explosions echo around them. "You should have left us alone... Now you will pay for waking him... May the Gods have mercy on your worthless soul."

Tsk, bring him with us, if we have at least one of them as a hostage, I'm certain that thing will back off.

"He is not a thing!!" the young man screams at them.

"Then tell us what it is!?" Jin Gunagshan demands angrily as he backs up everything on a few external harddrives.

"Hanguang-Jun, the White Snake of Gusu..." He grins just as the room beings to shake violently. "You woke up the last and angered him... now he will change into his other form... Good luck gentlemen... we're all dead because of you... without the Sacred Bride, there is no taming Hanguang-Jun when he becomes the Heiyu-jun..."

And then the room breaks apart and he falls with the others...

~*~*~*~*~

He moans weakly, the blaring red alert siren was giving him an even bigger headache. He hurt all over and when he tried to move, he cried out, the sound wounded and pain filled. Carefully looking down towards his legs, he whimpers because he's trapped under heavy slabs of stone and metal. Looking around with blurry eyes, he sees the glass, wires and debris of all kinds around him. he sees water slowly rising and curses because if he cannot get out or get help, he will drown. He whimpers and tries to get one leg free at least, but the slabs shift and dig jagged bits of rebar into his legs, making him scream in pain. Suddenly there's an inhuman sound and he turns and gasps as he stares into the Creature's eyes.

He knows he made a mistake as the God dives at him, but he cannot bring himself to regret seeing the beautiful face of his death...

Chapter Text

Fire and ash surrounded him, smoke, acrid and bitter, choked him as screams echoed with the sound of battle and death creating an unholy symphony. The cacophony of noise was nothing more than a dull roar around him as he watched everyone who once fought beside him, fighting and killing each other to try and be the one to kill or capture him. He slowly lowered his flute, backing away from it all, walking backwards, up a set of stairs and towards a cliff. What had he done?

How could he cause this...?

All he wanted...

All he had done had been to protect those he cared about. But everything he touched turned to ash and ruin. His home had been reduced to ash and bones, his once sworn brother hates him, his beloved sister lay dead in the center of the battle, minus the bloody stab wound that killed her, she looked pristine and as if she were a beautiful princess spelled to sleep. The people he protected were all dead and his son was gone...

A'Yuan...

That's right, this... this fight, this hell was because these bastards killed his son!!

For a second red bled into his eyes, but they flickered back to silver as he kept walking backwards. The man he loved hated him and there was no reason to live on, to continue being a weapon or to be tortured to death. No... He needed to end this.

Summoning the Stygan Tiger Seal pieces back to himself, he drew their attention as he made it whole and then with the blood he was covered in, bot his own and his beloved sister's he began to draw an array in the air. The people began to panic and charge him. He ignored them all as he kept working, pouring all the power he amassed, the power of the Seal and what little bit remained of his Golden Core into the array. He activates it and a powerful pulse of magic shakes the world. He smiles as a white beam of light begins to open, but then his name is screamed and he looks to see his once brother thrusting his sword at him, he gasps as it pierces his heart.

"Die!! DIE YOU PIECE OF SCUM!!" The JIang Sect Leader is screaming at him, shoving his blade further into his chest.

He coughs up blood, manages one last smile as he holds his hand toward the seal.

"As you wish... Cachu..."

And the light bursts fear and fills the area, spreading to the world and as it passes by everyone, they begin to forget why they are here, why they are fighting. Those who died gasp as they awaken, alive once more as the light touches them. The light touches everything and everyone, erasing everything that he ever touched or created. It erases memories of him and any resentment. It Erased it all. Once it has reached the ends of the earth it comes back, and he keeps smiling at his once brother.

"Goodbye... shidi..." he gasps out as the light races at them, but just before it can touch him a second voice screams out his name and he sees his love, looking devastated. He only gives him a bloody smile and just as he vanishes he whispers, "...I love you... Lan Zhan..."

And then there is an explosion....

For 13 years, there was peace in the world. Resentful energy just suddenly vanished from the world, no one knows why or how it happened. There were no more need for Cultivators as there was nothing to fight against so they began to pursue other activities to test their skills or simply live their lives. The Jins slowly lost their status and power, becoming smaller factions led by various members and depending on which sub group one was talking about, there was fondness or utter outrage. The Nie Sect continued their brutal training style, hiring themselves out during wars and other battles while the Jiang Sect became a Trade Mogul center and the Lans continued their lives in peaceful seclusion. There was nothing left of the blood stained past. The only thing that remained was the Burial Mounds, which has stood long before the time of the Immortal Baoshan Sanren. It was a mystery, one day air around the Burial Mounds just suddenly cleared up, but no one has dared to go investigate it, horror stories told for generations kept any would be brave soul from going there.

Minus one man.

Lan Zhan arrived in the village of Yiling, that has become a bustling little city over the last 13 years. For some strange reason, he felt a strange sense of nostalgia but for the life of him he could not recall ever coming here or why this place would bring just a deep resonance of loss, But still he checked into the local inn and asked around about the Burial Mounds.

"Nothing has happened in 13 years, but we do not risk it, kind sir! We leave a few jars of our best wines and a tray of our best dishes and spices to appease the spirits as a safety precaution. Just because it suddenly went silent, 13 years ago, doesn't mean it won't suddenly start acting up again... If you are going there, would you mind taking the offerings to the Cave of the Eternal Sorrow? Lay them at the Alter just inside of the mouth."

"Mn..." He nods and accepts the carefully packed box and leaves for the Mounds. The walk is quiet minus the faint call of song birds in the distance. Even though the Resentment that has saturated the place for generations was gone, the Burial Mounds were as silent as any grave, very few trees bloomed with life, the tall trees slowly bleeding into a Bamboo forest where the tall stalks were as black as pitch. He paused to touch one and for a moment a zing shot through him, a disembodied sound not unlike a flute, sang through his heart and he ached. "Strange..."

Keeping on his track he noticed a cleared area before the path to the cave, the skeletal remains of a tiny village surround him, a small field yielding radishes and turnips lay well overgrown and full of to bursting with life. He stoops to pluck a few, figuring a  bit of raw bounty will help appease the spirits more and he hears a young child's giggle next and he almost falls over at the sudden force of utter anguish that rips through him. He gasps a name, but no sound comes and he cannot figure out the shape of the word he said. He can hear an echo of pure anguish through him, a voice that sounds like it was screaming from the bottom of the ocean, too far and distant to make what was said or who it belonged to. When he comes back to himself, he's managed to crawl all the way to the entrance of the Cave of Sorrow. Leaning on the alter, he catches his breath before he carefully lays out the offerings, lights the sticks of incense and blinks as one of them, cinnamon and lotus, makes him breath in the heady scent, A phantom touch, a muted voice playfully saying his name. He yearns for the touch, for the voice and almost trips over the alter in his blind moment of following whatever was toying with him. Getting a bit frustrated, he finishes setting the alter, offering a prayer for continued peace for the village before he grabs Bichen and heads into the Cave, because that is what had to be messing with him.

Lan Zhan enters the cave and frowns at the clearly hewned and smoothed walls, natural shelves and a basin for bathing with a fire pit in the center, a few paths leading to a study, a medical room and an herb garden, a sleeping area and then he comes out of a long tunnel into the very heart of the cave where a pool sat, as silver as moon light and kneeling by the pool was someone., He grips his sword tighter.

"The Huanguan-jun has finally come to us..." they say, their voice neither male or female, not one and yet not many. "We have waited a long time... We perfected the spell while waiting and send you hints..."

"The impressions, the voices..." He doesn't quite ask, his brows furrowing in confusion.

"Yes... something very precious was stolen from this world... This world is so... stagnant now, but We are glad... Master is no longer suffering....but Master has not been reborn yet... will never be reborn again... We do not like it... We hate it...We want Master back... and you want Master back too... you just do not realize it yet..." They say, carefully standing and turning.

Their face is completely missing, no  features of any kind, minus the slights hints of a nose and cheek bones, the shame seems to be mimicking someone, their hair was left down and tied with a cute bow with a grayish brown ribbon, it might have been red once upon a time. the robes were grand and a mix of male and female, the design was faded too, but looked like flames in the same brownish gray of the ribbon while the red was now dingy and faded. For some reason this silhouette makes his heart ache, a name on his lips but it does not fall, cannot fall and he feels like he under the Lan Silencing spell.

"You want to say Master's name, but because Master 'fixed' this world, he made sure there was nothing left that could disrupt the eternal peace he granted you..." they give a bitter laugh and turn away again. "We do not blame Master... it was not his fault, but the fault of everyone else... of your and....me..."

"Me?" Lan Zhan wonders, watching this entity as it walked over to the wall and grabs a box and carefully grabs it and brings it over.

"We are not being fair... Hanguang-Jun did nothing, but try to save Master... but We didn't like it, didn't want you to... We drove Master past his breaking point... You tried to save Master even at the end..."

A suddenly flash in his mind, makes Lan Zhan stumble forward and fall to his knees, the smell of ash and fire, the acrid stench of melting flesh. Screaming and the sound of battle echo around him. He looks around and sees all the Sects in a bloody war, strange demonic beasts fighting them and each other. He turns and he sees someone, he runs towards them, but it feels like he is knee deep in water, or mud, he cannot move fast enough, cannot escape this desparate need to get to HIM! And then someone stabs the man and he opens his mouth to scream, but he is suddenly looking at his reflection in the silver water.

"This use to be the Demon Eating Cave, this pool of water use to be the Blood Pool... It use to be a sacred Pool, but years of death, the blood and bodies being dumped here turned it permanently to blood. The Burial Mounds became alive and an Immortal who tried to save us, ended up sealing us in as they died... It was not until Master came that we were able to break free... Master was not like you... but he was skilled like you... He realized that when he whistled we listened... he made a Dizi from a stalk of the Blood bamboo. He drank form the Blood Pool and was reborn..." They say almost fondly. "If We knew then what We know now... we would have protected Master's kind soul... would have protected Master so much more..."

"Who--?" He gasps and they kneel beside him and pass him the box. "What--"

"You will remember if you open it..." They say and vanish from his side.

 Lan Zhan is not sure if he's going insane, talking to some strange not quite demonic entity or he is bed ridden and feverish from the brutal beating he does not recall the reason for receiving. Does he throw the box away and pretend this isn't happening? But the echoes of something important ache deep in his chest, his very soul. He wants to know who he wants to call out to, who the child like giggles belong to. Slowly opening the box, he decides he is truly mad to listen to this not demon. In side is a cracked jade tassel, the vibrant red of the string is frayed and calling apart and then he sees a Jade Token, one that the Gusu Lan only give to either trusted allies and visiting students. this one was marked for a student. slowly reaching out, he gasps as he realizes whoever owned it had carefully carved a bunny around the Cloud motif and there was a louts flower seemingly floating on the cloud.

"Wei Ying...." He breathes and then with an agonized scream the dam breaks.

He remembers the annoying, but cheerful teen, recalls their time spent in the library, the constant teasing and attempts to befriend him. An infectious smile, bright innocent laughter. His name a near constant on his lips. Glittering silver eyes shining. Bunnies, peonies, gentians, loquats, the smell of alcohol -Emperor's Smile-

Lan Zhan arches his back as he relives his life with this young man at his side, vanishing and appearing sickly and half mad, trying to convince him to come back with him, to let him help him. He recalls the village where the Wen Remnants lived under Wei Ying's protection, the Yiling Laozu' Protection. He recalls Wei Ying telling him he gave birth to the small child, who had clung to Lan Zhan's leg calling him 'a'Die' and then calling Wei Ying 'a'Niang.' He recalls buying the child, Wen Yuan, a few toys, buying food and medicine for Wei Ying and the Wen Remnants.

Lan Zhan rolls over and claws at his chest, where his heart feels ready to burst from the sheer anguish he suffers as he loses Wei Ying again only to see him once more, clearly fallen from grace, but there was a light of hope in his eyes, a plead for heal that his lisp refuse to ask for. Sect Leader Jiang using him as a weapon, not caring for how it is tearing Wei Ying's very soul to pieces, the Seige, the Wen's Deaths. Lan Zhan let's out a gut wrenching scream as he recalls finding the bodies of the Wen children, little a'Yuan among them in a shallow ditch outside of one of the Jin Prison camps. He cries and wails like he is dying as he can see himself digging graves with his bare hands, carefully burying each child, holding a'Yuan's tiny body to his chest as he rocks and screams in agony. It is echoed and he looks to see red eyes looking down at a'Yuan's body in his arms and then green flames...

He throws himself violently on the floor, almost cracking his skull if the entity does not stop the deadly blow from happening, he does not notice because he's already dying. The final battle, the world against a grieving Wei Ying, Lady Jiang Yanli breaking through his madness and almost getting him back to them, but Su Minshan attacks and Lady Jiang dies in Wei Ying's arms, protecting him.  He is running through throgs of cultivators, fighting and killing anyone who attacks him, trying to find Wei Ying, to save him for both himself and Lady Jiang, whom he laid properly and put a barrier around her to keep her pristine in death. He is running towards where he spots Wei Ying slowly backing up a cliff, about to go over. He is not fast enough, Jiang Wanyin is there and plunging his sword into Wei Ying's heart. Jiang Wanyin yelling at Wei Ying and Wei Ying.....

Wei Ying smiles as his eyes dim with death, smiles around blood pouring from his mouth and wound.

Wei dies smiling, activating his last spell and....

"... I love you... Lan Zhan..."

The last scream he lets out before his world falls into oblivion, is echoed out the Burial Mounds, felt in the very bones of the entity. They lay the man down, carefully folding his hands on his chest, making sure he is holding the token before turning back to the array and finishing it, fine tuning....

Lan Zhan Bolts awake, with Wei Ying's name on his lips and looks desparately for his beloved but when he sees only the entity, mimicking Wei Ying when he had been the Yiling Laozu, he crumbles into hysterical sobbing and yelling. He curses for the first time in his life, blames himself ,blames the world, blames the Entity for Wei Ying's Death. He grabs Bichen, intent to kill himself, but the Entity proves its is much more superior in strength when it stops him him with one hand from unsheathing his sword.

"Do not be foolish, Hanguang-Jun... If you wish to save Master, to be with Master again... I need your sacrifice to activate this array..." They say, pointing to the glowing array, finally ready and waiting to be activated. "Do you truly love Master?"

"More than anything... and a'Yuan...."

The Entity flinches and bows into itself.

"Too young... too  innocent... gone, gone, gone, GONE!!!!" It screams with pain and rage before calming down again. "Will you do as We ask? Will you help Us get back those We love most?"

"You drove him mad..." Lan Zhan snarls darkly and for the first time in 13 years there is a coil of resentful energy wafting form the Second Jade.

"And We can never apologize enough, could never pay for Our folly enough..." They admit, kowtowing. "But Master was kind to us, purified us where others only wanted to destroy us... You see what happens to the world when there is no Yin in it... it's boring, stagnant... it will not move forward... Yin and Yang must always bee in balance... We are not ourselves anymore... we are a pale imitation of what We once were... We need Master... Master is the YIn and Hanguang-Jun is the Yang... Equal and always in balance. Master has a pure heart and Hanguang-Jun has a ruthless darkness. Neither one is perfectly one or the other, but equal..."

Lan Zhan considers this and yes, he believes that is a very fair assessment.  He also wants to crush this Entity for what it helped do to Wei Ying, but that will solve nothing, will not bring Wei Ying back.

"Listening..." He murmurs and they perk up.

"Hanguang-Jun must feed his all into this spell like Master did, you will die in this world, but We will be free of those hellish existence and will be able to find Master's soul. Once found, We will revive Hanguang-Jun... will aid Hanguang-Jun to protect Master and a'Yuan..." They explain. "Hangung-Jun is not yet immortal or he would be able to activate this spell without issue..."

"Very well..." He says without hesitation.

"Come into the pool, lay down here... Hanguang-Jun can wield his sword with energy, yes?"

"Mn."

"Good. Use that to impale BIchen through the center of the spell and cast the spell.... Say Erase..." They instruct.

Lan Zhan does as told, laying in the silver water, that looked exactly like Wei Ying's eyes, feels the gentle warmth of it that reminds him of Wei Ying's hands, his arms...

He does not think about anything but Wei Ying as Bichen soars free of her sheath and comes down through the spell piercing him in the heart. He barely gasps at the sharp pain, only using the last his strength to whisper...

"... Cachu.... Huifu...."

Chapter Text

Wake up, Hanguang-Jun.....

Wake up......

WAKE UP!!

Golden eyes snap open as the world falls back I to place from the swirling spinning madness of a dream/memory of a time forgotten. Sitting up he looks around himself face to face with the Burial Mounds Persona. They appear female and with bone white hair layered over black. Black and red feathers grew from the sides of Their head and helped conceal their eyes with the silvery white bangs of their hair. A bright read jewel hundg in the middle of their forehead as their robes and hanfu werw black and red, tattered and torn but looked to be fashioned that way on purpose. Theie long black claws started off black and turned a bloody red towards the tips as they ended in deadly points.

They sat on the bed watching him and he stares back.

"Come it is time...." They say and get up. "We must return to our Brethren and grown stronger... You, Hanguang-Jun must go to Lotus Pier. It is the trip you declined going onand thus did not meet Master until the Lectures..."

Lan Zhan gasps and jumps put of bed because indeed he recalled such a trip. Back then he had not wanted to go because of what he heard about Yunmeng and being painfully shy as well as not liking crowds, Lan Zhan not wanted to go. But now he would because this would be around the time that Wei Ying had been whipped unconscious for upsetting Uncle.

Chapter Text

Title                                  Weapon                           Name                    Location

老师                                   致命混亂                             天爪                         月亮花谷

Lǎoshī Zhìmìng                 hǔnluàn                           Tiān zhǎo               Yuèliàng huāgǔ

Teacher                            Deadly Chaos                   Sky Talon               Flower Valley of the Moon

黑玉                                   烏雲                                   死亡                        丟人的房間

Hēi yù                              Wūyún                              Sǐwáng                    Diūrén de fángjiān

Black Jade                        Black Cloud                       Death                     Room of the Shamed One

治愈之擊                          復仇之戰                              黑麥                        月亮山

Zhìyù zhī jī                     Fùchóu zhī zhàn               Hēi mài                     Yuèliàng shān

Healing Strike                Revenge of the Fallen        Rye                           Moon Mountain

深紅蓮花                           光之花                                 銀玉                             蓮花室

Shēnhóng liánhuā          Guāng zhī huā                  Yín yù                        Liánhuā shì

Crimson Lotus               Flower of Light                  Silver Jade                 Room the Lotus

牡丹                               黑歌                                  寧靜

Mǔdān                          Hēi gē                              Níngjìng

Peony                           Black Song                       Serenity

天空                              花扇

Tiānkōng                     Huā shàn

Sky                              Flower Fan

舞蹈迷                           翡翠之歌

wǔdǎo mí                    Fěicuì zhī gē

Dancing Fan                Emerald Song

輕花                              金色憤怒

Qīng huā                   Jīnsè fènnù

Light Flower             Golden Fury

雷蜘蛛

Léi zhīzhū

Thunder Spider

旋轉牡丹

Xuánzhuǎn mǔdān

Twirling Peony

金牡丹

Jīn mǔdān

Gilded Peony

溫柔的花

Wēnróu de huā

Gentle Flower

鬼將軍

Guǐ jiāngjūn

Ghost General

男旦

nándàn/dàn

Male Actor Peking Opera

金玉

Jīnyù

Golden Jade

銀蓮花

Yín liánhuā

Silver Lotus

Other

愛

Ài

Love

陰陽

Yīnyáng

Yin and Yang

擦除

Cā chú

Erase

恢復

Huīfù

Restore

Chapter Text

Prompt:

Wei Ying did not expect to get magically displaced from his time and dropped off in a world of myths, legends and magic! And he sure as heck wasn't expecting it to happen because he fixed an old music box he was found with as a baby. He felt like he was the MC in one of his favorite animes or comics, getting plucked from his world and dumped off in a world of chaos and mayhem. He just hopes he doesn't end up with a Harem of crazy women trying to be his wives! He prefers to be the Wife thank you very much!

Snippet:

"Okay, twist this like this.... loosen this over here... ah-hah! A broken gear! I knew it!" crows the young man, as he carefully removes the busted gear, his silver eyes magnified to almost 40x their size due to his magnification glasses as he works on the delicate music box. Setting the broken gear off to the side, he mumbles a series of sizes and numbers to himself as he checks a drawer and pulls out the exact same gear, brand spanking new and carefully places it in the empty spot that he opened up. "Alright, that should do it... now them to put this baby back together and I can finally see if it will give me a clue about who I am and where I am from..."

After carefully putting the music box back together, he pulls his head gear off, rubbing his eyes when the world suddenly shrinks back to normal. Once he is sure he can see without getting dizzy or misjudging distance, he smiles and carefully turns the little crank until the coil is nice and tight before he opens the top and waits. Holding his breath he prays he did it and then gasps as a beautiful melody starts to play. It is a sweetly heartfelt song, full of longing and sorrow, regret and hope...

He knows this song! He begins to hum it, softly, closing his eyes as he keeps humming the song, slowly words begin to paint themselves into his mind and he sings them out loud, missing that the box was starting to glow. He touches a necklace he's warn since he was a baby, it was made from the last piece of White Jade left in the world, carefully cut into a lotus sitting on a cloud. Many have tried to steal it or make him sell it, but he never let it go, just like his music box. He suddenly knows the song's name, unknown to him a whirlwind of magic was creating a bubble around him, some of his things being packed into a qiankun pouch that suddenly appeared. There is a shiver anticipation as he lips his lives and breathes the name.

"Wangxian..."

And suddenly the world drops out from under him. He doesn't have time to scream before he is engulfed by the magic and in a blink, is gone from his world and time...

Wei Ying moans as he slowly sits up, he has no idea what the heck happened, but his head was killing him. He hears a faint giggle and blinks his eyes open only to gasp as he sees what looks like Celestial fairy from some of the old ink paintings he saw in a museum once. She had her hair pinned up in an elaborate style with a long guazy ribbon floating around her as she was dressed in pale pinks and yellows. she was the size of his palm and looked adorable her eyes were solid blue, not an hint of any other color.

"Hello Master. I am Li Ming, I have waited a very long time for you. You must be very confused and sore form your trip here... Not to worry,, things will be come clear in time... for now, please get up and follow this faithful servant..." She chirps and floats up in a soft glow of pink and yellow. Wei Ying blinks confused, but does as she asks. "Don't forget your Qiankun! I went through a lot of trouble to pack it for you." she points a tiny hand at the black and red silk pouch on the floor.

"It's so small.. I can keep you in it..." He murmurs as he picks it up and curiously opens it to see what she could have possibly 'packed' for him. "Eh!?" He yelps seeing that there was a lot more in it than the shape and size indicates.

"Silly Master, please put it away and follow this faithful one!" She chirps again and takes off a few yards as Wei Ying yelps and follows her.

"Li Ming? Where am I, what happened? How am I your master?!" He yelps the last question.

"Li Ming is a Celestial Fairy and is your Faithful Guide. Everyone of your mother's Sect is assigned one at birth. But Mistress had to send you away and Li Ming had to wait a very long time for you to come home... Now Master is home again! We are not safe, please follow and no more Questions... This is Qishan territory and the Blood Emperor will not show us mercy if we are caught..." She tells him before floating up to his face and pleading in such a pained tone that he nods mutely and she lightly presses her tiny hand to his cheek in thanks.

Wei Ying resists the urge to ask questions as he follows behind the fairy, who zips ahead of him  few yards and checking around bends or in too deep shadows to make sure they are still undiscovered. She was very earnest in her concern and he was weaponless so he didn't want to know who this Blood Emperor is, nor does he want to get caught by him. They travel for several hours like this, it is nerve wracking and grating, but Wei Ying perseveres. When the enclosed land of mountains and canyons open up into open fields, Li Ming breathes easier and then in a flash of light there is suddenly a beautiful woven carpet in rich red, gold and emerald.

"You must be very tired, Master, please sit and ride the Carpet until we get to the next town. Once there and we have a room for the night, I will explain everything I can!" She promises and Wei Ying cannot find it in him to argue, the little kid in him squealing with delight to ride a real Magic Carpet! He carefully hops on, sinking in at first before it molds around his bottom and weight, lifting into the air and taking off after Li Ming, who zips off like a falling star over the field.

Wei Ying cheers and laughs as he holds onto the 'front' of the carpet and it seems to feed into his excitement because they do a loop de loop before it zooms high and pulls away from him and he falls a few feet only to be caught again and left breathless and giggling. He is wind chafed and pink from laughter by the time the touch down in a small bustling trade town, a few others flying in on brooms, carpets and even a Pegasus, are seen coming in or leaving and Wei Ying is glad he is not standing out too much. He gasps as he sees winged beings, creatures from myth and legend walking around! They were from all over the world! There was a Japanese Oni manning a cart of delicately crafted glass hair ornaments, a herd of Centaurs raced down the main street, playing with a discus. There was a tribe of African Pygmies in a giant tree, running and swinging on ropes and vines alike carrying tubes that must hold messages to and from buildings!

"Master, over here!!" He turns to see Li Ming and hurries after her, she guides him into an Inn where there is a large mix of people and creatures alike. She tells him to open the qiankun pouch and pull out the string of copper, the most common currency. He does and blinks as he sees smaller strings on it of actual coins, raw ore chunks, purified ore chunks and even small thin bars of copper. He hides his money in his sleeves, having realized his knitted sweater and sweats had been replaced with a long flowing robe and simple pants and his bare feet were protected by black slipper like shoes.

Wei Ying walks up to where Li Ming is floating and sees a Goatman marking things down in a book.

"Excuse me?" He calls, not sure if the Goatman was actually a man or a female.

"Y-y-y-yes?" He asked.

"Do you have a room available for the evening?" He asks.

"Mmm, y-y-y-yes... it i-i-i-is a bit sma-a-a-all though..."

"That's fine, I use to live in a match box sized apartment, I'm use to cramped spaces." Wei Ying smiles brightly as he pulls up the string of money. Li Ming helps by pulling off 10 copper bars and setting them on the small check in desk.

"For tonight and tomorrow... If Master needs to stay longer, we will come back and discuss it further!" She chirps and the Goatman nods and then licks his fingers. A lizard like child appears.

"Ta-a-a-ake our gue-e-e-est to the Blu-u-u-ue room..."

"Yes, sir! Young master, please follow A'huli!" The lizard child hisses and then takes off quickly along the floor before climbing a wall and along the ceiling. Wei Ying is both thankful and a bit disturbed by this as he follows A'huli towards a back stair and up it to the third floor and then into a blue shogi door where there was a beautiful room bedecked in varying shades of blue that made one feel like you were under water but at the same time floating in the air. "Young master, like?"

"Yes, thank you."

"If Young Master is needing anything, pull this rope, A'huli will attend right away! Please enjoy your stay, Young Master!" and like that the lizard child darts off, likely back to some chores as Wei Ying closes the door, moving the stick hidden by the from to lock the door from any possible attackers as he moves over to the bed and sits on it. He moans in bliss at how soft it is.

"Alright, Li Ming, please tell me what is going on... I feel like I'm in a game or an anime...." He whines.

"As I promised, Li Ming will explain!"

Chapter Text

Prompt:

Rumors of a deadly monster that no one has seen up close with out turning to stone has spread far and wide. To the point that many either wanted it dead or capture it and use it as a weapon. With the steadily rising unrest being caused by the slow desent into madness that the Emperor, Wen Rouhan, was falling into. The other Kingdoms, both great and small, were planning to put an end to it before such a creature could be found.

In Yiling, a pitifully small kingdom on the edges of Qishan Wen and Yunmeng Jiang, the people lived their lives quietly and peacefully, offering wine and cooked meals to their Guardian, a strange creature who has turned many a dangerous person to stone. Queen of their small Kingdom was formerly of the Qishan Wen Royal family vut had veen disowned with members of her family when they refused to join the brewing war.

Wen Qing has seen their Guardian and does her best to aid him and protect him. Her orphaned Nephew adores him when "Pretty Gege" comes to play and loves that his hair sometimes turns into deadly snakes that when he turns brilliant greenish yellow. He does not understand that they eye coolor is dangerous, but it is perhaps because a'Yuan is only a baby and thus is innocent of the sins of the world that he can look upon their Guardian's face without fear.

Wei Ying has lived in the Burial Mounds his whole life, he has been surrounded by a menagerie of petrified statues and undead but he is far from malicious. He is painfully lonely what with his mother being killed for being what she was ans his father dying trying to protect him after he had newly hatched. Thankfully his kind are born with the knowledge and memories of their predocessors or things would be worse for him. He only wants to help others but has to be very careful to not expose himself when he hears that rumors of his mother had finally reached the ears of Wen Rouhan...

Snippet:

Wei Ying giggles as he waits in the magnolia tree for Princess Jiang Yanli, he made her a new set of charmed bracelets and a lovely braided hair pin. They were charmed with health and good fortune blessings as well as protective spells to keep her from harm when wearing them. It is only a few minutes before she arrives with her ladies in waiting giggling away. He slips off his branch and lands quietly beside them startling all but Jiang Yanli, who giggles and cups his cheek.

"Hello a'Xian." She coos and he nuzzles her palm, her scent soft like flowers in spring with a warm spiciness that premeats from the cuisine eaten in Lotus Pier.

"Hi, Shijie! Sorry I have not been by, I had a hard time these last few weeks of late winter." He tells her and she gives him a concerned look before seeing that he is well if a bit tired.

"Are you hungry?"

"Always, Shijie." He smiles sweetly as she waves to the girls abd they bring a covered pot up and they sit down to enjoy the homemade soup.

Wei Ying giggles as they sit and gossip, Yanli gushing over his new gifts for her and how they were carefully colored to match the varying shades of purple that the Jiang Royal family wears. They chat and enjoy the soup, Yanli going somber when her cancelled engagement is brought up. It turns out that Prince Jin Zixuan did not want to get to know her nor give her a chance to know him and took the excuse that her brother punched him for insulting her as reason enough to cancel the engagement.

"You are beautiful, Shijie... You Will find love, I swear it and when he realizes that he lost something truly wonderful it will be too late. You will have a love much more deeper and fulfilling than he could have given you..." He swears his eyes changing to a soft yellow as he saw something in the future for her. The others carefully look away from his eyes as Jiang Yanli gasps as she catches glimpses of what he sees. Then it is over.

Wei Ying blinks his eyes and closes them as his hair turns to snakes and become alert.

"I need to leave now..." He hisses and slips silently away just as guards come running up to the group...

Wei Ying giggles as he bathes in a hot spring, washing his hair as the snakes that form from it keep him aware of what is around him as he washes and relaxes. His legs have become a long tail and he scrubs sand long his scales to keep them nice and shiny, the beautiful red and black patterns with a silvery white underbelly. He giggles again but gasps when his snakes his and he turns and comes face to face with a Sword.

Chapter Text

Wei Ying stares at the sword point and quick as his species, he lunges deep into the pool changing back to human for as arrows rain down on the pool. He doesn't know how he was found or who found him but he needed to be very careful. Thinking a spell, an air bubble forms around his mouth and nose and he allows himself to breath as he casts a second spell to stir up the sand and silt masking his form as he swims to where he hid his clothes and surfaces slowly to see golden robes and mentally curses seeing the Jins scrambling his bathing area. Grabbing his clothes, Wei Ying is about slip back into the water unnoticed, when suddenly several hands grab him from behind, one hand slapping over his mouth at the instinctive urge to shout, his hair is wrapped in thick cloth and he panics and opens his human eyes to see what is going on when he is suddenly blinded from his snakes. Their voices panicking along his thoughts as he too gives into the blind panic. The hands pull him out and away from the pool and deep into the underbush before he is suddenly plopped onto a thick towel, the hands moving fast to dry him off and dress him in robes, his own being quickly snatched from him. He tries to protest, but the hand over his mouth remains and he resists the urge to bite and inject his venom into the person.

"Calm, Young Master Wei... Lady Jiang informed us of you and we knew that Young Master Zixun will stop at nothing than to capture you. You best pretend to be one of our servants until we can get you away safely..." a woman he recalls meeting once who had not liked his teasing and flirting, thinking he had been trying to bed her when he had only been trying to compliment her.

"Mianmian?" He whispers as she lets him go finally and blinks at her, his silver eyes blinking as his slitted pupils relax into an almost human roundness.

"Yes... Hurry, the men will notice our absence soon if we delay any longer, hide his robes in the pack. Hold still..." she quickly picks up his hair into a Jin style ponytail and carefully paints his face with white powder, not that he needed it with his flawless complexion. However it made him look sickly with the added powder and with the right amount of rouge he looked like he was feverish.

"There, can you fake being ill..." Lou Qingyang, or Mianmian as very few people are allowed to call her, asks as he nods and gives a pitiful moan and sags like he is boneless. "Perfect... alright, you two help me pick him up." she orders and they pick him up, hiding his face with their forms as they hurry back toward the pool just as Jin Zixun, King Jin Guangshan's nephew, had noticed the lack of people and upon seeing them come out of the trees carrying an injured member, he scowls.

"What happened?!"

"We don't know, he just suddenly collapsed we need to get him to a doctor and quickly." Mianmian says, acting like she is confused and scared.

"Tsk, he's just a servant! leave him there and help us search for the beast! I didn't see what it looked like. We just know it is snake like!" The chubby young man orders, ignoring Wei Ying's pitiful moans. "Shut up and die already! Save us having to lug your corpse around! Better yet, leave him for the creature to find! We can use him as bait!"

Wei Ying wanted to punch the loud bastard in the face, but only whined and moaned more until he felt Mianmian, who was holding his legs around her hips, moving, she ignored Jin Zixun's orders to use their 'ailing comrade' as live bait, stating that they do not know if the Creature even ate meat, never mind human meat! Wei Ying did not in fact eat meat. Animals were his only companions and he could not bring himself to kill and eat them. He lives solely on vegetables and fruits and wine. He does not mind the some of the dishes that used meat stock to cook them, but overall he could not eat meat himself. The Yiling Villagers had painstakingly cooked him thousands of meals to find out that anything with meat in it was not welcomed. However offerings of pelts and tools made from bones were welcomed. Wei Ying would never eat a human, even if he had no other choice but to. He would rather starve.

"I said to leave him!!"

"And I am not letting my friend die because you THINK that the Guardian of the Forest will somehow decide to have a human snack!!" She yells back. "If you wanna sacrifice someone, sacrifice yourself!" She then kicks his shin and moves on with the other two behind her. She moves quick because Wei Ying is heavy even if he is deceptively thin. They made it to the edge of the forest and he quickly stands up wiping away the make up and taking his things back.

"Thank you, Mianmian... but how did..."

"Lady Jiang may be my young master's former fiancé, but she is a very good friend of mine and she always spoke highly of you... We didn't see anything other than someone in the spring that the so called Snake Monster sometimes visits." She says. "Sorry about putting that towel on your hair like that it must have startled you badly... and down't worry about these two, they are mute and will not tattle because they, much like me are loyal to Lady Jiang..."

"Thank you... You should join the Gusu Court... I have a feeling that your steadfast loyalty to those who earn it and quick thinking will reward you..." He says as he stares at a point beyond her his silver eyes glowing a faint yellow before he blinks and turns and runs off into the woods away from his hot spring. He will have to find a new one to bathe in from now on if other Cultivators are going to camp that one...

Wei Ying sighs as he sits in the orchard just off of Queen Wen Qing's home, his long tail draped over the strong branches of the loquat tree as he sunbathes. His home is being over run with people looking to capture him for his powers and either kill him or use him as a weapon. Wen Qing is weeding her medicinal garden with her nephew at her side, the small toddler happily half buried in the dirt to one side claiming to be a radish as Wen Ning, Wen Qing's younger brother, smiles softly where he is gathering ripe and ready herbs. It is nice and peaceful, but Wei Ying misses his home among the black bamboo forest and the dead who wandered and requested his aid or informed him of someone who needed his help. It's been months and he feels lethargic and it is not because he ate his fill of Wen Qing's tofu stuffed dumplings or the sweet tarts that Wen Ning makes from the fruits he gets. Nor is it due to Fourth Uncle's fruit wine. He is homesick and nothing can cure it but to be able to return home.

"Pretty Gege sad..." a small voice calls up and he smiles brightly as he lets his tail slip down and carefully coils around the child and swings him softly back and forth, making him giggle and squeal with delight. he slowly brings him higher up and elongates the swings much to the child's delight. Wen Qing smiles at the child's gleeful laughter, but her smile is pinched with concern. Wei Ying and sadness do not mix in her opinion much like water and oil. "Pretty Gege!"

"Aw, little Bunny seems to like riding on Pretty Gege's tail!" He coos and swings him back and forth again. "But yes, I am a little sad, Pretty Gege wants to go home, but scary people won't let him... Auntie and Uncle are very kind to let Pretty Gege stay, but Pretty Gege doesn't want the scary people coming here either... they might take you away little Bunny because you are so cute!!"

"Noo!!!" The child squeals with delight.

"A'Yuan, let's go wash up so we can make Pretty Gege some nice yummy dumpling soup!" Wen Ning calls and comes to gather the child who squeals with delight about the yummy soup. Once they are gone, Wei Ying slips down and coils himself up beside Wen Qing, who watches him sing softly and coax her garden into waking.

"You are worried because you cannot see what will come..."

"I have seen what will come and I want to be here to protect you..." He says firmly. "It is what I do that can either save you all or kill you... If I run away, who is to say that you still won't suffer horribly because of me?"

"You're scared... This is not like you?"

"The woman who outed my mother will come... She will know who I am the moment she sees me and know exact what I am. She will out me too... I cannot allow her to doom you either..." Wei Ying says firmly. "My kind is born with generations worth of knowledge and I know from my mother's memories that this woman is dangers..."

"So am I... Do not doubt me just because I am a doctor..." She says firmly and then in a rare show of affection hugs him. "You saved Wen Ning's life and I owe you for that, but you are also the reason we can thrive here... and as much as I am loath to admit it, you are like a second little brother to me and I will protect you just as fiercely as I protect a'Ning... Now come inside, I made spicy tofu dumplings with chicken flavoring."

"Oooh, sounds wonderful!" He gasps and quickly changes to his human form, and following her inside...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying wore a long black veil as he walked between two of Wen Qing's personal handmaids. He wore a flowing hanfu in gauzy black and red chiffon. The outfit was lose enough to mistake him for a woman but cinched just right to allow him to transform and fight as he needs. It is a measure of both safety as well as surprise. His hair had been combed and brushed until the natural curls coiled into silky singlets and gathered into a beautiful bun with spider lilies and lotuses pins. His lips were tinted a dark rouge with a brighter crimson lined his eyes as a delicately painted red lotus with a cresent moon hanging above it. His cheeks were dusted with pink powder to bring a more feminine set to his face.

The Queen had veen summoned to Yunmeng Jiang and she was wary to go alone, but at the same time she wanted to leave Wei Ying and Wen Ning home where the villagers would keep the two young men safe. She did not know why she felt so uneasy about leaving them. However she was a practical woman and while she was a realist, she understood that some things were truly divine and Wei Ying was a something that no books could ever hope to explain the how or why of it.

They set out not even a month before and were now walking from the ferry that carried them to Lotus Pier, towards the Lotus Palace where the King and Queen stood waiting for them. Queen Yu Ziyuan was scowling as she is wont to do, but manages to sound welcoming if haughty. Wen Qing does not react to the subtle bait as she gives a bow and those of lower rank and birth bowed lower than her. Wei Ying subtly slipped his tongue out and gathered the scents into it before pulling it in and tasted the scents, desciphering and catagorizing them.

The warm rich taste of home cooking was strongest, but there was the scent of ozone and hot iron that held feminine notes. That was the Queen, the Violet Spider. The King's was muddy and humid, like the rich silt resting on the banks of the rivers.

"Welcome, Wen Qing, Queen of Yiling." They greet her.

"Thank You for hosting my small party... My brother, Prince Wen Qinglon." She waves at hee nervous little brother who bows and they nod back.

"You must be tired, come." Jiang Fengmian says abd claps onxces, a team of eunuchs rushed out to guide them to their chambers. Wei Ying passes someone and freezes only a breatha and then keeps going as acidic green of his eyes glare at the eunuch who was guiding him. A quick flick of his tongue, Wei Ying frowns at the scent of expensive incense.

'A spy....' He thinks. As the person moves abd a second flick of the tongue tells him that thisnis no eunuch. He would keep a close eye one them....

Chapter Text

After the Yiling delegation was shown to their rooms and had sufficient rest, they met back in the hall for dinner. Wei Ying and the other two handmaids kept their veils up even as they ate, but Wei Ying was tracing the not eunch that seemed to be assigned to him or at least the Yiling higher ups in general.

"Why are they still veiled?" Queen Yu asks, though her tone was just shy o of a demand.

"Just as I am wearing one." Wen Qing waves at her own veil, which is identical to those of her maids. "It is so I can easily hide among them in th even a possible assassination event occurs. the robe veils are identical to keep even the smartest Assassin guessing who the real Queen is." Wen Qing sips her tea carefully, after catching a sutle nod form Wei Ying that it was safe to drink. "Even my brother has one and his attendants were matching ones for the same reasons."

""So for all we know, we are talking to a decoy who was trained to be your shadow." Prince Jiang says, looking impressed.

"Tsk, coward..." Queen Yu scoffs.

"Am I a coward? If I were killed my brother would assume the throne and if he were killed before he could have an heir, our small kingdom  is lost. If my brother wee killed before I and I am left childless before my own death, the same situation. And many would kill my brother just to get at me. How many people would target yor children to get at you, yor majesty?" Wen Qing challenges."Everyone knows what yourchildren look like and will easily find and kill them if they felt so inclined. Having a body souble or two is a good ideas. It is too late to keep their identities secret, but veils work wonders in confusing the would be murderer."

"Are you threatening my children!?" Queen Yu demands.

"No. Merely stating that hiding one's identity is far from stupid or cowardice. I refuse to die before I complete my goals and ensure the safety and happiness of not only my brother but my people as well." Wen Qing states calmly and leaves the Yunmeng Queen sputtering in out rage.

Queen Yu refuses to speak to her after that as King Jiang tries to salvage the mood by asking about her kingdom and the treaty. He would not blame the youger woman for withdrawing it. It would be the first time his wife ruined relations and them blamed the other party for her own fault. Queen Wen is thankfully receptive to the talks and does not appear ready to withdraw her offer.

 Wei Ying half listens to them as he keeps his senses on the not Eunuch. He is trying to place that particular incense scent and where he smelt it before. But his terrible memory was working against him. He knows he smelt it... He is thinks of something yellow, but is distracted by Jiang Wanyin asking about the legendary monster that supposedly lives in the Burial Mounds that creeps just at the outer edge of the Yiling kingdom.

"Why would I know anything about it? I have forbidden my people from ever venturing into the Forrest least they plan to commit suicide." Wen Qing says. "Other tham that we leave wine and a little bounty of fruits and rice to appease the Burial Mounds and it seems to keep most of the dangers away. We are small and have only myself, my brother and one other as Cultivators. It is why I am here. One of the clauses os that Yunmeng Jiang aid us when summoned to deal with a big or numerous threat to my people. We will trade out medicine and wine in exchange if we cannot pay you outright."

"That is most fair." Jiang Fengmian says ignoringnthe Madam's scowl and scoff.

Wei Ying frowns minutely under his veil at the topic if himself. Hebhas done nothinf ro hurt anyone and his mother only wenr after rhise who attacked her or were corrupted. Other than that she left everyone alone. And yet people wanted him dead. Wei Ying eats his dinner, hoping to forget that part of the convo when he gets a chance....

Chapter Text

Prompt:

Wei Ying is the Moon Spirit said to come down every year at the Lunar New Year and choose a new Champion for the year. It is a tradition carried on since Wei Ying had been a tiny Moonbeam and his mother was the Moon Spirit. However this year is different.

This year marks Wei Ying's maturity as a Celestial Deity and thus is the year he must find not only a champion but a mate. Wei Ying takes the form of a black bunny to avoid the more greed driven or power mad individuals who seek not only his favor but his hand in marriage...

Snippet:

Lan Zhan finished dispatching the last demon in the area and quickly cleans his blade, bows to prey for the souls that the small group of demons had devoured could find their way to rebirth. When he is done, he stands to move on when a rustle nearby has him on alert. It is tense for perhaps 5 of the longest minutes of his life and then fron a bush a black blur bursts free followed by the wild barking of those annoying Dogs from Yunmeng. The blur slams into him and he catches it, realizing it is a terrified black bunny with a cute red ribbon tied around its neck in a flowering bow.

He has a fondness for bunnies and holds it gently in his arms, petting the silky soft fur and rocking it gently to calm it down. He knows very few bunnies like to be held because they are a prey animal, but he has a talent for coaxing even the most skittish of bunnies into his arms for a good cuddle and petting session. Lan Zhan almost smiles at the soft grinding of teeth, but it falls when the Dogs finally arrive and turn human. At the lead is Prince Jiang Wanyin, who like his mother, took on a Canine like appearance in his Other Form. King Jiang was an Ox, strong and stubborn, but also very placid. The Princess of Yunmeng was an oddity being a Tiger and a White one at that.

Lan Zhan had often wondered, when he allows himself to indulge just the tiniest bit in intrigues, how someone so sweet and delicate like Princess Jiang could be a fiercesome and awe inspiring animal like a Tiger. He would liken her to a bunny much like this adorable little black ball of fluff, but he does not dare to question.

"Hanguang-Jun, what are you doing in our lands?" Prince Jiang demands eyeing the bunny who shivers and burrows as close to his chest as possible.

"Night Hunt." He states as if it explained everything and in a simple way, it did. He strokes the bunny, who calms at the gently petting and relaxes some in his hold.

"Hand over the rabbit." Prince Jiang demands and Lan Zhan gives the tiniest of frowns, the bunny stiffening in his hold, rapidly snuffling, a clear sign of agitation.

"No. It belongs to someone."

"Yes, to Yunmeng. Now hand it over!" The Prince demands and Lan Zhan frowns but suddenly the bunny bites him and he drops it as it bolts off back into the undergrowth.

"Shit!! Capture it, hurry!!" Prince Jiang orders and bolts off after the bunny in his dog form with his fellow canines at his heel.

Lan Zhan frowns a bit deeper, rubbing where he had been bitten. How curious....

Chapter Text

Wei Ying had been excited to come doen from the Heavenly Realms as he always is, but this year is different. This year the Moon Spirit would pick both a Champion and a mate! His grandmother, the Heavenly Empress, Baoshen Sanren, had informed him on his Birthday and every since he has been waiting in anticipation!

When the Lunar New Year approached, Wei Ying had prepared himself to spend some time and not just a night of merry making and frolicking, in the Mortal realm. He had to choose a secondary form that would best suit him but also make it hard for greedy and power mad beings of the mortal Realm to spot and capture him. He had oppted for a bunny, he loved bunnies for their sweet nature, their bursts of energy and sometimes their mischievous side! They were also associated with the Moon but many people forget this detail as part of the fantasy to lighten the stories for children.

He had not ecpected that the moment he stepped foot onto the Mortal Realm to be suddenly accosted by Canines and forced to flee. Thankfully he had already transformed before coming or he would be caught out. The canines gave chace until he barreled into what he had aft first throught was a deadend but turned out to be a young man's chest. The scent the mortal gave off was dangerous but oddly soothing and the way he carefully cradled and petted him calmed hin down and Wei Ying was able to forget whybhe had been so scared. It is not until the barking came closer and soon someone was yelling at his protector.

They were arguing over the rights to have him. Wei Ying grew agitated and bit the young mortal before him to get him to loosing his hold and bolted off once more the dogs once again giving chase. It took three days of dogged, haha not funny brain, running and hiding before Wei Ying was able to lose them long enough to change to human form and drink a special potion to hide his Immortal glow and to dull his ethereal beauty a bit. When done he cast a small spell that pointed him toward the nearest settlement which was Lotus Peir of Yunmeng Jiang.

He remembers coming hear nearly 12 years ago and enjoying the delicious moon cakes that the princess had painstakingly made for himnin offering after he had chosen a Tiger to be his champion that year. The tiger had been white and and graceful, beautiful and demure but fiercely loyal and protective of him the entire time he had been dancing and playing until sunrise when he had to return home. He wonders if the Princess was still there and if she could make him some more moon cakes!

With an excited giggle he sets off for the bustling kingdom and smiles as the normally blue an dpurple town was filled with red and gold as lanterns with animals painted on them hung along the main streets and the river that flowed in the middle. He sees that everyone is either in human form, their middle form or their other form. Monkeys and rats hrried aling the roofs helping to hang lanterns and charms for good luck, wealth and health while Oxes and Bears lumber about carrying heavy burdens.

Limber foxes and cats dart about carrying packages or messages to and from as birds soared overhead. It was lively. Wei Ying watches carefully, wanting to spot someone to be his Champion if he could bot find his friendly tiger once more. Tigers were rare especially White ones but Snakes and dragons were even rarer. Maybe a snake this year or a dragon? He wonders as he pauses to watch a stage be erected for the annual play of the Moon Legend. As he dies so he blinks and turns his head just as a familiar voice carries over the river abd there is his friend the Princess speaking with a very handsome young man, she looks upset about something, but what it could be is beyond him. But he is admittedly distracted by Pretry Gege who looks like he should be an immortal with his beauty and power. Wei Ying shivers as he feels it even as subdued as it is to bot make others uncomfortable.

"I think I found my champion..." He breathes as he watches them and then the awful barking and Wei Ying squeaks in gright as he is knocked into the water by that rude dog Prince...

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan bowed to his Uncle, bidding him a good night after the older Beta walked him back to his room. He was newly crowned Emperor this very evening and his family was taking no chances with possible assassination attempts. Little dis they know that he had already caught the assassin. His guards went to enter his chambers, but Lan Zhan cut a hand sign at him and they stilled, instead posting themselves around the entryways in and put of the room. Nodding once, Lan Zhan walked into his suite of rooms and into his bedchamber where laid out, wrapped in red and gold braided silk was his pretty assassin.

The pale expanse of pearly skin glowed in the candle light, rosy red where hot wax drips fall along his pretty nipples and down to his cock. A knotting gag affixed to his mouth keeping his full lips spread wide as his throat worked convulsively to swallow around the cock head. A silken black strip of cloth blindfolded him as his arms lay bound above his head and his legs bent at the knees and bound to the head board keeping him spread and immobilized. A pretty pink pussy glistened around a vibrator lazily fucking him to orgasm.

"My Ying is very beautiful..." He purrs darkly as he swishes his hand vanishing the wax and candles away. The assassin whimpers and flinched, the silencing spell also gone so he can listen to the Omega's whines and whimpers. "Did my Ying miss me? This Alpha certainly missed him... Oh my, so wet already... Did you behave and cum as I asked?" He purrs, tracing a finger around the oversensitized lips of the blushing pussy.

Wei Ying, a young assassin, whimpers and struggles in vain to get away. Tears glistening down his cheeks as the Alpha toys with him futher. He had tried to take the Alpha out while pretending to be his new body servant. How was he to know that the then Prince had no need for such a thing because he did not like to be touched!? He had thought it would be easy to jab him with a poison dart on the back of the neck and then hold him under water until he stopped thrashing. After all many would not expect an Omega to be an assassin, especially the child of a once famous Healer and Master Cultivator. But Wei Ying had been so very wrong.

Lan Zhan had known about the attempt because his brother's former friend and now quite dead advisor had arranged it but had not known that Lan Xichen, the Recent in charge until Lan Zhan's crowning, had overheard everything while feeding the Lan Bunnies. His brother originally wanted the Assassin found and killed but when Lan Zhan heard who it was, he told his brother to let it happen. He would handle the rest. Lan Xichen had merely chuckled and offered to get ehat he needed to tame his wild little Flower. Lan Zhan, as many totals, has been fed a steady diet of poisons and toxins since very young, getting use to them and building up a strong immunity to them, he practiced the lost art of Cultivation and has reached the 8th level before his 21st year where as Wei Ying has only reached his 6th only a few months ago at 18.

The Omega had no idea of the trap or that his contractor was dead. The orphan had thought he would be able to pull it off but Lan Zhan had shocked him by freezing him with a spell and giving him his own little poison. It made him sensitive and aroused and if bot taken care of within a set time limit, the Omega would die. For the last week he kept him on a slow torture of pleasure and he has finally broken.

"Shy, my Ying... Shhh..." He purrs again, pulling the toy out and thrusting it in harshly to make a gushing orgasm rob the Omega senseless before ge carefully removes the gag and blindfold. Hazy silver eyes blink up at him and for a moment flash a pink color telling him the poison has run its course and now Wei Ying was his perfect little Empress. Willing and ready at any time. As if he knows what is wanted of him, Wei Ying opens his mouth wide, tongue lulling out as he pants in want. Lan Zhan chuckles as he pulls the Omega up and obto his knees once he removes the stabilizing ropes from him. The Omega waits, knowing better than to greedily take.

"Good, a'Ying... Suck." He commands as he removes his robes and allows his cock to spring free of his lose trousers. The Omega dives right in, nose buried between balls and cock, one of the large orbs in his mouth as he sucks and plays with them before kissing and nipping his way up the cock. He hums lewdly as he gets pure unadulterated Lan Zhan scent and Alpha musk, drooling with hunger and desire.

"Master... Master... Use a'Ying's mouth pussy as he desires please!!" He whines, opening his mouth in want.

"Very good, my Ying, very good..." Lan Zhan purrs as he slowly feeds his large cock to Wei Ying, sliding it in and then because he is cruel like that, grabs the back of the Omega's head and slams his way down his throat.

The gag did its job in repressing the gag reflex but not fully training it outbof the Omega who chockes and struggles, eyrs wide but hazed with lust still. He fights to get a breath, face slowly turning red as the gagging becomes choked and a bit wet. Just before Wei Ying is certain he will become sick or pass out. The large cock is pulled back and he is allowed to breathe.

"Th-thank you... Master... More please!!" He begs and Lan Zhan purrs darkly as he slides in and begins to slowly fuck the Omega's throat.

Wei Ying is vroken and he knows it. But does not care. He would have either ended up dead or whoring himself out eventually so why fight Lan Zhan's cruelty and love? For a week straight he had been fucked and toyed with til he could think of nothing but Lan Zhan's touch and his cum. His throat is now a cock sleeve just for the Emperor, his pussy will be used to birth him strong heirs and his very life was his to play with.

On his back was a beautiful tattoo of a fierce ice dragon holding a large pearl that housed a crimson lotus inside of it. Lan Zhan's claim of Wei Ying permanently etched into his skin. He moans as his mouth is abused, wet and aching for more of his touch, his quim pulses with desire as his arse hole is still stuffed with another toy. He looks up at golden eyes and feels his world zero in only on the pleased gleam in that coldly cruel face. Even as Lan Zhan pinches his nose shut and holds him as close to his crotch as possible. His cock spewing hot dum down his convulsing throat. He could die right here and ve happy. But Lan Zhan does not kill him. No, he pulls him off and lets him gag and breathe before he finds himself on his back, held still by the ropes binding his body as Lan Zhan gazes at him like a feast.

"Your heat is nearly here... Mmm, yes, I can smell it... Smell how fertile you are and soon you will bloom with child.... My child... I shall keep you full of babies to your dying day...." He swears and Wei Ying moans and cums from the thought alone. "Oh so filthy... Yes... Cum again, but this time on my cock.... I will breed you well, my little Omega... You are mine...." Lan Zhan snarls as he holds his precious pearl in place and takes him yet again, filling him with him as the Omega moans and begs for more...

Lan Xichen hums to himself as he sits in his study, a pretty young teen knelt betwen his knees rosy lips stretched tight on his cock as he finishes signing the necessary papers to reinstate the Wei Royal family to power as well as the execution papers for a certain Violet Spider and a certain Golden Peony.

"I hope you are not attached to your manwhore of a father, a'Yu... He is going to die... Just like your half brother, Guangyao...."

No Xuanyu pulled off his cock long enough to smile beautifully at him, "No, Master Huan, this Omega does not care... Only Master maters to me..." He thrn slips back onto the hard cock, a pregnant belly hanging down as Lan Xichen smirks.

"Good... I should have spent time with Uncle... But oh well, he has out lived his usefulness and lord knows he will contest yours and a'Yings places as Empress and Royal Consort respectively..." He sighs just as there is an abrupt scream from hsi Uncle's study just across the small courtyard. "I shall reward Xue Yang with that kitten he was asking for..."

Chapter Text

Prompt:

Moon Empress Cangse Saren has sent a summons to all able bodied warriors to attend the Presentation of her only Child and heir. Leaders great and small arrive at the legendary Baoshen Mountain. Their heirs and best disciples at their heels as they are invited into a grabd banquet hall.

The Moon Empress is veiled in mourning whites and moonlight silver, veiled so none could see her. Her child is veiled much the same. No older than perhaps 10, the child sat on a throne of black and starlight.

They wonder who the child is and what they look lile but none has been so lucky to see the Moon Empress or her child, only the Late Moon Emperor has.

What could come of this banquet they all wonder. Cangse Sanren can only slyly watch them all, anticipating the reations when her precious Wei Ying picks the two men he will bind himself to for the rest of his life. He had made it clear he did not see females in that light.

Snippet:

The Great Hall buzzed as they watched the Empress sitting in glittering silvers and pale blues on mourning white robes not dissimilar to the Lan Sects colors. However the colors blended in the way moon light did, not the glacial sheen of ice. Her veil hung heavy, droplets of moon tears holding it down around her so only her lips could be seen.

"Welcome..." She says and her voice is like a haunting melody in the might, both welcoming and terrifying in its gentleness. "This one has invited you all to watch the presentation of this one's only child and heir. My child will be preforming for us shortly. Rest and be Merry..." She says and claps her hands only omce as servsnts begin carrying our heavy serving trays ladened with foods from each regent, catering to the tastes of each group and regent with smaller platters of the other regrets flkds for them to sample.

She watched everyone begin to eat and drink, chatting softly curious as to what will happen. About halfway through the feast, music began to play and the grand doors opened up as veiled dancers all in pale silvers and white gracefully gloat in like moonbeams while only a single dancer in black waltzes forward, silver and starlight surrounding them. They had long fans in their hands and got into position.

They moved with grace and elegance the most beautiful of them all was the one in black, a mask carved of Moon Pearl covering tgeir face. And then the one in black began singing. The song was enchanting and haunting, melodic and so tragically beautiful. They were all entranced until the very end, when the dancers had surrounded the one in black, who stood tall and proud. They cheered and clapped as the others bow and hurry off as the Empress waves for the one in black to come forward.

"Come my child... You did beautifully." She praises and they gasp realizing that the Heir was present and preformed their debut talent.

Many among the guests felt awed, others wondered what ties they could establish but among the Lans, a pair of twins fell in love with the mysterious beauty. Their song calling to them and they wished to horde this treasure away, safe and sound from the greed and horrors of the world. A glance at one another, they knew they would do anything to win their Moonflower's heart...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying sat beside his mother after he had finished his performance, his mask remaining firmly in place even as he carefully ate and drank while the dinner went on. His mother ran her fingers through his hair and he wanted to purr at the touch. However, he entertained himself by watching the others. Many were quickly getting drunk and a bit rowdy while others kept eyeing himself or his mother. His attention is drawn to a Jin who walked up to their table, the guards quickly pointed their weapons at the bold man, who simply holds up his up.

"I wish to toast Her Excellency and her heir, may you live for 10,000 years!" He says.

His mother narrows her eyes at the bold fool and delicately picks up her drink, but does not drink it.

"Who are you?" She demands calmly.

"This one is Jin Zixun, nephew of Sect Leader Jin Guangshan!" He says with all the air of someone self important, but with no outstanding accolades to his name, nor any fame of his own.

"Hm... I refuse." She said simply and sets the cup down with nary a sound and the Jin is left sputtering in humiliation and shock. "This one does not need pointless toasts made to garner favor."

"I--"

"Be gone or the guards will remove you... they will not leave you in one piece if they do." She warns and he quickly beats a retreat. No one else dares to boldly approach until it is time to get up and properly greet Heir.

Wei Ying gives a polite smile and nods at the guests as they come up to wish him happiness and a long life or good luck in his chosen path and in love. He is mentally crying in boredom when a pair of twins walk up and bow deeply before him. He is floored at their unearthly beauty and the scent of winter, sandalwood incense and something uniquely them. Their eyes are golden, one pure and bright like refined gold while the other was darker like burnished gold, almost amber in color. They set a gift down like the others have, but Wei Ying cannot fight his curiosity as he pulls the fabric off the top and gasps seeing an adorable pitch black bunny.

"Aww, so cute!" He gasps and picks up the bunny and cuddles it. "Are you just the sweetest little thing... This one thanks the handsome geges for such a wonderful gift." He bows and they bow back, humming softly as they move to bow to his mother and then leave for their seat, but Wei Ying's eyes are on them and he ignores the others who try to gain his attention...

Chapter Text

Prompt:

In a world where you are born with your soul taking on a physical form, you can expect a number of strange, colorful and unique appearances. Many humans have mumdane animals found around the world and those born special or gifted are born with a unique Daemon. A Daemon is your soul's physical manifestation. It takes the form of an animal that best corrolates to you. Sometimes the animal is complementing, other times it is rather confusing if not perceived as an insult by the powers that be. No one knows for sure, but never the less we all have one.

Lan Zhan is a stoic young man whose daemon has never been seen because it can change size and chooses to keep hidden in his shirt or somewhere under water and in the air. Many believe he is an oddity since they believe he does not have a Daemon. Little do they know his Daemon is ome of the rarest of all and thus makes him even more desireable than his looks and pedigree does.

Wei Ying was an anomaly. His Daemon even after he had matured, was still settling. It confuses everyone beacuse only young children have a Daemon that changes its form every few minutes based off their emotional state, bot the daemon and/or the child's, necessity or simply because they can. And yet his Daemon seems to not be settled. This leads to a lot of people taking an interest in him and it is rather... Annoying.

Snippet:

He presses the com in his ear, whispering softly that he is in position and ready for the signal. He and his team had been called in when a hostage situation suddenly went a bit pear shaped. The daughter of Ambassador Jiang and their adoptive son, had been attacked and kidnapped while on their way home from an event. The Ambassador had paid the ransom wothout hesitation to get them back but the kidnappers instead sent back a beta prostitute, who was rather confused about what was going on. They then demanded a second and a much larger ransom for the Omegas. Needless to say Madam Yu, Ambassador Jiang's wife was beyond livid and had yelled at the kidnappers that they already paid to get her daughter back and to help with the bastard.

Needless to say the situation got worse. He checks his weapons, his wilhite shirt was slightly open at the top and the sleaves were rolled back to his elbows while a pair of black gloves cover his hands. His black pants were form fitting without restricting his movements. His long hair was pulled back into a tight pony tail with a white ribbon that is sacred in his family.

"Bichen." He whispers and his Daemon suddenly darts put of his shirt and towards an opening that rats were running in and out of.

One he is certain his daemon is inside, he gets the green light as well and hurries to the door, their hacker killing the alarms and looping the video so he can get in undetected. Now it was time to hunt....

Chapter Text

Jiang Yanli sat pressed against her adoptive brother, even though they were both blindfolded, their hands bound with their wrists tied to their elbows, making it impossible to break free without breaking something. The tape pressed firmly over their mouths kept them from talking, which was annoying because she wanted to make sure her brother was alright. He was trembling, their kidnappers had dogs that were surrounding them and Wei Wuxian was terrified of them. she managed to move her hand enough to interlock their fingers, trying to comfort him in some way. He whimpers softly, pressing harder against her. Their Daemons were tossed into cages, hers was a great Maltese tiger, the blue fur looked purple from the richness of the color that matched the Jiang Family's color of choice, a rich royal purple. Níngjìng was bound tightly with rope and chains keeping her pinned and if needed, easily harmed to make Jiang Yanli comply. Wei Wuxian's was in a smaller cage that had been electrified because they weren't sure what to do with it. She had listened to them call her parents, show them a video of them, she knows because they told her and Wei Wuxian to smile prettily for it while squeezing their faces enough to bruise. She knows her father sent the money, had heard the men laughing and cheering but instead of letting them go free, they packed up and moved locations while sending someone else in their place.

Jiang Yanli cannot help, but worry what more they could try to do. She knows that she is not the most beautiful Omega out there, but she and her brother are very pretty and a couple of their kidnappers had voiced 'trying them out' before their boss yelled at them to keep their hands off. There was a high chance of being sold on the Black Market, there was also the very high chance of them being killed and left for their family to find. She also wasn't foolish to think her mother was concerned about Wei Wuxian. No one in their family, expect perhaps their father, understood where extreme hatred of Wei Wuxian came from. He was the son of their father's childhood best friend and his wife, her a'Xian was a sweet boy, a bit mischievous, but still a good, sweet boy with a heart that is pure and selfless. It was one of the reasons they gave him the name Wuxian because he was without envy in his heart. He's only tried to please her mother and that only seems to make her hate him more. She is pretty sure her mother will hire someone to rescue only herself and leave her brother to these monsters. She tenses when someone comes close.

"Get up." it is the leader.

The two Omegas turn their heads to him, they were tied up and could not very well get up without falling all over themselves. But thankfully he wasn't expecting them to do it on their own, he pulls them up one at a time and then marches them somewhere. It is when he orders a pair of women to help them use the bathroom that they understood what was happening. The women grouse about not expecting to be babysitters when they were hired for the night, but hey, getting 2K for the night, a hot meal and not risking getting busted by the cops was worth it.

"Damn, I'm super jealous of these Megs... their skin is so soft and they are so skinny! And look at this ass! I'm shocked they aren't covered in semen by this point!" one girl whines.

"Shut up! We have enough trouble getting customers without competing with the whore machines of the Dynamic!" another girl bitches as she cleans Wei Ying a bit rougher than intended. He flinches and she sucks her teeth. "Oh please, that barely hurts! Try taking three cocks at once and then come bitch to me about pain!"

"Kandy, stop being so mean!" the first girl says as she carefully cleans up Jiang Yanli and then once both Omegas were presentable again, they knock twice on the door to let them out. The two Omegas are grabbed and marched back to where they had been, the two girls, Betas by the sounds of them, go back to wherever they were hiding out. As they walked, Wei Ying felt something brush against his leg, causing him to jump and startle, forcing the Boss to stop.

"What is it!?"

Wei Ying muffles at him and he rolls his eyes and removes the tape.

"I think a rat just ran past my leg..." he says after hissing from the sting of the tape being removed.

"Tsk, stupid bitch..." the man grumbles and presses the tape back onto his mouth and then shoves them both onto their bottoms back on the floor in the corner of the warehouse.

Wei Ying tries not move as he feels whatever it was that had climbed up and wrapped around his ankle under his pants. It is smooth and a bit ridged... like scales of some kind. He feels it crawling up his leg over his pants and then up his chest and hiding under his hair.

Shh, here to help...

Wei Ying and Jiang Yanli try not to stiffen at the male voice. They cannot exactly speak, but they give minute nods and the Daemon, because it can be nothing else, moves down to the ropes on Jiang Yanli's arms and begins to chew on them. If he were in his bigger form he would have no issue snapping them like thread, but since he was no bigger than a milk snake right now, he would have to make due.

Master will be here soon, duck down and do not move unless told.

They nod again and can feel their Daemons nervous acceptance as well. Right now they are confused, Wei Ying especially because touching someone's Daemon was akin to rape, but when someone's Daemon voluntarily touches you, it's a bit confusing and disconcerting. Only family and mates are allowed to touch your Daemon. Granted this Daemon belonged to their rescuer, but surely he could have done this without touching Wei Ying. Wei Ying can tell he's being careful to not touch his Shijie, but seems perfectly content to perch on his bound arms while trying to get her free. And then they startle when another Daemon joins them.

Shouyue-xiong. Good, get her. Will get him.

Of course, Bichen-didi.

The two Omegas feel thrown for a loop feeling the two familiars touching them, almost dizzy with the strangeness of it all when suddenly an alarm blares and their Kidnappers all scramble, three being left with them as the others run out of the warehouse area and towards the main factory...

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan had managed to get ibto the building and take down 10 guards without being caught, however it seems they were not the only retrieval team sent in. However, from what he cohld hear from his childhood friend's half cussing, the other team wss none of theirs ans the idiots had triggered an alert because now the abandoned factory was becoming quite active. His Daemon, Bichen had located their targets and had shared what he was seeing. He felt a but dizzy seeing his Daemon openly touching one of the Omegas and the half aborted choke that came through his comm told him that his brother was not much better. However, they have no time to deal with this. Lan Zhan waits until most of the goons run by before he snags a straggler and after putting him in the sleeper hold, he manages to get more info than they had before. Knocking the man out, he takes off toward the warehouse.

His brother is somewhere near the commotion and the long suffering sigh that leaves his mouth is all the info they need. Jins. He resists rolling his eyes or the childish urge to have a fit. He turns a corner and runs into three Beta Prostitutes. The women are aesthetically pleasing enough to have regulars, but they were far from his ideal if he allowed himself to think such things. So when they try to seduce him. He quickly and effectively handcuffed them together and to a bit of piping and ignores their indignant screeching. Pulling out his gun and adjust his goggles, he tells his brother and the rest of their team that he located the warehouse. He snuck into the room and carefully snuck around. Narrowly avoiding being caught a few times he spots the caltive Omegas who are being held at gun point, the two pressed as close together as possible flr both comfort and to hide the two two Daemons working to set them free.

"Shit, I was planning to sell them on the Market, but nlw we need to cut our ties. Take the money and leave! Kill them!!" Shouts the obvious leader.

Lan Zhan growls low as his brother actually says "Fuck it, kill them!" And he does so without holding back. The first shot kills the man looming over the Omegad before the next two shots hit the men standing near the Omegas Daemons.

'Bichen, attack!' He mentally commands his Daemon who jumps around the Omegas and grows big enough to take down the various dog Daemons. Killing a Daemon did not kill a human, but it certainly left them wishing for death. He knew this as did many in their profession and often the best move to cripple someone was to kill the Daemon. However killing the human killed the Daemon since the Human was their Host. He could not risk either Omega being hurt physically or through their Daemons.

"Shit!! How dis you find us!?" Snarls the leader as he tries to shoot Lan Zhan, who ducks and pulls out a small pouch that when he waved it out came a Guqin and then with early practiced fingers he strummed 5 sharp and shrill notes that blasted out spiritual energy.

"You are not quilfied to talk to me..." He snarls and takes out two more guards nad with a kick breaks the lock of the tiger's cage.

"Wangji!? What you doing here!? We git this, get lost!" Jin Zixun yells and Lan Zhan really wants to shoot him. But he focuses on freeing the Daemons while Bichen is keeping the others at bay, killing the ones who's human dare to aim their weapons at either Omega.

Breaking through the chains and setting the Maltese free, Ningqing runs to her human and with a careful swipe of her paw she set them free. Shouyue climbed up the tigers back and lunged to join his brother, both dragons keeping fairly small but deadly. Lan Zhan carefully gets the snaller cage open and the tiny Daemon flies out of there and lands on her human while changing forms which is a shock for him since rthe Omega is bit a child.

"Wangji, look out!!" his brother's warning comes too late as he is stabbrd in the back and he manages to shoot the leader in the head vefore he collapses. He blinks seeing the red eyes befkre he faints...

Chapter Text

Prompt from CordeNarcissus:

Lan Zhan is the last Alpha on earth and Wei Ying is the last omega. (Or they could be anything really.) The plot here is that they are taken and forced to have sex with each other. Along with having children and etc. They didn’t know each other beforehand, and they form a bond in captivity.)

Snippet:

Wei Ying sat in the fancy helicopter, looking out the window as the mainland vanished and nothing but open water met his eyes. At his feet was the carrier that held his pet bunnies, YanYan and Lao Khan. He was nervous because there was at least 5 others in the back with him, all big scary looking soldiers, the pilot and co-pilot were up front obviously gett them to their destination without incident. Wei Ying thinks back on what lead him to this point in time, wondering just what kind of luck he had...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"You stupid, ungrateful piece of shit!! Why couldn't you have died with your whore mother and your useless, unfilial father!?" screeched Madam Yu as she hurled a vase at him.

Wei Ying had ducked it and yelped as he was hit with the shards of porcelian from where it smashed into the wall just above his head. water and floors spilled down on him with the glass as Madam Yu screeched at him again.

She had barged into his room unannounced and caught him kissing another boy in his year. They were just experimenting to see if they could be boyfriends since they both acknowledged they were gay. He felt bad Lao Binghe. They had only just kissed when she caught them and began throwing shit. Wei Ying took a hit from a textbook to protect his half blind friend so he could jump out the window and run away as fast as he could. Wei Ying would have jumped out right after him, but Madam Yu had caught hold o him and dragged him to the Disciplnary Hall.

That is where they are now, Wei Ying was battered and bruised from her throwing things at him and her two devil maids who whipped him if he tried to escape. He had small cuts and lacerations from where they caught him or where the glass caught him. He was carefull to keep his head and face protected. He didn't even try to talk his way out. He had long ago learned that nothing he ever said or did would ever make his Uncle's wife like him.

She hated him for just breathing and never once held back on her hatred. She conked him with a paperweight next and in the time it took his ears to stop ringing and his vision to stop fading to black, Uncle Fengmian rushed in with Jiang Yanli, his beloved Shijie and his tsundere little brother, Jiang Cheng. He didn't know therewere a couple of others, only knowing that Madam Yu had grabed a heavy jade statue and was gonna smash his skull in when the familiar sounds of Uncle and his wife fighting sounded, his sister carefully helping him sit up as his brother very carefully picks glass out of his hair.

He's pretty sure he passed out for a few minutes because when he opened his eyes again, Wei Ying was sitting in Uncle's office where he noticed General Wen and Soldiers talking to his Uncle. His siblings were sat with him. He gave a weak smile to his sister as she began to fuss, Jiang Cheng was glaring at the Soldiers who had been apparently watching Wei Ying's sleeping form this whole time.

"-That woman was imprtant!? And you want that filthy faggot!?" Madam Yu's voice was like a sledgehammer to his senses.

She was greatly offended that someone as important as the Imperial General would come to her house and instead of asking for one of her children, asked for the filthy little bastrd of THAT woman!! She near apocolyptic at his point.

"I just told you. Cangse Sanren was the daughter of the Chief Scientist, Baoshen Sanren. They have dones great and wonderful work for the Government and unfortunately with their passing the only person capable of completing their last project is your nephew. We came to get him as per Dr. Baoshen's Will and bring him to our facility." General Wen says in a firm tone that leaves no room for rebuttle. "Besides, thier notes are locked in a biometic safe and his is the only DNA that will match."

"But why now?" Uncle asks, worried about the suddenness.

"Dr. Baoshen's passed away in an accident and we've been scrambling ever since. this is the first time since it happened that we have been able to come collect Mr. Wei. Dr. Baoshen was actually supposed to come visit him tomorrow, but unfortunately..." He shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head, a contrite look on his face. "We are on barrowed time and need to get back with Mr. Wei, so if you will kindly hand him over?"

"Take the faggot!" Madam Yu snarls before anyone can speak and Jiang Fengmian actually snaps at her this time.

"Ziyuan! You cannot--"

"He was making out with another boy!! It's bad enough he's a stupid, waste of space, but a disgusting homosexual as well!? I want him gone before he can infect a'Li or a'Cheng! Or do you not care that he is so close to OUR children!? "

Wei Ying sees the arguement before it can happen and speaks up, "I will go... It will help out these gentlemen, I can get what I am supposed to get from my grandmother and I will be out of your hair. It's a Win-win-win all aroud."

"But a'Xian, we don't know if and when you will be back--"

"You better not come back you son of a bitch!" Madam Yu says and Wei Ying feels his eye twitch slightly.

""I am pretty sure I can gt time off in about a year or two. I am studying genetics like mom did so I am sure they will have a use for me somewhere." Wei Ying ssays

"Then it is settled, Mr. Wei, show these gentle men to your room and they will begin packing everything and moving them to transport... I will need you as his guardian to sign these Waviers..."

Wei Ying expected  his siblings to follow, for Jiang Cheng's outburst and the water works. He didn't have to explain, everyone in the Jiang Household knows that Madam  Yu Has been trying to get ride of Wei Ying since forever. It was best to leave now, hopefully his grandma left him some money or a house so he can have his own place to stay and not worry about the looming guilotine that is Madam Yu's wrath. He promised to write and call them whenever he could and that at the first opprotunity he would come see them. After a tearfilled hug session, they got him packed up within the hour and he was off..

"Wei Wuxian, I know this is very sudden and all but like I said time is of the essence. The experiment that your grandmother was working on, is actually complete. We just need you to be his campanion. He had liked your grandmother and becomes rather...difficlut when he doesn't see her for a while. There are a few other things we need you to help with but your main job is to keep that guy's comapny... Tell me Mr. Wei, do you believe in Fairy Tales?" General Wen suddenly aks...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying was not sure what to make of General Wen's question, but he nods his head. Fairy Tales had often been his muse and escape growing up. He originally wanted to be an Artist, but because of Madam Yu, he opted for something that would hopefully garner him at least one complement for once. He picked Genetics, Biology and Bio Engineering as his majors in school and with his genus, he was breezing through the courses with relative ease. He may or may not have snuck a few art and music courses in as minors just so he wouldn't get bored and couse mayhem at the school. Wei Ying mentally shakes his head from wondering off as he turns to the general and the man is looking at him with a polite, but unreadable smile.

"Good. As I said before, the experiment is complete. He just needs company and you may be the only person he would be willing to deal with since you are Dr. Baoshan's grandson. You should have a somewhat similar smell to her that will hopefully keep him from becoming too aggressive." He informs him and Wei Ying feels like he missed several things there, but at the same time, his 'spidey senses' to quote a favorite comic book hero of his were tingling and sadly he could not jump out with 5 big guards surrounding him. Even then, they were finally arriving. "Now then, we will have a trial run, if you will, for about a year. If all goes well you will recieve an impressive bonus and some perks. You will get to go on vacation and see your relatives if you so desire. However you are not allowed, under any circumstances, to talk about anything you see or hear here. If you find you no longer want to work for us, you realize you will be walked very closely for the rest of your life. This is top secet government intel that no other country is allowed to know about, do you hear me?"

"Yes sir. If I talk, I will die or end up 'vanishing.' I have seen enough movies and read enough books where this kind of thing happens. I wouldn't do something that stupid." Wei Ying assures him and the man laughs.

"If nothing else, having you here will make the work day a little more entertaining, at least for me. Now then, follow me, Mr. Wei." Wen Rouhan orders as the Helicopter finally lands and they step out. He is first walked to a securit gate where he is thoroughly frisked, all his carry on items taken apart and put back together, those that could be taken apart that is. Even his bunnies got a thorough frisking, which YanYan did not like at all and bit one of the guards while Lao Khan thumped angrily. Wei Ying quickly picks up his bunnies and cuddles them, cooing at them until they calm down and settle like melted fur balls on his shoulders.

They are then led to a decontamination lock, sprayed heavily with disinfectant before they are out to the second Security gate. This one is a full body scanner and Wei Ying has to set his bunnies down and bribe them with a few treats to keep them still long enough for them to be examined and then he takes his turn while a nice young lady carefully scoops them into their carrier once more. He is then led to a medical room where he is given quite the thorough medical examination and while he waits for the doctor to come back, a guard comes in and snaps a photo of him form the shoulders up for his new ID card. At some point he dozed off while waiting and woke up to the docot and General Wen talking as they walked into the room.

"-- to tell. Perhaps exposing the 'female' to the 'male' might trigger something... ah, Mr. Wei, I am the head scientist here after Dr. Baoshan's unfortunate passing. My name is Dr. Jin Guangyao, it is a pleasure to meet you and my condolences." the cute young man with amazing dimples, said as he walked over to shake Wei Ying's hand.

"Nice to meet you as well. And thank you. I did not really know my grandma as well as I should have, but she always sent me a letter and a gift every birthday and any Holiday. I am not sure what help I will be, but I will do my best." Wei Ying says with a bright smile and the doctor nods, with a pleased smile.

"Then let's get you and your little furry friends settled in and tomorrow we will introduce you to Him." Dr. Jin says and Wei Ying, yet again feels like he his missing something.

However he does not get to ask as the doctor and the general start talking using far to many big words and military terms for him to keep up with or to even have an idea of what they were talking about. So instead, Wei Ying smiles at the same young lady who apparently was keeping his bunbuns company a smile as she fell into step with them and he thanked her for taking good care of  his babies. he heard a few aggrivated honks from lao Khan ans he promised to give him extra cuddles once they settled into their new room. YanYan was not happy either, her odd thump made the carrier bounce in the woman's hands.

"Alright, here are  your quarters for your stay here. We have down a thorough background check on you and have made a few adjustments so you could be relatively comfortable and there is a side plot for you to grow vegetables  and a walled off garden for your bunnies to roam around." General Wen tells him when they got to a picturesque house that looked like it came right out of a fairy tale with a brick wall curtaining off the bunny area and a simple wooden fence to wall off the garden. It was quaint and adorable! He loved the forest cottage meets traditional Chinese architecture.

It looked really out of place with all the uniform buildings and bunkers all over the base, but Wei Ying is not goiung to complain about it. General Wen gives him a tour of his new home and hands him the keys, his new ID Keycard, gives him a run down of the areas he is allowed in with it, areas he needs an escort into, either himself or Dr. Jin, and the areas that he is expressly forbidden from entering at any cost. Dr. Jin informs him that some of his team will be by within the hour to bring in food, both perishables and non-perishables to stock his pantery and fridge.  He showes him how to work the appliances and where to call if he runs low on something and they can add it to their bimonthly shopping list for all personnel. Once all was said and done, Wei Ying sighed as he let his bunnies explore their new home and laid himself down on the floor, to just process. in less than 24hrs, his enetire life was flipped upside down and he's not sure if he still on earth at this point. Dr. Jin had given him a bunch of paperwork to go over and handed him a letter from his grandmother.

He's not sure how he feels. While he did not know her in person, he did sorta know his grandma. She was a strict woman, sorta no nonsense, but obviously she had a prankster side if some of her letters werre to be believed with how she messed with some of her colleagues. She clearly cared, though she was very busy. It sucks to have learned he would have been able to see her in person one of the too few rare times he got to and she was cruelly snatched away from him. So far her colleagues, while strange and frankly weird or intimidating or even both really; they seemed nice. He's not sure what all they are expecting of him, but Wei ying will do all he can to help out, earn enough money to leave and go live on a farm somewhere to raise veggies and bunnies. Let the government watch him, they will be bored to death within a month of just watching him play with his cuties and working the land to yeild nice plump veggies! Speaking of!

Wei Ying jumps to his feet in one fluid motion, smiling smugly for a moment but then frowning because Jiang Cheng is no longer around for him to boast about finally getting it right. He also cannot talk to his Shijie either. Shaking his head, Wei Ying heads into the mud room to pull on his wellies, he not sure how he feels about these people going through his things and organizing his house for him, but whatever, he will just make a mess and clean it up how he wants it later. he grabs the tub of cuttings from his home garden and the tools he needs. He spends his afternoon restarting his garden, enjoying the warm sun and the ocean scented breeze as he works...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wei Ying coughed as he was once again hosed down in  a decontam unit before he followed Dr. Jin to a set of glass doors, or what appeared to be glass doors, of a massive dome that sat at the heart of the base. He gasped seeing the very impressive garden. all kinds of flowers grew all around him, the neatly maniquired grass, neat marble and jade brick pathways. There was even fruit trees and bushes, butterflies and birds could bee seen scattered about. There was a large lagoon that bled into a stream and branched off all over the place and a waterfall fed the lagoon. Wei ying giggled seeing koi fish swimming around the lagoon and made a mental note to bring some bread with him next time so he could feed them

He followed behind Dr. Jin until they got to section that looked like a gazeebo. There was some files and a laptop sitting on the table, but there was no one around.

"Alright, it seems Wangji is lost somewhere in the Recess, but that's perfectly fine, you only need to keep him company. If he becomes aggressive for any reason, you need not fear for your safety, we have a few men on standby to pull you out if it gets to that point. Just try to be yourself and all should go well." in Guangyao says as he turns to head back the way they came from, shocking Wei Ying with pretty much abandoning him in this massive garden.

"Hey, wait!! Dr. Jin-- seriously!?" He gasps when the man all but runs out of there. "Who the heck is Wangji and why would he get aggressive? Don't tell me he's some mutant bunny or something?" He grumbles to himself as he opts to try and find 'Wangji' and at least introduce hmself.

Wei Ying picks a random direction and starts walking, every now and then he pauses to examin the vibrant flowers and fruit bearing bushes or tress. He calls out for Wangji too, waiting at least three minutes before calling again. He finds a robe and wood swing and giggles as he sits on it and starts to swing back and forth. as he does so he starts to sing a silly song. It is a song his Shijie taught him and makes him feel abit meloncholy, but he shakes his head as  he looks up towards the sky only to gasp seeing someone in the three branches right where the swing reaches the furthest point back. He is so shocked he forgets to straight his legs and he is suddenly falling out of the swing, his shins scrapped something fierce. The wind is knocked out of his lungs and his face smacks painfully into the floor. he lays there dazed, wheezing and still half scared to death by the other's sudden appearance.

Wangji, as that is the only person he could be stops the wildly swinging swing and carefully helps Wei Ying up and when the smaller male looks up at him, silver eyes meeting gold, it is like something slots into place and an electric shock all at once. However Wei ying can only gape at the inhumanly beautiful man.

"So beautiful..."

"Mn. Not beautiful. You are." the man says, his voice deep and rich and okay, if Wei Ying wasn't gay before, he sure as hell is now! "Lan  Zhan, Lan Wangji..."

""Lan Zhan? Oh! I'm Wei Ying! though everyone calls me Wuxian. Nice to meet you!"

Chapter Text

Prompt:

Yunmeng was a kingdom built on series of massive lakes filled with lotuses. They were small, but rich. Many wanted ties to them for the trade and for their skills in crafts as well as swordsmanship. What no one knows is that what makes the kingdom special is that living at the heart of the Yunmeng Kingdom, surrounded by the Lotus Pier Palace, was a great big crimson red Lotus that housed a beautiful and powerful fairy. The fairy had saved the Queen's life while she was giving birth to her eldest child and had saved her son's life when he almost drowned as a toddler.

However the Fairy died and her flower had turned black with red tips as it closed. It would be a couple of years beforenit bloomed again and her child would be born. The Queen, who had owed the Fairy so much, had vowed she would raise her son as her own and ensure he was kept safe. However time would tell what fate had in-store...

Snippet:

"Wei Wuxian! You get your little backside down here this instant!" Huffed the queen as she stood under a great flower that loomed high above and sitting nestled in the center was her adopted son. "The Jins will be here any minute and we cannot afford that idiot knowing about your secret!"

"Oh, right..." Wei Ying murmurs as he slips off the perch he made in the giant flower and slips easily through the air like a feather as the flower shrinks and returns to ita normal form just as he touches down. "Sorry Auntie..." He bows his head and she lightly slaps him with her fan and gives a soft smile.

"Go find, a'Cheng and get ready. We are also expecting the delegation from Gusu Lan. They are not use to how open and free we are so please try to behave arounf the young masters." Queen Yu says and shoos him off, shaking her head before turning to her handmaids. "Have extra security around a'Xian's chambers and wing. I do not want to give anyone a reason to snoop around."

"Ma'am." They bow and hurry off as she turns again to see her husband coming down one of the outdoor hallways. He smiles at her and she gives a fond smile.

"Did You find a'Xian?" He wonders.

"Just sent him to get ready." She agrees and he cups her cheek. She blushes and slaps his hand away. Flustered and giving a biting comment that he knows she does not mean because she is still so new to genuine affection. Her family were a harsh resilient clan, she was the youngest of 5 daughters and was treated harshly but with love. However she was not use to softness and often used anger as a shield. However her husband has warn her down over the years and her friend, Cangse Sanren had helped. She missed a'Ren, but was please her sonbwas growing well.

"You miss them." He says and she smiles sadly. "We will find out what happened. For both yourself and for a'Xian... Now come, my lady, I recieved word that the Gusu Lan Delegation has been spotted sailing across the lake."

The death of the original Fairy, Cangse Sanren had been a mystery to them for some time. She had lived her whole life in Yunmeng and thus had fallen in love with Wei Changze, at the time the personal asistant of crown Prince Jiang Fengmian before he was given the title and position of advisor after said man became King. Cangse Sanren had fallen for the quiet man and he for the lively Fairy. They had a long courtship because Cangse Sanren did not want to simply marry because liked someone. She wanted someone who would be with her in good and bad times. Someone who would love her as both an immortal and a mortal.

It was around this time that Yu Ziyuan had come to live in Yunmeng in preparation to be married. She had hated Cangse Sanren at first when she had caught the fairy leaning in a rather suggestive position on her fiance. However the Fairy had worked hars to earn her forgiviness and finally got when Yu Ziyuan had a severe complication having her daughter. The Fairy had flown into the room in a ball of moonlight and took her full celestial form, Yu Ziyuan had been stunned and it allowed the fairy to feed her a special food pellet from the God of Medicine that allowed her to have her daughter and enough strength to recover. Ever since she had slowly begun to get to know Cangse Sanren, whom she realized hugfed and leaned bon those she liked or loved. She started to do it to Ziyuan as soon as she realized that the young queen was no longer hostile toward her.

When her secind child, Jiang Cheng had been born, Cangse Sanren had been there ready to help if she had another issue but thankfully Jiang Cheng had been an easy birth. However it was when he was three and had toddled off alone and fallen into the lake that would solidify Yu Ziyuan's love and friendship in Cangse Sanren. The Fairy had been resting in her flower when she felt the shifts of disturbed water and went to check it out. She hurried to pull a'Cheng out of the water spelled the warer from his little lungs just as Ziyuan had run around the edge of the lake to get to them. The fairy gave him a bit of her lifeforce to help him recover from his near death and ever since Queen Yu swore sisterhood and friendship with her.

So it honestly shocked her when one day about a year or two after Wei Changze abd Cangse Sanren left to visit the Fairy Realm to speak with a'Ren's mother, that the giant Crimson lotus had suddenly turned black and seemed withered as it closed shut and sunk into the lake. It was a terrible omen and it heralded ill news. It would be months later they would hear about the deaths of Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren. A supposed Night hunt gone bad. That was impossible. Changze had been the Head Disciple when he and Fengmian were boys, he was a strong and capable guard and later on a valued advisor. He was not so easily bested and by a Yao of all things.

And then there was Cangse Sanren. She was a powerful Fairy, having spend a lifetime cultivating and she ruled a vast land and kept it pure and clean. Only the odd low level ghoul or Yao appearing and being either dealt with or left alone as long as they left the humans alone. She has faced demons and other creatures before even fellow fairies or corrupted versions of them. It was impossible that she was was killed by something so low tier. No something happened, but no one knows what. The only witness was Wei Wuxian, but he had been traumatized and it affected his memory. He had told them whenbhe suddenly apleared in the flower thaat had risen once more brilliant crimson once more that he remembees his mother asking him tone at in the protective circle. He doesn't know why she asked or what haplened just that one moment he was waiting the next he was attacked by dogs and woken up in the flower where he spent the year or two recovering from the attack. No one dared to press him. Not only in fear of causing him harm but of Queen Yu as well. Ever since, she kept Wei Wuxian close, she guarded him as fiercely as she guards her own children. After all he and her a'Cheng were only a week apart in age.

Yu Ziyuan blinks as her husband kisses her brow and she sighs, she had veen lost in thought but thankfully the love of her life was there to keep her safe and grounded.

"We will find out the truth... Just give it time... Now come, out guests have arrived and I am certain our children are greeting them now." He says and she sighs.

"We need to worry about a'Cheng's tenper." She huffs and he laughs. "Why did he have to get it from me?"

Chapter Text

Queen Yu and King Jiang arrived soon after and bowed to the Gusu Lan Delegation. Grandmaster Lan Qiren biwed in greeting before he introduced his two nephews.

"Crown Prince Lan Huan, Lan Xichen. And Second Prince Lan Zhan, Lan Wangji." The man said with just the slightest hint of pride in his voice.

The two boys were very handsome, they were dressed very finely in white and blue, the few pieces of jewellery they sported gleamed like snow in the sunlight and they bowed with perfect poise. Queen Yu knew they would be very handsome when they matured and many a lady and even men would flock to them. She vaguely entertains the idea of arranging one of her children to them but shakes it off because a'Li was already promised to Jin Zixuan, her other sworn sister's son. They were bot yet teens so she should not meddle yet. While she hoped a'Li would marry Him Zixuan, she knows she would not force her daughter if Jiang Yanli truly did not want him. Madam Jin would be upset for a while, but ultimately would not hold it against them. After all not all arranged marriages ended in a happily ever after.

Pergaps in another life time, Yu Ziyuan would have been an embittered woman and taken her anger out on all, especially a'Xian since everyone was so sweet on him especially her family. He was stronger than her son, but that is a given since he was a Fairy and her son is human. Mentally shaking her thoughts away, she bows when her husband introduces her and then she introduces their children.

"Our eldest, Princess Jiang Yanli, Jiang Qinghua. Our son Prince Jiang Cheng, Jiang Wanyin. And our other son, Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian." She zmiles proudly when the three bow in sync and give a proper greeting. They stand and smile at their guests who bow back. The Twin Jades looked a bit swept away by the three, but perhaps it was a good thing.

"Wei?" Lan Qiren asks, and then realizes it is prying and is about to retract his question but the child speaks up before that.

"Yes, my a'Die was Uncle Jiang's closest friend and advisor. My a'Niang was Auntie's sworn sister. They died when I was much smaller. Ever since Auntie and Uncle have raised me." He tells him easily enough, his smile beautiful even as he tells them something so traumatic.

"I see. My apologies."

"No need to worry Grandmaster Lan, everyone always asks and it is best to be told the truth than risk rumors being spread." Wei Ying chirps and Queen Yu smiles proudly. Oh yes she has heard the rumors. That her husband took a mistressand impregnated her but said mistress married his advisor to save face. Others claim Wei Ying was her child with Wei Changze. Oh please! Wei Changze and her were like oil and water. They could be near each other just fine but never mixed. They were too opposites. He was calm and cool while she was hit tempered and as loath as she is to admit it, quick to violence.

Though she would admit they would make a lovely child together. Not nearly as pretty as hee a'Li or a'Xian, but certainly eye fetching. Call her biased but that is her opinion.

"You must be tired. Come, allow us to show you to your rooms. Children, please guide the Princes to their quarters in the children's Wing." Jiang Fengmian says and waves his arm to start guiding the adults while Wei Ying bounces over to the Twin Jades bows ans takes their sleeves in his hands and pulls them along. Lan Qiren is going to scold the bold child but to his shock, Lan Zhan allows the casual touch while Lan Xichen allows Princess Jiang to take his other sleeve leaving Prince Jiang to lead the group struting like a proud peacock the while way.

"They will be fine." Queen Yu assures. "A'Xian is a good boy and often knows things without trying to make others comfortable or like him. Your nephews arw in good hands with him and a'Li. A'Cheng sadly has my temper." She sighs and the group chuckle. Queen Yu was infamous as the legendary Violet Spider. A name well earned in her opinion but had draw backs as well. Her son was often quick to anger and sometimes gis jealousy gets the best of him but she is working in that with him. She made sure that while others may be better, as long as he did his best she would be proud no matter what.

She never pits her children against each other like her own parents did. It is why she never really speaks to her sisters which saddens her now that she has such lovely children to introduce to them. Oh well. She smiles as a'Xian's bright voice carries over the still water giving a grand tour of Lotus Pier's palace to their younger guests and his siblings chipping in every now and again. She sees a great friendship blooming and hopes it will thrive....

Chapter Text

The howling of the black wind through a forest of pitch masked the faint sounds of chalk and blood being painted over the wide expense of the clearing. He worked hard and diligently, eyes bloodshot from days of mourning and sleepless nights. Pale and half sunken in cheeks from lack of sunlight and hardly eating. He had been a fool... He faltered only once, trusted the wrong lerson and it cost him something irreplaceable. If he had known then what he knew now, he wouls have sided with those who needed him and perhaps his precious ones would be here now. He worked and worked. Painstakingly making sure each character, rune and symbol was perfect and correct. He knew what he needed to do and he knew what needed to change. Once he was done he stepped forward in to the center of the spell, his personal items and those belonging to his lost loved ones laid on each circle. He began chanting the spell and the world is light up in purple as blue and red energy circle and colid and slowly the wind falls mute as the world falls away. As he falls he watches his sword, Shouyue fly away, Liebing, his Xiao not long after. A grass butterfly flutters away and a cloth doll that had seen better days chases it. The flash of pure white as Bichen pieces herself back together and flies off as the splintered peices of Wangji come back together blod soaked strings cleaning themselves as strings reattach themselves. A sword unseals itself and it is beautiful but its name had once been thought of as a disrespectful prank, but had proved her worth as whatever her late master desired. Suibian flew off after Bichen, like her own to harass the sword in playful companionship beflre the sounds of a Dizi meets his ears and there is Chenqing, surrounded by the black mist of resentful energy seemingly lonely but the strum of the Guqin and the echon of the Xiao call and soon the black bamboo flute flies away to join the others. After that he knows nothing...

Lan Huan's eyes snap open as he bolts up right. He is in the Hanshi. For a hysterical moment he thinks he did not succeed in casting Wei Ying's time spell, but as he get out of bed, he flops gracelessly because he is a few inches shorter than he had been, his bed was also lower than he remembered and then his door opened and there was 16 year old Wangji, a'Zhan, looking concerned.

"Xiong--" Lan Huan is up and across the room in a matter of seconds and cannot help the raw emotions as he holds an alive Lan Zhan in his arms. A Lan Zhan who had fallen off the cliff with Wei Ying when that man murdered them. He realizes that a' Yuan was not even birn at this time and it gives him time to prevent the tragedies that surrounded him from birth to his unhust death at the hands of fhe Cultivation World just because he was supposedly a Wen. "Gege?"

Lan Huan melts and pulls away, he cupps his brother's cheeks and cannot help but agree with Wei Ying's comment that his brother was much to pretty at times, which made him look adorable when he allowed emotion onto his face. Wei Ying! Xiao Ying would be with the Yunmeng Sect at this time, still so innovent and carefree! But he would also be with that bastard...

"Sorry, A'Zhan, I had a horrible vision of the future... You and your beloved had been murdered and I could jot save you... I could not even save the son you created..." He sighs so tiredly as he pretends that he is his newly 19 yeard old self.

"Brother?" Lan Zhan is confused and a bit worried as he rubs his brother's back. Lan Huan had been prone to visions and rarely confided or revealed what he had seen. This must have truly upset his brother. He had died? Him and his beloved? Impossible. Lan Zhan was planning to be celibate for the rest of his life... But he had a son too...

"What happened?" Lan Zhan asks, glaring at him to tell him everything and Lan Huan almost laughs in hysteria at ghe petulant set of his brother's face as minor as the shift was.

"You know I cannot... However I Will give you hints along the way... When you go out today, do be on the look kit for anyone who lost their invitation and allow them in..." He says and shoks himnout the door so he can get ready himself. He would protect his brother and their beloved Lotus and little Starling....

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan was not sure how to react to his brother's strange behaviour. However, he was given a small hint at something. Sighing he washed up, got dressed and ready for the day. He joined his brother for breakfast, which Lan Xichen was thankfully put together and seemed to have valmed down from the hysteria the vision induced. If he had been in his brother's place, Lan Zhan is certain he would have been just as manic and hysterical. He had been bruised from how tight his brother had hugged him. But something was not right. His eyes looked older...

Lan Zhan has these thoughs running circles in his mind all day long as he does his duties for the day and then heads out to patrol the mountain to make sure no one was lost or wandering where they should not be. It is around mid afternoon when he makes his way back and sees a group of Cultivators in white robes with the royal purples and blues of the Yunmeng Sect. They were looking worried as they seemd to be seraching for something.

"Damn it, I told you not to lose it!" One man snaps, his tone is loud and hostile, while the other gives a soft laugh, apologizing even as he keeps searching.

"It was in my qiankun pouch and I had not moved it or pulled it out... So where-- oh no...." He niticed the whole in the pouch and they all paled vecause that means they might have lost some of their suppiles along the way as well.

"Damn you, Wuxian!!"

"A'Cheng!" A woman snaps and he is cowed at the firm tone. "A'Xian, perhaps you csn go back along the bath we took and see of you can find it and check at the in we stayed in last night just in case if fell there. We will walk up as much as we can and wait to see if one of the Lan Disciples will pass by and explain what happened. I Will sew up your pouch as soon as we get inside. It must have gotten snagged somehow..."

"Ok--" they all turned as he approached and they opened a path for him. He stopped before the three leaders of the group and they all bowed to him. "Ah, forgive us, Gongzi, but we seemed to have lost our invite. Could you please help us?" The one with the brigjt smile asks, bowing again, the motion is quick and a bit rude, but he remembers his brother's words and he did not like how the loud mouth had yelled needlessly at the smiling one.

"No invite; no entery..." He says firmly and the group deflates, but he then turms to the smiling one. "Will help you find the lost invite. Must have it for safety reasons." He explains and the boy brightens up again.

"Oh, you think we might be bandits or something... That's understandable. But at least let Shijie inside so she can send a note to Uncle? I do not know how long my pouch has had this whole in it and we might have lost more than just the Jade token..." He explains, hopeful. He also wanted his sister somewhere safe and cool. The day was a bit warm and they were not sure how the heat of the day or the thin air of the mountain would affect her.

He looled over the frail woman and considers it for just a moment and then nods. He allows the women to go up and through. His Unclr must have been alerted to their presence as he was waiting at the top of the stairs. Maiden Jiang explains their situation and requests ro pen a letter to her father in case the Jade toke. Was mistakenly forgotten at home or fell on the barge that brought them to Caiyi town. His Uncle looks sour faced but allows it dince they were asking so politely. Nodding he heads back dow. And the smiling boy, the loudmouth and at least one other Jiang Disciple join him and they begin heading down the path tiward the town...

Lan Huan blinks as he walks up to the gates and sees Lady Jiang sending off one of their ravens with a letter, but her group is missing. He looks around and sees only a few fenale Jiang Cultivators sitting on a bench not to far from her and smiles softly when he does not see Wangji. He sees his uncle however and his face sours greatly. His obstinate uncle and his hypocrisy. Forcing his smile into its polite mask he approaches and asks what has happened and as he had recalled the Jade token is missing. He bever learned where it had vanished to last time, but she she confirms his brother was helping to find it he preened.

They waited until almoat supper when the group of Jiang Cultivators make it to the top, his brother holding onto the jade to make sure it is not lost.

"Wangji?"

"Stolen... Brought the thief." He murmurs and steps askde to show a known thief in the area. The man is sweating and lookign nervous as he is held by two of the biggest Jiang Disciples. "Recovered it safely."

"Good... Jiang-Gongzi." He greets the the younger version of the bastard in a sacchrine tone but then softens as he sees the vision of a young and happy Wei Ying. A Wei Ying who had not been tortured, who still had his golden core and looked to be calmer than he had been last time. Perhaps it was because he had warned his brother and he met them before Wri Ying began attempting to break through the wards. "Who are you, Gongzi?"

"This one is Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian, Head Disciple of Yunmeng Jiang. Greetings to First Jade!" He chirps and his cute little laugh is as sweet and adorable as he recalls.

"Please you must be tired. We can formally welcome the students when the others arrive in the next two days. Wangji, could you please escort them to their temporary homes here?"

"Mmm." He nods and turns to start walking. The Jiangs bow in thanks, Wei Ying giving a cheeky little smile and wave before he jogs to keep up with his sister, whom he hands his pouch as the thief is left before him and Uncle. Lan Huan smiles a smile that is anything but friendly.

"So you thought to steal a Jade Token and break i to the Cloud Recesses?" Is his omnious question...

Lan Zhan stops in front of the last room where Jiang Wanyin and Wei Wuxian would be staying. The Jiang Heir nods once curtlyband enters as his adoptive brother lingers to bow properly.

"Thank you so mich for your help, Lan-er-gege. If you had not come when you did. I might have tried to break open the wards to let the others in at least..." He admits and Lan Zhan stiffen in out rage but then blinks and considers what such a feat would mean about the young man's strength and intelligence.

"Do not break the wards... Will return the Jade when qiankun pouch is fixed... It is late. Eat and sleep. Bedtime is 9pm awaken by 5am..." He states and Wei Ying gasps but then laughs brightly.

"I guess becuase Lan-er-gege helped me, I will listen this one time! Goodnight and thank you again..." He thrn heads inside and slides the doors shut.

Lan Zhan is not sure how he feels. He walks back ina bitnof a daze and startles when his brother touches his warm ears.

"Wangji?"

"... Think.... Made a friend?"

"Oh, wonderful! Was it Wei-Gongzi? He seems like a bright and brilliant young man! Maybe he will surprise us with solutions that others might not consider?"

"Mm... Must meditate..."

"Alright, a'Zhan... Good night." He waves him off as they part ways. Lan Huan however does not go back to the Gandhi, he heads for the path leading behind the dorms and goes to check on Wei Ying, not trusting Jiang Wanyin; never again. However, he pauses as he looks at the library and gets a brilliant idea. He will order a few of the others to start making copies of the books and hiding the originals in the Blood Seal chests and hinding those in the back of the Mountain. He will also pay his father a visit. But for now he needed to discreetly ward Wei Ying's rooms and keep his beloved little Xiao Ying safe...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying was a care-free and often mischievous young man and he knew it. He was in the top ten of most handsome and eligible young masters because of gis skills and merits alone. He did not lile rules or to be told he cannot do something. However after running into the Second Jade and getring his help to find their missing supplies and invite. He had been so certain the cold beauty would refuse to help them or turn them away, but he had surprisingly helped out. And the First Jade was as handsome as they said he was and so charming and he had the cutest smile.

Since their arrival, the two Jades were seen around fairly frequently. Wei Ying sat across from Lan Wangji and sometimes when he dared to look in his direction Wei Ying would smile and give a tiny wave. He made a bit of waves when Grandmaster Lan had asked a seemingly impossible question and Wei Ying had stated a very unorthodox method. The man had gotten angry and three a scroll case at him, which he dodged easily but cut the man off mid-rant.

"Grandmaster, please. If normal methods even the most powerful of our skills and techniques cannot subdue the demon then would it not make sense to use the very resentment it feeds from against it? Like the supression cuffs use our own Qi against us?" Wei Ying challenges and the Grandmaster opens his mouth but falls silent.

"Uncle I beleive Wei-Gongzi has made a valid point... Please explain if you can?" Lan Xichen speaks up from where he was sitting in a small alcove supervising the lesson.

"If I were facing this demon and it is as powerful as you say. Then using arrays and talismans crafted to use Resentful energy or even neutral energy can be used. Take the purification circle. If it is not working, perhaps change a few characters or symbols, perhaps both if needs be, and it should instead use the Resentful entery to 'purify" the denon and weaken it to allow a more standard methid to kill itbor suppress it. And Firce Corpses are nit always aggressive. Perhaps if we found away to control them or at lease bring back the conscious of the person and learn of how they died we can aid then no to find rest or have a group to scout a dangerous situation that is already dead and thus cannot be killed again or detected..."

"Interesting..." Lan Xichen hums, hiding his pleased smile behind his fist as he pretends to 'think over' the suggestions.

"... I will admit that there is a smidgen of merit. But to go down shuch a dark path--"

"But Uncle, you have always told us balance is key... If the path of Light is not working wouldn't the Dark path work instead?" Lan Wangji asks, after thinking over what Wei Wucian had said and finding... The idea was not repulsive. "Certainly going down the Dark path is dangerous but what if the one so learn the dark methids had someone on the light path of equal or perhaps greater power to balance them and pull them back?"

"That is a good idea, Wangji. And it does actually follow our belief in balance. It deals with the threat, allows for all methids to be used to subdue or terminate the threat and keeps the one who has to dip into the Demonic arts from losing themselves to the madness..." Lan Xichen adds in and Wei Ying is floored by the Twin Jades sticking up for him.

"... Perhaps this requires further research and discussion. Wei Wuxian, you will attend Wangji in the Libaray pavilion to research, draft and compose a valid use for Resentment. Wangji is powerful and should be more than enough to pull you back if, and this is a very big IF, you can prove your theory correct with evidence." Lan Qiren houses as the young man gives him a bright smile so loke his mother's and he bows respectfully.

"This one will do his best to convince Laoshi!" He says and gracrfully drops back to his knees already drafting something on a bit of spare parchment. As he is busy, Lan Qiren continues his lesson if a bit off kilter now...

Lan Huan is all too pleased with the outcome. Instead of Wei Ying being chased out of the class, he managed to start sewing seeds of open mindedness so his Xiao Ying was not demonized once more. It was funny how the first time everyone had been relying on him as a whole to win the war for them but when it was over and they could not collar and chain him to them, he needed to be destroyed. Flashes of the Seige on the Burial Mounds flashes in his mind, the screams, the blood and death little a'Yuan's tiny body too cold and still in his arms... 

'Not this time, not this time...' He swears as he calms himself and keeps listening in, watching Wei Ying as he works on his forst spell. The young man had aleays been brilliant with spell crafting, Array smithing and creating or tweaking talismans. Lan Huan already had a contract set up to ensure that anything that Wei Ying deems good and working, that he is willing to share with the public, he gets the royalties due for everything sold. The Jins had stolen Wei Ying's notes and made profit off them as well as slowly took over. Lan Huan will not let that happen a second time...

Lan Zhan sat reading a book on Yin and Yang energy in the library with Wei Wuxian hunched over the table, his hair a bit messy from running his fingers through it, pulling on the long black tresses in frustration or shaking hisnhead rapidly as he seemed to chase ideas from his own mind. He was muttering to himself. The words all various characters, symbols, spells or evrn units of measurement as he worked. There was a large pile, messy too, of half sketches and doodles. Notes in messy scrawl that only Wei Wuxian seemed to be able to read. Lan Zhan will admit he was rather... Distracted. The young man had been at this for weeks now, slowly compiling a basis for Demonic Cultivaion. Some of the completed works that the younger boy showed hin proved brilliant and clearly he was a good artist because the lines were neat and perfect compared tonhis notes. But perhaps it was done on purpose to prevent theft?

"Man... I need to figure out how to get thr energy to do what I want..., he groans dramatically and flops down on the table in a tired frustrated heap.

"Ah, is something wrong?" They look up to see that Lan Xichen was bringing tea and snacks. Lan Zhan cocked a brow at his brother who chuckled and joimed them as he has been doing the last few days. "Wangji?"

"Frustrated." He says simply and Lan Xichen just hums.

"Stuck I see... Perhaps I can help?" He asks and pulls up Leibing, his Xiao. "Perhaps if I play Peace and Clarity for you, you will relax..." He offers.

"Mn, will help." Lan Zhan carefully sets his book aside and summons Wangji to the table.

"Oh, no! You don't--"

"You clearly are stressed and need a break. If nothing else, the music will help you relax..." Lan Xichen cuts in gently and the youngest of the three sighs and nods his head. "Good now then have some tea, I believe this is your favorite snack in Yunmeng? Lady Jiang gave it to me..." He hands him a pouch of lotus seeds and the boy gives a delighted little squeak and he looks so much lile a happy bunny in that moment. Lan Xichen sees Lan Zhan's fingers twitch with the urge to pet Wei Ying and it makes him smile.

The time traveler was discreetly pushing the pair together much sooner than they had the first time, wanting Wei Ying already familiar with them and comfortable to come to them for aid. Besides he wanted a'Yuan back and for that Lan Zhan and Wei Ying needed to be lovers first. He could wait as long as needed. Focusing he begins to play Peace as Wangji plays Clarity. The songs mesh together wonderfully and they watch Wei Ying relax as he snacks on his seeds and then seems to drift off for a small nap.

It does jot matter it is a good bonding moment. His brother is relaxed and open, the micro shifts of his face telling the First Jade that something was taking root and if nurtured and protected will grow as big and bright as it had been before. Lan Xichen already felt his own love grow bigher. They sat there for maybe and hour before their peace was ruined by Jiang Wanyin. Lan Xichen was proud his brother already hated the young man and subtly hinted his own displeasure for his brother to see.

"Wei Wuxian!! Where are you!?" The bellow startles their little Bunny Wei from where he had fallen over in his sleep leaning on Wangji who had not dared to stop playing or remove him. His brother was certainly falling faster ifbhe was allowing Wei Ying's touch even if it was a sleepy accident.

"Huh!? Wha!" He gasped and blushed as he tried to right himself, cheeks pink from embarrassment. "Sorry! I--"

"Wuxian come out of hiding right now or I'll break your legs!!" Wanyin's shouting was thunderous in the peaceful tranquillity of the Cloud Recesses.

"Oospe... I need to go--"

"Will clean up for Wei Ying... Uh, Wei Wuxian." Lan Zhan's ears turn pink. At the slipnin familiar address as the boy smiles and hurries off.

"Oh and I think I figured out the problem! Tomorrow csn we go find a low level Yao?" He asks Lan Xichen as he hops in place, nervous as his brother's shouthing was getting louder and closer.

"Certainly... Best run alingm and tell your brother I said to please report to the disciplinary Building to recieve punishment for shouting." Lan Xichen says, his smile just a bit feral with pleasure at finally being able to start punishing the bastard. Wei Ying nods, nit noticing the menacing look as he hurries off.

"Brother does not like Jiang-Gongzi."

"Neither do you, a'Zhan." He smirks back and his brother nods, not denying it as he cleans up the notes carefully organizing them. "You seemnto like Wei Wuxian..."

"As does brother... If brother wishes, this little brother will not pursue Wei Ying..." Lan Zhan looks so dejected at the idea.

"I would never deny you anything, at least no within reason... Why can we simply nit share Xiao Ying? He is certainly comfortable with us..." He offers and his brother takes a moment to think and then nods. "But I cannot do anything right now. So you will have to love him fkr both of us right now."

"Mn." Lan Zhan nods. Only 3 weeks and Lan Zhan had fallen hard. But it was impossible to not love Wei Ying. He was too cute and so bright, like a bunny in spring...

Chapter Text

Lan Xichen stood back with Lan Zhan as they watched Wei Ying whistle and the resentful energy dance to his call as the Yao was forced to obey him. Lan Xichen made a mental note to visit the Burial Mounds to cut down a bamboo shoot and carve out Chenqing once more for Wei Ying. Soon the Yao was fully under Wei Ying's thrall and the young man was all to happy with himself.

"I did it!" He cheers and Lan Zhan nods his head once, a pleased hum sounding. "I got it from how you sometimes play music and it helps to calm or clear away resentment! But instead of doing that it helps control it and subdue it!"

"Xiao Ying is brilliant." Lan Xichen praises and the young man blushes at the praise. "Now then to be certain your new friend will not cause trouble..." He pulls out a special sealing collar and carefully fits it around the fox like Yao's neck. "There... Xiao Ying need only add some energy to it and the seal is complete."

"Oh, thank you, but that must havr been super expensive! How could I repay you for that!?" Wei Ying panics.

"By being yourself and working hard." Lan Xichen says softly as his brother nods. Mentally they would accept Wei Ying being eternally theirs but that can come later.

After a bit more practice and testing, after Wei Ying sealed the collar, they headed back to the Cloud Recess the Yao carefully tucked into Xichen's arms...

The following day, Wei Ying presented his findings and research to Lan Qiren and while their uncle tried to debase and disregard everything, since it was not the "traditional route" he could not fully do so without admitting that Wei Wuxian had achieved the impossible. It only served to upset him more when after lessons others showed an interest. Lan Xichen was most pleased because if he could help Wei Ying establish a base for Demonic Cultivation, then the chances of what happened before will drop significantly. He was not pleased, however by Jiang Wanyin berating Wei Ying for his originality, proof and presentation. You would think he would try to ride his robe tails like last time. But then again, if the memories the Burial Mound shared with him, it was because Lotus Pier had been destroyed, Wei Ying's golden core now in his chest and Wei Ying slowly slipping into madness from being drowned in resentment and not fully recovered from giving his golden core to the ungrateful brat.

If Lan Huan had any say this time, Wei Ying would not lose his core. He had seen what it did to the innocent young man, how it drove him to madness and ultimately to his grave. Never again. Lan Zhan was also scowling at Jiang Wanyin, Wei Ying's smile no longer bright with pleasure and the way he almost hunched in on himself. The second Jade almost got up to slug the Jiang Heir. Lan Zhan took Wei Ying to the library where they would research more into his theories and spend time together, that certainly brought back some life to Wei Ying, his fox like Yao was there, lying on a pillow under the open window and looking oddly cute as it waited for them. Over the next week this was how they spent time. Lan Xichen sometimes joining them and it slowly made love bloom in Wei Ying's heart.

So when Lan Laoshi left to the conference and Xichen was left in charge, he was all too happy to spend any ann free time with his sister and his two favorite Lans. Lan Xichen knows the Abyss is soon and it would be the perfect time to test out Wei Ying's newest theory...

Chapter Text

Lan Huan had busied himself the last few days, sending out groups of students and seniors every day to Caiyi town for 'leisure time' warning them all to keep an eye out and to offer any help someone may request. He impressed upon them that they were not to charge the people, but to preform the service free of charge. If the people insist on giving them something as a gift, then accept it, but they were not to demand or ask for compensation. This way they would catch the Abyss much sooner than they had last time. He had also tasked their best scribes to make the copies of the books and to secure the originals in the chests and hide them in the back mountains. When he was not spending time with his brother and their beloved, he did some sneaky work of his own. He had written to Nie Mingjue after his initial break down of seeing his brother alive and his 16 year old self. He had quickly drafted a letter, careful to make it seem like he was seeking council on set another disturbing vision of the future, carefully weaving warnings and pointing his best friend and sworn brother in the right directions. He had carefully slipped him hints about the Sabers and how to temporarily satisfy the Resentment within them. He had to be careful to not mention anything too concrete without Wei Ying having established his basis for Demonic Cultivation nor coming up with the solution he had seen in his notes. Lan Huan pointed Mingjue toward Meng Yao and carefully worded his 'vision' of how the young man could be their greatest alley and their worse enemy if not handled carefully. He asked him to see if said young man existed and to take him underwing, but to not strong arm him. He made sure to add a progress report on Nie Huaisang so his friend did not get too suspicious of him and he mentioned that there was a very brilliant if unorthodox student in attendance and gushed about how the young man seemed to be drawing Wangji out of his shell! That would certainly get his Da-ge to humor him without asking too many questions though Mingjue knows that Lan Huan cannot always recall everything he saw nor can he disclose it all and risk the future drastically altering on him. Pleased with his letter he had sent it off and kept up a near daily communication with the slightly older male. Lan Huan had recalled the great help that Meng Yao had been to them, but also had seen some things as he fell through time that left him disturbed. As much as he wanted to be able to trust the shorter male; he couldn't be sure how fate would play her hand this time. But Lan Huan swore that if Meng Yao betrayed him or any of those he cared for, he would snap the little snake's neck personally.

Shaking his head, Lan Huan focuses on where he is walking and walks up to the doors that belonged to the Seclusion house his father had vanished into long before both his and Lan Zhan's births. Lan Huan has very few memories of his father, Lan Tao, curtesy name Lan Mingshen, titled the Qingchen-jun. Lan Huan had no idea how he felt about the man who abandoned his family. If his father truly loved his mother as many of their family claimed he did, he would not have allowed her to be locked away, he would have been with her every day, been with him and Wangji. Thinking about it, Lan Huan felt furious as he all but slams the doors open and does not bother to show his father the proper respect the Head of not only their Family but their Sect deserved.

"A'Huan?" the man calls confused as he opens his eyes from where he had been meditating.

"You do not get to call me so familiarly Qingchen-jun." Lan Huan growls and it startles his father at the aggressiveness. "You abandoned me and a'Zhan! You abandoned mother and let her waste away and die alone and miserable! Because of you Lan Zhan spent nearly two days kneeling outside of her doors waiting for her to let him in after she had died and he didn't understand that mother would never come back! Who did you truly love? Mother or you Laoshi!? Did you even bother to ask mother why it was she had killed him!? If mother loved to kill for the thrill of it, why did you, the Paragon of all that was Just in your generation, marry her?! Why would you allow her to see your sons unsupervised!? Personally, I believe your Laoshi and the Elders provoked her because they did not approve of her. She was 'too wild' for their tastes, too unpredictable and uncontrollable! Honestly, did you even bother to think!? Why would mother kill senselessly!? Because of you, those of us who came after you have to find 'respectable' matches or go our how lives cellibate!" Lan Huan is beyond furious at his father. His father who fell madly in love with his mother, but abandoned her after he had secured her as his wife and sired two children whom he rarely if ever interacted with. "While I am thankful to Uncle for stepping up to lead the Sect in your absence and raised both myself and Wangji. We needed our Muqin and Fuqin! Uncle clearly has no desire for children and it shows at how utterly repressed Wangji is! I am the only living soul besides mother who even knows what Wangji is thinking or feeling! He is horribly shy and when he does speak he is often too blunt! I'm surprised he even made a friend!"

"Wangji made a friend?" Lan Tao asks and Lan Huan nearly screams with aggravation because seriously?! Was that all his father heard!? "Tell me, what is this friend like?"

"Honestly?" Lan Huan demands, eyes narrowing. At his father's nod, he sighs and tells him all about Wei Ying. and because it is impossible to hold onto his righteous fury while talking of his beloved Xiao Ying and how happy Wangji has become since the boy's arrival and the upheaval the young Yunmeng Disciple was causing. THe pride and love was cler in his voice.

"Ah, a'Huan you like this Wei-gongzi as well?" His father suddenly says and it catches him off guard that he chokes on his spit and has to take a large gulp of water. "Do not try to play me... You speak with such fondness of this Wei-gongzi. He must be truly something to capture both of my sons' attention... But isn't it dangerous? As far as I know, you and a'Zhan have never fought. I don't think you've ever had a disagreement..." He seems to think hard. He has missed nearly all of his sons' lives and it is a slap to his face. Much of what a'Huan had screamed at him in a rare fit of true anger, had been like physical blows. It is much to late to make it up to his dearly beloved wife, but hopefully it is not too late to make it up to his sons.

"... Wangji and I have agreed to share Wei Wuxian." Lan Huan says at length, when he cannot see what angle his father would possibly trying for. "We've shared much in our lives, I have pretty much raised my brother when Uncle refused to give affection and mother was unable to do so. And seriously, why do we so many rules? most of them are contradictory anyway and while it's fine to follow the rules as a clan and a Sect, it is very pompous to assume guests coming in should memorize and abide by them perfectly! And even worse to go to another Sect and expect them to be like your own! Uncle has had many guests disciplined already, the punishments are quite brutal for them, who have not had our training to help them withstand the pain! And he is quite narrow minded."

"A'Zhe has always been this way." Lan Tao chuckles bitterly. "We often fought over what is the 'right path' one should take." He sighs and sets his tea cup down. "You have given me much to think about... but why come to me now? What troubles you, a'Huan? And no, I am not asking as Lan Mingshen or as Qingchen-jun. I am asking as your Fuqin, your Baba..."

Lan Haun bristles, but cannot hold his anger. His father in the last timeline had come out to try and protect the clan, had helped secret him out the back of the mountain with as many books, had ushered the children after him. He had died trying to find and protect Wangji. While he was an absent father and leader, he still fought to protect his clan; to save the lives of his brother and sons. Sighing tiredly, Lan Huan spins his tale of the 'visions' he had gotten at the start of the lectures and how some have come true, while others he has taken a few precautions of because of how murky the future was. He didn't want to risk them being caught unawares. His father listened closely, eyes as golden as Wangji's if paler in shade, pierced through him. It made him nervous that his father could read minds and it unnerved him how much Wangji looked like the man, if younger, more broad shoulder and much prettier thanks to their mother's beauty, verse the handsomely rugged features of their father. When he is done, ending with his precautions regarding the students, both Sect and guests alike, heading down to Caiyi town and cautioning them to aid where they can and to keep an eye out for anything strange. It is not unheard of for sudden phenomenon to happen even in a captail city where the Sect either lived or was very close by.

"Hmm, you've got it handled... but please do not play me for a fool, a'Huan... While you've been prone to visions before, these 'visions' are much too vivid for you're usual bouts of sneaking around... Now try the truth this time, Lan Haun." He says firmly.

Lan Huan feels his ears warm at being caught out, but he scowls at his father. They stare one another down, but eventually the son bows to his father's whims.

"I am not the Lan Huan of this time... I actually come from a future that is not too far away. In my time, Wei Wuxian had all but singlehandedly won the war against Qishan Wen, but in doing so, lost so much and in the end, he was labeled a danger and was hunted down and killed. In the process, Wangji was also killed. Not even their son survived. I had hesitated, doubted Wangji for just a moment and it cost not only their lives but many innocents... Lan Yuan was only 3 years old when he was butchered along with many elderly and sickly survivors of Wen Rouhan's insanity and the war. You died in a siege on the Cloud Recesses by the Wens, you helped me, the women and children escape and went to find Wangji... I have no idea what happened to you, but Wangji had told me that Wen Xu had taken your head for a trophy and had even proudly waved it like a war banner wherever he went." Lan Huan snarls darkly at that particular memory, the memories of the Dafan Wens all hung from the trees, beaten and cut up. Little a'Yaun's too cold body in his arms, his nephew looked to have been sleeping, if you ignored that his little throat had been slit open and that he was covered in bruises from a severe beating.

Lan Tao growls, slamming a fist into the table, furious at what would befall his youngest son and his family.

"And what did Gusu Lan do?" He hoped his clan upheld their motto to be righteous and to aid the innocent.

"They were the ones to damn Wei Wuxian... Uncle, who is still not over whatever issue he has with Wei Wuxian's mother, never liked him and always singled him out. I didn't know it then, but Xiao Ying's golden core had been given to his sworn brother, after said young man's own core had been melted by the Core Melting Hand of the Qishan Wen Sect. This left him vulnerable to the Resentment of the Burial Mounds and it slowly drove him to insanity. He created and Mastered Demonic Cultivation. He in his madness, he was able to wipe out almost all of Qishan Wen on his own for what they did to the Yunmeng Jiang Sect and as ashamed as I am to admit this, the rest of the Great Sects opted to use him as our secret weapon. However when the war was over and things were settling down: almost everyone wanted to hunt down everyone with the surname Wen and either imprison them or simply kill them. Regardless if they actually aided in the war, or were even related to Wen Rouhan. Master Wei was against it, but no one would listen to him and even I failed to sway their minds. It wasn't until a good friend of Xiao Ying's was killed in one of the Jin concentration camps and Master Wei lost his temper and thus control. He was able to revive his friend as a Fierce Corpse, but one who had its memories of when he was alive. He was labeled too dangerous when he refused to be subjugated to any Sect, even his former one. he took the remaining Wens and fled to the Burial Mounds where for a few short years they lived in peace. Wangji found them and at some point they had a'Yuan. He was such an adorable child, so innocent and sweet." He gets lost in his too few memories of his nephew while he was alive. He looked like a mini Wangji only with Xiao Ying's silver eyes and he even had the cute little hair that refused to stay down like his Mama. "Xiao Ying's former Sworn brother was the one to lead the attack. I tried to find a'Yuan and secret him away as I had promised Wangji and Xiao Ying, but... it was too late and then they chased Xiao Ying to Nightless City where they tried to collar him or destroy him. He chose death, but he made everyone fight each other before he met his end. I just remember watching both he and Wangji fall to their deaths in the lava pools down below... I mourned for weeks, haunted by those images, haunted by the cheers and celebrations. Uncle had had Wangji severely punished because he loved Master way, did you know that? 300 strikes with the discipline whip... his back was a mess. I am shocked he could move at all, never mind fight as fiercely as he could to save his beloved... It was after they were gone that I realized my own feelings and in a moment of both clarity and insanity I recalled Xiao Ying telling Wangji about a spell to reverse time. He'd been planning to use it to prevent some thing that triggered the Siege of the Mounds... I stole into the vault and stole the notes, I broke into Qinghe Nie's vaults as well Lanling Jin's and especially Yunmeng Jiang's. I spent days memorizing  the spell and getting what I needed to activate it... I fell through time and woke up just the day before the Yunmeng Jiang Sect arrived for the lectures...."

Lan Tao listened raptly to his tale, his fists tight and threatening to break bone as he resisted slamming his fists into the table again. He was furious at the betrayal young Wei-Gongzi suffered, the cruel hand he seemed to be dealt and ultimately his and his son's deaths as well as his grandson's death. He mourned for the child he never got to meet and likely will never meet. He is severely disappointed in his brother. Lan Tao may have been a neglectful father, but he certainly would not have turned his back on his sons if they had begged him to help them secret their beloved somewhere safe. He would not condemn innocents simply because they share a surname with someone as terrible as Wen Rouhan. He takes deep calming breaths a finally relaxes his hands, feeling them tingle and ache as blood comes back to them. Once he is calm he looks at his son, who is not his son, if that makes any lick of sense.

"I believe you... I am sorry that you had to witness all of this. I am sorry, that I was not the father you deserve, but know that you are not alone in this... Tell me, what all happens and what do you have planned to prevent them from happening? And I believe I've spent enough time in Seclusion... It is time I wrest control of my Clan and Sect from my idiot little brother and the Elders..." He growls and Lan Huan cannot help the sharp smile that steals over his face as he begins to lay out his plans...

That evening, when its time for dinner and everyone has gathered in the dinning hall, Lan Huan has to resist cackling like he once saw Wei Ying after he pulled a successful prank on Uncle. He had walked in and sat beside his brother and could not resist the small pleased smile as the gasps begin and the murmuring sounds. No one obeys the rule of silence as they watch Sect Leader Lan Mingshen walk into the hall in full dress, his guan secured properly and a polite smile that was scarily similar to his eldest son's as he nods and greets everyone as he walks by and then as he takes his place at the head, he beckons the meal to begin. Lan Tao looks at his sons and gives a warmer smile to them.

"You look well, a'Zhan... I have not seen you since you were a newly born babe." He is sad he missed so much of his son's lives but he is pleased his sons are both so strong and healthy.

He looks around to spot the Nie heir chatting with someone from the Yunmeng Sect, this young man has a bright and smiling face and when he looks at him. Lan Tao is floored by his beauty. This must be Wei-Gongzi. No wonder his sons are so smitten with him. He looks like the embodiment of Happiness and Chaos combined. That means the sourpuss next to him is the pissant who kills him and his a'Zhan in the future. He narrows his eyes at the Jiang Heir, but is discreet about it. No need to alert anyone to anything. He enjoys the low level chaos he's caused and spends his meal chatting with his sons, getting to know them better, pestering them about Young Master Wei, and when it is confirmed the pretty young man with the near permanent smile on his face is in fact Wei Wuxian, he cannot help teasing his sons about when he could begin planning the bride price and arranging their wedding. His sons flush so bad that their cheeks actually turn pink and it draws many people's attention, but no one dares to ask about it. By the time dinner is over, everyone is full on gossiping now and the three Lans retire to the Hanshi. Lan Zhan, who had been very patient with his brother's sudden strangeness has had enough. He closes the doors behind himself and his family a bit more harshly than he intended but it has the desired effect. Lan Huan sighs, he knew he could not hide this forever from his brother. Wangji was just too preceptive. So after preparing tea and sealing his home, he recounts his tale a second time, though he is very careful to omit certain things and refuses to elaborate on them because he knows his brother would seek revenge. Especially after he tells him of the deaths of his son and Wei Ying. He does not tell him who all is responsible and will not cave to his brother's glares or subconscious pouts when he learns his father knows and also refuses to tell him. Instead they focus on Lan Huan's plans, one of which is to start the base for Demonic Cultivation now and get it established early as a valid art for those who cannot use regular Cultivation or have an affinity for both like Wei Ying seems to.

He tells them about the Waterborne Abyss and as much as he wants to prevent certain things, he cannot risk changing too much because then they loose their tentative control of how the events to follow. He lays out all that he knows and what he had seen during his fall through time. He has already set up something to hopefully keep Meng Yao under control. He cannot do anything about the Jins or the Wens. He also cannot do anything about Jiang Wanyin and that pisses him off even more, but thankfully he's still 'innocent' right now and has not done anything too grievous yet. His main focus was keeping Wei Ying safe from as much harm as possible, but somethings happened beyond their control. However that doesn't mean they cannot set up back up plans. One of the memories he got was where the Tortoise of Slaughter was. They could send a secret team in about three weeks to take out the Tortoise. Lan Huan needed to make sure Wei Ying was with them because he had found that Ying Sword that he later turned into the Stygan Tiger Seal, but this time because Lan Huan was helping to stabilize the madness, though it has not shown up yet in Wei Ying, he believes they will be able to make it into something better this time. He also needed to go to the Burial Mounds and get the bamboo to make Chenqing once more. But for now his biggest concern was the Abyss and the danger it posed to Wei Ying, that was when he was first infected with Yin energy. But because he's started his basis, this time will hopefully better...

Chapter Text

Lan Xichen stood by the gates, waiting for the group of young masters and Lan disciples that would be venturing out today. He had an actual vision, helped by his small visit to the Burial Mounds the day before, of the Abyss attack being today. The shoot of black bamboo was already cut down to size and had the wholes carefully cut into it. He only needed to make the braided talisman for it, but he and Wangji were going to make that together and they wanted it to be perfect. Wangji was standing at his side as was his father. Lan Mingshen seemed to be having fun getting under his brother's skin and annoying the Elders, he's also been slowly changing the Wall of Rules, having them all written down into a book and then would have a few scribes, preferably younger ones, go over it and streamline the rules or toss out a number of them. He may or may not hint at the ones that needed to be toss. 3000 rules was indeed a bit much and not only contradictory, but also counterproductive. He had walked by the section that was meant for the children too young to start training and they were so quiet. Children were meant to run and play, scream and be loud. Indeed things need to change. He will not welcome his grandchildren into such a repressive environment. He also watched some of the lessons and was impressed with what Wei-gongzi accomplished in such a short amount of time and even found his pet Yao oddly adorable. Speaking of said animal, the black and blue Yao came dashing over the pathway and quickly leaned up pawing at his leg, whining for pets.

"Hello, Xiao Huli, are you going on an adventure today?" He asks, scratching at the big pointed ears. "You be good and protect your master."

The fox gave a small howl and then went to twin around both the Lan brothers' legs, giving a pleased purr like sound. The three young masters soon came into sight and Nie Huaisang was between Wei Wuxian and Jiang Wanyin, the latter scolding his brother about the fox. Wei Wuxian's smile was brittle and his laugh was fake, but pitched just right that unless you know what to look for, what to listen for, you would think nothing was wrong. Lan Wangji walked up to them and the smile brightened and the laugh this time was genuine and warm.

"Lan Zhan! We're going to town, want to join us?" Wei Ying asks, looking hopeful.

"Of he doesn't, you dolt! Why would he want to spend more time with your annoying ass?!" Jiang Wanyin snaps. "He only spends time with you because of the wager between you and Lan Laoshi!"

"Would like to join, Wei Ying." Lan Zhan says and bows slightly to the pretty young man that has captured his heart in his delicate hands. "Can show Wei Ying around Caiyi..."

"Eh, Wangji-xiong has never give me a tour!" Nie Huaisang whines.

"Nie-xiong has been to Caiyi often enough to know it very well." He says blandly and the young Nie Heir squawks in shock before flinging himself onto Wei Ying, in mock sobs about Lan Zhan's cruelty.

"A'Huan, please escort them. It is market day and it can be hectic. Do watch out for anything strange." Lan Mingchen says, drawing their attention to him as his eldest son bows, they know today is the day and the Sect Leader planned to watch what results of Wei-Gongzi's diligent studies and practices would yield.

"Oh course, Fuqin." He says and turns to see the rest of their party finally arrive and soon they are off. Thanks to Lan Xichen having those visiting town help out and keeping an eye out for things, the Water Ghoul infestation was noticed sooner and thankfully no one innocent had been hurt. And today they would see Wei Ying's newest creations at work as well as if his theory was correct.

Much like last time, they got onto the boats, Wei Ying buy a basket of loaquats and tossing one to each of their party members. When he calls out to Wangji this time, his brother catches his own and gives a pleased smile to Wei Ying, who gives a bright laugh and tosses another to Lan Xichen, who catches it and the two brothers take a bite of the sweet treat, all the sweeter because their beloved had given it to them. The others were chatting softly as slowly leave Caiyi town and move out into Bailing Lake. Wei Ying was the first to notice the danger first, yet again as the thick fog rolled in and visibility became difficult.

"Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying calls and slashes at him with his or, giggling like he was playing a prank.

Lan Zhan reacted quickly, jumping from his boat to land on his brothers as his boat was flipped over and the three water ghouls clinging to the bottom give gurgled cries as they are slashed by a sword. The violet light telling them it was Shendou, Jiang Wanyin's sword. Wei Ying nods at his brother and then he steps back and stomps on the back end of his boat as the sword swings towards his boat and ghouls under his own are taken out next. Pulling Suibian out, he sends his own sword and between the two Jiang Disciples the water ghouls are cleared form under their boats before the two swords are called back to their respective owner. Wei Ying using his oar to turn Lan Zhan's boat back over the right way and the older boy jumps back onto it with a nod to Wei Ying.

"I see the Jiang's expertise with water based threats is a very well earned reputation." Lan Xichen praises, mostly Wei Ying, who gives him a shy smile while Jiang Wanyin puffs up with pride. "Perhaps you might know what this is?" He waves at the fog around them.

"Never seen anything like this." Jiang Wanyin admits, kneeling down to try and peer into the murky water below, but other than dark shadows too far away for him to get at what they are.

".... I don't know, but... it's filled with resentment, like a staggering amount of it... Enough so to awaken every dormant Yao, Ghoul and evil spirit in the lake and perhaps the surrounding trees..." Wei Ying frowns, before his Fox Yao, who had been perched on his shoulders quietly begins to growl in warning. "Look out!" He shouts as something jumps out of the water. it is a big black mass of what they thought was seaweed at first, but when more lunge out and almost knock a few disciples into the water, Wei Ying quickly jumping onto the boat with Wen Ning and Wen Qing, pushing the siblings down and getting knocked into the water by it, he realizes it is water and that is all he needs to confirm his hypothesis.

"Wei Ying!!" Lan Zhan cries out, the sound so reminiscent of the scream he uttered when his beloved was about to die, shocked Xichen for just a second and then he quickly pulled out Beiling and began to play a song he remembered Wei Ying playing, thankfully the young man had been writing and practicing it so this would not be suspcious. The discordant and violent song churned the water and he glances at his brother, who nods and quickly strips off all of his robes by his inner robe and pants, sword in hand he dives in...

Meanwhile the hair like monster pulls Wei Ying towards the heart of the Abyss and Wei Ying sees a black pearl like object at the epicenter of a massive vortex of resentment.

'We meet again...' something dark and sinister whispers, but it seems almost happy to see him. 'Use the seals you made... Hurry!'

Wei Ying wants to ask what the heck is going on, but he cannot move, the hair is trying to strangle him, force him to open his mouth and swallow the water, to drown and die and become one with it. But suddenly a brilliant sword glare cuts through it and he nearly 'falls' over in the water, but a strong arm around his waist keeps him in place. He turns to see Lan Zhan, his golden eyes wide with concern, his face pinched and conveying his concern. Wei Ying almost smiles, but he stops and quickly pulls out the 13 Fold Sealing Talismans he had been working on for the last few days and after activating them and tossing them out to four cardinal points of a compass then to the halfway marks in between each, one above and one below with the last beside the black pearl. Nodding his head, he pulls out a jar form his sleeve and carefully presses his lips to it and sucks in the air trapped inside. Having just that handful bit more of time before he needs to surface, he begins to draw out the seals with resentful energy as Lan Zhan draws complimenting ones with spiritual energy and the two combine into a large purple seal that shoots forward at the center talisman and in a flash of red, blue and purple light all 13 talisman light up and a whirlpool forms, the two boys are yanked into the current before they are slowly forced towards the surface and they both gasp for air before Lan Zhan pulls Wei Ying close and with a burst of power they are air born, Wen Ning and Nie Huaisang quickly catching hold of Wei Ying's arms, holding the young man between them as Lan Zhan gets his sword under his feet and then reaches for his beloved, pulling him to stand before him on his sword. By now Lan Xichen has switched from the disturbing song to a calming, soothing song and they watch as wat appears to be nine beams of white light shoot up into the air and then spiritual projections of the talisman begin to wrap and fold in onto each other, 13 of them before with one last flash, the lake calms, the fog vanishes and the water is crystal clear once more.

"Xiao, Wuyun! Retrieve!" Wei Ying calls and the fox, who had vanished to avoid being sucked into the vortex as well, pops back into existence and dives into the water below.

"We should land... anyone hurt?" Lan Xichen asks as they all head to the bank and land. "Xiao Ying?"

"I'm ok, just a bit bruised form one of the Waterborne Abyss's drones trying to drown me..." Wei Ying says.

"Wen-guniang, you are a healer correct?" Nie Huaisang asks the woman, and she nods. "Could you please attend to Wuxian-xiong? the rest of us can wait."

"Wei Wuxian, sit down." She orders as she walks over to him and the moment he is seated on a fallen log, Wen Qing is on him in an instant. "Thank you for protecting my brother and I."

"No problem." Wei Ying smiles. His throat is bruised like someone tried to strangle him with multiple ropes or cords. He was a little paler than normal and he looked drained. "What was that technique? I've never seen it before... a Jiang Sect specialty?"

"No, it's mine actually. I recently invented it... This is the firs time I've used it. It needs two people to activate it a Lure and an Anchor. I call it the 13 Fold Seal." He smiles and she stares at him in shock, they all do minus the Lan brothers who look proud of him before there is a splash and Wuyun returns running past them to Qingchen-Jun, who lands just behind where Wei Ying is being treated.

"We sensed a great power just now and came to see what happened." He says, several seniors with him. "What has happened?" He knows what happened, but is playing dumb. "Hmm? What is this Xiao Huli? A present for me?" The pearl is dropped into his hand and he blinks in shock. "What... what the-!?"

"That father, is a Waterborne Abyss... Though how one formed in Lake Bailing is beyond my imaginings..." Lan Xichen says, looking like the cat who got the cream and the canary, though managing to keep it polite and affable. "Wangji and Wuxian were the ones to seal it."

"Impossible!" a senior shouts.

"I believe the Yunmeng Jiang Sect's Motto is 'Attempt the Impossible' and it seems Young Master Wei has done just that... but how?"

"Wei Ying invented a new Seal. It requires one who can manipulate Yin energy to lure it into the center of the trap and one who can use Yang energy to anchor the lure in place and thus trap whatever evil found its way into the center of the trap and 13 Seals are wrapped around it compressing it into a smaller, less harmful form." Lan Zhan explains.

Everyone is shocked, minus his brother, at how much he has said in one go.

"Amazing... Perhaps a talk with Jiang Fengmian is in order, surely we can work out an agreement to use on of the Jiang techniques in the future, or is it strictly for water based threats?" Qingchen-jun wonders.

"No.. it can be used for others... but I want to work on a lure that doesn't place the cultivators in a direct line of danger... This was just a prototype." Wei Ying smiles bright and then coughs and blood begins to run from his nose. "Uh oh..." He breaths and faints. Thankfully Wen Qing steadies him and checks him over.

"He used too much power too quickly... He's drained... Lan Wangji, if I may check you? You might pass out as well..." Wen Qing asks as she carefully moves Wei Ying to half lay against the log. Lan Zhan agrees, only because he knows his brother and father will force him to allow her to check him over. She does so quickly and hums. "The spell work is terribly unbalanced, the strain is more on Wei-Gongzi than it is on Lan-er-gongzi. He's well, but still, do not push it and get plenty of rest..."

"Thank you, Wen-guniang." Xichen says sincerely, glad that things were well, if a bit frazzled and a little more than nerve wracking.

"A'Zhan take Wei-Gongzi and the others back, a'Huan you stay with me and the seniors while we patrol and make sure everything has settled down now that... the Abyss, is subdued... Good job, Xiao Huli, go with your master now." He coos at the fox, who takes the pearl back and then bounds off to jump onto Wen Ning's shoulder, the shy boy holding Lan Zhan's robes and Wei Ying's sword in his arms as he walks close to the intimidating Second Jade as they march off back to the Recesses...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

For the first time in centuries, he opened golden eyes and after a good long stretch from his nearly 1000 years of sleep, he could not help but wonder why he was waking up? The Cloud Recess, once a Dragon haven had been attacked and utterly destroyed by the Wen Fire Demons almost 5000 years ago. Ever since he's been alone in what was once his home, surrounded by family, living peacefully and tranquilly. No one was spared, not even the hatchlings and the newly laid eggs. He had been on a mission for his brother, had been away when everyone was wiped out. His father's head on a great black pike at the entrance to the Cloud Recess had only been the first thing to greet him. the burnt earth and carnage behind it had been so much worse. After that he had found one of the Elders, just barely clinging to Life, he was named the New King, had been given the powers of the King and then the Elder died and as his first and only act as King, he locked the wards of his home, he spent years cleaning up the bodies, removing the ruins, nurturing the earth back to what it once was and then just... Just existed. At some points he would sleep for long periods of time, hoping to never wake again, but when he would, he could not be furious with his inability to die. Dragons are immortal until killed after all. Shaking his great head he slips out of the only building left standing in what was once a sprawling little city of close friends and family with the season visit of other dragons from around the world hoping to trade or find a mate or two. It was the temple that surrounded the Cold Pond. He had rebuilt it, reinforced it and carved his own living niche, complete with quarters for a family he will never have. A nursery that will never be used by little curious hatchlings nor a rookery to keep their eggs nice and warm when both parents have to be away for more than a few hours.

Why had he woken again? He is about to lay back down and try and sleep for eternity when suddenly it clicks why he is awake. Someone had entered the Recess! Unadulterated fury fills him and he moves quickly, serpentine in speed, movement and grace to where he sensed the intruder. His home was now a grand forest and valley hidden in the clouds, away from world, almost his personal bubble of heaven and hell. His white form is hidden in the thick rolling mists that cling to his home until about mid afternoon, which allows him to sneak close and with centuries of training, practice and generations of instincts kicking into high gear, his great form is deadly silent, nary a leaf or blade of grass is disturbed as he moves towards his target. There! In a clearing he sees a hunched over form. He slowly inhales, building a ball of steaming scalding hot water, enough to fully boil a full grown Hellhound alive within 5 seconds in the back of his throat. Their death will be so swift, they will not even realize it until it is far too late.

"Ok, I got what I need... better go leave these matcha cakes and veggie dumplings at the temple before I head back down..." the person, a young male by the sounds of it, says softly as they get up and the Dragon pauses, he sees a basket filled with flowers, roots and cuttings from several of the medicinal herbs and plants that he allowed to grow wild all over the Recess when he could not bring himself to get up daily to tend the once neat gardens. "A'Yu, a'Yang, come back!" He calls out and suddenly two young boys come bursting from the foliage from the other side of the clearing and the Dragon nearly gasps. "A'Yang" is clearly a Demon Child, but it this "a'Yu" is a dragon! And not any dragon, the long white tail he half carries as he toddles over, tells him that he is a Lan! But how-?!

"Coming Mama!" the little dragon chirps and the person chuckles softly.

"Xian-gege is not your mama, a'Yu!"

"He takes care of us, makes us food and tucks us into bed like a Mama, so he's Mama!" The little boys get into an argument, the young man sighs and lets them but when they get close to the Temple and graveyard of Name Plaques, he tells them to be quiet and respectful. The boys duck their heads, cowed by the gentle reprimand before they break off to clean off the plaques and the stones they were carved into while the young man moves into the temple. The dragon moves, watching wondering and then he sees the young man set out wooden bowls, clearly hand made and a bit shoddy in craftsmanship on the altar and then unpack food from the basket and carefully set them into the bowls. He set out candles and lit incense sticks and after a few minutes of prayer and the appropriate bows given, he stands and turns. That is when the Dragon can see they young man's face and he is blown away by the utter beauty of him. And that is when he realizes the young man is not human, but a Snake! The scales are so pale they blend into his skin seamlessly and if not for the sudden flash of gold through the silver of his eyes, he would think him fully human.

"Kids, come on." He calls as he leaves. "The air feels different today... Let's not disturb this little valley anymore. I have plenty to make medicine for at least a month." He calls and the two children hurry over to him. A'Yang struggling to take the basket from 'Xian-gege' as a'Yu manages to hold his hand while holding onto his long tail. "We can go see Wen Ning and Wen Qing on our way home. Maybe they have some tasty soup for us..."

The Dragon snarls and lunges out at the mention of Wens and the snake moves much too quick for anyone to cat and suddenly two serpentine titans are battling it out, but because he is a Dragon, he has claws and paws which he uses to pin the snake down, the threat of death keeping him from struggling too much. They glare at one another as the two children flee the valley, the basket forgotten as the older boy pulls the smaller along. When they cannot sense the children, the Snake seems to go limp in submission. And he will forever blame it on his lack of understanding others, that he foolishly lets up and the snake suddenly snaps up, bites him and the venom injected is not painful, but suddenly he is quiet sleepy again....

When the dragon wakes up again, he is still in his home, but it is the dead of night and only the birds and the small woodland creatures that lived here for centuries are the only things he can sense. He curses softly as he realizes he is in his humanoid form and stands up only for something to land at his feet. it is pouch full of medicine and bandages with a small note: Sorry, hope the medicine and bandages will make up for me cheating...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying was a fairly young Snake Spirit, only 2,545 years old, newly adult in his kind's eyes.  He was orphaned at the age of 30 and raised by his father's half brother, Jiang Fengmian, a Merman. When he came of age and it was discovered he was a Carrier, he set off to find a mate as well as to gain world experience. That had been about 145 years ago. Around that time he had discovered an egg, a brilliant white like pure unblemished jade and just as hard if not harder. It was found abandoned in a hut Mo Village, the body of the mother, he had guessed, long dead and eaten away at by pests and the elements. He had feared the egg was dead, but he sensed life, young and resilient. He buried the mother's remains, marked her grave and blessed her three times in hopes she would move on. After he took the egg and continued his job offering aid to the people who needed it the most.

It was around that time he met Due Yang, a young Demon, much too young to be on his own but old enough to no be considered an infant by anyone's standards minus humans. The boy had broke into his hotel room to steal some money and maybe any snacks he found. He ended up becoming curious of the giant egg on the braizer in the middle of the room. Was it a snack or a baby? He had never seen anything like it before and the shell was really pretty. Wei Ying had managed to catch the brat in his coils and after the luttle demon had exhausted himself trying to get free and cursing up a storm, he went limp. Wei Ying had then slipped off the rafters where he had been sleeping at the time, letting his long body fill the room and leave little to no escape. Xue Yang had feared he would be eaten but Wei Ying had simply gotten a bath ready, dumped the filthy child in clothes and all and began to scrub him clean from head to toe. He had to cut his hair, it was too much a ratted mess to even attempt to comb through without ripping out chunks of hair. After Xue Yang was thoroughly cleaned and dressed in some spare robes Wei Ying had bought in anticipation of his Hatchling, he began to cook a warm meal. And despite how he acts or eben does to mess with people, Wei Ying is a decent cook. He could make simple dishes with very few ingredients. After all he had spent almost 30 years on the streets taking care of himself. Those without homes or much food had banded together during the lean seasons to make sure they survived another year. He learned to make congee, several egg dishes and simple stews with only a few items on hand and foraging in the forests and woods near by. So he had whipped up some fried eggs and congee for the child and himself, ignoring the brat's barbs and rude comments as he did so. Eventually the warm of the fire, the heavenly feeling of being clean for once, dressed in warm robes, brand new too, and the smell of a hot meal won the child over. He reluctantly tucked into the first meal he had in ages and after he was full, he curled up on one of Wei Ying's long could and fell asleep.

Ever since, Wei Ying had his boys. Xue Yang was a troublemaker, as a Demon it was impossible for him to behave for long periods of time, but the child learned to curb himself. Only causimg mischief to those who were had or wrong amd certainly anyone who was mean to his Xian-gege. When Mo Xuanyu was finally hatched after nearly 100 years, they had no idea how longbit normally took for whatever he was to hatch, they were happy. The baby dragon clung to his mama and as he absorbed spiritual energy from both his mama and the land around them, he grew quickly at only 45 years old he looked and acted like the average human 6 year old. His tail was much too long for him to walk with so he often held it like a stuffed teddy. He was learning to transform and other things from his mama and Yang-xiong, so he was happy. They had recently moved to a town on the water called Caiyi and had been living there for a few years now, almost as long as Xuanyu was alive. They made a living as the local healer and often went foraging. They had discovered a hidden valley on one of the mountains that looled like it use to be a home or a city of some sorts. They often went to get the more potent medicinal herbs and roots from there. However, this last trip was supposed to before they made the long journey back to Yunmeng Jiang, Wei Ying was overdue back home to present either his mate or to see the matchmaker to have a marriage arranged. They had not expected the Deity of the mountain to suddenly attack them. Wei Ying had shoved his children out of harms way even as he took his full form which was pitifully smaller than the great Jade Dragon, but he was a wiley thing. He had to only keep the dragon's focus on him long enough for his sons to clear the barrier, he would salvage what he could of their supplies before he joined them, before he went submissive. It was dirty of him, but the half wild look to the dragon told him what rational mind it might have had was either buried deep or lost to time. He could have sworn all the Jade Dragons had been killed off in the great war nearly 5,000 years ago. And yet he had found two of then one an infant the other clearly an adult.

When he felt the other left up just enough he struck. He bit the Alpha Dragon in his neck, injecting him with a milder dose of his venom and then quickly pulled away as it collapsed, passed out from the sedative lile effect of it. Feeling guilty Wei Ying left bandages and medicine with a small note fore the dragon, grabbed his basket, grabbed what he could and fled. It would be a very long time before he ever dares to come back...

What Wei Ying did not know was that the dragon would wake and follow him. Their brief battle left the Carrier's scent engrained in his memories, the taste of his venom, the smell of it... He would be hunted down....

Chapter Text

Wei Ying smiles softly as his children lean on the edge of fhe boat, chattering excitedly as they drift along the current. He had thankfully caught up with his boys after the attack, assuring them he was well and unharmed. Xue Yang had glared hard at him, trying to sense if he had been lied too, but grew frustrated that he cannot tell. With humans it was easier. But with his Xian-gege it was impossible.

Wei Ying had managed to use what little they had gathered into enough medicine to sell, which finished paying for their trip along the river to Yunmeng. However they would be stopping in Yiling first to see Wen Qing and Wen Ning. The pair of Raven Demons were distant cousins, the Fire Demons, Wen Rouhan and his kind. Wei Ying and Wen Qing studied together. She at first did not like him because he was seemingly an irresponsible and carefree person. However, Wei Ying is actually a genius and learned things quickly and was able to almost always preform flawlessly, but it was due to his bad habit of working late into the night, practicing and studying so he does not fail. She later learne dof this bad habit when she happened upon him practicing on a corpse he resurrected to act as his test dummy.

Aftee that she bullied him to sleep and eat, to force him to not over think or study. He admitted it was due tobhis Uncle's wife demanding excellence, but still finding faults in his or his cousins/siblings works and perfomances. They had become very good friends and as much as Wen Qing pretends she does not like him at all, she worries and fusses over him. He was another brother to her.

"Mama, look pretty!!" Mo Xuanyu points at a merperson who is swimming by the boat, he is carrying a large basket of fish as he goes. He spots them and pokes his head up smiling softly when the children awe at him. Their eyes wide and bright. Wei Ying giggles and leans over the edge to chat with him as he lazily swims beside them. The boys asking him about tail and his pretty pearls. If it bothered him, he did not show it, instead indulged the curious guppies, before he and Wei Ying talked trade and after getting a nice fat tuna for five of his fever tonics and one of his fertility powders they parted ways. The boys chattering excitedly that if the merman they met was so pretty the mermaids must be even more beautiful! But they turn to assure Wei Ying he is the most beautiful person of all.

"Come on, boys." Wei Ying chuckles warmly as he carefully puts the bubble holding their fish into pouch he enchanted with the elements of water to keep it safe and alive, at least unfil they get to the Raven siblings home. The boat was docking soon and Wei Ying once more thanked the boatman for getting them there safy, giving him three more teals than what they had originally agreed upon. "We have a but of walking to go." He tells them.

The boys jump off the boat, thank the man for the nice trip and then they were off. The walk to Yiling was not that long, but with how excited the boys were it went faster. Wei Ying giggles as the boys chatter over silly things or compare how pretty something is to Wei Ying himself. He knows he is an attractive young man, but he believes others are more attractive himself. However, he feels like he is somehow being watched but even with stretchingnhis senses and even sending out waves of both him and yang energy out to check for threats, but nothing appears.

"Xian-ge?" A shy voice calls out.

They turn and smile brightly seeing Wen Ning, he is covered in mud and reeds. And it looked like he was waiting to ambush someone.

"A-Ning? What are you doing?" Wei Ying smiles indulgently, gently thumbing some mud from his cheek, chuckling softly when it does little to help. "We brought a fat tuna to share with you and Qing-jie!" He smiles brightly.

"Oh, I was trying to scare away scavengers... They keep raiding the town and stealing some of our food and supplies..." He admits shyly. Thankfully he does not stutter anymore, Wei Ying sitting with him for long hours chattering and getting him use to talking and interacting with others.

"Oh?" Wei Ying frowns. "I will see what I can do about it. Has anyone been hurt? Are you hurt?" He fusses.

"I am ok. Just dirty and tired. It seems they donnot come out during the day. Some of the men have been hurt though and the children are scared. The women and carriers are unease, they feel lile they are being watched... Stalked almost..."

"It might be they are gearing up to take the females to breed them..." Wei Ying says, feeling uncomfortable now. "Let's go and talk with Qing-jie. Come on." Wei Ying says. And he grabs his boys close. Xue Yang sensing the shift in mood becomes more alert, one of his little wooden dolls coming to life with demonic energy and vanish off to somewhere...

Wei Ying walked the streets at dusk with some men from the town, Wen Ning hovering anxiously beside him because he did not want the carrier to get captured or injured. Wei Ying assures him he will be safe, just as long as Wen Ning is there to help him. So far it was quiet, a bit too quiet. Wei Ying knows that if all else fails he can use his Yunmeng Flare to call for help since they were only a day's walk from Yunmeng proper. His didi and the other shidis and shixiongs will be able to get to them in only a handful of minutes.

Wei Ying senses were still not telling him anytjing and he hoped his warming charms will hold. He was always lethargic when it was cold or it was night time when it grew too cool for him to stay awake. He had difficulty living in Gusu which is colder than he is use to, but he was on a search for a mate. If he had his way he would never leave Yunmeng with is a nice balmy climate that rven in winter, he could stay awake and live his life. In Gusu he needs to make sure he is well stocjed with warm clothes, wood and talismans and charms to keep hinself warm and awake since h was now a parent of two even if his oldest son will not admit that he sees Wei Ying as his new parent.

"They're here!!" Someone shouts as Wei Ying senses them and quickly pulls a short sword from his sleeve and a three talismans that had fire and thunder elements enscribed upon them.

"Shit!! Get down!!" Someone shouts, but the warning was too late. Wei Ying gasped as he is snatched into the air. He panics because he does not like heights that he is not encrotol of! He has never truly left the ground by any other means and right now he is more than a hundred feet up in the air!

"Xian-ge!!" Wen Ning cries out and lets his wings brust free and he jumps into the air, flying up as quick as he can as others begin fighting the Scavengers. The raven tries to get to him, but suddenly something large and white appears from no where and he gasps at it engages into battle with the flying Scavenger, but manages to keep Wei Ying safe in the thickest part of its coils. Wen Ning gasps as he watches the Jade Dragon, for that is what the thing could be, tear the Scavanger apart. And then it turns to him and looks murderous.

Wen Ning gulps.

"A'Ning!! Run!!"

Chapter Text

Snippet:

He sat curled up, half hidden under a tree, his once pristine white robes were muddy, covered in grass stains, speckles of blood from where the cloth was torn by sharp twigs and he got scratched. He was lost and very much alone right now. He wanted his Xiongzhang, his Shufu, his Fuqin and Muqin! It was pouring rain and the air was thick and hot, the thunder, which had never scared him before sounded like a ravenous monster trying to find him so it could eat him. His hair was messy and try as he might to find his way in this strange land, he could not! He wanted to start crying, but that might attract the monsters! He startles when suddenly some bushes start moving near by and he goes so still he might as well be mud splattered statue. And then a bunny appears. It is black with a pretty red bow carefully tied around its neck in the shape of a flower. It was strange to see a bunny out in the rain, but then suddenly a child appeared, they were dressed in poorly kept clothes, their hair was messy and they had no shoes.

"There you are, Hei Lianhua!" the child chirps. "How did you get out? It's pouring. It's not safe for sweet little bunnies to be playing in... oh..." The child turned and saw him and he blinks. "Did you find this lost fairy, Hei Lianhua? Such a smart bunny." the child carefully sets the bunny down on the ground and comes over. "Pretty Fairy, it's not safe out here and you should never hide under a tree when the Heavens are this angry. sometimes they will strike at the trees and if you are too close, you can be hit and die.... I live close by, you can hide there until the Sun Goddess chases away the angry Heavens."

He blinks, what he said made no sense, but he did not like the sound of being hit by a stray bolt of thunder so he takes the hand and stands up. He is bigger than the other child and the black bunny hops over, seemingly untouched by the rain as the child picks her up and begins walking through the forest. He rambles about nonsense, seeming to talk just to talk and it looks like he talking more to the Bunny than himself.

"Here we are!" He says proudly and it's... He doesn't know what it is. It is a crudely made hutch of some kind, large and thick leaves were twined together with springy vines. Felled saplings were stabbed into the earth with heavy rocks and mud packed around them to keep them upright and a third sapling was tied across them and helped to hold the leaves at  an angle that covered a space where two small children could rest in a bit of cramped space, but comfortable for one of them. There was a ring of rocks around a fire that was carefully covered by some kind of thatched roofing as well. The place was close to some trees, just enough that their large branches would help keep most of the rain from drenching the spot, but not directly under them either. He slowly sat down near the fire when the other child urged him to.

"I do not have anything to eat, Pretty Fairy, I'm sorry... I didn't get the promised meat bun the Uncle said he would give me if I delivered a letter for him." the child says sadly. "But I'm use to not always having something to eat. But I don't think you are use to it. As soon as the rain is light enough, I can find you some nice berries to eat! Fairies like berries right?"

The child keeps talking, telling him about forest, the best places to find certain things or some of the people in the town who are very nice and some who like to play mean tricks on him. But that's okay because he always tricks them back! The child talks until he starts to nod off and soon he is curled up sleeping sitting up. He slowly curls up beside him, still cold and scared, but not as much now that there was someone there. He closes his eyes and hopes that when the morning comes, he will be able to see his family again...

He jolts awake when the child touches his head.

"Oh, sorry Pretty Fairy! But you're really hot and your face is very pale. I wanted to check if you had a fever... Mama use to check my temperature before she and Baba got eaten by scary dogs..." The child says softly. "I do not have money or medicine... But... maybe if we go to the town, we can find one of the nice Aunties and she can help us get you better..." He perks up at the thought of the town, that means he would be able to see his family! But... this child was alone...

"Mm... Town... family..." He mumbles and then coughs, he's sick and he feels achy and his throat hurts.

"You're family's in town? I didn't know Fairies visited towns... but ok! We'll get you back to your Mama!" The boy chirps.  "Hei Lianhua, lead the way please!"

The black bunny, does a little spin and then takes off quickly, darting back after a moment to thump at them annoyedly for them taking too long. The two children get up, the smaller boy trying to support him as they follow Hei Lianhua through the undergrowth and towards the town...

They are crossing the bridge that leads into town when there is shouting from in front of them and above them. The two boys look in both directions confused before looking at each other.

"A'Zhan!!" comes from above again.

"Little Master!!" They wait for the people to get a bit closer, the smaller boy leaning him against a post and putting his twig thin arms up to try and protect him in case these people are dangerous.

However he recognizes his father's tall and powerful form and the rich purple of the Jiang Kingdom's guards. He weakly pushes off the post to walk towards his father, but almost falls over. the boy catching him and leaning him against the post again as the adults get close, their raised voices make his head hurt and his ears ring. He gives a pained whimper and the boy gets angry, stomping his foot much like his bunny had done to them several times.

"Stop being so loud!" he shouts and they go quiet in shock at being yelled at. "The Pretty Fairy is sick and you are making them feel worse! We need to find their Mama!"

"Child, I am... the Pretty Fairy's Baba." The tall man in shining white robes declares and the little boy looks him up and down.

"You do not look like a fairy...." He mumbles.

"We are not fairies, dear boy... A'Zhan, can you speak?" the man turns to his son, kneeling down to hold him in his arms and check his forehead. His son opens his mouth only to let out a horrible sounding cough instead. "This is not good... We should not have let you explore alone..."

"Lord Lan, the urchin?"

"He's saved my son, the least I can do is offer him a warm meal and a bath--"

"Qingchen!?" Someone new shouted and a man in very nice purple robes rode on the back of great fish towards them. "We found the men who tried to kidnap Prince Wangji, but we didn't find-- Oh... you found him!"

"It seems this brave little boy saved my son... what is your name, little one?"

"Oh, I know it very well! Mama and Baba always told me to say: This Wei Ying greets you!" He gives a very clumsy bow, one normally reserved for someone of similar status. He does not know that he supposed to bow much lower to those of higher birth, but then again, he mistook his son for a Fairy.

"Wei Ying?!" The newcomer gasps and all but falls to his knees to get a look at the wild looking child. "Tell me, is your father Wei Changze?"

"You knew Baba?" The boy asks, wary now, he's been tricked before. "Are you going to try and give me funny tasting candy and try and stick your thingie in my mouth?"

All the adults in the area suddenly chocked on either spit or air, their faces turning red or paling as the implications of what he just said struck home.

"No! No, no, no, no! I have a son a little bit older than you are! I would never and even then, my lady wife would have my Head!" He grabs his neck, just imagining his wife, beautiful and deadly using her spiritual weapon to take his head of if he ever, ever entertained the thought of looking at anyone but her with perverse thoughts, never mind a child! He'd impale himself on his sword before he ever do that. "Wei Ying, I'm Jaing Fengmian... Ucnle Feng?" He tries.

The boy seems to think hard, as if trying to recall something before he gasps.

"Mama and Baba said we would visit Uncle Feng after they helped some rich people take care of some Yao. But... but they weren't Yao... they didn't feel the same... They were scary dogs... they ate Mama and Baba..." The child suddenly bursts into hysterical sobs and that triggers the other child to start crying and the two Kings panic because they are not use to handling the children when they cry, that was their wives duty!

Seeing as they had little else to do, the Jiang King calls up for his water mount, the great royal purple Shark rises up and both Kings jump onto its back as the Jiang guards get on smaller sharks or their swords and escort them back to the palace, no one notices the little black bunny racing along the bridge and at the last minute jumping onto the Lan King's shoulder, startling him as she held on with all her bunny might.

"Where did you come from?" He asks, startled.

"H- Hei L- Lian- Lianhua..." HIs son wheezes out, looking at the bunny with bleary eyes.

"Hei Lianhua?" His father asks and the bunny nods once, holding on with all her might as they ride quickly to the palace that sits on the back of a great big tortoise. As they ride into the canal that leads to the main royal dock, the two queens are waiting impatiently and as soon as the two men step off the shark's back and the Bunny jumps down to the ground, the Lan Queen all but snatches her son into her arms, fretting and worrying because her son is sick and crying his little heart out.

"Fengmian?" His wife's tone is sharp like the finest steel and he hides the flinch that wanted to give him away. She is glaring at him and then cocking her brow at the upset child in his arms.

"My lady, I know what happened to a'Ze and his wife... They were killed on a Night Hunt... This is a'Ying..." He tells her and she gapes and then looks furious, why, he cannot guess, and then she goes almost stoic. "My lady?"

"Yinzhou, Jinzhou, get young master Wei a warm bath, if you cannot save his hair, chop it off and wash it thoroughly. Look for a red ribbon--"

"Hei Lianhua?" The child suddenly gasps and the black bunny runs up to the queen and leans up on her back legs, pawing at her until she looks and there it is, around her tiny neck.

"Oh good... he kept at least that..." she sighs.  "Very well, as I said, try to save his hair, but judging by how young he is and how utterly matted it is, we will need to cut it off and have him grow it out again... Also get the cooks to have some thin chicken broth with only a pinch of salt for flavor prepared... I can clearly see his bones in his arms from here, I certain he is nothing but skin and bones... he will need thin broths and anything that can be mashed into a paste to eat until he gets back enough weight to be able to eat anything heavier."

"My Lady, the dogs... they will be need to moved to the kennel area... it seems something dog like attacked and killed a'Ze and Lady Cangse."

"Damn it, a'Ren...." the woman sighs. "I will go talk to a'Cheng, he will be upset about this...." She nods once.  "Get Healer Hao to check a'Ying and make sure he is comfy... as for this... bunny... Let it stay with him. I do not think he will cope well if it is not there..."

"No... Pretty Fairy needs her more..." The child weakly protested. It was then that Jiang Fengmian noticed how pale and how hot the child felt in his arms.

"They are both sick!" Queen Lan Miyoung gasps and the two personal handmaids of the Jiang Queen quickly take the Wei Child and hurry away with him as the Lan Queen follows, the black bunny easily keeping pace as the two Kings remain to give some last minute orders to their men, security is tightened around the main palace as well as the castle town only a short distance away floating on docks built into the water. The men who had tried to kidnap the Second Jade of Gusu Lan were in the prison waiting for interrogation and to be punished. Before the two children were separated, Lan Zhan, Prince Wangji, managed to look one last time at Wei Ying, the boy, who had helped him as best he could last night. The child looked so much worse than he did, he was worried. He reaches out to him weakly but passes out from the fever as the boy vanishes into a room with the twin maids...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

"Baba, are you sure this is going to work?" the young woman asks.

"It's one of your grandma's spells, he would not have left in the family vault if it did not work." Her father's raspy voice speaks up from where he is painstakingly drawing out the array, ritual circle and activation spells in blood. "He was my Laoshi for a while before he became my mother in-law when I married your Mama... I always thought he was half crazy and in some ways he was, but I learned that your grandma never did anything without a good reason. Even if we do not see it that way at first..."

"Baba, you should stop... Mama would not have wanted--"

"Your mother was stolen from us because we got complacent, we did not learn from the mistakes of what led to your grandma becoming the most hated man in history... Remember, a'Ren, the path to Hell is paved in Good Intentions and that no Good Deed goes unpunished... Your Grandma wanted to save that purple bastard and this was the thanks he got... He wasn't satisfied with just your Grandma's life, or Grandpa's, not even your Mama's... He will not stop until anyone with the name Wei, Wen or Lan are dead. Anyone who practices Demonic Cultivation is tortured and executed..." He cuts her off harshly and she nods once. "I'm not going to live much longer... But if I can do one last good thing, it is this... Do you have everything I asked you to pack?"

"Yes... I have the scrolls, the notes and I even have the shards of Grandma and Grandpa's swords... I have the ribbon that Mama gave me. I never take it off..."

"Good." He smiles weakly and finishes and steps back carefully. "Get in, a'Ren... Remember: I love you, always have and always will. The next time we see each other, hopefully it will be in a better and brighter future with our family whole and safe." He then stands up as much as his hobbled, maimed and failing body would allow him to. "Always attempt the Impossible and always uphold what is right and just, even if others do not agree or hate you for it."

"Yes Baba... please come--"

There is a thunderous crash upstairs and shouts before fighting sounds and there is no time now. He begins to chant and the spells activate followed by the ritual ring and finally the array. As his chanting reaches a fever pitch, the doors behind him are being relentless attacked and hammered at. His daughter tries to reason with him, but he finally shouts the activation word and in flash she is gone just as the doors burst open and a whip of lightning cracks against his back and he falls with a scream of agony. She is gone and safe so he merely rolls over to look into the aged face of the Shendou-Jun and laughs darkly at him.

"Hello, Sect Leader Jiang... You're too late... my daughter is beyond your reach..." He laughs and moves himself to get back up, smearing the spell work and making it impossible for them to later recreate it since the books were given to his daughter. Everything Wei-Laoshi and Hanguang-Jun ever created or owned had been given to his daughter and were now beyond the greedy hypocritial hands of these ungrateful swine.

"I will get her, do not worry about that... maybe not now... but I will get her... Say hello to that Wei Bastard when you get to hell..." Jiang Cheng sneered as he lopped the younger man's head off. "Search the place, I want to ensure that neither Wei Wuxian or Lan Wangji are ever brought back from the dead! See, nephew? If you stray from the RIght path... you end up like this... Remember Jin Ling, I do this to keep scum like the Wens, the Lans and the Weis from killing those you love ever again... They took away your mother and father, your grandparents... They even steal those you loved more than anyone else... Wangji stole from like this piece of shit Lan Jingyi stole from you... and like that bitch Cangse Sanren stole from your grandmother.... Go bring me that Head Shaker and make him recreate the ritual! I need to get that little bitch back and end her accursed line once and for all!!" He shouts out the door as he leaves his nephew to slowly fall to his knees by his best friend's corpse.

"Jingyi... Jingyi, I'm so sorry.... I should've listened to Sizhui... I should have listened to Lan-Laoshi.... I-- I need to go protect your daughter.. I swear I will... I-I won't let what happened to us happen again... I will make sure she is safe and happy... I will raise your grandchildren as if they were my own..." Jing Ling, Jin Roulan swears his friend one final time and then slowly he rises and carefully removes a jade token out of a secret pocket, it his white and black with a mountain and bamboos carved into it with rolling mist and a single lotus flower on it. He bites his lips until they bleed and then he kisses it and it grows hot in his hand before he makes a wish. "I wish for Lan-Wei Sanren to be successful in her mission... I wish to send her a guardian, take my soul as payment..."

There is a flash and he collapses dead beside his friend just as his Uncle comes racing in having sensed HER energy and screams as he finds his nephew dead...

Lan-Wei Sanren moans weakly as she wakes up in the middle of a forest and blinks confused. She slowly sits up then startles when  a yip sounds beside her and she blinks.

"Oh, a pretty foxy...." She coos, sounding much like her Mama and grandma when they spotted a cute and friendly animal. "Tell me, Pretty Foxy, where am I?"

The fox seems amused and gently bullies her up and she gets up and follows the fox until they get to a town and then it leads her through some alleys until she spots a child sitting in the snow, alone and clearly cold. In their hand is a brand new paddle drum. She knows that drum. it sat on display with really old straw dolls of a small family with newer cloth dolls that looked like her grandparents, her parents and her sat beside them. And then the fox yips and the child looks up and she gasps. That was her Grandma! But as a child!! The spell worked! She hurries over and pulls the confused and startled child into her arms and just enjoys hugging her grandma again, even if he was so much younger and smaller than her.

"My name.... My name is Tuziyueliang... You can call me Tuzi-jie...." She introduces herself. Almost laughing in hysteria at using her Curtsey name around her grandma. The one he gave her when she demanded a cute name at the age of 3.

"Tuzi-jie?"

"Yes... I'm going to take very good care of you from now on... come, let's get you something warm to eat and a nice hot bath...."

Chapter Text

Lan-Wei Sanren stood up, holding the much to thin and far too light child in her arms. Her grandma had always been on the thin side, but he had a healthy amount of fat on him, he certainly ate like he should be a big as Buddha, but somehow was as thin as a river reed. Was it because of this? She never heard stories of his childhood or why he did certain things. To her it was normal for Grandma to suddenly become very erratic, eyes glowing red with mania, but he never hurt her or his family, he seemed to take protecting them to the extreme during this bouts. Her grandpa had to often hold him tightly and hum a special song to calm him down.

It was their song, a song only meant for them and she loved to hear them sing together. They often did it for her, singing her to sleep. How she missed them, she also misses her mother, he was calm lile her Grandpa, but smiled and loved to play like her grandma, though he was much tamer in nature. She sometimes thing her father was her grandma's son since he was so.... Well him. Lan-Wei Sanren paused as she felt her heart clench. Her baba was likely dead now and she had no way to return home.

The fox yips again and she comes back to her senses standing before an in. She quickly ducks inside and suddenly her grandma scrambles aout of her arms. She panics as he dashes off and hurries after him, her robes fanning out around her like the lotuses she loves dearly. The two permanently preserved by her grandma were pinned into her hair as her forehead ribbon was lovingly made from the ribbons of her family. The motionnof her robes as well as her grandma's sudden burst of activity alerted a group of Lans to them a pair of children step forward, one looking at her grandma with familiar goldens.

"YingYing wanted to thank Gege for the gift... Gege can have Findings Baba, Mama and YingYing!" The child pulls the battered straw dolls out of his threadbare robe and gives them to the child and pauses as he thinks, a hand on his chin anda finger lightly tapping his nose as she often saw him do in her childhood memories. He blinks and smiles as he steps back and preforms three very clumsy, but endearing bows to the younger version of her grandpa and granduncle whom she sadly never got to meef before he was killed. 

"Oh. You are the cute bunny Wangji gave his drum too..." The slightly older boy says witha gentle smile as she watches her grandpa clutch the dolls close and almost possessively, his ears turning a faint pink.

"Who are you and why are you wering our colors?" Someone demands sharply. She startles and turns to see whom she assumes is Grandmaster Lan Qiren, if the stories of how he looked were true.

He was a handsome man, with stern features and a goatee that she suddenly had the urge to shave off his face. She might do that at least one if he annoys her enough. She takes a deep breath to calm herself and bows respectfully, she sees her grandma do the same at her side, though again, clumsy and very much ungraceful.

"My name is Yueling Tuzi. My robes are a combination of my various family members who all came from different Sects and Clans. A couple of them were Lans." She says truthfully. "This is my courtesy name, I will not tell you my real name." She says firmly. She may be young,nut Lan-Wei Sanren was far from easily intimidated. Her grandpa was a scary man when you made him angry. Nothing sxared her more than that, well other than seeing her Baba scared.

Sanren has to stop going on mental tangents, she needs to focus right now. She stands up after the Lans stand as well Grandmaster Lan stroking his beard as he thinks. She seriously wants to shave it off.

"I will need to check the family resister to see where you are from. But if you are indeed a Lan then you my room with us. The child looks like he could use a hot bath and food, perhaps a healer too..."

"Thank you, come Wei Ying." She felt weird calling her grandma by name, especially his real name.

"Tuzi-Jie?" He cocks his he'd slightly not unlike a bunny who was curious or contimplating the distance they needed to clear to get to the yummy cabbages her family grew for them. "We are going?"

"No, we are staying here for now. Come on, you need food and a bath. We will get you some chicken broth and a piece of bread. If you can hold that down, I will make you some congee in the morning Ok?" She reasons at with him and he nods though he looked like he wanted to protest. However it has been too long since his last meal and he threw that up almost as soon as he ate it. Perhaps Tuzi-Jie is right.

Nodding her head, she grabs his hand and they follow the land. The mini versions of her grandpa and grand uncle quickly taking up pace woth them. Her grand uncle striking up a conversation with her grandma while hwr ever so silent grandpa watches fromt he corner of his eye, tiny face hilding the slightest pleased smile...

Chapter Text

The Lan party remained in Yiling for about two weeks, in that time, Lan-Wei Sanren had managed to get her grandma some much needed treatment, food and warm clothes. She had all the money here Baba had taken from their fallen family members. The coin purse was something her great grand aunt, Jiang Yanli had made her grandma and was very precious to him. She is very careful with it and about the amount she uses. She knows she is being watched by the Seniors and Great grand uncle, who is still trying to recall who had married out and if they had a daughter about her are.

"Tuzi-jie!" She looks up and smiles at her tiny grandma, the smell towm healer having finished wrapping his hands and feet securely to help protect them from further frostbite.

"Thank you, sir." She gives a beatific smile and a perfectly executed bow, pulling a couple of silver teals from her sleeve to pay him.

"This is too much!" He gasps.

"You had limited supplies and yet used them on these humble ones, please accept the compensation." She says sweetly and the man deflates. She was often told by her Baba that she gets her sweetness and charm from her Mama and grandma.

The Wei Charm was impossi le to resist and a supper effective weapon, especially against her grandpa. Not that he ever put up any effort to resist. She shakes off the memories of better, happier times and vows to ensure her family survives.

"Come, YingYing." She says picking him up, still unhappy with how skinny and light he is in her hold. He giggles and cuddles close and she sighs happily. Even tiny, her grandma gave the best hugs! She thanks the healer one last time and steps out. Her fox friend, Pretty Fox, as she teasingly calls him, is waiting patiently for them, his shinng coat lightly speckled in snowflakes. "Let's get some steamed baos and head back to the inn."

"Yay!" Is the excited cheer and she heads to the stall that makes and fsells them fresh. She buys enough for her family to share and even a couple of meat filled ones just for her furry friend and they head back to the inn. She says nothing to her shadow, they have said and done nothing as she went about her way. Today was their last day in Yiling and she would be seeing her home in its former glory soon. She has tried to mentally prepare herself for the culture shock.

Her grandpa had taught her the history of their clan, his face always dark and sour when he spoke of the years between his grandfather and her birth. She could not believe how corrupt and manipulative the clan had grown even if they outwardly had not changed. She knows that one thing she was definitely doing was saving her Grandpa and grand uncle's Muqin. She was an innocent woman left imprisoned and to rot for fhe sins and greed of another. She knows it hurt her grandpa to finally come to terms that his mother's fate had been forced upon her. A husband she had little to no emotional attachment to, two children she was forced to bear and was kept away from, yet she loved her sons dearly anyway.

'Remember, Xiao Tuzi, always stand with justice even when the world aims to destroy you. You live your life free of regrets and always do the impossible.' Her grandma had once said to her before his death.

Shs remembers how he had looked, so pale and skinny, sickly even, but his smile was the brightest, the warmth of his love ever lasting even if it was the last hug she ever got from him. She remembers waking int he middle of the night to her Baba and Mama grabbing her from her bed and fleeing into the night, their home on fire and the discordant, angry twangs of a Guqin and the shrill, broken sounds of a Dizi. It would be a week later that her grandpa would find them, pale and hallowed out, a splintered Chenqing in his fist and bloody tears falling from his eyes.

Her grandma had been killed...

She would make sure that her family survived. She would make those who attacked and destoryed their happiness pay. She would make Jiang Wanyin pay. She felt a wisp of Resentment lazily waft off her shoulder and gasped when her grandma gasps and tells it to hide from the scary gege following them. She gasps in shock. Shs had always been told that her grandma's affinity with Resentment began when he held her grandpa kill the Tortoise of Slaughter. Perhaps that was the first time he semi actively used it, but itseems he's always had an affinity. And the way he spoke to it just now...

"It's Alright, YingYing, no one but us noticed..." She gives him a wink and he giggles into her shoulder the wisp vanishing as she calmed down. She would need to watch how the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation used it over the years both consciously and subconsciously. To have mastered it in three months was an amazing feat, but clearly he needed grounding in it at some point. Much like how they begin young to start forming golden cores.

They arrive at the inn and she smiles seeing her tiny grandpa and grand uncle waiting to greet them at the door with one of the female seniors standing watch over the two heirs. She sets her grandma down and he hurries to them and lets them inspect his bandaged hand and feet beflre he introduces them to Rulan. She blinks and realizes Pretty Fox is Rulan, the fox looking both highly unimpressed and yet extremely proud. They are duly impressed and then she pulls out the baos she bought, passing the two meat filled ones to said fox and passing one each to the children as they head in. She smiles at them eating the large savory pastry and giggles.

Her grandma looked as adorable as a bunny while her uncle and grandpa looked like a pair of chipmonks. She cooed and took her own to nibble on, her own little happy bunny expression matching her grandma's perfectly. When Lan Qiren found them she gave him one too and he reluctantly at the snack because it would not due to turn down freely given food. He listened to her report from the healer and agreed that Wei Ying needed to gain some much needed weight and healthy fat, quickly, but not so much so he becomes I'll or developes an eating disorder. They will be leaving early tomorrow to make it back to the Cloud Recesses and from there they will look for any possible relatives to take in Wei Ying, if not he will be a ward of the Lan Sect. He Will also look into the deaths of his parents, he knew Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren. As much as he gripes about the woman, she was a very powerful Cultivator. The fact that even she died and so suddenly, was rather suspicious and extremely concerning.

If Lan-Wei Sanren smirks into her bao, that is her business, but at least if she starts out draining the hate and anger that many often felt for Granny Ren, then perfect. The lust and jealous will be harder, but she's got more than enough time. Her main focus was helping her grandparents find a much happier beginning....

Chapter Text

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Lan Zhan stood beside his father, dressed in full regalia, though the materials used in this one was of lighter more breathable cotton than the imported silks he is use to. They are standing in the hanger bay of their ship and already it feels like a sauna. He can only imagine that it is so much worse outside. His mother, the Lady Long Miyoung, his father's concubine stood on the other side of his father, a few feet further back. She is dressed in a an almost see through dress with a long sheer veil hiding her beauty from others. It leaves a bitter taste in his mouth that his mother, who clearly loves his father and his father her, cannot take her rightful place as his wife because only a woman of noble blood and standing could do so. His mother is part of an order of Sorceresses, Enchantresses and Witchs. The Bene Gesseritt Sisterhood. Lan Zhan has learned about their history and their roles in society at his mother's knee. Has been trained in most of their arts. A dark scowl steals over his face for a second as he recalls just three nights ago, the woman who trained his mother, Reverend Mother Yu Ziyuan, had come to their home in the dead of night and dared to order his mother about as if she were a mere slave in her own home. His mother was from a noble house, was of noble blood and thus was superior in status. But that woman managed to make his mother tremble in fear, made her weep. The reason for this was because his mother had broken a rule of the Sisterhood. Only bear daughters. Lan Zhan is clearly not a girl. He is the first male of the Bene Gesseritt Order. Mother Yu had demaded to see him and had tried to make him lesser than he is, compared him to an animal. She made him take a test with a nueral emitter box, which was set to slowly cause pain and build upon it until he cannot take it anymore. She held a Gom Jabar to his neck as he was made to kneel before her and endure the pain. However, she was not expecting that his mother was so thorough in her teachings nor does she know the Lans nearly half as well as she thought she did. He endured the pain for nearly two hours before he finally could not restrain the growl. He had passed her test, was deemed 'human' in her eyes. Mother Yu had stated they would be keeping a close eye on him. To see if he was worthy. If he was not; they would simply start again. The unspoken 'we will kill you' that she had thought he had not picked up on heard loud and clear.

"A' Zhan?" His mother calls softly and he blinks his eyes slowly and turns his head just slightly to let her know he is listening. He rarely speaks and is normally blunt and to the point. He chances a glance at her and seeing the unasked question  on her face, the concern in pale gold eyes, he gives an almost imperceptible shake of the head and she sighs, a fond and yet exasperated tilt to her lips.

The hanger doors finally open and the blazing heat of Yiling, Dune as many call it, nearly bowls them over. The brilliant glare of the sun has them all squinting as they begin heading out of the hanger bay and to the ships that would carry them into the palace proper. There is a very large gathering of people outside, natives of the world. They stand in light colored robes and scarves, turbans and long jackets. They begin cheering and shouting in their native tongue. Lan Zhan having studied everything about Yiling rather thoroughly, even the dialects they spoke, picked up on the chants of a promised Messiah. They called his mother the Bringer. He could not discern anything else with the overlapping voices and noise. Lan Zhan looks out over the crowed, curious as they get closer and for a moment he gets a brief flash of a vision when he catches something black among the sea of creams and light browns, blues and purples. He sees a figure dressed in black, moving seductively, the glare of Yiling's double suns black out the face, but he sees the eerie blue glow of eyes, the glow more noticeable in shadow than in direct sunlight. He thinks he sees silver dancing in the blue. A laugh, bright and happy echoes and a voice yet to be heard says his name. Lan Zhan is quickly brought back to himself as he catches sight of Lan Qiren, the half human, half super computer, who leads his father's army and has been his tutor since he first learned to read and write. He cannot help the small smile as they are met half way and the ever so serious Lan Qiren gives a detailed report even as he helps the royal family onto their ship and soon they are taking off. They have to be quick because it is approaching midday and Yiling's suns are unforgiving at that time only those insane or from the Burial Mounds, the deep desert where the Sandworms and many terrible and deadly beastts live...

Chapter Text

//He walks slowly through a narrow trench settled deep in the crag of a pair of rocky hills. He is dressed in a Still Suit, he has a dagger made from the tooth of Shai-Hulud, the Sandworm. He is hunting and is being hunted. He vanishes around a bend and then as his hunter comes after him, he pounces and he sees glowing blue eyes before the brilliant moonlight shines on them and their silver light is reflected back at him. He gasps as he is stabbed, but instead of blood, a strange pearlescent blue liquid bleeds from him.

"Dream of me while awake..." a voice that is not a voice whispers and suddenly he is walking up a dune side, a figure walks before him, they are of the third Gender, a Helix. He isn't sure how he knows this, just that he does. "Awaken, a' Zhan..."

A'Zhan!

A'Zhan!                                                                                                                                            A'Zhan!!

Lan Zhan!                                                                                                            Lan Zhan!!

Lan-er-gege!!

Hanguang-jun.....//

"A'Zhan?" His mother's voice sounded concerned and he blinked his eyes open and sat up slowly. It was night time, it has been over a week since they arrived on Yiling and took over harvesting and production of Spice. The Capital City was named Yiling in honor of their home world. His mother hired a staff maids who were local to the planet. One of them, Meng Shi, was named their Head Maid. She was a soft spoken, if a bit eager woman. She had a son who worked to water the few plants in the garden. Lan Zhan had had an opportunity to talk to Meng Yao at during midday before Lan Qiren hurriedly bustled him into the palace when the twin suns were getting to their hottest point. They had talked about the plants that looked half dead. Lan Zhan had suggested removing them, but Meng Yao had quickly explained that much like water, any plant life, even half dead was very sacred. So much so that the palace was the only place with a 'garden' and it is warded off from the public. There were 10 trees and each one needed enough water for 50 men each daily. Meng Yao has lived on Yiling since his birth and much like many who lived there, but were not Frehman, the natives of Yiling, being exposed to enough Spice gave them the blue on blue eyes. Meng Yao admits he is to be Lan Zhan's tutor for the more personal interactions of daily life on Yiling and even in Yinling, the capital. And Lan Zhan had to admit, Meng Yao was an excellent teacher. He was a bit awkward at first, not use to someone like Lan Zhan, who was attentive, but very quiet. When Lan Zhan asked his questions or spoke, he was very blunt and to the point. It was a shock really, but Meng Yao soon figured out how best to address his student and was often invited with his mother to attend dinners with the royal family.

"You're mind has wandered, Wangji, that is very rude to Meng Yao." Lan Xichen's voice suddenly startles him, Lan Zhan reacting like a startled snake, spins, his short dagger flashing with deadly accuracy, but Lan Xichen, is just as fast, blocking the blow that would otherwise have ended his life, while he and Lan Zhan glare one another down. One smiling and the other being as expressionless as uncarved marble. "Good, you didn't dull while I was away, little brother..." He laughs and they pull their daggers away before Lan Zhan hugs him quick and briefly. Still painfully shy even so close to adulthood.

Meng Yao had startled at the sudden presence of another as well as the much to quick for his liking drawing of weapons. The young man had pulled a fan out to hide half of his face, his pale gold eyes that were surrounded with a light blue glow in the dim lighting of his classroom, narrowed, his other hand slipping a poisoned knife from his arm guard hidden under his robe sleeve, just in case this stranger was a real threat.

"... Forgive this one, Meng-Laoshi..." Lan Zhan bows his head and the slightly older man blinks his eyes in surprise. He hadn't noticed that Lan Zhan had suddenly lost focus during his lecture. He would really need to get to know him better if he wanted to be able to accurately read him like he can read everyone around him. So far the Lans were much nicer to them than the Wens had been, his mother certainly sang Madam Long's praises. Meng Yao has to also admit that the Madam was very nice, though she was frighteningly more preceptive than even himself, but then again she was a Bene Gesseritt. "This is Lan Xichen, this one's cousin and bodyguard."

"Sorry to crash your lesson, but I just got back from the Burial Mounds this morning and Uncle wanted to talk with both of us. I came to get you. Hello Meng Yao, was it? I am Lan Huan, Lan Xichen. It is a pleasure to meet you." The smiling look alike of Lan Zhan's said. "Come Wangji... Meng-Laoshi may come as well, though you will keep that poisoned knife sheathed unless there was a call to arms and you will not turn your blade on anyone I care for or you will not have your life." Lan Xichen's smile takes a frosty edge that both excites and scares Meng Yao, who slowly pulls his hand away from his knife and reveals he his unarmed, for now.

"Xiongzhang." Lan Zhan sighs.

"Oh shush, Wangji. I know you've been aware of his weapons, but you are too trusting." Xichen huffs, lightly tapping his brow with a finger.

"He wouldn't be alive if he was a threat." Lan Zhan says calmly. "However, allowed him to keep them because he seemed more relaxed knowing he could protest himself."

Meng Yao gapes in shock for just a moment before he gives a low bow, putting his fan away as well, "Forgive this insolent one."

"Nothing to forgive. The Wens are a brutal and blood thirsty Clan. They are needlessly cruel and enjoy bringing suffering to those under their rule, even those in their own families are not spared." Lan Zhan says calmly. "If this one was in Meng-Laoshi's position and him in this one's; would be wary as well. Would not trust blindly, would be ready to assassinate if these strangers suddenly prove they are as bad if not worse than the Wens."

"Auntie's teachings are very thorough." Lan Huan chuckles as he slips his own weapons back into their places and relaxes himself to his usual smiling self, the frosty edge gone, but ready to pull out again. Meng Yao bows and apologizes once more, but agrees with Lan Wangji's assessment of his own thoughts and precautions.

After that the three make their way to Lan Hailang's office. They walk in to find Lan Qiren standing beside their grim, but well meaning captain of the guard, Song Lan, who narrows his eyes at the three of them. Lan Hailang, or Qingchen-Jun as he was more often called by, looked up and gives them both a warm smile and a confused look.

"Meng-Laoshi?" He asks.

"He was willing to kill me if I hurt Wangji, figured we could use him as a neutral party and perhaps extra protection if this meeting goes sideways, Uncle."

"A stranger, Xichen?" Song Lan growls, his face getting grimmer, but Xichen just laughs.

"Calm down, cousin! I would never endanger Wangji like that. Besides if Meng Yao is even allowed to keep working here, it means Auntie has already vetted him. Nothing gets past her when it comes to Wangji's wellness and safety. As much as she loves Uncle, if Uncle were to ever harm her son... I doubt even he would survive her wrath." Xichen points out and everyone nods. Lady Long was a very sweet and soft woman, but was a real monster when it came to her child's safety and well being.

"Indeed, Miyoung has threatened me several times when she gave birth that if I ever step out of line. Not even Lan'er dares to go against her." Qingchen-jun laughs. "Very well, Meng Yao, forgive us, we are not normally so sneaky or underhanded. But you have to understand: To suddenly be given rule over Yiling, when for more than 3 generations, Qishan Wen had ruled. We would be very stupid to not take every precaution. My lady is personally vetting everyone out, so far we have caught 5 spies and found 3 would be assassins. My wife has personally taught our son at her knee, I am no slouch either. Every man you see in this room, and even some you do not, are all very well trained, will kill first and ask later when it comes to the safety of those they care about. I personally believe the Emperor finds me as a threat to his rule and sent my family here, knowing the Wens will be infuriated by this and will retaliate. I hope to form a peace pact if not an agreement to call to arms with those who live in the Burial Mounds. There is no telling when the attack will happen and I want to minimalize the amount of deaths if possible."

"I see..." Meng Yao says, flicking out his fan and tapping it against his chin as he paces, thinking. He feels their eyes on him, but he is processing and he has to admit this suddenness had been very suspicious. Meng Yao would admit that he would be extremely cautious if he had been in their place. Madam Long was clearly someone to fear so the enemy would target her and Heir Lan to cripple Lord Lan. 5 spies and 3 would be assassin... He suddenly paused in thought, his brows knitting together, he needed to get a message out to Da-ge. But didn't the smiling twin not say he just returned from the Burial Mounds? How, only those of the Frehman blood could get in and out of there and only with the Laozu's blessing. Shai-Hulud was both merciful and cruel to those who lived there. Blinking his eyes, he looks up just as the door opens and his nose catches the raw scent of Spice and his eyes warm up seeing Da-ge. So he was here and that means... hopefully something will be agreed upon. Da-ge hated the Wens for what they've been doing to their people for generations, they have all lost someone and there were a few Wens in their tribes now, those that had been deemed traitors for one reason or another and dumped into the desert to die.

"I am no dog to be summoned." Da-ge growls out, He is a mountain of a man and the fact they do not hear him as he walks towards them has set many on edge. Song Lan growls and gets in his path, but Xichen is quick to quell him.

"Clan Leader Nie, this one greets you and apologizes. This is the Uncle, this one spoke of. Uncle, this is Clan Leader, Nie Mingjue. He leads all of the Desert Dwellers. These are Lan Qiren, our Tactical expert, Song Lan, our captain of the Guard and this is my cousin and the one I call my brother, Lan Wangji." Xichen is careful to not give birth names, he bows and touches first his heart before touching his forehead and making an offering motion with the same hand. His Uncle notes this and calmly copies him as he gives his own greetings.

"Mm, this one greets you... why did you wish to speak?" He demands, ignoring how the guards around the room tense, Song Lan looks like he wants to cut his head form his shoulders, but Qingchen is keeping him calm. Nie Mingjue sees Meng Yao hiding off to the side, clearly he was brought in for something. He was his most trusted spy and lover, it was good to see he was clearly not distressed though he had a look in his pale golden eyes. He would speak to him later, much later, and get his opinion.

"As I'm sure you can guess, I am not Wen Rouhan, nor am I or anyone who follows me, related to them. The Emperor has stationed my entire Clan here to supervise the continued collection and production of Spice. This was very sudden and I would be foolish to think this is not some ploy to have my entire clan wiped out either from civil unrest by the people who have grown tired of oppression and would not wish to be subjected to more tyranny or by the Wens themselves, who will be furious at suddenly losing their vice grip on the Empire. After all the one who controls Yiling, controls the Empire. You have no reason to believe me, but I am to make things better for the people of Yiling as well as keep the Empire satisfied for as long as I draw breath. However, war is coming and I would like for us to aid one another. If this is too much to ask, then I at least ask for protection for those who are innocent in this. From my Household, I wish for this to cover my beloved and our son."

Lan Zhan tensed and snapped his head at his father. Identical golden eyes calmly looked back and Lan Zhan slowly looks down, fists tight. His father knows he will not survive this ploy and it infuriates him. His father is making him out to be some helpless child, hoping to earn sympathy for him. He slowly looks up and Nie Mingjue is looking at him and his eyes, a deep green hazed over by the blue glow shine brighter as he leans back, his face shadowed and the glow is in full effect. Like this it is hard to see what he is thinking, but Lan Zhan does not drop his gaze. When he leans forward once more he spits at the table. Song Lan nearly lunges at the disrespectful act, but Xichen grabs him back and shakes him hard. The older man, yelps like a pup being reprimanded.

"Calm down, you idiot! He is not being rude! Think about it, this is a Desert Planet! Water of any kind is very precious! So to willingly spit is a sign of great respect!!" Xichen scolds and they startle hearing Qingchen also spit.

To them it is strange because spitting is a deplorable habit, but in this case it is an act of respect being reciprocated. Lan Hailang wipes his mouth with a cloth, ignoring the shocked faces around him as he looks at Nie Mingjue, who smirks back.

"I like you... survive another week and I might consider your offer... But I do not hold out much hope, Yiling is cruel to even us who are of her salt. Only the Shai-Hulud is spared... I shall speak with the Laozu, if they approve, I shall be back in one week... Survive, you are clearly strong. It would be a shame if you died." He turns and leaves without waiting to be dismissed and Xichen has to shake Song Lan once more when the man gets angry at the clear lack of respect the Clan Leader has.

"The Laozu? I thought you said he was the Leader of the Desert Clans, Xichen?" Lan Qiren's eyes turn full white as he processes the information gleaned form the conversation as well researching his own memory banks for any kind of information on some called the Laozu.

"He is... I have no idea who the Laozu is. I've been with them since I left over a year ago. I spent 3 months searching for them. They had found me my first night in the Burial Mounds and watched me for three months. When they deemed me strong enough, trust worthy enough, they brought me to one of their safe havens. I was introduced to Nie Mingjue and they taught me their ways. As much as they shared with me, they kept even more to themselves. The Laozu is one such thing since I did not know about it until now. I am assuming the Laozu is someone with a lot more say and power than even Clan Leader Nie." Xichen admits, not sure how he feels about his friend not telling him about this Laozu before now.

Meng Yao, on the other hand, hid his shock behind his fan. His lover deemed them worthy enough to speak with a'Xian!? He wonders how Clan Leader Jiang feels about that. A'Xian is one of their best kept secrets besides where their hidden caches and settlements are. He could commune with the Burial Mounds, could call the various monsters and demons that inhabited their home to bend to his will. When one said desert power, many assumed using the winds and the sand to their advantage, but when you said desert power to a Frehman? They think of Shai-Hulud and a'Xian. Meng Yao would need to send a letter to his lover asking him to make sure a'Yang was keeping a close eye on a'Xian since Meng Yao was on his mission. As much as NIe Mingjue complained about how annoying and bratty Xue Yang could be, he trusts very few others than him to keep a'Xian safe. Glancing at the Lans, he help to ensure that at least one of them survived. Things have been very quiet since their arrival, it is only a matter of time before the enemy makes their move...

Chapter Text

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Wei Ying quickly and quietly shuts the door he had just dashed into. He looks around frantically and finds space just big enough to curl up i to between an old bookcase and a dresser of sorts. He moves as quick and quietly as he can, the sounds of the others screaming, slamming and running all over the place thankfully covering up any sounds he might have made. Wei Ying is thankful he chose the black hanfu without the pretty designs on it. It would help him blend in with the darkness and shadows. He had barely settled in place, hands quickly covering his mouth and nose to muffle his shaky breaths and any other terrified noises he might make when the door to the room suddenly creeks open. He goes still, his heart going from its rabbited pace to almost stopping in fright as he catches just the sliver of mourning white as this stranger who had attacked them walks silently into the room.

There was a legend surrounding this lonely stretch of woods, telling of a being who was once a man. The man had been a paragon of all that was light and just in the world. However he dared to commit a single sin: to love another. The man was born into a clan of rules and just righteousness. Was raised to be their perfect disciple and representative. But when he fell in love and requested sanctuary for that love. His clan betrayed him. Joined others, who gave into their greed for power, their lust for fame and their paranoia. His beloved and many innocent lives were brutally taken, no one seemed to notice or care that thoses they slaughter had been the sick, elderly and even a young babe. They killed them all. His beloved was tortured and then executed after nearly a year. He himself was brutally punished for his crimes of trying to protect 'the enemy' from justice.

The man broke that day and came back a demon. He slaughtered everyone who aided in the killing of innocents, the murder of his beloved, who despite what many said or thought of him, was the purest and kindest soul he has ever known. A man of true righteousness and justice. They had not only tortured and killed him, they had shattered his soul, in hopes he would never be reincarnated. However, the man turned demon collectes the fragments after he had gotten his revenge. He came back to the very forest his beloved had once fled to when the world turned its back on him. There he built a home, buried the innocents who died and searched endlessly for his beloved until his dying day...

Or so the story had gone..

 But stories of those who ventured intot he forest, dared to disturb the Man In Mourning; storys of mysterious deaths and happenings came about and stuck for centuries even as the world changed from myths and legends to the modern era. Wei Ying had only come to this place because he had been forced by Wen Chao, his bully and tormentor, least the bastard reveals that Wei Ying is one of the 1% of humans who are born dual sexed. These people are either treated terribly or are seen as some exotic pet to be owned. Wei Ying shudders to think what the oily bastard has planned to 'keep his silence' and all that...

Wei Ying blinks his eyes as the man in white, the Mourner, pauses at the desk just before Wei Ying's hiding spot. The young man mentally squeaks in fright before begging the man to go away. He watches the man stand there, seemingly looking at the room and trying to figure out where Wei Ying was hiding before he finishes walking around the desk and back towards the door. Wei Ying listens as best he can for the sound of the door opening and closing. Does not dare to leave his hiding spot until almost an hour has passed. By then his ass is beyond numb, his back is screaming at him his joints are all stiff and weak. He only dares to leave after that one hour and slowly crawls out of his hiding spot. He keeps any sounds that want to escape his lips at bay, unable to mute the soumds of stiff joints cracking and popping. The soumds like fireworks going off in the silence of the room. He has not heard any sounds for some time and wonders of the others are either dead or have fled. He was so focused on not making a sound, of not drawing the Mourner's attention to himself, he tuned out everything until the silence was amplified by the lack of sound.

It takes him an embarrassing 15 mintues just to stand up and he so wants to groan and sigh, but fights off the urge with a viciousness reserved only for Wang Lingjiao. He shakes himself as best he can to hopefully get some kind of circulation and function back and turns to flee the room only to scream in fright as the Mourner stands there on the otherside of the desk. Wei Ying yelps and falls onto his sore ass and scrambles back against the wall, his lips trembling with fright and trying to beg for mercy. But they refuse to emit any soumds other than wordless whimpers. Silver eyes grow wide with terror as the Mourner comes walking towards him, his steps unheard and a frightful chill clings to him unlike the chill of death. He thinks he is about to die and his last thoughts are that he should have gone with his Shijie to the festival. The man in white looms over him and reaches for him just as his world tunnelsnin and fades into black....

Chapter Text

Sunlight lazily peeked into the curtains, finding a slit in them to stab directly into Wei Ying's eyes. He moans pitifully and sits up, rubbing his eyes tiredly. It takes him a moment far too long to realize he's at home, in his bed. When it clicks he gasps and jumps out of his bed. This was his room alright, his desk was a mess of notes, textbooks, art supplies and his laptop. His lounge area was its usual chaos of moon pillows, blankets and a bowl of stale popcorn, the tv is off and it seems he was last playing his Nintendo. On the opposite side of his room his walk in closet is open and he can see his homme wardrobe is it's usual mess, clean, but messy, but his femme wardrobe is kept nice and neat because girl clothes needed more tender care than boy clothes. His vanity was cluttered, but neat with his makeup, hair accessories and his jewelry boxes. Nothing looked out of place, but he shouldn't have been home!

"A'Xian, are you awake?" His beloved Shijie's voice calls softly through the door as she knocks and then comes in. "Oh, you're awake! How did you sleep last night?"

"I... How did I get home?" He asks instead.

"Wen QIng said you weren't feeling well and brought you home after you fainted at her house." Jaing Yanli says, blinking her eyes with a slight pinch between her brows. "Are you sure you're okay, Xianxian?" She frets.

"I... I'm not sure... I think the haunted house scared me." Wei Ying lies, rubbing his face with his hands to hide his guilt at fibbing to his Shijie. As far as she knows he had gone to a haunted house event with some friends, not that he was being blackmailed by Wen Chao to walk into Yiling Forest and to try and summon the Mourner. He remembers Wen Qing showing up and trying to stop her cousin, but when things started to get weird and everyone scattered, he had lost her and had worried she might have gotten hurt or killed. Thank goodness she was alright, but he highly doubts she was the one to actually bring him home and if she did, he knows she wouldn't lie to his sister, Wen Qing and Jiang Yanli were overprotective sisters and bonded over their mutual love for their brothers, especially the trouble magnets that are Wen Ning and Wei Ying.

"My poor Xianxian, such a brave boy..." She coos and he cannot help softening his voice, making him sound very young as he lets her hug him, petting his hair.

"Xianxian big boy, but still 3." He mumbles.

"Yes, my Xianxain will always be 3." Yanli giggles and kisses his temple. "Get ready, I made breakfast."

He gives a happy cheer knowing that his sister's amazing cooking was waiting for him, screw his confusion and fear, nothing can ruin Shijie's cooking! She giggles again and leaves as he walks over to his closet and decides what he wants to wear that particular day. He pulls his skinny jeans from the Homme section and a wrap around blouse from the femme section, his well worn red and black high tops and opting for practical, he grabbed one of his thick belts and the matching chain that connects to his wallet. Pleased, he walks out of the closet and to the door next to it that goes into his bathroom...

Wei Ying walks down stairs in his outfit, hiding his blouse under one of his baggy BTS hoodies, his long hair carefully braided into a mermaid tail braid and hanging over his left shoulder. He only did eyeliner and some lip gloss which only highlighted his natural beauty. However when he got to the dinning room he blinked confused seeing a stranger dressed rather formally in traditional clothes. He had a long thin mustache and a short pointy beard. His hair was long and tightly braided, like a whip. His long outer robe was black with deep blue accents outlined in white, swirling clouds and bamboo stalks were artfully stitched in. his pants were a simple white and his shoes pointed at the tip, like the shoes one sees in a Period piece C-drama, and not the more modern rounded flats that most modern traditionalists wear. He felt that something was off... like really off.

"Good morning..." He says quietly, walking to sit in his normal place at the opposite end of the family dinner table, a seat distance between himself and his siblings because Madam Yu wanted it clear that while he was a part of the family, he was not a part of her family, that he was not hers.

"Greetings young sir." the strange man greets. "This one is Lon Po. This one helped you to get home, but it seems you dropped this. This one has come to return it."

The old man pulls out the cloth purse Wei Ying had kept his cards and ID in when he was in hanfu. When had he lost it? Was it before or after they did the live version of a Scooby-Doo chase? (He liked the American cartoon, shut up! It was funny!) Wei Ying gives him a polite smile and stands to accept it back, but blinks when the man bows lower, like one would bow to someone of higher status to them.

"Thank you so much... I'm afraid I don't really recall much from yesterday... I was really scared..."

"Understandable. This one also extends his Young Master's apologies. It seems he startled you and your companions at the event. He wanted to ensure that no one was hurt and that the lost items found their way home. If Young Sir is willing, Young Master would like to make his apologies in person. When is best for Young Sir to possibly meet him?" Lon Po asks, still bowed.

"Um..." Wei Ying is not sure what to say.

"He will go right this instant." Aunt Yu's voice cuts in, sharp like a knife.

"Madam, kindly do not speak when the conversation is not with you." Lon Po says, his smile cat like, neither polite nor malicious, but the barbs felt regardless. "This one is speaking to Young Sir."

Madam Yu sputters as her husband hides a snort of amusement in his coffee. Oh he liked the old guy, anyone who could put his bitchy wife in her place was automatically on his friendly list! Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng both quickly took bites of their food to hide the little smirks wanting to crawl onto their faces as Wei Ying blinks.

"I um... I am free on Friday afternoon, after 4pm... There's a cafe... It's called Fěicuì Cháyuán. Your young Master can meet me there... do you mind if I bring a companion? I don't want to be rude, but I don't exactly know you and cannot trust you so readily." Wei Ying scratches at his nose nervously.

"That is perfectly acceptable, Young Sir. Caution is good and yes, you may bring a companion. This one will take his leave now, good day Young Sir, Family Jiang." The man bows one last time, straightens and the head butler sees him out.

What... just... happened?

"The nerve of that filthy servant! And you--!!"

"My wife, do stop. A'Xian went to a Haunted House event, apparently they did an amazing job if they scared him so well that he fainted. He wasn't running around naked or kissing every living being. It was harmless fun that ended a bit not so harmless. On Friday, he will meet with Lon Po's Young Master and will take A'Cheng with him and if a'Cheng cannot go, then at least one of a'Xian's friends will go."

"I'm free Friday, so I can accompany him." Jiang Yanli says. "I will have Mianmian accompany us so if anything untoward happens she can at the very least call the police." She says before her mother can complain.

"Lou QIngyang is unacceptable because that whore's bastard ruined your engagement to Jin Zixuan!" Madam Yu snarls, pointing at Wei Ying.

"Mother, for the last time: Jin Zixuan implied I was a slut to not only several young masters, but also to a'Cheng and a'Xian's faces. They both punched him in the face. But because Jin Guangshan knows who you are, how fierce your reputation is, he didn't dare say anything against a'Cheng. A'Xian is from a more humble background and thus was the perfect Scapegoat for him to blame. Or did you want my reputation to be reduced to ashes and be known as 'that Jiang Slut?' Because that is what is sounding like to me." Jiang Yanli says in her soft voice, but there was an edge that rivaled her mother's and it both pissed the woman off and made her so proud of the steel in her daughter's back.

"She caught you there, my wife." Fengmian says into his coffee, once more hiding his pleased smile. "If you want to blame one of our boys, blame both of them, if a'Xian is a whore's son and a bastard, then so is a'Cheng."

The woman sputters in fury and stomps away much to the amusement of her family, Wei Ying smiles shyly, glad that his family protects him so fiercely...

~*~*~*~*~

Friday arrived and Wei Ying found himself nervously fussing with his bangs, trying to make himself presentable, even after He Su and Nie Huaisang have both assured him that his hair was perfect and that his clothes were clean and wrinkle free. He was wearing his favorite bunny printed leggings and a big purple sweater dress with a corset style belt, he wore cute black ankle boots that matched his backpack, Fridays were his short days at the Art College he went to and he had spent the three hours after his classes working on some projects and freaking out about the meeting. But as 4pm rolled around, he and his sister met up with her friend, Lou Qingyang, or Mianmian to close friends and family, outside of the Feicui Chayuan cafe. They walk in and see Lon Po standing by a privacy screen and walk over. The old man bows to the three of them, Wei Ying introducing Mianmian to the old man, who smiles and welcomes her warmly before he ushers them to go around the screen and sit down. Wei Ying freezes, the man on the other side is like a living statue, his body was tall and broad, but streamlined. His features were symmetrical and refined. The Gods had to have made this man, no he had to be a God! His hair is long and looks like spun silk, Wei Ying wants to play with it and his golden eyes? They sear into him and he feels exposed.

"Young Sir, Young Ladies, this is Young Master Lan Wangji." Lon Po introduces them. "Young Master, Lady Lou Qingyang, Lady Jiang Yanli and Young Master Wei Wuxian."

"Please, sit..."

Wei Ying whimpers softly, oh no. Oh, no! He's-he's hot!!! That voice is sin!!

"It is good to see you again." Lan Wangji says looking at Wei Ying. "Forgive me for frightening you..."

Wei Ying blinks, confused and then he remembers the man in white. Was that... was that young master Lan?

Chapter Text

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Lan Huan walked into the very last place he ever expected to be, he had with him two bodyguards who each carried two large briefcases filled with money. He would not be here if he could have found what he was looking for the legal way. But be that as it may, time was very short and he had Madam fucking Yu to thank for that. He had gone to the Jiang Household this morning to pick up the promised bride for his brother, one Wei Ying, as was arranged by his late father. To his shock and dismay, he learns that Jiang Fengmian had been killed only 2 days before and just yesterday, Madam Yu sold Wei Ying to the Slave Auctions.

She even had the nerve to demand the promised money for Wei Ying's bride price for 'getting rid of the useless bitch' for them. Needless to say, Lan Huan was pissed as fuck, but had little time to worry about the bitch. He had stormed out of the Jiang Manor and was about to get ibto his car when Lady Jiang came rushing out to him. She was pale and clearly had been crying endlessly. Even now she cried, but she had a firm set to her jaw even as her lips wobbled.

"Mr. Lan, please... I k ow I have no right to ask this of you, but please find a'Xian and make syre he is safe! Please!? I heard HER say something about the Hybrid Auctions.... Um, I think they are run by someone named Lao Fongmei?" She looked like she was trying very hard to remember but gave a defeated sigh of frustration.

"I know who you are talking about. Thank you, Lady Jiang. I shall do what I can..." Lan Huan had promised and she gave him a beautific smile in thanks before she had to hurry back inside least her mother grow suspicious. With that clue, he had set off first to collect more money than the slave market deserved and called up his best friend, Nie Mingjue to help him track down Lao Fongmei and rescue Wei Ying.

That is how he found himself walking into the private Auction, glaring at anyone who tried to stop him and walked strkaigh to the auction stage just as Wei Ying had been brought out. The poor bunny was drugged to the gills and was on the verge of passing out. He hung simply in his captors' arms and was flushed with an induced heat by the looks of him. Lan Huan growls and the guards place the briefcases on the stage and only open up two of them.

"Uh... Sold to the gentleman paying in cash!" The acutioneer shouts, too stunned to even care if the obviously rich man was invited yes or no. Lan Huan nods and climbs the stage as one of the workers brings him a blanket and he quickly wraps up Wei Ying and turns to leave, ignoring any attempts to talk tonhim or stop him. His guards quickly follow behind, free hands on their guns as they leave. He needs to get Wei Ying to a hospital and fast...

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan is a very quiet and stoic man. He has always been this way since he was a child. Though he was more emotional and showed his expressions to his mother. She had always told him that arranged marriage were both very good and very bad things. Yes there was middle ground but she wanted her boys to find True love and happiness, something she was denied when she was arranged made to marry his father.

She loved her sons greatly, cherished their visits to her. Many of the Lan Heads had wanted to restict thos visits. Limit all her freedoms because before she had married the Lan Clan's Heir, she had killed his favorite uncle and one of the gang leader who served Lan Tao's father. But Lan Tao was madly obsessed with her and would not all them to kill her least the Fuyin Syndicate choose to go to war with them while their numbers were smaller. They were a very dangerous clan of well trained warriors in all styles ancient and forgotten to modern warfare.

They would kill them all with little trouble if anything happened to Fuyin Weiyoung. Lan Zhan makes a distant mental note to call his grandma on his mother's side since his paternal grandparents are long dead. Having died before even brother had been born. Lan Zhan rarely saw his father and adore dhis near daily visits to his mother. She was never allowed to leave her well apointed estate. Though she could recieve visitors. Again the other Lan Heads did not want this. They wanted her punished, however Lan Two was Clan Head, Qingchen-Jun and before he died, he had been a very fierce and dangerous man.

Niether Lan Zhan or Lan Huan had very good memories of their father. The too few they have of him was when he would visit, their mother's smiles were empty, her laughter while bright and lively was clearly fake and it sounded so wrong to the young boys. Though there was one genuine moment of happiness with the four of them. It was the day they took a family portrait together in tradition Cultivator robes that the Lans had kept from ancient times. They were white and pale blue, the favored colors ofbhis family, their Guans were impressive, but simple and Lan Zhan had been amazed at how beautiful his mother looked with the traditional headdress of a favored and refined mistress of a Cultivation Clan. She sat while Lan Zhan was held on her lap. Lan Huan was to her other side, standing because he was too big to sit on her lap as well. The boys could not stop smiling at their mother, who they claimed was a real life princess from the many stories she always told them it mader her smile true and her laughter was real and warm. Even as their father stood behind her she could not let what would be their last memory together be stained with her clear dislike and even fear of her husband at her back, his large hand like a brand.

Lan Zhan remembers his kother always demanded he try his best to be better thanbhis father, to not force another who clearly does not want him. But then Lan Tao announced he arranged Lan Zhan's bride for him. A Wei. While many believed them to be a servant branch of the Jiang Clan. They were actually jist very close friends. The Weis rulednthe one territory that no one else dared to enter. Even today the mysterious dark forest that even the ancients had called the Burial Grounds still stood. Tall, vast and dark. The Weis lived in the forest abd were just as mysterious, then again many in that clan were apparently Hybrids.

Hybrids began to appear during the ancient times of emperors and demons and the like. They were a bit more welcomed then, though still faced animosity and sexual harassment. Over the history of their nation, they were still treated that way. Lan Zhan's mother had been a hybrid, she had this long beautiful tail of shimmering scales that she often sat with rather than using her human legs. She had four arms in her true form and always said she had them to be able to hug both her boys at the same time. Lan Zhan was sad that he and his brother were not born like her. She giggled and said it was because it was trait in Omegas. Alphas if they are a hybrid only manifest when they find their mate.

Lan Zhan had only seen pictures of the mysterious Wei Heir, never good ones but of a child running in a grand garden, or swimming in a lotus filled pond at the Jiangs. He could see the child's smile and found it beautiful. The few times his mother saw those pictures she told him in a serious tone to protect that smile. To never let it dim because of anyone else's doings. Not even his own. Lan Zhan did not realize it then but he was falling in love, deeply and dangerously so, with the boy with the sun in his smile.

It was after his parents had past, his mother had been quite ill and because of the stupid rules enfoced upon her she could not leave the compound to seek treatment from her family and thus died. This enraged their father so greatly he gathered the heads who had voted to imprison her to a warehouse for a 'meeting' and later it would be reported as terrorist bombing that killed 30 men hard at work.

Lan Huan had to take over so young and had to finish raising his brother. Sure they had their Uncle, but their Uncle was a professor and prefered to stay well away from their family business. He had wanted the same for the boys. But had no say or standing. When Fuyin Weiyoung passed he had come to help out and then was all but forced to stay when his brother commited suicide and too kout the assholes who let his beloved wife die. Now here they are, fully grown, hard working and yet so jaded by the world.

Their Uncle remained close, but still refused to be in the business, content to teach his students and do research in his spare time. They have tea every Saturday and a family breakfast every other Sunday morning after visiting their parents graves. They have a few cousins and close friends whom they view as family which helps to fill certain gaps in their lives. But not all of them. Lan Zhan was happy serving his brother as his right hand, though Lan Huan knows Lan Zhan would be a far better and more ruthless leader than himself. However he was not allowed to abdicate his position because it meant he would need to commit suicide to prevent future issues should he sire children. Lan Huan refused to do it because he would never make his brothee cry at another loss. Lan Huan may be the warmer Jade Twin, but he was also the scarier one when it came to his family, especially his brother, being hurt.

Lan Zhan finally got to the ICU room where his brother was currently leaning against the wall where their favorite adopted sister and brother were checking over his future wife.

Wei Ying.

This was the first time he was seeing him in person, the first time he was truly seeing him and he cannot help how his heart squeezes, painfully in his chest at how utterly small the hybrid is, how frail he looks and even in his deep sleep, his expression is pinched with fear and discomfort. Then his heart gives one mighty pump and he stands taller, shoulders back his perfect posture even more rigid and straight. The others looka at him.

"Bring them to me..."

"One of them is Madam Yu..." Lan Huan tells him, already typing on his phone to shis other best friend, a too clever snake in the grass.

".... Will deal with her personally... But later..." He promises dangerously. He does not looka away from Wei Ying, unable to look away from the bunny ears and his sweet face.

"Protect that smile, always, my Dragon. Do not ever let it shatter for it is a treasure that nothing could ever replace. Thst smile could be even more beautiful with love and trust from this child, just as precious and just as utterly shatter. Shatteer them and you can never get them back. Do not let what happened with me happen to him... Promise Muqin..."

He had promised her on her death bed he would and intends to keep it.

"Let's burn them to the ground." He orsers finally turning on heel...

Chapter Text

He was only a hatchling still when he wandered out of the nest and went to explore out side of it. He would later admit to his Muqin why he had disobeyed her was because he was lonely without his brother, who was now a snaklet and could freely leave the nest, but not wander far. But that is later. Right now he is a bit overwhelmed by the vibrancy of the 'forest' around him. The rich scents carried to his tongue as he flicks it out slowly, curious and trying to desipher what he is smelling. He wanders round and around until he is ultimately lost in this 'forest' and cannot find his way back to the nest. He admittedly panics until he catches the sweet scent of milk and honey, he knows that scent! I belonged to his Muqin! He quickly darts towards it, but freezes as the woman he sees is not his Muqin, even if she carries the same smell as her. He notices she is sitting on a thick blanket and has something held to her chest under another blanket. It takes him bit too long to realize what is going on when the woman suddenly removes the blanket to reveal a baby, who has just finished nursing, and she adjusts the inner robes to cover her breast once more. He quickly covers his eyes with his tail, glad he cannot blush in this form even if he feels himself heat up with embarrassment.

"Shh, a'Ying, there you go... Nice and full, but now to make sure your tummy doesn't get upset... ready? There, there... ohh, that was a good one, is that better, my little YingYing?" the woman coos in a sweet voice much like when his Muqin speaks to him. She had gently patted the baby's back until the baby made a strange sound, and sighed contentedly when it was over. "Good boy, now you rest right here while I go find your Baba... silly man must have gotten distracted again with a new plant." She giggles as she sets him in a basket and then pulls out some beads that begin to glow with spiritual energy.

He darts forward onto the blanket in a moment of panic as she does this and then he gasps as the energy does not feel the same like his Muqin's or Fuqin's. While still pure, it feels... darker. He is confused by this, but the baby gives a happy burble and squeal as his own Muqin giggles and bends down to kiss a fat little cheek.

"Ying'er be a good boy and wait for a'Niang and Baba to come back, ok?" she tells him after she was down placing a series of barriers around her child and then quickly hurried off in a seemingly random direction to find her mate. She would not be gone long, even with her unparalleled skills with Barriers, Cangse Sanren would nor risk leaving her only child alone for longer than a few short moments.

As soon as the woman was out of sight, he curiously slithers up to the basket and looks in at the baby. It was indeed a Hatchling, but not one like himself. How curious. The other child blinks big silver eyes at him and makes curious cooing sound and he cocks his own head to the side, golden eyes slightly wider in wonder. He gives s surprised puff as he is grabbed by the other infant and coils around his hand. He is too small and weak to squeeze, which is unfair because the other infant has a strong grip on him. However they watch each other, the baby moves a bit uncordinatedly, but still watching him, holding him steady. They watch each other for a long time, but then there is a shocked squeal and they look to see the woman, the other Hatchling's Muqin and someone who must be his Fuqin standing there, pale faced and wide eyed. The baby gives a delighted squeal and lets his new friend go to make grabby hands at his parents, this allows the Hatchling to quickly dart away and right into his worried mother, who quickly grabs him in her jaws like a cat would it's kitten. The strange not-snakes, gape in shock at this as they hold their Hatchling in their arms. The two Hatchlings stare at one another even as his own mother slowly backs away, his Fuqin hidden in the bushes just behind them, his larger form and piercing golden eyes just barely hidden and his threatening hissing making sure the strangers do not dare approach. Once Muqin is near Fuqin, they quickly dart into the bushes and head for home, he remains lip, knowing he is in trouble, but he cannot stop thinking about the strange not-snakes, especially the other Hatchling. He felt pure and yet dark, how was that so? He would need to ask his parents once he is no longer in trouble that is....

Chapter Text

Snippet:

//"Ying'er, remember: Whenever you come across a shrine, no matter how big or how small, you must always pay your respects and offer whatever you have, even if it is a little bit to the Deity. You never want to offend them." His mother says as she carefully clears away vines that had all but swallowed up a shrine that was hidden in the forest, most likely on the side of what was once a very commonly used path and slowly was forgotten over time. He hums and nods his head as he pulls a candy the nice granny at the shop had given to him when his Mama had picked up some supplies. He sets it in the tray and claps his hands together and bows three times to the shrine, asking the nice God to please feel better.

His father's warm chuckle as he found them, made him look up from his small prayer and he ran to his Baba and told him what he just learned. After that Wei Ying made it a point that whenever his family came out to the countryside to visit his grandma, he will explore and find as many shrines as possible and clean them up and offer whatever he could. He kept this tradition up until his parents were killed one horrible night due to a landslide. After that Wei Ying went to live in the city with his father's brother and his family, though his Mama's mother, his Granny Bao, wanted to keep him. After that he didn't get to visit her as often as he use to, though they wrote letters and called each other often over the years to follow...//

Wei Ying sighed annoyedly as he sat on the bench that was in the roof garden of one of the smaller company buildings owned by his Uncle's business. He had been put in charge of presenting at that day, alone no less to prove that he was ready to manage his own small branch or even make his own small start up company that would be a subdivision of his Uncle's. The presentation had gone flawlessly, he had answered all the questions asked with clear and concise answers, pulled up the correlating images, diagrams and charts needed. He believes he sold the product to several of the gentleman and at least one of the ladies in attendance to partner up with Jiang Inc. He had even been invited to go eat with a few potential investors, but as he was leaving the restaurant, a couple of police officers stopped him and took him to the precinct and now all his hard work went down the drain. Aunt Yu was going to be furious with him, though when is she ever not? This was one of their biggest deals and *poof* there it goes! All because of a case of mistaken identity! And by the time they had let him out, it was already after midnight and the last train had left. He had no way to get home. So Wei Ying did what he could in that moment, he got a bottle of cheap wine and the only prepackaged meal that didn't look like he would have the shits for the next 1000 years, a nice vegetable and fruit medley. He had come back to the building and the guard seemed to think he was coming to work late after picking up his meal and let him in, so Wei Ying went to the only place that elevator was going to stop on and that was the roof top garden. As he was getting ready to eat and drink the cheap alcohol, he noticed a shrine out the corner of his eye and he could not fight off the fond smile that came to his face whenever he found one.

It looked well maintained, the Characters over the doors to the mini shrine looked very warn, chipped away at by the elements, but he could made out the character for Luck. He noticed that someone had knocked over a small vase with a couple of white gentians and a piece of winter fern. He carefully picks it up, using his pocket square to mop up the water and hurried to the spigot off to the side of rood elevator near a small garden shed. he refilled the vase and after finding the shed was open, he found some pruning sheers and came back over to carefully clean up the ends of the plants, cleaning them up and setting them back in the vase.

"There, sorry your flowers were knocked over, my dear Deity." He says and then looking at the plain offering, he moves off to some flower bushes and finds that there are some spider lilies growing in a small pond and carefully clips two of them and a couple more sprigs of ferns and after a bit of preening he creates a pretty, but still simple flower arrangement. "There, isn't that pretty, God? I don't have much, but here have some of my dinner and some of my drink. Do you like wine? If so, sorry that it's so cheap, but this late at night, I can't find anything good and after spending so much money on treating the investors... well I couldn't afford anything even half way decent... Not like the investors will sign with us now because of the police making a mistake... Sorry, God, I don't mean to complain. No, happy thoughts! Oh, God, if you are listening, please bless my Shijie, she's entering her 6th month of pregnancy and I hope it continues to be a smooth process for her! And please bless my baby nephew so he can be born safe, healthy and happy! Thank you!" He claps his hands together and gives three bows and sits up only to startle when he sees a strange snake curling around the cup he had poured some of his wine into and flick its tongue into it. "Oh, you scared me! Huh? I thought animals shouldn't have alcohol..."

The snake was a very pretty pearlescent white with an icy blue sheen to it, he's never seen anything like it before, there seemed to be short nubs coming out of its head and there was a small tuft of hair on its hair and a matching one on its tail that was a while to azure blue gradient. It also had these really bright golden eyes, like they were glowing with power. But surely Wei Ying's only seeing things. He's had a rough night and was a little tipsy, he was also very tired. He blinks when the snake finishes sipping the wine and slithers over to where he put some of the diced vegetables, fluffy rice and a couple of fruit flowers sat and began to eat them. He thought it was pretty amazing to see a snake eat something that wasn't rodent. He smiles a little and offers a little more of his meal before he sits back to eat, chatting with the snake.

"I wonder if you are the company pet? I don't think you are wild... someone would have spotted you wandering around the building or even in the streets... Wait, could the gardener have possibly brought you here to keep any pesky rodents away from the plants? That seems the most reasonable." Wei Ying muses as he thoughtfully chews on a flower cut strawberry. "Mm.... Granny Bao's spoiled me on her homegrown fruits and veggies... Oh! I haven't had Uncle's fruit wine in so long! Let's see, it should be his early spring mix so that means it would be mostly berries! Oh, I love his cherry blossom wine too! It's very popular you know." Wei Ying cannot help bragging about his family. "I want to go see Granny Bao, but I haven't really been allowed to visit her. I use to as a small child with my Mama and Baba, before they were killed in a landslide... We would go every vacation from school, or spend the whole Summer or Winter with her! Oh, but you're a snake, so you wouldn't like the cold, but did you know that where my Grandma lives, when it snows, it looks like we're floating above the clouds? And the snow sparkles like crushed diamonds? It's so beautiful and peaceful, not like in the city where it's so noisy and the snow almost never sticks." Wei Ying says happily. "My mother use to make apple pies in the winder because they taste the best when its cold out, sitting next to the fire and with a cup of warm milk. My father would pull out his instruments and play traditional songs and even some of the classical holiday songs. May favorite was watching him play Carol of the bells on the gunzheng and my Mama would join him on her dizi. I know how to play both of those and even the erhu, though I am better with the dizi. Maybe if I can come back, I will bring it with me and play you a little song, what do you think, Xiao Shuang?" Wei Ying asks, naming the snake, who perked up. "Yes, I gave you a cute name to match your adorable size and because your white like snow, but have that bluish tint that it gets at night under the starlight, I thought it was very fitting. Do you like it?" He wonders.

The snake, to his surprise, nods. Wei Ying gasps and drops his empty food container in shock and gets down on his knees, gently resting his hands on the edge of the shrine.

"You just nodded, do you understand me?" He watches the snake nod once more, sipping on the wine once more. "Wow, I've never seen any of the snakes back at Granny's do that. Well I hope you do not mind company tonight... It's very late and I'm sleepy now... Good night, Xiao Shuang." Wei Ying sighs as he gets up to clean up his mess and put it in the trash bin. "You know.... I wish I had someone... Someone who would understand me and be there for me... A friend, while nice, is not permanent... then again, neither is a lover... I don't know... don't mind me, Xiao Shuang, this Wei Ying's stupid." He laughs self deprecatingly while knocking his knuckles against the side of his head while sticking his tongue out. "If you promise to always be my friend, Xiao Shuang, I think I can keep going in this crazy world. Well good night..." Wei Ying came to the bench once more and laid down, getting as comfortable as he possibly could, thankful for the trees and the thick wall of plant life around him to stave off some of the could.

As he starts to relax and fall to sleep, he swears he feels something moving along his arm and shoulder before a deep voice speaks in his ear, "This One shall grant thy wish, Wei Ying..." And then he gasps, eyes barely opening, for a moment he thought he saw rippling scales become cloth, before his world is dark once more...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying walked into the smaller branch office, still a bit shocked over the meeting he had with his uncle when he got home this morning to at least change his clothes and try to head off the larger fallout once he apologized for blowing the deal. However when he got in that morning, his Uncle had just finished hanging up his work phone and turned with a brilliant smile on his face.

"I knew you could do it, a'Xian! The partners, board members and even the investors were highly impressed with your presentation! You should great work ethics, knew the material and even when they tried to throw curveballs at you, you adjusted and gave satisfactory solutions!" Jiang Fengmian praises and pulls the started young man into his arms. "Your father would be so proud of you."

Wei Ying gives a soft watery gasp. Even after the police had showed up, they still wanted to do business with him!? Most of those people knew his Aunt and were of the opinion that he should have been shipped off to an orphanage or left in the country where he belonged. Not gonna lie, Wei Ying thrives out in the country, he feels stifled and caged in the city. However his father's brother took him in, even if they were only half brothers. He cannot be ungrateful.

"But, I thought I blew it when those officers showed up and asked me to go with them to the station? Several of them had looked really displeased..." Wei Ying voices, wondering if the looks had been directed at him or perhaps the officers.

"Don't worry, a'Xian, they stated that you had been with them in the meeting for over four hours and had been with them three more hours when you took them out to dinner. You had no time in those seven hours to commit the crime the officers claimed you did. I will be heading that way after this to have a word with those officers as well. But anyway, you did such an excellent job that Gusu Industies wants to work with you directly! So I am promoting you to the office building you had the meeting at and you will be working with closely with Gusu's President, he owns the bulding that we rent a few floors at. He asked if you would begin work right away." Fengmian says excitedly and Wei Ying wonders if this is how his siblings feel when he gets inspired and is excited and rambles 1000 miles per sec.

"Ok, but let me get changed..."

And that was how he ended up at the smaller branch, which even though it was smaller, the building was not. He was introduced to everyone from the Gusu sections and was given command of his Uncle's branch. As strange of as things seemed to have happened, Wei Ying just smiles and gets to work. he makes himself as personable as possible, which is not hard for him since he was a social butterfly normally. He helped where he could, worked diligently and every Friday he pays for lunch for the whole office because he's a nice guy that way. However that does not stop the snide comments, the low key bullying, especially by many of the women in the office. He honestly has no idea whay they are doing it, but after a few months of this, he feels... adrift.

He's use to someone hating him for a reason. His aunt hates him because she hated his mother and was a petty, immature brat to take out her anger for a dead owoman on said woman's son who has done nothing to deserve her wrath. As close as he is with his brother, Jiang Cheng, he knows he resents him because he had to give away his puppies when Wei Ying came to live with them. Wei Ying has crippling fear of dogs. His grandma tells him that when he had been about 10-13 months old a feral stray had attacked him at a festival and ever since he's been terrified, even if he could not recall the incident. Just hearing a dog bark sends him into a blind panic or fits of hysterics. So yeah, Jiang cheng sorta hates him for his dogs being taken away.

Heck he knows that this one old lady who lives across the street from them hates him because she tried to set him up with her granddaughter and Wei Ying had told her after the failed date (Aunt Yu forced him to go) that if she had dick and wasn't such a gold digger, things would had been slightly better. Needless to say, the old woman hates him and makes sure to try and whack him with her cane whenever possible, which is not all that often. So yes, Wei Ying is no stranger to being hated or harrassed, but it is the fact these women are doing it for seemingly no reason is very draining. It was so bad today that he took a 'smoke' break,, even though he doesn't smoke, but the floor manage had seen how stressed he looked and allowed it.

So here he was on the roof of the building sitting on the bench next to the shrine after he set out some cherry blossom tea and a couple of sweet bean cakes he had made that morning. If there was one benefit to working here, it was visiting his little snake friend daily, even if he wasn't always hanging around and he always made a new flower arrangement for the shrine. Today was lavender, baby's breath and a couple of winter and spring fern sprigs! He carefully arranged them to mimick a peacock's feathers open on display.

"There, I hope at least you are having a good day today, God... Oh, I did some research and found out that this shrine is a miniture of your real shrine back in Gusu! I will have to plan a trip there, I saw some of the pictures and it looked beautiful! Though the cooler temps may bum me out a bit..." Wei Ying pouts softly. Being raised Yunmeng and Yiling, both in warmer climates, he's not a fan of the cold. And he's really not a fan of thunderstorms.

As if summoned the white snake peeks up from around the mini shrine, flicking a curious tongue out and slithering to the offerings.

"Ah, Xiao Shaung!" Wei Ying cheers softly. "Sorry if I confused youd, I needed a small break. the ladies iwho work for the President's vice President are being mean to me. I don't know what I did to make them not like me, but they've been bullying me. I can't really complain beecause they said they would tell HR that I'm molesting them. And sadly because I'm a man, the people in HR would believe them over me. Not many people realize that men can be bullied by women, harrassed, moslested or even raped by a woman. However since the signs are not as obvious on a man as it is a woman... And not to mention most men will never admi to being victim to a woman..."

The snake slithers up his shoulder and around his neck as if hugging him, to say it's 'okay, I am here.' Wei Ying giggles and rubs a finger under the snake's chin and over the tiny nubs on his head.

"Well my break will be over soon. You enjoy the tea and cakes, be sure to leave some for God too, or he might get upset." Wei Ying playfully scolds and sets the snake down on the bench as he heads back to work.

Wei Ying walks back to his desk and frounds seeing sever bouqets of flowers and one of the vases of them had been knocked over and spilling water onto his laptop and the paperwork he was about to get started on. he saw several of the woman snickering and sneering at him.

"Excuse me, but who put those flowers there?" He asks as calmly as he can without snapping like he wants to. His laptop is likely ruined, thank god for his external or he would have blown up if he lost the last few months worth of work here, plus the years worth of it from working with his brother under his uncle's direct office.

"What?" one girl coos.

"Didn't you send them to yourself, trying to pretend you have a seceret admirer or even a lover? Isn't that a bit too pathetic, even for you, Wuxian?" Another laughs into her hand as several others giggle and snicker, making rude comments.

Wei Ying opened his mouth to snap at them, consequences be damned! He will not be mocked and harassed any longer! However the Vice President and the President suddenly coming in sent them all into a flurry. Wei Ying is left standing there dazed and stunned. The President of Gusu Industries was a young man, perhaps only a few years older than himself. He's tall, has broad shoulders but a deceptively slim frame. He is also unfairly handsome. Even if Wei Ying were straight, he would certainlly be gay for this man, this prince among peasants!

""President Lan! Welcome! How can we be of service?" one of the woman who were just mocking Wei Ying asks, practically swooning at the man.

"..." President Lan walks through the tables, ignorning the women as they try to talk to him but he stops by Wei Ying's desk and looks at the mess on it before those golden orbs on him.

Wei Ying feels like bunny trapped in the wolf's gaze. However unlike with an actual dog, Wei Ying don't want to run. At least not in terror, if that makes any sense.

"Wei Ying, attend." He commands firmly in a voice made of pure sin and Wei Ying is certain he came a little in his pants. His knees feel like jelly and he's certain he will faint., "You will work directly with me from now on..."

Chapter Text

Wei Ying hums softly as he waters the few plants that President Lan had in his office, the pile of work that he had completed for him to look over sat neatly on his desk with a fresh cup of ginsing tea, the ceramic cup was actually the twin of Wei Ying's own cup, but in white with a matching lid that keeps the tea nice and hot. It had cute bunnies frolicking around the cup, all of them had adorable robe like jackets and magnolia flower crowns. His own cup was black, the bunnies dressed in the robe like jackets, but their flower crowns were spider lilies. Wei Ying giggled softly at the subtle prank he wanted to pull on President Lan when he returned. He's sure he will see the cutesy cup and request Wei Ying to get him a mug of coffee instead, feeling a bit out of sorts because he did not want to drink out of a cup meant for the fairer sex.

"There we go, you're all nice and watered now..." Wei Ying smiles and goes to put the little watering can back where he found it, but startles seeing President Lan standing behind him. "Oh, you gave me a fright! Can I help you, sir?"

"What was Wei Ying humming just now?" he cocks his head to the side slightly, his golden eyes piercing into Wei Ying and leaving him feeling oddly exposed and yet wholly guarded.

"Oh, it's an old love ballad, my Mama use to sing it all the time. I would fall asleep dreaming I was the fairy in the song falling in love with the Phoenix Emperor... silly right?" Wei Ying laughs softly, cheeks flushing. "My parents did not believe in gender norms, if I wanted to play with dolls, they would buy me dolls, if I wanted to dress like a butterfly princess on my birthday, Baba would spend a week making me those butterfly wings and dress. When I came to live with my Aunt and Uncle, I had to stop doing that, at least until I was an adult."

"Why did Wei Ying stop?" The white clad man asks, silently stepping closer and Wei Ying feels like the helpless mouse staring into the eyes of a cat or a snake about to pounce and devour it.

"Madam Yu, my aunt, thought it was disgraceful for a boy to play with girl toys or to dress like a girl. My Uncle tried to fight her on it multiple times, but she would just grab my things and toss them or burn them. So I played with boy toys and dressed like a boy until I was old enough to buy my own things with my own money. Now she cannot touch them if she does not want to pay me back." Wei Ying tells him, wondering why he was being so chatty about his home life.

"If Wei Ying wishes to wear something pretty, he should..." President Lan tells him and for a hot second Wei Ying thinks the man will grab him and ravish him, but then those golden eyes blink, the spell is broken and President Lan goes to his desk to work, calmly removing the lid from the bunny cup and taking a deep breath of it before he sips the still hot tea.

Wei Ying is left stunned because President Lan didn't even bat an eye at the cute cup! Maybe next time he will put hot sauce in the tea. He pouts a bit as he turns to leave.

"Wei Ying, come." He blinks and moves to the desk, wondering what he missed or what the man could need. "Closer." Wei Ying comes to stand beside the desk only to gasp when the bigger male grabs his wrist suddenly and pulls him to sit across his lap. "Better." The older male says and begins to look over the documents as if he was not hold Wei Ying hostage

Wei Ying was too shocked and flustered to say anything or to attempt fleeing, and even then, just the slightest shift to get a bit kore comfortable, he felt the steel bands that Presidant Lan called arms entrap him with little hope if any, to escape. Wei Ying eventually felt tired and slowly dozed off, nestling into the Lan as he did so. Said male gives a pleased growl, nuzzling Wei Ying's temple as he keeps working.

"Rest, my Ying, I will not have my bride tired or stressed..." He whispers as Wei Ying snuggles close and snores softly in his sleep...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying is not sure how he feels about his new boss/business partner. President Lan is hard to read most of the time and then when he gives the rare facial expression, Wei Ying is left dazed and floaty for several hours if not the rest of the day. Sometimes the man yanks him into surprise cuddles and listens to what Wei Ying says, even if he is not quite complaining about how unfair life has been to him. And then Lan Zhan had given him premission to dress how he desires and that is where he is now. He is standing in a towel wrapped around his body, he was torn between homme and femme.

He really wants to dress femme, especially after going so long not doing it, but he is also worried a out gettinf in trouble fore it or evdn fired. But he is always dressed homme and that does not stop the women in the Secretorial department from harassinf him. No, you knkw what? He was gonna knock those uppity bitches flat on their asses! He quickly pulls out his best A line skirt, it was a beautiful indigo blue, almost black color his sheer tights and his best business pumps. For his shirr he takes the soft pink, which was a nice, innocent style, almost a fairy princess cut to it. He was considering changing it, but the pink would look good with fhe skirt and it will give him a cute, sweet view mixes with fhe sexinwaa going on below the belt. His jacket however was replaced with a warm grey cardigan and he opted for lighf jewelry and makeup for this lovely number.

He spends almost half an hiur on hisbhair and has mamanged to make a sweet Fair braided crown in it and leavinf hlaf hisbhair out down his back. Grabbing his things he walks out the door and is off to work.

Chapter Text

Wei Ying walked confidentially into the Secretarial Department, his black work pumps clicking delicately on the floors as he walked to his desk. Everywhere he had walked today, he had turned heads. He knew with his fair features and the right touches, many would mistake him for a woman and that was the thrill of it. He knew when he was dressed as a man he was handsome and was a harmless flirt, but dressed as a woman, he could be as sweet as a fair maiden or as deadly as a femme fatale! He hid his pleased smirk as he walked to his desk, unlocked it and pulled out the two bunny mugs, his tin of homemade teas his grandmother sent him and chose a softer, subtly sweet cherry blossom and honey tea for today.

He locked his desk up again and headed to the kitchen area where he boiled water for tea, prepped steepers and poured the water. Placing the caps on them he carefully walks back to his area and sets them down as he checks his phone for President Man's schedule for the day and nods as he sees there are two meetings to prep for. He sits down at his desk to start on that while the tea steps and waiting for President Lan to arrive. The other Omegas and beta women all stared and gaped in shock, some seething with jealousy at how effortlessly elegant he appeared.

"Wei Ying?" The familiar quiet voice of President Lan sounded and he looks up, blinking owlishly behind his reading glasses to look at the Alpha and smiles a warm, sunny smile.

"Morning!" He chirps and stands up, gathering his things and their tea before following the quiet man to his office.

"Wei Ying looks beautiful... Should dress prettily more often." President Lan says as Wei Ying blushes.

"Maybe... But anyway..." Wei Ying snaps into professional mode and they get to work...

~£~£~£~£~£~

Wei Ying bowed politely to a visiting client who wished to check out one of the facilities owned by Lan Inc. President Lan stood behind him with his Vice President at his shoulder, the serious young man whispering softly in his ear, mouth hardly moving as he did so. Wei Ying gives the proper greetings and introductions before beginning the tour. This particular facility was designed to extract minerals from water brought in from around the city, purifying the water to have more readily available drinking water, but also recycling the minerals to create synthetic materials that are more cheaply made but twice the durability of tothe in more commonly used materials like iron and steel.

Wei Ying was shining as he explains the process and answers questions, he easily avoids spelling secrets and verbal traps, President Lan watching him with what appeared to be awe it n his eyes at the ease Wei Ying worked. When the client was in left reeling by Wei Ying, President Lan delivered the final blow.

"As you can see, Lan Inc does not need to your aid as an we have refined our techniques over the centuries using tried but the methods with more modernized tools and resources."  Was the cool delivery and the man was left reeling at the brutal dismissal.

With that President La be left  and Wei Ying was quick to politely dismiss their guests. However they did not leave but went up to the roof to smoke. The President of the rival company bitched up a storm about how rude and arrogant President Lan was and complained about the roof garden as well. When he spotted the shrine he stomped over to it to knock the offerings off in a fit of rage but noticed the white snake that had slipped out of it...

Wei Ying smiles brightly, his grandma sent him some fresh fruits and veggies from her little farm and even some of the fruit wine he adored so much from Uncle Four! She was going to share with Xiao Shuang and maybe President Lan later. He hummed happily as he walked out of the rooftop door and gasped horrified by what he saw.

"No, leave Xiao Shuang alone!!"

Chapter Text

Snippet:

The alarm goes off at :45am as it does 6 days out of the week. Today is Saturday, he reminds himself with a soft yawn and giggle, getting out of his comfy bed, drowning in his oversized jammie shirt, slipping on his slippers and shuffling into his ensuite bathroom to start his day. After peeing, washing his wands and face, brushing his teeth and carefully combing out his hair, he walks out of his room and to the master bedroom. Carefully slipping off his slippers he slinks his way to the two figures sleeping on the bed.

It was big enough to fit 4 grown mean comfortably and was a wonderful mix of soft and fluffly like a cloud, but firm like memory foam for good support. He has to resist bouncing on it as much as he wants to. getting to the two figures, he carefully crawls under the covers and moves to the Alpha on his left and with practiced ease, slips his sleep pants down to reveal a long, well endowed cock. Giving a soft purr, he leans down to sniff at the thick musky scent of Alpha off of those generous balls, plum like a pair of ripe plums and just brimming with baby batter.

He kisses them softly, nosing at them with a pleased hum before he starts to lick and slowly nibble on them. As he works, he can feel the Alpha slowly moving, awakening in slow stages. He giggles and sucks one of the twin orbs into his mouth and drags his tongue all over it, sucking and a like grazing of his teeth as he lets it fall from his mouth, only to dive in and give its twin the same exact treatment before he start licking and nibbling his way up the fully awaked shaft, flowing the thick vein running crom base to tip on the underside. He suckles on the rigided flesh, purring as he gets closer to the flared mushroom head and tongues the slight, getting his first taste of pre-cum and then he nips the senstive spot, making the Alpha twitch and growl lowly in the last stages of his sleep.

At that point, he kisses the head and lets his lips part and slip over the flesh and slowly down the length of that wonderful Alpha cock. He relaxes his throat and takes shallow breaths through his nose as he inches closer o the thick thatch of black pubes, his gag reflex trying to kick in, but he keeps it down and at bay as he settles against the pelvis bone just as he feels the alpha grab his hair, awake exactly at 5 am as is the norm for him.

"Good morning, Xiao Ying..." His alpha greets, his rich voice deep and raspy from sleep even as he pulls the Omega up off his cock about half way and then shoves his head back down at the same time he thrusts up.

Wei Ying chokes and sputters, but does not fight it, instead he focuses silver eyes on honey colored ones, hhis lips quirking up in an attempt to smile, despite the 10in cock being fucked into his mouth and throat.

"Wei Ying's blowjobs are the best..." a second voice speaks up, this one deeper, more solemn sounding, but held a hidden warmth and adoration in it. "Brother is lucky to have it this morning."

"You had it yesterday, a'Zhan..." the older brother laughs even as he keeps skull fucking the Omega, who works his mouth and throat as best he can, the odd choking sound or half gag sounding between shaking deep breaths when he is able to suck one in right before his throat is filled with cock again. ""He really loves having his throat abused, look at him,.. such a perfect breeding whore for us, a'Zhan... how did we get so lucky to get such an Omega?"

By this point, Wei Ying's eyes have crossed, he's certain, if his brain hadn't disconnected at his point, that hehas a fucked stupid look on his face, his gagging now gone, as his throat is now just a pussy for his Alpha to fuck into, though the od chokes still sounded when a particularly brute thrust hit his thoart or he almost inhales a glob of spit and pre-cum mix. His face is a mess, it alaways is, tears of pleasure running down his cheeks and his quim is beyond soaked, twitching relentlessly, begging to be filled and just as brutally fucked as his mouth was.

"Wei Ying is a very good Omega, taking what Brother gives him... Look how wet he is..." The Omega mewls around the cock in his throat as too long and thick fingers plunge into his pulsing pussy, a calloused thumb rubbing at his clit that is hidden just under his cocklet. He fucks back onto the fingers, eager and wanting. "So very wet... This one will fill this whole now..."

He manages to pull himself off, his first alpha allowing it, to suck in some much needed air and to be wantonly for that second, glorious penis to thrust in and wreck him. He doesn't get to plead for too long before he is criying out at the penetration and even then that is cut off with a cock in his mouth again. The Lan Twins  chuckle meanly as they fuck their Omega hard and fast, never tiring of his tight warm holes.

They had indeed gotten lucky. During the last world war,  the whole world over seemed to have agreed on at least one thing: getting rid of their Omegas. The Omegas had been gathered up and executed in droves, because they had been deemed worthless. However after the war ended and after the fall out from it all, they began to see their mistake. Alphas were highly valued for their strength and natural leadership skills, they were just generally bigger, faster and stronger; better than all the rest. Betas were useful for not only their level headed thinking, but because they didn't require special treatment or accommodations like Omegas did.

And then there was the Omegas, the weak ling, the bottom of the totem pole. They were a weakness that was long over due for extermination as many believed, their only value in society being good nannies and home makers. Though they were treated worse than slaves. What many in the modern world forget is that without Omegas, there can be no Alphas. Alpha-Beta pairings may produce children, yes, but is almost always a Beta and the offchance an Alpha is produced, they are not as strong, as brilliant as their sire. The Omega infants were euthanized since they were 'useless.'

Almost 5,000 years since the last world war and Alphas were suddenly on the decline, for the last 1000 years what few Omegas survived the culling began to fight for their rights to live, to find love and have families. 500 years ago the UN came to desicion when Alphas were becoming rarer and rarer, what use to be the main force of their armies were now becoming extinct while the dynamic that was deemed worthless was suddenly being prioritized. In some countries, Omegas were captured and either auctioned off to the highest bidder, Alphas only, of course, or kept in facilities where they are then matched up with a series of Alphas with whom they need to have a heat with and have their baby.

In other countries, Omegas were hunted down like wild animals in an insulting parody of the mating run, often fucked right there and by a group of Alphas. The Five nations with in Asia had instead made a registery and a facility to protect their Omegas, they spoke with their Omegas, got their demands and did their best to accommadate them. Omegas were in the Five Nations had the same rights as their Alpha counterparts with a few differences, they could hold jobs and vote, they can even hold positions of leadership. Though most chose to follow biology and settle for making a nice loving home.

Wei Ying was the only son of the Omega Minster, Cangse Sanren and was the most eligible Omega in the Five Nations. He grew up in the facility, the Flower Garden, as it was called by the rest of the people, where he learned and trained for anything he desired. When he was old enough to marry, a true traditional Mating hunt was set up. a designated Area with only a small selection of Alphas, the Heirs or young leaders of their most prestegious clans and nation leaders could participate. The Omega had made it impossible for almost all of the Alphas entered into the race. He was quick, he was devilishly tricky and he was almost scarily intelligent.

The Lan Twins had been entered at their request, having seen Wei Ying when they were all children, at the time the Twins had no idea how special Omegas were or why. They just remember this mischievous boy holding candied apples out to the shy twins and asking them to play with him since none of the other children wanted to since they were scared of his mama. They had no idea he was Minister Canse Sanen's son, just that he was far too pretty and they called him a Fairy princess. Had they known then what they knew now, they might have started courting him right away. The twins worked together, tracking down, getting through the tricks and traps the Omega had set up and finally, finally cornering him.

Lan Zhan, the younger twin, had caught the Omega and should have been declared the victor, but the twins have always shared and they agreed that they would only ever share a single bride. When they told Wei Ying this, he had demanded they let him ago and they reluctantly did so. A week later, Wei Ying was at their door, his things being unloaded from a moving truck and his father, General Wei of Yunmeng, standing their, looming over them, even if in actuality the twins were taller than he was, but still.

"My son has found your suit the best match and has agreed to be your Omega. He has demanded a formal and traditional courtship and mateship... this means you will callor my son as yoru Omega, the callor cannot and will not be removed until you are both dead. He will take care of house and home as well as your needs, but you will take care of him as an Alpha should, you will provide shelter, food and protection. You will shower him with gifts and love. If you are lacking in anyway,...." General Wei left the threat hanging omnously before he turns and like a switch, he whines and gushes as he hugs his son, who giggles and pets his father's back, assuring him that this was what he wanted and that he's certain he will be happy.

That is how they ended up here, 6 months into their courtship, Wei Ying a truly devoted Omega in the traditional sense and they find themselves unable to resist his pull, to resist instinct. They cum as one, the Omega coughing when he is allowed to pull way from Lan Huan's cock.

"Sorry beloved..."

"No worries..." he stutters around a cough, "I enjoyed it... Gods, your both so perfect.... I cannot wait until we're properly mated and I can stop taking the meications holding off my heat and preventing me from getting pregnant... I want to have your babies already!" He whines as Lan Zhan carefully pulls out and gets up to go get a bath going as his brother and their Omega cuddle. "I love being your slut, being treated so roughly because I know you will treat me kindly afterwards..." He giggles and cuddles against his oldest Alpha.

"Tomorrow we get to wake Wei Ying and we get to worship him as the wonderful gift he is..." Lan Huan chuckles and kisses him.

""Mm, breakfast in bed?"

"Of course, a'Zhan has something special in mind."

Chapter Text

Yiling was a small forgotten village on the boarder between Yunmeng and Qishan. It was very poor and was built too close to the legendary Burial Mounds where many centuries ago a great abd powerful Cultivator who had achieved Immortality and was nearly a God fought the Evil Demon King and his army. He killed all of them but his sword was lost and he collapsed, so terribly injured. Surrounded by grief and anger he died and his lingering resentment along with all of those belonging to those he had slayed, his own army having perished in the fight as well.

Legends say he achieved Godhood at the cusp of death and was now a Dark God, greatly feared and filled with endless resentment. There is also a legend that he supposedly sired a child and his bloodline lives on and are capable of using resentful energy and magic. But that is only old stories no proof was ever found but those who lived in Yiling felt some of it might be true...

Why else would the air taste foul? Why would the animals be feral and aggressive for seemingly no reason? Why would they need to seal their dead in iron coffins to keep them from rising and trying to kill them all? There is always a grain of truth in the legends after all. But that was in the beginning. Now their town had its own small Cultivation Sect. It ws started by Wei Luoyang over 200 years ago and has never grown as large as many of the other sects. But that is because they do not take on as many disciples as others and the few they take are those whI have been abandoned and lost. They gather orphans and the odd runaway, teaching them as many sects do to be righteous and kind, but to avoid as much confliflct as possible from the other Sects who will not understand their style.

But then a great war broke out and while small, Yiling Wei was the most powerful sect due to their near endless supply of resentful energy and the dead to fuel them even when away from their home near the Burial Mounds. The war lasted for over 30 years and showed no signs of slowing down. Wei Changze, a descendant of Wei Luoyang, had married a daughter of the Immortal Baoshen Sanren, Cangse Sanren. They were a very powerful couple, but benevolent and did their best to aid those who could not fight or in need of help. Yiling was a refuge as well as neutral ground.

All was well and then like the ocean when the moon rises, the tides had turned. Yiling was attacked and left devastated, no one knows who had done it. Wei Changze was killed in the ambush, but not without taking out nearly half of the first wave by himself, his disciples quickly helping where he could not. Though few survived the onslaught. The second and third waves were met with barriers of a kind no one has seen before. Cangse Sanren bought time for the innocents to flee toward Yunmeng and to request aid, her young son, her only child and her dearest treasure, was taken with them. She knew Yiling would fall, with her beloved husband's death, the barriers that kept much of the resentment containted within the Burial Mounds would now spill out in great waves. The rest of fhe world was doomed unless her precious a'Ying could come back and remake the barrier. Though she worries because he is so young, he might not remember or what if their enemies hunt him down!?

No, she did not believe in no win scenarios. Even now, looking her death in the eyes, she believes she has won because as her masked assailants prepare to kill her. Having broken through the barriers finally, she smirks and begins to fight in earnest. Stories would spread of her epic battle, her body found pinned in place on all sides by petrified warriors, a smile her son would later wear, on her face even as she died. She was beautiful and oddly mechievous in her final moments, a strange serenity that only the daughter of Baoshan Furen could achieve...

Wei Ying grew up cared for by the few Shixiongs and Shijies who survived the attack on Yiling. Though they never settled in a place too long, carefully hiding his name from the world always introducing him as one of their siblings or children. Like his parents and paternal grandparents and so on, they gathered those who were lost and abandoned. Those who were forsaken and left to slowly decay. Wei Ying got along well with everyone who joined them, their group gaining few, but loyal members. His newest Shidi was a bratty thing while another was a bright, if shy thing. His Shixiong, only a handful of years older than he is, watched them with his polite smile in place, his golden eyes glittering with amusement even as his mother and aunt sigh at the youngest boys fussing around.

"Enough, now, a'Yang, a'Yu will find something he is good at." Wei Ying says, gently placing a hand on the bratty kid's head to settle him while his other hand lightly rested on the shy one's shoulder in comfort.

"Yes, a'Xian-gege!" They chirp and he lightly rubs the knuckle of his first fingers down their noses in a sign of affection that a Shijie he got to know only for a few short months always did to make him smile after he had a horrible run in with dogs or her mother had said something particularly mean to him.

"Wuxian, we are nearly to Gusu..." The oldest Shixiong, Xue Yang's father, said as he chuckles at his son's bratty antics.

"Alright. I will miss you guys while I am studying under grandmaster Lan..." He says as he grabs his things, hugging his martial siblings. "A'Yao, will you keep a close eye on them?"

"As if you need to ask." He sniffs in mock offense. "You saved my mother, my aunt and I from our previous home, we are indebted to you."

"Never. You are free, I only did what my Sect taught me. Our Sect does the impossible, but we are good people and will always lend aid whenever possible with little to no gain for ourselves personally. 'To find what is Lost and Return it Home, tenfold' is our motto." He smiles at him.

"Nevertheless.... Perhaps I should come with you? We still do not know who attacked the Sect and killed your family. They might be attending the lectures and we can share the token."

"... You will not take no for an answer." Wei Ying states, a small smile on his lips before he grins bright and wide, a smile that his Shixiongs and Shijies have told him his mother often wore.

"Fine... Xue-Xiong, I trust you to keep guard and guide of the others."

"As always, young manster can trust in me." He bows, his smile small and sincere as their ferry gets closer to town. Once the two young teens are dropped off, the others move towards a smaller inn to rent rooms for the night and to begin settling into the town. They never leave their young master alone even when he is allowed to be be 'alone' for lessons or reasons.

Wei Ying hugs Xue Yang and Mo Xuanyu, who is still much too young to be attending lessons but still is eager to follow the others around. Meng Yao makes sure they have all they will need, the older Carrier not willing to leave the younger alone, especially with Wei Wuxian being extremely powerful as well as fertile. He does not trust that others like his own sire will not attempt to take advantage of him. Especially because Wei Wuxian is far too pure hearted. Once he was pleased with their supplies they part ways with their group and begin heading to Gusu Lan territory, the famous Cloud Recesses...

Chapter Text

It was always his fault. His fault for how others gravitated to him, his fault that he was so brilliant and shining, too much so. His genius, his studious efforts, his natural talents honed and trained to perfection! His kindness, his friendliness. It was all his fault for being that woman's son!

Why could he not have been hers!? Why did her own son, her little pride, pale in comparison? She always hated that she was always so proud of that woman's son and often disappointed by her own. She blamed him relentlessly, belittled him, beat him because she was furious with her own failings as both a mother and a wife, furious of the rumors and the way her husband looked at the boy.

She hated that even her children adored him. She hated that she secretly loved him too, but too bitter about it and turned it to hate. She spat poison at every opportunity and beat him down, trying to break him so he would be seen as wotrthless and thus no one would steal him away. But then she had died and her spirit did not move on. She watched what happened and was horrified by what she had helped to do to the poor boy!

He May smile, he may laugh and play the fool, but he suffered at every turn. No one truly knew him and thsose who did were not enough to build him up where she had spent nearly his entire life breaking him down! She watched him give up his core for her son, watched as he driven to the brink of madness, but still retain enough of himself to not become a true monster. He killed millions and it broke him down, his smiles no longer bright, his laughter forced and hollowed.

His only true happiness a small group of Wens who were elderly, sickly and simply doctors abd farm hands. She watched him build them a home where his suffering was at its greatest. She watched him raising a son, she had seen him with the Jades of Lan, seen him drug them so they would not be able to follow him after their night of passion. She watched those she once knew and respected, for the most part, turn their backs on him, grow jealous and envious. She was utterly ashamed of herself when she saw her own son, her own flesh and blood lead the siege upon her adopted son.

She watched as the Wens gave themselves up, but it was not enough. She watched the greedy fools force him to fight back, but it was her daughter, her sweet, sweet a'Li, reach him and nearly pull him back from the brink, but then some fool attacked him and a'Li,  her beautiful perfext a'Li took the blow, she collapsed in her brother's arms and with her last breath did not blame that woman's son, she was only thankful he was alive. But her own son was not so pleased. He was enraged and with the core given to him selflessly by that woman's son, he fought him until he lost sight of him.

It was chaos, the fighting the killing and then she saw him, he was at the edge, about to kill himself when the Jades of Lan found him. Yes, she had thought, save him, hide him, love him!! Keep him safe! Find your babe and protect him too!! She wished and hoped but it was as if all her sins were too much and like a ghoul, reared their ugly face at her and she cried out as her own son, her a'Cheng, stabbed him in his chest and shoved him off the cliff. She remembers watching his body fall I to the lava pools below, nithing was spared and she screamed as if she were dying all over again. She raged and cried so much that something must have triggered because suddenly Yu Ziyuan was alive...

>~< >~< >~< >~< >~< >~< >~<

Yu Ziyuan bolted awake, she was confused and not wholly sure what was happening. She was in her chambers at Lotus Pier. It was late at night and she could have sworn she had been dead only a moment previous. She saw Jinzhu and Yinzhu come out of their shared room, both with pinched expressions on their faces and she knew then that they experienced what she had. She does not need to tell them anything, which was what she loved the most about keeping her closest friends and confidants even after she left her father's home and came to live in the Lotus Cove, her personal chambers.

Yu Ziyuan need only nod and they are quickly back in their room, getting dressed and leaving. Being dead had shown them a great many things, what led up to key monents and what their own actions had a hand in. They had seen things that had left them with deep grieving regret. They are soon back and Yu Ziyuan nods once, handing them the gathered supplies she had harried herself to fish out of the various chests and draws in her room. Clothes, medicine and bandages for a child, she would go as well, but she needs to see her children, hold them close and to impress upon her a'Cheng that he will be a much better person than last time. She Will make sure of it. If not then she has utterly failed as a parent...

Yu Ziyuan will admit she collapsed crying when she saw her children, her sweet Jiang Limei, Jiang Yanli, and her hot tempered but well meaning Jiang Cheng, Jiang Wanyin. She hugged them both and she knows her crying and hugging them must scare them but her brave babies do not ask, they simply hug her back and assure her, -HER, their mother!- that everything is going to be just fine. She laughs a watery sound and hugs them again and then she pulls back to lookt hem both in the eyes.

"Listen well to me. I sent Jinzhu and Yinzhu to find a boy who was the son of your father's best friend. You are to treat him well. He has been through a lot recently and will need time, love and patience. A'Cheng, I know we just got you the puppies you wanted, but I think it best they are housed with the other spirit animals for now. The boy might be terrified of them due to wild dogs and the like. I promise you can still have them and raose them, but for now, until we can acclimate him to dogs again or at least yours, they need to be away from him. A'Li, I know you have been helping in the kitchens lately, I need you to go help prepare some warm broth, do not put too much flavoring in it and nothing spicy for now. I do not kbow how sick he will be when he gets here."

"Yes, a'Niang!" Her children chirp as she smiles a rare smile at them. They flush with pleasure at it and she gives them head pats and assures them she is proud of them for listening so well. By the time the sun has reached midmorning her maids are making their way into the main hall where she had been pacing all morning waiting with the best healers in Lotus Pier, a warm bath and the broth her dear daughter made, using only vegetable stock for flavoring. Her son had somehow gotten it in his head to bring his lucky pinwheel to give to the boy so he knows he will be safe. She will not dissaude him, she had dobe enough of that for a life time.

She is not wholly prepared to see Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian again as a painfully thin child, bruised, filthy and frost bitten all over again. How could she have been so heartless last time!? Just seeing him and imagining one of her children in his place! She nearly collapses with gut wrenching sobs. But to her shocj the boy bravely walks up to her and offers her a rattle drum that is clearly brand new.

"Pretty fairies gave Ying'er... Ying'er give to pretty flower lady..." He lips out and she pulls him into a hug and sobs more, but is thanking him and apologizing to him. Everyone but her maids are confused. They had had a similar break down. They had always viewed him as somethign inferior, something wretched and disgusting because he had upset their lady so much, but in death they had seen the world for what it was, his story for what it truly is and felt nothing but deep regret. Where they not onelce like him? Did their lady not bring them i to her home and take them in?

Seeing her now on her knees and sobbing so openly is jarring but then she calms and seems to slap her mask back i to place as she gives brisk orders to get him bathed and treated before Yanli can give hin the broth. Her son is not sure how to feel, but when she gives him a sharp look to behave, he jolts and bows his head a bit. She knew he had been jealous last time and upset about it all, but not this time. Jealousy will have no place in her home of she can fucking help it! Her idiot husband Will eventually come back after his failed hunt for the Weis. By then she hopes to have gotten Wei Ying use to livingnin a home with access to whatever ge desired whenever he desired it.

This time, this time she will see that they all get a better ending. She Will hold both her grandchildren in her arms and she will make sure that the sins of her past life will be washed away...

Chapter Text

Yu Ziyuan spent the better part of a month playing nursemaid, Sect Leader and Madam, she was exhausted but she found it a point of pride. Her son was her little shadow, watching her every move, seeing how she gentled herself to not frighten the skittish, if ever so friendly Wei Ying. Yanli spent much time in the kitchens making brotha and soupy rice to help him gain an appetite as well as some weight. Her husband had not come home yet and it was irritating her something fierce. She had run drills, though unlike in her past life, she pointed out the weaknesses in a more calm manner, still firm and unyielding, but backed with praise for what they improved in, or where she had seen strength.

Jiang Cheng sat with his new friend and read from his lessons to him, sometimes he would sit on the bed with him and help him learn the characters so he could read with him. Yinzhu and Jinzhu were certain by the end of the week there would be three sick children to tend to as even Yanli hovered close by. The frostbites were covered in thick medicinal creams and bandaged warmly, but snugly so they would heal faster and he would not lose his fingers or feet. He was bathed carefully, his hair had to cut off because it was too ratted and matted to dare get a comb through. Yu Ziyuan purchased hair stimulants to rub into his head to help his hair grow back faster, but healthier.

She wealth with issues in and around Yunmeng between all of this and was back to playing nursemaid before she too collapsed into bed, bone weary. Between the three Meishan Women, they ran Lotus Pier, kept the disciples in shape and improving, kept the peace and minded the three children. By the end of the month Wei Ying was showing signs of gaining weight and the cold lessening with the added weight and good fat. He was steadily given more solid foods, though in the form of mashes like mashed potatoes, carrots and sweet peppers.

Her children had indeed fallen ill, but recovered faster and were back to tending to Wei Ying.

"Ying'er, let me change your bandages." She says coming in after a day of court. She needed to oddly calming and centering task of examining the slowly healing appendages. She checked them for signs of rot, lesions and feeling. The disturbing bluish, near black in come spots, discoloration was steadily changing back to pink healthy flesh. She rubbed the medicing on, making cure every inch was covered and then began to bind them up. She hummed a lullaby common in Yunmeng called Rain in Jiang. It was a lovely and calming song and it helped Ying'er calm down and settle in.

"Auntie..." He shyly calls out.

"Hmm?" She looks up at him looking shy and a bit despondent.

"Mama and Baba left Ying'er all lone... Was Ying'er naughty?" He winders sadly.

"No, Ying'er was not naughty at all. Your Mama and Baba wanted to protect Ying'er and all the nice people, but they could not make it back and must now watch over your from the moon with Chang's and her bunnies." She says softly pointing at the moon where the shadow of Jade the Rabbit was shining brightly.

"Ying'er like bunnies..." He admits shyly and she chuckles because he had adored bunnies in the other life, had gifted a pair to his Jades and was gifted hos own bunny whom he loved and adored. She wondered if he would get his Little Radish again. She had ached to hold the adorable child, but had been dead and could only hover near his crib at night, sinfing Yunmeng and Meishan lullabies so he would not wake his exhausted mother. She certainly hoped so. She wojld love to hold her grandchild and sing to him, to press kisses to his little button nose. She wanted to hold a'Ling as well. Spoil them both with treats and presents!

"Never doubt that You are loved, Ying'er by your Shijie and Didi, by your aunties Yinzhu and Jinzhu and me..." She assures him. "We will love you more than enough for your Baba and Mama and they will guide you through spirit. You muzt be good and kind, always help others and no matter what anyone says, do what you believe is right and apologize to no one." She tells him firmly.

"Yes, auntie..." He yawns sleepily and she kisses his temple as she tucks him warmly into bed. She turns to see her son and daighter and ushers them into climb carefully on the bed and tucks them in as well, reminding them to be careful of his injuries before she kisses them good night and slides the door closed, leaving only a crack so the torches in the hall could send a bit of light into the room. A'Cheng would never admit it but he was still afraid to sleep in the dark yet.

She heads to her rooms and like many times this month, she barely gets into her night robes before she is falling half asleep into bed. She hardly stirs as Yinzhu carefully places her properly i to bed and tucks her in. Jinzhu cleaning up the mess and both sisters going to their room, but leaving the door cracked to hear if their madam or the children need them...

Jiang Fengmian finally comes home about another month later looking defeated, but is shocked when he sees not only his son and daughter at the dining table but a child who looked like a mini Wei Changze, minus the silver eyes of his mother, her smile and laugh. The child he had been searching for was here!? But how!?

"Where have You been, husband!?" Madam Yu hisses softly, careful to keep the tension from the children. "I had been running the place and minding the children for 2 months! 2, Fengmian!" She growls lowly.

"You found him!? Where, how!?" He gasps, ignoring everything else. "Is it really him? Is it really Wei Ying?" He asks.

Madam Yu does not lile the look of longing on his face. She hated it last time too, but there was a wrongness to it that set her metaphorical hackles on edge. If she were the fierce tigress she often portayed to others. Her fangs would be bared ina deadly snarl of warning, her tail lashing with aggressive protectiveness and her back arched as she prepared to pounce.

"Never You mind that! You just up and left eith no warning and now you return! Answer me!" She hisses softly, still mindful to keep the tension to a minimum. She never did that last time and left the tension out and fester. It certainly leant credit to the rumors of Wei Ying being Fengmian's bastard and favored child. But had there always been this wrongness about his affections? She wonders, shielding the children as best she could as they chatter and giggle around a simple vegetable and chicken stir fry lunch. Her maids keeping a more closer watch as they sense their lady's unease.

"I looled for a'Ze and his wife, but could not find anything but his crushed clarity bell and this broken shaft of a'Ren's flute--" he startles when she snatches them from him, a scowl on her face. "My lady--"

"Then you should have found Ying'er in Yiling!" She snaps. "They were not far from there! Yinzhu." She calls and the younger twin quickly walks up and accpet the items. "Have the Bell restored and tell the bell smith to add charms of resonance and harmony. As for the flute, send it to Gusu and request they repair it if not use it to make a new flute for Ying'er."  She orders and spins on heel. "As for you, husband, you are filthy, go make yourself presentable and then get to work on the backlog of paper work!" She snaps finally, alerting the children to his presence and his son and daughter get up to greet him but he ignores them to approach Wei Ying.

Madam Yu nearly spits fire, it seems history is doomed to repeat,  but Ying'er shies away from him, looking nervous. She quickly calls two disciples to haul her husband to the baths and once he is gone she seems to relax and she assures her children that their father did not mean to ignore them (she will certainly give him he'll for that) and asked Wei Ying if he was alright.

"..... Scary...." Is all he says and is now subdue during lunch, which he barely touches. This worries her greatly. Did she miss something last time?

Chapter Text

Things at Lotus Pier settled into an oddly peaceful, but oddly tense routine. Madam Yu did her level best to run her home, make sure the disciples were up to the Meishan Yu satandards because clearly her husband could care less about the Jiang Standards. She also made sure her children were well looled after and started Ying'er on his lessons. She remembers how easily board he becomes and opted to have him learn reading and writing while he was on bed rest.

She made sure his hand writing was much better than previously, though she learned that the beautifully made plaquareds were his actual penmanship and not his usual chicken scratch to keep would be thieves out of his notes and ideas. It also forced her children to learn to read messy scrawls so he could pass on secret messages and info. His level of genius was frigthening at times. Yu Ziyuan kept her husband busy with office work and meetings whenever possible and made sure Ying'er was never alone with him. She did not understand why her husband made him so scared and uncomfortable. In her last life, the man practically doted on him from the get go.

She was trying to remember if their interactions were as they appeared or had her jealously and anger really blinded her to something more sinister and less innocent? Yinzhu and Jinzhu were having trouble recalling those moments as well since they made it a poin to avoid the child at all costs and when they did have to interact with him it was the rather severe and highly warranted punishments he suffered at Yu Ziyuan's hand. It made something bitter and acrid twist in their stomachs and no amount of vinegar and sugar could replace it.

So instead the three Meishan women set about making things better and safer where they can. And like that Ying'er recovered in under a year. Gained the much needed weight for a child his age, was well on his way to being a well learned young master. This time she and Fengmian agreed to adopt him into the house and she made sure he had plenty of his favorite items, but always accented with the Jiang colors and even a second master's guan was made so her boys matched even if Wei Ying was a week older. He was second because he was not the blood heir.

He took his lessons with a vigor she jad missed last time especially when she would take him aside and teach him things she recalled learning from his mother, as well as her own sect. Like last time he fourished in a way that her son had not, but this time instead of setting the boys against one another, she encouraged they work together, where one fails the other will pick up the slack and vice versa until the impossible was made manageable. Her boys grew close, mischievous and talented. Her daughter, she decided to keep her in training rather than letting her poor health and weak core be sins against her.

She remembers from her time deas that Jiang Yanli had learned warding and talismans from Wei Ying and while not very talented due to how late she learned them, she was surprisingly strong eoth defensive ones ans even those that meant to help heal. She was a nurtured by nature and thilus defense and healing were her strong suits so that is where Ziyuan focused. Her daughter would attend lessons woth the healers and talisman crafters with Ying'er, but all three would learn the sword and knife because they will need to learn to protect themselves and each other jist in case history repeats. Her son, she gave extra lessons to with whip training. He had been quite talented from having only ever watched his mother weild Zidian, but with formal training he would be near unstoppable.

By the time the children were presented their bells and swords, they were already heralded as the 'Three Petal Lotus of Yunmeng' and had a following. She could not be prouder! But still there was the unease with Fengmian and she was loath to let it fester anymore. So she decided to lay a trap of sorts. She Will have to beg forgiveness later from Wei Changze ans Cangse Sanren, but if what she believes is there happens, they will understand she only did it to nip it in the bud. She pretended to leave for Meishan for a few days, taking nearly her entire entourage with her, leaving only a few lower ranked maids to tend the children, who by now were capable of minding themselves and each other.

If what she thought her Husband's issue was in fact THAT, he will take advantage of her 'lack of guard' but she made sure to stress to three of her oldest disciples to keep close watch and subdue him without the children's notice. She would figure out what to do with him after that.

She also had ulterior motives for this. It was time she invited the Jades to meet her Ying'er. And perhaps the Dafan Wens as well. She Will need to also speak with Lang Meilong, the Madam Jin, about letting their son and daughter meet and get to know each other. Last time their happiness was nearly ruined and then cut short, she will not let that happen again nor will she allow Jin Guangshan to hold the marriage over her children's heads to indebt them to him in an attempt to capture her Ying'er. She just hoped she ws wrong and that Fengmian would not act on this. That he would remain spineless and listless as much as it irks her.

Chapter Text

Jiang Yanli was a sweet and mild girl, often overlooked for her demure presence as is expected of a well bred future Lady of a Great Sect. However many either forget or do not realize she is her mother's daughter and thus was sharp of mind and when the need arose, of tongue. She has taken notice of her mother's sudden and strange behavior. That night she came bursting into their rooms and held them as if she let go she would never be able to do so again. There was also the fact she not only sent out Yinzhu and Jinzhu to find Auntie's son, but nurses him back to good health. She remembers the loud fight her parents had just days before her mother found her precious a'Xian and brought him home.

She has lurked in shadows and behind corners, listening to her mother's plans and sobs. Yanli doesn't know everything, but it seems her mother had either a vision of the future or was somehow transported back in time. Either way, Yanli promised herself, her late Auntie and her mother that no matter what happens she will help protect a'Xian. Her beloved a'Xian had a face meant for smiling and should always smile with happiness and love. She has helped her mother temper a'Cheng's temper, helped him understand that just because they have a new brother, does not mean he is loved any less. Her mother also started giving them each special lessons. Wei Ying was a brilliant boy and her mother had to exhaust resources to give him sufficient stimuli and outputs for the resulting whirlwind of chaotic energy. A'Cheng was started on his duties as future sect leader by being lectured by their mother and having him run errands and learn to barter and trade, when to fight and argue as well as when to concede or mediate. In top of that, he was given a practice whip and was taking to those lessons with vigor.

So Yanli attended her usual lessons, but also learned talismans and healing at her mother's behest and stayed up a bit later than her brothers to learn how to grow her core and fight with a sword and a knife. Her mother wanted her to be able to protect herself, even if she ultimately puts away her sword and never cultivates again. So Yanli knee something was not quite right when her father came home and seemed singularly concerned about only a'Xian. She and a'Cheng had felt for the first time, the sting of being pushed aside for another, but at the same time, they watched how scared Wei Ying suddenly became of their father. And now her mother has gone to visit their relatives in Meishan Yu. But again, Yanli had been spying and overheard her mother order to three of her Shixiongs to keep a close eye on her father.

Thus bringing her to where she is now. She is sitting on the dock across the large lake within Lotus Hall, home of the Jiang. She has donned a vibrant green handy that blends well with the tall grass surrounding the lake her hair carefully braided in darker green ribbons and pink ones carefully tied into floral shapes that one could mistake her hair for a lily pad and lotus bloom and what little of her actual hair for the muddy bottom of the lake from which lotuses grow. She was perfectly hidden in plain sight. She watched as a'Xian was having swimming lessons with a'Cheng and several of their age mates. Swimming was a must have skill of the Jiang Sect. Even the civilians must know how to swim since they live on the water and make a living from the water'as bounty.

She smiles softly as the boys and girls playfully splash around, joyful shrieks and giggling filling the otherwise peaceful silence. At some point they had begun trying to do tricks as they jumped into the water or make the biggest splashes or trying to slip as soundlessly into the water as possible. She took mental notes on techniques and even style. Perhaps a fun competition to help improve both morale and skill by having contests when it came to their main skill, swimming. She will bring it up with her mother once the Madam made it back home.

Yanli's mental score keeping nearly made her miss when her father appeared and even as he smiled at the children, he must have said something because of there was a bit of a mad dash to get dressed and by the looks of it, to sword practice. She saw a'Cheng look back when he realized a'Xian had not followed, but then their father shooed him off more firmly and now it was only the three of them. Yanli slowly eased her way into the water, slipping saliently in and diving just deep enough to be unnoticed but still close enough to the surface to breech for air. She swam quickly and with urgency. Her father had a strang look in his eyes when he had first seen a'Xian those few years ago and the look was very disturbing even now that a'Xian was nearly of presenting age. She had received her sword already, Yinhua, and she has not let it go yet, and maybe never will. She surfaces close to the dock, half hidden underneath it, a water talisman in hand just in case she needed to attack her own father.

"--special child, you know? You're born with both sexes and as such can bring great power and status to any Sect or Clan you marry into... Your mother gave birth to you as repayment to me for giving up your father to her and my love for her.... So you will become second bride upon your 16th year." She heard her father say and she nearly gasped out loud in shock. However a'Xian sound of shock masked hers.

"No, that is not possible! My a'Niang and a'Die loved one another and me. They would never do that!" A'Xian cried out, doubtful and scared. He must be looking for a way out, but this lake is private and not even her mother's appointed guards would be allowed here.

So taking a deep breath, Yanli let her spiritual energy fill the talisman and quick as a viper she was out and on the dock, blasting her father with a ball of water that slammed the man into the wall and left him unconscious. She quickly pulled a'Xian to her chambers and got them both into a hot bath and dressed. She said nothing, letting a'Xian 's scared sobs fuel her rage and yet steel her nerves. She quickly called for the three seniors and told them to send word to her mother of an incident. When asked she merely met their eyes with a steely look and the knew. They left to do as told and she turned to bundle her precious a'Xian into her warmest blanket and sat with him. Moments later a'Cheng burst into the room and instead of getting jealous he calmly sat by his brother and Cuddled him. She is thankful he doesn't ask and a'Xian has dozed off. She is allowed time to think and plan. She was the daughter of the Violet Spider and she would let the world know it....

Chapter Text

Jiang Cheng waited for his mother out front, his father was in the healing ward being looked at after Jiang Cheng reluctantly went to see what happened and called for help. He wasn't the smartest of his siblings and he certainly didn't have their gentle nature, but he was far from stupid and while many mistake his prickly personality for aggression, his siblings know what he means. Admittedly, he wasn't happy about suddenly getting a new brother, nor that he had to send his dogs to live in the kennel, but his mother had explained that Wuxian has had a terrible life and was traumatized by wild dogs where he had lived before. His mother also gave him a firm lecture about his temper. She actually scared him with a "what if" that sounded like it had actually happened, instead of it being just a scenario that will never happen.

"A'Cheng, you need to learn to express yourself without anger or aggression, especially to your siblings. You never know when one day, if you pretend to hate your brother, others will take it as real hatred. This could lead you to doing something unspeakable, like killing innocents simply because of their family name or blaming your brother for the death of Your sister when it was never his fault to begin with. Your anger can blind you horribly and by the time clarity comes back, it will be too late, the world would have changed and you would be alone, leading a sect that was destroyed and barely clinging to life, raising a nephew and hunting down ghosts of your brother to kill him again and again and again... It will never end, a'Cheng and you will never be happy... "

Jiang Cheng had taken what she said in carefully. He watches his sister, who has always been kind and gentle, but now she was sneakier. She also restarted her Cultivation training. He noticed she took got special training from their mother, but it wasn't the same as his. He learned to lead, he was given tasks and lessons to learn to control his temper as well as get the best outcome possible of any situation. He was even given training with a whip. He took to those swimmingly! He has always admired the beauty and grace his mother displayed when she used Zidian, had always played pretend with a makeshift whip, pretending he was fighting side by side with her, his own whip in hand and they would devastate the opposition!

Maybe his childish whims will one day become reality, but first he needs to focus. His mother and her maids land before him and he barely dips his head in a proper bow before he is telling her that something happened, that his father is in the healing ward and Wuxian is in Jiejie's room, having cried himself to sleep only a handful of minutes before. He barely finishes speaking when three Seniors rush up and inform her of much the same, stating that Sect Leader had ordered them to run drills for the children and then they had heard a commotion and went to see, only finding Jiang Yanli, a terrified Wei Wuxian and an unconscious Sect Leader. Madame Yu barely listens beyond that, already a whirlwind of robes as she runs to her daughter's room. Jiang Cheng on her heel.

They get there and all of them taking calming breaths, no need to scare Wuxian further than he is. Jiang Cheng enters with his mother and quickly climbs onto the bed with his brother and curls around him. The slightly older boy curls ito him, clinging to his robes and Jiang Cheng holds him, listening carefully to his sister explain what had happened in full detail. He is horrified to hear that his father planned to take Wuxian as a second bride all because... He isn't sure what, but the look of absolute fury on his mother's face meant that something was going to happen and soon.

Jiang Cheng watches her leave like a deadly cloud, careful to not wake Wuxian and he makes a silent promise then: He will never be his father. He will protect his brother and sister and make sure they are loved and happily married...

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There is a tradition in the Five Nations that was started during ancient times when the first generation of Cultivators began to emerge. An Offering was to be made to the Gods from each Sect. The offerings ranged from home cooked meals to specially prepared wines, from live game to a fresh kill, from handmade items to someone being selected to spend their life as a monk or nun of the Nation's respecrive God's temple.

Over time the Cultivators began to form Sects based on nationality and eventually into family clans. There were five Great Sects abd several smaller Sects and thise who choose to be joined to none of them. Obe small Sect lives in a forgotten town calles Yiling and make a living adapting the teachings of others and expanding on it, developing both magic through the combined powers of Yin and Yang, dubbing the new form as Mana. They even had a fully functional school to teach non Cultivators to fight. They were small but they were rich in culture and both envied and feared.

The Yiling Wei Sect took the jobs that the other Sects deemed unimportant or ignored until they became a problem. This led to many diplomatic meetings and sometimes incidences. However, they were highly respective of the Gods and always did their best to leave out multiple offerings since not eceryone in the Yiling Wei Sect were related to the Weis. Or even from Yiling originally.

The young master of the Yiling Wei was Wei Ying, who was a brilliant, bright child, with a bit of a mischievous side. He had the strongest talent for Demonic Cultivation in the entire Sect. Though his Spiritual powers were nearly as strong. He is often found wandering ghe Burial Mounds, speaking to the dead and helping to ease their resentment so the forest while still fearsome and dangerous was calmer abd even nicer to the people of Yiling.

Wei Ying had found a snake on one such walk, trapped under sime sharp rocks and clearly injured. He felt for the animal, carefully picking up the white snake and bringing it home. However, what he did not know was that it was no snake, but a Dragon and not just any dragon either. It was the Jade King of Dragons.

Chapter Text

Wei Ying was walking through the Burial Mounds as he often does, humming a sweet and calming song as he did so. The ground under his feet seemed to hum with him, the yin energy of the place, almost dancing with it. Even if the feared forest was Yiling Wei Territory, many of the other sects stills dump their unwanted dead here, especially Qishan Wen. He knows it will take a very long time, perhaps a few centuries to actually calm and cleans all of the Burial Mounds, but he can at least get it calm to allow for some foot traffic and to act as a safety bunker for the civilians should they need it.

He was accompanied by a could of corpses he had made semi sentient. Which in all honesty was progress in his research and experiments. He was also testing out his Spirit Lure talismans, he wants to be able to make different types since his prototype only gathers all resentful spirits, regardless of the class and that can prove very dangerous and even fatal if something bigger and stronger than what you are use to fighting gets drawn in. And since the Burial Mounds is filled with all types of Resentful creatures and demons, he has plenty of test subjects. The more sentient ones he asks if he could test the talismans on, while the others he lures them to specific areas to get his daily chores done or to help guide a new soul on to rebirth or transition in smoothly into a new Resident of the Mound.

His family has been here for only a handful of generations, well in comparison with the Major Sects and even some of the Minor Sects, and yet they have been able to master a valid Cultivating form that most scorn simply because they do not understand or those who tried previously were fools and dove too deep, too quickly and became corrupted or were possessed and thus went mad. Wei Ying skips along his path when he hears distressed hissing. His thoughts on how much things have changed since he was much younger to now at 13, interrupted.

"Hmm?" He sends his two corpses to check for danger first, if it was something he could not handle, he would use his flare to get his seniors and father to come handle it. His mother, sadly was left paralyzed after that fateful night when he was a small child. She smiles still, but he can see how she longs to go on adventures again. No doubt if she realizes her only son was in danger, she would try to help even if she has to crawl the whole way. He really hopes it is something he can handle.

He blinks when one corpse comes back with what looks like snake bites on its arm.

"Aww, poor thing..." Wei Ying coos, carefully weaving some resentment trails to heal the wounds and to give the corpse a bit of a pick-me-up. Walking forward, he sees what looks like a landslide near one of the steep cliffs from which many a spurned maiden has thrown herself from. He tries to discourage suicides in the town, but he knows he cannot control the people. Their job is to protect the people from the monsters and dangers of the world, not to control the people. Shaking his head, he comes to where his other Corpse is grunting, trying to talk. It is oddly cute because he sounds like a cat coughing up a hair ball.

"Easy now, I have it from here. Look for danger. These rocks should not have fallen since there has been no storms lately." He orders the corpses as he walks forward to what looks like a snake trapped under some sharp and heavy rocks.

He is shocked by how utterly beautiful it is. White snakes were sacred in these parts and to see one trapped was shocking and concerning. White snakes represent the Jade Dragons which their beautiful white serpentine bodies their majestic mains and their glorious strength and power. One is considered extremely blessed to be offered up to the Gusu Lan Deities. The Clan taking the name Lan after their founder Lan An ascended to Heaven and supposedly married a Jade Dragon Princess. He loved that bedtime story from his mother. Ever since any white snakes he came across he helped and asked them to take small presents or letters to the dragons, hoping they would be pleased. Shaking his head, Wei Ying quickly pulls a sachet of herbs he has developed of pleasing scents for the snakes. It helps them calm down and relax a little. It does not fully sedate them, meaning they can still attack and strike if they are venomous kind. The constrictors on the other hand move a bit sluggish but can still crush you if you are not careful.

The snake hisses threateningly, showing off deadly fangs and sharp serrated teeth. It must be a transcended snake because normal snakes do not have teeth, minuses their fangs. He tosses the sachet close and sits down to wait. As he waits he hums a song he made up to clear this spot of Yin energy for now. This means his corpses will be kept at bay for at least an hour or two.

"Is that better Xiao Shé?" He wonders when the snake relaxes almost instantly at the pure air and the lack of resentment around it. He smiles when the snake noses at the sachet, a curious tongue flicking out and tiny puffs of air sounding from it. Finally it seems to accept that this was not a trap and slowly relaxes. "Xiao Shé, I can help you if you will allow it? You can rest in my home with Baba and Mama as well. We will then help you get home." He offers.

Wei Ying watches the snake, who is surprisingly more sentient than he first thought if the way it tilted its head in a clearly human gesture of considering it's options and it seems to be really weighing the pro vs cons. He sits patiently, getting distracted by a lowly imp running up to him.

"Little Master! Madam is summoning you for lunch! You are late!" The tiny imp shrieks ina high squeaky voice.

"Oh, I will be there shortly. Tell Mama, that I found another White snakes, but deep in the Mounds. It seems to be trapped and most likely injured. I will be there when I can get it free and bring it home for treatment."

"Eh?" The imp turns and since it is a tiny thing, the snake must be comically gargantuan to it because it shrieks in fright and flies off screaming 'run for your lives.' Wei Ying giggles and shakes his head.

"Silly Hao..." He says affectionately. He goes back to waiting as the snake seems to consider this new interaction and if it should trust this strange child. "Oh where are my manners! This one is Wei Ying, newly named Wei Wuxian. I am Sect Heir of the Yiling Wei Clan and Sect." He quickly gets into a proper kowtow and bows. "Forgive this rude one, Xiao Shé." 

The snake bows back and gives a soft hiss and slowly he rises and is caught by the piercing golden eyes of the snake. He seems to forget everything in that moment but then comes back to himself. By then the snake seems to be trying to pull free so Wei Ying whistles sharply and the pitch is piercing, his two corpses come back and they shuffle forward.

"No, stop, they mean no harm!" He calls when the snake makes to to attack, but Wei Ying stops it. "Lift the rocks." He orders the corpse and they obey.

The rock is quite heavy even fore the inhuman strength of the undead, but still they manage to get it up enough that he rather large white snake is able to get free and then they drop it. Wei Ying carefully picks up the snake, after asking permission first. Grabbing his sachet back up and chuckling when the snake seems to snatch it from his hand clearly liking it. He will let it keep it, he can make more easily. Dismissing his corpse back to their usual shuffling around he heads for the path straight home. He runs along it, giggling as a demon soon joins him in an impromptu race, though both know the demand is clearly faster, he allows Wei Ying to win and peels off back into the forest once they reach the barrier that prevents the monster spilling out of the Mounds.

Wei Ying sees his mother in her wheelchair, an invention of his that he designed at about 4 so his mama could go outside. His baba humored him in having it made and when they realized it works, many more were made for the elderly to get around easier. Injured patients can go outside for fresh air and in general it gave them a means to get away, though the roads needed to be smooth and packed tight to get enough speed.

He hurries over to Cangse Sanren, his mother, who looks as beautiful as always. He jumps on his mother, letting her feel normal in this seemingly careless act. They both know he is holding most of his own weight and careful to not knock her over or injure her further.

"Mama! Look, this is Xiao Shé... I do not know their name yet, but they will be staying with use for a little while. Look at these nasty injuries" he cries out and she does see them they are indeed nasty. A few look infected too.

"Well come along, Little Ghost, let's get our guest settled and start treatment. We can house him in the Jade Altar room for now." She promises as Wei Ying nods, smiling happily.

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Wei Ying walked calmly into the Sword Hall, his thin wrists held in a sturdy plank of wood with two circles for his hands and lined with spell etched iron to keep him from breaking free. He walked calmly, his flowing black robes, more of a beautiful dress really, swirling around him in a hypnotic and perhaps 'dangerous' manner. He stopped before the raised Dias, the great Lotus Throne occupied by someone who had once been his father's best friend. At tge man's side was a beautiful, but clearly dangerous woman with what seemed to ne a permanent sneer on her lightly painted lips.

Why he was here, you may wonder? Well he had just saved the lives of the Heir and Heiress of Yunmeng Jiang and as a result the Heir had him arrested. How utterly ironic. He could see the Heiress being restrained, she was still a bit pale and clearly exhausted still from the purging of Corpse Poison. He gentles his face at her as she looks at him with wide begging eyes. Trying to convey she did not want this nor did she condone it.

"You have been brought before use for the use of Demonic Cultivation, for bewitching our children and for daring to use your corrupted arts on the innocents of Yunmeng! How do you plead?!" The madam of the house demands.

"I bewitched no one, I healed your sick and saved the lives of your children, why should I plead anything? Honestly, if this is the great and noble Jiang Fengmian and his House, then Baba must have lied to me..." He sighs, a little bit dramatic, biding his time as he lets his senses and his mind work out the wards and arrays and plan his escape. But also he wanted to know why no one from Yunmemg came to find him? Why they only showed up after so many years?

"What--"

"Your baba?" Fengmian asks leaning forward curious and confused.

"This lowly one is Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian. Son of Wei Changze of Yunmeng Jiang and Cangse Sanren of Yueshan Baoshen. Not that you cared before. I know Baba sent you a letter saying we were in Yiling and would arrive only three days later. That same night Baba and Mama died and where was the great, noble Uncle Jiang I was always told about? I even asked the nice uncle at the postal stall to send a letter and you never came. I was left abandoned by you to live on the streats for years, starving and fighting for scraps to eat. Being mauled by wild and feral dogs! I even slept by my parents bodies when I had found them in the Burial Mounds." He says coldly glaring at the man who gasps and even his wife looks shocker before she lets her spiritual weapon out and whips him with it. He yelps as the killing intent lingers in him and he glares up at her and she gives a wretched scream as her arm is broken by a ghost that appears with his glare.

"My lady!?" Fengmian catches his wife and looks at him with disappointment on his face. "Ying'er--"

"You do not get to call me so familiarly. I guess the rumors are true, you resented my father for winning my mother's love and affections. Allowed him to leave but probably spread the rumors he was a mere servant, a slave that had thought too highly of himself! You allowed your wife to run wild with jealousy over a woman who never paid you a lick of attention. I can imagine the hell I would had to have lived under while in your care if you had bithered to look for me! Your wife just struck me for no reason, does this mean you whip everyone here with your spiritual tool? And what of you Great Lightning Whip? You allow yourself to be used as such? To whip innocents and children just because the Violet spider is in a mood?"

To their shock the tool sparked and crackled as if talking back. They watched stunned as the weapon and young man talked and then to their shock the ring shot off Madam Yu's finger and form a figure made of white and violet lightning. The being bowed and moved to the young demonic cultutivator and removed the lingering intent and healed him of the whip sting. It ahd sensed no ill intent and yet followed it's owner's command.

Chapter Text

Wei Ying continued to ignore the others, speaking with Zidian, Lady of Lightning. She apologized for her past actions against himself and many others, but voiced that she followed her bonded's commands often realizing too late it was not for the defense or protection of innocents. He nods, a frown on his beautifully handsome face. He knew he looked lile his mother, with the eye shape and even the tall, frame of his father. He was svelte like his mother, often lending him a feminine appearance which he used to his advantage at times.

"I see... So it matters not who it is, you whip them for annoying you, for questioning you or daring to defy you. You whip them for being better than your son, who clearly has your twisted sense of graditude... You see, when my parents died, I had searched for their bodies and as previously stated, slept beside them crying and hoping they would wake up so we could go home. But when the stench began to emanate from them, I knew they would never wake again. I took all we had, which they thankfully put into their qianjun pouches, though most were sealed against a curious toddler and later child. I could not use our money until now. But among the items, I found a diary and my mother wrote of the admirable Lady Yu, how strong and willful she was. She admired your strength and had offered you aid when Young Maiden Jiang was ill as an infant and likely would have died since no one knew what to do or how to help her. And what is the thanks my mother gets? To be called a whore, to be belittled and ridiculed by the one she admired and wished to befriend. To have her husband's former friend feed the jealousy and anger in your black heart. And your son clearly takes after you. Otherwise I would not be here now. Perhaps it is my own foolishness for being willing to always help and sacrifice myself for the sake of others, but that is because I am incapable of Envy, incapable of feeling or even giving into jealousy... Hence the courtesy name my father had wished to bestow upon me when I was old enough to hapve it. He who is without Envy; Wuxian." Wei Ying glares at them.

"Be that as it may, you are still a user of dark and corrupted power... Take him to the dungeons. We will discuss his fate..." Fengmian orders, but Wei Ying narrows his eyes at the odd light in his eyes.

'I will need to flee and soon...' He thinks as he is escorted to the dungeons and the wooden cuffs are secured to pair of chains that hold his hands above his head and he cannot move least he allow his whole weight to rest on his delicarlte wrists.

He says nothing to the guards as they search him and find the qiankun pouches, but find they cannot be opened since his mother spelled them against anyine who did not share their blood or was considered friends and family. He also added his own protections that prevented anyone from breaking them. He stands there for hours before a poor servant girl shakily comes in looking at him as if he would eat her alive and he is certain the Jiangs are currently running his name through the mud. Oh well, he will let Yunmeng suffer for a few years due to their own hubris. Though he will need to break out soon to make sure both the ungrateful Heir and the kind heiress are fully recovered before he heads on his merry way.

She has a bowl and a sponge. She dips it in and quickly sets it on a pole to raise it towards his mouth. He has ro give her credit for her quick thinking if she was told he would devour her soul if she got too close. He lafches into the sponge and sucks as much water from it as he can, thankful for some water. The sponge is pulled back after a few moments and the girl is rather reluctant to come closer, but she must if she is to feed him the broth her Young Lady bid her to bring him.

"You are quite brave and smart." He comments when she gets closer. "Oh, broth? Is it vegetable broth?" He asks hopeful.

Growing up in the Burial Mounds, Wei Ying had lost his appetite for meat after a few too many 'desperate times call for desperate measures' moments where he at the 'meat' his undead care gives got for him. One of them had been a Lan by marriage, her unrested would hurt and angry at her murder and how she left her darling sons without a mother. She said he would fit in well with the Lan, minus his love for flavors, especially spices.

The girl nods, pale and shaking, but carefully holding the flask of broth to his lips using a second sponge under his chin to catch any dribbles. She helps him drink it and he sighs at the rich flavor and the lerfect zing of spice the broth. The taste of celery and spring onions made him hum happily. Once the flask was empty, he thanked the girl who quickly gathered her things and p aused before fleeing. She nods once and tells her that Young Lady Jiang insisted he have food and water. Wei Ying sniled pleased he had been correct about the Young Lady Jiang Yanli. He hoped she was blessed by the gods with a Long, happy and love filled life. He Will have to make her a protection charm when he leaves. A good soul like hers was hard to come by and deserved protection...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Wei Ying collapsed under the harsh strikes of Zidian, gasping softly in pain as each rage filled strike hit his back and his legs. He did not whimper, nor did he beg. He was use to this. However, the burning pain in his legs was new. Then again, he's nowhere near recovered from having his legs broken and losing function after he was bit by the Xuanwu of Slaughter. He had only been awake for perhaps a week and change, the shock of trying to get up and run after Lan Zhan, who had left upon hearing his brother had gone missing and his father murdered, only to collapse when his legs suddenly began to ache horridly and yet at the same time was numb.

His sister had cried for him when he refused to allow himself to cry over the news that he was likely to never walk again and if by some miracle he did walk, there would be severe limitations. His life as a Cultivator was all but over with before he could truly begin to live it. His brother had berated him and told him he deserved this for always acting like the Hero. Normally, Wei Ying can see the hidden feelings in his brother's harsh words. But not this time. No, Jiang Chang truly meant it when he said Wei Ying deserved this. Especially, now as he is held between the twins Yinzhu and Jinzhu as Madam Yu whips him for the sick pleasure of Wang Lingjiao. A servant, who slept with her mistress's husband and thought herself was equal or even superior to those who are her betters.

The last Strike knocks him to the ground and Wang Lingjiao claps her hands gleefully as she stands up and was walks over to where he lays half collapsed. While she had hoped to hear him scream in agony as he is whipped, she would take pleasure in seeing the arrogant man trembling from the aftershocks of his whipping.

"Excellent! But this is not nearly enough! No, he threatened to break Young Master Wen's arm so I think it only fair that his hand is cut off as repayment!" She cackles shrilly as if she just told a hilarious joke. "Yes, that will be enough for my ChaoChao! And Lotus Pier will certainly make an excellent Supervisory Office!" She claps again her daintily painted nails flashing with their red varnish.

Madam Yu, who had grabbed a knife and was about to do as requested, froze and glared at the servant girl with narrowed eyes. Wei Ying knows what is about to happen and quickly forces himself to kowtow. He bites back the urge to vomit as he says the words that crawl up his throat like the foulest things:

"This one apologies to Wen er-gongzi and begs forgiveness." He says and the bitch gives another shrill laugh, skipping close to him and slapping him thrice just to humilate him further.

"Good... Now then-" she is cut off by a silencing spell as Wei Ying sits up and glared at her. His fingers draw three symbols in blood int he floor from his mouth and the wards he erected the day before lock and he sits up.

"What did you do!?"

"I'm saving your lives and keeping the Pier from burning... I told you before; the Wen's need no reason to attack. They just wanted any excuse in to attack a fellow Great Sect." He says as Yinzhu and Jinzhu dispatch the guards before they can alert those outside to anything and prevent flairs from sounding off. "I took precautions and set up a barrier that will hold as long as I am alive. So since my duty is to die for the Jiang: get out of here so my worthless life will finally be of use..."

"About time you realize this... Fine... Evacuate everyone and flee as soon as the Pier is abandoned. We can easily rebuild should they burn it down." Madam Yu sneers as she orders everyone around. Wang Lingjiao is taken hostage to ensure they can leave safely. Though most of the Pier had been warned beforehand by Wei Ying via his newly invented Message Fairies. So only the main residence needed to leave and all would be good.

"Again, playing the bloody hero..." Jiang Wanting sneers but Wei Ying does not raise tot he baiting. If he could not cultivate then let his sacrifice save the lives of those he cares for. Let his brother live, his beloved sister and even his uncle and the Madam. Let even her bitchy maids live long and happy lives. He cannot walk and would only slow them down so he might as well go out with a bang...

Chapter Text

In under two hours Wei Ying is the sole occupant of Lotus Pier when Wen Zhuliu and the rest of the Wen Army arrive with Wen Chao, who came to gloat over the defeated sect, but when they burst into the Sword Hall and find only Wei Ying, still sitting where he was kneeling. Calmly kneeling there, Wei Ying ignores the dozens of swords circling around him, six of which form a deadly noose around his neck. He doesn't bother to acknowledge them as he slowly opens his eyes and looks up at Wen Chao. He had carefully arranged his robes to hide the three symbols he had drawn in blood that glowed with power, faintly, but still noticeable to even someone as weak as Wen Chao. Wei Ying had hoped to hear news of Lan Zhan; did he find his brother? What about Lan-Laoshi? Was he on his way back? His sister has said that Lan Zhan had hardly left his side as he slept after his encounter with the Xuanwu. Speaking of which, Wei Ying had apparently brought the strange sword he found back home with him, unable to let it go and yet as soon as he was safe, he let it fall and it remained on the floor in his room. While he had been trapped in his room, he had not not been fully idle. He had made the ward schemes, with the help of a few Shidis and maids who have proven their loyalty to him over the years had etched them all around the Pier and after teaching them his Messenger Fairies, helped him spread the warning and news to the people to begin etching the warding and locking talismans he'd made into their homes and shops, gather their valuables and families and start to slowly leave Yunmeng to head for either the Lanling Jin territories or the Meishan lands since they were much further south and thus well away from Qishan Wen's warpath, after all it was where his sister had been sent.

Wei Ying knows that at least Wen Zhuliu sensed the wards, was warily looking around, searching for the seals or talismans holding them in place. The smaller talismans and wards he had the people etch and his devoted group activate a secondary one with their spiritual power acted as support struts not unlike the very ones that hold Lotus Pier up over the massive lake on which it had been built onto. Lotus Pier was also known as Xibu Huaxin. Deep below, in the near black bottom of the lake lay a well of great spiritual power that gave life to all of Yunmeng in the form of fertile lands, lush with life and most importantly, the lotuses. Lotus Cove, the name of House Jiang, sat at the heart of it, and Wei Ying sat in the dead center of the house. He knows that if he dies, the wards will come crashing down not unlike the deadly waves of a flash flood, but thanks to the smaller wards and talisman in place, the wards will still hold even after. This will allow all who lived in Lotus Pier to return to their homes. Wei Ying wishes he could have lived the life he always dreamt of, being a great and just Cultivator, perhaps finding love, having a family and traveling the wilds like his parents had, a donkey and each other for company, lending aid wherever chaos arose. Perhaps he dreamt of living on a small farm, tending to fat little rabbits and helping chubby little infant hands to learn how to gently pet the skittish little balls of fluff and cuteness. Perhaps he is dressed in pale colors, colors so pure as to be likened to mourning dress. Wei Ying would feel his spouse's hands wrap over his waist as  he leaned back into them. Maybe his belly is swollen fat and taught with another babe. How he aches for that, but no. He was Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian. He lived without envy and had the worse sort of luck. He is forbidden, it seems, by the Decree of the Heavens to never know true happiness.

Wei Ying's face snaps to the side, his cheek stinging and he slowly turns back to face Wen Chao, the one to have slapped him. It seems his inattentiveness was finally noticed and the spoiled prat struck him. How brave he was when Wei Ying was essentially pinned down and seemingly unable to fight back. Wen Zhuliu must have finished investigating and informed his young master of his findings, or lack there of. Wei Ying almost smiles.

"Surely a great and powerful Sect such as Qishan Wen, ruled over by the Great Chief Cultivator, Wen Rouhan, would know about such simply little tricks... would be able to break them so easily." He simpers around a gentle, but mocking smile. "That the second Young Master is certainly an accomplished Cultivator, the Slayer of the Legendary Xuanwu of Slaughter!"

Wen Chao flushes at the mocking tone and grabs Wei Ying by his hair, yanking him up to his knees as he pulls his sword free and presses it to Wei Ying's neck. It is a threat to shut up or have his throat slit, but Wei Ying would not be Wei Ying if he did not poke the sleeping Dragon a bit more. After all, what was the fun in not at least pissing off someone before he dies?

"But we both know who really killed the corrupt beast. We both know that you are weak, barely a Cultivator... How does it feel to be outsmarted by someone of lower birth? Someone who lived on the road and then later on the streets, starving and scrounging through trash for a spoiled meal? It must gall you something fierce... I do not fear death, because as  far as I am concerned, I died long ago, but have not crossed over just yet." Wei Ying grins. "You can torture me all you like, but compared to what Madame Yu has done to me, it'll be a pitiful attempt. Like a tiny kitten attempting to stand against lions. You have lost, Wen Chao, and the best part about this? You will never be able to get your hands on what you desire because I will make sure you don't. My spirit will haunt you, it will become vengeful and will hunt you down doggedly until you finally breathe your last because unlike others, I was never given a Spirit Calming Ceremony since I am not officially a child of House Jiang." He giggles, tiny, but insanely, as Wen Chao pales and quickly lets go.

"Wen Zhuliu! Kill him, kill him!!"

"Zhao Zhuliu.... that's why you looked so familiar to me..." Wei Ying says looking up at the older man, maybe a few years older than he is, perhaps about 22? "I am certain you do not recall me... I do remember you. I gave you my steamed bun one winter. You had just saved me from the river, but had lost your things to the rapids."

Wen Zhuliu froze and really looked at Wei Ying and for a moment between one blink and the next, he saw a small boy in threadbare robes, missing a couple of teeth, face painfully thin, muddied, healing bruises marring one side of his face, an eye slowly swelling shut, hair a wild mess, but big moon like eyes staring up at him. He was about 10 then, newly orphaned himself, but old enough to work and had been slowly making his way around the outer towns and lands, working for coin, food or a bed. He had indeed saved a small urchin from certain death, but had lost his money and some items to the swift rapids of the winter river. He remembers the child, perhaps 3 or 4 years old, but with how malunurished as he was, he would have been around 4-7 years old. Blinking again, the child vanished and in place the young man he had become. He had been Zhao-gege for the short few months he remained in Yiling, before he had been discovered by Wen Rouhan. A'Liu when the child would scold him. Around the time he had been found, Xiao Huli, as he had called the child, had vanished and he had been running around looking for him. He didn't know or realize that Wei Ying had been found by then and taken 'home.'

Looking around the Sword Hall, the rumors he's heard over the years, the gossip of Sect Leader Jiang's supposed love child with the infamous Rogue Cultivator, Cangse Sanren. How many giggled in secret that certainly as Lady of Lotus Pier, Madam Yu, who was famous for her furious temperment, would not suffer her husband's bastard in silence. Would certainly make the child understand his place. He's heard from the younger generations how seemingly lazy and lackadecle Wei Ying seemed. Xiao Huli had always been frighteningly bright, far too clever for his own good, but much too selfless to ever use his brilliance and talent for harmful and evil acts. If something did not come naturally to him, the boy would research and study himself sick. Wen Zhuliu remembers trying to teach the child to carefully gather spiritual energy, if for nothing else to make the child warm in the deadly winter nights. He had never truly stopped looking for the spritely child, even if he had to accept that Xiao Huli had died. He vowed to aid any children when he was not busy with his duties to the Wen Clan. But now, so many years later, he found his Xiao Huli, still too skinny for his liking, but certainly healthy. Clearly he's grown and powerful. He had always thought the child had been beautiful, as filthy and thin as he was back then, but to see he truly was beautiful, a svelte frame and clearly a graceful warrior if he recalls how he preformed at the Archery contest correctly. But then he notices that he's never once tried to stand, had winced as he was dragged across the ground by Second Master Wen.

"Why do you not stand?" He asks.

Looking down at the Core Melting Hand's chest for a moment, he says nothing before looking up at him once more. There is a silent defiance.

"You two stand him up!" Wen Chao orders and two guards quickly pick him up, not at all gentle, but Wei Ying cannot do much. His bandaged legs coming visible since he cannot wear pants since his legs needed to be checked every few hours and rebandaged again. He also needed to have the doctors testing them and trying new treatments to see if he will be able to walk again. Wearing pants had become a hassle and so his Shijie had suggested a male cut hanfu. He had been pleased to wear something pretty again, what with his special biology. Giggling manically, Wen Chao grabbed a calf and squeezed painfully. "Ohh, ho, ho, ho!! This is just too funny! You cannot run, never mind defy me again!! This is perfect!! Take him! Let's see if he likes what I am about to do to him!!"

"..." Wen Zhuliu frowns as Wei Ying just smiles, content in the knowledge he will die soon, but he robbed the Wens of their victory over Lotus Pier. He takes Wei Ying from the guards, being oddly gentle when he picks him up over his shoulder, carefully pinning his legs to not cause him pain.

"Let's see how he likes being the whore of the Wen Army!" Wen Chao chuckles as they take off.

However, Wei Ying's smile freezes and then turns cruel as he whistles sharply while taking something out of his sleeve, he had found the time to melt the strange sword and remake it into a seal like talisman and with the sound the rubies that made the eyes of the twin tigers glowed brightly and from the Pier below a sudden roaring sound drew their attention and Wei Ying smiles as they are all engulfed in the watery maw of a 'Xuanwu' mimic and yanked into the water. Wei Ying smiles knowing the surface will ice over making sure none of them will surface. As they are pulled lower, Wei Ying smiles contently, never seeing Wen Zhuliu's concerned expression or that above the ice a figure races towards them. Wei Ying loses consciousness, the wards holding but the barrier falling. He goes limp and lets his breath go. Wen Zhuliu does not bother to try and save his young master, but rather his Xiao Huli just as a hole is made and he reaches up for the hole, for air. He can only think of one person more worthy than anyone to live, and that is Xiao Huli...

 ***ALTERNATE VERION***

In under two hours Wei Ying is the sole occupant of Lotus Pier when Wen Zhuliu and the rest of the Wen Army arrive with Wen Chao, who came to gloat over the defeated sect, but when they burst into the Sword Hall and find only Wei Ying, still sitting where he was kneeling. Calmly kneeling there, Wei Ying ignores the dozens of swords circling around him, six of which form a deadly noose around his neck. He doesn't bother to acknowledge them as he slowly opens his eyes and looks up at Wen Chao. He had carefully arranged his robes to hide the three symbols he had drawn in blood that glowed with power, faintly, but still noticeable to even someone as weak as Wen Chao. Wei Ying had hoped to hear news of Lan Zhan; did he find his brother? What about Lan-Laoshi? Was he on his way back? His sister has said that Lan Zhan had hardly left his side as he slept after his encounter with the Xuanwu. Speaking of which, Wei Ying had apparently brought the strange sword he found back home with him, unable to let it go and yet as soon as he was safe, he let it fall and it remained on the floor in his room. While he had been trapped in his room, he had not not been fully idle. He had made the ward schemes, with the help of a few Shidis and maids who have proven their loyalty to him over the years had etched them all around the Pier and after teaching them his Messenger Fairies, helped him spread the warning and news to the people to begin etching the warding and locking talismans he'd made into their homes and shops, gather their valuables and families and start to slowly leave Yunmeng to head for either the Lanling Jin territories or the Meishan lands since they were much further south and thus well away from Qishan Wen's warpath, after all it was where his sister had been sent.

Wei Ying knows that at least Wen Zhuliu sensed the wards, was warily looking around, searching for the seals or talismans holding them in place. The smaller talismans and wards he had the people etch and his devoted group activate a secondary one with their spiritual power acted as support struts not unlike the very ones that hold Lotus Pier up over the massive lake on which it had been built onto. Lotus Pier was also known as Xibu Huaxin. Deep below, in the near black bottom of the lake lay a well of great spiritual power that gave life to all of Yunmeng in the form of fertile lands, lush with life and most importantly, the lotuses. Lotus Cove, the name of House Jiang, sat at the heart of it, and Wei Ying sat in the dead center of the house. He knows that if he dies, the wards will come crashing down not unlike the deadly waves of a flash flood, but thanks to the smaller wards and talisman in place, the wards will still hold even after. This will allow all who lived in Lotus Pier to return to their homes. Wei Ying wishes he could have lived the life he always dreamt of, being a great and just Cultivator, perhaps finding love, having a family and traveling the wilds like his parents had, a donkey and each other for company, lending aid wherever chaos arose. Perhaps he dreamt of living on a small farm, tending to fat little rabbits and helping chubby little infant hands to learn how to gently pet the skittish little balls of fluff and cuteness. Perhaps he is dressed in pale colors, colors so pure as to be likened to mourning dress. Wei Ying would feel his spouse's hands wrap over his waist as  he leaned back into them. Maybe his belly is swollen fat and taught with another babe. How he aches for that, but no. He was Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian. He lived without envy and had the worse sort of luck. He is forbidden, it seems, by the Decree of the Heavens to never know true happiness.

Wei Ying's face snaps to the side, his cheek stinging and he slowly turns back to face Wen Chao, the one to have slapped him. It seems his inattentiveness was finally noticed and the spoiled prat struck him. How brave he was when Wei Ying was essentially pinned down and seemingly unable to fight back. Wen Zhuliu must have finished investigating and informed his young master of his findings, or lack there of. Wei Ying almost smiles. He feels the Xuanwu sword, or it's remains, having very carefully broken it down the last two days, carefully melting the pieces into pitch black metal goop and pouring it into several small moulds. He had fashioned them into a flock of ravens and crows, carefully chaining them with purified silver and hanging the dark birds near his Clarity Bell, which always hummed low after he done so with an almost ominous watery toll. The next remains were four figurines made to represent the four Divine Beasts who rule the North, South, East and West. A snake tailed tortoise which he had used crushed green jade and emerald shards, some ground moonstone to make the details of both the scales and shell, a black tiger with white stripes made from white opals and pearls since he could not make it a proper white tiger as the legendary beast was rumored to be, a black phoenix with rubies and gold to make the feathers, and finally a black dragon with pieces of white jade, that Wei Ying had been able to buy in Gusu before he had been sent home, some lapis flakes and chips of sapphires to make the scales. They were all dark parodies of the Divine beasts. And the last of the sword was formed into two bunnies that he had carefully detailed. If one represented himself and the other a certain Jade of Lan, then that was his own business.

These items seemed to really like him since the four beasts were always in his money pouch, usually the dragon one, as if it were protecting its horde and the others were simply keeping it company while the bunnies were kept close to his heart for now. He would be testing them fully now as he would take out the Core Melting Hand and the Second child of Wen Rouhan. The sword had reacted to him playing his flute and Wei Ying had recalled some of his talks with Lan Xichen and the too few he had with Lan Zhan about Musical Cultivation. He had not dared to ask too great details or to be taught since it was a Lan Sect technique. However, anyone clever enough could use it, as the First Jade had told him softly once.

"Where is everyone and what is this 'barrier' that Wen Zhuliu senses!?" Wen Chao bellows, slapping Wei Ying again.

Wei Ying says nothing and after mentally checking that the spiritual struts are firmly in place, the barriers and seals to protect everything he held dear and near was in place, Wei Ying slowly looks up, his eyes unknowingly a haunting blood red as he fingers the tortoise figurine and a great rumbling in the distance is heard. It distracts them long enough for Wei Ying to whistle a song played during times of draught to appease the Rain Gods. It is light and fleeting at first, almost shy, like the first few scattered drops of an oncoming storm, but just as shy and tentative the first few notes where, the sudden change was as quick as a flash of lightning and the downpour that blots out the world, hard and heavy, one would be soaked to the bone in mere seconds. He keeps whistling, growing harsh and forewarning as there is indeed a sudden rumble of thunder and the sounds of heavy rain. But when none of it can be heard landing on the Pier several guards leave, leaving Wei Ying with the wary Wen Zhuliu. The stern faced young man watches the Yunmeng native whistling in time with the storm, and then Wei Ying looks up at him with those strange red eyes and manages a smile around the last note that echoes eerily, as if from the bottom of the ocean, warning sound and it is then that Wen Zhuliu realizes it was a trap. He rushes from the hall, quickly grabs the Second Young Master of Wen and is barely up on his sword, just narrowly avoiding the barrier collapsing as a monsoon's worth of water crashes down, submerging Lotus Pier in water. The Wens who had not mounted their swords in time, or had not flown fast enough, nor have the power enough to break free of the water, were not so lucky. Wei Ying slowly pushed off the floor, a barrier surrounding in the shape of the tortoise with the snake acting like a light source in the brackishly dark waters that were so dark and foul, not unlike the Waterborne Abyss.

He slowly got to his feet, only collapse, the barrier wobbling dangerously from his nearly break in concentration. So he crawls forward and out into his own personal Abyss watching the Wens trapped inside slowly drowning, but he notes a few quickly swimming toward him and caustiously step into his barrier, gasping for air and falling to their knees not to far from him. There is only about 5 of them. This means these Wens were not  here with ill intent, so perhaps it means they were forced to join this farce of a war declaration. He notes that no one else comes and he's certain that by now those who managed to escape are fleeing quickly back to Qishan Wen lands. He whistles once more, but this time a haunting bird song and the raven figurines burst forward like smoke and ash, only eerie red eyes can be seen and this haunting caws sounding.

"Make sure the area is secure. If it is, I will drop the flood waters back into the water and let the pure spiritual energy cleanse the waters again." He orders the birds and they fly off easily into the water. It takes perhaps half an hour before they come back and as they fill his mind with images of the area, to which he nods and finally breaks part of the barriers and lets the waters fall back into the lake, feeling the spiritual pool at the bottom purifying them, even as his barriers kept the bodies from polluting them. He turns to the survivors, his red eyes glowing eerily as he smiles gentle, his face pale and looks more terrifying than any monster in that moment.

"So, why should I let you live?"

Chapter Text

The five Wens, one of whom was familiar quickly drop to their knees and beg that they were only here to help. The familiar Wen slowly got up and as he began to explain how they knew each other, Wei Ying softened somewhat from where he knelt on the ground. His legs throbbing, his back burned and yet felt numb still.

"Wen Ning, I would say it is good to see you, but I don't think these circumstances suit a friendly reunion." Wei Ying gives grimace of a smile.

"Wh-what happened to your legs!?"

"The Xuanwu of Slaughter tried to eat me in it's death throws and al but crushed them... I will be lucky to be able to walk..." Wei Ying admits around a grimacing grin.

The others shift nervously, watching their defacto leader talk to this powerful, but terrifying young man. Who has this kind of power!? Not even Wen Ruohan had this kind of power and he's been amassing resentful energy for a while now, like the last several years. And yes this young man had a mastery and control he did not.

"Ho-how-?" One of the others nervously speaks up and Wei Ying sees he's about the same age as some of his Shidis and far to young to be in this war, because now, now it was open war.

"I do not trust you enough to tell you how... However, if you go to the room that I point out on this map and pack everything in it for me, I might give you something to save your families and age mates who want nothing to do with fighting a way out...." Wei Ying tells them.

They quickly share a glance and agree because they never wanted to fight or join in the first place, but what can you do when the man demanding your loyalty threatens to raze Your who village to the ground if you do not comply? There were plenty who were forced to join after witnessing the slaughter of their families or had their family taken prisoner. No one was safe, not even blood family to the madman.

Wei Ying nods and summons the crows two of which he orders to guide the kids because that was what they were, to his rooms and to gather his belongings and where the hidey-holes were in his room. Once all of things were gathered, they watched in fascination as the dead get up and begin walking into the water and eventually out onto land. They are ordered to a boat and Wen Ning, who is surprisingly strong, carries Wei Ying into it while the snake tail of the tortoise that has shielded them from the water comes slithering with a bundle of books and a few qiankun punches from somewhere in the maze of Lotus Pier. All the doors slamming shut and sealing them selves as it moves, it ruins the spells work written in blood as it moves, no need to let the Jiang's have access to this spell, those the ones etched into the whole of Lotus Pier will remain and keep things protected.

Wei Ying nods as he accepts the books and punches the snake turning to mist and and reforming as it's figurine form while the tortoise, now a solid creature hids under their boat and beings guiding it toward Yiling once Wen Ning gave him a direction to go. They sit on the boat for a couple of days to reach Yiling, but in that time Wei Ying drew up the necessary talismans and spells that they would need and sent out both his ravens and crows to deliver them to the innocent of Qishan with instructions on how to set them up and use them.

The dead Qishan Wen Soldiers had marched tirelessly after them, hidden from view unless they ran into hostile Wens. Said hostiles were quickly killed and joined the ranks. No matter how they asked him how he got this power, Wei Ying never answered. However, he knew how he gotten it, he had after all grown up in the Burial Mounds, was raised as a Prince within the massive Graveyard and was naturally attuned to resentment, almost like a woman.

He could sense his home now, could sense the happy joy of having him back. He was not surprised when one of his Red Brides appeared from nowhere and all but dropped herself over him. He chuckled at Long Ming, as she cooed at him and hugged him tightly.

"Welcome home, my dear Prince! Are these sacrifices or are they like the town folk?"

"They are children too young to be joining a senseless war. More will be joining us slowly but surely. But I did bring back some who tried to kill me and their bodies will join my army of undead... Get Mother." He tells her and she bows to get the Queen of the Burial Mounds, the Bloody Empress...

Chapter Text

Wen Ning watched with awe filled eyes as a Black Tiger leapt from Wei-Gongzi's belt and padded around them all, sniffing and chuffing softly. He was told once that the sound was supposedly a friendly sound, so he hoped that this meant that Wei-Gongzi's tiger was friendly. After one last butt of the head to Wen Ning himself, the tiger went to its master and played down and allowed him to crawl on. Once Wei-Gongzi was situated on the tigers back, he guided the group to his sister's place. He came in through the back, hiding Wei-Gongzi under a thick cloak just in case Wen Chao and his remaining forces made it back.

Which they have not. And since Wen Ning and his tiny group had tagged on at the back, and were rather infamous for being weak, his cousin wouldn't doubt that they were dead, at least the stragglers. A force of nearly 3000 was destroyed in a single night and with one move from a powerful Cultivator. Wei-Gongzi had been so impressive! Wen Ning wondered if he would help him learn Cultivation better? His tips on how to shoot better had greatly helped, even if he failed to qualify for the Archery contest. Once he snuck the injured young man into the work room, he sent the others to clean up and change so if Wen Chao came a-knocking, he would be unable to claim anything.

He was just settling Wei-Gongzi on the cot, his legs carefully propped up with extra pillows to later change the bandages, when his sister came in like a contained storm and glared at her brother. He looked like a naughty child sneaking sweets from the jar with how his sister looked. Wei Ying wanted to coo, but he was still a bit wary. This was a Supervisory office, but the townsfolk, while wary, did not look worse for wear or harmed. He watched the Wen siblings argue back and forth for a moment longer before he spoke up, his tiger appearing once more to pin the now terrified Wen Qing to the wall with a massive paw and deadly golden red eyes.

"Wen-Daifu, I don't plan on being here long. I was actually supposed to die taking out Wen Chao, but he got away. So if you would be so kind as to just supply me with some rations maybe some spare medicine if you have it and I will be on my way." He says so causally that it gives her pause.

"You're not planning to die are you?" She asks, actual concern in her voice.

"My legs are all but useless, I cannot fight beyond my skills at talismans and spells, and if I show my true hand, I am done for. Besides you are a Wen, what the hell do you care? You hated me for helping your brother out at the contest, remember?" He points out and she winced. She had been rather rude to him. But she is so use to others of higher birth or status picking on and messing with her brother's foolishly naive heart.

"Now, now.... Little Ghost that is very mean of you..." Coos his Mother, the Bloody Empress materializes from seemingly nowhere and floats gently over to him and presses her deathly pale hand to his cheek. "You will not foolishly throw away your life... Even if the ones you gave your loyalty and power to have thrown you away... The Jiangs will rue the day they disrespected you, the gift you gave them and the power you wield." She assures him and he gives a soft sound of mild protest.

"Not Shijie, she wasn't there, they sent her away well before the attack..."

"Fine, but only because the Jiang Girl is just that a girl and thus does not always fully understand the impact of her words. The breath though knows full well and uses them to constantly belittle and bad mouth you. As for that wanna be viper, her time is borrowed..." She warns him and turns to the frightened Wen Qing, now no longer pinned by the tiger who has played down beside the cot and is sprawled in a clear "pet me" pose which Wen Ning has shyly begun doing. "My son is a kind boy, far kinder than anyone else you will ever likely to meet and will always side with justice even if he has to face the rest of the world who would rather drown him out or snuff his light because he does not follow their drum or dance to their tune. So you will choose wisely, right here and right now: Do you put your faith in him and help heal him or do you stand against him and risk being wiped out when the floodgates are finally opened?"

Wen Qing gulps because she hardly knows the boy and already the Wens have made him an enemy but he has not once harmed her brother and could have at any point this night. That tiger certainly would have easily bitten her brother and her cousins in half if it so chose. She glanced at his legs and noticed his pained winces as he lightly rubs at them. She was a doctor and as one she took an oath to heal all who ask for it and to never take a life that was not beyond her skills to save. She has never once harmed anyone, even if she trained with a sword, it was only enough to be able to fly on her own, otherwise she would not have bothered to pick it up in the first place.

She could risk her self and thus her family at the mercy of the Cultivation world should she make an enemy of this boy, or risk trusting him and thus being mad and an enemy  of her own clan, but maybe being able to live a peaceful life after the war ends. War was ugly, war was dangerous and cared not who it took. Everyone lost when it came to war, families are divided, loved ones leave and may never come back, disease and famine spread like wildfire. War was about the strong oppressing the weak no matter if they were fighting to dominate the world or free it from tyranny. Could she honestly pick right at this moment? She looks at Wei Wuxian once more and feels her mind settle as he bites back a whimper of pain. She could not let this boy suffer and if he helps her save her family, even if it just a handful of them, then she will be eternally grateful. She squares her shoulders and the Bloody Empress smiles a brilliant but terrifying smile.

"I will trust in him..."

"Good... Little Ghost?"

Wei Ying gives her a childish pout, but then he whistles a soft trilling melody and in an instant a black Phoenix appears and he gives it instructions to take Wen Ning to gather his family and bring them into his home. The Bloody Empress calls one of her many "daughters" and informs her to make room for living non-combatants to reside within the Heiyue Palace and to awaken the army. Once Wei Ying is able to, they will march....

Chapter Text

Wei Ying had always known he was different. He was never sure how, his traumatic experiences affected his memories. A "safety mechanism" as he once over heard a doctor says to an animal trader. His mind makes him forget things that have otherwise scarred him, things that would bring more harm than good. Sadly this meant he cannot even remember his parents very well. His only memory of them was a a smaller child riding on a donkey with his Mama and his Baba leading it.

"Remember, Ying-er, it is not what others do for you, but what you can do for others that matters. When we have nothing, it is better to share. No matter what, my little Ghost, be kind, be just and always be content with what you have."

He remembers that swore to live by it. His Baba always told him to be careful with his powers and to always protect those who he cares for. His father's words where his mantra. To be careful and to protect those he loves. However he could not protect his parents. They left him behind since he was a bit sick and they never came back. He spent years wandering the streets chased by wild feral dogs and barely scrapping by on precious few handouts but he used his powers when he could to scare away monsters to sometimes bring back their conscious minds and help what he could to speak to their families and lay them to proper rest.

Wei Ying was found at 7 by Uncle Jiang and taken home. He was introduced to his family but not everyone was welcoming. However when someone who hated the Jiangs kidnapped their children, his new sister and brother; Wei Ying had taken flight, red and black mist carrying his tiny form I to the night. His uncle and his wife shocked at this display. He knows they followed as he uses his powers to track his siblings. Finding the small traces he left on his Shijie and Shidi, he imagines a great big bird and rides it down into the small camp of kidnappers and scared them half to death, he slipped unnoticed to his siblings' sides and untied them.

Before either could ask what was going on, Wei Ying broke his bird and then stomped his foot, a wave of red and black shot out of his foot. The ground shook and from it rose dead animals covered in his energy to they obeyed only his command and forced the attackers away. He wiggled his fingers eyes glowing as he manipulate the energy. Whatever he though or imagined came to life. He kept this going until his Uncle and the Madam arrived and killed the people. Wei Ying then passed out once he was sure it was safe...

When he woke up again, a shock really since those who saw him use his powers often times are terrified of him, have tried to harm him. But it was to Madam Yu, who was calmly sewing something and when she noticed he was awake. Wei Ying had honestly though he would be kicked out or killed. But she shocked him by promising to help him learn control. The training would be brutal, but he would learn it.

And she had been correct. It had been brutal. But his control was much better. His powers manifested into stronger and more defined details. He can even summon and control the dead, it wasn't Demonic Cultivation since Wei Ying could not Cultivate due to his power. However after having several Monks and Grandmasters check. They realized his power was pure Yin energy. He had to be very careful around others. He was able to mask his energy as best he could while at the Gusu Lan Lectures though the Waterborne Abyss nearly exposed him however he was able to calm, tame and seal it. He now keeps it on a tassel with his new flute.

Wei Ying stood up from his Cave a wave of Resentment rising and forming black wings as he shot out of it and towards Nightless City. After the Abyss incident he was sent home for punching the Jin Heir, but said young Master was allowed to stay with basically a slap tot he wrist. Aunt Yu was unhappy about it. But when he explained what had led to him punching the peacock she felt vindicated. If the brat wants to marry her daughter he had to prove himself.

After that the Archery Contest at Qishan had happened and then the crack down on Night Hunts and finally the attacks. Wei Ying knew he would not be able to keep his powers a secret. Then the indoctrination happened and he gained a new pet in the form of the Xuanwu of Slaughter and the Yin Sword accepted him as master. After that incident, things were steadily getting worse. Wei Ying wondered if Lan Zhan was alright since his home was burned before the indoctrination. He was also worried how he would view Wei Ying after seeing him tame the Xuanwu. However he could not focus on that now.

It wasn't long after that, XueXue as his sister started calling the Xuanwu, was moved into Lotus Pier and was steadily getting better being fed fruits and fish from the lake. Wei Ying was quick to scold it when it tried to eat people and the like. He made sure it was safe for others and used it to evacuate Lotus Pier when the Wens came, he used the tamed Waterborne Abyss to kill the invaders. This allowed his people to flee to safety and keep his Aunt and Uncle alive but it also exhausted him. He was captured by Wen Zhuliu and Wen Chao, who was going after the winners of the Archery Contest.

He was brought to the Burial Mounds where Wen Zhuliu tried to crush his core but found he had none. Wen Chao though if floated and ripped his clarity bell from his belt and his hair ribbon before he stabbed him with his sword and dropped him into the Burial Mounds. He should have died but no. His power own grew. Purifying the Resentment into Yin energy and gaining mastery ove to the entirety of Burial Mounds and it's various denizens.

And here he is now riding on a wave red and black Yin power over the walls of Nightless City where the armies we're having the final show down. As one they stopped and looked at him before he brought Chenqing to his lips and played a sweet, if haunting lullaby. The energy around him took form of Lost Cultivators whose bodies are permanently lost to the Mounds while others rose from the ground and looked nearly alive. Many recognized their missing family members and loved ones as they walk forward sentient and Capable of speech.

"Time to end this...." Wei Ying breathes and the wave he rode on crashes down and Wei Ying's army attacks only the Wens. This invigorates those who opposed the Wen to join in...

Chapter Text

They say that the old Lan Temple was haunted. That many have gone up there and vanished, some turning up days later terrified into madness, some lacking memories of ever going up there, others found dead, seemingly caused by accidents, and few have vanished entirely, never to be seen again. The old Lan Temple was a remnant from a time where magic and sorcery were studied and used to battle demons, gods and the undead. But now in modern times, was an empty shell of its former glory.

Wei Ying was excited to spend the night in the old temple for his little YouTube channel where he would talk about old legends and myths, sometimes debunking them or finding evidence that some might be real. He sometimes travelled, if his viewers helped him raise enough money on his streams, where he often played horror games, much to their amusement. And today being his birthday was going to be a very special stream. Sadly his usual group of friends couldn't make it and he really didn't want to tell his viewers, his Demonic Cultivator Army as they have nicknamed themselves, that he had to cancel the stream.

He made sure to stock up on food and supplies for the evening, his mini, portable generators were ready to go as well as his power banks and tools. He had arrived in the early afternoon to set up, choosing to remain in the main area of the temple under the Dragon Statue, which was pretty wicked, even as covered by wild vegetation as it in is. The details were amazing!

He had told some locals where he would be for the night, You know, just in case he gets stranded out there, they could send a rescue team. He did one final check before he grabbed up his phone and quickly set up his stream, double checking things on his laptop, before he began the countdown to go live.

"Hello my DCA! How are my favorite Chaos Gremlins!?" He cheerfully greets and checks the viewers count. "Wow, almost everyone showed up! I got set up some things so we can give the stragglers some time to join in. So as you all most likely saw on my Social and my teams socials, they could not make it. And since I was already here and you all were so wonderful to not only meet the goal, but go beyond it, I opted to one man this."

He laughs and checks chat and sees several concerned comments and a few donations pop up.

"Aww, thanks Yi-Lou's Waifu! I promise I am not gonna do anything crazy. I told the locals where I am, my brother and sister are also in the Stream as well as my two besties. And I have all of you to either storm my location and rescue me or at least call the local search and rescue team! So I did some research on the area when I got here two days ago and while there have been a few deaths and disappearances, I do not plan on traveling around. I am planning on chilling right here, chatting, reading some of the stories from the locals, old legends about the Lans, especially this Hanguang-Jun. Is he a benevolent spirit or a malevolent demon? I am also planning to cut a small mochi cake for my birthday today!" Wei Ying gushes as he holds up said cake, securely packed into a Tupperware.

He sees a message from his brother, calling him an idiot and scolding him.

"Aww, I wasn't about to cancel since it would be basically stealing from my generous donors and not to mention that I do not make a lot of money to pay them all back for the bust on this trip. Like I said, I am not gonna go wandering around unless there is a wild animal intent on eating me or some such chasing me around... Well you should have thought of that before bailing on me at the last minute. I can understand Shijie, she's pregnant and had a bit of a scare! I wasn't gonna make her come!... Oh guys, calm down! My sister is doing alright, it wasn't anything life threatening for her or the baby, but the doctors wanna keep her in for a week to make sure she and my unborn niece or nephew are gonna be ok. Though they will put her on bed rest to be safe even after she is home."

He chats with his viewers and his team, getting the last few things in place and then starts the now official night with recapping his last horror game stream and putting up a poll that he will check out at the end of the stream, to see where he should travel to next. He then starts to read about the Temple from the info packets he made at the local library. His chat is lively tonight, which makes him feel less lonely and he is glad his siblings and friends, while not there in person due to issues or health problems, were there chatting too as well as keeping the DCA under control.

It is a few hours later, while Wei Ying is in the middle of reading a story about Hanguang-Jun, that he feels a chill go up his spine and even then his chat kinda goes crazy telling him there was a figure behind him. Wei Ying stiffens, a bite of cake in his mouth, on the Alter of the Dragon he had set out some food and drinks in offering as an apology for invading the temple. Wei Ying turns around slowly, but when he does, the figure is gone and chat calms down a bit, but is buzzing with what they saw. Some saw a shadowy figure, others saw a pale outline, some saw nothing but they could tell Wei Ying must have sensed it or something because he had stiffened and slowly spun to where others said the figure was. Of course there were those who though everyone was having a gag, being Halloween and all.

"Alright, let's settle down... Ah, I have to put you all on pause a minute, I jumped and now I need the bathroom. Gimme a minute..." He informs and puts his pause screen on and quickly grabs the bottle he designated as his 'bathroom' bottle. He quickly takes care of his need, using hand sanitizer to clean his hands, he quickly grabs his phone and pulls it off the charge and powering off the powerbank to save battery for a second charge. Wei Ying then unpauses his stream and is in the middle of apologizing when he sees many comments about looking out.

He smiles and laughs, thinking they are only teasing him, but as he opens his mouth to tell them all is fine, he helps as he is suddenly snatched and his phone falls. They can barely see him floating in the air and then the screen statics out...

Wei Ying kicked and struggled, but whatever had him was freakishly strong! He yelps when he is thrown into a surprisingly soft surface and sputters as he flails about until he is sitting up properly. He turns to the jerk who manhandled him, scaring not only him and his chat, but mostly likely his siblings and friends as well. However he yelps seeing an inhumanly handsome man with a long serpentine tail lazily flicking across the floor. The movement too fluid to be animatronic.

"Wei Ying.... I've waited so long to see you again.... So many came but none were you...." The figure's deep voice sounded and Wei Ying shivers because it's sounds almost familiar. He is a bit freaked out as the figure approaches, clearly it knows him but not the other way around.

Or perhaps Wei Ying knew it in another life. He tries to protest, but it is devoured as he is pinned under the figure whom Wei Ying can only assume is Hanguang-Jun....

In morning a search team comes to find Wei Ying, hoping he was one of the lucky ones to survive. He certainly fit the type that normally were sent back if a bit amnesiac from the encounter. However they find only his supplies, his computer and phone long dead, his bed roll and other items still there but all the food was missing. He quickly pair off and begin searching, but find no trace of Wei Ying, who seemed sweet and kind. Normally the innocent were left unharmed so they were curious, was Wei Ying truly innocent or not? Maybe he was the one whom the demon that once was an immortal, had been searching for? Regardless they find nothing and have to call the police, who quickly secure the temple and check for foul play.

By the time they have over half the items checked and cleared, Jiang Cheng with Nie Huaisang arrive, having agreed to be the ones to go ASAP since Jiang Yanli was pregnant and Wen Ning was still in the hospital with a severe cold. They hoped their lovable idiot was alright, but seeing how his stream was interrupted and having to calm down not only themselves but a good few hundred, just shy of a thousand viewers, they were certain there wasn't going to be good news. Needless to say, when they were told there was not a trace of their friend and brother, not even a hint of foul play, the two were both furious and deeply concerned. Jiang Cheng refused to wait idly by and began to search around with some locals help to avoid getting hurt or lost himself. Huaisang is gathered gossip and research alike, hoping to find some clue as to what happened to Wei Ying...

It would be a year later that a stream from Wei Ying's YouTube channel would appear, his disappearance having brought in more fans to skulk around his page. So when it began with the counter, nearly everyone and then some was in before the counter hit zero. At first the video quality was very grainy and shaky, but then it began to clear up and they startle seeing a very handsome young man dressed in white. He frowns as he fiddles more with the camera and then moves aside to reveal Wei Ying, who has not changed much in the last year, but he seems unaware of what is going on.

"This is Hanguang-Jun... This one was once an immortal and had fallen in love with a young Demonic Cultivator. However, our love was very short lived and my beloved was killed for crimes he did not commit. In this one's fury, he killed the so called righteous and has since searched for his beloved. But as time went on and the age of Cultivation came to an end, this one realized that he could not travel far. This one was soon trapped and could no longer look. This one has had to rely on rumors and spirits to tell him of the world and news of his beloved. My beloved has been born 12 times since his first death and all have died young. This infuriates this one, to be unable to save his beloved! But then he came to me. He came at the year he most often died and This one was not going to allow for his death again. This one apologizes for concerning you all, but it is time to return my Wei Ying to You, but know that This one will be at his side ever more..." He says and then he seems to change before their eyes and Wei Ying seems to snap out of his daze.

"Hey, everyone! Sorry for scaring you all last stream! Some locals thought it would be funny to scare the candy corn out of me and I ended up lost and then fell and hit my head... But thankfully Lan Zhan here found me and nursed me back to health! I think this stream is just gonna be a catch up on what happened to me, introducing you all to my new hubby and.... Ta-da! Our son!" He giggles holding up a baby of only a few months.

He does not seem to notice the chat trying to tell him that his husband is some demon or fallen cultivator, however he does react to those not talking about that. The viewers realize that Hanguang-Jun did something to prevent that and his eyes glowed menacingly when they tried to tell the truth. He allowed the stream to last for a couple of hours before he spelled his husband to his dazed state again.

"This is it for now, but those of you who insisted on trying to reveal the truth... Know that I will find you..."

Chapter Text

Snippet:

He slowly regained consciousness in a very uncomfortable metal chair that was cemented into the ground. He was wrapped tightly in a straight jacket and could feel at least 6 more straps holding him to the chair. One was across his thighs holding them to the seat one at his waist pinning him firmly down and back. One across his stomach over his arms another across his chest and under his arms pinning him to the back of the chair and there were two that crisscrossed over his shoulders and arms keeping firmly tied to the back of the chair. Even his legs were strapped down above and below the knees to the edge of the chair across his shins and ankles to the legs to prevent him from kicking out. There was a thick metal collar around his neck that had seven rings welded into it and each was attached to thick heavy chains that glowed faintly in the dimness if the room. Each chain was anchored into the wall with not only layers of cement and steel, but also spells to hold him in place and shock him if he becomes aggressive.

There is a thick visor over his eyes and a muzzle keeping his jaw pinned shut. The visor would prevent him from using one of his powers on unsuspecting fools. The muzzle was to keep him from attempting suicide via biting off his tongue or biting anyone who gets too close. It would seem like overkill if it wasn't warranted. He was a member of a rather decent percentage of beings who are not quite human. In fact, the prefer to call themselves Hybrids or Creatures for the pure blooded ones, but the rest of the world call them monsters. He himself was part of a particularly dangerous breed even to his fellow Creatures, and it really doesn't help that he has grown from a small time criminal into a villain. However, he had his reasons for it. He is however mildly annoyed at being treated like a captive rather than a prisoner. Granted his breed was particularly dangerous, that doesn't mean the overkill was needed. He can faintly smell something sickly sweet that makes him feel a bit fuzzy minded and like he wants to nap. There is also the faint hum of electricity in the floor that is metal minus the circle of cement that his chair was embedded into.

Suddenly high beam bright lights snap on and even with the dimmed visor on he winces at how bright they are. There is a long series of electronic locks disengaging as well as several decontamination sequences before the last door appears in an otherwise seamless wall and in walks the head of the Leave of Heroes, Yu Ziyuan or rather the Violet Spider. She is followed by her husband, Jiang Fengmian, a high ranking official her son and protegee, Jiang Cheng, or the Electric Spider as he is being called. However there is a fourth with them. The youngest of the group it seems. This person has his full attention even as Ziyuan begins talking.

"So, the great Heishuang is not so mighty... How pathetic." She spits, gripping one of the whips on her hip that crackles with purple lightning.

He does not react because the muzzle prevents him from speaking and even if it were not on, he would not engage with her. He is busy watching the last slowly setting up a portable table and chair with a thick pile of papers, most likely a psyche eval form as well as his background check. A tape recorder, a tin for some reason with a cute pot that was shaped like a bunny. He watches the person get settled down, subtle movements talking him about the hidden pain racing through them.

"Tsk... Well!?" Ziyuan snaps and he continues to ignore her. Growling she marches up and yanks the muzzle off hard, act like a spoiled child having a tantrum really. "Got anything to say!?"

"Violet Spider, I am ready to begin his eval and find if he is capable of being rehabilitated." You young man says and she turns her fury in him.

"Did I say you can speak!? You are just like that worthless mother of yours! Always speaking out of turn--"

"My lady!!" Fengmian cries trying to reason with her about how they need to focus on the task at hand. After all Heishuang was a very dangerous individual and the nee to find out if he is working with others or solo.

She snaps at him for protecting his bastard and forgetting about their son, who looks very uncomfortable. Heishuang thinks she's a complete idiot for exposing such a large and glaring weakness to an enemy, but right now he is only paying attention to the young man before him.

He will admit, the only reason he got captured was because he, a villain saved the young man's life. Said young man has no idea how utterly fascinated Heishuang is by him.

"Fine!! Wei Wuxian begin!!" Ziyuan bellows and storms out, making her husband run after her, however Jiang Cheng remains, standing silent guard over Wei Wuxian's shoulder.

"I really have to apologize... We are normally much more professional..." Wei Wuxian says and clears his throat. "Alright and recording... This Dr. Wei with the Villain known as Heishuang, recently captured by Electric Spider, Blood Fang and Violet Spider... First, let's start off with something nice. Are you thirsty? I brought some lotus tea, it is a special blend and very nice. Or perhaps you are hungry? Would you like to try a cinnamon and lander cookie?"

".... Mn." He nods his head once and the young man blushes slightly. He pops open the tin that apparently held cookies inside and pulls one out before very carefully coming over to hold it for him.

Heishuang opens his mouth, first flicking out a long forked tongue to check for anything dangerous in the treat before baring well maintained deadly teeth and fangs to carefully bute the cookie. It is perfectly soft and chewy and the flavor is surprisingly light. He takes another careful bite and when the last little bit is left he opens his mouth and let's his tongue, Which is semi prehensile, to wrap around the last bit, perhaps purposely licking Wei Wuxian's fingers as he does so, before pulling it into his mouth.

"... Delicious." He intones and the young man blushes and stammers something before sitting down.

"Ahem, let's begin. If you get thirsty let me know and I will help you sip some tea... Now then let's start with why you became a villain..."

Chapter Text

Heishuang meditated between sessions with Dr. Wei. He ignored Yu Ziyuan when she would come to interrogate him, which pissed her off even more. Jiang Fengmian often had to try and calm her down, tried to reason with her, but she never listened to him. He's noticed how she is always constantly bringing up Dr. Wei and his parents into every argument, with or without him there. Seriously if this is the company he would have to keep if he were to 'turn a new leaf' then he'd rather remain as a villain. Jiang Wanyin normally stood guard over Dr. Wei, always glaring at him, sneering when he deigned to answer questions. Heishuang smirked softly at how much it annoyed the League of Heroes that they have almost all of his info, but for key pieces, such as who he actually is, what he is, what his powers were and why it was he went down this path. Though his answer surprisingly simple. Heishuang's breed was too dangerous, no one would trust him as a normal civilian, Law enforcement, Paramedic or even as a firefighter. And they certainly wouldn't trust him as a Hero, not even when he attempted the Anti-Hero route did he find find that anyone believed him or trusted him. So if he wants to save people, he will do it as a villain and slowly he's gained the trust and loyalty of those in his employ as well as the people who live within his territory.

There was also a very specific reason he turned to villainy. Who saves you when it's the very Heroes you worship and look up to who are hurting you?

That was the case of Dr. Wei, a young and brilliant young man. Heishuang knew him as Xiao Tuzi at his favorite coffee shop before Wen Xu's rampage destroyed the area that the shop once stood at. It was an Animal themed Maid cafe. Dr. Wei always war an above knee cut maid outfit with the cutest bunnies sew into the apron. His adorable black ears sitting tall and wiggling minutely with excitement or joy. He always looked so cute as he hopped around the shop, cheerful and utterly bewitching. He got shy and sometimes he got angry, but no matter what, Dr. Wei was utterly adorable. Sometimes he would sit with Heishuang on his breaks and he would see him studying or doodling. He once said he wished to be an artist or a musician but his aunt wouldn't allow it. He was forced to go into psychology and engineering. That had peeked Heishuang's interest, not that he ever really said anything. Dr. Wei never minded, he liked that Heishuang listened attentively and always seemed to enjoy watching when he doodled. One day, Heishuang was leaving a business meeting, having just acquired a shipment of medical components for his medical centers and a few hospitals in his territory when there had been a sudden explosion. He had quickly checked his private network and saw that Jin Guangyao was causing havoc. He would have ignored it if he wasn't facing off against the support team that normally follows behind their Heroes. A Support Team that had one specific Xiao Tuzi on the team.

Jin Guangyao was a scarily intelligent young man, one of many bastard sons of the Chieftain, Jin Guangshan. Heishuang could care less of his daddy issues, having rescued a couple of the Chieftain's bastards and found them good homes, some coming to work for him. Most of the Chieftain's bastards are content to live their lives away from his manipulations and machinations. Jing Guangyao wasn't one who wanted such a quiet life. No, he tried being a Civil Servant and Aide to his father, but was dismissed when he tried to claim he was to succeed his father instead of his half brother. This got him kicked out of the Council. He tried to be a Hero, but he lacked power and to be a Hero you needed to be a Hybrid at the very least or a Creature at the most and even then you needed a certain level of power. You wouldn't send a bunch of Wood Nymphs to fight fires or send Fire Elementals to explore ancient underwater cities and ruins. The point is, if you didn't have a certain skill set, affinity or even a useful creature, you could not be a Hero. and as Siamese Cat Hybrid, Jin Guangyao was not qualified and he refused to be a Support Aide. And as it turns out, he likes killing too much to be an Anti-Hero, who do in fact kill, but they also try not to always kill or severely maim their targets and the people they are saving. So it wasn't long before he became a dangerous Villain.

There was a very slim chance of possibly collaberating with the disgraced bastard, but then he went and attacked the Support Team with his sweet Xiao Tuzi was a part of.

That.

Was.

Unforgiveable.

Heishuang didn't hesitate to change his forms and pull on his mask before he joined the fray. He saw several Heroes arriving and more Support Teams trying to rescue both colleagues and civilians from the rubble. He quickly used one of his powers and began to lift heavy debris and moving it away so he could get those trapped out of the way. He did this while searching for his sweet little Bunny Hybrid, but as the battle raged on and time wore on he was growing heavily concerned until he noticed the scent of hurt and scared prey coming from where the battle was on going. He cursed and hurried over and began to dig though the rubble, trying not to draw too much attention to himself as he worked. And then he found him, bloody, on the verge of blacking out and curled up in his animal form. He quickly rescued his bunny and hurried away to get him treatment, but that's when Jin Guangyao fled and his own precsence was finally noticed. And well between some quips, a few threats and some knockout gas, he woke up here. Now don't get him wrong, he's severely annoyed, but it's tolerable to see his bunny.

"Hello again, Heishuang... my sister and I made rosehip tea and I made candied flowers!" Dr. Wei's voice brings him back to the present and out of his meditative state. He hums in acknowledgement and watches the bunny quickly set up his area again, carefully pour the tea and opened a new tin where the heavenly scent of flowers and sugar wafted to tickle the back of his throat as he flicked his tongue out to get a better taste of the scent. "I hope this will be a good apology, the Council's getting very... pushy... And if you don't give them what they want... they will... then you are going to be locked away somewhere unpleasant."

"Mn." Heishuang hums, gladly accepting one of the sugary treats. "What can they do to me?"

"..." Dr. Wei looks down and fiddles with a candied rose petal before he eats it. "They will allow Madam Yu to... to take off the kiddy gloves as it were..." He murmurs softly.

"So they will stoop so low as to use torture? And I'm the villain..." Heishuang huffs softly. "I am... pleased you are concerned with my safety..."

"Well... well you saved me didn't you? During the fight, you found me and were getting me to safety... why?"

"Let's say I would be very upset if my favorite maid was killed or horrifically injured..." He smirks, but then frowns. "Though I am greatly displeased that you are still working even though you are clearly injured..."

"Ah... well, it wasn't as bad as it looked!" he lies, laughing a bit too tightly to be natural.

"Well... You voiced a curiousness about my powers correct? Well... allow me to show you one of them..."

Chapter Text

It was chaos within the Jinse Diyu Zhi Men, the most secure Prison for Villains that was built and run by Chieftain Jin Guangshan. No one knows what the hell happened. One moment things were operating as normal, the upper levels where the Heroes trained, some living there, or where the agencies that worked with and for the heroes operated from while the lower levels, the bones hidden underground, housed the prison cells for the villains.

The deeper underground the more dangerous the villain, the place was secured with the finest tech and magic to keep the villains locked within imprisoned for an extremely long time, if not permanently. But now the whole building was shaking and in key locations, was collapsing. The main security force quickly got Jin Guangshan to safety and secured in his safety bunker while the heroes rushed to towards the ares being affected. Blood Fang was busy holding an archway open as the Support teams rushed to get injured and or unconscious person El out of the danger zone, among them his little brother who had been visiting with his best friend.

Jin Guangshan's son, Jin Zixuan was directing security and support teams even as he unfurled golden feather like lights from his back and sent them flying to secure walls and to guide some of the teams. It earned him the unfortunate name of Peacock from his brother in-laws, but there was no doubt that the power was useful, especially right now. Several other Heroes rushed to where those with the strength to hold literal metric tons with little to no issue kept most of the collapsing floors and ceilings in place while those who could use some kind of kinetic energy or magic of some kind cleared paths and helped get the injured out without risking too much more injury. Healers were called in and it was just chaos, controlled, but chaotic never the less.

Yu Ziyuan got her husband out of the way, thankful her pregnant daughter was at home and well away from danger. She cursed as she checked with her two assistants, who were manning the security room. They were trying to pinpoint where the epicenter was, but with the way the building was shaking, it wasn't some freak earthquake or something, but it seemed to be well orchestrated explosions that were being somehow systematically triggered. But no matter what they did to scan for the 'bombs,' they weren't finding anything.

"What the fuck is going on!?" She cursed as she checked for herself the scanners and nothing was appearing. "Are we under attack!?"

"It's hard to tell, ma'am! Some of the explosions seem to be coming in from outside, which is impossible since the walls and barriers make that impossible. But at the same time some are coming from inside as well!"

"Wei Wu-- wait, where the hell is that fucking brat!?" She demands when she notices the central desk which was much more high tech and secured than the others was empty, the brilliant red and baby pink chair was empty of the Bunny hybrid.

"He was doing the last eval with Heishuang before the attacks began-- shit!! Black Wing get to sector 12 and mitigate the damage!! If those floors take another hit, we risk Ruohan getting out as well as Heishuang!!"

"Fuck!! Could those damned Wen Dogs be trying to get their master out!?"

"We don't know!! Stop yelling at us and go be useful!! Dr. Wei is very likely trapped down in sector 12!! We need him if we want to get this under control and prevent any escapes!!" Snapped one of the other techs, glaring at the woman, their 4pairs of arms working quickly at their station, the second biggest in the room due to their mutation. The spider hybrid could careless for the Violet Spider, who didn't even have a spider mutation of any kind and was only called that due to her purple colored whips.

Yu Ziyuan snarls, about to give the freak a piece of her mind, but then another explosion rocks the whole building and suddenly gives an ominous groan and then as if in a literal domino effect, the building comes down. It is strange because as everything collapses, the areas with heavy people concentration do not collapse but said people are now trapped with little hope to get out...

Meanwhile, Heishuang calmly stood up from his chair, the chains falling uselessly around him as he tattered remains of the straight jacket flutter to the floor. The room was mostly intact, minus where the doors were not blasted open. The Bunny hybrid was collapsed on the floor, silver eyes wide with both fear and awe as a long serpentine tail lashed behind the super villain before it shot out and grabbed him up tightly. He squeaks in fright, but is too late to move as Heishuang calmly moves to where the tin lay on the floor and picks it up, the bunny shaped tea pot, however was a casualty of this small demonstration.

"You need not fear me..." He says softly pulling the bunny close and with deadly sharp claws, gently caressed his cheek. "The reason I do anything.... Is for you... Tell me, Xiao Tuzi, who protects you when the ones hurting you are the Heroes?"

Chapter Text

Snippet:

The world slowly swam into focus, his body felt like one giant bruise, his bones felt like jelly and his senses felt like they were bubble wrapped and padded with thick balls of cotton. It was a bad sign, had someone followed him home!? Had they figured out his secret and kidnapped him!? Oh, what about his bunnies, where they hurt!? Or worse--

"A'Yu!!" He bolts up, looking frantically for his younger cousin, his near identical twin for that matter.

His vision warped between grey and black for a second, threatening to go out completely as he will likely faint again, but he needed to make sure a'Yu was fine!

"Xian-ge?" A voice weakly moans and Wei Ying is both relieved and horrified. He crawls as best as his weak body will allow and pulls the younger boy into his chest, holding him tightly. "I hurt...  I dun feel good..."

"Shh, it's okay, I will protect you--"

They both jolt at the sound of two large and heavy doors being thrown open and piercing sunlight stabbing them in the eyes. Wei Ying reacts on instinct, flicking two fingers into the air, a whisper of a spell and suddenly they are encased in a bubble of gentle rose light. Mo Xuanyu startles back to his senses and looks around frightened. They are surrounded by people in white robes, a cult? He looks towards the door and gasps seeing some one dressed in golden fancy robes, striding forward before they spoke.

"Finally, the Savior is here!" He cries out.

Wei Ying is too weak right now to maintain his barrier and falters, collapsing into a tired heap as the barrier falls too. He feels a'Yu grabs his shoulder, scared. He knows that Wei Ying suffers from nosebleeds if he depletes his magic or uses something too strong with a weakened body, but they have very few choices. They had to be careful, they had to stay hidden. Wei Ying was older by two years and took responsibility for him at the age of 13 and Mo Xuanyu was 11, his mother having just recently died at that time. His aunt, his mother's older sister wanted nothing to do with him, had always been abusive towards him and his mother. She had been in the middle of beating him right there in the funeral parlor when his cousin appeared, looking half harassed and infuriated. He doesn't remember much after that, his world tunneling in on only Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian. They had the same long raven black hair and silver eyes, but where his cousins reflected moonlight, Mo Xuanyu's reflected the grey dawn, not fully grey and not yet blue either. He wondered if they had been twins. The next moment, Mo Xuanyu found himself packing what meager belongings he had and leaving with Wuxian, who smiled brightly at him, even if his cheeks were pale and a trickle of blood started to dribble from his nose. He remembers the warm hug, safe and gentle like his mother's had been, welcoming him home and promising that no matter what, Wuxian would protect him.

Wei Wuxian had explained in the following years between schooling and part time jobs for both of them, any odd jobs they can help with in the neighborhood, that certain members of their family were gifted with power, but had to keep it hidden because not everyone takes the idea of real life witches being a thing well, others try to capture them for their own greedy purposes, while few genuinely need their help. There was also the fact they were both born intersexed, while mostly male in appearance, they do have vaginas and functioning wombs, their breasts will swell during heats and with pregnancy, but overall one wouldn't realize they were what many would call Omegas, mocking the rather popular trend right now hitting the entertainment world called Omegaverse. Wei Ying and Mo Xuanyu didn't allow the term to hurt them, in fact they embraced it. Since it was the two of them, they quickly learned housework skills and other 'womanly' arts. Mo Xuanyu also learned his cousin has a tongue and stomach that can make even a Volcano envious for how much heat he can handle, but also that Wei Ying can in fact cook, but often chooses to cook poorly to throw people off their scent as it were. They do have a Estrus cycles, but unlike with girls who get their periods, they go a week into what can only be crudely named Heat. The discreet doctor they see, or rather saw, told them to be very careful. Unlike with girls who are built for childbirth and the like, if they go too long without finding a partner to 'take the edge off' they will die from Estrus Poisoning. The doctor gave them specialized medicine to help hide the symptoms of their Estrus cycles, but now that they are here, wherever here is, Mo Xuanyu wonders if they will survive?

He startles out of his spiraling thoughts at the Prince, because clearly he has to be one, drops to his knees before them and gently takes Mo Xuanyu's hand.

"Your eminence, I am Prince Jin Zixuan of Lanling Jin, son of the King, Jin Guangshan. I welcome you to our world and request your aid in saving us..."

Mo Xuanyu faints then...

Wei Ying is furious, but unable to do anything about it. He had awoken in a rather comfortable bed, the most luxurious thing he's ever felt in his whole life really. He was in a strange room, with a strange bed and two familiar little bunnies on his chest. He had been so worried about what happened to Taozi and Yingtao, it would have killed both him and a'Yu if their precious bunnies had been left alone to die of starvation and loneliness. But what worried him now was that he hasn't seen a'Yu and whenever he tried to ask to see him or just go find him, he was blocked or gently rebuffed. A'Yu doesn't handle strangers very well and is painfully shy, he gets nervous and then his klutzy nature kicks in full force. It took Wei Ying two years to get his little cousin comfortable with him, assuring him that Wei Ying wasn't going to suddenly throw him away, wasn't going to abandon him and that no, he wasn't mad about constantly having to clean up after a'Yu because he keeps having accidents or dropping things. Two long years of gentle words, cuddle sessions and showing him that Wei Ying will not abandon him. Wei Ying was orphaned at a much younger age than Mo Xuanyu had been, Wei Ying had grown up mostly on the streets of a small backwater town until he was caught stealing stale bread from a bakery's garbage and sent into the system. He's been picked up by various families, but as they came to realize just what they let into their homes, he was quickly sent back or kicked right back out onto the street where he would later be picked up and brought back into the system. It was vicious cycle. Wei Ying knows what it is like to be wary, to be scared, to cling to the one stable piece of sanity in a sea of instability and insanity, hoping that someone will finally notice, will finally offer their hand and pull them to safety. No one did that for Wei Ying, but he made sure to do it for a'Yu.

Which is why he is furious! Who the hell do these people think they keeping him from his cousin, but he cannot risk his health right now, he's still very weak and tired. From what he understood before he had passed out, these people had preformed a summoning when a Savior had not been born in the last three centuries and the dangers of Emo Zhi Wu had been increasing all over their world. It got to a point where they had to pull all the Elders of their kingdoms, there were several kingdoms, but the Jins held the Emperor's Crown to rule over the others for now, who poured their collective knowledge into summoning a Savior. So at least Wei Ying magic was a thing here, but he's worried what type of magic they used and if his would be accepted. Mo Xuanyu was adept at certain elements of magic, not the full range like Wei Ying was, but that's fine, his only concern is making sure a'Yu is safe and protected. And since they were pulled here without anything but the clothes on their backs and their bunnies, whom they had been cuddling after getting home from cram school and working overtime, respectively, they didn't have their meds and will have to go through their Estrus cycles.  The doctor said it would take maybe 3 years after they stopped taking the medicine for the first signs of Estrus Poisoning to be noticed. Wei Ying needs to find a'Yu a suitable husband by then... an 'Alpha' as it were.

"Wei-Bixia." someone calls as they knock on his bedroom door. Wei Ying sighs and sits up, calling them to enter.

It is Luo Qingyang, or Mianmian, as he's been allowed to call her since she's been assigned to him for the last 2 months. They got along well once he pestered her to find her limits and to test her genuinity with him. She as a very pretty young lady, a slender and shapely frame, with decent bust and a flattering backside. Add in her pretty face and calm demeanor, she would make an ideal wife. However, her pretty looks hid a sharp tongue and a vicious bite when provoked and he enjoyed it.

"Hello Mianmian... any word?" He asks hopeful.

"Mhmm..." She shakes her head sadly as she sets down the tea she brought in, carefully picking leaves and flowers to steep into yet another fragrant and flavorful cup of tea.

Wei Ying sighs, rubbing Taozi's head, worried. Taozi was a'Yu's bunny and he's worried that she will become even more depressed since they haven't seen him in so long. He doesn't understand what their problem is with him, but this is beyond unforgivable! He takes a breath when he senses a few spirits starting to react to his rage. He needs to breathe or risk danger to not only himself but to a'Yu.

"This is ridiculous!" He huffs and carefully sets Taozi down on the floor, where she hops over to Yingtao, nudging her big sister, who happily starts to groom her hears, fussing away at the slightly smaller bunny not unlike how Wei Ying always fussed over a'Yu. He really hopes these people are letting him wear feminine clothes and makeup. A'Yu felt more comfortable, more graceful dressing as a woman, but society was cruel to them. Hell, Wei Ying feels better dressed up in a pretty dress, some light makeup and killer heels, however he needed to wear a suit for work. What had a'Yu been wearing again? Oh right, he had managed to slip into the female uniform that Wei Ying had sew together for him. Is that why they are keeping him from a'Yu, because they think he is a woman? This was both good and bad, good because a'Yu will be more settled in feminine attire, but bad because Wei Ying isn't there.

"Why are you so insistent on seeing Mo-Gexia?"

"A'Yu is my cousin. He's the only family I have left... A'Yu doesn't do well with strangers and will be a worried mess. A'Yu gets nervous and when that happens, a'Yu's as graceful as new born colt." He huffs.

 "Oh!" She blinks shocked. "Many were wondering about your 'unhealthy' obsession with Mo-Gexia, but that makes sense... You're not lying to me are you?" She narrows her eyes in warning and Wei Ying sits up, stares her right in the face.

"Why would I lie when we could pass for twins?" He deadpans. "Unless twins aren't a thing here..." He worries next.

"Twins? Oh like the Twin Jades of Gusu! They are a pair of brothers who are a few years apart, but they look so much a like and are often so in sync with one another, they are called twins!" She blinks and smiles. "Wow, twins, either true twins or people much like you and Mo-Gexia and the Jade Twins, are extremely rare in our world. Many consider it a blessing to be gifted with twins."

"I see... But that still doesn't explain why I'm forbidden to see my own, or to find out what's happening with a'Yu... I get that you need help with the Emo Zhi Wu, but you're putting way too much pressure on a'Yu...."

"Why do you call Mo-Gexia, 'a'Yu?' I've never heard that before..." She muses, curious.

"Oh, it's something our people do, it's extremely rare to hear it in modern times, but our family is a bit strange in how utterly traditional we are. You see in our world's past, a given name is a single sound, like mine: Ying. See? One sound, but that sounds weird for some reason so we normally have two sounds or more in our names. Hence my other name, Wuxian. Wu and Xian." He breaks his name up for her as she blinks. "Strangers and relatives who are not close in terms of familial bonds, would call me Wei Wuxian or simply Wuxian. However, close family will call me a'Xian, certain names and sounds will have 'ah' added before the name or part of the name, while others will have 'er' added to the back of their name. My mother, what few memories I have left of her would always call me Ying'er, or YingYing, my birthname twice. These are called prefixes, or honorifics that one attaches to make distinctions. In fact how you address me and a'Yu is more of an honorific, something fitting social standing, verse a prefix, which denotates familiarity. Make sense?" He asks.

"I'm... a bit overwhelmed, but I think I get it. My nickname something similar to what your mother called you, Mianmian." She points out. "We mostly call each other by last name or by rank, very rarely by given names, unless we have permission to be so familiar." She points out. "So you call Mo-Gexia, a'Yu because Yu is a part of his name and the ah at the start indicates your close connetion?"

"Yes, we also have Ge or gege, for brother, usually someone the same age or older than you. Jie or Jiejie for a sister, again same age or older than you. Then there is Di or didi, for a younger brother and Mei or meimie for a younger sister. So since you and I are around the same age, though I think I'm older by at least a year, I can call you Jiejie or Yang-Jie, or Qing-jie, Mian-jie sounds weird, so if I use Mian, it will be Mianmian." He smiles.

"Oh, that's... that's very cute!" She gushes, her cheeks flushed.

"Heh, I don't really do formality, was never raised to be proper, so it feels weird to be using flowery words, but I understand we're in a royal court so it's to be expected, but please if you can just call me Wuxian or a'Xian?" He hopes she will.

"I'm sorry, I cannot. I'm a servant and even then as a Summoned being, even if accidental, you're automatically much higher on the status pole than I am and it will be seen as extremely improper. I could be labeled a seductress and thrown in jail or even executed if I dared to get familiar with one such as yourself." She bows her head, deeply.

Wei Ying grimaces, as much as formality chafes him, he will not risk his new friend's livelihood or life just to have some semblance of normalcy. He shakes his head and enjoys the tea she made, this one was by far his favorite, cherry blossoms with a hint of jasmine and a low curl of black tea! He purrs in delight at the taste and she hides a pleased smile behind her sleeve, but Wei Ying catches the faint highlight of blush on her cheeks. Once he's done with his tea and snack, Wei Ying decides that if he's not allowed to see his cousin, he's at least going to get out of dang room, because he's bored and needs to do something before he gives into his boredom and does something crazy, like converting all the furniture into living animals and causing a stampede just to frazzle the stuffy peacocks parading around as humans. Hmm.. NO! Back Wei Ying!

"Mianmian, I'm gonna go out for a walk in the gardens." He tells her, after he fashions a few bits of leather and pretty ribbons into makeshift harnesses for the girls, who perk up and eagerly paw at him, knowing what the harness means for them.

"Oh, I will get a protection detail read--"

"No need, I'm going to be in the gardens, I'm certain with the sheer amount of gold this place is lined with, it's more than adequately protected. " He cuts her off softly.

"Very well, if you're certain you're safe... Please enjoy your walk." She bows and cleans up the tea and snack plates as Wei Ying nods and heads out of his room, asking a guard posted there for the nearest door to the garden. The guard points it out, blinking seeing the young man leading the two bunnies on their makeshift harnesses, the two black fluff balls hopping eagerly ahead of him.

How strange...

~*~*~

Wei Ying strolled along the garden paths, admiring their beauty, but also noting the similarities to home they have. He allows the girls to nibble away on the grass and do their business, he had asked for a few extra sheets to act as potty pads for the girls since he'd been afraid to let someone take them out. Just in case someone mistook them for food and killed them. He'd also been restricted to his room until last week when his color finally improved, but he still felt weak and dizzy. He's certain his magic protected both himself and a'Yu as they were being transported here, otherwise he would not be this weak and sore. Mianmian had told him that the Savior had been in a similar condition, but had been let out of his room the month before. And that was all he heard about his cousin. After that everything became hushhush and peoples lips were sealed tighter than a jar of pickles. Wei Ying cannot just grab them and tap their heads on the edge of a counter to get them to open up, however. But that would help solve some of his frustration of the situation. He's really pissed at the Prince though. How he so rudely ignored Wei Ying, how he took away a'Yu...

Wei Ying blinks as he spots a gate, left a smidge open and then he gasps seeing familiar flowers and hurries into area. He kneels down by the little plot of gentians and leans down to sniff at them lightly. They were beautiful and it felt like he was home, where he and a'Yu would have beautiful bundles of spider lilies and gentians tied along the walls of the small apartment they had, on their porch had  been a very tiny and poor replica of a lotus pond that was only big enough for one tiny lotus that had quickly died. However it was the effort that a'Yu had put into it that made him smile and keep it. It had been a birthday present. Wei Ying slowly opens up teary eyes and wishes that he can see a'Yu again. He startles something terrible when someone offers him a hankerchief.

"Eek!?" He jumps up and away, Taozi and Yingtao bolting under a thick bush, their leads being the only indicators of where they had hidden themselves.

"Ah, forgive me..." the short young man says, his smile kind and sweet, dimples lending him even more charm. He's dressed in the Jin Style, but his clothes fall more to creams and honey rather than the heavy golden robes he's seen others wearing. "I didn't mean to startle you. I noticed you here and then you started crying... I only meant to offer you this..."

"No, no! I'm sorry! You startled me is all... and I'm fine, just... I just miss home..." He admits. Sure their apartment wasn't overly big, their neighbors were loud and noisy, but it was home, it was safe... And now they are here and not together. Wei Ying shakes his head hard, great he's already turning into a hormonal and emotional mess. This isn't good. He needs to know how a'Yu's doing, check him over. if Wei Ying's already starting to get emotional and hormonal, his Estrus cycle will be coming in about another month or less. "Thank you though... I hope I'm not intruding on a private estate. I was walking with my bunnies-- ah! Oh there you girls are... Taozi, Yingtao, it's okay, you can come out now..." He coaxes them out, grabbing their leads and they slowly hope out, noses twitching more than normal, still scared it seems. Soon he has them in his arms and holds them to his chest as he faces the other man. "Again, I'm sorry..."

"Oh, no! No worries!" The shorter male waves off, looking mildly panicked. "AH! Where are my manners! I'm Meng Yao, though I've recently been recognized by my father, so I should say my name is Jin Guangyao." He introduces himself and Wei Ying notes the barely seen grimace.

"Wow, pretentious much? Oh shoot, that came out wrong!! I meant-- I'm assuming your father gave you that name?" Wei Ying is panicking because he saw how the other stiffened, he needs to fix this and fast or he might make an enemy here and he cannot afford that, not without guarantying that a'Yu will be safe and live a fully happy life, first! "I mean, you grimaced when you said 'Jin Guangyao' and if how from what've seen and heard so far is correct: Your name means Golden Bright Jade. Very pretentious as if Gold is superior to Jade. However Meng Yao means Eldest Brother for Meng and Yao means Jade. And you said your birth name with such warmth... I'm assuming Meng is your mother's family name? Ah- no, nevermind! I'm sorry, please forgive me, I'm talking no--"

He is startled by Meng Yao's giggling and then the giggles grow into a deep belly laugh, the young man double over, holding his belly in laughter. It takes him a minute to calm down and when he does, he wipes at his own eyes, clearing away the tears and he gives a bright, mischievious smile and Wei Ying cannot help he looks better this way.

"Oh, I needed that! I've never heard of names having meanings before... I'm going to assume you're one of the two people who were summoned here?"

"Ah, yes, I am Wei Ying, curtesy name Wuxian, This one is pleased to meet Meng Yao." He gives a proper bow, which he mentally curses himself for. He told Mianmian he's not one for formalities, but Witch Society was very strict about propriety and he's been teaching a'Yu all the intricacies.

"Ah, no! Do not bow to this lowly one!" Meng Yao panics, flailing his hands not sure if he's allowed to touch or not.

"Huh? Oh, no!! I'm greeting you as how my people do it! I'm sorry-- ah, this is a mess... " Wei Ying plops gracelessly, and yet still making it seem graceful, to the floor and settles the girls on his lap, both calm and now content as he pets them. Meng Yao slowly kneels down beside him still panicked and yet curious. "I literally just asked Mianmian to not be so formal with me and then I go and basically out myself as having some kind of manners... Ugh... Stupid Wuxian..." He grumps at himself.

"You bow to greet one another?" Meng Yao asks, blinking. "Only those of lower status bow to their superiors, if the superior likes them or respects them enough, they will nod back in acknowledgement."

"Whoa... Okay, while I'm seeing a lot of similarities between your world and my old one... I'm also noticing the glaring differences too... But yes. We bow to greet each other. sometimes one bows lower than the other based off of social standing and monetary standing. Like if I were to bow to the king, He would only need to bow his head slightly while I would have to bow perpendicular to the floor since I refuse to Kowtow to someone who is not a respected elder in my books."

"Cow toe?" Meng Yao blinks.

"No, kowtow... Here, let me show you." He carefully sets the girls off to the side and then adjusts himself quickly, but gracefully onto his knees, keeping his legs firmly pressed together and delicately laying his hands on the floor before him and bowing until his forehead just rests on the back of his finger tips. He holds the position for a few seconds and then sits up. "That is how a woman kowtows, men are bit more wider in stance and often lay their head on the ground." Wei Ying explains. "Normally one would use this bow for those of very high standing, namely a well respected elder or royalty. However, so far the royals have not left me a good impression and I refuse to show them that level of respect. However the bow I gave you is for those of equal standing."

"Oh, no!! We're not equal--"

"Your father's the King correct? Doesn't that make you a prince?" Wei Ying cuts in softly, stopping the flailing robes and smiling softly at the soft cotton verses the heavy blend of gold and satin, what he wouldn't give for good proper silk. "If what Mianmian explained to me is correct, we would be on similar footing, though I believe as someone who was summoned, I stand more closer to the King's level than a prince who is just one bracket or two down form me?" He muses looking off into the middle distance trying to think.

"You're right... but you see... my mother was the disgraced daughter of a nobleman, sold to a brothel... I'm the son of a prostitute." Meng Yao says softly, clenching his fists. "Everyone always points it out..."

"So?" Wei Ying asks, shocking him. "I've grown up on the streets where people pretended to not see me and those who did, either wanted to hurt me, use me or capture me to sell me off to some sick pervert. Very few people saw me as what I was, an orphan who needed a home, food and love. I was eventually rescued form the streets, but the homes they put me in treated me badly, I ended up running away from most of them, others threw me out when they couldn't handle me. I got word when I was about 13 years old that my aunt died and I went to her funeral just to find my other aunt beating my cousin, right there, in front of the whole funeral guests and no one said or did a thing to help him. I took him away that day and have lived my life for the both of us. I've been called a whore, a slut. I've been called far worse things. So I ask again, what does it matter what your mother does for a living? As you can clearly see, I'm gutter trash where I'm from and I never let it bother me because I have something worth living for... Even if I can't get to them right now..." He sighs.

"You- you're not bothered? By my status as a bastard and the son of a prostitute?"

"Oh please, my mom's name has been dragged through the mud so often, apparently people knew who my mother was and always talked shit about her. There were a few who knew my dad and always called him a servant and a slave, as if those things weren't to be curses. My father was a silk farmer who worked for a childhood friend of his. After he met my mom, they would travel around. Eventually they had me and I really wish I still had those memories. I just remember this one memory. Mom and I were riding on a horse's back, dad was leading the horse and we were laughing at a joke my mom made. It was sunny and it was forested... It's the only memory I have left of them and I want to keep it always. So what if others talk trash, I have one pristine memory of being loved and happy. What about you?"

".... I.... I do. My mother, she passed away a few years ago, as a talented musician. I remember being about 3 or 4, I had crawled onto her lap as she was practicing the guzheng. I was so fascinated by her delicate hands plucking the most beautiful melodies from it. She stopped and took my tiny hands and helped me pluck a simple melody. I remember being so proud of myself. She praised me so much, calling me a 'musical genius.' It's my happiest memory. Just us and music."

"Good, keep that memory always. So what if the world spits on you, kicks you down and breaks your, as long as that one memory, that one moment of utter love and happiness remains, you can never fall. My mother told me: It's not others do for you that matters, it's what you do for others. Live life with no regrets and always smile, even when it hurts. Because if you smile, others will smile too." Wei Ying smiles softly, rubbing at Yingyao's back.

"She was a wise woman... Ah! It's getting late! By the way what were you doing here?" Meng Yao asks as they get up.

"I was walking the gardens since I'm not allowed to see a'Yu... I saw the gate was a bit open and noticed these flowers. They are very similar to the ones back home. I couldn't help myself and came to smell them. Though some of them will not last long, these here, their river flowers. They need to be in mud and plenty of water..." He points at the flowers to his left.

"Really? Can you show me?"

"Sure... Hmmm... Oh! Over there!" He hurries over to a small bond, it's about knee deep and the bottom is a nice muddy texture from the looks of things. he quickly strips off his boots and rolls his pantlegs up and ties the ends of his robe around his hips while grabbing an extra bit of ribbon to skillfully tie back his billowing robe sleeves. He digs around in the mud, checking it and smiles brightly. "Perfect! I will have to see if there is another one for lotuses..."

"Lotuses? What are those?"

"You don't know about lotus flowers?" Wei Ying asks, shocked. At Meng Yao's head shake, Wei Ying worries that there might not be lotuses in this world which would mean no lotus tea or wine, or roasted seeds or cakes! So many comfort foods gone and never to be again! However he shakes his head of the despair and focuses on the task at hand. He moves the flowers that need the silt rich mud to grow and starts to carefully transfer them from the planter boxes to the muddy pond. He arranges them so complementing flowers can socialize, while making sure they are all well rooted and will grow in abundance. He gasps as he sees Spider Lilies and carefully touches one, smiling softly. "Oh thank goodness, you have Spider Lilies... too bad there aren't lotuses, Spider Lilies and Lotuses love chatting together...."

He carefully plants them along the bank and smiles softly at them. Meng Yao is amazed at how quickly he worked and the stunning visual of the flowers. It's a good thing they didn't get rid of this muddy patch because now it had a use!

"If Wei-Bixia would like, he can visit any time. I would love to learn more about how you did this and how best to care for the others as well." Meng Yao invites, eager and pleased. Perhaps, he made a true friend in this stranger from another world.

"Sure! It'll help keep my mind off of a'Yu... I really hope they are treating my cousin well..." Wei Ying sighs, looking down and worried. "Ah, you never answered me about this place. Is this a private garden?"

"Oh, no! It's were we study plants and herbs and use them to make tonics, potions and poultices to help the sick and injured, especially the various armies who are doing their best to try and fight back the Emo Zhi Wu."

"Oh thank heavens!" Wei Ying shouts with delight. "Sure, I will come back and I might be able to lend you a hand! I might not look like it, but I know a few things about making medical supplies from everyday plants!" He grins, but notices how the low the sun is getting. "I should really go. Thank you for your time, a'Yao! I will see you tomorrow... girls, come! I'll race you back to Mianmian! First one there gets head pats--- hey!! That's cheating!!" He shouts running after the bunnies who bolt off at the mention of head pats.

Meng Yao is left watching both confused and amused. He must have stood there long enough for his superior to notice and come out.

"Yao?" His low rick voice startles him.

"Oh, Xichen! You started me!" He pulls his fan out and fans himself in nervousness. "I didn't notice you there..."

"I noticed you standing here from the window, I came to see if you were alright? Did someone bully you again?"

"No! In fact... I think I made a friend today... He helped me solve the issue with some of our plants... look!" He shows him the small bond and Xichen's amazed. "He's one of the two summoned to find the Savior... He's a bit strange, but he's nice. He called me a'Yao... It seems to be a familiar attachment because he kept talking about an a'Yu..."

"A'Yao?" Xichen tries the strange term on his friend's name and smiles, liking the feel and flavor of it. "A'Yao does have a nice feel to it. It's nice... Ah, before I forget, Mingue sent you a letter." He pulls out the pale green envelop to hand over and smiles when Meng Yao's face softens into genuine pleasure. "I will leave you to it, but do not stay out too much later, it is nearly curfew."

"Yes, Xichen. I'm heading in now." He promises as he watches the other leave. Once upon time he had a big crush on him, but Xichen explained that Lans love only once and have a sixth sense that alerts them to who it is that will complete them. Meng Yao was sadly not that person. Xichen however remained at his side as a sort of big brother and a friend, for which Meng Yao was thankful for.

'As long as you hold onto that one moment of happiness and love, you will not fall.' He thinks, smiling at the back of his friend and then down to the letter from his lover. 'Wei-Bixia is oddly very wise.'

Chapter Text

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Yanli sighed as she finished making lotus root soup, thankful that Madam Jin had managed to secure a shipment of lotus roots. Not a big one since Lotus Pier was still under Enemy Occupation, but there were very few Lotus ponds and lakes outside of Yunmeng that are independently owned. While she would have wished for more meat in the last shipment, so she could have added some pork ribs to the soup, she made due. The only one who really complain were the surviving Jiang Disciples and her brother. Surprisingly, her a'Xian wasn't one of them. But then again they just found him again recently and with his new form of cultivation, she doesn't think he's been feeling all that well lately.

He has been missing for three months and when she finally got to see him, he was practically skin and bones in her arms. He was always skinny, a result of his time on the streets causing to have eating disorders where some times he practically starves himself, or her mother forbade him from eating as a 'punishment' for once more 'upstaging' a'Cheng. Always after those episodes, he ends up over eating too fast and always throws up. Or he will eat until bursting and then purposely induce vomiting. She had caught him a few times and did her best to sooth him through those episodes. There wasn't much information on them or how best to "treat" them so she always adapted, adjusted and did her best to make sure her a'Xian was well cared for.

Satisfied that she managed to make enough for the whole camp, she began to issue orders to the kitchen staff and servants here at the war camp. The three largest pots with the herbs she read helped reduce mania and stress, went to the Nies, the three standard pots with the lotus root and tofu was for the Lans, to give them a warning that it has more flavor than they are use to and while the mildest of the pots, might be a bit spicy still for them. She had had two pots for the Jiang's brought out to them by her helpers and turned to the last pot. This was the one she made for her a'Xian and realized it might be too much for him alone. She had to call over the Jin servants and have the pots meant for the Jins taken out and quickly grabbed a large bowl and began to fill it. A'Song wasn't here to deliver this bowl to her fiance, former, that was still hard to adjust too even now. What with the ghost over mother's reprimanding voice echoing in her head that 'they are still engaged because Madam Yu never agreed to the dissolution of their engagement.'

Call her naive, but a part of her hoped they could work things out. But for now there was a war to fight and the men need food to eat. She would worry about her engagement after the war and perhaps after she was certain that a'Cheng would be able to lead the sect. She will keep doing what she can for a'Xian as well, but she knows not to push him right now. Whatever happened in the three months he has been missing has clearly changed him, haunted him and he looks so fragile. Yanli was a patient woman, growing up in such a toxic household would teach her great patience and some other skills she was both proud of and sick with self loathing for. Especially as with the war bearing such a staggering weight on them all and shedding the veils of innocence and ignorance.

She will need to apologize to her sweet Xianxain after she is sure he will not break, for unintentionally manipulating him all these years and the unintentional contributions to his conditioning. She vows to slowly break him free of it when this is over. She cannot be the blind fool of a girl she was anymore and even if she had the choice wouldn't be. That girl hurt her Xianxain, even without meaning too. That was unforgivable.

Shaking her head, lightly slapping her cheeks, Yanli placed the bowl with a cover on top on a tray to drop off for  Jin Zixuan. He should still be at the war meeting so that should giver her plenty of time to drop it off and leave or at least make it look like she was doing her rounds of checking on the injured if he happens to come by before she can fully leave the Jin part of the camp. Yanli covers a'Xian's portion with a lid and places a talisman she asked him to draw up for her on to prevent anyone noth herself from removing it or tampering with the soup. She has had to toss out precious food because some idiot who was frightened of her a'Xian tried to poison his food. Happy his food was secure for now. She picks up the tray and heads out...

Yanli was just about to enter Jin Zixuan's tent to set the soup down when the flap flicks open and nearly slaps her in the face. However, growing up with rambunctious brothers and rowdy Shidis and even some her shixiongs, she easily back stepped, balancing the bowls of soup and rice and the pot of tea. She breathes a sigh when nothing spilled from the sudden movements and looked up to see Jin Zixuan.

"Ah, I thought you were still in the meeting. I made soup today for the whole camp and I was just dropping this off for yo-- eek!!" She squeaked in shock as the tray was slapped out of her hands some of the hot soup splashing onto her face and chest as the porcelain bowl and pot shattered on the floor. The noise drawing attention.

"How dare you!! I knew you were unremarkable and talentless, but to pretend to have 'cooked' and bring it to me!? What were you hoping to claim credit for someone else's work!? How utterly disgusting! You're shameless like that wild dog you keep!!" Jin Zixuan shouted at her.

Yanli was still in shock over having the tray slapped out of her hands and from the scalding she got, but now her shock tripled in the face of Jin Zixuan's tirade. So shocked was she that she missed the crowd nor when her a'Xian whirled past her shoulder and for the second time, punched Jin Zixuan in the face, sending him to the floor in shock.

"How dare you spout such bullshit!! My Shijie does know how to cook and has been cooking for the camp for months!!" A'Xian's voice is like a thunderclap in the silence. "And is that..." He bent down to life the broken bowl up and his eyes went wide before they turned red and he lunged at Jin Zixuan, but Yanli came back to her senses and grabbed him by the waste. It spoke of how truly ill her brother was because she should not be able to hold a'Xian back like one would hold a toddler having a fit. "That is Shijie's famous Lotus Root soup!! A signature dish of Yunmeng!!"

And Yanli can't help but hug him tighter, defending her even now when he was so weak. He settles when he realized she held him back, but still she could feel him thrumming with the lle resentment. Being a woman, she is naturally Yin in inclined and thus was not as affected as a man would be feeling the roiling waves, no tsunami of resentment relentlessly battering around them.

"A'Song made that soup for me and that lying witch is trying to steal her credit!! But if you're so protective of her, why don't you two just get married and leave me be!! How fitting a lying witch and her mad dog of a demon!!" Jin Zixuan sneers. "It begs to question: are you in love with her? I bet you two even slept together. I have seen you leave her tents at ni--"

There was a deafening sound, the sound of flesh against flesh, not once, not twice, not even three times! But six, 6 resounding slaps and all of them landed by Jiang Yanli who was flushed red with so much rage, her eyes filled with unshed tears as she stands before a stunned Jin Zixuan and the rest of the camp.

"How... Dare... You... You will apologize to a'Xian this instant and you will apologize to me..." She hisses.

"Why should he! Your engagement was called off, he has no obligations to you!" A Jin speaks up and she glares noticing it is the cousin Jin Zixun. "The nerve of you, a woman and a shamed one at that! Trying to trap my cousin in this farce of an engagement --" he yelps as a'Xian lunges, but Yanli holds up her hand in a firm sharp motion and to their shock the Demonic Cultivator not only stopped but seems to grow nervous.

"Sh-Shijie?"

"Xianxain is three, yes? Let Jiejie handle this. Be a good boy and sit right there and do not move. Not even your resentment!" She commands him firmly in a tone that reminds people who her mother was.

Wei Wuxian does as ordered, sitting in a curled up ball, head down and hugging his knees. All the Jiang's quickly adopt a similar position because it is incredibly rare, but when their Shijie got mad, everyone coward. Not even her brother dated to lift his head, him and Wuxian sharing nervous glances because this was gonna get messy.

"Now then allow me to clarify some things. Heir Jin is not the only one trapped by our engagement! I am too! In fact more so than he is!! I was raised and trained to be a lady of the Jin Sect by my own mother. I was never allowed to indulge in childhood fantasies or crushes! I was forbidden from touching romance novels, least I get any 'ill fitting ideals',  such as marrying for love or running away with some below my station. Every thing ate breathed and thought was all catered to you!! Did you seriously not stop and ask yourself how I felt!? My every thought even my dreams are focused on being Lady Jin because that was what both our mothers wanted! I tried to at least get to know you, to befriend you so our eventual marriage would not be like my parents or worse, like yours!!" She shouts out full of indignant fury.

Everyone felt slapped by that. The Lan Jades, who had come forward when they heard of a fight breaking out to try and stop it, were wide eyed. Lan Xichen, a helpless romantic at heart had honestly hoped the young woman the best in trying to salvage her ruined engagement. It was his suggestion to have her moved to the main camp to help provide medical aid and warm means. It might also be due to having heart Wei Wuxian lament that Gusu's food was far inferior to his Shijie's cooking. That even her blandest meals tasted leagues better than the medicinal foods of the Lan Sect. Normally, one would be insulted, but Lan Xichen has been rather curious. He knows Lan Zhan is too, but only because his brother is hopelessly in love with Young Master Wei. However, there was a deep cause for concern with how said young master had vanished and came back from the dead as a Demonic Cultivator.

He was already quietly chewed out by Maiden Jiang when he had poked the proverbial hornet's nest once. He had thought her polite, but furious reprimand had made her beautiful. But right now, in her full fury, she looked like a War Goddess had descended and would take them across the coals. Lan Zhan glanced at his brother and knew... His brother was smitten and by someone who does not fight the Gusu Lan mould. Good. They tune back in as Maiden Jiang finishes her tirade on the unfair treatment she suffered at not only the hands of her own family but by her fiance or former fiance he should say.

"-- And don't you dare ever accuse a'Xian of such inappropriate behavior!!! I have singlehandedly raised myself, a'Cheng, a'Xian and all the Shidis in their age rank because my parents were too busy fighting and arguing over stupid, baseless rumors!!" She snapped her fingers and pointed at one of the few seniors, who quickly stood up and pulled a scroll out, one of the few surviving ones. He unrolled it and they saw it was a wedding portrait of a man who looked very familiar with a woman who had familiar eyes and smile. "This is my Auntie and her husband on their wedding day!! Look at it and I dare you, any of you to ever again utter that my a'Xian is my father's bastard!! If a'Xian was in fact his bastard, at least my father took him in and raised him, unlike your father!!" She snarls out.

That hit harder and cut that much deeper.

"You all called my Auntie a whore because she snubbed your attempts to woo her or bond her to you! Well the only whore I see is your father! And I hope you listen closely, when anyone insults your half siblings as being the child of a whore, they are insulting your father. And last I checked a Servant stands well above a whore. And for your information, Uncle Wei's great grandfather was a Jiang Elder, meaning his Grandfather and Father were Clan Elders as well. Uncle Wei was a cousin to the main branch and a Sect Heir to the Yuelong Wei Clan. Meaning a'Xian is a Sect Heir!!! But no, gossip holds more value than seeking out the truth. Something my own parents failed to do!! And before any of you dare to tell me that my father adored a'Xian; let me ask you: is it adoration to allow your wife to mentally, emotionally and physically abuse a child, fresh from the streets, half dead from starvation and sickness, covered in wounds that are infected and half frostbitten!? Is a'Xian so favored when my parents conditioned him to be reckless when it comes to himself, to see himself as so worthless that he will lunge head first into danger and not care if he lost an eye or limb, or even his own life, because his life means nothing unless it is to protect those he cares for!? And if they were alive right now, do you honestly THINK that my mother would allow a'Xian to live because he is once more out shining her son and doing so with the corrupted path!? I would rather trust a Demonic Cultivator over this discietful vipers out!! So since poor Sect Heir Jin is so trapped by our engagement, then it is fully over. Even if you suddenly realize you were wrong or that you have always loved me; it is too late. Once this war is over, I will not entertain any thoughts of an engagement to you. I will read all the romance novels I was denied, I will have crushes and maybe, just maybe I will find a MAN who will love me for me, not a stupid little boy!! A'Cheng! Get everyone up, we are moving campt to between the Lan and Nie Sects!! a'Xian you will come with me, Jiejie needs her Xianxain cuddles and Young master Lan!!" She whips around to face the Jades of Gusu, startling them to be suddenly in her crosshairs. "You will play whatever music you need to to help settle not only a'Xian's mind and energy but my own as well! And you, go fetch a'Song... She has some explaining to do!! 4th Shidis, there is a pot of soup with a talisman on it. Bring it to the Jade's tent. Move!!" She snaps.

And to all their shock they obey like children scurrying under their mother's wrathful gaze. And within an hour the Jiang camp has been broken down and moved as ordered. Jiang Yanli pulls her brother with her to the Jades tent and after she primly sits and pulls him to rest his head on her lap, the Xiao and guqin slowly beging to play Calm and Clarity. By morning news has spread of what was revealed, new rumors began to run rampant and Yanli would find herself with her own fan club of women who admire her and aspire to be like her, while men and women wish to improve themselves to try and woo her. But that was something for Future Yanli to deal with. Yanli is content to least the music flow through her and her brothers, because Jiang Cheng wasn't gonna leave them alone with the Jades. She will work on talking to 'Cian and finding out what happened to him. And she knows he will tell her because when she gets like this, it is like weathering a monsoon, weeks of unrelenting force. He may be the Yiling Patriarch, but even he cowers in the face of a woman who's been scorned...

Chapter Text

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*Post  Sunshot Campaign*

Yanli kept everyone who had joined the Jiang Sect under close watch and even tighter rules whenever they were interacting with her a'Xian. After the fall of Wen Ruohan, her sweet brother collapsed, if not for Hanguang-Jun being his constant guard and shadow, she fears someone would have killed him or made off with him. Even now, said Second Young Master sat at her brother's bedside, diligently tending to his injuries, playing for him and helping her feed him thin broths and wiping him down so he doesn't get too dirty or smelly until he awakens again. None of the Allies moved camp yet, there as a lot of revelry, but also a lot of bigotry and pigheadedness. She had to remind the lot of idiots once more that it was due to a'Xian's unconventional path and the few Wen Rebels he was able to find that they even survived this war, especially when it semed there was a spy in their ranks BEFORE a'Xian's arrival or the small unit of Wens who came forward and explained in painstaking detail the horrors they've suffered under Wen Ruohan's hands and that not all who remain are actual from Qishan Wen, but form the sects and lands the Qishan Wens took over and absorbed. She had to snap at all of them many times this week, so much so that she had to borrow Zidian and actually whip a few of the idiots, letting them feel a taste of the pain her a'Xian suffered under her mother's unjustifiable fury. Not even Madam Jin, who arrived as soon as word got out that Wen Ruohan had finally fallen, could argue against her or convince her otherwise. Those Wen Rebels were kept within the Jiang and Lan Sect, the only two Sects willing to look beyond their names or the color of their Sect Robes for now. Among them was Dr. Wen Qing, a prodigious doctor who had helped protect her brothers and seemed to hold this dark look of guilt in her face every time she came to check on a'Xian.

"A'Jie..." She looks up from where she had been stirring a big pot of tofu and leek stew, something she had noticed had been quite well liked by the Lans, especially since the shy second young master had very meekly asked her for a second helping, much to the shock of the other Lans and the obvious pleasure of his brother. "The meeting's going to be starting soon..."

"Thank you, a'Cheng." She tells him as she pours a bit into a small dish to taste test and hums in pleasure before she raises the pot to keep warm, but not burn before she covers it and puts another talisman on it. She's taken to doing this for both camps and has unintentionally conditioned the Lans and Jiangs to not accept anything not served from one of those talisman sealed pots or serving platters. Can't really say she feels bad about it, but still it was a bit concerning at her seemingly natural talent at manipulating those around her. "Lunch is ready for after the meeting... Has a'Xian woken up yet?"

"No." He grunts, a pout on his face. "He's still being lazy--"

"Jiang Cheng." Is the sharp sound of his full name, which startles him to look at her with wide eyes. "Wei Wuxian was missing for three months after he left you with his mother's Grandmaster. He was ambushed by Wen Chao and was left for dead... He came back with this fearsome power. A power we've all been taught corrupts and tears even the one wielding it apart, not just in the physical sense, but also mentally. Wuxian's not being lazy and you will do well to remember that. Stop acting like mother before you say or do something irreparable to him and allow the circling vultures to finally get at what they want, Wuxian's power." She says with such a tone that he cannot even muster up a petulant retort because no matter how you look at it, she was right. "Now then, let's go see what the idiot brigade comes up with this time to try and force us to hand over a'Xian or even his weapons. I heard that Grandmaster Lan is here as well."

"Yes and he's furious about Wuxian... He keeps saying some rather unflattering things about both him and his mother."

"I see the rules only apply when it benefits those in power." She scoffs slightly, calmly finishing making sure everything is set and read, changing her outer robe that had been stained with lunch prep for the one she was planning to where for the meeting, but the smell of lunch still clung heavily to her skin and hair, which left many sniffing in her wake as they head out.

"I have to apologize for Uncle." a voice startles them as soon as they step out and find Lan Xichen hovering near the tent entryway. "I was coming to inform you that he wishes to see 'the fool boy' after the meeting and Dr. Wen." He bows in apology. "I've attempted to scold him, but he and the Elders hold power and since I've yet to formally take position as Sect Leader, despite my father's passing..." Here he clenches a fist, not at that his father's death, the man was dead long before now, just a husk really, but at the fact he was still being treated as a foolish child. "If I might have Maiden Jiang's support when facing off with them about what should be done about young master Wei? I fear we will be discussing him once more and all the 'atrocities' he wrought during the war."

"Of course, I will not allow anyone to hurt my brothers, blood related or not. I am assuming that Wangji's sitting with a'Xian's still?"

".... No. Uncle has forbidden Wangji from returning to 'that monster's' side and has a few guards standing around the tent... I believe Wen Popo is sitting with him with the tiny infant she had with her when she and the small Wen Rebels arrived. I think Fourth Uncle Wen is also with her, he's not that young anymore, but he can swing a hoe if anyone tries to harm Young master Wei." He again bows his head, feeling frustrated. He's going to need supporters if he is going to do what he's about to do.

".... And who the hell do they think they are setting up guards in Jiang territory!?" Jiang Cheng explodes once he fully registered what had just been said.

"A'Cheng, Sect Leader Lan will safely escort me to the meeting, be a dear and go ask 7th Shixiong, 4th Shidi, 6th Shidi and 3rd and 4th Shimeis to watch over a'Xian's tent. Feel free to place the talismans that a'Xian showed you up to keep his tent safe. Tell the other Wens if they are not with one of the trusted Jiang or Lan disciples to sit near a'Xian's tent." She tells him with out leaving room for argument, not that he would have offered one. He quickly breaks off to do as told, not trusting anyone near Wei Wuxian while he was so vulnerable. "This one thanks, Sect Leader Lan for warning us."

"Please... do not bow to me, we're the same age, give or take a year or two." He smiles softly. "Maiden Jiang would have done the same had the roles been reversed. And besides, Wangji really likes Young Master Wei, though I don't know if said young master is aware or simply doesn't care--"

"A'Xian's many things, but he's not cruel." She cuts in with that edge that both terrifies him and yet excites him. "He's incredibly bright, but he's very... naive  when it comes to matters of the heart. He might flirt, but that is his way of helping those with low self esteem see themselves better and to butter up those he's going to haggle with or weedle information from. As I stated previously, my mother did a number to his self worth... I doubt he's had time to even think of romance or marriage that is not hand picked by my parents for him, no doubt someone who would help keep him bound to the Jiangs until his eventual death. I do know my a'Xian however, as well as you know your Wangji. My a'Xian hyper fixates on things he truly desires and Wangji is the subject of that hyper fixation, but a'Xian doesn't realize that or why. I would suggest you tell your brother to brace himself for much heartache, but this is an uphill battle he must be absolutely certain he wants to proceed and likely die on." She tells him seriously. "I may not be the best to give love advice, but this is my a'Xian we are talking about and I want him happy and safe and loved. Something he, more than anyone else, deserves."

"... You're correct and forgive me for this, it so most certainly rude and against the rules, but your parents were callous fools and deserved a worse ending than they had gotten." He tells her point blank and she gives him a beatific smile in return.

"Believe me, I hold no grudge... to be honest I resent my parents for how they have always treated each of us, especially a'Xian, treating being allowed the basics that all people are born with the right to as a means to levy a heavy debt onto him and breaking him to fit the mould they made for him. And now with his new power and many watching and circling hoping to snatch him at the first chance, or to put 'the son of a servant' in his place where he belongs despite what I've said... I can only hope that some of the Jiang Elders survived the slaughter and will gladly shut up the fools." She sighs and Lan Xichen gives a soft laugh.

"If Lady Jiang will support this fool in his bid to oust power from the Lan Elders, this fool will gladly aid Lady Jiang in any form she wishes, besides I believe we need to discuss where our brothers will live, the details of their wedding and be ready for any children they adopt--"

"Oh... You didn't know? A'Xian's--"

"Jiang-Guniang." She turns to face Jin Guangshan and his small entourage as they walk up to where she and Lan Xichen were about to enter the meeting tent, no one daring to set foot into the Inferno Palace just yet. She turns and gives a picture perfect bow and a smile that does not reach her eyes. "I hope today's meeting will finally lay any lingering issues to rest, especially about those Wen Dogs you are hiding."

"Those Wens aided us in our battle by offering medical aid and scouting out ambushes. They are all either, elderly, too young to fight, farmers and healers. The only ones who have a core are Dr. Wen, her brother and two  guards who are loyal only to Dr. Wen. The rest are either scattered, dead or have been captured. If they had the man power to overthrow Wen Ruohan, they would have done it long before his machinations got so bad or  reached so far. Many of his undead army were their own families, whom he experimented on and or tortured before killing them. So I will not allow you or anyone else to condemn them for the sins of someone else or allow anyone to blame them for the family name they were unfortunate enough to bare." She says politely, the last bit directed at Sect Leader Nie, who came out of the tent at the slight commotion. Said man grimaced, he's already made an ass of himself and even earned that terrifying glare of the slightly younger woman. If Xichen didn't already have designs on her, he'd have asked her to court. Nies were always attracted to those with strength, be it actual strength or strength of character.

"Let's head in... Is your devil doctor joining us?"

"Yes, I am..." Wen QIng snaps out, startling them with how she came up so quick and quiet, all expect Jiang Yanli, who nods at the other woman, both of them were older sisters and would gladly die for their brothers, commit the most heinous acts for them. They got on like a forest on fire and they have been tag teaming against the idiots.

Wen Qing was both glad and regretting allowing her brother to talk her into gathering their family and instead of going into hiding, offering their help to Wei Wuxian. That if the other Sects saw at least some of the Wens rebelling, they will be less likely to hold all Wens surviving the  war responsible. That Wei Wuxian wouldn't allow it, so they already have an ally in their corner. Only problem now is that their only ally was out of commission, months missing, painfully skinny form starvation, stressed our form the war and an internal war with the resentment filling him. Wen Qing still regrets allowing him to convince her to do the surgery, his pained face, how pale he had been, feeling the glittering little sun he called his core in her hand and placing it into a body less deserving of it. Wen Ning had proven he's something of a capable spy and he brought back news of the war efforts and how Jiang Wanyin had gone to meet up with Wuxian and instead of finding him, went to join the war effort. Wei Wuxian, as they have learned, does not break promises lightly and if it happens, it's always due to an outside influence. They know he promised to wait for Jiang Wanyin, he would have waited even if it killed him. And yet the brat barely waited a day before going to join the war efforts and spared the minimum efforts to find Wei Wuxian. Some would argue that Lan Wangji did the same, but Wen Qing's seen the famous Hanguang-Jun travel from town to town, aiding the people while looking for Wuxian, only abandoning his search when he had to aid in a nearby skirmish and only once he made sure his men were in good hands, did he immediately go back to his relentless search. He didn't have men looking, he went himself. only after the attacks on the Supervisory offices did Jiang Wanyin actually go himself. Offices she gave Wuxian the maps to and who all to target, verse those he should left run away in the ensuing chaos. After all her Office was the first he went for and she had seen what he had become, and even as he killed those loyal to her Uncle, he stared her in her eyes, right into her soul and he promised he will protect her and her family, he would keep it for her part in creating this new monster.

"Wen Bitch!" Nie Mingjue cannot help himself snarling at her. Xichen gives a long suffering sigh and grabs his friend by the back of his robe, picks him up, reminding everyone once again of the Lan's rather infamous superior strength and hauls him inside. Jiang Yanli cannot help her giggles at Sect Leader's shocked face and then muffled cursing as he tried to get free.

"The damn boar." Wen Qing huffs. "Jiang-Guniang."

"Dr. Wen." She bows her head. "Sit with me?"

"Thank you, at least I will have intelligent company this meeting." Wen Qing huffs out and Yanli giggles.

"Well Sect Leader Lan and Heir Lan are both wonderful company, if you don't mind Heir Lan's silence, he's a young man of few words and can be a bit blunt without meaning to."

"I like blunt, I hate beating around bushes." She huffs and Yanli giggles again. "I looked at Wuxian's condition again, he's finally gained color back in his cheeks, which means that he might wake up in the next few days. I will need to examine then, while he can answer me before he passes out again. Once that is done, I will finally be able to tell you if you can finally move him. Though the extended trip to Yunmeng will be out of the question." Wen Qing turns professional as Yanli's good humor vanishes and she listens with full attention, so many others do as well, anything about the Demonic Cultivator was worth listening to.

"Thank you again, Dr. Wen. I'm glad a'Xian was able to rescue you and your people and you were so willing to aid us. We will need to discuss the remaining Wens this meeting, as someone who would be familiar with the victims and innocence caught in the crossfire, I will defer to your judgement on who is in need of protection verse those who will be either imprisoned to work off their crimes or those deemed too dangerous are executed. I believe you should let the Lans and Jiangs have the criminals to work off their crimes. They will help both our Sects in rebuilding since our Sects were hit the heaviest out of the Four remaining Great Sects. Those to be executed should go to the Nies, as much as you claim that Sect Leader Nie is a boar in human skin, he's very fair and will not needlessly drag out their punishments." Yanli said to her as they head inside, the others left gaping or unable to but in because they could see on her finger, Zidian and several were still smarting after they tasted the infamous weapon's bite only once.

"I will take Jiang-Guniang's suggestion into heavy consideration, though that is a fair way of dealing with the remaining few who are loyal to my late Uncle.--"

"You're related to that monster!?" Shouted Sect Leader Yao, even as Jiang Cheng arrived and sat beside his sister. Everyone quickly got settled, ready for the fighting and arguing to be had.

"My father was his older brother. However a hunting 'accident' killed him and my mother later 'went missing' after she openly accused my uncle for not only my father's death, but for tampering with the saber of the late Sect Leader and she had been barely able to save his life. She would have been heart broken to know she only bought him a few more days instead of years like she had originally thought." Wen Qing says and actually kowtows to Sect Leader Nie, who is left shellshocked.

"No, no!! Thank you, Maiden- I mean Dr. Wen! It seems the Nies owe your branch a debt for attempting to save our former Sect Leader's life." Nie Huaisang quickly speaks up, rushing over to gently pull her up. "Please raise your head... You need not lower it. When he died, you were a little girl, no? You couldn't have helped and as you said, your uncle made her 'disappear' so there was little she could have done to further help."

"This one thanks Heir Nie for his kind words." She says and he smiles, fluttering his fan in a nervous manner before he squeaks and runs back to his brother's side and flicks it open with a  deft motion and leans into his ear.

No one can hear what he says and Nie Mingjue, who's face normally expresses his thoughts is a stern mask of annoyance, nothing being betrayed. Not even Jin Guangyao can read him, which makes the shorter man nervous. Nie Mingjue sits up, but says nothing as they get the meeting started proper...

"... Alright on to the final topic: What we are to do about Wei Wuxian and his Wicked Path?" Sect Leader He sighs, like he regrets speaking the moment he brought up the last topic for discussion.

Instantly there are many voices clamouring, most of them speaking of things they have no right to discuss, throwing out accusations and the like. Jiang Yanli holds her brother's arm, forcing him to remain quiet and semi calm. He needs to learn to hold his damned temper if he's going to be a good Sect Leader. He cannot go around shouting or challenging people to duels. She allows this to happen for about 3 minutes before she lets him go and he finally explodes.

"SHUT UP!!!" They all go quiet in shock.

"Shouting is --"

"This is not the fucking Cloud Recess and you are badmouthing my brother!! So kindly shut up Lan-Laoshi!!" Jiang Cheng goes off on Lan Qiren, face red with rage and mild mortification. "I will write a formal apology later, but now that I've got your attention. Wuxian has fought the majority of this War by himself! We didn't fully mobilize until we started getting reports that those Supervisory offices were starting to be attacked and the occupied villages were liberated by a Demonic Army! We owe our victory to Wuxian! Who put not only his health at risk for us, but also his sanity! He's been in a coma since he faced off with Wen Ruohan and his so called 'Yin Iron' and managed to rip his army out of his control, but allowed for Zewu-Jun, Chifeng-Zun and Lianfeng-Jun to take Wen Ruohan out. He may have raised those killed in battle, but to have them help turn the tide of a otherwise losing battle, he then had them lay themselves to rest so they could not rise as true Fierce Corpses and terrorize the towns or camps! He worked day and night to keep protected, the least you can do is at least be thankful!"

"But it is because he can summon leigons of undead to his bidding that makes him so dangerous and that little weapon of his, the one that absorbed the Yin Iron..." Jin Guangshan starts, but before he can wax poetic of the amulet, Jiang Yanli calmly stands up and everyone tenses up, terrified of her begein smile.

"As I have stated previously, the amulet is currently in a safe and secure location and will remain their until a'Xian's awake once more. which as I'm certain you all heard from Dr. Wen, should be soon if the changes she noted are any indication." She says calmly and politely.

"How can you stand there, smiling when that son of a servant is the reason your sect was destroyed in the first place?!" Sect Leader Yao demands.

"..." She snaps to face him and he yelps, looking at her as if she were some terrifying demoness. "Oh? I didn't realize you were bossom buddies with my mother... She to liked to blame things on a'Xian that are beyond his control. They had attacked and burned the Cloud Recesses, we had all gotten the letters and she said that it was because of a'Xian drawing attention at the Archery contest..." She says and everyone can only gape in shock. "The Wens were always going to attack, the defeat they suffered at the Archery Contest just moved their plans up and the ones to plan are Sect Leader Lan, Heir Lan, a'Xian, Heir Jin and a'Cheng, the top five winners. Not a single Wen made it into top 10, never mind the top four prize winning spots. That was the excuse Wen Ruohan used to ban all of us from Night Hunting, claiming we've grown too arrogant and have forgotten that we owe it to the Wen Sect, our 'sun' that we are able to live our lives as freely and comfortably as we do."

They cannot bring themselves to speak up or argue.

"Then he demands we had over 20 hostages, including our Clan Heirs. Mother blamed a'Xian once more, blamed him for getting a'Cheng into this position, but mind you, she told my father that the Wens were planning this from the start and were only looking for an excuse, no matter our thin it was, to finally take action. And while I was not there, I did hear from a'Cheng that the Indotrination was more like a prison camp and if anyone attempted to rebel, their cores were ruthlessly crushed or their clan was the next target. Wen Chao liked to bully an already injured Heir Lan, intimidate Heir Nie and righted to provoke both Heir Jin and a'Cheng. A'Xian did what he was raised to do, he drew the attention onto himself. If the Wens focus on him, exhaust themselves on him, they will leave the others alone. And for the most part it worked. However that 'Night Hunt' they hostages were forced to go on was  to serve as a warning to all sects. Had it not been for a'Xian's recklessness and quick thinking, every single hostage would have been killed by the Xuanwu of slaughter. So you owe your Sects continuation to my a'Xian! Had he been anyone else, they would have allowed some poor girl to be gutted and bleed out to lure out a monster, that has killed entire armies, what were about 100 children going to mean to it?" She demands glaring at them all. "And the attack on Lotus Pier was due to the whore that Wen Chao's shriveled cock was being polished by."

Everyone chokes and sputters, not expecting the carse language nor the insult. Jiang Cheng choked both in shock and on his laughter. Nie Mingjue roared with laughter, his hand slapping his table while many older men blush hotly.

"What? He was highly unremarkable, was barely passable for handsome. Like my a'Xian says, he's big talk and personality were to likely compensate for his small tool. I've found, a'Xian's rarely wrong about such things." She smiles serenely and many older males blush and shrink in their seats, subtle adjusting their robes as if others could see their own underwhelming 'tools.' Yanli huffs and continues to berate and educate the idiots before her. "You all heard the so called rumor that Wen Chao, who's barely poweful enough to fly on a sword, somehow defeated the Xuanwu of Slaughter. No it was done by Sect Heir Lan and a'Xian, both greatly injured, sick with infection and fever. A'Cheng barely got back to them in time to prevent them both from dying due to their fevers and the blood of that foul beast getting into their injuries. Had Sect Heir Lan remained with us just a bit longer, he would have been caught in the Siege of Lotus Pier. He would have witnessed my mother catering to a whore of servant to 'appease' the Wen Sect. Did you know they had over 1000 warriors there? They never planned to allow us to live. If my mother had succeeded in maiming a'Xian it would have been for nothing, Lotus Pier would have still burned and everyone, even a'Xian and a'Cheng would have been killed because Wen Zhuliu was there and if what Young Master Wen had told me is true, he destroyed my mother's core and then my father's before that whore slit my father's throat and my mother, instead of making an effort to get away or at least killing the damned woman, killed herself." She spits out hatefully and they all wince. "Now, imagine if a'Xian never said or did a thing. Do you honestly think my Sect would still not have burned? Do you think we would be here now? No. We would not, we would have all died. I would have been there and either killed or whored out to the Wen Army. So I ask you right now: Who is to blame for my Sect's current state of affairs? The correct answer would be yours." She glares at all of the Sect Leaders.

"How dare--"

"I dare because it's true! You all saw what was happening, we all did! We of the younger generation asked you why we were allowing this, why we were not pushing back. this emboldened the Wens, gave them courage and they took action! It is one thing to do this to their own people, that is for the Wens and their subbranches and smaller Sects to work out, but when they started encroaching on our lands, our people, we let them. So the ones to blame are all of you, the Sect Leaders, who instead of bringing it up at a Conference Discussion or even retaliating, you all chose to turn a blind eye until they grew too bold and here we are now. The only two who do not hold true blame are Sect Leader's Nie, likely wanted to get revenge for his father, but couldn't act without support and Sect Leader Lan, who at the time was Sect Heir and still being coddled by his Sect's Elders." She huffs. "The rest of you and even my parents, should have made an effort to prevent this. Yes, it likely would have still lead to war, but a lot less death!! Now then, I am quite famished and would like to make sure that a'Xian gets his meal on time. A'Cheng walk with me." She doesn't allow them to speak as she hooks arms with her brother, who cannot help his proud smile at his sister once more flawlessly slapping the idiots, metaphorically, with the truth.

He's a bit sore about all the attention on Wuxian, but how could it not be? Jiang Cheng didn't turn to the Wicked path, hell, no one knows he even lost his core and got it restored by the Legendary Immortal herself. And now that she put it into perspective, it really didn't matter if Wuxian did anything or not, the fact that none of the Wens had placed, and that at least four of the top five winners had been at their mercy, they could have and would have attacked their clans and claimed it was because they were 'too arrogant' or 'too defiant.' And Wuxian had only acted like fool to keep Jiang Cheng from doing anything stupid had his temper finally ignited. But like she has constantly reminded everyone ever since the Soup Incident, Wuxian was raised to constantly put himself in the line of danger, to risk himself for others. And it irks him so much, irks him that Wuxian is incapable of keeping his head down because he's not allowed to. It irks that even as a walking shield, he's still so much much stronger and powerful than Jiang Cheng. Even now, with a core so much stronger than his original one, one gift to him by an Immortal, he still felt outclassed by him. How, why?! He shakes his head, he needs to focus on other things than his own self loathing and trying to solve whatever mystery there is between Wuxian's power and his own...

Yanli sat beside a'Xian's side, ignoring Sect Leader Jin, who was discussing all that the Jins can offer to help speed up the recovery of the Jiang Sect if they allow them to hold the Wens, both the captives and the civilians for them, and allow the Jin's healers to look after a'Xian's health. He's being careful to not bring up the Stygian Tiger Amulet, but she knows he's itching too. Madam Jin is fretting off to her right while Dr. Wen sits on the other side of a'Xian with her brother, Wen Qionglin fidgeting subtly between her and Lan Wangji. Lan Xichen and their Uncle were sitting by the entrance of the tent. Wen Qing said that Wei Wuxian would be waking up today and Yanli refused to be away from him until he was awake. Jiang Cheng was outside, half peeking in as he paces. His pacing had irked several so he was now outside. He brought up re-enstating the engagement between her and his son, saying that they should honor his parents last wishes and that she was a filial child.

"Sect Leader Jin, if you had actually joined the war efforts, you would know that your son made it perfectly clear what he thinks of me and that I was entrapping him in the engagement, so I gave him what he so greatly desired. I refuse --No Auntie Zise, I will not reconsider it! He essentially called me a whore to the whole camp and that a'Xian and I were in a sexual relationship!" She cuts the woman off before she can try and fuss about it.

"Well, you are rather close to him... a lowly servant... you can see why one would think that..." She attempts to placate, but also shove the blame onto a'Xian and the glare she was giving him was so much like her mother's and that infuriated Jiang Yanli.

"Auntie Zise, you will change that look off your face this instant or I will have a'Cheng severe all ties with Lanling Jin." she hisses darkly, startling the Sect Leaders of the Jin Sect. "I will tell you like I told your son then, clearly none of the rumors reached your ears: Wei Wuxian's the Sect Heir of the Yuelong Wei Sect, Uncle Wei was distant cousin to my father, his Great Grandfathter's father was a Jiang Elder, making his Great Grandfather, Grandfather and had my Uncle lived, his father Elders and thus someone of great standing and not some 'lowly Servant.' And as for my closeness, I raised both a'Cheng and a'Xian, they are more my sons than my brothers and I do not like any slights against either of them, especially a'Xian who literally did nothing to deserve all the hate and animosity he's suffered under all his life! You will apologize to him and to me for daring to imply I would ever do such things with him. You should know, Auntie, Zise, I was raised to solely be a bride for your son. I have been forbidden to do anything that was not strictly tailored to your son."

"..-jie?" She whips around at the weak voice and sees that Wuxian's slowly waking. "Wha--"

"You collapsed as soon as the battle ended... Do you remember?"

"..." He furrows his brow, even as between the two women, he's carefully eased into a sitting position. "Lan Zhan? He was almost hurt--"

"Wangji's alright, Young Master Wei." Xichen speaks up for his brother, making the tired young man look toward him and thus allowing him to see that Lan Wangji was sitting there, looking so nervous and yet like he always does. Yanli's gotten to know him since the incident and has picked up on the tiny, almost impossibly tiny tells.

"Lan.... Zhan... are you okay?" He asks, even as Wen Qing gently bullies him into drinking a bitter tea.

"Mn, Wei Ying protected me... protected everyone." He assures in his quiet manner and it makes a warm smile spread on Wei Ying's face.

"Lan Zhan... Lan Zhan... you said my name!" He smiles happily.

"Mn, Wei Ying." He nods and it makes the bedridden young man smile again.

"A'Xian, how are your feeling? Do you know why you collapsed?"

"I'm okay, Shijie... I'm sorry for worrying you..."

"Damn right, you better be sorry!" Jiang Cheng yells from outside and Wei Ying gives a wheeze that should have been a laugh, but starts coughing soon after. Wen Qing quickly places a couple needles on his back and neck and then gives a firm strike on his shoulder forcing him to spit out bad blood. And it smelt foul. Wen Qionglin quickly scoops some into a vial before quickly moving the soiled blanket into a wash basin behind himself and replaces it with a clean blanket. He opts to wash it right there to make sure no one tries to make off with the blood samples. The vial was in Wen Qing's care, she would be examining it later to see what they missed to cause that foul smell.

"Sorry..." He wheezes leaning on his sister, who just calmly cleans his mouth.

"No need to apologize..."

"... Wen Ruohan... He did something to the monsters... made them go berserk... He laughed and said my mother only lasted an hour against his 'pet'... I lost awareness, I could only focus on finding the root of his power and ripping it out of him... I think it was his core, but it was black like the resentment we controlled and it wriggled like it was its own being..." he tried to remember. "I broke it down to what was left his Core, but I think he died so it burst before I was finished and I was pierced by both the core pieces and the thing..." Xichen winces, that would be their fault. "They started attacking me, I... I think I collapsed then..."

"So that blood just now..."

"What was left of... Wen Ruohan... tried to possess me, but I fought bigger, stronger and certainly more creative than him..."

"Indeed, little Master..." they all startle as a woman in red appears floating over the bed, moving to kneel behind him, easing him against her as she drapes her sleeves over him and rests her veiled head on his.

"Hello, Houng Xinniang..." He gives a weak smile. "Looks like I'm too weak to fight you..."

"Hm..." She hums, which makes everyone tense and nervous. "But I've grown attached... So I will not kill you..." She coos and kisses his hair. "If I had gotten to live past my wedding, I would have hoped to have a little boy like you, so mischievous, but so kind..." she hums, petting his head and turning her head to look at Yanli. "You will have to forgive me, I will used his memories of you and your image to try and trick him into my next meal... but  truly he's something special..."

"..." Yanli's shocked face quickly morphed into rage and the Demoness blinked behind her veil, cocking her head and then what they could see of her lips curves into a sly smile.

"I can see why I failed to trick him... You're remarkable... I believe you and I will work fantastically together... and that makes you, his Qing-jie, these needles look as sharp and wicked as he claims... I can find you better ones in the Burial Mounds, many doctors were killed there and their things were left to rot, but as the Queen of the the Death Hill, I preserved their things... Knowledge that will surely perish if not used... As long as you keep my Little Master safe and alive..." Here she leans into Wen Qing's ear and whispers so only she, her brother and Lan Zhan can hear. "After all, it's because of what you did that ultimately saved and damned him... I will kill you if you ever betray him..."

Wen Qing doesn't cower, instead she sits that much straighter and glares back. "Try me, bitch."

"Ooh, yes, truly his sisters are worthy!" She giggles darkly before she sighs and kisses his head once more. "Little Master, we've found the remaining Wens as you asked and are herding them this way... There are a few my darling daughters want... ones who harmed children..." She snarls. and Wei Ying's eyes flare  redder than even her bridal robes.

"... I think we will need to talk about this with the others, there has been a ruling. Some Wens will are fully innocent and will be moved to form a small Sect of only Healers, forbidden to cultivate the Sword Path for at least 200 years. Those who are not innocent, but have not done extreme acts of violence or crimes will be split between the Lan and Jiang Sects, those who have commited terrible crimes will be given to the Nies for punishment and ultimately execution... We will need to speak with Sect Leader Nie before we can offer you the 'pound of flesh' as it were." Yanli speaks up, squaring her shoulders.

"Hmm, is he that angry cat skulking around outside?"

"I am not a cat!!" Jiang Cheng yells.

"Tha's a'Chen'..." Wei Ying slurs. 

"You foolish child, even when so gravely injured you still commanded your army to ensure no more got hurt... you do too much... He will need to be brought back to the Burial Mounds so we can heal him..."

"We will do no such thing, Demon!" Lan Qiren bellows out, finally over his shock over everything. "He will be coming to Gusu where we will purge his system and then begin his reeducation on the Righteous Path once more!"

"...." She gently moves away, allowing the two human women to hold Wei Ying up, at least until the needles on his back are removed and then eased back into bed. She floats towards Lan Qiren, who only lasts a moment before he backs away from her and falls falt on his ass outside of the tent while she continues to float after him until he cannot escape and she lowers her self to glare coldly at him. "... I know you... I saw you in his memories... you are a hypocrite. Spouting your rules and yet you spoke ill of the dead, hold a grudge, speak ill of others behind their backs and make snap judgements without getting all the facts... you nearly ruined your nephews, but thankfully they held onto that last spark of their mother... oh yes, I know her... I know what happened to her... I believe the Sect will be in good hands with only your Nephews in charge... And I will even provide the truth because all the dead, no matter where they died at, eventually make their way the Burial Mounds and from there either shed their regrets to manifest while they move on, or they become trapped, unable to let go... Would you like to know what happened to the Late Madam Lan's regrets?" She hisses darkly.

He faints then and she huffs, far from amused and looks up to see the camp staring at her where she floats like red mist and veils not unlike a seductive mermaid of death. She gives a sweet giggle and floats over to the tall mountain of a man, who grips his weapon in his fist.

"Oh, little boy, you're 2000 years too early to go toe to toe with me..." She coos.

"Hong Xinniang, please do not cause a'Xian anymore trouble... the peace is barely held together as is and this will sadly make it that much harder to convince others that a'Xian means no harm." Yanli says as she steps out of the tent, Jiang Cheng, who had fallen on his ass after Lan Qiren had fallen out of the tent and then fainted, slowly got up to pull the Lan Elder into the tent, but he remained in the entryway to make sure the Demoness didn't attack his sister.

"Oh, but he does mean no harm... Little Master is much too kind and far too forgiving... I am not..." She smiles darkly. "And I can see it in you that you're not nearly as forgiving either... But I do have a job to do... I take it this angry boar about to charge is Sect Leader Nie?" She hums circling Nie Mingjue, who bristles and takes a swing, but she holds up a single red claw and stops the attack with a giggle while the young man tries to force his weapon to cleave even her claw off, but Baxia doesn't even chip the red varnish on it. "Yes, I was correct... Listen well, Little Boy, my Little Master's army will be here in three days with the remaining Wens, both the innocent and the not innocent and what few could and would become a new Wen Ruohan if allowed to live... Among them are certain ones I want... When we caught up to them they had been in the process of harming children... I don't take kindly to those who hurt innocent children... You can have the rapists and murderers, but the child molesters and rapists, I want them... Even Little Master wants them, he was so angry.... it would have been delicious if he wasn't so weak right now..." She sighs.

"..." He gapes in shock, dropping Baxia and then looking to Yanli, who went pale and then downright terrifying, more so than the Demoness before him. After all not one person in the camp heard that the young woman had basically been a mother before she even got her first bleed, raising so many in her sect because her parents couldn't be bothered to do their jobs correctly and many were orphaned and brought in by Wei Wuxian. "Maiden Jiang, what do you think?"

"I had hoped to discuss this, but knowing that the ones she wants are the absolute scum of the earth, I say get me a bolt of red ribbons, I will truss them up for her." She hisses and turns to go back into the tent. "Do not cause a'Xian trouble!"

"As little Master's Jiejie commands... Ohh, I will definitely collect her as my newest daughter upon her death, she will make a most fearsome Demoness!" She coos and giggles, fading from sight with that parting comment.

"... Is it too soon to drink?" Nie Mingjue groans.

"Yes." Jin Guangyao states, but hands him a jug of wine anyone, his own glass already filled. Many others joined them, terrified of the by play between the Jiang maiden and the Demoness.

"Huaisang."

"Way ahead of you, Da-ge! And can I--"

"Hell no!! You will not ask that... that witch any questions!!" He bellows as Huaisang pouts.

"But the embroidery on her robes were so well done and the style suggests that they are priceless heirlooms!! I simply must ask her!!" Nie Huaisang wails, making his brother sigh, exhausted already...

Chapter Text

In the three days they waited, as was promised an army of undead shuffled slowly into the Nightless City with the remnants of the Wens either walking, riding undead horse driven wagons or on scard witless horses and donkeys. They were mainly women, elderly and children, the few men of war age were heavily injured or sick, many maimed, and those who were fit wore cleaner and higher quality robes. It was obvious where the lines had been drawn between the arriving groups.

Wen Qing,in those three days, did her best to expel as much of the bad blood from Wei Ying's body, heal what she could and get him into a semi functional condition. Lan Qiren was left spitting mad as his nephews ignored his orders and kept helping where they could. Lan Zhan pretty much moved into Wei Ying's tent, slowly, but surely correcting his past mistakes and the miscommunication between them. As Jiang Yanli had pointed out to him after the first day where he accidentally set off Wei Ying's temper when he asked him to go back with him to Gusu, that not everyone can read him like his brother can and thus do not know that he means the invite as an offer of help and sanctuary, not to punish and imprison him.

She also randomly dropped tidbits and stories of her precious Xianxain's antics as a child, much to said Demonic Cultivator's chagrin and the Second Jades amusement and pleasure. But the reverse happened when Xichen came to visit and Lan Wangji was left pink eared and glaring murderously at his traitor of a brother while Wei Ying was left gasping for air from laughter and dying from the cuteness overload. At one point Wen Popo came in and handed Wei Ying the baby she was always carrying and he coos and sings at the tiny babe, a little girl, a toddler of 2-3 years old peaking at them. Wei Ying is find and holds the baby in his arms. Fat and well looked after. Lan Zhan is struck with a strong desire at the image of Wei Ying holding a baby.

"You take didi?" The girl asks.

"A'Hua!" Wen Popo hisses softly, gently placing a hand in the tiny girl's head. "He is his baba, he can take his baby whenever he decides..." She gently scolds.

"Popo, I am his mama, his baba doesn't --" as if suddenly recalling the twin Jades are in his tent he goes grey with fright, but before he can panic or try to get up and flee, the baby wakes up and the twins can see familiar golden eyes blink open and then light up with a familiar smile as a happy burble leaves the baby's mouth. Wei Ying cannot help looking down at his son, kissing his brow softly even as he eyes the twin Jades, their shock slowly giving away to confusion and then dawning realization. At the same time Jiang Yanli had come in, having paused outside at overhearing the little girl, Wen Hua, asked the question.

"Wuxian..." She calls and he flinches, looking up in terror at her and she softens her face, she must have sounded and looked like her mother just then, a rather unflattering comment in her opinion. "What do you mean you are this little one's mama?" She asks, setting the food tray down and begining to pass out bowls of rice and potato stew. "Who is his baba and when did it happen?"

"A little after the Xuanwu was killed and I didn't know until after I came back from the Burial Mounds... I realized it when I suddenly stated to feel unbearable pain and had to call one of the demons to bring me back to Wen Qing... I gave birth and barely rested for three days... I left him with her and her family because... There wasn't a guarantee we would win..."

All the adults heard the 'there was no guarantee that I would live' that he left unspoken. Xichen clenches his fist a torrent or rage and dread swirling in him as he forces out:

"And the father?"

".... There is a unique Qi clearing or blocking technique that can be used during carnal congress. Lan Zhan was dying. I did what I had to to keep him alive. I will accept the punishment for taking him advantage of him, but you would have been devastated had I let him die. I didn't realize it would take the one time. I didn't even know I was pregnant... Not until I gave birth... You see, I am one of the too few and rare Third Gender. I have what is needed to impregnate a woman, but I also have the parts needed to be impregnated... I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to hate me more and because I didn't know how to broach the topic... But I had set up letters and instructions for if I had died at any point in this war to have you take in a'Yuan..."

Lan Xichen's fury suddenly fizzles out like a candle left in the rain. Thirds were rare, incredibly so and are often enslaved if not they are who-- shared until they died. Thirds go to extreme lengths to hide themselves. And if what he recalls if Wangji's recounting of the Xuanwu's cave, lAn Wangji either didn't know he nearly died or somehow Wei Ying managed to charm the memory away. He did what he thought he needed to because Wangji's spiritual levels had been severely depleted according to the escort that came to get him and he needed a month on bed rest to both replenish his lost qi and heal his leg.

The Jiangs were attacked not long after that and then Wei Ying was missing for three months after that. Which would have made him around four months pregnant. But how could he have carried and kept the pregnancy for so long and especially inside of the Burial Mounds?! And then he did vanish for a few days here and there, most gathering more bodies for his army or helping in skirmishes that others couldn't get to in time. At one point he went to have the baby and then came back only a few days later, fighting nonstop to end the war...

Lan Zhan felt his heart almost shatter but at the same time warmth suffused into it and through him as he slowly leans forward a shaking hand reaching out to touch the baby he made with his beloved... Yes there was no doubting it, no more confusion and reason to deny any longer. He loved Wei Ying. Wei Ying was precious to him and he gave him a baby.

"I understand if Gusu will not want an illegitimate child for an heir--"

"Wei Yuan is legitimate..." Lan Zhan says fiercely and they all blink confused. He squares up his shoulders. Jiang Yanli had told him that Wei Ying does not remember things if he doesn't find them interesting or does not care for them. So Lan Zhan knows, much to his frustration and amusement, that Wei Ying does not realize the scantity of the ribbon. "When we were pulled into Lan Yi's hidden chamber. I tied our wrists with my ribbon and after we finished talking with her and before we were ejected from the cave, we gave her three bows. Have been married since the lectures.  But because Wei Ying did not speak of it or recall the importance of the ribbon, I chose to keep quiet until I could safely speak with you privately." He admits blushing hard enough that his face actually turned red under the disappointed and disapproving glares of his brother, Jiang Yanli and even Wen Popo.

Wei Ying is wide eyed with shock and then he laughs, which makes a'Yuan burble a laugh too. He laughs and laughs until he is suddenly crying and Lan Zhan quickly pulls him into a hug even as the young man begs him for forgiveness for trapping him with some as horrible and useless as Wei Ying is. Taking the blame on himself even as the others watch with sadness and a mild mix of horror as even though Lan Zhan admitted to secretly marrying Wei Ying without his knowledge or permission, Wei Ying is taking the blame onto himself.

".... I am disappointed in both of you, but I recall you telling me that Elder Lan Yu attacked you and that the Lan ribbon protected you... You did not tell me you married nor that you consummated your marriage. You will be having a proper wedding!" Jiang Yanli states cooly even as she smiles manically with delight and glee.

"But Shijie needs to marry first..."

"I am not marrying Heir Jin. I said it before didn't I? I will marry a MAN who will love me like your Lan clearly loves you and not a stupid boy." She says firmly reminding them that she is refusing to marry her ex no matter what anyone says on the matter. Not even Madam Jin can hope to out stubborn her not cajole her enough.

"Yes, Shijie..."

"JieJie! I am after all your son's Yima!" She huffs. "And a'Cheng's going to pitch a fit, but he will be mullified by having an adorable nephew to spoil." She coos at a'Yuan who blinks at her with wide and fascinated eyes. Which Wei Ying giggles at and approves of his son's awe of his Yima.

"That makes me his Shushu. Sect leader Jiang is his Jiujiu." Xichen says, deciding to let go of the crazy situation for not to bask in his brand spanking new Uncle rights.

"I... You... You're not mad? You... You don't hate me?" Wei Ying asks, looking so vulnerable right then, holding his baby close even as Granny looked ready to hit the others with her cane, even little a'Hua looked like she would kick a shin or two.

"A'Xian, I could never hate you. You are my precious Didi and while I am disappointed, things happen for a reason. I am glad you are married and have a baby, but you are sorely mistaken if you think I will not be planning your wedding and you, Lan Wangji, if you ever, ever hurt them I will personally cut you to pieces and feed them to your family." She snarls with a pretty smile.

Lan Zhan gulps but nods his head solemnly, having moved to hold his small family in his arms, holding them tighter. Meanwhile, Xichen is... Well... He is...

Xichen is... Aroused.

Chapter Text

it takes the better part of  a week for Wen Qing to sort out the Wen Ruohan Zealots, the ones hoping to be the new Sect Leader of Qishan Wen and the innocent. They also worked out how to divide up the lands and most of the Treasury. Many of the smaller Sects bitched up a storm about it and Jin Guangshan also tried to coerce, cajole and haggle for the vast majority of everything. But Wen Qing was not a goddamned fool. She called him out on his bullshit and told him that the small bag of gold she tossed into his face was all that he was getting.

The war criminals were split into smaller groups, one that was to be tried and executed by Qinghe Nie with a secondary group being forced to work the rest of their days as prisoners to repair the Impure Realm. another group was given to the Lans, though they needed less repair work done since they worked on most of that during the war itself, but they would find other uses for them.the last group of criminals was given over to Yunmeng Jiang to help with the rebuilding of Lotus Pier. As for the innocents they would be allowed four of their original towns and will be under Wen Qing's command with a supervisory committee consisting of a couple of Jiang Elders, One of the too few Nie elders and three Lan Elders, those who had been against the harsh punishment that the late Madam Lan had suffered, would remain to keep an eye on them for the next 10 years, if these elders get to benefit from the genius hands of Wen Qing, they don't mention it.

The Jins are kept out of any say in the matter, they contributed the least effort and were trying to claim the biggest reward, but Jiang Yanli and Wen Qing shut that down quickly and painfully. Jiang Yanli remind Jin Guangshan that she is refusing to marry his son and Wen Qing happily informed the conference that Jin Guangshan had been supplying the Wen Army until it became obvious that the Sunshot Campaign was going to win. That certainly put him in really hot water.

"Well what about Wei Wuxian and his weapon!? Can we really ignore a Demonic Cultivator!?" Jin Guangshan quickly shouts, and smirks when the ugly mutterings that had been aimed at him were now whispering about the missing young man. "He's so arrogant to not even attend the meeting!"

"Wei-Gongzi is on very strict bed rest and is still recovering from using so much Resentment to win us the war." Wen Qing bluntly states. "I don't give a damn about what any of you say, unless you are a skilled Healer or Doctor and can prove to me that he's well enough to deal with your bullshit, then he will remain in his tent resting."

"What about the weapon he used, it is much too powerful for a single person to have in their possession." Jin Guangshan demands.

"That belongs to Wei Wuxian and since he is a member of Yunmeng Jiang, it will remain with us. And before you comment on our lack of man power, I have already spoken with Lan-Zhongzhu about borrowing several of their Musical Cultivators to temporarily move to Yunmeng to play for him until he's well enough to begin the process of destroying his amulet. He only used it once and even he admitted he never wants to use it again." Jiang Yanli says calmly, Jiang Cheng nodding his head along with her words because he knows he will just make things worse with his poor communication skills and his short temper.

"What!?" Everyone yells and begins protesting. Yanli cocks a brow at them and then calmly slaps her hand down on the table, the sound isn't overly loud, but the motion and the look makes them all flinch seeing the ghost of her mother for just a second with the action.

"Why are you complaining? You all gossip about how dangerous it is and that it shouldn't exist and when I tell you that my brother is planning on destroying it, you all want to protest. What you think we should just hand it over to you because you say so? It is my brother's and to hand it over is to hand him over, and I will never do that. It wil be some time before it's finally destroyed, just know that it will eventually be done." Yanli tells them, leaving no room for protest or argument.

"And what about his heretic ways?" Lan Qiren demands, glaring at her, while stroking his beard in an agitated manner.

"..." the two women share a glance and nod once before Wen Qing stands up.

"He will continue to us his new Cultivation--"

The explosion of shouting and arguing is deafening, but she remains standing, waiting for them to shut up. It takes a while, but they eventually go quiet when they realize that she's still standing and waiting patiently. She waits another two minutes and then cocks a brow at them when they finally fall silent.

"As i was saying, he wil continue his new path because he can no longer return to the so-called Righteous one because he no longer has a Golden Gore." She tells them and there is stunned silence all around. "And no, Wen Zhuliu didn't destroy his core, he had me cut it out of him and give it to his brother. He was then tossed into the Burial Mounds, not even a few days after a three day surgery in which he had to remain awake and without anything to numb his pain as I cut out his core. His options were either die or create his new path to return to his family and friends and help them win the war." She says without batting a lash, her hands clenched into shaking fists. "So I will only say this once: Shut up and leave the poor man alone. He's already suffered enough for your selfishness, if you try to force him back tot he Righteous Path you will end up killing him and if he dies, then you basically open up the Barrier tied to his life and let all the demons and monsters residing there  free to flood our world and destroy everything..."

Everyone goes pale at the threat, but also still in shock of why he chose the Heretic path. She catches eyes with the Twin Jades, the Nie Heir and a few others who had been very good friends of her newest brother's and gives  subtle nod that yes she was  being very serious and then she sat down. Jiang Yanli confirms this when Jiang Cheng shakily asks her, his hands pressed where his core was, where Wuxian's core spun in his chest. With that there is little else to discuss...

Wei Ying smiled softly as he treads the water, in his arms, a'Yuan giggles and splashes about. Wei Ying was teaching his son how to swim, or at least float because he may be a very paranoid mother, that doesn't mean accidents down't happen and he refuses to let his son die to drowning. Jiang Cheng is in the water with him, to make sure his brother doesn't get tired but also to play with his nephew. His sister had been correct in her assumption that Jiang Cheng would be pissed when he learned the truth of everything, but never the less was abusing his Uncle rights to spoil his infant nephew.

Wei Ying hands the baby to his Jiang Cheng and treads his way to the stairs that had been built into the water for him to climb out, Wen Ning already there with a towel and to help him when he feels tired. It's been months since the war ended, the recovery effort was slow going, what with the Jins buying up all the resources that they would to try and force people to into debt with them an to gain power and control over everyone, but he wasn't counting on Wei Ying using his demons and ghosts to find needed resources as well as rare veins of super rare and precious minerals and use them to help in the rebuilding efforts of not only Lotus Pier, but in Qinghe Nie and Gusu Lan as well as among several of the smaller clans. He also left some of his more friendly demons with the Wen Remnants to safe guard them, not that anyone noticed or knows beyond Wen Qing, who makes frequent trips to check on Wen Ning, who's moved to Lotus Pier as Wei Ying's personal guard and attendant.

"Wei Ying...." he turns and smiles seeing Lan Zhan and Lan Xichen walking up to him.

"Lan Zhan!" He makes grabby hands and his husband picks him up and he cuddles into his arms. "Hi Xichen-ge!"

"Hello Xiao Ying, where is my adorable nephew?" Xichen asks.

Jiang Cheng swims over and climbs out, handing the baby to Wen Ning who wraps him in a towel and hands the baby to the visiting Sect leader.

"We were doing Wei Ying's daily stamina exsercise and teaching a'Yuan to float. It's very common in Yunmeng to teach babies from birth to get use to the water and to instinctively float. He's a natural." Jiang Cheng says with such pride. Lan Xichen smiles a bit tightly at this, mostly because he and Jiang Cheng were in a contest to see who was the better uncle.

"What are you doing here, Lan Zhan?"

"Missed Wei Ying... and the Elders finally consented to letting this one court and re-marry Wei Ying. Will be here for however long courtship lasts...." Lan Zhan tells him happily and Wei Ying gives a pleased squeal and kisses him again.

"Oi, no kissing!! "Jiang cheng shoves his hand between the pair, rubbing his hand on Xichen's lapels once they break apart. "We are doing this Yunmeng Style!! Be prepared to be harrassed Wangji!"

Chapter Text

Xue Yang isn't sure what he had expected. All his life things have gone from bad to worse. His father left his mother pregnant and alone. His mother worked herself to an early grave trying to provide for the both of them and often went without food so Xue Yang wouldn't know hunger. After she died, no one was there to take care of him so he lived on the streets and learned the hard way that the world was cold and cruel. He tried to do little odd jobs for some food or a place to sleep. If someone was rude or mean he stole from them and tried to hurt them. But what he hated more than anything was liars and people who thought too highly of themselves, however those same people were able to provide him with power.

He worked with the Jins and the Wens during some of his childhood and a bit of his teenage years, but none of them had had been half as interesting as the Yiling Laozu who had shown up out of the blue and left a wake of death and destruction wherever he went. Xue Yang became excited! How could he not, someone who could do all the things a normal Cultivator could do, but wasn't so damn pretentious about it!! Someone who could wield true Power!! He wanted to learn how! He wanted to meet the Yiling Laozu!! So he left in the dead of night from the Jin Sect, Master Guangyao can figure out his plans on his own, the prick fell into the trap of those self important bastards anyway and he was getting boring.

Xue Yang followed rumors and the trail of death until the war ended and ended up back at the Jins during the Phoenix Mountain Hunt, where he finally saw the man. He was not that much older than himself, dressed in well made black and red robes, his hair tied up in a ponytail and radiating so much power as he glared at the fat Jin, behind him was a girl, she was hidden from sight while the Yiling Patriarch glared at the Fat Jin and the Jin Heir. Getting closer, Xue Yang wanted to eagerly offer to kill them for him, but he stopped as the girl seemed to notice him and he is left stunned by her sweet and pretty face. The way the sun shown behind her, leant her an angelic glow. Xue Yang, perhaps for one of the few times in his life, felt ill kept and unworthy to look upon something so... Pure.

"Ah, are you alright?" Her voice was so soft and sweet, he realized then that he was bleeding and that he must have gotten hurt from the resentment roiling off of the Patriarch.

"I..." He startles when she gently, with a soft and sweet smelling piece of cloth, dabs at his cheek.

"A'Xian, you hurt someone, apologize to him please?" She turns to he Patriarch, who startles and all that power just... Poofs away and he looks like a kid, barely into adulthood, silver eyes wide. And Xue Yang is amazed at this girl's power!

"Ah, sorry! I didn't mean to lose control like that... Shijie, Xianxain is very sorry..."

"Shijie forgives her Xianxain, after all he is only 3." She coos and the Patriarch practically curls up at her feet to purr like a contented cat. Truly she is the one with the really power! "Did you need something?"

"I ... I wanted to learn from the Yiling Laozu.... But..."

"Oh, a'Xian might not want to teach his ways,... As you see even he slips up and he would hate for that to happen to you... And you realize that means a lot of study and practice, yes? If you really wanna learn then how about you learn all you can from my sect, the Jiang Sect, after all that is the sect that a'Xian is from. Once you master that, I will convince him to teach you his cultivation. Is that fair to you both?" She asks ignoring everything else. Her smile gentle and so loving.

"If Shijie says so, then Xianxain will listen." Wei Ying murmurs and Xue Yang cannot help but murmur his agreement...

*Skip!!*

There was a loud knocking on the door of the Chang Clan's main gate and the leader went to see who it is. What he was not expecting was for two young men dressed in black, one with red accents the other will dull grey, both holding a vividly purple banner with the image of a beautiful maiden carefully stitched into it.

"Greetings, we are sorry to disturb you, but we would like to speak to you about our Goddess, this day. May we come in? If you allow us to, then our Goddess will spare you. If not... Well...." They say as one and then the on in dull grey says:

"Then you will have to pay me back for my pinky... But really, I hope you allow us to talk about our beloved Yanli-jie. She promised me lotus seed cakes if I behave and not kill anyone today. So please be nice and listen...." Xue Yang says with a manically sweet smile while Wei Ying just pulls out several scrolls that list their creeds to always do as their beloved Shijie says or else...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

The sky was black with smoke while ashes fell around her like blackened snow. It was morbidly beautiful, even if all she could hear was the loud crackling of the fires around her, the screams her family around her, her own throat too raw from the choking, coiling smoke and bleeding from screaming in agony that she was slowly becoming deadened to. She should have known better, she should have known that these hypocrites would go back on her their word and kill her family. Are they that blinded by their hatred of all things Wen that they willfully ignored that they were nothing more than Elderly, women and children!? She dazedly thinks that if there is only one survivor of her family, she's glad it was a'Yuan..

"QING-JIE!!!!!!!!"

She struggles to look up, to look towards the distantly familiar voice and she sees bloody red eyes filled with tears of blood. She tried to say something, but between one blink and one croak, her world descends into darkness...

Wen Qing bolts awake with a scream, though her voice sounds strange in her own ears until she blinks away the darkness and looks around as her parents, both of whom should be dead, burst into the room, her father holding a small oil lamp in his hand as her mother quickly pulls her into her arms. Dead or not, hell, heaven or even a dream, Wen Qing cares not. As soon as she is pulled into those gentle, but capable arms, the familiar sent of ginsing and white mint fills her nose; Wen Qing bursts open into soul shattering sobs. She greatly missed her mother, had been forced to mature much to young, much too quickly. She was subjected to so much pain, suffering and horror. She had to dirty her hands to help her Uncle in his mad schemes because he would kill more of her family, one by one, saving a'Ning for last and then he would have torn him apart, piece by piece. He threatened to drag it out, letting her see how her failures killed all she loved, how her betrayals cost her her precious brother. As she sobbed, she didn't realize she was telling her parents everything she's been through, from their deaths, to the slow, painful deaths of their family to the rapid descent into madness that Wen Rouhan had gone through, to the war. The atrocities she was forced to watch or help clean up. How she was forced to heal Rouhan's favorite victims until she couldn't put them back together again or she had to break her oath to never kill and used her needles or a painless, but quick and undetectable poison to put them out of their suffering.

She told them of Wei Wuxian and how he selflessly gave up his core to the man who ended up killing her and the last of her family. She told them about Wei Wuxian survivng the Burial Mounds and singlehandedly winning the war, saving everyone and what thanks did he get? Disrespect, accused of wrong doings he didn't do, she still doesn't believe he meant to kill Jin Zixuan. That would have hurt his beloved sister and if there is one thing that Wei Wuxian refused to to, it was to hurt Jiang Yanli. He was villified for saving her family and taking them to the Burial Mounds where he managed to tame it enough to allow them to build a small settlement and eek out a pathetic, but well cherished living. She spoke of his brilliance and how oddly well suited he was to caring for the few children in their little village. She sobs around how the situation got worse and worse until finally, she and a'Ning decided it was best to sacrifice their own lives for the others and for Wei Wuxian's especially. He gave up his core to save that ungrateful bastard, left his clan and sect to save them and went back to the place where his literal innocence and sanity were brutally ripped from him to save them. But the hypocrites lied and attacked anyway! They burnt her at the stake and while she was burning, she watched them bring out the supposed 'Wen Army' and slit their throats before tossing their bodies into the pyre at her feet. 4th Uncle, Popo, 3rd Cousin, Auntie Mai and the children!! They didn't spare anyone! Before her life finally ended, she had faintly heard Wei Wuxian scream for her and then here she was.

Wen Qing cried herself into an exhausted sleep not long after that, clinging tightly to her mother as her parents sat in silent horror. The pain and anguish in her words too real to have just been a nightmare. But what can they do?! Wen Rouhan was already starting his path towards war. Who was Wei Wuxian? They know the Jiangs have a little girl, but they don't have a little boy, at least not yet. Wen Luo looked at his wife, his piercing greyish blue eyes holding her eyes firmly as her own dark eyes glittered with determination. They will do what they can, they will ask a'Qing for clarification in the morning, but for now, they carefully move their daughter into their room and climb back into bed, holding her between them and when she would whimper with fright or remembered pain they calmed her down, assuring her that she is safe and nothing will harm her...

Wen Qing isn't sure how she feels about this. She watches her father training their branch family simple drills, basic hand to hand combat, basic sword forms and even basic knife work. She stood in the line of children under her Uncle Mu's stern watch, the only fighter in their family, being a former foot soldier and scout for the royal capital before he was injured and now has a permanent limp. He directed the kids through katas, his walking cane thunking rhythmically on the ground as he counted and called out the next form. After she had woken up after her initial wake up back in the living world and in her child body, she realized she was not in fact dreaming nor was this Heaven or Hell. If it was Heaven, there would be no Wen Rouhan or Wen Chao or Wen Xu. There would be none of those hypocritical bastards and a'Ning would be here, alive again and still wholly innocent and shy. She felt so guilty when she explained everything again, calmer, with a lot of tea since she was 3 again and thus could not drink alcohol. Though her father made sure to take an extra long swig just for her, especially after hearing how a'Ning was killed and then resurrected and how she essentially kept his soul hostage from the Rebirth cycle because she couldn't let him go, not yet! Her parents didn't blame her, not at all and unlike others who hear the words Resentful Energy and immediately start declaring manhunts for anyone suspected of being a Demonic Cultivator, they were fascinated and curious.

She happily told her of the breakthroughs she made thanks to her efforts of keeping Wei Wuxian held together. She hadn't realized it but after the first two times she said 'Wei Wuxian', she had started calling him 'a'Xian' or 'Ying-er'. Her parents had smiled softly knowing that somehow the young man had managed to endear himself to their daughter enough for her to see him as a baby bother as well. She certainly huffed and complained about how he was always hurting himself with his experiments, which once he perfected them he quick used to secure their home and to make life that bit more easier, selling some of them in Yiling, which got them fresh food and protection from the villagers of Yiling. At one point her father made her sit down with all the adults and had her drink a special tea which would force her to speak the truth only and will help her remember every single detail, even something as trivial as how the ants marched on the tree bark where she had been reading. As she retold her story in her drugged state, the others could not refute what she said. Her father very carefully wrote out everything while 2nd Uncle started writing important names and events down. Auntie Mai and Cousin Su began planning the slow, but systematic move towards Yiling where they will fully move to once the events begin to repeat themselves. That was one thing they agreed on, they could not change things too much or else things will become worse. This meant that some of them will die as they had last time. Wen Luo knew his death was inevitable. He was the older brother and thus was actually the one who should have taken over as the Qishan Wen Sect's leadership when his father passed away, but because Wen Luo had found his passion as a healer, he stepped aside and let his younger brother, who was better suited to lead, have the title.

But now knowing what his brother will do with that power? Wen Luo can only prepare his family as best he can before dies. They will need to get in contact with his sister, Wen Ma, Nie Furen and prepare her as best they can. They have no doubt that many of those who have the power or an heir who can wrest power from Wen Ruohan will be killed off in the coming years. She will need to begin preparing her stepson, Nie Mingjue to take over and to not hold all Wens accountable. After all, if all goes accordingly, she will give birth to a little boy soon, Nie Maque, Nie Huaisang. If Nie Mingjue wants to kill all Wens, then he will need to kill his beloved little brother as well. It's a bit harsh, but he was displeased with the way Nie Mingjue acted, but it's also the Nie Curse, they die young and one of the precursors is often pure unbridled hatred and rage and bouts of manic aggression for little to no reason most of the time. But since they had just gotten over a war and everyone was still high from the battle lust, they were 'justified' in their hatred to all Wens. To tell his own cousin that her inaction was just as bad as if she committed the crimes herself. How foolish the boy was. Hopefully Wen Ma will be able to cement some good reminders in him. After all, after Wen Luo, she was next in line, though as a woman, her husband would be holding the Wen Leadership in Regent until either one of her sons or a suitable Heir was born. Nie Mingjue was already the Nie Heir so that means little Huaisang would inherit first, then his son, a'Ning and then his brother's sons, Wen Xu and Wen Chao. Qishan went in age order and if they had a son first. While Wen Luo was the oldest, he had a little girl first, Wen Qing will only inherit if there are no other boys born, but since she came back from a horrible future and told them that her Uncle had two sons, her aunt had one and her parents would give birth to a little boy in about 2 or three more years. She will only inherit after the boys have either died off or abdicated the rule of Leadership.

They will need to make discreet connections and allies. They will also need to learn to fight because war was on the horizon and far too much of their family had been killed off during the early stages of the war, more were killed during the height of it and the rest were killed off in the aftermath. By the time she had finished with her own death, confirming that yes, she had in fact caught Wei Wuxian's eyes and heard his voice just as she succumbed to the burns and the smoke choking the life from her. She doesn't know what happed after that, but like hell was she going to let it happen again. If that Jiang Bastard lost his core again, Wen Qing will 'agree' to do the surgery, but will actually knock out Wei Wuxian and either let Jiang Cheng suffer without a core or give him the core from one of the weaklings who were left in her care during her first life. Wait... Wen Ruohan hasn't found Zhao Zhuliu yet! He would be around her age right now, maybe a bit older, like 7-9 years old! She points this out to her family and while they are a bit wary, they have to admit, one of the major factors in Wen Ruohan's death grip on the Cultivation world had been having someone who could melt cores in his hand! There was also the little delinquent, Xue Yang. He had vanished at some point between Wen Chao's Death and the first time Wei Wuxian had fully joined the battle with his army of Fierce Corpses and Demons. She knows he was found in Yueyang and she told her Cousin Liling to keep an eye out for him, to prevent Sect Leader Chang from using the boy and then trying to run him over with his carriage. Liling was going to Yueyang for a while to get her feet wet as a doctor, hands on experience to fully understand her training and to learn where her skills fall.

Liling promised to keep an eye out for the street rat and to pull him in as soon as she can, but if it's already too late, as much as it galls them as doctors, Liling will give him one final meal and send him off into a permanent sleep. It's much more merciful than letting him grow up into a mass murderer and a menace who would have likely caused more trouble and tribulations later or was one of the key factors in helping to bring about Wei Wuxian and the Wen Remnants deaths. Wen Qing recalled seeing him in Jinglintai the night before her execution. He had been trying to get Wen Ning to obey him, wondering how it was that Wei Wuxian had brought him back and made him act so human. He also wondered why even with the piece of the Stygian Tiger Seal piece he managed to reforge from pure determination and self study, had no effect on Wen Ning. They know that any Fierce Corpses called forth by the Seal obey the one who holds it, even if another person had command previously, the call of the Tiger Seal was stronger. She remember snorting at him and telling him that try as he might he'd never master the Dark Path, there was only one Grandmaster and it was her Wei Wuxian. He had looked eager at first, seeming to realize she spent time with THE Grandmaster and must know so much of his knowledge. She had carelessly shrugged and told him that if he wanted to learn, he was too late since Wei Wuxian swore he wouldn't teach anyone his ways and there was a very high chance he would die if the Cultivation world had any say.

"Alright, we're done!" Uncle Mu calls and the kids all collapse with soft whines and groans. Wen Qing doesn't, she just shakes her limbs and walks around, letting her body slowly cool off and ease, sore, but still able to do her daily routines. "A'Qing's a smart little miss.." he snorts softly.

"I lived this life once before, Uncle, I was a Cultivator, strong enough to fly on a sword, but that was it. I mostly focused on medicine and healing." She tells him. This training was so much lighter in comparison to the hell that Wen Ruohan put his Cultivators through.

"Indeed, but that doesn't subtract from the fact, you're a smart girl... A woman's only value is her virginity and her face, but only fools believe that. A woman's true worth is her ability to adapt and persevere in the face of adversity. And if the woman happens to be a well learned lady, that makes her even more valuable. Any man with a gold nugget to rub would be wise to take you for a wife. Anyone who passes you up has copper for brains." Uncle Mu snorts, laughing crudely at his semi vulgar joke.

"Uncle Mu is surprisingly wise for a grizzled old fart." she tells him laughingly and he gives a mock shout of offense.

"I ain't wise, girlie!! I'm just perceptive! Gotta be if ya scouting!" He snorts and she giggles before helping her cousins and age mates get up and they head to the small stream nearby to wash off and then head in for lunch.

One of the major, at least in her books, event is due to happen soon and she cannot help but shake with excitement. So leading up to this pivotal moment, she made sure to get her training and small chores done, practice her reading and writing and studying the healing manuals again. So when three days passed, she grabbed her doll and went out to the little flower field just on the outside of their small village and played. She sang songs hasn't sung in years, played in away she wasn't allowed to and just for a moment was a child once again. The morning gave away to afternoon and she got up to go get lunch when she hears a sound that both excites and terrifies her. Slowly turning she sees a feline like Yao stalking toward her and she slowly backs away from it, her dark grey eyes glittering with pleasure. She wants to start clicking at it and calling it pretty, but then she might look like she's deranged. But how can she not be? She died and came back from the dead, she spent a few short years in the Burial Mounds, surrounded by all manor of creatures born of Resentment, helped Wei Wuxian study them and create his comprehensive guide of monster rankings. She helped him lure and capture them, had even adopted a feline Yao similar to this one, but this one was much to bulky, hers had been sleeker and had a very long tail. It was similar to a snow leopard, she will have to see if she can find it again and reforge their bond once more. This feline seems to have had enough of this game of 'you step, I step' and it let out a ghostly roar and lunged at her, she quickly ducked and rolled away, even if the body doesn't remember, her memories of Wei Wuxian forcing them all to learn to dive and roll to avoid the monsters should his protections ever fail, helped her tuck and roll back onto her feet and take off without losing speed or balance.

"Sweetie, duck!" a female voice cries out and Wen Qing throws her self into a dive and slide as a brilliant red and white sword glare flew over her head followed by a rich dark purple, almost black sword glare. The two swords moved with speed and skill, quickly slicing and killing the Yao as a man lands and begins to purify the area of the lingering resentment and Wen Qing slowly sits up to look at the face of the woman she was waiting to see again, her heavily pregnant belly being carefully cradled in her hands as she kneels down to check on Wen Qing. "Such a brave little Kit, facing that scary Yao alone..."

"I've seen scarier." Wen Qing says without thought because truly she had seen scarier from her Uncle's experiments and one particularly dangerous Yao that Wei Ying had to obliterate because it posed a threat to the Wen Remnants. It had been three ranks from being a Sentient Plague, which was one of the worse ranks and must be eliminated without pause or hesitation.

"Oh?" She laughs brightly, but gives a soft gasp as her baby kicks her. "Oh Xiao Ying be nice to Mama!" She whines and Wen Qing cannot help her watery giggle because she sounds like her son when he playfully whines about abuse or being bullied. "Well Little Kit, what is your name?"

"Wen Qing is greeting Auntie." She quickly gets up and executes a playful, but respectable bow she learned from Wei Wuxian.

"Oh, aren't you adorable! This Auntie is Cangse Sanren... this is my husband, Wei Wangzi, Wei Changze. And this is our baby, Xiao Ying..." She smiles softly rubbing her belly, but gasps when a sudden and sharp pain lances through her and her husband quickly wraps his arms aorund her.

"A'Ren?"

Wen Qing quickly comes forward and places her hands on her belly and then with practice and skills well above her physical age, she quickly checks her Qi and sends a few jolts of Spiritual Energy into the woman and nods.

"Auntie's in labor... Uncle, please pick her up and follow, a'QIng!" She orders in a no nonsense tone that shocks the couple, but the smile softly and Wei Changze carefully picks up his wife and follows the little girl who walks quickly ahead of them calling towards the gathering crowd of adults, all armed with farming tools and the few swords they owned. "Baba! Auntie's in labor!"

"Oh! out of the way!!" Her mother, Popo and Auntie Mai quickly rush forward to guide the couple into a house they had built for them and Wen Qing quickly joins them, washing her hands and face, grabbing some clean cloth to cover her face and is at the ready after kicking Wei Changze out of the room to help deliver her first little brother! In only about 7 hours she will hold Wei Ying for the first time and this time, she will be the one to protect him and if he gets hurt? Well she's certain between her and Jiang Yanli they will be able to successfully raze the world, Sun and Moon to the ground...

Chapter Text

Wen Qing proved that her young body meant nothing when she skillfully and accurately struck several qi points that helped to make the birthing process less painful for Cangse Sanren and made it smoother for Wei Ying to be born. She checked how wide the woman was and saw that her water had not broken just yet. Pointing this out, the women got settled while Cangse Sanren concentrated on relaxing as much as possible for the wait. Around hour 4 was when the water finally broke and the pain doubled as the urge to push came in. Nodding their heads the women got to work, Wen Qing keeping an internal timer of how long this will take. Wei Ying had told her it was about 7 hours, or so his mother had said, but his memory was hopeless and he has been unsure if he was making this all up in his mind. But timeframe was still a timeframe and it helped her know what she would have to do to help his mother give birth. She had recalled in her last life when the Wei Couple had arrived on this day, but because she had been so scared after the attack she never came to see them again and then they left not too long after their baby was born.

This time she was determined to spend as much time as possible with her a'Xian and perhaps convince his parents to settle down. If for no other reason than to ensure Wei Ying had somewhere to go if something should happen to them. Like hell was she allowing him to go back to Lotus Pier, not without her at least. Like hell would she allow his abuse this time. And if the Dafan Wens support the Jiangs for as long as Wei Ying is in their care, it means they will owe them in return. Especially since one of the major things she and a'Xian had discussed was how to work around his beloved Shijie's frail body and weak core. She was strong and she could have been powerful, but everyone coddled her. Wei Ying would act weak to give her a reason to feel strong and be strong. Hence his fierce loyalty to her and her equally fierce protection of him. Jiang Yanli was around her age and if memory serves correctly the Jiangs are desperately looking for a doctor to 'cure' their daughter right about now, but they will not call for the Dafan Wens until Wei Ying is at least three months old.

A lot of her family's plans involved waiting for the right times to make their moves because of they change things too much then they lose the advantage. But Wen Qing was determined about one thing, Wei Ying hopefully getting to keep his parents. He doesn't deserve the unjustified hatred and animosity of Madam Yu. Blinking her eyes as she felt a spike in Cangse Sanren's pulse, she nods and informs her mother she is ready to push. The women work as a team and Cangse Sanren pushes as as he is instructed. Nodding her head, Wen Qing begins helping by dumping the soiled water and getting fresh water as well as taking the dirty towels to the laundry pool and bringing back fresh ones. They had prepared for this and thus had everything ready to make this smooth. It was around midnight of the last day of October,  a cool autumn night, that the tiny bit sharp cries of an infant were heard. Tiny lungs wailing in displeasure as he is carefully cleaned off, the cors that connects him to his mother is carefully bound tightly and clipped to prevent bleeding, it will eventually fall off, and is swaddled in a warm blanket. He only calms when his mother holds him. Her familiar voice soothing to his ears and after a bit of whimpering, he has a milk heavy nipple placed near his mouth and he greedily suckles.

Wen Qing cries then, he looks so beautiful and tiny. To think he grows up to be a chaotic genius with a pure heart and a selflessness that bordered on suicidal. She leans in close to him, gently touching the single lock of midnight black hair and swears she will not let anything happen to him this time. She would protect him this time. Sitting back she had forgotten that Cangse Sanren was there and blushed at the same time she paled a tiny bit. But Wen Qing squared her shoulders and lifted her tiny chin up defiantly.

"What does little Doctor Wen mean?" She asked with a smile that Wen Qing only ever saw paired with red eyes green hellfire dancing at his back and a horde of zombies waiting for the shrill notes to command them. It was a smile she grew to fear and hate, fear it because it reminded her that if she dares to betray him, he would end her and her family. And hated it because he used that smile to hide how horribly hurt and how close he was shattering so many times. That smile was nothing but pain and misery. But at the same time it struck fear and it wasn't something he developed. No, his mother had that smile and on her it was downright terrifying.

"We will let your husband in then we will let a'Wing explain once she drinks this tea..." Her mother says and Cangse Sanren allows it. After Wei Changze is allowed in and holds his son for the first time. The couple playfully arguing over names before settling in Wei Ying, their Little Ghost. Wen Qing had taken the drugged tea again and when asked to tell them what she meant once more, she retold her story. By the time she came out of it, the Wei Couple were clutching their son desperately between them, careful to not hurt him, but unwilling to let him go for even a second. But then they saw how the woman trapped in a little girl's body trembled and slowly Cangse Sanren called her over and carefully handed her son to her. This was his sister in another life. The only person who kept him glued together by sheer stubbornness alone.

Wen Qing gives a watery giggle when her tiny arms hold an even tinier Wei Ying and speaks softly to him. He dozes on and she smiles before looking at her parents and demands they get working on making a'Ning. She needs her baby brother back and this time, he will not die, he will not become a sentient Corpse if it can be helped. If that is his fate, she will not hold onto him and risk their fates once more. She doesn't know if Wen Ning was still held captive at Koi tower after her death or what became of Wei Ying, but like hell was she allowing that a second time. Her parents blush and the Weis laugh brightly at their embarrassment.

"Tell me, little Doctor, do you have my son's notes?" Cangse Sanren asks. "I would like to see what his genius has wright and see if I can get a letter to my mother... If nothing else, I will not allow my son's abuse or allow the world to use him and discard him as they desire..." She says with determination.

"I do not have all of them much of them he kept hidden or did not allow me to see until finished but I can give you some of his improvements on the current talismans. Do not use them until he is a reasonable age or just be vague about where you learned them." Wen Qing says in her no nonsense tone that often got her chaotic brothers to behave and to stop getting a'Yuan so filthy. Ah, a'Yuan would not be born for more than ten years from now... If Wei Ying remembers he will be heart broken. But first... "I need to meet Jiang Yanli. She was the only one who ever cared for a'Xian as much as I did and she would have gladly died for him even after he accidentally killed her husband."

"Agreed, Ziyuan's jealousy and insecurities have all but ruined our children..." Wei Changze says with a heavy glare she only ever sees on Wei Ying when someone accuses him of sleeping with his sister. He loves Jiang Yanli, but was never in love with her.

"Let's get to planning... A'Ze let's settle here...." Cange Sanren says and Wen Qing feels something shift and click in place. Hopefully it is for the better...

Chapter Text

~Time Skip~

Wen Qing looked up from where she had busied herself with cleaning up Wei Ying with Jiang Yanli's help. The sounds coming from her house had finally stopped so that hopefully meant that a'Ning was finally born. While she waited to be called into the hut she finished bathing her first little brother and Yanli helped her get him dried and dressed. It's only been a couple of years, but already he's showing so much promise. She hadn't known that the Wei Couple had begun his training so young the first time. Which would explain that even with the 3-5 year gap between their death and his rescue into the Jiang Sect, he was still so powerful.

Jiang Yanli was here getting treatment for the illness that nearly killed her in the last life and left her core weakened and crippled. However, Wei Changze was able to talk Jiang Fengmian into meeting him in a town about a three days trip from here to take Jiang Yanli for treatment since he and his wife had found several capable and talented doctors. Jiang Fengmian either really trusted Wei Changze's word, or was really a damned fool because he is waiting in said down until his daughter is healthy enough  to go home. That had been three months ago. By now Madam Yu must be apocalyptic with rage. Not that Wen Qing gives a damn about the bitch who singlehandedly ruined her brother's self worth and self preservation.

The Wens had easily found what was wrong and had cured the young girl before it got as bad as it had last time and thus prevented her core from getting damaged. Now she was learning some healing techniques from the Wens and Auntie Sanren was teaching bother of them how to use ribbons as weapons. Both girls showed great promise with it and Wen Qing was also teaching Yanli how to use needles wth deadly accuracy. Wei Ying was content to learn core building exercises and playing on the child sized dizi his father made for him. Right now they were trying to convince Cangse Sanren to at least send a letter to her mother, Wen Qing was hoping that at the very least the Immortal would give them some books on medicine, cultivation or even talisman crafting if nothing else.

After all while she had been dead she had seen Xiao Xingchen come down from the mountain and when his friend was injured, how he went back to get him healed. She hadn't been too pleased about that. Not the whole going back part, but rather cutting out his eyes for a worthless man. But it seems being painfully selfless to the point of self mutilation was something that ran through Wei Wuxian's maternal bloodline. and it was apparently a curse to give up a vital piece of your self wor a worthless person as well. Xiao Xingchen claimed that he and song Lan were soulmates and yet Song Lan blamed  Xiao Xingchen for Xue Yang's misdeeds and told him he never wanted to see him again or even associate with him.

Not even at the height of his madness and 'sins' did Wei Wuxian ever get rejected byt Lan Wangji. The Second Jade got made, yes, he was frustrated with the drastic changes in his soulmate and trying to help him, but never once did he reject Wei Wuxian. In fact, Wuxian was the one pushing him away to try and protect Lan Wangji, and yet the second Jade kept coming back, kept trying no matter how much they kept misunderstanding each other and miscommunicating. Even at the end of it all, Lan Wangji had went against his clan to protect his soulmate and was left nearly crippled for it. Song Lan blamed and shoved his 'soulmate' away and had the gall to become angry that he found himself a new life with the true culprit, even if Xiao Xingchen had  no idea.

One of the reasons she was pushing her Auntie to contact Baoshan Popo was because she wanted to prevent Xiao Xingchen from running into Song Lan as well as see if she could help them with Xue Yang. From what she had seen, even if he ultimately caused untold pain and suffering: Xue Yang, in his own sick and twisted way, had genuinely cared for a'Qing and Xiao Xingchen. If he hadn't he would have killed them as soon as he had a chance or in their sleep. She hopes to find him early and save him before he becomes so jaded and careless of others. She didn't wnat him to end up in her Uncles hands again or with the Jins.

"A'Qing!! Come say hello to your Didi!!" Her father calls and she shove her thoughts away for now, getting up to pull her brother and future sworn sister towards the hut.

Hurrying inside, she cannot help her nervous giggles as she slowly comes forward and there he is, a'Ning, all red,, squishy faced and so perfect! She climbs onto the bed carefully after she washes her hands and carefully accepts her brother. She holds him and the shock of warmth, the gentle pulses of a beating heart under her fingers nearly sends her over an edge of hysteria because when she had last seen him, he was a sentient Fierce Corpse! Unable to emote or even had needs that needed taking care of. She had seen him in chains as she was buring away at the stake, a single solitary tear falling from his face as she died. Shaking off the horrific memories she gives a watery smile and kisses his temple.

"Hello, a'Ning, I'm your Jiejie, a'Qing... this is your Gege, a'Ying and your other Jiejie, a'Li... I promise... this time, I'm going to protect you and keep you from becoming a weapon every again..." She promises softly into his ear as he gives soft little sniffles and starts to fuss.

She hands him quickly to her mother, who pops out a milk heavy breast and begins to nurse him as Wei Ying covers his face, knowing he's not supposed to see anyone naked. Jiang Yanli giggles and gently guides him out of the house as Wen Qing watches her brother nurse and when he is doen, he's is winded and then passed back to her.

"A'Qing...." she looks up at her parents and her auntie Sanren and Uncle Changze. "I wrote a letter last night and sent it off to my master... there is no guarantee that she will answer us, never minde help us..."

"That's fine, at least she knows you have a child so if something does happen, a'Ying will either stay with us or go with her. While I'm certain that Yanli would love for him to with her to Lotus Pier, that is not an option. Especially, with the way he was treated last time. I am working on becoming best friends with a'Li and hopefully in the future we wlll be Sworn Sisters.Speaking os sworn sisters, did you talk to yours yet?"

"No, I did get a letter from Qiren though. He told me she's not allowed to have mail or visitors. So I'm going to heading to Cloud Recesses in the morning. I'm taking a'Ying with me as well." Cangse Sanren says with a low growl.

"Good. I will write up everything concerning them tonight and you can bash that stubborn jerk over the head with it. Id didn't get to see too far into the future after my death and when I woke up as a child again. I only know that your little brother cannot meet song Lan of Baixue Temple. The man broke his heart and lead him to his death. Granted xue Yang was the one to actually do that, but I'm certain if we find him in time and bring him into a warm and loving home, he will not turn into such a monster. It was like looking at what could have become of a'Ying had he stayed on the streets or simply just snapped form the abuse he suffered under Madam Yu... and with how brilliant both of them are, and Wei Ying especially, it's terrifying to think about."

"Indeed..." Cangse Sanren agrees. "We are about a year or two out from my Sworn sister's death. I think I can work my magic enough to get her freedom and rock the Lans enough to ensure they leave my future son in-law and is brother alone."

"I see you are playing Matchmaker to try and subvert a lot of the future mess..." Her father laughs.

"a'Ying and Lan Wangji were fated to meet. There is nothing I need to do there, except make sure my loveable idiot of a brother realizes his feelings sooner and creates a healthy line of communication. It was painful to watch them clash because they both wanted to protect the other, but refused to say it. While I am sure that a'Li was eventually happy with her husband, I would rather she have someone who actually loves her and respects her. this sadly means I might be erasing a child from the tmeline, but if he is meant to be, then he will be born, just with a different father. Xiao Xingchen and Xue Yang will be another possible couple... I guess I can worry about a'Ning possibly falling in love...."

"And what about you?" Her mother asks.

"I was so busy keeping everyone alive, keeping a'Ying glued together and whether we would survive the winter or die at the hands of the hypocrites to worry about my own love life. And I don't think I will have much of one this go around either..."

"Well, we can't have that. No niece of mine is going to grow up into an spinster lady! Even if you keep it fully platonic, you need someone you can lean on, someone you can let  your hair down around. We will help you find someone." Wei Changze says firmly.

She flushes, but feels oddly warm about that. She eventually let's her brother go so she can go train with Yanli while a'Ying's getting his reading lessons...

~Time Skip~

Wen Qing was not expecting to go with her Auntie and Uncle to Cloud Recesses, but she cannot complain. She can raid the Library before it is destroyed and either low key steal the medical books or make copies to bring back with her. Wei Ying is amazed at the Lan Sect's home on top of the mountain, hidden above the clouds. The air is thinner up here and thus they have to wear amulets to help them breathe easier until they get use to it. They are sitting on Little Carrot, Auntie's donkey, while they wait to be let into the Cloud Recess. Wei Ying is brimming with curiosity and she will have to keep a tight hold of him to keep him from causing too much trouble.

Eventually Lan Qiren comes to greet them and he looks sourly at Cangse Sanren, who smiles back and she knows that smile far too well. Wei Ying Always wore it when he was about to cause some low grade mischief.

"Devil woman, what are you doing here?" He demands rudely.

"Wow, breaking your own rules?" Cangse Sanren asks, her smile going from warm to cold, edged dangerously.

"You're not welcomed here, get out!" He snaps back.

"Is that any way to speak to the daughter of an Immortal, boy?" An older woman's voice speaks up suddenly and then in a flash of pale blue lightning a silver haired woman appears and at he side is a child around Wei Ying's age. "I decide to comde down from my mountain to speak with my daughter for the first time in years and this is what I find? A worm daring to insult his superior? Lan Yi, your foolish descendants are ruining your Sect... Poor Lan An, if he and his wife had not moved onto Reincarnation already, he would be mortified by how rude you are as well as the ridiculous amount of rules added on to the original 100 he had written."

"Mother!! Ah, This Daughter greets Immortal Baoshan Sanren..." Cangse Sanren bows deeply and elegantly as the Lans all fall to their knees in both awe and terror. "Mother, I was not expect you..."

"I was teasing you when I said you were to never come home, you stupid girl... and when i hear from you again, I learn I have a grandchild of 5 now!? You are lucky I had a'Ming to keep me company!" Baoshan scolds her daughter, grabbing her ear and twisting it lightly.

"Ouch, a'Niang!!" Cangse cries, trying to get away.

Wen Qing blinks because the older woman reminds her of Wei Ying when he's being serious, and it is terrifying.

"Now why are you here?" Baoshan demands, letting her go.

"I can to see a'Li! Last I had heard from her, she was considering courting Mingchen, and then when I wrote to her, I get a letter from spider face, saying that she's not allowed mail or visitors. So I came to demand answers as well as deliver highly important information, but now I'm considering just grabbing Chunli, her boys and leaving these fools to their fate."

"Ah yes, the time traveler... it's you correct, Doctor?" The immortal's piercing jade greenish blue eyes pin Wen Qing and she remembers that stare, only they eyes were red and he had just freshly emerged from the Burial Mounds.

"Yes... I died about 20 years from now, trying to save your grandson's life..."

"Oh? Why would you do that?"

"Because I cut out core to save another, who turned out to be unworthy of such a precious gift and he was later tossed into the Burial Mounds. In three months, coreless, with out food or water, he creates and Masters Demonic Cultivation and in the end his power was envied to the point they drove him to madness and death. He killed himself and even after he was dead they vilified him and would not let him rest. I didn't get to see too far into the future, but I know they steal his inventions and blame him for anything and everything. especially him." She points at Lan Qiren because she may be 7 now, but she is a goddamn petty bitch and she fucking owns that shit!

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Here comes a wave meant to wash me away
A tide that is taking me under
Swallowing sand, left with nothing to say
My voice drowned out in the thunder

But I won't cry
And I won't start to crumble
Whenever they try
To shut me or cut me down

He had no idea how it got this bad? He had left the Cultivation World behind when the war had ended, his presence and his 'wicked path' no longer tolerated now that he was no longer of use to them. He gave back his Clarity Bell to his former brother and Sect Leader, kowtowed as he renounced any affiliation or claim to Yunmeng Jiang. He gifted his beloved sister a charm for her future child, gave her two courtesy names when she asked them of him and a protective amulet for both her and her husband. He took the Wen Remnants with him, forcing the so-called 'Righteous' Sects to give up them since not all who were named Wen or were from Qishan were supporters of Wen Rouhan. When they tried to claim in-action as as bad as supporting the former Chief Cultivator, Wei Ying demanded that they put themselves in the Wens places, being forced to watch as your family is tortured and killed before you or having someone precious stole and held prisoner, any failures, disobedience or betrayal would be payed on them 100 fold. Many Sect Leaders paled and reluctantly allowed him to take his 'pound of flesh' and he left.

They settled near the Burial Mounds, established their places among the people of Yiling and had lived in peace.

I won't be silenced
You can't keep me quiet
Won't tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless
'Cause I'll breathe
When they try to suffocate me
Don't you underestimate me
'Cause I know that I won't go speechless

Written in stone
Every rule, every word
Centuries old and unbending
"Stay in your place"
"Better seen and not heard"
But now that story is ending

They were left alone for a few years, he received a few letters from his sister, invitations even if she knew he would not heed them, but she wanted him to know he was dearly missed and still very much loved and wanted by her. He kept away from the Cultivation world, didn't bother with anyone outside of Yiling and the Burial Mounds, where he was building a settlement within the deadly Death Hill, where he can more easily experiment and handle the temperamental mass grave. The Wens found places to work or were welcomed among the people, all glad for help and adoring the children, especially a'Yuan, who was never too far from their beloved Yiling Patriarch. Wei Ying was always willing to help or invent something to help whenever possible. So he really has no idea how it happened, or why. Maybe seeing Lan Zhan that day in the Yiling Market had been an ill omen rather than the too few blessings he's ever received in his life? No, Lan Zhan could never be an omen of ill fate. But he should have known better, should have know that the greedy and hypocritical Cultivation Sects would allow him to live in peace.

And now he was watching his new family be marched out to the center of a massive pyre.

'Cause I
I cannot start to crumble
So come on and try
Try to shut me and cut me down

I won't be silenced
You can't keep me quiet
Won't tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless, speechless
Let the storm in
I cannot be broken
No, I won't live unspoken
'Cause I know that I won't go speechless

He was pinned down on his knees, arms held out at his sides as chains secured him between two pillars. He watched as each adult was marched through a mob, who threw rocks and rotten fruit at them. The people of Yiling kept at bay, shouting in protest. He doesn't know what happened or why this was happening, but eventually all the adults, including Wen Ning and Wen Qing were standing in the array and wood. They carefully arranged themselves, most laying down while Wen Ning, as a Fierce Corpse, did not tire and thus picked up his sister and held her close as the fires were lit. He screamed out for them, begging for the others to stop, to not hurt them. But his voice fell on deaf ears. He felt as if his voice had been stolen and struggled to be heard, to reach for his family. He was being drowned out by the cheering of the crowds and then it got so much worse! 

Try to lock me in this cage
I won't just lay me down and die
I will take these broken wings
And watch me burn across the sky
Hear the echo saying:

The children were grabbed and tossed into the flames as well. Wei Ying's heart shattered, his eyes turned blood red and as he watched a'Yuan join his family, a black bolt of lightning struck and he was free, he jumped into the flames, grabbed up his son, his family having gathered as close as possible, the kids were crying, the adults remained there, upset but resigned. He looked up as the flames and the array began to roar, thick billowing black smoke slowly choking them. He saw in the crowd, fighting his way towards them was Lan Zhan, his robes bloody and torn, he was so badly hurt, but still he kept coming. Wei Ying gives him a pained smile and then holds up the Stygian Tiger Seal. The flames begin to turn white, the heat growing strong as another black bolt of lightning strikes. the sky has bleed red and the sun has turned black. The phenomenon was finally noticed and the Yiling People began to kneel and kowtow, praying. They've long lived at the mercy of the Burial Mounds and thus were quick to beg mercy from the Death Hill's ill will. Another bolt strikes and the Cultivators rush to grab swords and looked for an enemy. This allows Lan Zhan to fully stumble toward the flames, ignoring the way his uncle shouted for him. He walked into the flames, if the world wanted to be rid of the 'Evil' then Lan Zhan will go with it. One last bolt strikes and this time it hits Wei Ying and there is a sudden and deafening screech as the flames burn brighter and begin to spiral around them all. Everyone screams in terror or fall over in awe as they rise higher and into a funnel of flames before they burst outward and the sky turns back to normal, the sun back to normal, but now hidden by black clouds that threaten to unleash their fury.

But that matters not because standing where the Wens and the Yiling Patriarch had been in the flames was a great black phoenix with beautiful crimson eyes accenting feathers. Around him were smaller birds all black and red, but of different types, several carried eggs and sitting on the on the great firebird's back was Lan Zhan, healed and holding a large egg in his arms. The Phoenix gave a loud cry, the others scattering and then with one beat, it was airborne and in a burst of familiar green flames the flock and phoenix were gone...

I won't be silenced
Though you wanna see me tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless, speechless
'Cause I'll breathe
When they try to suffocate me
Don't you underestimate me
'Cause I know that I won't go speechless

In the following years, the story of how a Demonic Cultivator was granted not only Immortality, but also both the 9 Heavens and the 10 Hells blessed him with the form of a legendary Phoenix. After the disappearance of the Demonic Cultivator, disaster befell many of the great sects, secrets and sins were exposed and it was so terrible that the Ghost King himself appeared to meet out the punishments. It too many years for things to settle and they finally did, whispers of a handsome man and child wandering the country reached the ears of those who remained, the man had with him a beautiful, but exotic bird always on his shoulder that always sang in a beautiful, but haunting tone. The three were said to have visited with the new Sect Leader of Lanling Jin and his family, leaving a grand blessing when they left. Visits to Qinghe and many smaller Sects. They avoided Yunmeng and Gusu, which was rather telling. But if they stumbled across juinors form those sects, they helped them, but never allowed the elders or seniors to see them. They say sometimes in the night you can hear a voice that had gone unheard once singing into the hearts and the minds of the quilty, echoing that they will never be Speechless again...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

"... This one would like to rent a room for a few nights..." Said a voice, low and urgent, but also laced with pain.

The innkeeper looked up to see a young woman, her once fine clothes covered in ash and soot, the edges of her skirts burnt and muddied while half draped over her trembling tiny frame was an unconscious young man.

His own robes, like her hers was once rich, but now we're ruined with ash, soot and mud, but also blood and gore. The innkeeper is instantly wary. Yiling was at the western most edge of the Five Nations, between Qishan and Yunmeng, but all but forgotten about by the world at large due to the massive Graveyard their town was built near. The Burial Mounds was a legendary place, one a sacred Grove that was bathed in the blood of millions upon millions of fallen over many long millennia. Many have tried to take control of the untamed hellmouth. Others tried to purify it and there were some who simply wished to solve it's mysteries but it always ended in more death and more darkness.

The finery he could see on the pair, the Innkeeper knew they had to be Cultivators and he was instantly on alert. Their town was left to die a slow, agonizing death, forgotten and slowly being swallowed by the ever growing miasma of Resentment that relentlessly batters at the edges of their town. Normally, such prestigious guests would be met with his best and most charming smiles and accommodations, but not now. Not when their pleas went so long unanswered by the great Sects and their smaller dominions. Not when the one who did answer was not a mere Cultivator but a Witch. This beloved Witch lived in and guarded the ancient mass grave, amassing great power and keeping the miasma at bay, the monsters it spawns away from their fields and homes so they can eek out a living.

Many have come through lately and many have tried to gain information on the rather quiet shadow looming over them, why the Miasma is not as thick, not as choking as it once was. Why Corpses are seen wandering the streets bringing medicines and trinkets to aid their daily lives and make them easier and much more wholesome. Why life was slowly coming back. He briskly slams his ledger shut and is about to show them the door when someone dressed in ash gray and black robes with beautifully sewn red embroidery with a weimao in a lurid red and misty black walks in. He can't help his brilliant smile then, but it is pinched with concern.

"Ah, afternoon, Gexia!!" He quickly rushes forward and bows deeply as his towns savior enters and a thin, elegant hand reaches out to touch his arm in gentle greeting.

"S-sir... Please... Please my brother's badly hurt and... Please!! I can cook and clean for the room... But please!?" The young lady begs again, looking on the verge of collapse.

"Uncle, why have you not allowed them room yet?" Asked his savior.

"Gexia, they are Cultivators!" He gasps as if shocked.

"And they need shelter and aid... Clearly something terrible has happened... I will pay for their room. Get them settled while I get Jiejie." The shrouded figure says softly and the Innkeeper bows again.

"As Gexia wishes..." He says reverently. He then hurries to aid the young lady carry her brother up to their room, choosing one with two beds and helping her settle her brother on the low but comfortable bed.

"Thank you, thank you! She sobs and he does feel terrible for almost turning her away. She is a gentle beauty, her face comely but her inner light shines brightly and thus makes her beautiful. "If I have enough coin left from paying the doctor, I will give that to you and work to compensate the rest!" She promises fervently.

"Bixia said he would pay for your room, he would not offer if he expected you to pay... But if you insist, the evenings is when the others come in for supper, help my wife cook each night you stay and we will call it even... Ah, Gexia! Doctor, the patient is here... I dared not move him in case his injuries were more severe than we originally thought."

The doctor, a woman around the same age as the young lady, dressed in the matching ash gray and black of their savior, though the red embroidery on hers was more simple and to the point, a distant mountain that looked like a resting Buddha and a fairy dancing for his entertainment. She said they were landmarks of her former home.

"Jiejie, he's bleeding from a deep stab wound and his spiritual energy is chaotic. Can you stabilize him while I look for my more potent spells to prevent his core from overloading and bursting?"

"Of course, you silly brat. Get a'Njng to help you. Are you using the Spirit Trapping Flags?"

"No, I was thinking of the Yang Lure Flags to help us channel spiritual energy without draining others or ourselves in the process... If all else fails, I will use my own spells."

"... If you are willing to risk it..." She says after a long pause and then gets to work...

Chapter Text

Jiang Yanli sat in the corner of the room wringing her hands nervously. She was tired and exhausted, she still smelt like a ash and blood, burnt flesh and wood to the point her stomach roiled with discomfort. However, she insisted that her brother be seen to first, she described as best she could what happened and nearly broke down crying when she admitted that she feared for his life since he was attacked by the Core Melting Hand, but was able to just barely cut the man's hand deeply, making it almost impossible for him to fully melt his core. The doctor nodded as she made note of this and admitted that it was due to this aborted attempt to destroy his core that his energy was out of whack, plus being injured and exhausted didn't help.

She cleaned him up, bandaging the injuries she could and seeing up others after packing them full of herbs and salves to help them heal faster. She got her needles out and placed him I to a deep sleep, slowing his heart to just a point above death and slowed his breathing to just slow and deep enough to keep him alive without lasting damage. She did this to keep him from waking and agitating his injuries or attacking herself or her brothers. Once she was done, she turned to Jiang Yanli and was getting her patched up when her brothers walked in. Her biological brother carried her medicine chest as well as several items that her adopted brother would need. She quickly took the chest and dug out what she needs for some post ritual medicine and to fight off fever and infection while her brothers worked on setting up the ritual carefully securing the flags into place and drawing out the necessary array to draw in ambient Yang energy. Once ready. They carefully carry the comatose male to rest in the center of the array and then the stranger sat by his side and began. Yanli watched with worry as her brother's face twitched every now and again, and indication of pain, but never waking. The doctor and her brother stood back watching stoically as he worked, the brilliant dance of crimson energy guiding the pale blue into and through her brother's body. His pallid color slowly gaining new life as the other worked. It took hours but finally the ritual was done and her brother looked healthier, though not 100%. He was carefully put back on the bed and Yanli squeaked when she was helped into the array and before she can protect she was subjected to a spiritual boost. She had no choice but to sit there and meditate, circulating her energy in and out of her body. When it was over, daw had broken and she gave an exhausted yawn while the stranger in the weimao fainted. The doctor quickly checking them before ordering her brother to take him back to their home and making sure he rests for the next few days before she turned to deal with Yanli.

"Will they be alright?" Yanli asks softly, even as her jaw cracks with another yawn.

"He will be fine, he's an idiot that cannot help but sacrifice himself for the sake of others..." She huffs and then helps Yanli to bed. "Rest. Do not waste his efforts. I will talk to the Uncle downstairs and let him know to not run you ragged after we just got you both some much needed help." She says and then leaves as Yanli reluctantly falls asleep, too tired to fight or protest...

Chapter Text

Yanli woke two days later, her energy surging stronger than she has ever felt it and feeling well rested, her brother was still out of it for now, but she got dressed and headed downstairs to help clean up and get food cooking. She worked all day without tiring and listened closely to the gossip. Lotus Pier had burned and almost everyone had been slain, there were little to no survivors who fled the Pier and only a few handfuls of Seniors who had been out on patrols or Night Hunts when the attack happened. She was hopeful her parents were among the survivors but she highly doubted it, not when her brother had their mother's ring, not when said woman claimed he was the new master.

She worked every single night, helping with the evening rush and preparing food for the next day. When she would return to her room, her brother would still be sleeping, his rest steadily getting more natural as he healed and got better. The doctor visits every three days to check on his progress and hers as well, but otherwise does not linger. She had not seen the Gexia in the weimao since, but everyone always spoke reverently of them. Some called them Him while others called them Her. She wasn't sure, but whoever this Gexia was, they saved her brother's life. So it was a surprise when on evening the person appeared like a silent spirit floating gently between the tables up to her as she finished placing down the last order for a table near the back.

"How are you, Guniang?" They ask and she startles slightly but smiles at them.

"I am better, my Didi is getting better as well. Whatever you did seems to have allowed his body to slowly heal and mend all the broken pieces. The doctor says in one more week he should be able to be awakened. Thank you again for helping us!" Yanli bows deeply and like with the innkeeper, a thin hand gently touches her arm and helps her up.

"I am glad... May I ask... Were you from the Pier?" They ask softly, carefully.

"... Yes... I... I was the young mistress... But... Everything and everyone is gone..." She says sadly so softly one would miss it if not listening so closely.

"I was there, I went to see why the river suddenly became angry and the ghouls returned... I have not driven the living out but I called to the dead and had them follow me here. Two of them were quite... Well I nearly burned one for her rudeness... I believe they were your parents... They seemed to be lingering for you." They say huffing inelegantly at the last bit and Yanli winces because even dead her mother insults people.

"You... You are a Demonic Cultivator?" She wonders.

"I am a witch, I do not cultivate. I use the natural power of the world around me to fuel my spells... I do not fly on a sword but on a cloud or a feather, sometimes a flower petal. I can summon monsters and gods alike. Communing with the dead is but a simple feat." They waves off, laughing softly. "Come let us speak upstairs... I hear talks of the Wen Army making their way here... It seems they are hunting for you and your brother..."

Yanli gaps in terror and follows him to her room. They enter and she blinks finding the doctor and her brother there before she feels shadows wrap around the room blocking light and sound from outside of the room. It felt like she was ina world of darkness but she felt.... Safe and comforted.

"Jiang-Guniang, I am Wei Qing, these are my brothers Wei Ning Wei Qonglin and Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian. We are the only ones in this town with the power to do anything that is beyond the skills of the common folk. Wei Wuxian, as I no doubt know, has told you about his trip to Lotus Pier... We have your parents bodies and have cleaned them up and dressed them though their spirits are quite rude, especially your mother's... A'Ning..." Wei Qing states and her brother carefully sets out a glass lantern of some kind with two glowing orbs in it. He opens it and in a flash the spirits of her parents appear. Her mother looks as refined and haught as always while her father looks mildly inconvenienced and affable as always.

"A'Li!" They breathe out sighs of relief, even as her mother turns to look for her brother and then floats to him fretting, but also cursing in annoyance. "This stupid boy, why is he sleeping so!?"

"Because his core was nearly melted and we barely managed to patch it back together and saved his life..." Snaps Wei Qing.

"You--"

"Enough!" The power in the word caused the spirits to flicker back into orbs a second and then turn to the one with the power in the room. "You have been rather rude since I came to see what happened and brought the dead with me to be cared for until such a time they can be laid to rest in their home. You keep calling me Sanren and it is rather pissing me off that you are speaking ill of a dead woman who long since moved into rebirth with my father. I could easily sniff you out and you will be lost forever. Keep testing me, woman... You are dead and no longer the lady of anything... All the dead are lowly and remain such until the Ghost King himself gives you a reason or a purpose... Now then... I brought you here to get closure with your children before I guide you towards the Ghost City and from there you either remain or eventually move onto rebirth." Wei Ying glares art the woman who sputters and gaps but does fall silent.

"Mother, he saved us! He got a'Cheng help and even healed his half melted core! Stop, please. Enough is enough!! You spent all your life comparing a'Cheng to a ghost and kept blaming your failings and shortcomings on a woman who left and never came back! Your insecurities are ridiculous and suffocating be you refuse to accept that the problem is you or the fault is your own!!" Yanli snaps and the woman is left gobsmacked. "You are dead, what can you hope to do!? Our home is gone!! There is no one to blame but the Wen who attacked us, the Wen who killed 6th Shidi over a stupid kite!! They used that as a reason to burn our home and turn it into a Supervisory office!!"

"The Wen?" Wei Qing asks in an icy tone.

"Qishan Wen... Wen Chao arrived and was spouting some nonsense about how we bit the hand that feeds us and then talked about the kite that had a 'vague sun shape' and that it was a threat to 'Shoot down our Sun' the Qishan Wen sect. And things quickly got out of hand and then..." Yanli tries to clarify but is worked up and begins sobbing.

"... A'Ying?"

"There will be too much death soon and I will need to do something or the Mounds will awake and I won't be able to keep the gates between our realm and the Death Realm from opening..." Wei Ying sighs and pulls his weimao off and Yanli is stunned by his beauty but also the way his silver eyes turn red and he creates a fire in his hand. "They want to keep others from shooting out the sun, huh? Why not create a newer and better sun to replace the one that is about to be shot?" He smiles wickedly.

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Wei Ying sighed as he reached yet another decimated village and found hardly anyone alive. This war was getting quickly out of hand and while he expected this level of brutality and lack for life from Wen Ruohan and his sycophants; he was not expecting the allied forces to commit the same atrocities as well. He quickly aided the living and sang for the dead, helping those who wished to move on find peace while those who lingered with resentment still in their hearts, he reanimated them and had them begin marching.

He was an unknown party and knew he was drawing attention by joining in, but this war has tipped the balance and it has upset the earthbound Gods. Wei Ying knew he needed to pick a side and aid them to the end, but knows that his awesome power will draw fear and greed. So he carefully hid his usual blood red and ebony black in his qiankun pouch and always donned the robe of some of those who fell.

The stories of his powers would reach the ears of those fighting long before they saw him and they would hear that sometimes Wei Ying was a woman, sometimes a man, a Jin or a Nice, a Wen or Jiang a Lan or a commoner, a merchant or a maiden, a blacksmith or an old matron. He hid under a rust colored weimao and only spoke when necessary, his voice masked with a talisman to keep others guessing.

He healed with a word and razed the earth with a song. A delicate twist of his fingers brought salvation and a dance of his feet brought ruin. He was chaos incarnate and he would not be tamed. He saved many civilians, Wen or otherwise and had some of his gentler summons guide them toward his home in Yiling. He knows that if the fighting had gotten to this point, no one will remember that not all those with the name Wen were evil or followed Wen Ruohan's decrees and will.

Wei Ying knew he would side, for now, with the Allied forces. This was simply because Wen Ruohan had lured his parents into a Night Hunt and captured them. He tortured and killed his father to try and force his mother to give up her secrets and the location of his grandmother's mountain. His mother kept her silence in the end, her soul shattering as she forced her magic to coil so tightly in her chest it exploded and left a great scar in the lands of Qishan and a matching scar of a blacked sun on Wen Ruohan's face, neck and chest.

'The day the Sun turns black is the day the rule of Qishan ends.'

A prophecy on the verge of death was a most deadly and potent one. Wen Ruohan should have listened for one of his strongest demons was a piece of his mother's shattered soul reformed into what he called the Bloody Empress while his first ever Fierce Corpse was his father. He was not a normal Cultivator and he did not use the teachings of the Righteous path to create and master his Path, but he did learn at the knees of many demons and ghouls and spirits. He was a Child of the Dead and the Prince of Yiling Wei. But to the people he was their beloved Yiling Witch. He called water as pure as a sacred spring to his palms while with a shake of his head mountain rose or crumbled. A twist of his hips sent the wind twirling with sweet spring or howling with the rage of a typhoon. He held more power in his tiniest toe than most had in their whole body.

Wei Ying knew he would easily tip the power scale. He just needed to be wary...

Wei Ying worse the hanfu of a courtesan when he came across a group of Jiang, Jin and Lan out numbered by a terribly large and unfair amount of Wen. Over half of whom were reanimated dead. He scowls at the bastardized method and poor quality and skill it showed in how slow and jerkily they moved. He was hardly a snob, when it came to the art of Necromancy, but as a Child of the Dead, he was offended. Not to mention how laughably easy it was to wrest control of the Dead from whoever controlled them.

He danced and sang a song of lustful rendezvous under the cover of night, and of sweet fleeting moments of innocent love. As he sang and danced that even a high class courtesan of the highest caliber would be green with envy. The Dead stopped attacking the Allied forces and instead captured and pinned down the Wen who quickly gave up but slaughtered the rest. He came to an end when the last hostile fell and he sashays his way toward the stunned group, all injured and much too young to be fighting a war.

Even he is too young, but Wei Ying's never been a stranger to hardships and the unfair treatment of life. He lost his parents at a young age and lived on the streets for many years before one day he ran deep into the forest of Yiling and into the Burial Mounds. He should have died but instead he was found, protected and even taught many things from the 6 gentlemanly arts to the skills and arts of a noble lady and common house wife. He learned reading and riding and math. Astrology and science, medicine making and many more.

Wei Ying was not an idle soul, but he bet he could survive on his own, without his magic and undead friends and family, while most of these young masters would flounder like landed fish. Shaking the unkind thoughts away he turns to the closest Wen and speaks in a cooing, dulcet tone of an aging madam even as he moves with the graceful guile of a mature mistress and exuded the untouched purity of a virgin maid. He blended well I to his role as the hidden talisman hid his true identity.

"Tell this silly one, do you serve your master willingly? If you do not, speak now and meecy shall be granted to you..."

"What mercy!? They are Wen-Dogs, killt hemlot of them!!" Shouted a gold glad young man. He was a bit rotund and not all that handsome. He looked like the type to believe only what he believes is true or what someone of his scet, who held full authority would say. He also looked like the type to not be able to read the mood or between the lines. Wei Ying hated that type the most.

They were always so quick to make judgement and never apologized when proven wrong. It was people like him that ruined lives and caused unnecessary troubles for others. Wei Ying turns to face him, his Weimao firmly hiding his identity and his suggestive clothing shifting dangerously lower and more open as he hums softly in thought.

"Not all who Wei the colors ofQishan Wen were originally Wen. We're there not many smaller Sects that were attacked and absorbed? Others annihilated for refusing to bow to the House of Wen? Are they not innocent? And what of the Wens who have been subjugated and forced to endure horrors and threats against their families in for forced compliance and loyalty?" Wei Ying hums softly, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "Who are you to tell me who is right and who is wrong? What is black and what is white? Who is good and who is evil?" Wei Ying challenges.

"You are just some whore!! How dare you talk to your betters!!"

"Jin Zixun, shut up!" Another in gold shouts and then quickly steps forward to bow to their savior, even if his face burns bright read. "This one apologizes on behalf of his foolish cousin. We thank you for offering your... Aid and offering Mercy where others would not."

Wei Ying waves a delicate hand dismissively and it is hypnotic to watch, the fine boned hand in of a musician flick with the careless grace that so many would kill to learn to do just as well. Wei Ying turns back to the captured Wens and interrogates them one at a time. He sends away the innocent, careful to not reveal where they are going least one of these foolish young masters tell their seniors. Those who do not pass his hidden tests are swiftly dispatched or bound in irons for the others to take back due to their high profile in the Wen Army. Having such valuable hostages will make their advancements better as well as demoralize the enemy.

As he works, he notices the Lan watching him closely, especially the one with the motifs of the inner Clan. Wei Ying al mm ost wants to flirt with him, to fluster him. But once he is done with his living hostages, he turns his attention to he dead. He sings again, dancing with such grace and skill that the young men cannot help but watch with flushed faces and burning desire. As he does so some of his army begin to lay themselves in rows and go still, never to rise again as their last wishes have been completed or were simply free to move on from their forced services.

Pleased with himself, Wei Ying sends his army on once more and spins delicately to face the young masters and bows with a flirtatious air around him.

"This silly one is leaving now... Best return to camp, little masters least you find more trouble!" He giggles and soon he is lifted into the air on a cloud of resentment and vanished into the setting sun...

Lan Zhan was not sure what to make of the person who saved them. While they moved and acted like a courtesan, he had the distinct sense they were not in fact a Flower of that particular kind of work. Though the words they spoke lingered in his mind, echoing as he looked toward the rows of dead, respectfully laid to rest both enemy and ally alike. He cannot help but wonder if they will cross paths again...

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan sat by his brother as the meeting wound down to reports of scouting missions. His thoughts still on the stranger who helped them, his distraction unnoticeable to anyone but his brother. However, Lan Xichen does not call him to attention, not yet at least. Even distracted, he can still retain any pertinent information. It is not until Nie Mingjue calls for himself, Jiang Wanyin and Jin Zixuan to step forward and report that he comes to focus. He joins the other two males and bows deeply to show his respect for the towering man.

"We were ambushed where we had stopped to make camp for the evening. An entire legion of undead attacked us and we had little choice but to defend ourselves since the messenger was killed before he could get off the ground on his sword." Jin Zixuan starts, his fist clenched at the loss and the reminder of how utterly helpless they were. "We would have died had it not been for the mysterious third party. It was a woman... A courtesan, who helped us by seemingly wresting control over the dead and forcing them to instead captured or kill the Wen. She then interrogated them one at a time, sending the innocent away. We have no idea where, but those who support Wen Ruohan, she either had them killed or placed in spirit suppressing irons and we brought them back. Several captains, an advisor and two generals." He finishes his report, leaving out the part where Jin Zixun made an ass of himself and got them all scolded by her.

"So it is a woman!?" Sect Leader Yao demands offended and scandalized.

"We do not know." Jiang Wanyin speaks up. "Their face was covered and while they moved and talked like a female, I suspect they are not in fact a woman, but neither can I be certain they are male... However, they sang and danced and the army of undead fell into their thrall and even laid themselves to rest, those who chose rest. The rest marched off, heading towards Yuechang."

"A Heretic!? Even worse!!" A Lan shouts, but cowers under Lan Zhan's harsh glare.

"Had they not steeped in, none of us would have lived. Wangji did not sense malicious intent. They questioned us when someone dared to speak against the 'so-called innocent ' Wens. They asked us: who are we to judge who is right and who is wrong? What is black and what is white? Who is good and who is evil?"

He sees the room give pause and look lost in thought.

"They also stated that not all who where the colors of Qishan Wen or bear the last name are loyal to Wen Ruohan. That the survivors of the insurgences were forced to join the army or die. Wens who have not joined willingly were forced to join least their loved ones suffer. Can we truly blame all the Wens when there are innocents who face death daily at the hands of their own Sect Leader as well as at our own if they dare to seek asylum?" Wangji says. It is the most he has spoken but clearly the words struck a cord much like with him.

"As loath as I am to admit it: We have lost sight of some of our goals. Do we not have at least one family who was once a Wen or is a Wen? Would we kill them as well?" Nie Mingjue grimaces as he says this. His thoughts on Huaisang, who is safe back in the Unclean Realms.

No one can argue that and they all reluctantly begin to hash out newer plans and details, ignoring Jin Guangshan who finally designed to join them, now that it was clear Wen Ruohan was going to lose...

Chapter Text

The tide had fully shifted with the mysterious third party finally picking a side. They showed up at nearly all skirmishes, protecting the innocent and either capturing or killing the enemy. So far they seemed to linger near the younger fighters, keeping the young masters and ladies of many clans and sects both great and small safe from harm. Able to wreak so much havoc on the battlefield with only a giggle, but with a wail of loss, able to bring the vast armies of the enemy to heel. It was not until the Wens were forced back beyond their own boarders that their mysterious benefactor designed to join the main camp. They never saw who they truly were, only knew them by the rust colored weimao that covered their head. One moment they were female, young or older or a male, soft spoken or loud and brash. They can never tell. Many distrusted them, whispered poisonous words to each other, but the person never listened or minded.

The Jiangs offered a tent in their camp when it was clear the others were too wary or mistrustful. Several Jins attempted to attack their benefactor, but slippery like an eel, they evaded the childish attempts. However, after a near miss, the Twin Jades moved their tents into the Jiang camp and set them on either side of their savior's tent, clearly but silently stating their protection and trust. Nie Mingjue was furious when he learned of the attempts and at the next war meeting kowtowed to a then Nie Clad Savior, two undead Nie Warriors at his shoulders to keep the others at bay.

They discussed his strange techniques after that and while many voiced displeasure, their benefactor stated clearly in a voice not unlike Nie Mingjue's that they were restless and would have risen without his input. And that they would prefer him taking them in thrall vs the classless Necromancer serving the Wens. That got them speaking more, but they quickly learned that unless their Savior wanted to answer their questions there was no way to pry them from their lips. Lan Zhan has been assigned, as Hanguang-Jun and peerless a love all others, to keep a close eye on them. So it was not surprising to see him walking out to a clearing near their main camp on a nightly bases and watch from the shadows of the forest as they danced and sang or sometimes sat with a guzheng plucking many songs from different lands and areas. One night a sordid balled from Lanling, an epic piece from Qinghe another night. But to night seemed to be a flue night and a piece from Gusu, an old lullaby that Lan Zhan remembers with pained fondness. His mother would sing it for him and brother when they were little.

He watched the mysterious being dance and play, glowing with the moon as Corpses rose and fell around them, as they get closer and closer to Nightless City, the army of undead neither grows nor diminishes. It is as if with each new battle those who wish to fight are allowed to remain while others who have been appeased or simply finally freed to move on were sent onto the Ghost City where they will eventually find their way to rebirth if not are instantly reborn. Lan Zhan finds this oddly beautiful, the songs and dances, the way the dead obey and lay themselves neatly in rows when they are done. Others shuffle off proceeding them towards the heart of Qishan Wen. It seems that word had even reached the Wen for an entire sub branch lead by Wen Ruohan's niece had met them at the edge of a town that had been pillaged and burned by Wen Ruohan's men. She offered insightful tips and information, but also her unparalleled skills in medicine.

At first there was hostility until Wen Qing, much like Nie Mingjue kowtowed before their Savior, but not in apology, but rather thanks for finding and saving her family from being experimented on and getting them to safety. Even now, Lan Zhan can see the small camp of Wen Doctors not too far into the clearing, choosing to camp away from the hostility and insults. Across the way a young man with a boy watched with flushed face, innocent eyes wide with awe as they watched this beautiful fairy dance around, singing and playing. Lan Zhan for a moment thought he saw the weimao give way and for just a heartbeat, silver met gold and then the fairy springs into a tree to sleep...

Wei Ying floated lazily on his cloud of resentment, drifting slowly forward as the final battle raged under him. The sun was reaching high noon and his focus was solely on Wen Ruohan, who gloated over a pinned Mingjue and a downed Xichen. A flash of white makes him glance only slightly toward Hanguang-Jun, who blocked arrows aimed at him. He focuses on the man who killed his parents, tortured them and forced his mother to shatter her soul and verly likely never be reborn and forced his father to abandon rebirth to remain at Wei Ying's side as his fiercest and most loyal Corpse, half sentient since a part of him died with his mother's shattering and thus was impossible to make him fully sentient.

He lands calmly down where Wen Ruohan is about to behead Nie Mingjue, but Wei Ying stops it with his black flute, able to keep the blad at bay.

"You!! You are the so called Hei Laozu or is it Hei Guniang?" Sect Leader Wen sneers, trying to break the blasted piece of wood but unable to.

"Yes..." Was the dual voice of a man and woman. The sound must have startled Sect Leader Wen for he stumbled back.

"Impossible!!" He gasps and Wei Ying smiles cruelly.

"Oh but it is... You tortured and killed my mother for secrets and yet doubt them seeing them in front of you... Living proof..." Wei Ying giggles darkly.

"Mother? They had a brat!? Damn it, had I known..." Wen Ruohan murmurs.

"Sorry, old man, but I would rather be burned 1000 times over than ever be raised by you." Wei Ying scowls and then pulls his flue to his lips and two shrill notes later his Baba and Mama are there. The fierce Corpse still dressed in his Jiang robes, eyes burning like white flames while his mother floated lazily at his side, a manic giggle escaping her veiled face. "Mama and Baba waited a long time for their revenge... I hope you are ready..."

"Impossible, they had soul calming ceremonies!!"

"Baba did as a former member of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, but Mama was raised by an Immortal, why would she need a Soul calming ceremony when her soul is guaranteed entry into rebirth? However due to the tortures you put them through and forcing them to leave me alone and without a home or safety, why would they move on peacefully?" Wei Ying asks as his mother gives a snarl and lunges, her deadly sharp claws gouging out four cuts into Wen Ruohan's shoulder as Wei Ying smiles. "My mother told you that the day the Sun turns black you would die...."

And above them slowly darkness began to take over and everyone stopped in shock to see the sun being blocked out.

"Those who worship Chang'e need her most, she lends her aid... She may not shoot the sun, but she can swallow it like the pills of immortality, but only for a short time... Now.... Now you will die..."

With that a Jiang Lullaby, but twisted into a discordant song sounds and without the Undead fall fully to his pull and Wen Ruohan can only watch in horror as his death comes in the form of a young man with corrupted versions of his parents at his side and two Sect Leaders paying witness to his down fall.

All he can think as his death falls upon him is that he should have listened to Cangse Sanren's warning....

Chapter Text

Wei Ying watched his parents murder be twisted and pulled by the resentment that he tried to master and was failing. His screams echoed over the battlefield until they died out into a pitiful whimper that was quickly snuffed out by Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen from cutting off his head. Once the silence met the air, the demons began to disintegrate back into their true forms the faces of family members both of Wen blood and from the sects that had been absorbed and destroyed began to appear, the true horror of what Wen Ruohan had wrought coming to life. If this was the fate of the who tried to oppose him before faced, could they truly blame those who saw this and chose to quietly obey? Who chose to remain as neutral as possible so as to avoid being killed!? There were bodies from graves that had been robbed and among them was Nie Mingjue's father. He staggered to the Fierce Corpses and carefully cupped his cheek.

"Baba, but how..."

"When Wen Ruohan messed with the spirit of your father's saber, and he eventually died, he must have planted a curse mark that took control of him." Hei Laozu says softly walking up to them.

"How do you know this?"

"I speak to them, I sing for them, I cry for them, and I fight for them.I am their avatar, their child and their Lord. I am not of your world I learned my ways by living among the dead. I do not live by your rules, I do not live by your laws and I will not be punished for your misconceived notions. And before anyone, especially you, Sect Leader Nie, condemn me for the use of resentful energy when the Nie's use the resentment of animals and beasts to Cultivate. You are Demonic Cultivators through and through, by using even that much. And clearly you're follows for not cleansing yourselves and your blades... I can help but you and your people can never raise a blad to me ever should I do so..." Hei Laozu sighs softly holding his hand to late Sect Leader Nie's head and it glows darkly a moment before the Fierce Corpses moves and blinks.

"A'Ling? You're so big now... What happened? Where a'Que? And your mother?"

"Father... Father Mother Ai was killed by Wen Ruohan for the supposed assassination of Madam Wen... You died due to a Qi Deviation when you got the news... We hid a'Que when they came to get the last of the Wens who came with Mother Ai... You've been dead for nearly 10 years... I had to rule the Sect and raise a'Que.... He is now Nie Huaisang and he's.... Well he is a lazy spoiled thing..." Nie Mingjue admits sadly and fondly.

"A'Que has a saber?!"

"Yes but he refuses to use it... He paints and collects fans and reads porn all day..." Mingjue admits with a fond exasperation in his voice.

"Ah, then perhaps a weapon he would gladly use is in order... Perhaps a War Fan..." Hei Laozu suggests. "It is from a small nation behind our boarders the use dancing and unconventional weapons as their main fighting style. They use fans, whips, spears, small daggers and even scarves and ribbons. They also mastered stealth and blending in. But then again their are a nation of Assassins. I learned some of my techniques from them. In fact one of them chose to be one of my personal guards."

"I don't like that... But... Huaisang is sneaky so it would suit him..." Mingjue grouses.

"I can let you two chat for a while longer I need to see to the others and help them get closure. Just remember not all Wens are evil or wanted to follow their Sect Leader. Look around you most of his demon army were members of his own family and clan, his disciples and more... The real evil has been slain, don't let bloodlust and pride blind you..." Hei Laozu says softly as he moves on.

"Thank you... Father come, we have much to speak about..." Mingjue says as he moves the man towards where the Nie were gathering around lost members who were slowly awakening into sentience and starting to talk with them...

It took days for all the dead to be sorted through, most of whom were allowed to see the living members of their families one last time before they were laid in neat little rows on pallets that would then be carried back home for proper burial. The remaining Wens were sorted out from the loyalists and would be Future Wen Ruohan's to those who just wanted to live their lives peacefully and only Night Hunt when necessary. There were very few Cultivators left for the Wens so they opted to convert their Sect into a Healing Sect under Wen Qing's direction. The talks all happened under Hei Guniag's watchful eyes, her skills at spotting lies and underhanded tricks unparalleled. It made many wary of her but also envious of her. Many have purposed hosting her and making her an official member of their sects, especially Jin Guangshan, but she refused.

Once the last of the dead had been sorted and peace talks concluded a sad aria was sung and they watched the souls leave and shatter like diamond dust across the night sky, the souls finally free to move on. Those who remained were sent off towards what Hei Guniang called Home, but never described where it what it was. The Witch burned the bodies of those who requested it and moved the ashes into urns for them while others she wove bandages around, mummifying then. She sang and wailed all night long until she passed out at dawn and the others began their march home, her Assassin bodyguard appearing to keep her safe as the war camp broke up for the final time....

Wei Ying awoke back home in his dark palace of undead and silence, happy that finally his parents could rest, but he senses that he sparked too much interest in his skills and power. There will be trouble in his future but he also saw light... Cold and distance but never the less warm and protective. A light that reminded him of Hanguang-Jun....

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Wei Ying had lived his whole life in the sacred pool of Yuè Huā Zhī Xīn. Like most moon fairies, Wei Ying's skin was pale like lilly flowers but his eyes were bright like moonbeams. His hair was black like the night sky and his wings that appeared like gossamer scarves and translucent flower petals glowed  and sparkled like starlight. He wore black with red accents, the black hanfu of his clan and the red accents of his rank as the beloved child of their leader.

But once day their home was attacked and tainted, many of his people fled, were captured or killed. Some became corrupted versions of themselves and his home that had once glowed like gentle moonlight and healed began to glow bloody red and harmed any who touched it. All but his flower and him. His mother and father sacrificed their lives to protect him and their combined power created a a vacuum of sorts. All that was corrupted and tainted would find it's way here and fuel the power of the pool, fuel the power that Wei Ying now nurtured and refined.

He lived his whole life hidden from the world until one day he wandered out into the human world curious to see what has changed since the great battle when he was but a tiny sprite, unable to change his size and still able to fit on the palm of his father's hand. He missed his father's quiet, seriousness and the way he played his flute. Able to express what his face could not. Or his mother's bright and joyous laughter. How she played her Ehru or guzhen.

He missed his shixiongs who always brought him treats from their adventures or the Shijie's who brought him curious gifts and items for his inventions. He certainly missed his Shidis and shimeis, who all enjoyed the games he came up with and the stories he spun for them. He missed the old grannies and grandpas who spoiled him with snacks and head pats, the aunties who taught him household chores and skills or the uncle's who taught him crafts and haggling. He missed the sight of endless flowers and the gentle tinkling if fairy wings as they zipped to and fro. The gentle cacophony of gentle laughter and bright chatter. He missed not being alone, not ruling over a corrupted and dead land. But Wei Ying was not one to wallow. He forged on and smiled brightly even when all he wanted to do was scream in rage and cry bitter tears of resentment.

Perhaps he should not have left his home, were he was safe, but he still left with his guards, the dark versions of his Shixiong Li Kahn, Li Shiwang and his Shijie, Wu Ai, Wu Baihe. She was also called the Hongse Huaban for her flowers s we're deadly sharp and she left a wake of blood soaked petals in her path. While Li Shiwang was also called the Hong Zhizhu for he laid deadly traps and moved in for the kill like a spider. They kept hidden from sight, much like many of those who follow his call. He spends much time helping the town of Yiling,who quickly grow fond of their beautiful little Fairy and his odd demons.

Eventually, the call to explore further drew him away from home and Yiling where he created a safe haven within the bubble if dark miasma and resentment. He traveled to towns and villages always helping and enjoying learning something new. He ran into humans who wielded a strange magic unlike his own, it felt more primitive and unrefined, despite the accuracy and skill in which they used it. However, he ran into a strange young man who had they eyes of a dragon. Dragons were sacred divine beasts and were hard to corrupt. But Wei Ying senses that despite his heavenly appearance this child of Dragon blood was far from holy. And another thing Wei Ying knew was that Dragons were very possesses beings. He made sure to remain respectful and courteous, despite his openly friendly demeanor and gestures.

Wei Ying soon moved on, but was unaware that the dragon blood in the child was not from the Heavens , but from the 10 Hells. He was the Black Dragon King, a very powerful and dangerous demon. And said Demon was obsessed...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying's adventure was full of surprises and new experiences, but his poor little heart broke as he realized he could not simply go home and tell his family and friends about it. They were all gone either dead, corrupted or scattered across the Cultivation World. He has run into other types of Fairies, flower fairies, water fairies, and even an old grumpy rock fairy! Wei Ying enjoyed talking to those willing to talk to him, many of whom were shocked that there was at least one Wei Fairy left! This lead to several courting attempts, but Wei Ying was still young, he hadn't mastered transforming fully. He could only be human for a few hours and then he would *POP* back into his tiny form. Shiwang and Baihe often carrying him in their hand or in the folds of their robes.

Wei Ying slowly got better and stronger until he could change between forms at will after a few years. But sadly, he came out around a time of war and as he steadily got further away from home, the peaceful towns began to become wary and mistrustful, others outright hostile and then the towns were many died came up. The familiar tang of resentment in the air made Wei Ying feel ill knowing that so many died like his own family, and that they lingered due to an undying thirst for revenge.

Wei Ying began gathering the dead and leading them away from innocent people, helping most quickly enough to send them onto rebirth while others refused to leave until their revenge had been wrought upon the Wens. Wei Ying had unintentionally brought attention onto himself as he traveled and rumors began to spread of the Dead rising and helping to lay the others to rest, creating a barrier of undying warriors around towns while the living gathered what they could and fled. He didn't join the fighting, but if the fight was brought to him he did send his army out with his Shixiong and Shijie.

So off course it was a matter of time before someone saw him and he was captured and brought to Wen Ruohan. He was supposed over a great fiery pit as he was interrogated and tortured for information. He cried out and sobbed, but said nothing. He knew what danger his secretes could bring especially with something like the Yin Iron in play! He screamed out as he was penetrated with yin energy and it burned at his meridians, but suddenly the pain stopped and he helped as he shrink into his fairy form and landed on the palm of a familiar man's hand, but he was dressed in pitch black robes with silver accents and armor pieces, his golden eyes burned with rage as he carefully cups Wei Ying and then sends him into a dimension pocket before he glared at Wen Ruohan and holds up his hand. He says nothing as a small ball of reddish black fire appears and then suddenly expands to nearly the same size as the sun in the sky. The massive ball explodes after it reached critical mass and Wen Ruohan and his devoted followers were burned and killed in seconds only those who do not support him or follow him willingly were left unharmed. Once it was over. He snuffs out his ball of fire and carefully pulls Wei Ying out and cannot help but stare at him, even so tiny he was beautiful. The dragon Lord watches him slowly look up and squeak with fright. Carefully touching an armored hand to his cheek when he notices a bruise and grows furious...

Chapter Text

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Wei Ying realized that with most of the Yin iron pieces in Wen Ruohan's hands, there was little that could be done even with his own army. He has not been able to rest, has not been able to recuperate in any capacity. He lost his home, went on the run with his shidi, said shidi then lost his core and Wei Ying had to beg a Wen to cut out his own golden core and give it to him.

After spending nearly three days being gutted and stitched back together, he wasn't in the best condition when he was ambushed by Wen Chao and then tossed into the Burial Mounds. There he remained for three months slowly losing his mind, his injuries too much to heal from and yet he didn't give up or die. Instead, he did the truly impossible, he survived and managed to slap together a barely functioning but certainly powerful form of Cultivation. In those months of his capture he learned so much and managed to gain enough control of the residents of the Burial Mounds to be able to escape and ever since he has been on the move, eliminating the Supervisory offices, taking back control from the Wens, never resting for long and hardly eating, sleep was a fraught effort that he fruitlessly tried to avoid when he could.

He had to deal with the disapproval and disappointed glares of the others once he joined the army. Always kept to the outside and gossiped about. Even at night while others slept, he was busy protecting them from would be ambushes. He was worn thin and was hardly held together by the fee precious things he was fighting to protect. So it was hardly a wonder when he asked for permission from Sect Leader Nie to run a quick errand that should help them finally turn the tide of this war into their favor and allow them to win.

Said man had deliberated while others shouted their opinions as if they mattered, but Nie Mingjue nodded his approval, ordered him to be back in four days because that was when they planned to storm Nightless City and finally put an end to the Wens. Wei Ying reminded them all once more that not all with the name Wen were evil and not everyone had the means to fight back; to not be blinded by bloodlust and hubris. Many thought it was rich, coming from him who abandoned the Righteous Path for wicked tricks and the Heretic Path.

He left not listening to any of them. He traveled alone on a horse that Nie Huaisang had managed to find for him, a behemoth of a mount who was very fast, but extremely temperamental. However, the horse seemed to like him and listened to Wei Ying without issue. He rode for a day towards Mount Muxi and into the cave of the Xuanwu of Slaughter. He quickly summoned the strange sword he found those few years ago and began to manipulate and reshape it. He had to be quick, but thorough in his work since he needed to meet up with the army in less than three days.

He probably should have rested, because just as he finished reshaping the sword into a talisman, there was a backlash of power and he was flung back. However, he didn't land not was he injured. However he was being penetrated by resentment and it hurt!! He screamed out finally as the energy from the newly made seal, what lingered of the Xuanwu's resentful spirit and what he had harnessed from both the Burial Mounds and the battlefields he fought on. It grew too much and he passed out...

He doesn't know how long he was out for, but knew he couldn't linger any longer. He slowly and weakly sat up feeling two pairs of tiny hands helping sit up.

"Mama's finally awake, Gege."

"Indeed, he is, didi."

Wei Ying startles hearing the young voices and blinks his eyes open to see twin boys, both with his messy black hair, his features and even matching outfits to his own, but their eyes were blood red and feline like. They looked like him when he was about 6 or 7 years old. However, one twin had a serious face while the other looked doe eyed and nervous.

"Wh-"

"Mama gave birth to us! We will help Mama!" The doe eyed twin speaks up. "Gege, won't we help?"

"Mm." He nods seriously and it is strange to see it on his own face." Mama needs to name us first... Names are powerful after all." 

Wei Ying blinks and blinks again. He was dreaming right, but then he saw on their foreheads one have of his newly created Stygian Tiger Tally. They were his weapon!! But somehow they were flesh!? But then he remembers snatches of what happened. He had been penetrated and impregnated by the resentment. He had grown rapidly pregnant and passed out as the twins were cut from his body fully formed.

He nearly faints again, too pale and weak to really do much else, but he needed to move, he had to join up with the others soon and help end this damned war so he can finally, finally rest! He sobbed then, just too overwhelmed and his son's quickly hug him, tiger tails appearing behind them as rounded tiger ears popped up on their head. He found the sight oddly adorable and made a comment they would be cuter if they were bunnies. The boys pout but then he gets an idea.

"How about Wei Yin, Wei Heilong for you, my little Mini Lan Zhan... And for you, Wei Yang, Wei Baitu?" He asks and his son's, so strange to think this but Wei Ying is quickly accepting it.

His son's share considering looks and nod before he reluctantly stands and they support him as they leave and the boys help him into his horse. He needs to leave now if he wants to help the others...

Wei Ying's arrival on the battlefield could not have come at a better time, as always his flute heralded his arrival and with him an army of undead. He rode his horse onto the field as his son's vanished and appeared as massive black tigers with matching demonic red eyes and smoke like resentment wafting off of them. They roared and shook the Sun Palace to it's foundations and with a sharp note from their mother, they led the charge. In a matter of seconds the tide had been flipped and in mere minutes the Wens had given up as Wen Ruohan raged at losing, but also greedy for Wei Ying's power. But he could not get more than a step from where he had been at the top of the stairs before Nie Mingjue beheaded him.

As his head rolled to a stop before the tigers, the war was won. The Allied forces began cheering and some turned to the Wens who had given up or had been hiding from the massacre to start culling, but we're stopped by the undead and then Wei Ying gave a pained moan and passed out. Wei Yin's tiger form catching his mother as Wei Yang changed into his child form and commanded the army to safe guard all the Wens their mother spared. It was a shock needless to say....

Chapter Text

The world slowly came back into focus with the at first muffled sounds of arguing, that quickly became shouting as he fully regained consciousness. Wei Ying moaned as his temples throbbed and he rolled as best he could to the side to try and hide from the loud noises. The movement seemed to cause a stop in the shouting match and in a moment he was being carefully pulled up into a sitting position. He blinked sleep bleary eyes open and found the stern face of Wen Qing not too far from his. The hands carefully holding him up were familiar as well. Though the last time he felt then they were restraining him as the woman before him carefully cut him open and pulled out his golden core and gave it to his shidi.

"You are a complete idiot!" She harshly snaps, but there is a pinch around her eyes and mouth that speak volumes of her concern and regrets. "Had I known what would have become of you, I never would have agreed!" She hisses softly, carefully placing her needles in precise spots along his neck, chest and shoulders. He feels lightheaded all of a sudden and then gags. He is helped into a more straighter position and then a firm strike into the center of his upper back has him coughing out blackened and putrid smelling blood.

She grimaces at the sight but does not shrink away as she gives a second strike and more is coughed out. She quickly cleans his face and adjusts some needles before she gives one last firm strike and the blood comes out redder this time. She nods and lets her brother begin to carefully press on key qi points and Wei Ying can only moan weakly as he feels the resentment in his veins flow properly. Once the are done, Wen Wing turns to grab water and bucket. She helps him clean his mouth out before she allows him to sip on the clean water. He is thirsty, he realizes and wants to guzzle it down, but Wen Qing doesn't allow it and his arms are useless due to her needles.

"Dr. Wen, how is--? A'Xian!" He looks up and sees his Shijie as she hurries over, placing a bowl of thin broth down and carefully taking his hand in hers. "A'Xian, oh a'Xian! I am so happy you're ok!" She sobs and Wei Ying aches at her tears.

"Sh-Shijie..." He rasps out.

"He's alive... Which in itself should be impossible... But those children were correct. I found and have begun healing all the injuries they indicated he suffered, they will take a very long time to heal..." She trails off looking guiltily at the ground.

"But, a'Xian's golden core is one of the strongest of our generation! Surely it will not take that long!?" Jiang Yanli gasps in fright.

"Mama's core is gone." Said Heilong as he and his twin appear in the room from nowhere, startling all but Wei Ying who felt the slight shift in air before they appeared.

"Gege is right. Mama's core is gone and he didn't heal properly before it was gone... Our birth only a week ago did more harm than good. But Gege and I have done our best to fix the damage. Auntie is now doing the rest the best she can..." Baitu chirps softly.

"Wh-what!?" They turn to see Lan Qiren, who apparently was mid stride entering the tent with several others following him.

Wei Ying winces and knows that there will be no hiding it now. After all Wen Qing and Wen Ning we're kept to the promise but not his new children, who apparently cared little for others sensibilities. They started at the others with blank faces, though Baitu looked a bit nervous.

"Mama's core is gone. He can never return to your so-called Righteous Path. He was then captured and beaten half to death before he was thrown into the Burial Mounds where our seed was planted in him unknowingly. We were nurtured for three months in the Burial Mounds and then over the course of the war until mother went to gather more power to help you win finally." Heilong explains with a sharp tone.

"Mama made us and we were born, but again he didn't rest or heal, instead he came to fight so we did it for him. We know Mama's soul better than any of you and followed his will accordingly. You want to punish Mama and we will not allow it." Baitu stamps his foot angrily.

"..." Wei Ying slowly looked up to see Lan Zhan staring at him horrified. He looks down and his son's sense his sadness because they quickly move to hug him, careful to not hurt him or move the needles.

"We're sorry Mama, but they're going to hurt you if we don't tell them! You lost your core and had no other option left in the Burial Mounds! It was rather Cultivate the 'Heretic' path or join the untold legions of restless souls damned to never know peace or rebirth... You have made sure all you used found peace and moved on or were irrevocably under your control so they cannot harm the innocent..." They cry, worried they did something bad.

"Aiyah, who said you two can be so cute!? Where are my fierce little tigers?" Wei Ying smiles sadly at them.

They allow their tails and ears out and he smiles brighter at them. He still believes they would look cuter as bunnies. He looks up at Sect Leader Nie and Lan Xichen, but also in horror at Jiang Cheng, who is glaring at the Wen Siblings.

"Young Master Wei, what happened to your core?" Zewu-Jun asks, eyes wide with terror, but also glancing at his brother.

"Like Heilong and Baitu said, I lost it and had to make due... Though I could have gone without being impregnated by Resentment... That hurt..." He groans as his son's press a bit closer.

"... Wei Ying... Wangji apologizes for his inconsiderate words and harsh treatment..." Lan Zhan suddenly bows deeply, practically kowtowing before the bedridden young man.

"You didn't know and I... I never planned to let anyone know... I was either going to die in battle or before everyone else... It's inevitable and I have accepted this fact... So why make others worry..."

"You're a monster is what you are." Jiang Cheng snaps out and Wei Ying looks like he was punched in the gut. "First you get Yunmeng Jiang razed to the ground, my parents killed and now you dare to cultivate the Heretic Path!? As your Sect Leader, I will be punishing you for your crimes! And then those Wen-Dogs will get what they deserve!!"

Wei Ying looks at him and tries to find the hidden meanings behind his words but find none. He is completely serious. So Wei Ying squares up his shoulders and lifts his chin as best he can.

"Sect Leader Jiang, with all due respect: You can fucking bite me. I warned everyone that ignoring Wen Ruohan would lead to trouble and it did. They used the flimsy excuse that the Lans were 'arrogant' for hording their knowledge and to a degree they were right, but even if I kept my head down and did nothing. Yunmeng would have still burned, everyone would have died, even Shijie. Their excuse was that I 'distracted' Wen Chao as he was about to 'kill' Xuanwu. I was whipped half to death over a distraction...." He bites out. "I had planned to keep this to my grave but since I need to pay for my crimes, then give me back my core... I gave it up so you can live and this is the thanks I get? Give it back..." Wei Ying spits out eyes glowing red.

"No. It belongs to Yunmeng Jiang since we were the ones to teach and train you!"

"Jiang Wanyin!!" Jiang Yanli shouts furious and hurt. "How could you say that!? After all that a'Xian has done for us!!"

"He has caused us nothing but trouble!!'

"He took all the blame mother always placed on you for being soft and weak!!! He took the brunt of everyone's ire so no one would look bad on you!! He allowed himself to be tortured daily for your sake and now that he gave up the Sword path for you, you want to punish him!?" She snaps out shocking them all. "I stayed awake for years holding him as he refused to cry, healing him as best I could with what meager skills I had and soup!! Soup!!! If what he says is true, you should be thanking him that you can cultivate at all!!" 

Jiang Wanyin sputtered in shock and tried to go ight back but there was always this truth to Jiang Yanli, mild and gentle she may be, but she was the daughter of Madam Yu and would not bend or bow. She snapped her fingers and to their shock Zidian jumped to her finger and she cracked the whip out and let it crack with intent.

"You want to be like mother, then give Wei Ying his core back and be miserable!! But I will not stand here and allow you to hurt the one person who has loved us unconditionally, while our love and protection of him has always been held like treats he had to earn!!! I am breaking that cycle now and if anyone tries to hurt him, I will strike you down..."

The twins were in awe of Jiang Yanli, they had seen her in their mother's memories and had thought her too soft and weak, but apparently their auntie was so much stronger. Pleased they changed fully into their tiger forms and looked ominously at her sides. Their tails lashing as they waited for the fight...

Chapter Text

There was a tense air of silence as everything said was slowly being absorbed and processed in everyone's mind. Jiang Wanyin lost his core and Wei Wuxian willingly allowed his own to be cut out and given to him. So with his core now lost forever to him, a piece of his very soul, in the body of another, Wei Wuxian couldn't and would never return to the Sword Path. He was utterly mortal and mondaine now. His life would be much shorter than their own and he did this willingly. Would he have done it for anyone else? Perhaps not a stranger but someone he cares for, he would carve himself apart for them so they can have a use for it, a use for him. It was a horrible realization that struck Nie Mingjue, Lan Xichen and Lan Zhan, even Lan Qiren finally caught on that the boy was raised to be a living meat shield, always there to buffer the bad habits or rotten attitudes for the Jiangs, especially Jiang Wanyin as the future Sect Leader and having never made friends out side of his adopted brother and his blood sister.

Wei Ying was trained and conditioned to have no sense of self preservation or self worth. His only worth is how useful he is to those around him. Jiang Yanli admitted that the Jiangs affections and protection of him were always conditional while the boy loved them freely and wholly even with how often he was hurt for it. He kept loving them even going so far as to sacrifice the core he developed no doubt to protect the Jiangs to his last breath, a core he spent years and likely endless hours of relentless training. Is that why he can't sleep early and raises so late? Filling out reports and training even lat into the night? Or is it due to the subtle whispers that Madam Yu, still jealous and full of resentment for a woman who had left and never came back to Lotus Pier after her wedding to Wei Changze, was so much that she took it out on the son of said woman? His pain tolerance was unheard of and only inhumane treatment and torture could get to that level.

He was awfully preceptive to instantly read the room, a situation and act accordingly. He would act playful and cheerful or he would annoy and frustrate others so they do not realize faux pas of the Sect Heir or that he could have irreparably ruined relationships between their sects with his words and attitude. His temper not helping things at all. Wei Wuxian was truly an anomaly amongst them all. He survived the Burial Mounds only a handful of days after getting his core removed and being beaten and tortured by Wen Chao before that. He continued to sacrifice himself for not just Yunmeng Jiang but for all of the Sects and they have done nothing but speak ill of him, condemn him for his blatant arrogance and abandonment of the Sword Path without asking him who he had when they knew he was the fourth ranked eligible young master for marriage amongst the ladies due to not only his looks, his bright and cheerful personality but his skills and Master of the 6 Gentlemanly Arts, even though he was a low birth, the son of a supposed servant and a rogue Cultivator. Everyone constantly forgets that no servant is a cultivator. They are too busy cooking and cleaning and keeping things near and functioning in the household to dedicate the hours needed for cultivating and learn the sword. They did not have the hours to read and study the books or history of not only the Sect they belong too, but the history of the other Sects they theirs is allied too. Wei Changze was a Cultivator, he was the Head Disciple in his youth and the right hand man to Jiang Fengmian, up until he fell in love with Cangse Sanren, the disciples of an Immortal, and he was released from service and his oaths to the Clan to wander the lands with his beloved.

Cangse Sanren was in fact a very powerful Cultivator and one who was almost completely above earthly means and ties. She knew she could have married any Sect Heir of the time has been purposes to on a near daily basis and she always turn them down for one reason or another. But also because none were willing to leave their clan for her. She did not want to be tied to a Sect to be forced into a mould of Madam and reduced to bearing children and managing a Household with little time for her own training and cultivation. To not be able to go help the people no matter how big or small the issue was. Wei Changze had been the pebble that caused the ripples in that particular stream. He had offered to give up anything for her and she accepted his courtship and eventually they married. They traveled and only settled long enough to have a baby and to wait for said babe to be strong enough to travel.

They were dedicated to helping the people and their selflessness was ingrained into Wei Wuxian from birth and what few memories he had left of them

Their sudden deaths had caused a ripple in the Jianghu and everyone had scrambled to find the child of the Wei Couple. Everyone wanted the raw potential hale had for their own reputation and glory. And even admittedly over the years since the Jiangs got him they have tried to buy him from them with bribes and gifts or even trade agreements. The closest to getting him was Jin Guangshan who allowed for the marriage between his son and the Jiang's daughter to happen because he could request Wei Wuxian as her personal guard to move with her to Koi Tower. But somehow they forgot all about the awe and efforts they put into Cangse Sanren and Wei Wuxian, so much so they started to demonize them and soon they were fully of the opinion that Cangse Sanren was a wild seductress and a whore and her son was the son of a Servant, but somehow also Jiang Fengmian's bastard with said woman.

When did they lose site of the truth and Wen did rumors suddenly hold more value than the truth? When did they stop seeing a boy who was utterly brilliant, someone who would break the stagnancy of their way of life by bringing in fresh new ideas. When did they stop questioning things and just accepted it all as the unbreakable truth? Wasn't it once upon a time that using Spiritual energy was seen as herecy? That using swords to fly was the height of witchcraft and thus evil? Did their ancestors not fight tooth and nail to carve out a place for themselves and their future clans and family, their disciples to call their own. Did the opinions and rumors not get silenced after years of hard work and effort to prove that Cultivating was not evil but something good and could be of use?

So why do they so harshly damn this boy, who lost literally every single thing in his life and yet is willing to give up even more for those who do not deserve the kindness, let alone the utter brilliance that is him? He lost what he worked so many hard and long years of his life to spare the ungrateful brat that is the Jiang Sect Leader the pain and misery of living without a core. Suddenly the pieces fell into place and they were looking at the whole picture for perhaps the first time in their lives.

Jiang Yanli stood patiently, but ready to fight if there is even a hint of hostility from them as she allows them to finally, finally see her brother as she sees him. Wei Wuxian was too weak to protest these turns of event or to even protect her should a fight happen, not that the Wen Siblings were allowing him to move. Wen Ning was a normally shy and nervous person, but Wei Wuxian had been kind and had defended him several times already. Wen Ning would swear his undying loyalty to him, even if he dies today and rises as a Fierce Corpses tomorrow, he will remain loyal to Wei Wuxian. His sister will not say it out loud, but she clearly feels the same as she prepares her needles to take down any threat.

Lan Xichen glances at his brother, who looks like his world was suddenly flipped upside down, but at the same time like he is seeing in color for the first time. When the younger man glances at him they need not move or speak. They knew. So with grace and ease they drop into a kowtow once more and ask Wei Wuxian's forgiveness. Nie Mingjue is a bit slower to move, but he plants his sabre into he ground and kneels, asking for forgiveness and offering his protection. Lan Qiren is still left floating in a daze while Jiang Wanyin refuses to acknowledge the harsh truth in front of his eyes. Jiang Yanli eyes them with the two hulking tigers at her sides. Baitu moves first, slowly padding his way up to the twin Jades getting everyone's attention before his large head slightly busts against Lan Zhan's and then a ladder sandpapery tongue likes up his cheek and Lan Zhan finally looks up and slowly reaches out to pet the twin who reminds him of Wei Ying when he is genuinely shy and embarrassed.

The tiger then kinda bullies Xichen into standing and the low chuff he makes seems to be a sound of approval for the Twin Jades. He circles Nie Mingjue and then moves to where Nie Huaisang had been hiding and observing everything and pulled him to his brother's side. He circles them slowly eying them critically as his twin slowly joins them. They grumble and growl as of talking to each other, and mostly likely are before they push the two Nie's into joining the Twin Jades. The growl with hostility at Jiang Wanyin and give cautious glares at Lan Qiren before they leave the tent and growl ominously at someone over several people. By the time anyone decides to move there is low level chaos out in the camp. Lan Zhan opts to go sit with his beloved once more while his brother and Mingjue go out to see what the tiger twins are up to and find that they are pulling people to one section of the camp or another before a runner announces an advancing army of some kind. However, due to a barrier of some kind no one can scramble to prepare as the tigers continue their sorting.

"Only Wei-Gongzi will know what to do with them...." Xichen chuckles as Mingjue is not sure he finds this humourous. "You of all people, have no room to speak ill of him with how the Nie Cultivate. It would be the right of hypocrisy. Nor can you fully blame the Wens who could not fight during the war for inaction when our own inaction allowed for Wen Ruohan's madness to begin with. We saw the signs and did nothing. So if inaction is a crime, a'Jue, then we are as guilty as them do not let their family name blind you to who they truly are. Maiden Jiang will keep her word to flay anyone alive for their stupidity."

"You are lucky, that I am not willing to trigger your darker side, or I would be courting her myself. Soft and delicate she may be in body, but she is a strong woman and even stronger of mind. Huaisang does as she orders without question or fuss or even a single token protest." He snorts even as Xichen's smile gets a bit sharper at the possible competition.

"Indeed. It would be a shame to end our many years of friendship in bloodshed..."

Chapter Text

Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue quickly stop talking about that particular part of the First Jade and step in to help manage the steadily growing panic. The twins were content to continue shuffling everyone around. A vast majority of them were Jins and forced away from the others. While some Jins were allowed into the "good" section with some of the surviving Jiangs, the vast majority of them were Nie, Lan, and many of the Minor Sects' younger generations. Once they were finished with their sorting, there was a very clear divide between the two groups where the 'army' was marched in and left to stand. The army turned out to be Wen Fierce Corpses guiding the survivors of Qishan Wen and the people who have lived in the lands for generations.  A vast majority were women, children, the infirm, and the elderly.

Wen Qing ran out of the tent to see her family at the head of the army and ran to her grandmother, who was seated on an old donkey, a babe strapped to her hunched form and guarded by at least 6 Fierce Corpses. All the children and pregnant women had such an escort and either rode in on horse-drawn carts, a donkey, or even a sturdy ox. They were scared but after Wen Qing spoke to the surviving elders and calmed them down she let the twins sort through her people. Most of whom were gently bullied to the "good" section and the few pushed to the "bad" section gulped as they faced hostility from the Cultivators there.

Pleased with themselves,  Heilong and Baitu transform back into their child-like forms and happily wrap around Wen Qing's legs and watch everyone with eerily glowing red eyes. 

"We sorted out those who are rotten to the core from those who are either innocent or are good at heart... We know your intentions and have acted accordingly. The innocent survivors should be sent to live in Gusu with the Lan Clan watching over them. Or have outlying Gush disciples move to the towns and villages that the Wen survivors hale from and settle there to watch over and guide them. Those in the bad ones can answer for their crimes or are firmly in Wen Ruohan's court." Heilong states calmly and there is a low-level murmur that ripples through everyone with several shouting protests.

Heilong growls and they go quiet in fright, almost forgetting that the 'child' was not a child but a creature of Resentment that happened to take on the form of a young child. Jin Guangshan protested the most, wanting control over the Wen-dogs and the dividing of assets, especially Wei Wuxian and the twins, but Lan Xichen stepped between his nephews and the others,  his political smile frosty and edged with danger. It was not a nice smile. It promised pain and misery for anyone who dared to go against him...

It takes nearly a month for things to settle. Those in the 'bad' camp were tried and punished for the sins and crimes they committed when they served under Wen Ruohan. There were some in the 'good' camp who were tried as well, but they only joined the army to protect their loved ones or were forced to be a part of the war effort due to their professions or personal skills. Many were doctors like Wen Qing's branch of the family, who were doctors and farmers for decades, some were blacksmiths or inventors, who were forced to make weapons and the like for Wen Ruohan. Many were the survivors of the clans and sects that had once been subsidiaries of Qishan Wen and some of the ones absorbed on the borders of Yunmeng Jiang, Qinghe Nie, and Gusu Lan.

The only ones who protested any of the claims were the Jins, who supported their Leader, Jin Guangshan, who was trying to label all Wens as evil and have them incarcerated. However, allowing the Jins to run the Prison Camps. Though he ran into opposition with Jiang Yanli, Lan Xichen, and Nie Mingjue stood together, regardless of his seniority and the fact that the Jins were left mostly intact from the war efforts while the others now had to sharpen themselves back together. It was due to their continued wealth and their mostly untouched status that made everyone wary of them. With Wen Ruohan gone and the fall of Qishan Wen to just the dregs of a once Great Sect, but now reduced to a minor sect if even that of healers and farmers, there was a power vacuum that could quickly grow out of control if anyone tries to fill that spot.

It was clear to anyone with eyes that it was Jin Guangshan who was hoping to fill in that spot. Also his unsubtle attempts at indebting everyone to him by offering financial support and aid, his less than stellar attempts to vilify Wei Wuxian, who had nearly died to save them all and yet was not being heralded as the Hero he should be due to his "dark tricks and sorcery", but at the same time the man covets Wei Wuxian's power. In the end, the war criminals were given over to Qinghe Nie where they were fairly punished and imprisoned for some, humanely executed for others and those who had done what they did for their family and loved ones would be put to work for some time helping to rebuild what was destroyed during the war, mostly in Yunmeng. This was decided since most of the other Sects either suffered minor damage or managed to do their repairs and rebuilding during the lulls in battle.

The civilians were being moved to Gusu Lan or the agreed-upon territories of Qishan that would remain in the surviving Wen's hands. Wen Qing shrewdly handed the lands with the most value to the Lans and the Nies, leaving the less historical and valuable lands to the Jins and the minor sects to squabble over. Just because there were great towns and cities in some of the more open areas, does not make them overall valuable. They were just convenient places to put the surplus of people or to create rest stops across the vast expanse of Qishan. She may have played a dangerous game of chicken to ensure her family's history is not butchered and destroyed due to petty Cultivators and their need for unnecessary revenge now that the war is over. Enough blood has been spit both Wen and others.

The last thing to talk about was Wei Wuxian and where he stood. Said Young man was finally healthy enough to get out of bed, but was always with Lan Wangji and the twins or in the care of Wen Qonglin, who appears mousy and like a stiff breeze would share him to death, but was surprisingly not so easy to bully or scare. The young man was dedicated to Wei Wuxian like one would be loyal to their ruler. Wen Qing found this both endearing and exasperating. However, she was also fiercely loyal to the Wei boy, who had gone above and beyond for his siblings and even for all of them. He had kept her family safe and had even brought them to her. Granny was also always at his side with a babe in her arms, gently nagging him into drinking his medicine and eating his food, though they quickly realized he was incapable of eating meat when they recalled where he had been for three months and that the only 'meat' he would have been able to find was rotting corpses...

She found herself respecting him for only resorting to cannibalism when he had truly been on death's door and rejecting it once he left the mounds. She has seen others who grew to like the taste of their fellow humans and would go to extremes to get another bite or force others to eat a meal made from the flesh of a loved one. Wei Wuxian stuck to rice and vegetables and soybean-based 'meat' to compensate for the lack of actual meat in his diet. He slowly gained weight and color back with Granny's nagging, her needles, and the gentle concern from Yanli. Sometimes she would play dirty and make the twins turn into babies and hand them to him. He was, apparently, helpless around babies, especially his own demon babies.

There was a severe argument between Wuxian and Wanyin a few days after they learned of his missing core. The argument was so bad that everyone in camp now knew that the core in Wanyin's chest was Wuxian's and that Wei Wuxian had stayed awake for nearly three days as Wen Qing gutted him like a fish and removed his core to place in his adopted brother. They were stunned at the sheer leave of selflessness he possessed but also horrified by his lack of self-worth. Had it been anyone else, he would have died. In the end, Jiang Wanyin had no use for a scoreless Demonic Cultivator and kicked him out of the Sect. This infuriated many, especially,  Jiang Yanli, who would make sure Wei Wuxian got his things and the proper dues he was owed. With his loyalty up in the air, everyone was scrabbling to lay claim.

So here they all were four days in talks about what to do about the only living Demonic Cultivator. Many assumed he would try to start a sect of his own based on Demon Cultivation, but he wasn't looking to teach anyone anything. He had only learned it to fulfill his promise to the late Jiang Sect Leaders to protect their children. He had only learned it to survive, not because he craved power or anything. And since the sword path was lost to him he will likely grow old and die much sooner than he originally thought. He just wanted to be left alone, but no one was willing to do that. They felt he would secretly build an army and attack them, but Wei Ying was not power-hungry or malicious. He was only cruel to the enemy and even he had agreed that what he did when he first left the Burial Mounds was excessive.

"Perhaps binding him to a Sect that can control him is in order? The Jins have the money and we would gladly build him a home he would be secure in but not imprisoned to..." Jin Guangshan began.

"Absolutely not!" Jiang Yanli snaps harshly and he flinches at the tone that is far too reminiscent of her mother. "A'Xian will go wherever he feels the most welcomed or will be left alone!"

"If he wishes, Qinghe Nie will gladly welcome him. His strength of Character has been proven by the trials he survived and the aid he has rendered even if in the beginning none of us looked upon him favorably. But due to the insight we have recently been given, we now know he did not fall to the dark path for greed and power, but because he had no other choice."

"Gusu Lan will need some time to come to terms with this fourth path, however, should Wei Wuxian seek our aid for any reason, we will not then him away. We only ask Young Master Wei to give us a bit of time to adjust to the new reality and if possible, make a treatise on how you developed this path, so we can properly educate and aid anyone who tries to emulate your path for the wrong reasons." Lan Qiren says even though his nephews both frown at him.

"We will consider it. But I think a more permanent solution is in order." Jiang Yanli says. "A'Xian, what do you think if marriage?"

Chapter Text

Snippet:

"Good, now let's move into 5th position and start the next set..." He laughs brightly as he changes his stance and waits for the girl before him to do the same.

Once they were ready, they big flowing through a series of movements that can only be described as dancing to an outsider. He has worked with this young lady since they were children, teaching her what could and in turn being taught about this strange world. He now lived in.

You see where he was from Ying Wei, or rather Wei Ying, had been leaving his job as a janitor for a big cooperation after he finished his nightshift, alone for the upteenth time that month when he had been accosted by some shady guys and chased all over the downtown area. Which even at 3am was very much active. He had gotten boxed in from both sides of the street and the alleyway to his left so he dashed out into the road and the last thing he remembered was a car horn and then he was waking up here, surrounded by strangers who were concerned but also wary.

He saw styles of clothes and hair that he normally found in his favorite fantasy/period dramas, heck he's helped design several of them and even taught the actors how to fake until they make it. He was the sole bread winner of his tiny family which consisted of himself, his twin cousin, his adopted son and his invalid uncle, whom always felt terrible that his health and weak body made it impossible for him to do anything, not even cooking or watching the toddler.

Now he was here and had no idea if he can go back or how. But Wei Ying is a genius, both on paper and by his own view. He will bide his time until he can get back home. Hopefully his small family is alright without him. If he cannot get home, he hoes that someone will save them. He prays every night that they are safe, well fed and happy. Wei Ying shakes his head and focuses on Princess Jiang, she has flourished under his hands. He may have been in the body of a child and forced to grow up again, but he retained much of his memories from the modern world which he has begun to implement as soon as he could. He had quickly realized that Queen Yu was a hard ass and would undoubtedly kick him out, if not outright execute him if he didn't make himself of use.

So he helped recreate an automatic watering system for their farmlands as well as an automatic harvester using what he could of primitive, by his standards, tools and materials. He made farming so much easier that the poor people could now focus on processing their yields and producing better and finer quality items. The Queen was reluctantly pleased by these turn of events. Her husband was a much more amiable person and welcomed him warmly, but Wei Ying didn't allow himself to be lured in by his kindness. You learn to avoid the nice people and bad people when you've lived practically all your life on the streets and in the worst neighborhoods where no one can be trusted to not steal from you or stab you in the back, literally in some cases!

The King gave off this low key manipulator vibe and seemed to be trying to lure him into a false sense of familiarity and safety, to in-debt him to the Jiangs. He had every intention of leaving when he first woke up and the Queen demanded he be thrown out. Not even letting him recover, bitch. But Wei Ying was lucky her husband, Jiang Fengmian had stepped in and said he needed to recover and he might be a good companion for their children. She accused Wei Ying of being the king's bastard, but Wei Ying shut her down so quickly and with enough venom it stunned her. He later learned she was titled the Violet Spider. Wei Ying had mused of she was a spider, then he was the snake. Spiders are terrified of snakes after all...

"Excellent, sis!" He claps when she finishes the next set. "Let's break for lunch and then we will try the next five sets with your ribbons next!"

"Ah, Xianxain, you are a good teacher!" She giggles and Wei Ying cannot help but love and adore her like the big sister he never got to have. His life was an endless stream of bad luck and misfortune sadly. So it makes him attach to certain kinds of people quickly and even if they turn out bad in the end, he cannot regret it because for a moment he had been loved and that feeling was so rare and fleeting for him. He loved others unconditionally, but rarely got it back.

However, Jiang Yanli was a rarity in his life, someone so genuinely kind to the point she comes off as naive and unintentionally manipulative. He cannot help it, she has been the kindest to him beside the servants and common folk who thank him endlessly for his investigation and aid. He was taught Cultivation and the arts, he was brought up as a ward of the Jiang Household, mostly because Queen Yu wanted to corner the market of his inventions. Especially when he had not only learned how to harvest, spin and weave with Lotus silk, but he quickly adapted his brilliant mind into making it into a weapon for her daughter.

She had seen him work for days and nights with little to no sleep and even less food. She had been furious at first finding her daughter pinned to the floor, battered and bruised, but then her daughter in a love she's never seen her do before kicked Wei Ying off of her and jumped seamlessly from her back to her feet and they were locked in a blur of silks, and rapid foot placements that she lost track of them until they were deadlocked and Wei Ying smiled at her. Ever since, the Queen allowed him to train her daughter, especially after she had stormed his workshop and demanded to see what he had been fiddling with.

The silk ribbon had been carefully died in a pale lavender pink, her daughter's preferred colors, and sewn with beautiful and intricate designs. Wei Ying explained that while Jiang Yanli's core was too weak for a sword or a more traditional spiritual weapon, he designed one just for her. The ribbon would grow or shrink as needed, could move on its own or as commanded and was sharper than any blade. She watched him create and refine a fighting style based off of both the Meishan Style he had spied her maids practicing and the Jiang style he had to learn if he was to live here.

She had watched Wei Ying move with the ribbon, almost dancing with it before he easily destroyed five dummies and even effectively bind her maids, Yinzhu and Jinzhu without harming them. The ribbon would be worn in plain sight and would change color and even had bits of metal form deadly spikes when used as a whip. Queen Yu could not find any fault and was utterly impressed when her daughter had learned her new fighting style: The Dancing Ribbon.

Wei Ying got it from a comic series he was reading before his unintentional trip to the past, where a prince, who eventually became a god, used a white ribbon as his main weapon and always managed to shock people with it. He made sure that Yanli also learned the Dancing Dagger fighting style as well, both weapons made her seem weak and unthreatening, but since she was a fast study and had a naturally pleasant aura, one would never notice her killing intent until the last second and it was already too late. She was a daughter of Meishan and they produce the strongest and most badass women!

After that Queen Yu was... Nicer. She still talked down to him and still thought he was somehow her husband's bastard with a woman who left well before either of the kids were born and had never set foot in Yunmeng Jiang territory since and her husband had been too busy running the kingdom to have more than a day to himself to go find her. Especially when she was in other kingdoms days if not weeks and months worth of travel that was impossible to do in a day.

Wei Ying blinks again as he looks up at the royal family sitting together and he was seated down below at a tiny table, but still on the raised diss from the other disciples. Madam Yu was looking at him with intent and he quickly tuned back into the conversation he apparently blanked through.

"Yes, Madam? " He asks and she huffs, a half amused sneer on her beautiful face.

"I did you will be going with my children to visit Qinghe Nie, they have been suffering from a terrible draught and their King had admitted our aquaducts and watering system that you built." She tells him again.

"Ah, I will do my best to aid..." He bows and she nods before turning back to her husband to finish hashing out details and what to offer to their allies besides help in this time of drought.

Chapter Text

The trip to Qinghe was long and tiring, but Wei Ying enjoyed being on horseback. His stallion as a behemoth of a horse, wild and highly temperamental. He named him Li'l Apple since he loved apples. He has this hilarious relationship with his horse who looked so bored of everything and everyone, but allowed only Wei Ying and Jiang Yanli close to him. Everyone loves his Shijie as they should, and in his case, Wei Ying was just strange. Li'l Apple trotted along side the carriage that held his sister while her brother rode ahead with their parents and several bannermen. Wei Ying was dressed in well made black and red robes, having taken the time to dye them himself and sew them when Madam Yu still refuses to allow him to dress as a Jiang, even the lowest slaves got to wear Jiang Purple collars.

However, he didn't care, he wasn't planning on staying overly long, despite being raised in the royal house of Yunmeng. He has always moved on when he was clearly not wanted and he knows he's not wanted, minus by the common folk and Shijie. He needs to figure out what he needs to do he can go home to his family. He hopes a'Yuan and Ning Wen are alright, he feels horrible that a'Yu is very likely the bread winner now and the poor boy is a clumsy mess on the best of days, a disaster on the worst. It feels weird thinking of the names how they are used in modern times when everyone here says the last name first and only use the courtesy names unless they have a title or permission to use birth names.

Wei Ying blinks and looks up suddenly sensing a shift in the air and stopping Li'l Apple to look around. The others noticed his pause and grew tense as they slowly noticed the danger. Queen Yu was getting impatient, but Wei Ying quickly jumped from his horse, who gives a mighty huff and stomps his foot. Wei Ying pats him, calmingly as he slowly moves away and looks for where the threat was coming from. He whistles low and ominously as around them dark energy condenses and forms demons and corrupted fairies. He whistles sharply and they burst forth and in moments they can hear battle in the short distance.

"What the hell was that!?" Prince Jiang demands and Wei Ying rolls his eyes and keeps watching where his demons vanished to his fairies scouting for more danger. When they came back and reported the road was clear he quickly mounts Li'l Apple and tells the others they can keep going as his demons will handle the threat.

Prince Jiang and Queen Yu looked near apocalyptic at being told what to do and ignored, but then the sounds of approaching riders had their attention. Wei Ying slipped his own ribbon slowly off his hair, letting it fall around him in a silky curtain. With his lightly painted face he looked more feminine and with a quick change of position he was sitting like a proper lady on the horse rather than astride like a man. His ribbon was a weapon, but no one would notice it. Until it was too late that is.

Yanli had slipped her own ribbon off and he could see it coil around her form like a snake waiting to strike and it pleased him it was working well and was as much a living being as she was. Yanli twitch the curtains closed before anyone told her to and she waited for either a fight or for them to keep going. The riders were just coming into view and held the banners of Qinghe Nie over their heads and were dressed in the black, gray and greens of the Nie Sects with the exception of a few in white and blue.

Wei Ying rose his sleeve to cover his mouth, affecting for a demure young lady. The men around him flushed at how much a few small changes could affect how one viewed another. They moved closer like they would when protecting a woman, but they knew Wei Ying was a man. It was only a little longer before the riders arrived and it became clear it was an escort from the Qinghe Nie King made up of his son's and a couple of guests and their men. As they were chattering and Prince Mingjue was explaining how dangerous this area was, they all tensed when Wei Ying's demons and fairies returned and reported that the threats had been eliminated and that the way forward had been cleared. He dismisses them as the others tensed not sure what to make of their sudden appearance.

"That would be our ward... Strange thing that-- WEI WUXIAN WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" Madam Yu started to say but then she looked back at said young man only to find a young lady in his place.

"Hmm?" He blinks and then hides further into his sleeve, demure and secretly cackling at her twitching eye. "This one has done nothing..." He adopts a feminine tone and she looks ready to burst.

"We shall escort your party, guard the carriage and the young lady!" Prince Mingjue orders and Wei Ying nearly falls off his horse in laughter when Madam Yu shouts that he is a man. No one is sure since he is still acting like a lady. His escort was a handsome young man in white and looked to be living jade.

"... Hi, I am Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian." He smiles softly and lowers his hand a little bit. His escort does not answer him back, not look at him so he shrugs and begins humming a sweet little song and nudges Li'l Apple to walk. As they ride along and he hums softly songs and silly little tunes, he misses when his escort glances at him.

"... Lan Zhan, Wangji." Is said in a deep, low voice.

"Oh! Wow, you have a nice name and an amazing voice!" Wei Ying giggles. "So what can this lowly fool do to help you this day?" He wonders ignoring Madam Yu's deadly glare on him.

"... No need." He states and Wei Ying shrugs and begins to sing a beautiful song about the moon, unaware of how Lan Zhan stares at him, but Yanli sees and smiles secretively...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying admired the great fortress that was the Qinghe Nie Palace, the Unclean Realm. It was carved into a strong mountain's base, using the valley of fertile land and the bounty of lush forests and wide rivers for hunting and being primarily self sufficient. He had kept up his act of being a young lady, sometimes trying to talk with Lan Wangji, the stone faced escort riding beside him, but to little avail, though he didn't let it bother him. Sometimes the stoic young man would eventually answer his questions or if he said something in particular, got a quick and sharp word of reproach, which made him smile and laugh, at one point he had dropped his hand and gave him a one of his bright smiles that lit up his whole face after he laughed at being called shameless.

"I am told I have a thick face, but I didn't realize I was that shameless!" He had giggled out and then covered his face again to try and smother his laughter.

Wei Ying didn't notice the awe struck look on his companion's face. So now here they were dismounting and getting ready to greet the Nie King, Wei Ying sighing as he quickly pulls out his tools and instruments so he can get to work right away. It was very hot and while he normally enjoyed a dry heat, it was much too dry, their ride through the villages and towns told them that water was being horded to keep everyone as relatively hydrated as possible, but at the same time, they were going without food due to the lack of rainfall causing a setback in their harvests and making wild game move further away to find water sources. Wei Ying had noticed a river that seemed to be one of the primary ones that everyone relied on seemed much lower in its bed than it should be judging by how the plant life and rocks along it appeared to be. He had pulled away at one point in their ride to the palace to get a good look at it and frowned, sensing something not being right with the water before he spotted a young, not quite an adult, King Fisher trying and failing to find fish. He had quickly dropped off his horse and caught it and climbed back up Li'l Apple's back as said horse moved back to join the others, seemingly use to his human's antics and strange behaviors. Wei Ying calmed the bird and gave it a few pieces of mashed bug pellets he used for fishing, and whistled soft songs to the bird, that eventually sang back and seemed to grow content and calm even after Wei Ying let it go. It seemed to remain a bit longer and then flew off after another round of pellets.

"Jiang-Guowang, Yu-Nuwang." Greeted the Nie King as he walked toward where they were getting off their horses and carriage.

Wei Ying was going to climb down when his escort offered his arm, though his white sleeve covered his hand, Wei Ying smiled softly and accepted the help. He thanked him with another smile and went to help his sister down from her coach and she whispered softly in his ear that she thinks they would make a cute couple, causing Wei Ying to blush and hide his face behind both his hands and sleeves.

"Sister's so mean..." He whines, flustered at the thought of him and the handsome, but stoic Lan Wangji.

"I am merely saying that if you wish to court or be courted by Second Prince Lan, I will gladly support you." She giggles.

"S- Second prince!?" Wei Ying squeaks out. She nods, her good humor dimming when she sees how pale he suddenly grew. "Oh no... No, no, no, no, no! I can't!" He is starting to freak out which causes his sister to quickly cup his cheeks in her own hands and he stills, blinking as he looks into her gentle hasel eyes.

"A'Xian, my dear, a'Xian, it's alright... Breathe..." she says and he nods as she slowly lowers her hands just in time for the adults to come around and find them, Wei Ying quickly masks his freakout and pale face with a forced, but bright smile.

"I thought your genius inventor was a man, not a pretty young lady..." Nie-Guowang laughs, hartily slapping Jiang Fengmian on the back, nearly making him fall over and choke out a cough from the rather heavy blow to his back.

"He- He is a young man... This is Wei Wuxian." Jiang Fengmian says and Wei Ying quickly drops into a proper curtsy, just to be that extra level of impish.

"I am Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian, Nie-Guowang. I am in fact a man, but I am comfortable in male or female dress. If it will make you feel better I will remain dressed as a man while I work on your problem, or would it be easier for you to address me as a young lady at the moment seeing as that is how I am dressed?" Wei Ying asks, having dropped his feminine voice and shocking those who had seriously thought he was a woman.

"... Well, by the Divine Beast's beard!" Nie-Guowang gapes in shock.

"I noted that the river's quite low in its bed and I sensed that something was wrong with it. May I ask has there been an increase in disruptions? Either an increase in malevolent spirits and monsters or perhaps a rise in crime due to the drought?" Wei Ying asks, moving quickly onto the next subject without letting the King actually think about what he had said previously.

Quean Yu smirked as she watched the way the Nie royals looked a bit whirlwind swept by Wei Wuxian's ability to switch from one mood to another as well as the way he jumps from one topic to another and still manage to make sense. Though she was curious as to what he noticed. Wei Ying on the other hand was getting a bit annoyed being blinked at.

"Your Majesty, I cannot help you if you just stare at me like I suddenly sprouted wings and three heads." Wei Ying pointed says.

The King laughs loudly and smirks at him, "You've got a wicked tongue, I like that... come I can explain better and check the reports that were just delivered this morning..."

"Thank you, your Majesty, however, I have a faster way of checking..." He whistles a beautiful, but haunting tune and many birds come flying towards them, at the head was the Kingfisher he had found earlier. Amused he holds his hand out and it flits down onto his finger. "Hello again, little one... I wonder if Xiao Yingzi will like you..." He smiles and sees his familiar, a beautiful pitch black crow with a lovely greenish blue gloss and hauntingly beautiful ruby red eyes fly to land on his wrist, looking at the Kingfisher with unblinking eyes. "Xiao Yingzi, be nice, he's a new friend it seems... Now then, will you all be so kind and scout the area... Xiao Yingzi, get the others to check the forest again."

A soft warble left the crow as the other birds all chirp and fly off while the crow circles everyone and flies off and as Xiao Yingzi flies over the wall a massive murder joins and black out the sky for a moment and is soon gone. It's rather... unsettling and Wei Ying makes sure to give a beautific, if sharp smile at Queen Yu as he turns to face the others.

"My little friends will report back in a couple of hours, though Xiao Yingzi will be back shortly... Crows are quite intelligent birds, able to remember faces and even solve puzzles and if you try to bribe them, they are smart enough to ignore the bribe in hopes of getting an even bigger treat. But most importantly, they never forget..." Wei Ying purrs and it sends a shiver up their spines.

".... I'm both impressed and admittedly, a bit unsettled." Nie Mingjue whispers to his best friend, who nods back.

"I apologize, Prince Nie, but I am not doing this to scare you, it is simply quicker."

"Baba!!" a young voice calls out and they turn to see a small petite young man rushing towards them, his pretty robes more fitting for a princess than a prince. This causes Nie Mingjue to groan and facepalm while Nie-Gouwang laughs brightly and catches his youngest son into his arms and spin him around before holding him on one of his arms. "My birds all suddenly flew away!" He whines.

"I'm sorry, a'Sang, but it seems the Jiang's Inventor needed them." He waves at Wei Ying, who gives a curtsy as the youngest Nie scrambles down out of his father's arms and hurries up to him.

"You're dress is so pretty! Where did you get it?!"

"I made it." Wei Ying admits. "I dyed everything myself as well and sis helped me with the embroidery."

"Amazing!" He carefully fingers a bit of the sleeve hem, admiring the careful stitches that formed the lines of spider lilies going up the sleeves.

"Thank you, though I should fix my clothes now..." He then calmly grabbed the hems and lifted and wrapped them and retied the small ties so his clothes looked like the male Jiang style. Nie Huaisang gasped and began to pester him about he he did that and if this was also his design, which he admitted that yes it was. He wasn't sure how to explain he's from a completely different time and possibly world where he helped create costumes and props for his favorite dramas or that he's a professional Cosplayer for parties and events, or that he works enough part time jobs that he's essentially working a career. He cannot help his worry for a'Ning, a'Yu and a'Yuan once more, his small family. He really hopes they are alright.

Mingjue grabs his brother, apologizing for his 'embarrassing' behavior and Wei Ying gives him a wicked smile that makes the larger male gulp.

"What's embarrassing? The fact he likes pretty things or that he doesn't match your toxic masculanity?" Wei Ying snipes and he bristles, but doesn't say or do anything at the curious look of his father. "Honestly, I deal with enough of toxic people, I don't need it from you."

"Jiang-Gouwang, if you're looking for marriage prospects for your ward, perhaps my Huaisang?"

"I like my men pretty and all, but I prefer if my man was of equal footing to me or stronger than me. I want to be able to let my hair down around my husband, if you know my meaning." Wei Ying tells him politely.

"Ah, I see... Perhaps my oldest then?"

"Father!?" Mingjue hisses, though it is pitched just shy of a yelp.

Wei Ying looks him over and admits, he is handsome, but he's not into men who think that liking pretty or feminine things is 'embarrassing' or the like.

Chapter Text

Wei Ying sat in one of the inner courtyards at one of the semi circle tables normally used for private meetings with the other kings or court members during meals. He had piles of papers and scrolls surrounding him, bowls of various treats for the birds were set out in front of him so as the birds came back to report to him, they got to eat and drink their fill. He compares their scouting observations to the reports and on a new sheet started making notes but was also refining his auto watering system to fight the land of Qinghe. Unlike Yunmeng where it was wetlands, marshlands, rivers and lakes, the plains and hilly landscape of Qinghe was not rich with water and relied heavily on the few rivers they have but mostly on rainfall. Droughts were a danger here while in Yunmeng due to the moisture heavy air, they have to worry about monsoons.

Servants puttered around him as he worked bringing him materials and the like, but we're confused by his study of recent events. The Jiangs knew from years of experience that Wei Ying found a pattern or at least a connection that they themselves have yeat to make and very likely will not make until much later or he points it out for them. Huaisang was utterly fascinated by his fellow male who enjoys all things pretty and was thus sitting on the other side of the table watching him with wide admiring eyes. What many do not realize about the lazy, spoiled second prince of Nie, is that he is far too observant and scarily smart. He just pretends to be dumb to not be seen as a threat or to court kidnappings beyond his royal status and the obvious overprotectiveness of his big brother and father. He was curious of the strange enigma that Wei Wuxian.

His spy network has to him about the mysterious young man and how he doesn't really act like someone raised in this lifetime. His inventions are absolutely genius and revolutionary, he mastered the 6 Gentlemanly Arts and was a sage at the Feminine Arts apparently. Though Huaisang hadn't been kidding when he gushed over Wuxian's hanfu, he wants him to solve their problems first before he asks him if he would mind terribly making him a similar hanfu, obviously in Now Colors though lighter and brighter. He finds their normal shakes to dull. Maybe a lighter green or a warmer grey to act as accents or pops of color. He blinked when the Kingfisher appears with the crow, Xiao Yingzi, the pair seemed to be competing for affection from the young man, who happily gave them both praises and pets.

How he understood their reports was beyond him, but he hums and murmurs too softly for him to hear as he makes notes on another paper and then another. He is trying to understand what caught his attention and report it to his father privately or at least sends out his spies to either start handling it or even to distribute supplies to their people until the problem is resolved. He perks up seeing Lan Wangji enter the garden, he has never seen the Second Jade actively seek out company, but in the 4hrs since their arrival the Jade has come like clock work to 'meditate' in this specific garden despite the somewhat noisy atmosphere with the birds coming and going, though all of Huaisang's birds all returned to their enclosure once their tasks were done, which he greatly appreciates since he had been truly scared that they would fly away and never come back. Besides his love of painting and fan collecting, he loved collecting birds because his mother always had at least five of them with her up until she died when he was still little. She had gone home to visit her family but only her birds came back and cared for them until they took never woke up again.

Birds, art and pretty things was how he connected to her, coped with her loss, but not many understood that. His brother would say it is embarrassing, but Mingjue didn't actually mean it. He knows how much Huaisang adored his mother. The first prince was not far in affections for his stepmother since his own mother had passed away while he was still an infant and his step mother had stepped in to nurse and rear him. She was more his mother than his birth mother and her loss hit the Nie hard. She was a soft and delicate woman, but she had a frightening temper. She also had acupuncture needles she was know to stab ruthlessly into you if you did something stupid or pissed her off. Huaisang knows his brother did not paint himself nicely in Wuxian's eyes and the young man was a level of petty and passive aggressive that Huaisang aspires to.

Lan Wangji was sitting at his Guqin strumming it softly following a set practice of scales to make sure his instrument was tuned, it never was out of tune, the other boy obsessed over his instrument, very likely having once belonged to the late Lan-Nuwang. Huaisang knows that the loss of your favorite parent can greatly affect you and her death must have forced him to cut off all emotions or attempts at friendliness. He recalls him being painfully shy and blunt when they were much younger. His few playdates with him were always so awkward but the boy tried. However ,after the passing of Lan-Nuwang, he refused to even speak to anyone who was not his brother or uncle. If he did speak it was still his blunt style but it was to reprimand or dish out punishments while within Cloud Recesses, the Lan's home and Seat of Power. Outside of it he only spoke of spoken to and only to give reports. Other than that his brother spoke for him.

Wei Ying suddenly makes a triumphant sound and jumps up. It startles everyone in the garden, the others having come out to see the progress he was making.

"I think I know what the issue is!! The crows followed the recent resentment trails flowing along the river and found that village was decimated and the people killed or tossed bound into he river to die. Their fury is preventing the river from flowing, so even if you are prone to droughts they eventually level off after a week according to he records. We almost encountered a scouting unit of bandits but I had my friends dispatch them before they became a threat!" Wei Ying says with excitement.

"How did..." Jiang Wanyin starts but stops and shakes his head. "So how will your inventions help?"

"Simple: these bandits are ransoming the water for exuberant prices and will kill anyone who cannot pay or refuse to Pauly them. Which has built a damn of dead bodies blocking the water. It will take  while for it to clean itself from the nastiness a dead body leaves behind, never mind multiple. Me building the aquaduct from the mountain river that flows behind the Unclean Realm, will certainly put a damper on their plans and they will want to either, intimidated me into submission, kidnap me for their own plans or kill me. I am hoping they try so we can catch them and put an end to this issue." We Ying grins like he's half mad.

Queen Yu shakes her head, but is internally impressed which annoys her because she hates this brat. However, he's too valuable to lose to anyone unless in a political marriage. She was seriously contemplating the options right now. Though the First Nie Prince shot his chances and The Second Nie Prince was too soft according to the brat's words. However the Lan Princes have yet to insult him. Though he seems to enjoy the Second Prince's company. Shaking her head again, she focuses on the blueprints and is as always amazed he can make sense of the shapes and numbers. She was never one to draft a blueprint so she was pretty stupid in this department, but she knows how to manage people and get materials so she watches him construct a mini aquaduct combined with the auto watering system, the combination working well for an open land like Qinghe and unnecessary in a water rich land like Yunmeng, to show the Nie Royals how it worked.

The Lan Princes were impressed and even their Uncle who had joined this meeting to see the infamous genius for himself was stroking his beard in appraisal. The Nie's blinked and watched the toy model work and were impressed. The supplies however will need to be gathered from outside of Qinghe which could put a bit of stress on their coffers, but the King shook his head, he would rather be a poor king with a thriving kingdom over being a rich king to a kingdom of death. Wei Ying nods and begins listing where he can get the needed materials, who is willing to sell in bulk for a moderate price, which includes travel and delivery as well as paying and hired escorts to ensure safety. How he knew all this impressed even the Jiangs who do not recall him leaving much during his years at the Pier. Wei Ying smiles softly and tells them that it was his secret.

Jiang Yanli knew it of course and she giggles softly into her sleeve calling him impish and he gives his own little giggle and shamelessly leans on her.

"But JieJie, a'Xian's only 3!" He whines in a soft child voice and she pets him softly and he preens.

"But if Xianxain is three then he is much too young to be so smart..." She teases back. And he glows with the praise.

He feels his heart ache because he thinks of a'Yuan right then and she catches the flash of pain Jin his face but easily makes it for him by asking him who he was thinking of contacting and how he would help handle the dead bodies pouting the river issue. He is thankful and tells her about his lovely friends who helped them earlier and that they would willingly help if the King doesn't mind having empty dungeons this one time. Apparently they were very upset to have to fight for food and territory with the sudden influx of newly undead spirits crowding in. He explains that he communes with he dead due to his personal upbringing by his parents and that they have no room to speak on it because if the comment he will leave. It was the same threat he uses on the Jiangs and it has kept Madam Yu paranoid for years. He knows his value and will not let any tell him otherwise. He needs to figure out how to get home....

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Wei Changze limped along the road, his wife's body draped like a wet rag over his back while I'm his only functioning arm he carried their sick and feverish son. The night hunt had been a trap and they had just barely made it out of there in time, had barely saved their son and fled. They were chased and fought, his wife taking a grievous would to her stomach and he feared she was dead now since she was too cold against his back. But then again he can feel the faintest puff of air against his neck.

His remaining eye was blurry and he knows he should have went towards Yunmeng, but his gut told him that neither his wife or son would be safe within his former home. He stumbled and nearly fell when he sensed Cultivators coming towars him. He cursed and limped off the road, carefully set his wife against the tree, she barely twitched, though her face was still pinched with pain. The bandages around her stomach were soaked through and her breathing was wet and raspy. She barely blinks open moonlight colored eyes and holds her arms up, strong enough to hold their son and hold her sword even if she was more dead than alive. They swore they would protect their precious baby even if they have to rise again as Fierce Corpses to do so. Carefully letting go of their precious a'Ying, he burned his image in his mind so even death could not steal it away. Seeing his wife's own sword, her trusty Zuì Gōngpíng de Pànduàn shakily floating in the air as he barely held the seal willing it to fight for her even if she cannot swing it her self. Nodding he pulls out Chénmò de Shěnpàn, he stands as tall as he can with a half lame leg, an all but dead arm a missing arm and bleeding from several injuries.

His deep blue nearly black eye glaring death at the approaching threats. He tightens his grip as they come into focus now. However, as they get closer, he starts to notice the robes are white and blue rather than red and white. He is not sure if it is the blood loss and the concussion he suffered messing with his vision or were Lans coming to help him. He braces himself and holds Chenmo de Shenpan tightly. It is not until he sees his wife's sworn sister, thin and weak as she clings to Lan Queen's arm as the man for once breaks his strict control and obedience to the rules as he runs up to the sagging form of Wei Changze catching him barely before he hits the floor while Wu Chunli hurries to his beautiful a'Ren's side.

"Ambush.. Wens... Ran away they chased us... But... Following... A'Ren... A'Ying... Ying'er's sick...." He rasps out and finally blacks out to the distant sounds of shouting...

Lan Qiren stood beside his sister in-law as she held onto her son's hands while a silent little boy sat far too close for their comfort by the two burning pyres. The child could not see, but felt the blistering heat and said nothing. Silent tears fell from silver moonlit river eyes. Clenched tightly his tiny fists was a badly damaged flute and a purple tassel with a silver bell on the end. The only things left his parents he had left and their sealed swords would be hung in the Ancestors Hall once the fires finally died down. Lan Qiren's heart was bleeding for this poor child. He was born blind according to the healers and Cangse Sanren. He never got to ever see his parents and now would have to live in this world without them. Cangse Sanren had held on for a few days, her husband sadly dead after they had arrived to help. She instructed them how to handle their remains and told him that he will have to be more flexible if he would raise her son. He wasn't a Lan and would never be. She held on until her son was better and had been able to visit her.

She spent her last few breaths telling her son her creed, a creed he would love by before she sang him one last lullaby while he dozed off and she died not a moment later. And now here they are, despite the Elders rioting outside of the gates of the courtyard. Wei Ying did not move from his place between the fires, he was silent and cried but would not move. It was as if he were stone. He did not eat or sleep, he did not even go to the bathroom. It took until dawn for the bodies to fully burn, not even bones were left. The four of them remained. His nephews going to sit with the silent and stoic child. They had only learned the concept of death about a week ago and now they were witnessing it first hand and the effects it had. An Elder has told a wailing Wei Ying he was not to mourn excessively or to show excessive emotion and this was the result. This still and silent child. It broke something in Lan Qiren.

The rules were made as a guide they were not absolute. That is what Cangse Sanren had been trying to tell so long ago. The rules hold not power outside of Gusu and even then applied to each disciple. Wu Chunli sat on a chair he had fetched for her, still weak from her imprisonment. She watched over the children in until the last ember went cold and then weakly got up and carefully began to soup up the ashes that belonged to her sworn sister as Lan Qiren scooped up Wei Changze's and jarred them. Once done they set the two jars before Wei Ying who slowly reaches out his tiny hand, touching the jars and whimpers softly.

"Mama, baba... Ying'er cannot see you... Where are you? Why won't you answer Ying'er?" His voice was broken and so painfully tiny. Lan Qiren kneels down as his youngest nephew carefully touches the boy's other hand startling him.

"A'Zhan is here..." He says pulling the hand to his face. "Does Ying'er see a'Zhan?" He asks.

It is a shock since Lan Zhan was painfully shy and did not liked to be touched. He not only spoke first, but even willing touched the boy and made him touch him back. Wei Ying cocks his head and furrows his brow.

"Only a little... Can see Auntie and mister... But not a'Zhan... Not strong enough..."

"What do you mean a'Yjng?" Chunli asks.

He turns to face her, his ear pointed mor toward her than his face.

"Auntie and mister glow... Mister is grey like snow clouds, that's what Mama said... Auntie is swirling with color like Mama, or so baba says... Can see others but too far..." He admits. "Ying'er can see dark colors too. Has seen them on many monsters... Can touch and play with them." He smiles.

"You are a Dual Wilder?! Master Sanren was said to be the only one to retain her sanity when utilizing resentful energy, even if she rarely uses it..." Chunli gasps.

" What does that mean, mama? Lan Huan asks , worried as he watches Lan Zhan trying to help Wei Ying see him.

"That means, a'Huan, that a'Ying can cultivate both the Yin and Yang paths. We will have to isolate a location for him to practice because he will be cultivating both paths." She says with a pointed look. Sanren's last word echoing in their heads.

"-Zhan will get stronger so a',Ying can see him!" Her youngest promises a heavy pout on his face while glaring at his brother. Lan Huan blushes softly since he had already started core building and thus was somewhat more visible to Wei Ying.

"The elders won't like this.... But it's time to finally, finally get some semblance of peace around here... But first a'Ying needs to eat and then sleep..." Lan Qiren demands and picks up the protesting child as Lan Zhan father's the belland flue while Lan Huan picks up the jarred ashes, being super careful to not lose them or drop them...

Chapter Text

- Time Skip -

He stood calmly among the circle of resentful creatures, eyes closed in calmness. Their shades of black varied in his mind based on what they were and how powerful they were. He hums a soft tune and they all twitch seemingly to fight against the gentle, but haunting song. Slowly one by one they fell under his thrall and those with enough sentience began to speak in his mind. One was killed during a landslide and wanted to speak to their family once more. Another wanted to tell her life story so someone would remember her. There was a young couple who were murdered by the bride's jealous older brother, who had an unhealthy obsession with his sister. Another young couple killed themselves when they eloped because their families refused to let them marry for love. The bride was promised to an older man with connections across the Cultivation world while the groom was to marry a vain woman from a rich family, who only wanted him so no other girl could have him. They were however angry to realize in death that the bride has been pregnant they want a baby so they can be a complete family. There was a snow leopard who had begun cultivating but was captured by hunters and her cubs stolen or killed for their fur like her. She hid one cub and wanted to make sure it was alright and entrust it to someone. There was a fox who simply wanted one last meal of chicken eggs and maybe a nice fat chicken.

Pleased with the requests given to him he listened to the woman's life story and grabbed a tablet from his Qiankun pouch and carved her name into the front and with careful fingers carved her story into the back. Her life was not easy or simple. She was the fifth daughter of a poor family and was often bullied by her sisters for being the prettiest. They stole her things and blamed her for pranks or even theft when she had done nothing. One day the most handsome boy in their village asked her to court much to her oldest sister's ire and she drugged her sister and made it look like she slept with another man after she had agreed to the courtship. It was a scandal and no matter what she said, no one believed her. She. Was labeled a whore and was shunned. She was forced to pack her meager things and leave, but the world was not kind and she was eventually forced to prostitute herself to get a warm meal or a soft bed to sleep in for the night.

She had to abandon her son back in a town called Yueyang, because the people were nicer to the child than her. She feels horrible for it and wants to see if someone took him in or if he had died like her. If so, she wishes to beg his forgiveness. Her life came to an end when some Cultivators asked her her name after she serviced them and when she admitted she was from the Xue family, they demanded something from her, something she had left her son to protect him, and when she claimed to be ignorant of it, they new she was lying and tortured her. But as a Non-Cultivator, she didn't last long. Her body was dropped in this forest and she wanders at night in search of someone willing to listen and her son.

"I will go look for your son. What is his name?" He asks.

She groans but he hears in his mind 'Xue Yang' and that he should be 5 now. Wei Ying frowns at how young he is but she then shuffles off into the forest, likely to wait to see if he keeps his promise. He turns to the couple that was killed by the brother and after getting the info he needs about him he turns his head slightly to see the calming grays of snow clouds that was his guardian watching and listening through inquiry with the gentle dawn of Xichen-ge and the brilliant white light of Lan Zhan at his sides. They were taking notes as well and will send someone to arrest the brother as well as to find the proof in the hidden box under his bed.

As for the other couple, it would take a bit longer to bring them justice but Wei Ying did know of a wandering child spirit he pulls a Dizi out, the simple pale wood well cared for. He plays a cheery song that many children know and it is not long before the much too young spirit appears to play with the nice Gege but blinks when Wei Ying plays a short song, telling him through music that he found him a nice Mama and baba. The child looks at the couple that were forced to take their own lives to be together and floats around them curious and cautious. Wei Ying plays a curious melody and the child admits they look nice but how can he be sure? The woman offers him a hug and the man promises to play with him until he is tired. That settles the argument, children were very simple after all and the spirits of the couple left their bodies once the family hug was complete and in a flash they moved on their bodies crumpled to the ground and would be gathered for proper burial. Lan Xichen sent a junior to get some eggs and the fastest chicken they could at the market and brought them back for the fox Yao. It caught the scents of fresh eggs and chicken and wiggled excitedly. The junior slowly approaches, wary of the other resentful beings still their, but lays down the eggs and struggles to hold the chicken who senses the danger. As soon as he let it go, it tries to run but was pounced and killed. The fox Yao drags it's kill to a bush to eat in peace and and once it was done with the chicken it came to munch on the eggs happy with its meal it does not move on, but instead twines itself between the junior and Wei Ying's legs letting out a contented purr before settling before the Junior. Wen Ying giggles and tells him the fox wants to bond with him as thanks for his final meal.

The Junior is shocked but is awed. He turns to face Lan-Laoshi, who gives a fond smile and allows it, tossing a bonding collar, which has grown in popularity among the Gusu Lan and some of their sub sects who were lucky enough to be paired with a Yao or even a Ghoul in some cases and a slew of spirits with Wei Ying's help. As for the man who died in the landslide, Wei Ying tasked a senior to take the corpse to his family and let them get closure. So all that was left was the snow leopard, he plays a tune on his Dizi and it comes close circling him and scenting him. Looking for falsehoods and threat but finds none. With a rattling growl it starts to leave and Wei Ying has no choice but to follow. As they walk deeper and deeper still he father's the spirits of the dead cubs and they help find their living sibling the runt and sickly one of the lot. It very likely died without the mother there, but he sensed she had formed a golden core before her death. If she had been given enough time she would have been capable of transforming into a human form. Finally they get to a cave hidden halfway up a mountain and there inside was the cub still alive and no longer small. It seems it had developed faster than the siblings due to the powerful core it has.

The cub and mother have a heartfelt reunion and Wei Ying is happy. He turns to leave, Lan Zhan no doubt having followed to make sure he doesn't get hurt, but is stopped by the mother who nuzzles him firmly and her living cub wraps his long tale around him. He blinks and smiles and Lan Zhan gives a soft huff. Wei Ying has two spiritual rabbits already and now a undead Snow Leopard and a living Snow leopard cub who couldn't be more than a few months old but was nearly the size of the mother. It seems it will only get bigger due to its Cultivation and growth rate. Pulling two bonding collars from his sleeve, Lan Zhan hands them to his beloved, who smiles at him in thanks.

Once that task was done they head back the other cub spirits demanding Lan Zhan's attention and he soon has a few of his own. Lan Qiren huffs a grumpy noise but is pleased, he himself had an old wise tiger as his bonded. It was content to read and laze behind him as he did paperwork and prepared lessons. He also was a good deterrent from cheating or messing around during classes. So all that was left was the couple killed by the brother. Wei Ying assures then that their Seniors can handle it and will help them find justice. They would wait like the Xue woman. Happy with his work and feeling tired, he slowly slumps and it is clear this training exercise took a bit out of him. He feels Lan Zhan wrap and arm around him and pull him close.

"Wei Ying?"

"I'm tired... can we go see Auntie and the bunnies before we head out to Yueyang tomorrow?" Wei Ying asks.

"You are going?" Xichen-ge asks.

"Yes, I want to see if Xue Yang is alive and bring him here to live, or if he passed to reunite him with his mother so they can move on together." Wei Ying admits. "The lectures start too, so I won't have time to do it then and you would never let me travel alone."

"No." The Twin Jades say at the same time with the same stern, but flat tone that makes many truly believe they are twins when in fact Xichen is 4 years older than his brother.

Wei Ying giggles and pets his newest pets head and wonders what he can name them...

A couple of days later, Wei Ying and Lan Zhan land in Yueyang and deliver the invites to Yueyang Chang clan for the lectures and once they finish the pointless politics, they begin wandering the streets. Wei Ying keeps an eye out for a dark aura like Xue-furen told him would be on the item she gave her son. She also hopes he hasn't touched it or it would possess him it was passed down her family for generations and was extremely dangerous. She was killed for it and Xue Yang was the last of her bloodline and a child. Those who seek it would have no qualms in killing a child.

Wei Ying finally found it near a sweet cart and opted to go sniff the offerings he had a walking stick, but also Lan Zhan to help guide him. He hums and picks out several treats and his Lan Zhan goes to pay but Wei Ying scolds him as he asks the price and haggles it down to about a 1/3 of the asking price because he knows these treats are cheaply made and not worth trip the price. Lan Zhan hands over the newly agreed upon price and Wei Ying turns towards the child and offers him one of the bag of seeds and doesn't take offense when it is snatched and the child runs. He simply pulls Lan Zhan away and they walk along the market a bit more Wei Ying seeing the child's aura following at a distance until they get to a quieter area and the child has no choice but to approach.

"What do ya want?" He asks a bit rudely. Pretty articulate for a child so young but life on the streets was not kind.

"Hmm?" Wei Ying hums.

"Ya gave me candy and left... that is not how this works. Ya give me something and I ya something. What ya want?!"

"I am looking a child named Xue Yang... his mother sadly passed away but her spirit cannot rest until she knows he is safe. I was going to offer him a nice home and treats whenever possible. But I don't want to trick any random child or hurt anyone so I gave you the treats and left you alone." Wei Ying admits and the child stares in shock.

"You... you know Mama?" He asks, really wary now.

"I spoke to her spirit. She told me what happened to her and where to find you. She said she was sorry for leaving you but there were bad people following her and they found her and killed her. She hopes you were safe or if you had died, she wanted to be reunited with you..."

The child bites his lip, he is normally good at telling when someone is lying but there were none being spoken. And he knows those robes. Gusu Lan had a rule to never lie so there was no point in calling him a liar.

"I am Xue Yang..." he admits and Wei Ying smiles and gently pats his dirty hair.

"Hello. Wanna come home with us and say a last goodbye to your Mama? We will take very good care of you." Wei Ying offers. "I was once an orphan too. They took cerh good care of me, see?" He holds his hands out in a 'tada' position.

"They took you in?"

"Mn, Wei Ying was four... his parents died trying to save him." Lan Zhan admits and the boy looks wide eyed.

"Are you a secret princess or something!?" He asks with excitement.

"In a way." Wei Ying admits and smiles.

The boy is so excited. Wei Ying asks him again if he wants to come back to Gusu with them and he latches onto him. Lan Zhan shakes his head and pulls the child up into his arm and then wraps the other around Wei Ying. Bichen flies free of her scabbard and he steps into her and they are off. The child is shocked and in awe of flying, but quickly gets cold, however Wei Ying wraps the due wrap he was wearing around him and he enjoys the flight. By the time they land it is close to the evening meal. Uncle is watching the disciples scramble in controlled chaos to get ready for dinner with Madam Lan at his side, she was much better in recent years and due to Wei Ying's unique vision they were able to see she was sick and being poisoned at the same time. It turns out to hide that Wi Chunli was innocent for the crime she supposedly committed, the elders were slowly killing her off. However due to her training under Baoshan Sanren she proved to be more powerful than they had originally thought. She was supposed to die only a couple of months after Lan Wangji was born but she had lived.

Lan Qiren was furious with the lies and deceit and not only forced his brother out of Seclusion to deal with the mess but also personally used a spell only direct bloodline members were taught to scrub the rules off the wall and only the original precepts and some of the ones that had helped streamlined their disciples were left. In the end only about 150 rules were left and it was seen clearly with how freely everyone moved and chattered. The world was in for a shock when the young masters and ladies come fore the lectures. They look up to see Lan Zhan land and Wei Ying cheerfully runs up to his auntie and hugs her. She was back from visiting Baoshan Sanren, who was saddened and furious to know her only daughter died, that someone dared to attack her. The Lans were careful to only introduce Wei Ying as Lan Wuxian when they had to so no one knows he is the last Wei alive and the child of Cangse Sanren.

"We found Xue Yang! We will take him to see his mama later!" Wei Ying cheers and blinks as his snow leopard comes over and butts against him. His undead mother was lounged on a rock blending into the snowy grey of it.

"Good job, a'Ying! His auntie praises and she cups her son's face before she gives a warm smile to a shy Xue Yang.

"She's pretty... is she a princess too?" He half whispers and Lan Zhan hums his agreement. Making his mother laugh and his beloved joins her. They make a beautiful sight and Lan Zhan is happy they are here and safe...

Chapter Text

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He snapped his eyes open and recognized of sex going on around him. He gets up from where he seemingly passed out. Quickly dashing to the Madame's room, he snuck to where she keeps the money and slips out four silver teals and then jumps out of the window, landing in the bush under it and after wiggling his way out of it, he runs off into the night...

It will take him at least three days to get to Yiling. He needs to get to that child before the Jiangs do...

He is so tired and sore by the time he gets off the small ferry at the Yiling dock and pays the man. He has some steamed buns and some cheap medicine. He had thought long and hard as he traveled and while his original intention was to kill the brat, he realized that without him, when the war happens, they would lose and Wen Ruohan's machinations would bear fruit. And there was no guarantee that he would be allowed to live very long.

He considered just turning the brat into a whore, but there was this funny thing about death. It shows you so much and he realized he had been jealous of someone who had been treated so much worse than he had ever been. And where Meng Yao killed those who bullied him or insulted his mother, this boy never once sought revenge until the siege on Yunmeng Jiang. Not until all those he loved and cared for had been harmed, killed or left broken. He even gutted himself and gave away his core. He lived out his days coreless and yet had been so much more powerful for it.

He blinks as he hears dogs snarling and a scared child's cries of pain and fear. He rushes down the alley and kicks one of the dogs in the ass and grabs a broken cane and starts swinging and yelling. Scaring off the dogs after a few good wallops and another swift boot to the arse, he pants, feeling so much better getting out some of his pent up rage out. Turning to the boy, he saw familiar silver eyes and knew he found him. He truly hadn't changed much. How could this boy be so gifted and kind, but so utterly hated?

"Hello, didi. Can this Gege see your injuries? I will even give you my steam bun!" He says in his childish voice. It was so high and sweet, too sweet. It made him cringe, not use to it after years spent as a man and having a deeper voice. Not as deep as Da-ge's has been...

Da-ge...

He will not allow his death this time. He needs to also find Xue Yang and pull him in too. He has to wait for Mo Xuanyu to be born, but he will pull him in as well. He blinks as the boy before him agrees at last, having scrutinized him while he was lost in thought. Handing over a steam bun, he pulls out the medicine and bandages and began to treat him as best he could, frowning at the scars that would likely be left behind. Nodding at his handy work he then offers a hand to the boy at least 6 years younger than himself.

"This one is Meng Yao... This Gege will bring you somewhere warm, but it is not nic but if Didi helps Gege, we can live somewhere else with a Mama and an Auntie!"

"YungYing is Wei Ying... But Ying Ying is a good boy and must wait for Baba and Mama... Can't leave..." He sounds so sad, clinging to a vain hope.

Meng Yao had never been to sure about what happened to Wei Wuxian 's family. There was too many rumors and theories. Most pointing to Madam Wei having a secret love affair with Sect Leader Jiang Fengmian. Others that the Wei Couple abandoned him, but it was very likely they were killed in an accident, while hunting or bandits got the drop on the pair. He will never truly know.

"... But you waited so long... They will not come--" he gasps as he feels an icy hand touch his shoulder and slowly turns to see a woman in a white and red robes, the red spider lilies looking like patches of blood while her veiled face looked down with the white eyes of a controlled Fierce Corpse. Besides her was a towering man in Jiang colors.

"Ying'er was good!" The boy chirps as the male corpse moves forward and holds out a black fruit and pats the boy's hair.

Meng Yao is not sure how to feel as he watches the boy consume the black putrid fruit, but smile like it was the best thing he tasted. It took him far too long to realize that it was not a fruit but a blackened heart! The casual cannibalism was startling. He swore that Wen Qionglin had been the first Fierce Corpse with sentience!

"Thank you, Baba, it was yummy! Tell aunty Houng Xinniang thank you!" He says having finished his 'meal' but he did not look I'll and Meng Yao sudd ely sees the boy collapse and he and the child are grabbes by the corpses and carries towards the Burial Mounds. He gulps and hopes he will be able to leave...

He is faces with a floating woman in red, dressed like a bride but the black stain where her heart should be was disturbing. She fawns over Wei Wuxian and then turns to glare at him.

"I know who you are, I know you have transmigrated back in time. And I know what sins you have committed but your most grievous offenses were in our beloved Wei Ying.... Jow should we punish you...?"

Chapter Text

Meng Yao is many things and will admit to having almost no fear, but right this moment, faced by the 'Queen' of the Burial Mounds, the twisted spirit of Cangse Sanren's soul fragment and the semi sentient corpse of Wei Changze, he will admit to being very much terrified. And no it is not because he is a child again, even as an adult only two people truly terrified him. Nie Huaisang being one of the two, for how he so devotedly and utterly destroyed everything Meng Yao had worked hard for and how twisted he became to carelessly use and sacrifice even people he cared about to get his revenge. And the child held against the Ghost Bride's chest. Wei Wuxian was the one man he could never figure out, could never corrupt or twist into his favor.

Wei Wuxian has been terrifyingly brilliant, creating and mastering his own form of Cultivation, the inventions he created with little to no resources and managed to make almost without fail! There was also the way he drew people in and gleaned information without needing to resort to terrible tricks or torture, unless you crossed him. He suffered so much more than Meng Yao and Xue Yang, but somehow managed to remain kind and pure. Not even when he was driven to madness did he sink so low. Truly, devils run when a Good Man goes to War. But right here, right now, Meng Yao is certain he has soiled himself or will very shortly because he is standing in the Burial Mounds and he can feel the coiling, choking power of the Death Mountain, hear the hissing voices and faint growls all spitting that he is the one to kill their beloved master, that he helped to kill the kind people who settled and were making a home within their domain and took away their precious little one, the lone survivor of the massacre.

Meng Yao felt his stomach twist and roil, guilt and shame pricked like the finest needles and dug deep like nasty barbs that will tear and rend if one tries to tear them out. He is dizzy with memories of both his own sins and the lives of the Wens he helped kill. Saw their silhouettes wandering the Burial Mounds like a residual haunting. Elderly and disabled people working to eek out a living and they snuffed it out. Slowly, Meng Yao sinks to his knees and kowtows so low, his face is pressed into ash covered dirt and is trembling.

"I do not deserve any forgiveness or mercy, but please... Allow me to take Wei Wuxian--"

He gulps feeling the deadly nails of the Ghost bride against his neck, Wei Ying still tucked safely in her other arm as three giggling young girls in red appear, their smiles too wide and wicked to be normal. Their long blade like nails dance dangerously close to vulnerable and tender flesh.

"Why would I hand him over? You live in a filthy brothel.... You are the son of a prostitute. What could you possibly do to ensure my little prince's safety?" She snarls darkly and for once he does not get angry at the insult.

He really thinks about it, what could he offer? He is a child, but he knows things from his future or was it past? He knows he can make money and be able to eventually buy his mother's and Sisi's freedom, but he is also a child. He needs to also find Xue Yang and truly he has nothing! He begins to whimper, crying genuinely because he had woken up and rushed here with a few stolen teals of silver. His mother and Sisi must be mad with worry by now and he's got nothing, Wei Ying is the only one who can recreate his inventions but he but a mere child right now, hardly more than a babe to be honest!

Seeing the boy sobbing in loud, ugly hiccuping tears, the Ghost bride pulls back and her 'daughters' pull back scoffing at him heartlessly.

"Cry all you like, snake, but we do not care..." One hissed at him spitefully and he cries harder. He has lied, cheated, stolen and murdered his way into a position of power and respect. Has manipulated and destroyed countless people and families. He lost himself along the way and now no one will care of show him sympathy or even mercy.

"... Enough..." Hong Xinniang says and he forces himself to at least sniffle pitifully. "Of all the souls to be allowed to travel back in time, it has to be yours... Very well... I will cut you a deal: I will pay for your mother and and two other workers freedoms and have one of my children show you to where you can buy a home for all of you, but you will serve Wei Ying... You will protect him and ensure all he holds close and dear is kept safe... Fail, and I will kill your mother... Betray him and I will burn your soul out of existence.... Do J make myself clear, Little Snake?" She hisses and he sinks, if possible even lower into his kowtow.

"This Meng Yao understands and will do as my lady wishes..." He says.

"Good... Now follow my two guards there and they will bring you to where some heavy coin purses lay. You can use that to pay for your mother's freedom and two others. I will get the house ready for you in the mean time, but Wei Ying will remain with me.... If you must call me something call me Wei Labahua... Tell no one of what we are and you get to live.... Now go!"

Chapter Text

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There were voices all around her, she listened closely and realized it was doctors saying she was ill with a terrible fever and her core was fluctuating at a concerning rate. The other voices were her father's quiet, but fretful, concern lacing every inch of his voice while the other was her mother's. Sharp, fierce and unrelenting as always, her words biting and scalding, but under her angry tones was concern. She listened closely to see what happened to her while she keeps 'sleeping'. She had been meditating when suddenly her core seemed to explode with a sudden qi burst and she passed out from the shock and suddenness of it all.

She scared everyone and now they were worrying about her, hee brother was crying in the background, her parents were worrying about her, but at the same time arguing. She listened closer and realized her mother was berating her father for wanting to go find 'that woman' while his own daughter was possibly dying. Her father reminded her it was because of Cangse Sanren that Yanli even lived as long as she has. As they argued, Yanli laid there as she let the noise wash over her. She let her mind wander in this fevered haze as slowly memories or visions of a lifetime fill her head.

She drifts in her feverish daze for hours or days... Seconds? Years? She isn't sure but as she drifts, Yanli watches her life play out, watches as her parents fighting gets worse and worse, she sees herself being broken down even as she tries to fix things, raising her brother and another little boy (her a'Xian) that makes her heart ache. She watches times change from peace to war. She sees her bother hollowed out and so utterly devastated. He tries to strangle the other boy (not her Xianxain!) Her chest feels like she cannot breath as if a'Cheng is strangling her and not the boy! She watches them vanish to see a living legend, but only her brother returns (where is her Xianxain!? Why did you leave him alone!?) and there is little to do but prepare for war.

She sees so many things in these visions. She has never realized how utterly jealous her brother was, how bitter he is when someone is better than him. He is too much like their mother who believes that just because she has a long noble lineage and was the daughter of the Sect Leader of Meishan Yu, as she is automatically superior in all aspects and that no one 'beneath' her should ever dare to outshine her. She apparently gave that to a'Cheng who is bitterly jealous that even though he was given a new core by an Immortal, the boy, their brother, was so much more talented and powerful when he appears again months after he vanished.

She feels sick with worry as this young man, no longer a carefree boy, summon the dead and wash the battlefield in blood. She feels her heartbreak as she pays witness to how he is treated poorly by those he allied with and yet when they need help it is him they turn to. She watches the bloody war rage for nearly two years and then it is over. She wants to breathe a sigh of relief, but dares not to. She watches the aftermath how now that their brother served his purpose, he is the Cultivation World's next target. He only wanted to be left alone and to protect the innocent whom the others condemned to death simply because they were Wens. Yanli shatters when she watches one of her brothers miss her wedding because he could not risk capture or someone provoking him. For al his claims on control, she sees he is barely containing his fearsome powers and his sanity is slowly chipping away. He misses the birth of her son and even when he risks coming to the one month celebration of her son, her Jin Ling, Jin Rulan. His paranoia is proven to be true.

Yanli watches as he is attacked and accused of a curse he did not inflict on someone whom he hardly remembers and thus would not waste the time or effort on. But it is too late, the fighting begins and in the chaos, her husband, Jin Zixuan, the boy who constantly belittled her and made her cry, tried to stop them, but it must have been his aggressive tone or stance but the next moment he has a fight through his chest and he collapses dead to the ground. She sobs as everything spirals from there. She watches herself be imprisoned under the pretence of mourning and having an infant to care for while the rest of the Cultivation World hunts down her brother of heart and led by her brother of blood! Yanli wants to scream and rage as she watches them kill elderly, women and children, she watches herself somehow getting to the fighting to stop them only to be cut down trying to protect her brother of heart. 

Yanli wails as she watches him shatter (no, a'Xian!!) And in his grief he turns everyone against each other as he destroys his weapon, the very item everyone wanted to possess. In it's destruction, his undead army either turn to dust, the bodies of the Wens he protected, or turn and beging to tear him apart, devouring him. Nothing but a ribbon and flute with tattered robes is left by the time the frenzy is over. She watches his home be razed again, his inventions stone and claimed by the greedy so called 'righteous' sects. Yanli is disgusted as they celebrate for years, attempt to summon her brother's soul back just to destroy it again all because they feared he would seek revenge.

If it had been her, why would she want to come back or even answer them!? Haven't they taken enough, destroyed him enough!? She watches precious few mourn him. One who was beaten to near death in defense of him while a child, a Wen, grows up in his care, his memories of his family and her brother gone, but still mourning him because his new father mourns him. She watches 13 years pass and finally someone succeeds in summoning him back and in doing so task him to kill those responsible for his misery within a year's time or risk being gone forever.

She watches horrified as the truths begin to unravel, watches people she once trusted turn out to be lying, thieving murderers. Her son nearly killed be his, uncle and her blood brother continuously blame him for everything and trying to punish him unjustly. She watches him finally realize his feelings but chooses to let it go because even with the truth finally known, no one would ever accept him. Yanli feels her heart break and turn cold as she glares at the faces of those responsible for this pain and suddenly she is faced with her older self.

"I must ask you, find Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian, our a'Xian, our precious Xianxain and protect him... I know we cannot fully change the course of history, but we can try and make things better so he gets to live and love as he should have. You will find him in Yiling, he is traumatized by dogs, he is scarily brilliant, but far too kind. Do not let mother whip him. Do not let father manipulate him into being a servant or a shield for us... I may not have grown stronger due to being coddled my whole life, but I know much and have given you that power and knowledge. You will be able to do as our brother does, but to a much lesser degree... Take up your sword once more and protect him. He will do anything for us and I will do anything for him... I love a'Cheng but already the seeds have been down and are only waiting for a catalyst to make them grow... Be wary and do not be afraid to fight him." Her older self tells her and with a sad smile fades but leaves behind a bead of spiritual energy mixed with yin energy and the younger Yanli accepts it...

Everyone is surprised when three days after her collapse Yanli recovers and late one night, she pulls out Shanliang, her sword. Her kindness was seen as weakness. Well it was time to show people why there was a well know saying:

To Kill with Kindness.

Chapter Text

Yanli spends the next three days after her miraculous recovery getting everything she needs ready, food, medicine, clothes and bandages. She also sneaks into the treasury to add  several gold teals and silver teals into her money pouch and taking the time to calmly explain to a'Cheng, because he's still a child and thus not that monster he became yet, that not everyone likes dogs and that he must work hard to train his puppies to be calm and kind to people. She also takes the time to practice with her sword, she's gained the memories and knowledge of her older self. She had seen her Xianxian dancing beautifully with his sword before everything went to hell i a handbasket. It was similar to the Jiang Style of free movement and fluid movements, but was more like an enchanting dance. It was a sword style especially maid for her and others who have weak cores.

She carefully wrote out the moves and instructions, to help her practice. She always waited until twas late and no one would find her to train. She's nowhere near skilled, but she at least mastered the Spinning Lotus, the core move her brother made after her dance for the Lotus festival. It is a deadly spin attack that allows her to twirl with great speed and deadly precision, able to chance the aim of her sword from high to low and from front to back. It will help to scare of attackers of a weaker cultivation or even mundane attackers, but not someone stronger. Happy with her work, she waited for market day, made an excuse to her father and slipped out the doors to the market. Yanli visited her usual stalls and walked all over the main pier, to make sure that her father and the others would not realize she vanished too soon. She carefully sneaks to the edges of the pier where it is quieter and less visited and slips into a small boat and after grabbing a few lotus pods out of her qiankun pouch, she carefully bites her thum to draw some blood and sticks her hand into the water and shakes it and the pods aroun a bit.

it takes a moment before she feels a small nibble on her hand, and she ha to keep her breathing steady to keep her instinctual scream at bay. Slowly a pale and bloated water ghoul rises from the water, it looks like a young boy, round her age, the poor thing, he hasher bloody finger in his mouth, sucking until the blood is gone and then lets it go to sniff at the lotus pod and a gurgling whimper sounds. He's oddly cute.

"Hello, you must be Xiao Gui." He ducks into the water, only his big black eyes looking up at her with fright telling her he's still there. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you... do you want this?" She holds up the pod and slowly he rises and nods, reaching his bluish grey tinged hand out to take it and she lets him. he plunks into the water again and slowly bits and pieces of the pod float up s well as the skin of the seeds. Once it is done Xiao Gui pokes his head back up again, blinking slowly and a muffled warble sounds from his mouth as well as some bubbles from the displaced air. "I have three more if you want them? I will give them to you if you can help me get to Yiling and then back home once i finish my errand?"

He seems to think about it before nodding and she smiles and pulls out another pod and gives it to him. She lets him eat his treat and then she gasps as the boat begins to glide quickly and smoothly across the water, not a sound heard and much faster than a propelling talisman could hope to be. She waits until the noise of the Pier is a distant rumble and then nothing before she begins to sing a soft song and it seems to please Xiao Gui, who moves a bit faster. It is about three days to Yinling rowing up river against the current, but ith a talisman it takes two days. She's curious about how long it would take Xiao Gui, who's a water ghoul, but unlike normal water ghouls, he's only interested in lotus pods and lives in Old Man Lu's lake normally.

She knew how to call him thanks to the memories her older self had and gathered from others after her older self's death. Xiao Gui had taken a liking to Wei Wuxian after his initial capture and Old Man Lu defending the child like Ghoul. Wei Ying would go swimming in the lake and play with Xiao Gui or sneak him lotus flavored treats and even helped him move on after the destruction of Lotus Pier and Old Man Lu's death by making him a lotus out of lotus silk and spelling it to play a lullaby Xiao Gui loved to hear her Xianxian play on his dizi. He must have been very lonely all this time until Old Man Lu had found him and adopted him. Well not Xiao Gui will have a few fiends and she will have to make some Lotus seed cakes after this to thank him properly for helping her find and rescue her precious a'Xian.

She eventually fell asleep on the boat bottom and only startled awake a few hours later when her boat bumped softly into a dock, Xiao Gui thumping it from under the water. Yanli jumps up and leans tot he side where he looks up at her with slightly feral eyes.

"I see, you can feel the resentment... Here's a lotus pod, go wait further down stream, away from the bad water. I can row the boat down stream to meet you when I am done. Thank you again, Xiao Gui!"

He stares and blinks before snatching his treat and hopefully getting away from the horrible tainted water. She didn't want him to turn into a monster just for helping her. She would be sad to have to destroy him if it came to that. She wanted to let him enjoy his undead life and only lay him to rest once he is ready to move on. Securing her boat, Yanli climbs out, changing her robes to hide that she's from Yunmeng Jiang's sect, tucking her clarity bell away in her belt to keep it from being spotted or stolen since it's made form purified silver and could fetch a pretty copper of two if sold. She thinks for a moment about the memories and that it is currently late winter, early spring, so Wei Wuxian would be hanging near the fruit stalls, hoping to get some leftover, if slightly mushy fruits. Nodding her head at the plan, Yanli sets off for the market and begins walking, taking a true look around and feeling her heart ache. In the last few years of his life, a'Xian worked himself to near death to hlp these people and the Wens. These people rose their voices in protest of their precious Patriarch's defence and held a grudge for many, many years, especially to any Jins or Jiangs who dared to come back to their town. They weren't nearly as hostile with the lans because of Lan Wangji' constant aid once h was able to leave seclusion and was able to walk again.

Lan Wangji, the boy her brother loved and was loved by in return.

She will need to work out how to get them to meet and start a friendship so that when they begin to  fall in love, she can be there to guide and help them so it doen't take 20 years for them to finally realize their feelings and hopefully be able to live a happy life this time. She will be sad that they might not get their beautiful son this time around, but she will help where she can. Yanli blinks out of her future plans when she hears a little boy sobbing and turns into an alleyway to see her a'Xian curled up, fresh wounds from yet another dog attack on his arms and legs. She hurries over and keels in the muck next to him to carefully hug him. He stiffens, startled, but once he processes that she's not hurting him but rather offering him comfort, he curls into her and sobs. It breaks her heart, but she holds him tighter. Eventually, he calms down into sniffles and she takes a hankie and wipes as much tears and tears off his face.

"Hello, I'm Jiang Yanli." She introduces herself.

"Ying'er's Wei Ying... Jiang? Like Purple Uncle?" She blinks and it takes a moment for a memory, likely from one of his parents telling him about her family before their untimely passing.

"Jiang Fengmian?" She asks and his eyes glitter like freshly smelted silver in recognition. "He's my a'Die. Would you like to come with me? I can treat your wounds and I hav some food here... ah, here's a veggie bao. It's cold now, but still good." She pulls one of them out of her pouch and he tries to deny it, not wanting to take her only food, but she gently and firmly insists until he finally takes a bite, but once he does, he devours it ravenously. She doesn't give him another one, but she pulls a bamboo canister with fresh fruit juice, sweetened with honey and laced with a bit of medicinal herbs she had prepared for him out. He accepts the juice and drinks it with gusto. Once he's full, she seals the juice and pulls out the prepared medicine and bandages.

As she works, Yanli tells him about Lotus Pier and her family, warning him that her brother just recently got some puppies, but she will be there to protect Wei Ying from them. He's skittish and wary of the dogs, but he likes her and and how she treats him like he's special to her, like his Mama use to before she and Baba went away. Wei Ying eventually agrees to go with her if she promises to keep the dogs away and he will try to get along with only her brother's dogs. She gives him a sweet smile and she sees his cheeks flush like the first time they had met in her old life and knows he's fallen in love with her once more, but on the platonic level. She pets his head softly and helps him get up and heads back to the market to buy him some boots, making sure they fit, unlike her father, and after taking him to a public bath, she got him cleaned up and his wounds better treated before she pulls him towards the Undertaker's house and asked the old grandpa there if he could make a pair of memorial tablets for Cangse Sanre and Wei Changze, giving him one of the gold teals to make them as pretty and polished as possible. The old man was surprised but agreed to do it, though tried to give her change, but she denies, saying he and the town need it more. He offers them room in his home, no need to let the vultures know there is a wealthy young miss and master here without adult supervision least they rob them or kidnap them for ransom.

It takes him three days to fin a sheet of black marble and carve it into the two tablets, she wrote out the names he would need to carve into it and she told him to inlay it with a silver and red dye mixture, for the names and Wei Ying drew pretty spider lilies and lotus which he also added and inlaid with the few precious rubies and amethysts he had. Once they were done, she again paid him with a gold teal, refusing change or protest and he and his family thanked her profusely. She offered them an invitation to Lotus Pier if they have the time or chance and told them to ask for Jiang Yanli. With that, they were finally on their way, as she headed towards the docks she offered silver to the beggars and homeless to get a warm meal and a room for the night, it won;t do much, but hopefully she can come back and work on fixing this town little by little.

It won't be truly saved until a'Xian is older, but at least for now she can do this much. She had thought about it long and hard and as much as she would rather her brother not be exposed to Demonic Cultivation again, she knows he was a force of nature with it and had saved so many lives. And even then she can use it too, though she will never be as strong as her brother, she can help him. She has to write out quite a bit of manuals and instructions in the very near future and with the grounding she's going to get, she will have enough time for it. Getting into the boat once more, after helping her brother, another boy, his mother and a woman claiming to be her sister, into the boat, the she pushed it into open water and let the stream pull them down. She sensed when the resentment was at its weakest and and finally grabbed the last lotus pod, a bit wilted, but still good and bit her finger, drawing blood. She shoves her hand in the water and shakes her hand and squeaks when Xiao Gui suckles on her finger and rises up out of the water, scaring the others, but Wei Ying who is curious and in awe. He's told her about some of his travels with his parents, how they've met friendly ghosts, ghouls, monsters and even a mischievous demon who liked to scare the pants off of rude men who harassed the pretty girls in the Flower House he lived in.

Yanli assured them that Xiao Gui was friendly and wouldn't harm them and he sulked at the wilted pod, but happily ate it when she promised to make him some lotus seed cakes to make up for the long wait and the poor state of his treat. he gurgles a chirp and once he's done devouring his treat, the boat is off and quicker now that it is going down stream. She explains the story of Xiao Gui to her companions, who finally introduce themselves as Meng Shi, Meng Sisi and Meng Shi's son, Meng Yao. She hid her stiff posture well, but internally, Yanli was screaming at having the man who orchestrated her husband, hers and Wei Ying's deaths in front of her, but she wasn't going to be rash. No. Revenge is a dish best served cold and with a healthy dose of petty, but that's only if Meng Yao goes the way he did the first time.

But that doesn't mean she won't impale him on Shanliang if tries anything, especially with her Xianxian...

Chapter Text

By the time they got back to Lotus Pier, it was early evening and there was a bit of a ruckus. Yanli told Xiao Guilty to go home and hide while she used a propelling talisman to get them the rest of the way before she docked it. As she was tying the complex but easily undone knit in the rope, several of her Shixiongs came running shouting in worry and relief. Which heralded her mother's arrival with her father. Yanli stood her ground, shoulders squared and her smile bone chilling in a rather telling way. Madam Yu faltered for a moment as she got closer and stopped in shock seeing Shanliang in her hand.

"A'Li where have you been!! Who are these people and why have you brought them here!?" She demands hotly and glares seeing the urchin hiding behind her daughter. "And why did you bring this rat here!?"

The boy looks terrified of her as she glares at him, his silver eyes too familiar and driving her rage to new heights. Yanli glared at her and moved swiftly, the spin came too fast for her mother to react and she disarmed her and sliced her robes in various places.

"Apologize to a'Xian!! He did nothing to you!!" She orders her mother.

"Wh-what!? Where... Where did you learn that!?" Madam Yu asked reeling still at how fast and skilled her daughter was, was she always this talented and just hid it?

"A'Xian showed me. He made these skills sets just for me... Now apologize!!" She snaps and Zidian sparks on Ziyuan's hand shocking her. She manages an apology though it wasn't as sincere as it should be, but Yanli will work on that. Nodding she changed back to her normal sweet self, assuring her Xianxain that all is safe and he is welcomed. She also assured the Men's they were safe because they would be working for Yanli, not her mother or anyone else. Meng Yao would be working with Xianxain, even if it's a bit too late to develop a strong core. With that said she nodded and guided her little group back to Lotus Pier and got them situated. She personally bathed Wei Ying and combed his hair diligently until it was soft and clean. She remembers he liked pretty things but refrained due to her mother's temper and views. Not this time. She let him pick from the pretty male and female clothes she ordered to be brought in. He chose some soft pants from the boy clothes and a pretty dark red and white hanfu with blue Kingfishers on it.

"Pretty!" She coos and helps him style his hair into a pair of side braids and a half up hairdo similar to his Yiling Patriarch hairstyle. She kept the red ribbon tied around the bun and let the rest fall free. The ribbon was one his parents gave him and he kept with him even at the end of his last life. She was also sensing the powerful protections on it and knowing it was made from pieces of his parents wedding robes, a Wei family tradition so that the child(ern) would always have a piece of their parents always with them.

She made him some more thin broth, having learned her mistakes last time and soupy rice to get him use to food again and up his weight ins a slower but safer fashion. She rugged him along to meet a'Cheng and introduce them and Meng Yao before she saw to Meng Shi and Meng Sisi, getting them settled and informing them if what they needed to do and learn to be her personal attendants. She would also be paying them from her weekly allowance, which would not be much right now, but it is better than nothing (she forgets that she is the young mistress of a Great Sect and of noble birth so her allowance was more money than most would see in three months).

The pair of women don't mind as long as they are not asked to service men. Yanli scowls and wrinkles her nose at that. She was a Cultivator, not a Madam. And she told them as much. Once the two women were assured they would not be whored out here as well, they took to their jobs and lessons quickly. Wei Ying was surprised that he got to live there and eat regular meals daily, he was a bit wary of Jiang Cheng but slowly they got along and Meng Yao was surprisingly bright and mischievous as well. The older boy helped Yanli wrangle the boys and would learn whatever he could. Wei Ying watched Yanli practice the sword style he supposedly made for her, but found that he would come up with something that would play to her strengths.

He ended up doing the same for Meng Yao when he struggled to follow along with the Jiang training. Wei Ying was like a fish to water when it came to Cultivation, which Yanli knew he would be because of their last life, but she made sure to push him towards warding and talismans, where he excelled at. Her mother lurked around the corner, angry at having that woman's child in her home, but it was Yanli who had brought him in and she was not backing down. Her mother needed to learn that just because she was insecure and bitter doesn't mean everyone as to be. And she made sure to tell Wei Ying where her mother could here that most of Yunmeng Jiang had similar features it was due to the area they lived in so people shared similar features their eyes were more almond shaped and their bodies and faces were thin, most likely to help them swim faster in the water.

She also told him he looked more like Uncle Wei with his high cheek bones and pointed chin, but he looked more like his mother with his pretty face and silver eyes. Wei Ying was happy to hear that and even happier when she told him that they had to go live with Chang'e on the Moon in her palace to watch over him. He liked the idea that they were making mooncakes and a bunny garden for when he finally joined them one day. Meng Yao did not contradict her and found himself finding all the books he could on mooncakes, bunnies and the legends surrounding Chang'e to leave for Wei Ying to peruse. Jiang Cheng joined him even if he found dogs cuter than bunnies, but when Yanli gifted each of them a rabbit for their birthdays l, only a week apart from one another, he admitted that it was actually pretty cute. These rabbits lived near water and dove in frequently to avoid predators and to snatch some lotus flowers or lily pads to eat.

Her mother finally came to her one night as she and the Meng women were sewing and she sat down.

"Who are you and what happened to my daughter?"

"I am in fact your daughter, however the remnants of my adult soul fused to me and have gifted me with memories and knowledge of the future that led to my death and the deaths of so many others. But most importantly it also reveal many things of the past and why you hate Wei Ying... You ordered his parents deaths and the only reason I am not killing you, mother, is that your fate is set in stone. So why bother cheating her of her fun?"

Chapter Text

The five adult women stare in shock, the twins Yinzhu and Jinzhu shared nervous glances while the Meng Women narrowed their eyes at the Mistress of Lotus Pier. Yanli stared down her nose at her mother, startling the haughty woman with just how much Jiang Yanli looked like her, but with softer features. Yanli calmly got up and put up one of a'Xian's barriers for privacy and sat down, grabbing the tea pot and making tea, before she pointed pulled a vial of black liquid and poured it into the cup she set in front of her mother, her peach blossom colored eyes unblinking and cold. Madam Yu gulped and sat back, this was truly a woman in a child's body.

"Good. Now that I have your attention I will only say this once: You're insecurities ruined this family and Sect. Your insecurities caused the fall of Lotus Pier and yet you had the nerve to blame it all on Wei Wuxian all because you could never be at fault for anything. And you filled a'Cheng with the same poison running in your veins. Everything that happened to us was your fault and even after yours and father's deaths, your words haunted us and still brought us misfortune.... You tore my brothers down so much that one became a bitter and spiteful man while the other had no sense of self worth and constantly gave and gave and gave until it literally bit him in the ass and killed him in the end. You managed to ruin all of our lives. I will not let you or anyone hurt a'Xian again... A'Cheng is not a lost cause yet, but if you ruin him again, I will end him before he repeats the sins of his future... Did you know he killed a toddler? Slit his throat and butchered him because he was a'Xian's son?" She asks cruelly making the women all gasp and turn green with nausea.

"... He-he wouldn't..." Her mother tries.

"Oh but he did... I died moments after seeing the body and throwing myself between a'Cheng's blade and a'Xian's heart.... I died to stop the senseless killing and it didn't matter in the end... As my souls transmigrated back to my current body, I saw what the future beyond my death held and it was bleak. I had planned to simply kill everyone who hurt my family and ruined our lives, but certain events are meant to happen but the ramifications do not have to be the same... I have already changed a few things. I will continue to change things, but if you get in my way or try to stop me.... Well, I will show you the full skill set a'Xian's future self made for me and Shanliang is only one of the weapons I use..." Yanli lays down the law and her mother can only gulp and stare with a sense of both pride and trepidation at her daughter.

Pleased, Ynali gets up and removes the barrier, but before she finishes her mother asks about it and she turns her head and sneers slightly:

"It is one of a'Xian's... You forbade him from learning the Dizi and even burnt his father's flute. You denied him tinkering with his inventions which prove to be ingenious in the future, so much so that the greedy bastards of the Jin Sect, especially Jin Guangshan, stole them after his death and made profits off of them and even tried to further their own experiments using a'Xian's notes as templates.... I am not even surprised by this since the man can't even keep it in his pants for than a few seconds at a time and with siring a bastards of three every other month." She spits nastily. "You forbade him from updating the Siege wards and it was due to that that Lotus Pier burned, everyone minus me, a'Cheng and a'Xian survived that night.  You foolishly tried to fight the Core Melting Hand and lost." Yanli tosses in for extra measure and pulls the last ward down and bows curtly to her mother, being both respectful and rude as she calls her attendants to follow and they head in to check the boys. Meng Shi feeling like her world had suddenly collapsed further in on itself while Sisi patted her back and whispered softly words to her...

Yanli trained hard, she also guided her brothers and Meng Yao as best she could, stopping the destructive habits the boys learned last time before they could start this time. They worked tirelessly to acclimate Wei Ying to at least Jiang Cheng's puppies and it was a slow going process but at least he seems to like Princess and Jasmine out of the three. Li'l Love was a bit too rambunctious and made him nervous. Meng Yao proved to be as frightfully brilliant as last time, but due to the open and rather boisterous nature of Yunmeng, he wasn't nearly as sensitive or critical, he had a cruel streak, but this one she was honing to protect her Xianxain, rather than him being cruel for his own blind pride.

Her mother watched her from a distance and when they did interact, in public she was very much her old self, but in private, she was cold and biting, she aimed for the throat at every opportunity, giving the bitter woman a taste of her own medicine. She also wrote letters to Nie Huaisang and the Jades of Lan. She didn't bother with her fiance, she learned from last time that getting what you wanted for so long is not always for the best. While they did grow to love one another, she realized in death that she cheated herself out of a true happy ending. She has no idea who she would allow to court her, but at least she has an idea of a few people. Lan Xichen was much like her, but also blindly trustful of the wrong sort. Nie Mingjue was handsome, but he was a meathead and he demeaned his brother for his softer pursuits and she would never forgive him for his quick judgement and his hand in killing her Xianxain. There were a few Minor Heirs who could pass muster like He Su, or even a few Rogues like Xiao Xichen once he leaves the Mountain... She had options, she just needed to see who would beat suit her. However she was also planning on playing matchmaker as well for some people. Especially getting Lan Wangji and Xianxain together more smoothly. Even she can admit her beloved Xianxain is a bit of an idiot when it comes to realizing his own feelings, nevermind recognizing when someone likes him as more than a friend.

So much work and so little time to do it in...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

"Hey! Did you hear!?" Someone whisper shouts to their friends in the crowded and noisy inn's restaurant area.

"What, what!?" Gasps their companions as they lean forward to get the scoop of the clearly juicy gossip.

"They say that the Lans have a waterborne abyss polluting Bailing lake and that their request for aid has been either ignored or outright rejected by Qishan's Fire Lord. Apparently, they believe it was chased from Qishan's territory and to Lan lands, the Grandmaster is Furious!" They almost shout, but quiet down seeing someone in red and white robes, the colors of Qishan, but turns out to be the new robe of some pretty young lady shopping with some friends. "They aren't even allowed to call for the Yunmeng Chieftain for aid!"

"But that means their lands will suffer as they battle the Abyss!" One of the others gasps out horrified.

"I think that was the point. Why else would the Fire Lord block any attempts to reach Yunmeng Jiang? The Water Tribes of Yunmeng are more then capable of handling the Abyss and doing it without draining such a major water source for the people of Gusu." Another whispers.

As the quarter kept chattering, they missed a figure in simple black robes with a red inner layer and a long ash grey over rober with beautifully stitched spider lilies and the phases of the moon into it. Slowly rising from the table, a delicate hand leaves three pieces of silver for the server as they slip silently out of the inn and weave in and out of the crowds until they find a stream that merges into a river that will flow all the way to Gusu Lan.

Holding their hand out over the water, a great shark appears and they step I to it, the undead creature able to swim quickly down the stream and soon into the river. With them is a trail of purified water and energy...

The figure hides at the edge of the lake, watching from the safety of some tall reeds on the back of their mount. They saw the pale white and pules of the Gusu Lan Sect. The Wind Riders were not a people to be trifled with. While they prefer to live in solitude and have an almost Nomadic Monk like lifestyle, they controlled the wind with it the weather. They also form bonds with the Celestial Dragons. Do not be fooled, they could easily kill him if given a reason and Qishan is steadily giving them that reason since without pure water, the Hatchlings could not hatch or grow into powerful dragons.

Bailing Lake was. A sacred nesting ground and nursery as well as a much needed source of food for the people of the nearby town. The usual way to deal with the Abyss is to expose it to direct sunlight. However in order to do that the late must be drained. A damn would need to be built on all rivers and streams coming in and out of Bailing Lake before the could hope to begin draining the water. Once the lake is drained it would take years, depending on how big the abyss is, for it to finally dry out and finally dissipate. That could take anywhere between 3-25 years.

They watched the Lans float over head, enchanting and calming music filling their ears as in the center the most handsome young man sat in the dead of a truly impressive dragon, this one silvery white jade and azure blue coloring. This meant this dragon was the highest ranked dragon below the Jade Celestial Dragon who served the Jade Emperor. They worked diligently, playing from stringed instruments and wind instruments. It was a private concert to the gray dressed figure, but in actually was a valiant effort to try and suppress it and this make it smaller and more manageable to get rid of it.

They could do nothing but wait. It was late evening when they finally called it quits, most of the players had to be switched out as they gre tired, but the handsome boy remained. But now they were all leaving and finally then could get to work! Waiting for another hour to be certain they were alone, they tap their mount and stand on its back once more.

As the undead shark circles the lake, it remains seemingly normal but as they circle around, they pull the tendrils of resentment up and calmly steps o to the surface of the water, walking on it until he was at the heart of where the Abyss hid and as the resentment swirled, they pull off their robes so only their svelte figure was only in their red inner robe and began to dance over the surface, pulling water up and swirling it around in beautiful arches and shapes. An artist painting a masterpiece, but with the artist as the brush.

Steadily the drown we rose and danced with him, each one danced until they crumbled away and to their ashes blue away on the wind. Those who did not leave were sent to the shark and once the last tendril of resentment faded, now resting in the palm of their hand was the heart of the Abyss, made physical and turned into a black pearl. They smile and admire it in the moonlight only to gasp seeking the young man from before, floating with the moonlight at his back.

"Who are you?" He demands harshly, sword drawn and ready.

"Sorry young Master..." Says a soft, feminine voice as the person bows and then bursts off into the reeds, hoping to get away while sending away their mount.

They do not get far before they are pressed into a tree, both hands held in one large one and tkt he side of their face and the handsome young man finally realizes the phone he is holding is a young lady and she is all but naked, her inner robes soaked through and he feels himself flush in embarrassment but refuses to let her go. He had seen her much earlier in the day and had watched her dance and purify the water. He ahs never seen such a thing it was not like any technique he knew.

"Who are you?" He demands once more.

"... I am...."

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Lan Xichen felt a cold sweat break out across his brow and back, clenching his sword as he walked silently behind the slight figure of his ward. How could things have come to this!? The sound of battle echoing from the royal courtyard and in some of the other halls echoed around them. The Zhīzhū Bǎihé palace was under attack by the Jins and Xichen felt a bitter taste rise in his throat. There had been a Jin he had thought of as a friend and perhaps one day a lover, but the tiny man betrayed them, spilled the secrets Xichen had entrusted to him before he became a Jin. His Ward did not blame him, far from it, he felt anger on his behalf, but now they could do nothing balut flee.

However, beg as Xichen and the Council might, he would not flee. Instead they were traveling the hidden and forbidden halls of Zhizhu Baihe Palace into the depths were a well of great spiritual power slept. His Ward walked quickly, his slight frame drowning in his many heavy layers and skirts. The Crown Prince of Yiling Wei was a tiny young man, but was powerful. He created a powerful tool that helped him channel his awesome power, limitless in his hands, but managed. Xichen was one of three guards chosen to keep him safe and if he should ever lose control, one of three to kill him. He felt his stomach twist and knot as he felt the other two at his heel, both tense and wary as they travel deeper and deeper until they enter a massive room with a single beam of light.

Lan Xichen tenses seeing what appeared to be a man forced to his knees in the center of the light. His hands were chained heavily and pulled out and away from his body, no give to them. His hair was left unbound and his his face from view while a mask similar to a dragon's snarl, covered his mouth. He did not move, dust cobwebs surrounded him. Like a doll left forgotten for centuries.

"What is that!!" The youngest guard demands, tense as he fiddles with his knives, a former thief and assassin, he preferred short blades, but was able to use anything as a weapon given enough incentive and time.

"That.... That can't be what I think it is...." The other, not that much older stutters out, a bow at his back but no sword or anything else that could be used for close range battle.

"A'Yang, a'Ning, shh..." Xichen orders and they follow his order as their Prince walks quickly up to the figure and as if his presence reanimates the figure, he lunges forward, the chains glow with demonic energy and inhuman eyes snap open and they flinch back as the air around them grows heavy and shakes with a growl so deep and loud that they could not hear it, only feel it echo in their chests and through their bones.

"I am the last of the Yiling Wei line... We are under attack and baba always told me if a time like this should come, I was to come here. He said I would find both salvation and death here... I will gladly die at your hands if you will save my people..." The prince says, getting down on his knees and kowtowing to the bound being.

"..." There is a shift, an almost human like intelligence filling those inhuman eyes.

Slowly rising, the Prince comes forward and reaches behind the figure's head and begins to unlock the muzzle like mask.

"I, Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian release you to do this one thing and with my death may you be free..." He intones.

The chains glow and then melt into ash and vanish as the mask comes free. But before they can react, the man like being grabs their Prince by this throat and hoists him into the air, but their Prince does not resist, allowing it even as his breathing hitches and chokes out. The being sniffs and grabs a hand and flashes deadly fangs before biting into the tender wrist. The blood is pure and sweet on a parch tongue. Pulling away, the being drops the prince, who has lost consciousness from being choked. However, instead of falling to the floor, a great big tail cradles him as the man is gone and a great big dragon of ominous black with markings on pure white and azure blue appears in his place.

The three gasp and bow, a Dragon, fall or otherwise, was a Divine Beast and it would seem the Weiz have had one held captive for a very long time, or perhaps they were entrusted to jail it. They cannot be sure or know. All they know is that this Dragon was not like others. A great big pearl rested in the cradle of his antlers and they knew this dragon was both old and powerful. The dragon eased their Prince into their arms and swept them all up into a massive paw and with a mighty twist of it's body, they were flying up toward the light source only to realize they were bursting through the For hidden valley behind the palace.

Xue Yang held onto Prince Wei Wuxian as Lan Xichen slowly stood and leaned against a deadly talon and pointed at the Jin army.

"Those are the enemy... Only kill those who remain hostile..."

The dragon glares at him but flies up high over the raging battle and then let's out a mighty roar, the pearl glowing and a beam of light shoots out of it and in its wake fire and explosions fill the air. In moments the battle is over and the people of Yiling Wei kowtow before the Dragon as he lands let's the humans off before shrinking down and approaching the unconscious prince once more. Grabbing him, not by the throat this time, but by the back of his head and biting into his neck. They fear he will devour the prince, but no, a mark burns into his neck and then the dragon nods.

"This one is Hanguang-Jun... Wangji... This one is the King of all Celestial Dragons... This one accepts the contract set forth by the Yiling Laozu centuries ago, a bride for this one's services. Until such a time the one known as Wei Ying , Wei Wuxian dies, this one will remain..."

Chapter Text

Wei Ying slowly blinks his eyes opened, confused as to why he was still alive when he should have died at the Dragon's awakening. He slowly sits up on his bed and finds his three most loyal guards sprawled along the side of his bed, sleeping in varying states of undress, surrounded by supplies and weapons. He smiles fondly at the familiar sight. Xue Yang was curled up tightly, a reminder of his times in the streets where he was always hungry and often beaten and abused. Wei Ying rescued him from nearly being crushed under a carriage by a rather rude low ranking noble. He had worked hard to earn the boy's trust, finding out his secret hidey-holes and sneaking sweets and toys into them, replacing many of the stolen and spoiled food.

The boy often ran away, but always came back when he was hurt or scared. Wei Ying often found him in an alcove near his bed chambers, curled up and sleeping. The boy took a long time to realize he had a home with the Wei kingdom who treated everyone from the richest to the lowliest of the poor with kindness and respect. Only murderers, rapists and child abusers were treated like the worthless animals they are.

By then Xue Yang had become rather proficient at sneaking around, stealing and when it came to it, killing and leaving no trace. When he finally accepted his place as a ward of the Wei Royal family, he confessed his sins to his new parent, Wei Wuxian, who only gave him a soft smile and asked if he was willing to stop. When he admitted no, Wei Wuxian didn't call him a monster or even throw him in jail. He summoned an old woman, who was actually his Spymaster and personal assassin, but her old bones were making her job harder as she got older. She had served three generations already and she was afraid her age would get her ward killed.

Xue Yang flourished under Granny Fa's brutal training and was truly loyal to the person and the kingdom that saved him, showed him kindness and even turned a blind eye when he went and killed the bastard noble and half of his family in revenge for nearly killing him. Though he did bring proof of his justification for the others in the form of slave contracts, human trafficking and the trafficking of illegal goods and drugs. Not to mention the Noble's personal harem of children. Wei Ying remembers how Xue Yang had snuck into his room, curled up on the floor by his bed to silently cry and sleep.

So it isn't strange to wake randomly in the middle of the night to find his Spymaster curled up by his bed, sleeping, curled in like he was afraid to be hurt, but also relaxed enough to be deeply asleep. And as had become habit, Wei Ying pulls a blanket over him and smiles gently. He turns his attention to the next person and suppresses a giggle at seeing Wen Ning, Wen Qonglin surrounded by medical supplies and curled in his side, somehow he got his face smeared with medicine and still managed to not make a mess. Wen Ning was found left for dead on the edge of the forbidden valley, apparently his cousin, the second prince of Qishan Wen was upset at losing his prey and wanted to take it out on someone. Wen Ning was and sorta still is a soft spoken and nervous mess. Hardly a threat and easily bullied.

Of course his cousin targeted him. Wen Ning tried to defend himself and accidentally left a small barely there cut on his cousin's face when he pushed him back from trying to stab about his eye. He was then beaten to near death and dropped from more than a hundred feet in the air at the edge of the barrier. They had originally planned to fly toward the center of the valley and drop him, but hadn't realized there was a barrier of some kind. Xue Yang had found him when scouting out a camping spot for the night while they were on their way to Gusu Lan and quickly brought him to camp upon realizing he was just barely alive.

They ended up cancelling their trip and sending an apology letter to the royal family, but Wei Ying wasn't about to leave the poor young man alone. Gusu Lan ended up sending a delegation to them when they got the word and even sent healers to help the young man. Once they got the boy cleaned up and healed up enough to try and identify him, Wei Ying was surprised to learn he was the Qishan Emperor's nephew, who supposedly died in a tragic Night Hunt. Wei Ying, who was fairly isolated and still sorta is isolated, had no idea of the tensions brewing or that someone would and could be so cruel to their own family. Gusu Lan offered their alliance then and offered him their Crown Prince as his personal body guard. The Gusu Emperor, Xichen's father, was not in control, but rather his younger brother, the Grandmaster, was acting Emperor.

Which brought Wei Ying's attention to Lan Xichen who was kneeling perfectly at his side even if he slumped forward some point in the night and part of his face was mushed into the mattress. Lan Xichen has been with him since he was 10 years old and now he is nearly 18. He was a tall and imposing figure, but was gentle and warm, welcoming! He was kind and found goodness in others. Wei Ying thought of him as more a brother than a guard and thus treated him as such. To be honest he treats his guards as family. Xichen is his big brother, Wen Ning, who was only a year or two younger than him was his little brother and Xue Yang, who was at least 4 years younger was Wei Ying's son.

Smiling softly at his boys, he slowly reaches out to pet Xichen's hair, but a hand suddenly grips his and sleeps him petting his brother. Startled he turns to find a man who looks impossibly like Xichen's twin, but instead of honey brown eyes, his eyes were bright reptilian gold and even had slits in them. It takes Wei Ying less than 3 seconds to process everything and he gasps softly.

"I gave you my life... Why am I alive?'

"Your life is this one's to do with as he wishes... Do not touch others so freely, or they will be the ones to pay." He orders strictly.

Wei Ying frowns and then puffs out his cheeks in a pout as he yanks his hand away and slaps the rude male's hand sharply.

"You do not get to tell me that I can and cannot touch my family as I desire! Xichen-ge, a'Ning and a'Yang are my family. Xichen-ge is my big brother. A'Ning is my little brother and sometimes my son. And a'Yang is pretty much my son! I will touch them as I please!" Wei Ying scolds, making those inhuman eyes blink slowly and then he squeaks as he is yanked bodily into the man's body and dear Guanyin is he build like a stone palace!

"You offered yourself to me. I, Wangji, Hanguang-Jun, claim you as mine. Until the day I decide your death, little human, you will do as I say... In return, I shall protect your kingdom and people... But I guess as a prince, it would be expected that I obey you... However, let there be no doubts that it is actually you who obeys me..." He growls and Wei Ying shivers, feeling both scared and oddly aroused. "Now tell me, my little human, what have I missed in my centuries long sleep..."

"...what is your name?" Wei Ying asks instead, blushing through his pout at how he feels aroused by this.

"... Zhan... We have no family names..."

Wei Ying frowns and thinks for a moment, he noticed the azure blue scales that are smattered along his arms, neck and a few gave his face. Lan means azure And he does look like he could be Xichen's twin...

"How about you go by Lan Zhan? Lan means azure and you have azure colored scales here... And you also look like Xichen-ge's long lost twin brother... I don't wanna call you Wangji and Hanguang-Jun is far too formal not to mention might give you away..." Wei Ying says and the dragon in human skin blinks again, seeming to consider this and nods.

"But only Wei Ying can call me this...." He growls into his ear and Wei Ying whimpers softly. "But now Wei Ying must rest more. The bond is nearly complete..." He orders and forces his bride back down and curls back around him to sleep...

Chapter Text

When Wei Ying awoke once more, it was morning and his knights were awake, but looked nervous. He slowly sat up, sore and so very tired after the ordeal. He was still a bit muzzy about what happened and why he was still alive but then the sound of scales rasping on the silk sheets drew his attention and he sees the dragon, in a clearly smaller form. He squeaks in fright and jumps from the bed, forgetting he was wrapped in his sheets and the thick quilt and promptly falls. But Xue Yang catches him and sets him down, fretting softly over his mother figure.

"Do not touch him!" Snarls a now human Dragon, but Wei Ying scowls, recalling their last conversation and puffs up his cheeks in a pout.

"I told you, Lan Zhan! These three are my family! Xichen-ge is my big brother, a'Ning is my little brother and a'Yang is my son!! So stop being so rude to them!" He huffs. " I also have body servants and my personal physician, who is a'Ning's elder sister. I am very tactile with people I care about and friendly with those I meet!" He huffs, stamping his foot like an angry bunny.

Lan Zhan gives a low snarl, but allows it, getting up smoothly from the bed and picking up his bride.

"Others leave their repulsive scents on you, This one doesn't like it. They should not touch you so freely not you them... But clearly a compromise must be reached..." Lan Zhan huffs out and settled on the edge of the bed with Wei Ying captive in his hold.

His bride was tiny and so delicate. He smelt divine and his blood had been sublime on his tongue he wished to sample it again, but needed to let him heal and rest, he drained quite a bit to revive himself. He had cursed his fate when he lived after the Yiling Laozu had died. The man had bound him to a contract of the blood and soul. A very old and powerful magically binding contract. Wangji would serve the Wei Bloodline until it ceases to exist. It would be completed when a bride of the Wei Line married him and carries his offspring. When the young Wei prince offered him his life and blood, he activated the Bride contract because in dragon culture, one pattern offers their blood and life and the other offers their life and soul binding them as mates once they complete the three bows to he Heavenly Emperor and consumate the marriage.

Wei Ying was his beloved Yiling Laozu, his Wei Ying reborn. He was still so free with his love and affection and it was often used against him. Not this time, he will not allow anyone to take advantage of him this time. He would need to thoroughly vet out these people.

"-- Lan name?"

He tunes into the conversation that apparently had been going while he was lost in thought and admiring his beloved.

"Well he looked closest to you and Dragons do it have surnames. So he is simply Zhan, courtesy Wangji and his title of Hanguang-Jun. And if he is gonna walk around as a human, he looks like he could be your brother so I gave him the name Lan for his azure scales and because he sorta acts like a Lan." Wei Ying says as an explanation.

"I mean Lan seems to suit him, Xue Wangji just sounds weird and J doubt he'd like the Wen name very much. What with Wen Xu hunting down and killing any dragons he could just to prove the Wens are superior. Granted he killed low tier Earth Dragons, more lizards than dragons. Because if he truly faced a dragon, doubt they mighty Sun would last against one." Xue Yang muses.

"Y... Yeah..." Wen Ning agrees bowing his head in shame.

"Ayo, Wen Ning, stop feeling guilty for the sins of your relatives. They are the ones choosing to be bad, to do evil and cause harm. That doesn't make you evil. The most evil thing you have ever done was put sleeping powder in your cousin Wen Chao's win when he got married to avoid him raping his reluctant wife." Wei Ying says firmly.

Lan Zhan finds that bit of information amusing and insightful.

"The people have been revived, it seems the Heavenly blessing are still holding true." Xichen reports after their little chat, the shift from family to subordinates was flawless and their postures changed from relaxed and inform to formal. "The Jins have retreated and have not been able to break into the Library or the Workshop. Again, my foolishness nearly got us killed."

"Zewu-Jun, you were tricked by that little snake with the dimples. He would do Anything to be acknowledged by his bastard of a father and we all know Jin Guangshan has been after my work for years now. And it doesn't help that at my debut, both the Jiangs and Wens tried to lay claims to me."

"We have twenty of the enemy forces in our dungeons. I will begin interrogation as soon as you're health check is positive." Wen Ning states.

Wei Ying smiles sadly at the drastic change in his friend, the boy could be a cold, ruthless killer and was monstrously powerful when he uses Resentful energy to aid in his attacks once his core was severely damaged as a child thanks to a soul stealing Goddess.

"I will send word to my people and see what the rumor mill produces. I also pinned a few Jiang camps along our boarders. It seems they got word of the battle and were preparing to join when we won at the last moment. They are still there and likely wanting to speak to you about an alliance. Jiang Fengmian's leading so I expect his wife to be there as well." Xue Yang growls lowly at the last bit.

"I refuse to deal with this mess. Somehow my mother ruined their marriage and I am expected to atone for that... Just because Jiang Fengmian couldn't get over his feelings for my mother and ignored his wife for them and his children as well, doesn't make it mine or my mother's fault. She chose my father, a hidden prince while he studied away from home. I bet he is here to offer me sanctuary in Yunmeng when I go to join the Gusu Lectures, forgetting that Gusu Lan and we are allied through Zewu-Jun being my primary bodyguard. Speaking of which, you need to take the mantel of Sect Leader soon, your Uncle might finally have a heart attack if the Elders continue trying to lead the Sect." Wei Ying says with an eye roll and a bitter tone.

"Is tmit safe to go?" Wen Ning asks.

"Considering I have the King of Dragons holding me on his lap like a living doll, I doubt anyone will get near me without him roasting them, slicing them to ribbons or just turning them to stone with his fearsome glare."

"If Wei Ying wishes, this one will do something..." He intones and the smaller male squeaks and squirms away from him to pout at him and scold him.

Lan Zhan puls him back into his arms and bites his neck, drawing a tiny bit of blood and making his bride swoon and pliant in his arms. He only takes a few small sips and licked the wound closed and nuzzles the man softly. He glares at the other three, who bow and leave, taking the glare as the dismissal that it was.

He needs to aquaint himself with his beloved after all...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Wei Ying jolted awake to the familiar feeling of Zidian cracking across his back, purple lightning racing through his body as he screams out in shocked pain, unable to restrain the sound as he normally would during a whipping session. However a second blow doesn't land, in fact there is a lot of screaming and shouting as he is carefully pulled into a strong, firm chest. He slowly becomes aware that his top is being removed and he panics because no one is to know about his scars or that Madam Yu whips him!! However he is restrained by strong arms and is left helpless as his tops are fully removed. There are shocked gasps around him, the arms around his shoulders tighten reflexively and then slowly let him go as a familiar sharp voice mutters about idiots and cursing.

"Wen Qing?" He asks confused.

"Yes, it's me, idiot... A'Ning, come help!" She calls her brother to her side and Wei Ying blinks and smiles at the shy young man, who gives a shy hello and quickly begins to mix the medicine his sister needs into a paste to rub over the old and new scars. "How are you even able to walk, never mind cultivate with all this damage?! I bet this has greatly affected your taste buds as well... In all honestly you should be dead..."

"I'm use to it..." Wei Ying assures, and it does the exact opposite.

"Hmph, I always knew that woman would spawn a digenerate..." Lan Qiren's voice speaks up.

"That is enough!!"

Everyone suddenly collapses under the unexpected pressure pressing down on them. All but Wei Ying, the Wen siblings and whoever was hold him. He slowly looks to see it is Lan Zhan, who's face was for once not an unreadable mask. He looks scared and worried and Wei Ying feels his face heat, he tries to pull away from the three and cover his body, but Lan Zhan once more holds him steady.

"Ohh, I am so glad my grandson has fallen for you... Much like my beloved a'Ren, he needs someone calm and strong to stand at his side." The woman who had shouted before speaks up and they all turn to see a woman who shares similar features to Wei Ying sitting calmly at the front of the 'room' they had all found themselves in. "For all of you idiots, I am Baoshen Sanren, mother of Mo Lai, Cangse Sanren. The woman you all demoralize at every given chance!! Especially you, Bitch!!"

A sudden blast of spiritual energy slaps Yu Ziyuan in the face and sends her flying crashing into a wall. Everyone tensed because the Immortal would be impossible for anyone to kill, even if they all took up swords as one. However, seats appear, while a bed appears for Wei Ying.

"Dr. Wen, please treat my grandson, young master Lan, please come sit beside my son and his friend." Baoshen Sanren indicates the young man in all white with a slightly older man in all black sitting beside him. Lan Zhan is reluctant to do as told, wanting to be close to Wei Ying, but after Wei Ying assures him that he's fine, even if 'imaginary' grandma respects Wen Qing's skills. So he sits with them and notices a slightly younger man, more boy than man really, sitting on the floor before the one in white, purring contentedly as the young man pets him.

"All of you will sit, Maiden Jiang, please join Second Master Lan. First Master Lan you will sit here with Young Master Nie and Young Master Jin. The rest of you may sit wherever, however, Sect Leader Jin, Madam Yu and Sect Leader Jiang, you three will sit right there and not move. Sect Leader Nie and Madam Jin will sit there and Grandmaster Lan will join Madam Yu and the two idiots." Baoshen Sanren orders everyone around until they are seated as she desires and then the wall behind her brightens up and they are shocked to see images playing out on it. "Now the reason you are here is because I watched what happened once before and decided I hated it and spoke with the God of Time and asked him to allow me to travel back to a point in time before everything that leads to my grandson's death happens. Once he agreed and allowed me to come, I quickly set up this talisman, one of a'Ying's inventions, to allow us to view the memories of the souls how have died. And the one soul in particular we will be seeing, is my Ying'er's..."

Everyone gasps and begin shouting or conversating, but quickly shut their mouths when Boashen Sanren shouts at them all to shut up. Everyone does so, quickly and feeling the steady pressure of her spiritual power slowly increase to painful levels. It felt like they would break under it if it got any heavier, it certainly made it hard to breathe, never mind attempt to speak out.

"If you say anything I do not like or make a move to harm anyone, I will crush you to mulch." She threatens. "Now then let's begin shall we?"

They have no choice but to do as told and the images finally settle on a black screen with the words saying "The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation" on it which makes many freak out, but no one dares to cause a scene. It then fades out to show a young woman and a Young man, both with very familiar features, the woman is heavily pregnant and the Young man is gently guiding her towards a small town where a family of healers live. They were much to far from Yunmeng to safely give birth to their son without any complications. Not to mention they didn't want to cause anymore issues for the young man's former Sect Leader.

"I'm still sorry, a'Ze... I know how much you wanted our Xiao Ying to be born in the home you grew up in and loved. It would have been so cute to see you holding him as you swim among the lotuses..." the woman says.

"A'Ren, it's fine. Besides I do not want you near the Madam... I don't know what her issue with you is, but all you did was save her life and she's this resentful... I've heard the rumors and I wonder if she even realizes it's because she's shouting and screaming where anyone can hear and misinterperate her words? I mean, a'Feng's not wholly innocent either. I've told him time and again that ignoring a problem until it goes away will never work out." The young man says, and they finally realize it is Wei Changze, truly Wei Wuxian looks too much like his father to ever be Fengmian's son as the rumors stated.

"I know, my love, but still... I think it's also because a'Feng had a silly crush on me, but I turned him down and kept all of our interactions strictly respectable. I mean a'Li was with us most of the time. Speaking of a'Li, she wrote to me that she's in a spot of trouble and is hoping I will be able to help her. Once I'm recovered after our baby's birth, can we head to Cloud Recesses? I don't like how she said that she was being held prisoner there... I thought Mingchen was a good man... but I guess I can be wrong on occasion."

"No... I think it's much deeper than that... I've learned to read the hidden meanings in things... When I studied there, you joined us rather late and caused a stir to have noticed, but the Elders seems to think they are above the Sect Leader and have a say in what happens in the everyday lives of Sect members, both blood related and not... I mean, it's very arrogant to presume to punish outsiders as you would your own sect members. Do they not realize they are toing the line of war with their actions?" Wei Changze asks, as he keeps walking the heavily pregnant Cangse Sanren into the village and towards the home of the healers. There was a blazing sun on the door and when it opened a little girl, a very young Wen Qing, by the pointed glare she gave the couple, told the room at large.

"Oh my gods, Qing-jie, you're so cute!!" Wei Ying gasps and then yelps when she jabs him a bit harder than is necessary with one of her needles, though her face is a brilliant red because even a'Ning is gushing at how cute his big sister was.

"Ohh, hello sweetie, I'm here to have my baby, can you be a good girl for Auntie and get your Mama and Baba?" Cangse Sanren gushes softly. And it's impossible to not say that mother and son are very similar.

Baby Wen Qing nods and goes to get her parents, while the Wei Couple gush and discuss that maybe a year after this baby, they will try for a little girl so their son will not be lonely and will have someone to protect. Wei Ying gasps, his parents wanted another baby!? They were going to give him a cute little sister!? But what few memories he had left of them, it was always the three of them... Did something happen?

They watch the Wei Couple get settled into the Wen house, a much younger Granny Wen fussing over them and teaching a'Qing how to feel for the baby's qi and telling her to be careful and to always be gentle with this little 'cousin' of hers. They watched the days until the birth, snippets of events in Lotus Pier and even in Qinghe. The snippets showed Jiang Yanli, who is around the same age as Wen Qing falling gravely ill, meanwhile in Qinghe Nie, a very young Nie Mingjue being introduced to his half brother, who is only a few months older than Wei Ying, Madam Nie, Wen Ai, Wen Qing's blood aunt, carefully helping the boy hold the baby for the first time. It shows Jin Guangshan entering a brothel and Wen Rouhan holding his own second son, but dressed in full white, his wife's body being carried out to be presented to the whole clan. Many had forgotten that Wen Rouhan was a widower.

As the images played out, they watched the harsh struggle that Cangse Sanren went through to give birth to her child and then after he was born a dark shadow appeared and was moving towards the baby, but Cangse Sanren stops it.

"You will not lay a single tendril on him!! You're after me!! I was the one evading you!! You're quarrel is with me, my son is but a babe and has done nothing!!"

"Ah, but you wished for a long life with your beloved... so this little one and three more will be my payment..."

"You will not touch my son, Soul Eater!! You want me so badly, then have me! But you will leave my son alone!!"

"... Fine... But know that I will claim the next child you attempt to have... and I will hang around for a very long time... after all, I would be foolish to give up such a pure soul... Just know that your son will live, but he will suffer greatly before I claim his soul finally..." The entity chuckles darkly, leaning down and marking the child.

This makes the room at large pale, Soul Eaters were the strongest and most feared dark entities known in their world, only Immortals dealt with them, but because many Immortals choose seclusion, the fiends are allowed to roam free. One targeted Madam Wei and even wanted Wei Wuxian's soul. It promised great suffering! After that, the Wei's waited until after Wei Ying was a month old to leave and kept traveling, only daring to go to Yunmeng the one time, when Jiang Fengmian begged for help for his only daughter's life and Cangse Sanren offered to treat her. They watched her use a forbidden array to heal the young girl and to jump start her core, making a housing for it and giving her just enough spiritual energy to live. But Madam Yu was furious and jealous, refusing to let her daughter train, refusing to let that 'thing' that that woman had gifted them grow. They all gasped at Madam Yu purposely stilting her daughter's training and growth as a Cultivator all because she was jealous of Cangse Sanren!?

They watched the Weis leave quickly after that, chased out by the furious Madam, who tossed their infant son into the lake, attempting to drown him! However, Cangse Sanren, depsite not knowing how to swim, saved her son while both her husband and Fengmian rescued them from the water. After that, the Weis vowed to never set foot in Lotus Pier again, not until Madam Yu either divorced Fengmian, or said man finally slapped sense into the woman. They felt bad for Jiang Yanli, who would need to suffer under mother's wrath, but they could not take the little girl with them. Fengmian wouldn't let them. They watched as eventually all the young masters were born, and began to grow, they watched the Weis travel and avoid any Yunmeng Jiangs, even the Sect Leader for fear of Madam Yu hearing. Cangse Sanren had spotted her twin Maids a few times and luckily evaded them. They were sent by their Madam to assassinate Cangse Sanren and her son. Eventually the memories came to the fateful Night Hunt. Wei Ying was 3 at this time and had fallen ill. Cangse Sanren had opted to stay behind with him while Wei Changze went to deal with the threat, since it was supposed to be a low level Yao. But when several hours had passed and he had no returned, she reluctantly paid the innkeeper a few extra silver pieces to take care of Wei Ying while she went to find her husband, thinking he might be injured and in need of aid to get back to the inn. But as she went to find him, she found the Entity instead and she fought it tooth and nail, but in the end she was killed and as she lay dying, the Entity told her that it lied about allowing her a'Ying to live, but thanked her for the other three infants she had miscarried due to the Entity devouring their tiny, but powerful souls.

She managed to create a barrier with her blood and the last of her power, a barrier that flashed into existence around the Burial Mounds, she smirked darkly and promised if the Entity attempted to harm her child or eat him, the Death Hill will be furious. They watched the Innkeeper kick the child out not even the day after, keeping all his parents things and donkey, the greedy bastard and how Wei Ying wandered the streets sick and scared. eventually being chased out of town by feral dogs where he found his parents bodies and how he spent days beside them, bringing back meager food to share, but his parents never once awoke or tended to him, eventually someone found them and had the bodies buried in an unmarked grave, Wei Ying treated for his illness but it had already affected his memory, but still no one took him in, thinking him an ill omen since he was found near the decaying bodies of his parents, sleeping. They watched how he grew up on the streets and was chased away by dogs both domestic and feral when he would scrounge around for food. They watched the tiny three year old grow up and around the age of six, they watched one winter as a boy in Lan colors found him an alleyway, straw dolls he made of himself and parents laying in the snow before him. They watched the Lan boy shyly offer his rattle drum to him and the filthy child smiled brightly, looking utterly angelic in his horrid state as he accepts the toy, but when the Lan Boy returns with his brother and Uncle, the boy is gone, having been found by a pack of wild dogs and chased once more, only the dolls remained. The Lan boy, a very young Lan Zhan, carefully gathered, thinking the child might have been a ghost of a little boy who died and was lonely. That perhaps his kind gesture had help him feel a peace and finally move on...

Wei Ying looked at Lan Zhan, who flushed brightly, for once it showed visibly on his ears and nose,

"You were the fairy boy?" Wei Ying asks.

"Mm... Wei Ying was Xiao Ying..." Wei Ying blushed, when his parents called him Xiao Ying, they called him Little Baby, but when the Lan Brothers call him Xiao Ying, they call him Little Ghost since his name means both Baby and Ghost. Both of which were accurate. "Still have dolls..."

"I still have the rattle drum too!" Wei Ying smiles softly.

"Mm..." Lan Zhan nods and blushes softly before they turn to pay attention again.

The images continue, showing what was happening in the other sects, Madam Yu berating her children, Madam Jin scolding her son for insulting his future wife, the growing tension between Qinghe and Qishan, especially with the so-called assassination attempt on Wen Rouhan that 'killed' his wife and thus he ordered Madam Nie, Wen Qing's Parents and a few others, all of whom can claim the Leadership of Qishan Wen should the unrest within the Wen Sect grow so terrible. And then the letter detailing the 'trail' and the accused being found guilty. Which resulted in their deaths. Nie Mingjue clenched his fist watching this as his brother clung to Lan Xichen's arm, who was shocked watching all of this. Madam Yu finally stood up and began shouting, which caused the images to freeze.

"This is all lies!!" She is screaming, her whip out and ready. "If what you say is true, why is it only showing part of the story!!"

"You want to see what happens in Lotus Pier so badly!?" Baoshen snaps, standing up and the Violet Spider dares to try and whip her, but the second Zidian is close, Baoshen grabs the whip without fear or hesitation and with a burst of spiritual power, shatters it. The first class weapon is left in broken pieces of metal and leather on the floor while Baoshen sneers at her. "Pathetic... Very well, since you want your sins so clearly shown..."

The Images change to show Madam Yu using Zidian to whip the Jiang disciples over the simplest mistakes or for not getting something right the first time. How she berates them all, attacking those who dare to be better than her son, but then turns that anger and ire on her children, Jiang Cheng especially for being so weak and not perfect in her eyes. How she yells at Jiang Yanli for doing servant's work and always cooking or eating, but what more could she do? Her father coddled her since she was still so sickly, but her mother refused to allow her to train, refusing to strength the gold core that Cangse Sanren had given her daughter. She always berates and undermines Fengmian, making everyone think he is a pushover or a joke of a Sect Leader. Even her maids go around stating she is the true Master of Yunmeng Jiang.

"You are going out again to look for that damned brat!! Just admit it already, he's your love child with that woman!!" Madam Yu is screaming. "What about your children with me!? Am I so unworthy that you refuse to acknownedge your own son?!"

"You know what? SHUT UP!!!" Fengmian bellows and it is a shock for everyone because he never shouts or shows anger. "When I was paying our children attention, you bitched and complained that I was spoiling them too much, especially a'Cheng, that I would make him too soft or lazy!! That he will never learn if I coddle him and praise him for every little thing, but when I distance myself and only praise him when he accomplishes something that no one else in his age rank has mastered yet, you accuse me of not caring for him! And whenever I say anything, you always twist it around to make me be the bad guy! So you know what, yes I sometimes wish I had been the one a'Ren chose to marry and not a'Ze!! Yes, I wish I was married to someone much softer and kinder than you, Yu Mai, Yu Ziyuan!! You are only the Madam of my Sect, this is not Meishan Yu!! You're only the third daughter and thus out of the line of succession for the Yu title! But this Yunmeng JIANG!!!! This is my Sect and I am the Lord and Master here!! If you truly hate it here, or me, then why don't you pack your things and get out!! Leave the children here since they are unworthy in your eyes and begone!!"

Everyone is stunned by the outburst. Fengmian feels his face heat and pale at the same time.

"This argument takes place right before Fengmian finds a'Ying and brings him home... You decided to stay because like hell where you going to let 'that woman's' brat live a life of luxury!" Baoshen hisses at her, glaring at her. "You abused your children and the Disciples, I'm surprised anyone remained loyal to the Yunmeng Sect after the War, especially after all the sacrifice on my Grandson's part!! The Entity had kept its promise and brought about much suffering, it couldn't hurt Wei Ying directly, so it affected everyone and everything around it. And you're resentment fed it more power which led to the outcome that befell all..." Baoshen Sanren snarls out.

The images continue to show all what happens behind the closed doors of Yunmeng Jiang, how Madam Yu has chases away her husband, who stays away since he doesn't like confrontations and sadly adds more and more fuel to the fire. How when Wei Ying was eventually found in Yiling and back, that he barely set foot into Yunmeng Jiang and already was facing the Madam's wrath and was chased out by Jiang Cheng and his dogs. How Yanli was forced to be the voice of reason and the peacekeeper. They watch the little girl raise her brothers, calmly explain things to and scold Jiang Cheng for chasing away Wei Ying. They watch how the boy tries to avoid causing trouble, staying up late to practice his reading and writing and sword forms. Being woken up early by Yinzhu, Jinzhu or Madam Yu herself and taken far away form the Pier where he is punished unjustly, whipped and tortured just because he's the son of Cangse Sanren. Tortured for hours and then he joins the others at noon for training, laughing and smiling through the pain, the barbs and unintentional hits to his hidden injuries. How he sacrifices so much of himself to improve and be strong enough because one time Jiang Fengmian told him that Wei Changze had been his closest confidant and protector. That he hopes Wei Ying will be that for Jiang Cheng when he's Sect Leader. They watch as he's abused and conditioned that everything is his fault regardless of what he does, but somehow able to twist situations to protect his martial siblings. How when people start bad mouthing Jiang Cheng or Jiang Yanli, he steps up to cause a scene and thus makes people think he's a nuisance and that the blood children of the Jiang Set are superior.

He endures insults and so much abuse from all around, being called the son of a Servant when the mood strikes, but also Jiang Fengmian's Bastard whenever Madam Yu is near by, just to watch her berate and but the upstart in his place. because how dare the son of a Clanless woman dare to stand above his betters. How dare he be more powerful, more handsome, how dare he not be theirs! How dare the woman not be their wife and Wei Ying their son! It was an eye opener, clearly the souls whose memories they were watching were not shy of showing everyone's inner thoughts and desires, the twisted truths they keep to themselves. They watch the images change to the Cloud Recesses where Lan Qiren is having a talk with his nephews, telling that the reason their mother was locked away was not in fact due to a chronic illness, but because she was a criminal and had murdered his and their father's favorite Laoshi in cold blood. He didn't clarify even when an 11 year old Lan Huan, newly minted Xichen begged for clarification and thus had the image of his mother irrevocably twisted.

The next images were clearly from a time before the children were born because they see a young Madam Lan, Wu Chunli and Cangse Sanren rescuing Lan Mingchen and Lan Qiren with Wei Changze and Jiang Fengmian. How the boys are smitten with the beautiful but wild young women. How Mingchen always sought out Wu Chunli whenever they crossed paths, trying at first to woo her with flowers, then with poetry and finally with a self composed song he played on his Xiao. The song had finally won over Wu Chunli and they began courting, they attended the secret wedding of Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren, offering them safety and shelter should they ever need it and they were close to Gusu. They watched the couple grow closer together despite Lan Qiren being clearly against it, that Wu Chunli was not 'ideal enough' for the future Sect Leader. Lan Mingchen finally presenting her to the Elders and the Elders debating on whether to let the rogue marry their precious future Sect Leader. In that time, Wu Chunli lived in the Cloud Recesses and got to know the place, she found the rules ridiculous and that they should only stick to the original rules laid down by Lan An himself as their Clan Founder and Sect's Forefather. Because clearly the rules to follow were ridiculous and contradictory. There was a set of memories that were blurred in places and the sound muted. It took them a hot moment to realize that the Madam and Sect Leader were having sex before marriage, which made several turn bright red. It would also explain why Lan Xichen was born shortly after the marriage and why a couple of years down the line Lan Wangji had been born.

However, several months after the passionate rendezvous, Wu Chunli, quite pregnant now, had stumbled across Lan Laoshi accosting a young boy, molesting him and she quickly sent off a flare, but rushed at the man, pushing him away from the boy, who ran off to get help when Lan Laoshi began to strangle the pregnant woman, threatening to only choke her enough to lose the bastard and he would fuck a new one into her. She struggles, weakened greatly by pregnancy. She clawed at his face, and the dirt under back before she found a lose stone and used it to club the man in the head, only meaning to stun him and get him off, because it was either him or her and her baby. She hadn't realized she struck him so close to the temple and that in doing so, struck a critical spot that instantly killed the man. Lan Mingchen found them first and seeing the hand prints upon her neck, deep and glaring obvious, he knew she only did what she died to save herself and their son. He picked her up and hurried to the healing ward, had he waited he would have prevented the Elders, who also enjoyed being able to commit crimes without being noticed, from masking the scene and killing the boy, who had lead them back to where the scene took place and blaming his lover. They were going to kill her, claiming the bastard growing in her belly was one of her 'numerous' lovers since she was a 'slut like that Cangse Sanren woman.' However Mingchen counteracted them by playing Inquiry and undergoing Empathy to show them that what Wu Chunli said was true and that she was justified, but still they voted to kill her, since she wasn't a member of the Sect and had no formal ties. Mingchen did the only thing he could, he fled with his lover, asked their friends to meet them at temple in Gusu with one of the few Elders who was trustworthy to preside over the wedding and married Wu Chunli. This forced the Elders to do as Mingchen ordered and they were imprisoned after their formal wedding and Lan Huan was born about 4 months into the marriage.

The Elders didn't even allow her to hold him after his birth, he was cleaned up and given to a wetnurse to care for and raise, but Lan Qiren, who had always been their favorite, had convinced them to allow at least a visit every now and again. Thus the once a month visits from noon until supper. They wanted to 'lessen her chances of corrupting' their future Sect Leader. Around the time that Xichen was 3 or four he asked his mother for a sibling to play with and later that evening and for five days straight, Mingchen was allowed to see her...

When her pregnancy with Lan Zhan was announced, the Elders were furious, but could do nothing. However, much like with Lan Huan, they refused to allow her to hold him and only allowed her to see him once a month, and then would make excuses to prevent the children as they got older from visiting her. Like failing to memorize the rules, getting one question on an exam wrong. They wanted to prevent them from growing attached to her. It was easier to prevent them from interacting with their father since they sealed the house he was in since only Blood Lans would be able to open the seals they purposely didn't teach the boys, Lan Qiren would think they knew how to, but refused to do so because the boys resented their father. How foolish. They watched Wu Chunli write letters to her friend, Lan Qiren sending them out, but Elders intercepting the responses coming in. Finally, Wu Chunli saw her boys one last time, that night when the Elders came to use her again, they found only a body, wrists and throat slit with a chilling message written in her blood where her corpse was carefully held up by pieces of furniture to make it look like she was kneeling in court.

"Let the sins you have committed come back thrice fold, my sons will enact my vengence."

It would be years later that this happened, but her promise had come true. But those memories would come later. The room was silent before Xichen suddenly stood up and marched up to his uncle and grabbed him by the front of his robes and slammed him hard into the wall.

"You let me think my mother was a monster..." He snarls darkly, eyes blazing. "She killed to save me and she was unjustly punished because of it!! So much for 'Always be Righteous!' Mother is correct, the rules are ridiculous and the Elders hold far too much power... I will be correcting this once we are out of here!! You will go into seclusion until such a time you acknowledge your failures and father feels you are forgiven... Because if it were up to me, you and the elders would never leave..." He drops his uncle then and storms over to sit firmly beside his brother, daring anyone to tell him to move.

"Hm, I will let you sit there for now, but your brother might not want you there fore very long once we get to the core memories from my Grandson... let's continue..."

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Zhao Zhuliu ran as far and as fast as he could into the deadly forest, a precious cargo in his arms. Behind him, he can hear the piercing scream of a dizi and the the harsh screech of metal against metal. His life had been saved by the couple who remained behind to face his former clan's assassins. A couple who have been nothing but kind to him, welcomed him into their family and have now tasked him with the safety and protection of their precious child, only 4 and crying silently, sensing the danger, but also wanting his parents. The dizi's shrill song, now quite distant, is suddenly and abruptly cut off. The child in his arms gives a choked off sob of 'a'Niang' in his hold and he holds him a bit tighter, a bit firm. The forest goes from silent then to filled with screams, wails, and screeches. He dodges around monsters, ghouls, demons and spirits. He keeps running and running, legs burning, chest tight and aching, but Zhao Zhuliu will not allow himself to stop, to be allowed to falter. When one of the monsters lunges right for the child in his arm, reddish purple aura surrounds his hand and he grabs it by the face and crushes the skull in one blow. This startles the others into backing away for a moment, but then they try to lunge from all around.

"I will protect you, Xiao Gongzi..." He promises, he growls and attacks a low level demon, sending the power he was being hunted for through their body and watching it burst open into gory pieces, carefully keeping the child from seeing or feeling anything. He has to make it to the other side, has to make it to THAT mountain, has to call for THAT Immortal's name! He needs to hurr--

He screams out when he bitten in the leg, causing him to go spiraling to the floor. Zhao Zhuliu rolls their bodies to keep his charge safe from harm, but also making sure to keep any threats from him. However, he cannot get back up to his feet too quickly due to more monsters attacking. He has to make a choice now, either keep the child in his arms and they both die, or send him forward. He doesn't get to think or try to move before a ghostly woman in bright wedding red grabs his charge into her arms and he screams out. She laughs coyly, giggling sweetly as she looks down at Zhao Zhuliu meanly.

"I think I will keep this... hmm, yes, I will keep this..." she coos, gently petting the sobbing child.

"ZhuZhu, YingYing's scared!" the little boy cries and Zhao Zhuliu  growls darkly.

"Xiao Gongzi, do not cry... I will protect you, I promised Wei-Zanzhu and Wei-Furen... I will not fail!" He struggled and kicks freed. The Ghost Bride watches with manic glee and awe as Zhao Zhuliu fights, regardless of how his bones break, how his skin tears and how it takes him longer and longer to get up and then.

"LEAVE MY GEGE ALONE!!!!"

Zhao Zhuliu is knocked over by how the whole mountain shook under the power and command.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!! I WANT A'NIANG!!! I WANT BABA!!!! I WANT POPO!!!" Wei Ying screamed, having a tantrum.

Zhao Zhuliu almost laughed in his shocked state. It was rare for his charge, Wei Ying, to have them, despite being a lively and often mischievous little boy. He will whine and fuss, may cry at times, but never really throws tantrums, but it is understandable now. He just lost his mother and father, the only other person he knows is about to be brutally torn to pieces before him. The boy has every right to be furious, to be upset and to scream and cry and make impossible demands. The Ghost Bride is so startled she almost drops him, but manages to keep her hold of him.

"Oh, you want an a'Niang--"

"No! YingYing Wants his a'Niang! His a'Niang is nice, pretty and kind! You are not!! You hurt Gege!!" He screams at her and she flinches like the words struck a physical blow. "Baba is also kind, pretty and soft! But brave, like a'Niang!! I want Popo!! POPO!!!! POPO!!!!" The boy screams louder and louder, working himself up into a truly frightening tantrum now and then red rain begins to fall and Zhao Zhuliu startles as silver butterflies begin to fly around them as flowers grow, brilliantly red like blood. He is so startled he almost misses when three figures appear.

"I was wondering who was disturbing the Death Mountain..." a low voice that sounds almost like Wei-Zanzhu's says while a more masculine voice of Wei-Furen giggles and says:

"It seems our child is more powerful than we thought... but we have to obey the laws of the Heavens..." was the sad reply.

"Thankfully, I do not care for either the laws of Mortal, Heaven or Hell." Said the only female voice as she walks forward and the Ghost Bride shrieks with fright, quickly setting the child down and dropping into a groveling kowtow with the rest of the monsters. "Not even an hour has past since my daughter's death and already you foolish menaces seek what is not yours to keep... Hello, Wei Ying, I am Baoshan Sanren, you Popo..." She turns to the child, who looks up at the silver haired woman and is amazed because she looks so much like his Mama but only with white hair.

"A'Niang's A'Niang is so pretty.... prettier than a'Niang...." he says in amazement and she chuckles warmly at him.

"That I am... Now hush, child, rest now..." she orders and he falls under her spell easily. "You are from the Zhao Clan... I see you were harmed in protection of my grandson... As you may have guessed, a'Ying cannot see his parents to my left because their mortal lives were ended and until he achieves either Godhood or Demon Rank, he cannot and will not be able to see them... But you, Core Melter, can..."

Zhao Zhuliu struggles on broken and torn limbs to get into a kowtow of his own, still reeling with shock, is it the shock brought on by blood loss? He's not sure.

"A'Zhu, you silly boy, I told you, we are family, you need never bow to us..." Xie Lian laughs softly, but comes to kneel by him and beings to heal him. "I knew something like this would happen if we interfered, but I couldn't see you be hurt and forced to kill members of your family all because you were protecting yourself... Now then, I will patch you up and I expect you to get better, train harder and keep an eye out for your Didi... Mother, the Heavenly Empress and the Demon Dowager, will be here to help you and since my son seems to have awoken some of his powers here, in the Death Mountain of all places..."

"Hm, I told you he'd forge a new path, my love..."

"I never doubted you, a'Cheng, however I fear he will suffer greatly and his trails will be paid in blood and misery..."

"As was yours, a'Li." Baoshan states, her own tone full of pain and sadness. "I nearly lost you so many times, but thankfully this presistant brat always managed to find and save you... to help you..." She smirks at Hua Cheng, who gives a soft smirk back.

"I, Zhao-- No... I, Wei Zhuliu swear it upon my life, that I will protect Xiao Ying, my... my brother and Zanzhu forever more...."

Chapter Text

~Time Skip~

Wei Zhuliu stood at the front of the small barge they had paid for transport. Behind him the voices of his small family were playfully arguing over which of the many gifts they brought with them to gift to the Lan Grandmaster when they arrive in Gusu. He has a small pleased smirk on his lips as he hears Xiao Xingchen interjecting about gifting weapons to a clan of primarily pacifists and monk like cultivators was a bad idea. Especially since the weapons in question were some of rarest kind and were very dangerous in the wrong hands. Xue Yang, a young boy his didi adopted, sulked and cried that Xiao Xingchen was being boring, but the last of his charges, his Zanzhu and brother, Wei Wuxian giggles and gently pets his head, assuring him they will gift at least one of the demon blades to each of the main family members as personal weapons to use as an emergency back up.

This calms the rather chaotic child down even as the two females of their group, one with a child almost the same age as Wuxian and Xingchen and another with an infant at her breast giggle.

"A'Yang is so spirited." Mo Zhuliye giggles as Meng Shi gives a soft chuckle.

"Are you sure they will not mind me?" Meng Yao,  courtesy Zhihui Yu, asks nervously.

"Gege, we told you, relax. No one will bother you here and if they do. They have to deal with a'Yang first, then Jiujitsu and then Zhuzhu. Trust me, if they don't learn their lesson with those three..." There is an ominous silence and the normally sweet smile appears, too sharp and deadly with the slight tilt into the shadow of the over hang casting a terrifying relief against it.

Everyone in the small Wei Family knew better than to make Wei Wuxian angry or even make him have to personally deal with you. Wei Zhuliu could not be prouder of the deadly aura that silenced the boat. Meng Yao gulps and nods his head. He was lucky these people found them those years ago and had managed to terrify the Madam and the landlord into giving his mother and Sisi-Jie their freedom. He had never seen anything like it and even if his Cultivation was weak and likely to never grow stronger than it currently is, he was given so much more!

Meng Zhihui Yu was still taught traditional Cultivation and had managed to grow his core more over the last couple of years, just narrowly missing the prime time to form one and grow it as much as possible. He had wondered at the motivation and hidden agenda of the then two person family of brothers. But Wei Wuxian has simply smiled and said what other reason would he need than that he didn't like bullies and that Auntie and JieJie were much too pretty and talented to live in a Flower House. Though the young boy had no idea what a Flower House was, he had assumed it was a house filled with or made from flowers and wanted to see one. Wei Zhuliu was helpless to deny him without triggering a possible tantrum, apparently tantrums were to be avoided at all costs with Wuxian.

Meng Yao later found out why when he witlessly triggered one and nearly got mauled by two of Wuxian's personal demon guards. After that Meng Yao swore that no matter what anyone promises him, offers him or even grants him, nothing in all the Heavens, Hells and lands could ever make him go against the tiny Wei Boy. He was just simply terrifying. He has a feeling that in another life he would have been so foolish and likely been brought down by the boy, who would have done it simply because he cannot stand injustice and bullies. Meng Shi, who was a crafty and resourceful young woman, had even cautioned her son against slighting this boy. She has been taken in under the wings of the Ghost Bride and her 'daughters' and the undead woman was extremely protective of her 'son' and would kill them gruesomely if they ever step out of line. Sisi was fascinated and a quick study. They were amazed at how strong they could be with and without a Core, but the had to be extremely careful with their emotions. Sisi had opted to remain in Yiling to keep the town safe and because she wasn't feeling too well to make the trip (Wei Zhuliu 's ears pinken whenever he thinks of the sly, but charming young woman and why she might be sick).

"Zhuliye-jie, are you sure you wanna come along?" Wei Wuxian asks, bringing the Mengs out of their thoughts to see him now holding little a'Yu and gently rubbing his back to help him pass wind.

"Yes, other than Shi-Jie, I want to learn all I can about raising a baby and I wanted to learn healing." She reaffirms, blushing.

"That's admirable." Meng Shi assures her, gently patting her shoulder even as she helps readjust her robes after the feeding. "I hardly knew what I was doing and had to learn mostly as things happened. Thankfully I was able to help you avoid many of the mistakes I made. And Sisi's seen a few mother's and was able to help both you and me out."

Meng Yao hugs his mother, she could never be a bad mother in his eyes. She did everything she could for them both. She taught him how to read and write, taught him how to walk and talk, taught him the importance of being unfailingly polite even when you want to curse and spit, but she also taught him that no matter what happens, she loved him and was proud of him. She had an obsession with his father, but after being set free of the Brothel, which no one dares to tell Wei Ying is what a Flower House is under the terrible glare of Wei Zhuliu, she has slowly let go of her hopes and dreams.

She had clung to them so tightly because she was trapped and being worked to death, her son was being mocked and abused and she wanted to prove to them that they were more than being a whore and her bastard son. But now, now she was content with her lifem she can read as much as she wants and she found a passion for teaching. She was going to pick up some books and head back to Yiling so Sisi wasn't alone, but also so she can have new things to read and teach. Besides with Wei Zhuliu who was simply intimidating on his own, she didn't have to worry for the children or Zhuliye-mei. And with everyone focused on keeping their little master safe and happy, she doubts there will be much trouble.

"A'Yao." She calls her son and he looks at her curiously, "Keep a close eye on your brothers, your aunt and a'Yue especially, but also have fun. If you notice anyone whom you might wish to court let me know... And if you see anyone who might be interested in Wei-Zanzhu, vet them out and then tell me." She whispers and giggles. "We can't just let any old person court and marry our Wuxian."

"Yes, a'Niang." He nods and they share sly smiles. One thing about the slowly growing Wei Family and Sect you had to learn was that each and every single one of them adored Wei Wuxian and were all a bit unhinged in some way.

You had the obvious threats of Wei Zhuliu and Xue Yang, then you had the cautious threats of Xiao Xingchen and Sisi and Meng Shi, and then you had the hidden threats of Mo Zhuliye and the people of Yiling. They wouldn't let just anyone near their beloved Patriarch.

Their barge soon docked in Caiyi town and they climbed out. Meng Shi hugged her boys, handed them treats or money to buy snacks, extracted promises of their best behavior or she would make them nothing but radish stew, something they all hated, for a month straight. They agreed easily enough and the younger members moved off to find an inn first so Mo Zhuliye can rest and put Mo Yue down for his nap. This left Meng Shi and Wei Zhuliu alone.

They two oldest members head into the market and Meng Shi quickly finds the book stalls and begins to browse while Wei Zhuliu remains at her side as a silent shadow. But he spots a soft pink jade hair pin carved into a butterfly and buys it and has it set in a box. Meng Shi smirks softly as she finishes her shopping, loving having a Qiankun pouch to place everything into so she can keep her hands free and her weapon, a beautiful fan and a flexible short sword in the form of a necklace easily accessible.

"Is that for Sisi?" She asks softly, glad for her long time friend. She hopes that one day she will be so lucky. Clearly her lover was not coming back for her or he would have been rescued her and their son. And if her instincts were correct, he would not have slept with Mo Zhuliye, who just recently turned 15. That utterly disgusted her. How could she had fallen for such a pedophile and degenerate!? Shaking her head she accepts the box when Zhuliu shyly passes it to her.

"... Yes... I will make her my wife when we get back... I am sorry, but I do love her. I know you and Sisi are protective of each other..." He says softly.

"We are and I also know you would never mistreat her, hence why you are still alive and still have a dick. Besides she was drugged and needed the relief. You tried to use the toys I gave you and only your hands but she was practically mad with need. If you hadn't had sex with her, she likely would have died from that drug." Meng Shi admits softly. "She really likes you and I am glad she found her happiness in you. No worries, I will keep a close eye on her and if it is what we think, I will keep you posted. Now go before our little chaotic demons get I to trouble. The only angels being Wuxian and a'Yue." She smiles and giggles.

"Not your son?" He cocks a brow at her.

"He's my son. Enough said." She cocks a brow back at him in challenge.

He smirks and leaves vanishing easily into the crowd as she nods and heads back to the barge. She would love to wait around, but she cannot leave Sisi alone for too long and they need to maintain their standing in Yiling after all as the only Cultivation Sect as tiny as they are, willing to help...

Wei Zhuliu followed the pull of his bracelet towards where the children were and found them standing between a group in gold and group in purple. He walked calmly up to Meng Yao, who was wary of the gold dressed Cultivators, likely recalling what his mother told him about his father. He startles when he notices Zhuliu who cocks a brow.

"Zhihui Yu." He nods.

"Da-ge." He nods. "It seems there was plenty of room here, the Cultivators in purple, I am going to assume they are the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, were here first. However, it seems the gold clad Cultivators rented out the whole building for only three people And are kicking everyone else out. Theh are currently arguing."

"Good observation." Zhuliu praises and the young man preens a bit.

Xue Yang was nervous fiddling with a semi sharp pearring knife, you. Would not realize it was a nervous tick if you looked at his manic grin, but the boy was nervous, he was worried a fight would break out and that they would get pulled in and thus meaning that his sole parent and even pseudo baby brother would get pulled into the mess as well. Zhuliye was hidden behind Wuxian and Xingchen, the taller male keeping his arm before her and her baby in case a fight breaks out.

Wei Ying watched the arguing for a moment longer before he stepped forward and flicked open a beautiful black and red fan of swelling misty mountains and red bamboo stalks. His veil was firmly in place and with his more feminine dress, Zhuliu never having the strength to deny him anything , that is as long as it didn't pose a danger to him, allowed him to dress as he liked. The motion got everyone's attention and Wei Ying smiles behind his black veil.

"Gongzis, please there is no need to fight. If only three of your Sect members are staying, then why do they need the whole building to themselves? You realize that this is Gusu Lan territory and they do not do excess or extravagance? Do you think you will get an entire pavilion to yourself once you are there for the lectures? You realize you will be sharing a room with at least two or three others and each of you will be given the same exact furnishings and space. And if I heard correctly, this Gongzis and Guniang were here first and while I am certain that they have no shortage of coin, they only rented enough rooms for their party to rest. And it looks like they have a few more than you. The rest of the city is already booked tight and this Inn is the only one left with space. You are inconveniencing not only your fellow Cultivators but Civilians as well who likely need a place for the night. That is incredibly selfish of you." Wei Ying says, gently flicking his fan and bringing it to his face, smiling widely.

Meng Yao takes notes of the elegance and the poise, he will need to proactive that with his own fan, watching his martial brother in action was like watching a masterpiece come to life. He is seemingly effortless in getting attention and control of a situation and often brilliantly handles a situation even if you don't realize it at first.

"Who the hell are you!? How dare you speak to our esteemed Sect Heir like this!!" Snaps one of the gold clad Disciples. "We are the Jin Sect! Show humility and kowtow to us this instant!"

Wei Ying blinks slowly, lazily like he is having trouble understanding something and not one of his tiger blinks that show he loves his family. There are many ways the young man's face can tell you what he is thinking and and feeling even with half of it hidden. As long as you know how to find them and parse them just right. That particular blink gets Xue Yang's attention, he now twirls his knife with a bright grin, no longer nervous, but hyper focused on a possible threat.

"Oh... Then, sir, I would like to triple their offer and allow others to room the night for free since I covered the cost already." Wei Ying states and pulls out three golden orbs all the size of a sparrow. Everyone is shocked at the casual display of wealth. Being housed in a death mountain chock full of hidden riches and treasures and virgin mines certain allows for one to have super deep pockets. " That means these young masters and mistresses may have their rooms back. And anyone else who comes in can have a room. They need only pay for their meals. As for the Jins, they can have the largest room to share since they wanted to inconvenience everyone. And to kick out your own fiancee... Well if I was arranged to be married into the Jin Sect, I would demand to break it off and find someone else or go into a monestary."

The Weis all snicker or quirk a smirk while the Jins sputter and the Jiangs all  laugh minus one or two who look fondly exasperated or embarrassed.

"Right away, Guniang!" The owner cries and hurries to accommodate everyone because he doubts the Jins will fight someone clearly richer than them.

"Now then, we need only four rooms, they don't have to be nice or even big. Just comfy. And we have a baby with us, so preferably away from others so the baby's crying will not disturb anyone." Wei Ying tells him.

"Certainly Guniang! Will you need anything for the babe?"

"Just a child basin and perhaps access to to kitchen to warm some milk in the mild of the night. But that is all." Mo Zhuliye says and he nods, cook g at the adorable babe in her arms.

With that Wei Ying leads his group to their rooms following a maid and he ignores the sputtering Jins and the curious Jiangs. Meng Yao catches a glance at the Heir, his half brother and finds they are nearly identical, but clearly his brother is spoiled. He hopes he's not too far gone, he would like to try and have a relationship...

Chapter Text

It took a bit for the chaos to settle down once the Wei family left for their rooms. The Jiangs followed the maid back to their rooms and got resettled while the Jins, most of of the Jins kicked up a fuss. Jin Zixuan was still humiliated from the scolding he got by the stranger about his fiance. But they all eventually moved to the largest room that had several bedrolls piled into the room and he offered the beds to the few women in their group while the men sleep on the floor. There was protests and arguments but he didn't budge.

The owner happily informed the travelers that came after that they had a free room for the night, which many accepted with great relief. In the morning the Cultivators all left. The Wei family leaving early so they can do some last minute shopping for personal spices and seasoning since it rumored that the Gusu Lan's food was always plain and medicinal in flavor. They do not mind the lack of meat, only Xue Yang complained, but he knows better than to voice it to their hosts. His a'Niang would be disappointed in his lack of manners. They narrowly miss the Jin Sect and walk on our of town, heading on foot to the mountain.

Wei Zhuliu walked at the head while Xiao Xingchen walked beside Mo Zhuliye. Meng Yao was holding a'Yue, quietly talking to his half brother, who was looking at the world around them with wide eyes full of wonder. Wei Ying himself was holding Xue Yang's hand as they skipped along, singing a silly song. As they walked, they were soon joined by the Yunmeng Jiang Sect. The Heir gives a grudging thanks to them, but the Young Mistress was more sincere and genuinely thankful for their help.

Wei Ying assures her all is well and compliments her hanfu and she compliments his. They talk fashion and Xue Yang tosses in his own comments every now and again. They make it up the stairs when Wei Ying senses something wrong. They turn to see a group of Lans making their way up with an injured man on a travel cot, but Wei Ying stops them when he reaches out and touches the man, ignoring the protests. He hums a soft sound and the man turns his head to him.

"Wuxian." Wei Zhuliu says, but is really asking.

"He's saturated in resentment and if he stays like this any longer he will die..." Wei Ying says softly, frowning. "I can remove it from him." Wei Ying says holding his hand over him and humming softly as the man seemed to respond to the hums or the resentment in him.

"You can save him?" A low stern voice asks and Wei Ying looks up, moonlight and star bright eyes meet winter sun and liquid fire eyes. He feels his heart stutter a second but he nods. "How?"

"It is unorthodox, but were we live we have no other choice but to Cultivate both Yin and Yang energy just to live our daily lives. Do you trust me enough to save him?" Wei Ying admits softly.

The Lans tens and even the JIangs look war but the golden eyes young man finally allows him to work and Wei Ying calmly draws an array in red over the man's heart with yin energy and then pulls his hand up as if picking up something and the resentment begins to flow into the array being cleansed into pure Yin energy and condensing into a silver ball until the man relaxes into natural sleep and Wei Ying can no longer pull resentment from him. Pleased with his work, he grabs the sizeable silver ball of Yin and examines it before he breaks it apart and the Weis absorb it, even a tiny bit went to the baby.

Wei Ying assures that it was pure Yin and everyone has a bit of it in them since they each have a mother and father. Yin and Yang create life when combined, after all. Wei Ying checks the man one las time and nods pleased with his work.

"That should do it. He will be incredibly weak for quite a while, your best bet is to make him do desk duty for a few  years before he can safely begin Cultivating again. Light exercises and meditation only. If he does too much too soon, his meridians will collapse and his core will implode and that is extremely pain and will kill him." Wei Ying tells the Lan's who nod and thank him most sincerely. The Golden eye Lan stares moment longer and then bows deeply and says his thanks. Wei Ying blushes under his vail and bows back.

"No need. I did what anyone would have!" He assured and even his own family give disbelieving stares.

"A'Niang, you are the only one who is this nice.... besides Xingchen." Xue Yang sighs and Wei Ying chuckles and kisses his head the boy was only a few years younger than him but he didn't mind being his mother. "Shall we go?"

"A'Niang?" The Golden eye Lan asks.

"Yes, I birthed him myself! Wei Ying teases and giggles when the other's eyes widen. "Clearly I am not his birth mother, be is only a few years young than him I would have been 1 or 2 when I had him if it were true... however I did adopt him." Wei Ying admits. "Sorry for teasing, but you looked serious, I was trying to make you smile or relax." Wei Ying smiles.

Chapter Text

Hello and welcome to a special chapter! Many of you have asked me since the start of this no longer small dumpster fire of a prompt fic, how it is that I come up with these ideas. I often joked or gave vague answers, and others I admitted to be struck in the moment with inspiration. Like if Cupid had a side job of just shooting random story ideas I to the minds of writers since his only day of work is once a year!

Anyway! So to be perfectly honest I read a lot, other fanfics for various fandoms, sometimes from books I have in my book case or when I decide I need human interaction and go to the local library. I am literally doing anything and everything else when *smack* Ideas suddenly pop into my mind.

Most ideas come from a key word, phrase or even  scene. Other times it is something in the background that catches my attention and gives birth to some ideas and the rest is legit me playing a game, like Sims or Terraria or even Minecraft that gets the brain juices flowing. Now most people always tell me to write down my ideas so I don't forget or lose them, which I have lost a few in the past because I forgot about them or a key part of them, but when I write them down just for the sake of writing it down, I end up not ever using them.

So I have gotten I to a habit of basically writing out snippets and drabbles and saving them as stories on my laptop. I have like 100+ saved that have never been touched since I made them, but every now and again I go through my docs and clean them out, sometimes finding buried treasure that I then use in my published stories or in my prompts dumps. I copy all the useable ones into a master doc and delete the rest so I can keep my desktop relatively clutter free, doesn't always work in my favor.

So with my list of possibilities and half started stories, I Russian Roulette until one of them takes flight. And here we are with stories like Master of Death, The Heiyu's Shenhong Lianhua and I seeing Moonlight! Yes and no, that I am shamelessly plugging in some of my other stories! XD Anyway! So I literally woke up 10 minutes ago and I decided to share this idea that popped into mind:

What if Hua Cheng and Xue Lian were Baoshan Sanren's parents and Cangse Sanren was their granddaughter, which makes Wei Wuxian their Great grandson?

What if it was because she was half Heavenly Blessed and half Demonically cursed that Baoshan Sanren hid herself from the world? Like when she was born and growing up she lived with her parents but due to the unrest and dangers of politics, she wasn't very welcomed in both the Heavens and the Hells? Clearly her parents went to extremes to protect her, but once she was mature enough, she left to avoid being used against her parents or the reason they become sad because she was killed.

So she wanders the Mortal realm since many in the Heavenly realms rarely, if ever travel there and Demons may roam around, but the generally stick to an area that feeds them the most. So she travels around, studying and training in Cultivation, which leads to her fame of becoming Immortal, which is her unlocking her full powers, but instead of returning home, she opts to remain in the Mortal Realm. What if her three famous students were actually her children with different fathers?

What if her first son, was her love child with Xue Chonghai? And as Xue Chonghai fell further into the corrupted version of Demonic Cultivation he was trying to create, he ended up corrupting their son? After all when you look at her bio and see the mention of her first student the say he died in a battle under more than a thousand swords, a very long time ago. What if that battle had taken place in the Burial Mounds where Xue Chonghai also died under thousands of swords as well? What if before his death, Xue Chonghai experimented on his son with Baoshan Sanren and used a piece of him to create his version of the Xuanwu? And thus it is either Xue Chonghai's sword in the shell of the Tortoise of Slaughter's shell or it is the son's sword? The same sword that Wei Ying finds and pulls free and uses to make his Stygian Tiger Amulet?

These ideas then start running rampant in my mind and I get excited and start looking for info, character bios or pictures and if I cannot find any, I look up what other people might think these people look like or I find character models to use so I have in mind how things will flow from here.

So yeah Baoshan Sanren had to not only put down her lover, but their son as well and that is when she first goes into seclusion. Like she still ventures out, otherwise how would she have her little Sect? But she avoids getting mixed with people in power or with too many ambitions. This is where another idea hit me: why does Mo Xuanyu look souch like Wei Wuxian? Sure it could be his soul's acceptance of the body and thus slowly changing his original face to match WWX's so we the viewer's/readers know it is him. But what if it is because BSSR, on one of her rare trips away from her mountain, found and fell in love with Lord Mo, Madam Mo's father. Because she briefly mentions that her father sought other women for comfort and sired more than he should have when she was disparaging MXY/WWX during the Arm incident.

So that got me thinking that what if Cangse Sanren was the missing Mo child and that she was thrown out by Lord Mo's wife in a fit of anger, hoping she will die out on the streets well away from them so if she rises as a resentful ghost she haunts someone else and not them, but instead she is found by Baoshan Sanren, who had to leave due to some Demons or Heavenly Officials realizing she was out and about and either attempting to assassinate her, capture and force her to their will or trying to marry her to get into her parents' good graces. What if she was forced to leave her daughter behind since she was so young and showed no signs of being Heavenly Blessed or Demonically gifted?

Now here we have BSSR. Taking her daughter into her Sect and training her, raising her. What if the rule that forbids one from returning upon leaving was put in place because of the trauma that XCH put her through with their son and due to CSSR still not showing signs of having Divine or Demonic blood? But what if she said that to keep her child safe? Because clearly Xiao Xingchen returned to get Song Lan's eyes fixed and wasn't punished or killed for it before he left again once she promised to help him.

What if it was just a rumor she made up herself to have her children and students say to others if they ask where she is or if they an join her Sect. Clearly she would get you herself if she felt you worthy enough. But due to CSSR having no memory of her mother or realizing that BSSR is her legit mother and not just her martial Mother, that she took her legit and never came home again, even though she clearly wanted to show off her husband and their baby.

Now with the unrest in the heavens reaching a critical point, BSSR has to really cut herself off to the world and thus doesn't find out until Xiao Xingchen leaves that not only did her only daughter get married and had a son, but also she and her husband died, her grandson who showed so much power and potential was driven to an early grave by the very people he tore himself apart to protect. What if that solidified her resolve to never be involved with the mortals ever again and then a few short years later she gets word that her youngest son has now died and that permanently locks her in her mountain, done with the world falling in love and not being able to keep that happiness.

What if it due to these events that finally the civil unrest settles because they finally realized that the inner fighting between the Heavens and the Hells was bleeding into the mortal realm and affecting certain lives more than others? What if this is what led to WWX true return from death because what if a piece of his soul found it's way to Hua Cheng and he realized that Wei Ying was his great grandson?

Now this would honestly make for a good time travel fix it! But I sadly do not have the full brain power to go through with it... But I might poke at it a bit more to see...

Well thanks for popping and hopefully this helps you understand how over half of these ideas came to be!!

Chapter Text

Snippet:

It was late, not a soul stirred and yet he remained awake. It wasn't anything new to him. The torches on the walls blazed brightly as he works diligently to write out the array. Blood is so messy, but is a key part of Demonic Cultivation. Double checking his notes on the array and the section he just completed, he moved to the next one. He said nothing, didn't even hum to drown out the dark voices in his head. What they were screaming at him was all true.

He was a monster.

He completes the next to sections in due time, compulsively double checking. These arrays are powerful and dangerous when done correctly, he is not willing to find out what happens if he screws up even the tiniest detail. Once it is complete he thinks half hysterically, that it looks like a flower! A flower of death! After one last check he nods and walks into the center of it and pools his energy into it. The room shudders under the sudden vacuum effect of the now awake array and it must have shaken more than the room because soon their are voices screaming and crying, footfalls doubling and tripling as they head towards the room.

He gives a laugh, half mad and so deeply entrenched in sorrow as they begin banging on the door. He ignores them as he fully activates the array. He closes his eyes as everything starts to melt and swirl, dripping away like spilled ink as he falls just as someone gets into the room.

"Nie-Zhonghu!!"

He falls for an eternity, the voices slowly filter away one by one. The voices of his people bringing him reports and whispering secrets he paid handsomely for. The voices of friends turned pawns and enemies alike. Voices of loved ones he hurt horrendously. His biggest regret was hurting the man he loved the most besides his brother. Using him to kill the traitor...

He used a man who had been nothing but kind to him, who protected him and so many others, had brought his brother home from the war safe and sound, but at the cost of his sanity and reputation. A man he had sworn to become brothers with, he left with nothing but the barest minimum...

A man, who he callously used his husband and their child in his deadly game. He hadn't understood then, at the temple why his friend and once brother of the heart had been so furious, had nearly turned that deadly power onto Nie Huaisang, but now as he falls and the voices fade, he thinks he finally does...

His brother, Nie Mingjue had been precious to Huaisang, so much so that he abandoned the love of his life, lied to his face and not his childish ones either, but ones that shattered what remained of his heart and sanity... Just hours before he made the array he had gotten the word that Lan Xichen had taken his own life due to the heavy guilt he felt at being fooled by a snake with a pretty face and letting his best friend be killed, for ignoring his brother's words, a brother who he adored and trusted in implicitly and yet did nothing to help or save the man his brother loved.

Nie Huaisang had not wanted that he had only wanted the pain to stop and it didn't. In fact he hated that he was mourning that son of a bitch! Someone who used him to manipulate his brother and lover. Someone who coveted his lover! He hated that man so much and wanted him to suffer and die, but... When he did... He felt... Unfulfilled.

And as he falls he hears:

"Do not talk to me ever again, Sect Leader Nie... If you or any Nie come near my son or husband again, I will make what I did at Nightless City and during the war look like child's play... I will do so much worse to you than what I did to Wen Chao and I made him slowly eat himself before he finally died after weeks and months of nonstop hysteria and torture..." Those red eyes that he always heard people say that when they land on you, you feel a dread and fear like no other. "You're no better than Jin Guangyao as far as I can see. Are we sure we killed the right man back at Guanyin temple?"

He hadn't known then what they meant, but when he had be the poor rabbit in that particular wolf's gaze, he knew. He was trapped and he would die horrifically. And what was worse, Wei Wuxian would do it all with a smile. He had always thought that the Second Jade was terrifying. But the fact that Wei Wuxian could kill you even from the other side of the world terrified them all.

His thoughts began to muddle and muffle, the voices faded away until all he could hear was his brother's voice. A voice he has missed so much, but this time... This time he will not use his loved ones for personal means. He didn't want to ever be likened to that bastard ever again...

"-ong!? Xiao Maque!? Xiao Maque!!! A'Que, please wake up you are dreaming!! Stop standing there and get father, hurry!!"

It took Huaisang a minute or two to realize he was screaming and thrashing around. A voice he new so well, sounding so, so very young, was screaming orders in a clear panic.

"And send word to Gusu!! Get one of their Musical Healers here now!!"

There were a flurry of voices and sounds. He could not stop screaming even if he tried. Memories were being crammed into his tiny mind and not just his own. He was getting memories from key players in this deadly game of rewrite history. And where half these people were killed off before by the enemy and the rest he used as pawns against Jin Guangyao. But now, he will have to use them as powerful players and pieces alike. Hopefully this time... This time he can get a happier ending... Even if it has to cost him his brother again...

It is not until he sees his brother hardly more than a boy and the stern face of his father that his fit comes to a sudden end, his shock enough to still and silence him before he is fading into unconsciousness once more....

Chapter Text

When Nie Huaisang awakens again, it is to the sound of an Erhu, and he slowly blinks his eyes open. He turns his head to see Lan-Laoshi, a much younger version of him, playing, eyes closed in concentration with the hulking form of his father looming over him and his brother, much smaller and younger than he remembers him being with a much younger Lan Xichen and at his side an even smaller Lan Wangji. Now Huaisang always acted younger but he always knew he was at least two years older than Lan Wangji. It also helped he was smaller and looked younger. 

But right now seeing how young they were it must be right after his mother's passing. Which means Madam Lan is due to pass away soon. He has a small flash of memory of a snowy night, a rattle drum being held by two small children. One was in clean white robes while the other was in dirty, threadbare robes. One child has golden eyes, the other moonlight. It goes away and he suddenly realizes it was Wangji meeting Wuxian. But he hadn't realized they met so young. He must have been lost in thought for a while because he just noticed the lack of music, Clarity played properly and not twisted to kill, and Lan-Laoshi was waiting for him to pay attention.

"Lan-Laoshi?" he asks in a tiny voice, so much younger than he had grown used to hearing as an adult.

"Nie-er-gongzi, how are you feeling?" he asks.

"Better... Nightmares..." he murmurs,  trying to sound as childlike as he is. "Saw many scary things... Madam Lan dying... Baba dying without Mama to help... Madam Sanren's son being lost in the streets and then abused by Madam Yu...." he says vaguely and that gets everyone's attention.

"Que, what do you mean by I die without Ai-er's help?" Nie-Zhongzhu asks.

"I think... Someone scary makes... Your saber spirit mad and... I think it is a Night Hunt gone wrong... Baba goes mad too... So mad that he died... Gege becomes Sect Leader at 13... Gege gets so mad he forgets Mama's family name and that I share that blood... I think... A Wen did it..."

The room becomes tense, Huaisang thinks that Wen Ruohan started his takeover earlier than they originally thought, which means that the next few years are gonna be the slow disappearances of many smaller clans and villages until the Lectures, the only major event being his father's death. If he gets them on the radar faster, maybe they can reduce the Mount of deaths that happened last time as well as prevent Wei-xiong's fall from grace. But then again Wei-Xiong is one of the major players in this war and even after the war. But how to keep him in his oath without accidentally making him the next major threat again? Especially getting him together with Wangji-Xiong much sooner?

"You said Madam Sanren... As in Cangse Sanren?" Lan Qiren asks.

"Yes, I think that was the name I heard in my dreams... She's very pretty, was sisters with Mama and Madam Lan... Why?" he asks all innocently.

"What did you see about her and her... Son?"

"She and her husband died... Her son was lost in the streets for years... I'm someone in purple who saves him, but Madam Yu hates him and hits him a lot.... Like a lot, a lot...." he says with as much childish hopelessness as possible. "I think it affects him mentally like he acts out because he is used to being punished for no reason so he gives you one? He laughs off bad hurts but complains about small ones..."

The adults tense and share looks of unease. What he described was child abuse and one that could lead to very dangerous behaviors in the future.

"Purple... Madam Yu... It seems that Yunmeng Jiang finds him, but I don't see Jiang Fengmian allowing that to happen, however at the same time, Yu Ziyuan's personality is a bit too much at times. She is too prideful and much too vain about her blood status. As if anyone of lower birth cannot be powerful... And even then Cangse Sanren is the daughter of Baoshan Sanren, is she not? What makes Yu Ziyuan think she is superior to the daughter of an Immortal?" Nie-Zhongzhu muses as Lan Qiren nods his head, feeling a wash of hot and cold in his stomach.

He has mixed feelings about the woman,  but the reminder that she is or was sworn sisters with his sister-in-law, means that something about his own Laoshi's death doesn't add up. Was he so blinded by the rules and his own cluster fuck of feelings to have missed that detail? Cangse Sanren was a while thing, he's, but she never once harmed the innocent and helped her fellow Cultivators whenever possible.  He just didn't like that she ignored the rules, but not everyone followed the Gusu Lan rules.

"What was the last thing we heard about the Wei Couple?" Nie-Zhongzhu asks.

"They were seen around the Yiling area but... That was it... Do you think...."

"Best to send out a few disciples and check around. But what is the child's name?"

"Wei Ying..." Lan Wangji speaks up and Huaisang tenses, scared as he looks at the other boy who is staring into space. "Mama says Auntie had a baobei named Wei Ying..." Huaisang breathes a sigh of relief in his mind. It would have been a nightmare otherwise to deal with a very angry Hanguang-Jun... No one realizes it, but those rules protect the people from the Lans darker tendencies...

"We need to keep an eye on the Wens too... A'Que if you have any more visions, tell me... A'Long, keep a close eye on your brother... I might ask your aunt to visit with her children to keep you company." his father muses.

"I will send out the first search party for the Weis... If... If he does end up under Madam Yu, what are we to do?"

"Be more open-minded and try to see last his antics is the most you will be able to do. Abuse victims do not trust quickly or blindly... It will take effort to earn his trust." His father tells the slightly younger man.

Huaisang is pleased for now that at least he got the ball rolling. Hopefully, things change this time. He is so tired, he goes back to sleep, hoping for a restful sleep this time...

Chapter Text

Over the next couple of weeks the Nie and Lan Clans were in a low-key mad scramble looking for the Wei Family. Thankfully Yiling was neutral territory even if officially it was apart of Yunmeng Jiang Lands. So they didn't have to worry overly much about the Jiangs paying attention to their hunts in that area, it also served to help the people, but with their town being so close to the Burial Mounds, there was no permanent solution. It was winter, Lan Qiren brought his nephews with him and a small group of senior and couple of junior disciples, to help them look. He recalled from the notes he had asked Huaisang to keep in a diary of his visions and dreams, that it was around the winter time that someone, mainly Jiang Fengmian found Wei Ying.

He was a bit torn admittedly. He had read through the notes, disjointed and chaotic, even if the child did his best to put everything in 'order' but he didn't know what the proper 'order' was. Lan Qiren saw in some sets of notes that Wei Ying grows up to be a strong Cultivator, much like his parents, a mix of Cangse Sanren's wild spirit, but kind hearted nature and Wei Changze's geniusness and steadfast convictions. Had he remained on the righteous path, he would have been able to achieve greatness if not Immortality, but he instead grows up to be the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. Everything in Lan Qiren wanted to revolt, to hate the child, to hate every little thing he read about him, but there was so much tragedy that surrounds the boy, so much suffering and all he ever did was give, give and give some more. Even when he had literally nothing left, no friends, no family; not even his golden core, he still gave them peace by committing suicide. And how did the thank him? For 13 years they kept dragging his name through the mud, stole his inventions and used them, but refused to acknowledge who created them.

The reason he is refusing to let the rules and words of the elders control him, even as he ears within himself about what he knows the child will grow up to be, is that Lan Zhan, his beloved youngest nephew suffered because of his fialty to the family, the clan and those damned rules and his heart, which was full of love and confusion for the Demonic Cultivator. That tool the end of Wei Ying's life, he stood by him and was whipped by Lan Qiren's own hands, 33 times for protecting him. He was shaken with that revelation and the seemingly possessed Nie Huaisang, who had stood silently behind him, swaying and spoke with a tone of voice much older than his child boy should possess:

"Do you see now what she meant? That those rules mean absolutely nothing? That your faith and adherence to them will be the downfall of the Lan Clan and all that you hold dear? Tell me Grandmaster Lan, can you honestly condemn a child for the actions of his future, knowing the path that has been set before him, and yet did far more good for the world in only a few short years than the clans and sects have done in centuries following the so-called righteous path? Or did you forget that once upon a time, Cultivation as while was considered devilry and our people hunted and killed until the great Calamity that struck our nation as a whole and only Cultivators were able to go against it. After that, Cultivation was allowed to steadily grow and flourish, to gain a steadfast following and soon our history was being made by the likes of Baoshan Sanren, Wen Mao, Lan An and even Xue Chonghai... It takes a single spark to catch and careful nurturing to grow a fire that can burn as brightly as the sun and bring life, but also it takes a single act of carelessness to make said fire turn into a raging forest blaze... I know your sins, I know what you will do... So choose wisely or I won't let you live to regret them..."

The child then collapsed and as he rushed to check him, he blinked wide and innocent eyes up at him scared because he had been in the garden playing and now he was here(little does anyone know that Huaisang had done this on purpose, to put the old man on edge; he lived through his best friend's hellhole of a life once, he was not willing to do it a seck d time, not when he can make sure he has a happy life this time).

Lan Qiren shakes his head and looks at his nephews, Xichen has just purchased a rattle from, a very pretty red one with a lotus and magnolia blossom pattern carefully carved into it and painted with vivid colors. He smiles at them and lets them wander a bit away from him as he glances around for any street urchins. He and Nie-Zhongzhu agreed they would rescue as many children as they can from the streets. They had sat through a nightmare of a Young man named Xue Yang and all the cruelty he caused because he was left to the merciless streets and then later used and abused by both the Wens and the Jins.

Speaking of the Wens, Nie-Zhongzhu had written his late wife's mother and requested she come look after Nie Huaisang, after explaining about the nightmares and visions, subtly hinting at the danger her branch was in. At first they didn't hold out hope, most who have visions were seen as insane and not to be trusted, or were believed to be blowing smoke and ignored. But then Wen Huli, or Wen Popo as she wanted everyone to call her, had arrived with her fourth son, her grandchildren and a couple of her nieces and nephews. They would slowly but surely leave Qishan in smaller groups joining up as a larger group once in Nie Lands and make it to the Unclean Realms from there.

As much as they felt bad for leaving behind the lands they lived on for centuries, it was not the land that was important, but rather the people who carried the memories and the name. They would go back to visit from time to time, but it is best to be out of Wen Ruohan's hands, his machinations after have already started with the sudden deaths of his various siblings and cousins who could have wrested power from him.

"Uncle! I lost a'Zhan!!" Lan Xichen's childish voice calls in panic and he blinks out of his thoughts and quickly looks around. He does not see his youngest nephew, as heavily bundled as he was. He quickly grabs Xichen's hand and they start looking for him, he nods to the seniors and juniors who have a couple of other street kids with them and they begin looking as well.

By the time they find Lan Zhan, he is blushing so hard his ears have turned cherry red at the sunny smile the filthy child is giving him, their hands wrapped around the rattle drum. There is a glow around them and it is as if starcrossed lovers have finally met. Lan Qiren watches this and recalls the moment Cangse and Changze met, it was such a similar sight. His future self was damned fool for never noticing and even actively trying to ruin this relationship. The moment lasts only a heart beat more before Xichen's panicked cry if his brother's name breaks it and Lan Qiren is treated to the adorable sight of Xichen trying to pick up Lan Zhan, who somehow shifted his center of gravity to be as heavy as a mountain no matter how his brother tried to lift him. His deadpans stare of annoyance also made the older man want to start cackling like a certain Sanren at the hilarious sight, but he clears his throat and walks forward to the scare child behind his nephews and kneels down in the snow. Even as painfully skinny as the child was, hair a mess and covered in filth and grime, Lan Qiren cannot mistake that face. Many believed his resentment of Cangse Sanren stemmed from unrequited feelings from her, but was actually because he resented her for being Wei Changze's one. Lan's after all only love once and Lan Qiren had fallen for Wei Changze's quiet and thoughtful nature. He was like a calm lily pad on a raging river, bobbing along the temperamental surface with a calm and grace that belies his true strength and the true turbulent nature of his heart.

However, Wei Changze did not see him that way and wished to only remain friends. And Lan Qiren had to content himself with that. His future self was truly damned fool for forgetting that as much as Wei Ying will grow up to be like his mother, he is still their beloved Changze's son. They should have found him, should have saved him, protected him and yet they caused him untold heart ache. Sanren was correct: a fool who blindly follows the rules is doomed to watch everyone around them die for them. It is human nature to question and explore. To find the unknown and learn about it so it does not frighten you.

"Hello, little one, I am Lan Qiren, are you by chance, Wei Ying?" He asks and the child perks up, clearly recognizing his name. "I use to be a good friend of your parents, do you know where they are?"

The child points behind him and when he looks he feels his stomach drop seeing the dark ominous mountain of the Burial Mounds. The child's tiny voice, horse from disuse and the frigid cold telling him that they went there and never came back. He had followed and found their bodies but no matter how long he waited or tried to wake them they never did. Lan Qiren turns back and forth an instant he saw two spirits floating around the child. Wei Changze looking handsome and solemn while Cangse Sanren looked as otherworldly as always, but her kind smile pained. They look at him once, nod and fade away. So their spirits lingered until he was found? He will need to place their memorial tablets in the Ancestral Hall then.

"I see... Would you like to come home with me and my nephews? You seem to have made a good friend of a'Zhan already." He smiles as gently as he can and the child gives him wide hopeful eyes and it is hard to imagine him becoming a demonic Cultivator and yet retaining his pure heart. All others who tried, failed and went made, their hearts corrupted and their souls forever lost, and yet this child did the impossible.

"Yes please!" He cheers and then coughs and Lan Qiren is quick to kill a spare cloak from his sleeve and wrap the child in it. It is a black robe with red spider lilies  sewn into and dark purple lotuses. Wu Chunli had seen it when she learned her friend was pregnant and had wanted Qiren to send it to her. But he never did, resenting her for 'crime' against his clan and because he was bitterly jealous of Cangse Sanren. But now Chunli will get to see it on her martial nephew. He calls his nephews to hold onto each other and follow as he stands with the clearly ill child in his hands. Once he has the boy back at Cloud Recesses he will double check the notes of Nie Huaisang's visions and deal with the unjust punishment his sister in was suffering in full. After all he had asked Nainai to investigate for him and no one goes against Nainai, not unless you want to starve to death...

Chapter Text

As soon as they got back to Gusu, Lan Qiren made sure that Wei Ying was settled in with his nephews, went to check on his sister in-law, bringing her her favorite snacks and telling her about Cangse Sanren's passing and her son. Wu Chunli gasped in horror, breaking down into sobs at the news a mix of grief and relief as she clung to him. He let her because he now sees what he didn't in the past, if she were a truly heartless woman she would have never had children in the first place never mind treating them so well on her visits. And she definitely wouldn't break down as she currently was over someone she has not seen in nearly 10 years.

"Please, may I see Ying'er? I know you don't think I deserve anything but punishment, but please he is my sworn sister's son! Please!!" She begs him like when they took her children from her and he feels that knife twist more

The haunting image of a temporarily possessed Nie Huaisang's words and a voice that sounds like Cangse Sanren's in the back of his mind reminding him that he was blinded by those rules and will lose everything if he keeps following them. This breakdown confirms it for him, he is going to do what should have been done years ago.

"Sister. You have kept your silence enough, you have been unjustly punished enough... Cangse and Changze will never forgive me if I let this carry on and you die here alone and miserable... Tell me what happened and why you killed the previous Grandmaster."

She startles but then she pulls away, wiping her eyes and taking a long shaky breath she squares her shoulders and then draws a spell in the air, it activated and she goes into a trance like state.

"This spell forces one to speak the truth and only the truth... It was made by a'Ren and a'Ze since a'Ren felt something was not right. I do not lovey husband, I barely like him, but admittedly his attention made me feel... Seen. I can admit that I was jealous of a'Ren's beauty, but never to the point to wish her harm or death. The night I killed Lan Chenli, I was walking in the back hills, considering if I should reject Mingchen's affections fully because I honestly wasn't feeling the same feels as him, when I heard a noise."

Lan Qiren flinched at the confirmation to some of the hidden rumors that his brother forced a woman he loved, but didn't love him back into marriage. He was taking down her words onto paper noticing the spell forces him to write it down word for word when he tried to use short hand to make it easier to take down the report. Good to know.

"I followed the sound because it was so strange, worried that somehow a dangerous beast or monster managed to get in without alerting the clan. Especially since the area was close to where the little ones live and play at. Well I was right about the monster, I just didn't think it would be a human one." She manages a snort of derision but is forced back into her trance like state once more. "Grandmaster Chenli was trying to force himself on a child no older than my a'Zhan is right now. He shouted and drew his attention as I charged him with a fallen branch I found. I struck him and told the child to run and she ran. Chenli got up and tried to attack me with music but not the usual Lan music I had heard over my stay here. It made me feel sick almost as soon as I heard it. He told me it was from a Collection in the Forbidden Section and should do nicely for my demise for ruining his fun."

Lan Qiren felt sick. He beloved teacher was a pedophile!? While it is not unusual to marry young, no younger than 15 in most cases of such a young marriage, due to he dangers out their jobs, it is entirely different when it is an actual child!!

"I became enraged at his words and saw red... The next thing I remember is being pinned down by the other Elders and Mingchen declaring he will marry me. I was confused and not in my right mind, so I agreed. We were married quickly and allowed only three days to consummate. After I was forced to that farce of a trail and when I refused to tell them what happened after they blatantly accused me of secuding my way into the Lan Main family and whoring around before my marriage. Why would I tell you the truth when you have already decided I was guilty? You wouldn't believe me and say I am lying. So I kept my silence took my forced seclusion, but I never thought that you would take my children from me." And Lan Qiren flinches because that is the truth. He refused to believe her thought she was a wicked woman and since she was friends with Cangse Sanren, he somehow translated that she to was a wicked and shameless woman who had the man he loved's devotion but still flagrantly seduced others.

The spell dissipates after that and they are left in a bit of an awkward silence but Lan Qiren is man enough to kowtows and offer his most sincerest apology. She gives him a soft and mildly pained smile as she tells him it is alright. The situation was a chaotic mess and he was what the Elders wanted, an obedient puppet. He scowls because that is what he had been in the future and what he turned a'Zhan into. He squares his own shoulders and copies the spell she used and told her what he knew of the future events and how he learned of them. As he spoke she steadily grew grey from horror and then turned a dark maroon with rage. When he couldn't tell her anything else the spell dissipated and he was left a bit tired. He watched Chunli jump to her feet and pace the small space of her home with a fury that could rival a caged tiger, her movements both elegant and deadly graceful. After all she beat someone to death with a fallen branch, he is certain she could do much worse with proper tools and motive and knowing that one of her sons was whipped for loving someone, her best friends' son no less, she was enraged. They nearly caused her son to repeat his father's actions and she will not stand for it. Especially since a'Ying is here.

"Get me a re-trail... Get me my freedom and get me my sons... Now." She orders and for the first time he is all to happy to follow them...

While Gusu Lan was in chaos, Lan Qiren sent word to Nie-Zhongzhu to tell him that he found Wei Ying and the man quickly gathered up his family and came to visit and to sit as an impartial Judge for the re-trail of Madame Lan. While the adults were busy Mingjue and Xichen were in charge of the three little boys. Huaisang was practically vibrating out of his skin to see his best friend as a child and omg was he adorable when they finally saw each other! He gleefully pounced in the boy, who was surprised by the action, but went with the flow of it. Huaisang flinched at he glare he got from Lan Zhan, he swears that the kid is just too much like his older self or he somehow traveled back with him and is just not saying anything. He giggles and pulls the mini Hanguang-Jun into the hug as well. He easily gets Wei-Xiong to play and the boy coaxed Wangji-xiong to join them...

-time skip-

Nie Huaisang walked up the stairs to Cloud Recesses for the Lectures, his brother and cousins with him this year. Wel his brother was dropping him off having graduated front the lectures and being too old to take them now. Mingjue would be heading back home to help their father with training their wild child, Xue Yang, who is upset he couldn't come because he wasn't Gentry. Huaisang thinks he is more upset that he doesn't get to spend a year playing pranks with Wei Wuxian, who much like him was a street rat who got lucky. Xue Yang was surprisingly very loyal and devoted to those who show him kindness and doesn't take rudeness well.

Over the years his plans have slowly worked in his favor, he got to Xue Yang and Wei Ying before anyone else did, he secretly brought Madame MaEng and her friend's freedom and set them up in a city far away from the Jianghu where they now run a profitable little school for girls teaching them to read and write and how to play musical instruments. Meng Yao was given higher education and would soon be showing the magistrate of the town to learn his new job. Good as long as the bastard stays out of the Cultivation world Nie Huaisang doesn't behave to enact those plans. But with all that he has changed thus far, he knows the karma flow will flip soon and they will face the aftermath, but as long as those he cares about make it out alive and Wei-Xiong doesn't have to go down that road again, it will be worth it...

He smiles when he and his cousins get to the top, Nie Qing hugging as she walks up to Wei Ying and starts checking him over, he's been small and skinny for so long they all couldn't help but worry but now he was a tall svelte framed youth with beautiful features. He wears a veil since he is so pretty and has been called the Lotus among the Clouds because of his vivid clothes and gracefulness. It also doesn't help that he was naturally Yin inclined like a woman, but is fine because Wangji-xiong is very Yang inclined and balances Wei-Xiong out.

"Qing-Jie! Ning-di!! A'Que!!" He greets brightly from his place in Wangji-xiong's arms as said young man gives a small pleased smile to see his friends. Madman Lan's giggles sounded from behind the pair and Huaisang greets her. She is dressed in dark blues and accents in gold and white, the colors of her family, but styled in the Lan cut with her marriage ribbon on her head.

They greet her as she smiles at them and tells them to behave as she is heading out to a new hunt. Wei Ying hold down from Lan Zhan's arms and hands her a pouch with his new inventions and she grins because she gets to test them out.

"I perfected the warding stones and fine tuned some of my other talismans. But here is the Compass of Evil, the Lure Flag prototype and my newly invented Gloom Burning talisman. Lemme know what you think Auntie Li!!" He says with a bright laugh as she sees some of his other works in there and smiles.

"A'Ying spoils this Auntie. She will make sure to stop by your parents grave to tell them you are doing good and what you invented now. Behave and do not cause Qiren too many gray hairs." She giggles.

"Uncle only grumps, but loves my antics!" Wei Ying says with a giggle and jumps back into Lan Zhan's arms knowing his fuddy-duddy was reaching his 'Share Wei Ying' limit.

"Go on in, guys, we will meet up in the back hill at lunch!" wei Ying tells his friends as they head in

 Nie Huaisang smiles but friend when he turns and sees the next group, he frowns even more when he sees who is in that particular crowd. Over the years he created chances for Jiang Yanli to get her health checked and found out why she was so sick Al the time and then secretly set her up with trainers and a weapon that suited her well. She had also been invited over for playdates with a'Qing, who wasn't so rigid and professional all the time. The pair often played pranks on the boys or went shopping, even if it was just for medicine and needles, but it was their bonding time. She has gotten stronger and is capable of fighting on her own now. He was always happy to see her since she still tested his bestie as her baby. Glad he kept that bond even in this lifetime, but her brother was another story. He was self centered and arrogant. He was always quick to anger and even quicker to start fights. Nie Huaisang has no idea what the hell happened this time but when he tried to introduce Wei Ying to him Jiang Wanyin things just exploded and not in a good way. Needless to say their visits to Lotus Pier were very limited and only when Uncle Qiren, Auntie Li or his own father were free to take them did they go.

Madam Yu was her charming self and somehow got it in her head that Write Ying was both her husband's bastard and trying to seduce said man into becoming the new Madam Jiang. She said that to a 6 year old child... What the fuck was with this woman!? But once Wei Ying made.his debut, Madam Yu began bringing a nephew of hers around, a nephew who was an unknown and causing issues for Nie Huaisang and his plans for keeping most of the tragedies from happening again.

Yu Peilong was unnervingly obsessed with Wei Ying, going as far as to claim they are affianced. This certainly caused tension and concern. Lan Qiren as Wei Ying's guardian never agreed to this and has done his level best to keep the Yu brat out of the Recesses. But it seems he is the Jiangs Head Disciple and as an Heir to Meishan. Yu, has a right to join the lectures. Lan Wangji was instantly a frigid block of fury as he set his Wei Ying down and stood before him hiding the slightly smaller male behind him.

'Well shit...' he thinks, wondering if he should bother covering the murder that will likely happen in the new future....

Chapter Text

Nie Huaisang took his seat from his previous life behind Wei-Xiong, but with a slight change to it being next to Wangji-xiong. The stoic boy made Wei-Xiong sit on the inside of him since Yu Peilong tried to sit on the edge closest to Wei-Xiong when he could get a seat near him due to Nie Ning and Nie Qing taking up his free side since it was three to a row and behind him on the out edge with Nie Huaisang behind his friend directly. He Su too the third sheet to Nie Huaisang's left and thus prevented Yu Peilong from getting a seat near Wei-Xiong. They would keep this up for the whole lecture if possible, maybe switch the sixth person with one of Wei-Xiong's other friends.

Shaking his head, he pays attention as the rules are read and actually pays attention because over the years the rules have been gutted, revamped and made more clearer in most aspects and removed or changed as a while in others. Though the rules against killing and drinking Alcohol were still there. Though they were clarified with a small explanation that killing for no reason was forbidden, but if one much skill in self defense or the defense of another, it is perfectly reasonable and in the event of an attack, though doubtful, one should not hesitate to kill the invading enemies because they would not be so merciful back. Alcohol is forbidden due to the Lan's Monk like lifestyle and should be respected by all visiting disciples. The Lan out side of their hope only enforce their rules on themselves and never others, especially at conferences, and everyone respects that but seeing as they are guests they are expected to at least attempt to follow the rules. There were a few new ones like: Do not enter the Back Hills without express permission from a member of the Inner Lan Clan, namely Lan Qiren himself, Zewu-Jun, Madam Lan, or Wangji-xiong.

That was understandable since Wei-Xiong's personal workshop and lab was in the back hill and minus three disciples who study directly under him, no one outside of the main family are allowed in there unless given permission. Nie Huaisang respects this rule the most because he knows his best friend's works in progress can be a little.... Volatile at times. There was another to respect one's choices of lifestyle or self expression and even one that forbade anyone from entering what has been dubbed the Bunny Garden without express permission as well. Most of the rules were some variant of the old rules, compressing 3000+ rules into only 235, rules must have taken time and effort and he knows she Elders fought back tooth and nail. Especially for the rules: Respect one's Elders, until said elder has proven themselves unrespectable. One must listen to the advice of an Elder, but always question if this is the right choice for themselves. If one's elder is too obstinate to change or sound reasoning, find another who will listen and offer genuine help or advice, or is willing to change should she situation call for it.

Nie Huaisang likes the new rules, they were still quite a few and some were a bit stricter than others, but he doesn't feel like crying his eyes out and the good thing is if they have to copy the rules again, there is a lot less to get through this time! He blinks when Lan Qiren sets down the scroll with a thunk and blinks seeing many of the others have zoned out and the old man got annoyed again, but Wei-Xiong and Wangji-xiong, with Maiden Jiang, Maiden Qin and the small Nie contingent were the only ones paying attention other than the few Lan's with the exception of Su Minshan. He scowls heavily at the rude young masters and ladies before he starts packing up and down the middle aisle, his arms behind his back and an aura of doom surrounding him.

Somehow, raising Wei-Xiong made the old man much more intimidating without much change to his general appearance. His scowls had different depths to them and meanings that he and his friends learned over the years, this scowl was the: Laoshi is severely disappointed with this lot. 

"Alright since many of you did not pay attention, you cannot write home tk your parents stating you didn't know the rules when I took the time to explain the changes in the rules and read them to you with clear explanations as to why they are the way they are and why they are to be followed. No one can claim ignorance as an excuse. But I will make this interesting now.... Nie-Gongzi!" Huaisang jumps up and bows properly to him. "Tell me what are the four main categories of creaturea we face on Night Hunts?"

"Ghosts, Beasts, Monsters and Demons, Lan-Laoshi!" He answers promptly, recalling the answer Wei-Xiong gave last time.

"Excellent, you may sit once more... Maiden Jiang! Can you tell me what creates each of the mentioned Creatures?" He demands as she stands and gives a graceful bow.

"Yes, Laoshi, this one can!" She clears her throat and lists on her fingers delicately, "Ghosts are formed from dead humans and monsters from dead non-humans. While Beasts are formed from Living non-humans and Demons from Living Humans." She bows once more after she explained herself.

"Excellent; sit, please." He says pleased that two of his students paid attention to his Ward's ramblings during their study sessions between playdates. "Su Minshan! Beasts and Monsters are often confused for one another, can you explain the differences between them?"

Su Minshan jumped to his feet and everyone instantly noticed how he was dressed, from the robe style to how it was tied and even how he put up his hair. He looked like a child playing dress up as one of his parents, but in this case: a pale imitation of Wangji-xiong. Huaisang hid a sneer behind his fan as his cousins either giggle into their sleeve(Nie Ning) or their own fan(Nie Qing) with several others who made the quick realization or connection.

"Um... I don't know, Laoshi... Forgive this humble one." He admits after a long pause and bows, feeling his face flush more as others laugh a little more openly.

"Were you not paying attention when Wuxian gave that lecture before the group hunt just before the start of Lectures!?" Was the heated demand. "He was in charge and you would all be subjugating one creature from each category and bring them back for study during the Lectures!"

Su Minshan flushes even more because he had in fact ignored the low born wars of the Lan Clan. He had looked through man family registries for any Wei's but found none and knew he had to be common born. At least the his clan was a small one in the Gusu area and had a reputation. Granted they were not many to form a proper sect on their own, but they were certainly heard of, especially in the Moling area where they reside. But now that was coming to bite him in the ass. Low born or not, he should have listened since the brat had the Grandmaster's ear, being his ward.

"Wuxian, if you would please explain for your fellow Disciple and our guests?" Was the request, his tone notably less hostile and agitated when speaking to his ward.

Wei Wuxian stood up gracefully and bows before he explains:

"As Lady Jiang explained before, Monsters and Beasts are formed from non-humans. Take for instance the maple tree outside." He points the vibrant red tree to the left of the classroom and everyone looks. "This tree begins to cultivate from the books and ambient Yang energy and gains a conscious. It then Cultivates into a higher being, thus making it a Beast. However, if J were to cut it down with an ax and leave the stump, and that begins Cultivating into a higher being, then it becomes a Monster since the stump is from the dead tree." He explains calmly. "But not all who Cultivate into higher beings are malicious or even want to cause harm. There are many resentful beings out there who live in Harmony with those around them. For instance there is a Fox Yao den outside of Caiyi Town that the people often offer left over eggs or chicken meat front he day's market and the foxes do not actively hunt or kill in town and often help guide lost children back home." 

"Excellent and a good example of not all that are categorized as 'malicious' being that and the same can be said for those deemed 'righteous.' There are always exceptions to the rules." Lan Qiren tells them and moves on with his questioning after he lets Wei-Xiong to sit. "Jiang-Gongzi! There is an Executioner with a wife, two children and both parents. He executed more than a 100 people in his lifetime and one day died and was left in the streets for his crimes. After 7 days be gan to wander and kill. What is to be done? And don't any of you look in your books; think about this question hard."

Everyone tenses and Wei-Xiong begins drafting something while Wangji-xiong hums softly, knowing the answers already. Nie Qing and Nie Ning whisper softly in the Dafan Dialect to discuss some of the inconsistencies in the explanation given. Like if he was the town executioner, why was he punished unfairly? Why would his own family not move his body and give him Burial rites? Or perhaps he was a serial killer and the last five victims were his wife, their children and his parents?

Huaisang also though these things, now giving it true thought and effort now that he's lived this life once and things were flowing differently than previously. He comes to the conclusion that the man was being unfairly punished by the families of the executed. That they prevented anyone from laying his body to rest, but in doing so, created a brand new problem in the form of both a resentful ghost and a Fierce Corpse going on a nightly killing spree. Normally, Cultivators are taught to Liberate, Suppress and Eliminate the problem, usually in that order. But that is not always the case or such places like the Burial Mounds and the Xuanwu of Slaughter's cave, would not exist. Not everything can be so cleanly dealt with.

Now, he can see where Wei-Xiong came up with the Fourth path and why he was so curious about why resentful energy is left to basically rot when it could be refined and used, just like spiritual energy. They truly do not deserve Wei-Xiong because he figured out what was needed to not only convert but successfully and continuously use resentful energy when he lost his Golden Core. The class was silent for almost five minutes, minus the small little debates about what to do before Lan Qiren huffs angrily and turns to Wangji-xiong.

"Wangji; answer!" He demands in a slightly too sharp tone. Wangji-xiong wasn't birthed by it because he knows it wasn't directed at him but the brat who stood there looking offended that the old man had the audacity to question him.

"First, liberation. Find out what he desires and if they are reasonable, set them free. Second, suppression. If his demands for liberation are not easily achieved or do not successfully set his spirit free, suppress him. And finally, elimination. If all else fails, eliminate him fully so he can no longer haunt the living and may rejoin the rebirth cycle." He answers clearly and with explanation for those who do not understand why it was these three things.

"Excellent work, Wangji; sit. These three steps should always be followed without fail, however this has been the method for centuries and while it works in most cases there are some places, some beings who cannot be simply liberated, suppressed or eliminated. Can anyone give Jiang-Gongzi an example?" He asks and Nie Huaisang holds up his fan. "Nie-Gongzi?"

"The Vermillion Bird. It is said to be very powerful and gains it's power from the sun as well as each death and rebirth it goes through. It once was a symbol of justice and good, but became corrupted and began to kill and burn all in this path mercilessly. It has not been successfully killed, only suppressed time and again." He says.

"Excellent! Another example? Yes, He-Gongzi?"

"Liangzhang Hill?" He offers.

"Yes the Yiling Burial Mounds... The most perfect example one can give. Many, for centuries have tied and failed to purify the once holy land. It is likely even if we ever manage such a feat in our lifetimes, the once holy energy will never come back and is instead purely yin energy, but that is why there is Yin and Yang." He lectures them. "Now then let's say the executioner has become similar to the Vermillion Bird, where he is not completely killed or suppressed: what can you do? What techniques or methods can you  come up with? Think outside of the box... What works for one being doesn't always work for the next." He tells them, hiding a smirk because he knows his ward would have the best answer of all.

Jiang Wanyin slowly sat down and allowed to really think and discuss with his cousin what could be used from other traditional methods. Soon the room is full of discussion and debates while Lan Qiren paces around the room listening and mentally moving the students into study groups lead by his best students. After about 20 minutes of this, he moves back to the front and clears his throat. Jiang Wanyin stands once more, having not been given permission to sit.

"So, since you failed to answer the first question, can you give me an alternative option, Jiang Wanyin?" He demands and the boy visibly bristles but schools himself.

"Lay out a trap and once the being is in range, obliterate him, burnt his corpse to ash and spread the ashes. He cannot continue to haunt without a body." He says proudly.

Several people nod in agreement while others snicker at the simpleton answer.

"Wuxian, if you please?"  Qiren demands softly, eyes narrowing at the challenge on the brat's face.

"I would ask permission of the victims' families to dig up their graves, rouse their spirits and use them to fight against the Executioner. Using their greater number and their resentment to suppress and eliminate his until he weakens and then attempt liberation on all of them, purifying their resentment into pure Yin energy and feeding it back into the earth. If needs be burn the bodies but let the families lay them to rest once more." He says and Qiren nods.

"But you are going against orthodoxy!! You would be labeled a heretic and hunted down and killed!!" Wanyin shouts.

"No shouting in the Cloud Recesses, Heir Jiang. And Grandmaster Lan asked for us to think outside of the box. If you cannot fight fire with fire, then try water and earth. When the Great Yu tamed the flood, obstruction was the inferior method and redirection was the superior. Redirecting Resentful energy would be superior to suppressing it. Suppression is only treating the symptoms; not the source." Wei Wuxian says, calmly. "Yin is not purely evil, there is some Yang in it. And Yang is not purely good, there is some Yin in it. There is good in evil and evil in good. It is how we balance it out that changes how we handle the situation. If we can redirect Resentment into it's purest form, which is Yin, then no place would be forbidden never again and we could be rid of places like Liangzhang Hill or even be rid of legendary beasts like the Xuanwu of Slaughter, even though it has been in hiding for centuries, or the Vermillion Bird."

"Excellent reasoning and correct answers. We Cultivate Yang energy to balance out the natural Ying of the world, too much or too little of the other leads to disasters beyond our imagination or the corrupt of legendary beasts and beings. If one is given too much power, they become a dictator and a tyrant, but if one is given too little, they become enslaved. There is a balance that much be carefully maintained. One's mind and heart must be free of negative attachments or insecurities. These lead to mind and heart demons that can stunt one's growth as a Cultivator as well as cause our Golden Cores to stagnate and not grow beyond certain breakthroughs."

With that he ordered the boys to sit and got on with his lessons. He brought up examples and made them discuss methods and techniques to be used be it a Clan specific one or not. This led to a good long discussion...

Nie Huaisang hurried around the bend to the Bunny Garden to see his friends and cousins already there. He had to ditch Jiang Wanyin and Yu Peilong, who had been trying to follow him to where they were meeting, mostly to close to Wei-Xiong, who's been making a name for himself with his inventions and his skills. He even broke the four main Creature Categories into subbranches of how to properly identify the hauntings and how best to handle them. He did most of the ground work himself or through Madam Lan, who proudly used his inventions and told people where to find the genuine ones on the market. Nie Huaisang made sure the merchant guild in charge of his best friend's inventions were utterly loyal to him and would not wave for anyone, especially the Jin's.

He waved and they greeted him as they pulled out books or scrolls to start studying and helping Wei-Xiong streamline new inventions. This year was already shaping up to be interesting...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Lan Jingyi very nervously drew out the complex array as Jin Ling drew out the talismans. Zizhen was compiling all their notes from thier lessons on the Sunshot Campaign, the Rise and Fall of the Yiling Laozu and everything they learned about Chief Cultivator Jin Guangyao. He also compiled the notes they took from the one time Hanguang-Jun told thm the full truth of the war, the major part that Wei-qianbei played and the way the so-called righteous sects used him, tossed him away and then condemned him for saving innocent people. Wen-Qianbei had also told them about why Wei-Qianbei turned to Demonic Cultivation, the horrors his family suffered, how Wei-qianbei painstakingly put his soul back together and returned his conscience to his otherwise Feral Fierce Corpse body. He told them about how the Jins planned the ambush and as they had learned from Jin Guangyao himself, he purposely sent Jin Zixun and Jin Zixuan there to die, using Su Shi to mes with Wen-Qianbei and Wei -Qianbei and get them both killed.

They learned from a rather drunk Sect leader Jiang about how Jin Ling's mother had run out onto the battlefield, getting Wei-Qianbei to stop his rampage after the deaths of the Wen Siblings, but some idiot tried to kill him and she protected him getting slashed on the back at first, but then another idiot tried to stab him in the literal back, but she shoved him away getting stabbed in the throat and thu killed. Needless to say, Jin Ling has not spoken to his maternal Uncle since. His mother sacrificed herself to save his Da-Jiu and his Jiujiu twisted her sacrifice into a cold blooded murder and let the rest of the world condemn his Da-Jiu even more. No one wanted to talk to or even trust the Headshaker, but Sizhui had gotten his own notes from Sect Leader Nie's point of view and some insight about jin Guangyao.

 No one knows how he managed to get him to speak truthfully, but then again since Guanyin Temple, the Headshaker has been kept well away from Wei-Qianbei. Jin Ling still finds it hard to believe that Sect Leader Nie and his Da-Jiu were once best friends. Who the hell summons their best friend back from the dead when not even his lover could do it. Sacrificing an innocent boy to do so, just to send his friend on a murder mystery scavenger hunt and in the end reveal he did it all, used them all to get revenge for his brother?! Jin Ling tries not to recall how his Uncle sounded while he hissed menacingly at Sect Leader Nie. His back was to Jin Ling so he didn't see his face, but if there was anything anyone ever told him to be wary about when it came to the Demonic Cultivator, it was when he was quiet. The pure hatred coming out of his uncle was... terrifying not even Jiujiu dared to say anything. Heck Hanguang-Jun didn't even try to stop him.

So it's going to be strange seeing a younger Headshaker that was innocent and actually genuine friends with his Da-Jiu. He's also wary of how Sizhui will interact with him... His boyfriend had given him what they call his Baby Demonic Cultivator smile the one time he asked.

The boys quickly finished up their tasks, triple checking they packed enough money to found their own Sect, spare clothes, they all opted for black with accents in their respect clan colors. The two Lans had white or light blue accents on theirs, Ooyang Zizhen had accents in reen and a darker blue and Jin Ling had accents in gold and purple. He called Fairy to his side while his friends nod. They had medicine from Wen-Qianbei, some rations and oce the notes were ready and secured in thier qiankun pouches, they step into the array and begin to activate it. The combination of their combined spiritual powers and the resentment from the array was building higher and higher. No doubt others will sense this since they opted to do this in the Burial Mounds which had been purified during Wei-Qianbei's 13 year absence. 

As they were about to leap through time, a single Fierce Corpse appeared and they all panicked as it leapt at them them and then the world fell away....

The first thing they realized as they were slowly awakening, they were inside of a cave, there was a low fire a feet away and they felt like they were caught in a massive wild Yao stampede. Jin Ling turned towards his boyfriend, moaning pitifully as Fairy whines softly. Zizhen whines and half sobs from how much pain he is in while the two Lans slowly sit up, twin frowns marring thier faces, but otherwise they do not voice their complaints. It's almost on par with some of their handstand punishments and training, with just a touch more soreness. It takes them a while to get their barings and when the do, they are confused as to where they are. However, before any of them can voice their concerns or even try to get up to explore a shuffling sound comes from the entryway and they turn, only to see the Fierce Corpse that had attacked them.

It was pale skinned and stood taller than Wen-Qianbei, but not as tall as Former Sect Leader Nie, and not as bulky, though it was rather streamlined. As it got closer, dropping firewood onto the fire and making it sputter and flare, momentarily lighting up the features. They had no idea who he was, but Sizhui had a vague sense of deja vu.

"Hello? Are you friendly?" Zizhen asks, getting Jin Ling and Jingyi to his at him to be quiet.

"... Y-.... Ye-...." They struggled and then said, "Yes..."

"You don't speak?"

"No... ha-- have not... 30 years..."

They gaped in shock. They thought Wen-Qianbei was the first sentient Corpse. They chattered about that a moment and the strange Fierce Corpse gives a jagged, but oddly familiar sounding laugh.

"Wei Qonglin... first Sentient... C- Corpse... Had to... make body... Spirit... Wife also... Spirit... Follows son... This one s Wei Ch- Changze..."

"Greetings Wei- Qianbei-- Wait did you say Wei?!"

"Yes... Am Wei Ying, Wei Wu- Wuxian's fa- father... Wife and I, no move on... worried, later regret. later angry, vengeful. No rest..." he struggles to tell them. "Rest, safe... Protect... not as good as Wen-go-gongzi, but will do best..."

"But I don't understand why are you hear now?"

"Change future... No Fierce Corpse Qonglin.... Need new Fierce Corpse... Must go, find body, fresher, easier... Do not leave... 4 days..." he tells them and they nod, they will need those four days to plan out what they need to do based off of where they landed. They may have left their time from the Burial Mounds but at this point in time, it is still wild and untamed. So they may or may not be somewhere near Yiling and thus closer to Yunmeng, or they might be near Qishan, which is bad, but worse is being anywhere near Lanling Jin.

"So that was my grandfather? Huh... I wonder if Baba ever new he was there? Watching over him or Popo?" Sizhui wonders, but smiles as he thinks about what he had said. "He's right though, Baba's going to need at least one sentient Fierce Corpse guard. And I would rather it not be Ning-Jiu."

"But how do we know that guy is Wei-Qianbei's actual Fuqin? He looks nothing like him!" Jingyi nearly shouts.

"Remeber what Hanguang-Jun said, after Wei-Qianbei committed suicide to destroy the amulet, he was given a new body, Mo-Qianbei has semi similar features as Wei-Qianbei, according to Lan-Laoshi, but otherwise they look completely different."Zizhen reminds them.

They agree and quickly set up camp, it seems that while they were out cold Wei Changze had hunted for them for there was fresh kills, a rough stone bowl to cook in and  a rough stone basin of water, but will have to do for now.

"Aright, while we wait, let's plan who to talke to first...."

Chapter Text

While the boys waited for Master Wei, they pulled out their notes, tools and supplies. Sizhui had been the one to raid Wei-Qianbei's workshop and he grabbed only the things he remembered that their beloved Senior had said were completed and fully tested. So they had four fully functional Compasses of Evil, several types of the Lure flags, both in actual flag form and in smaller banner form and the newest invention, the Compass of Harmony. It was a compass that the Hunting party will infuse with their Qi before setting out so if someone is lost or stuck you can use the compass to find them. It also has a permanent hand that will always point them towards Gusu if all else fails. There was enough talismans to fuel a whole army with several useful offensive and defensive types as well as Wei-Qianbei's newest Recovery talismans.

Sizhui felt terrible for stealing them but hopefully once they get to the point where they will automatically be pulled back to the future, everything will be better and worth the harsh scolding they were in for. He double checked there medical supplies, their rations and the spare robes. They had bed rolls and each had half of their respective trust vaults stuffed into one of their pouches so they never have to worry about money, especially Jin Ling. However, they all agreed to try drawing too much attention so they will use as little money as possible. Satisfied that all was in order, their swords were all in plain black scabbards and they opted to use the name Shenmi and their regular names or courtesy names to avoid trouble. They even practiced on a night hunt without their guardians to ensure they don't slip up.

"Alright while we wait for Yeye to get his new body and likely find Waipo and tell her what is happening. Let's work on who to contact first... I have an idea of who to tell first since Wei-Qianbei told me one night while he was super drunk that he created a message stone that uses the unique signature of your golden core... He made one for each of us, Hanguang-Jun, even Sect Leader Jiang and the Headshaker.... But he also made some for people who died... Li-Yuma, Qing-Yuma and Ning-Jiu..." Sizhui starts pulling the pieces of Black Jade from a secure pouch and letting the others see them.

They were carved like the clan symbols, but each has a unique feature to them. Jin Ling found the one meant for his mother, the delicate lotus flower edge in a dusting of crushed amethyst. The lotus meant for his uncle was sharper in appearance and had veins like lightning in amethyst. Zizhen found the one meant for the Headshaker and saw that while it was the fierce beast head, there was a softness to it like a regal beast at rest and there were emerald birds seemingly sleeping on the beast. Birds were Sect leader Nie's favorite. Jingyi was curious if the two sun carved ones with a bowl and pestle in the center of one and a bow and arrow in the other both in glimmering agate, a beautiful reddish orange, similar to a warm fire after a long day out.

They eventually looked them all over and smiled at the ones ment for them. Jingyi 's was rather energetic looking, a leaping bunny while Sizhui's was a sleeping bunny. Jin Ling's was a carving of Fairy and he felt so touched that as terrified of dogs that his Da-Jiu was, he must have spent hours studying Fairy to get all the details correct even the flower shaped white patch on his head. Zizhen's was a pair of love birds nestled together and he felt like crying again.

"He memorized everyone's qi signature and admitted to writing let's to them but... Since most of them were dead, he never sent them or rather they are stored inside of these... He wrote a few for the living, but never sent them, just stored them in these... I was thinking, send these with instructions on how to use them... Let them make heads or tails of what is written and eventually , if all goes well get in contact with us... We should be near a town, I doubt Yeye will leave us in the middle of nowhere. Wei-Qianbei jokes about doing it, but he always made sure we were close to a town or that the area was safe." Sizhui speaks up after everyone sets the message stones down. "I copied the instructions on how to make more. We can also write our own letters and make sure they are the first ones to be seen before letting them read whatever Wei-Qianbei wrote to them."

"Yeah, we can do that. We can even make a few more for some other key players who should have lived... But can we trust the Headshaker?" Jingyi asks, glaring at the beast carved one.

"Sadly, yes, we can. As much as I hate the man he became and how much he hurt Wei-Qianbei, he was one of the too few people to try and keep helping him even after the world condemned him and my family... He told me that he sent us supplies. Food rations, some medicine and cloth for clothes to help us get started. But his brother found out and went on a rampage. He was forced to stop because at the time Bacia was starting to mad and that would eventually lead to Sect Leader Nie's death/assassination. He was the one to spread the rumors on the good that Wei-Qianbei did and sowed doubts about the rest of the Major Sects and the Minor ones. Everyone who contributed to Wei-Qianbei's and my family's deaths... And he admitted that yes he put us in danger, but only when he was 100% sure that Hanguang-Jun and Wei-Qianbei would be there to safe us without major injury. He even wrote a letter to his younger self. I watched him carefully and made him rewrite it several times to stop him from adding any secret messages."

They all shiver because Sizhui had the BDC smile on and it didn't help that there was a slight red tint to his eyes. They know why he was angry and the know why he wants to do this. He was forced to forget his mother, grow up without him and he was denied even now to acknowledge his other parent because of stupid people believing more in rumors than the truth. So if he gets a bit... Upset, his friends and boyfriend don't voice their opinions. After all , Sizhui's mother literally lost everything, his home, his family, his reputation, his core, his sanity, the love of his life and ultimately his life. Just to be revived 13 years later and used as a weapon to murder someone.

"Hanguang-Jun taught me the Memory Spell and I secretly used it on Wei-Qianbei when he passed out working on that charm that was supposed to save Zewu-Jun's life, but..." They bow their heads. One of the reasons they were coming back was to prevent Sect Leader Lan's heartbreak and eventual suicide. Not to mention Lan-Laoshi's severe Qi deviation and heart attack that left him permanently bedridden. Their future was just terrible and hopefully by changing some things in the past, preventing a few others, will hopefully fix their future. After all when your world was literally hell on earth, you could do much worse.

"I think we will need you Qing-Yuma and Wen-Qianbei more than anything. So let's start with them and the Headshaker... If we get those three in our corner and working with us, we can hopefully mitigate as much backlash as possible. Do we prevent Wei-Qianbei from creating Demonic Cultivation?" Jin Ling asks.

"No." The other three shake their heads, Zizhen speaking up to clarify, "According to Wei-Qianbei, he would have eventually made it since there were many instances when he was younger where he unintentionally used it to save himself and others, but due to how powerful and unrestrained it was and how it hurt his golden core, he avoided it even if he talked about it or asked. He always encouraged us to ask about things even if we never use it or eventually stand against it. He never gets mad at us or tells us we can't ask this or do that... Not like how others did to him."

"Idf this is true... That means we have to let him go through hell for three months!" Jin Ling growls in anger.

"We will be at war then, Jin Ling, we cannot stop that. Even if we did, Wen Ruohan will just try harder and harder and harder until he finally takes over or we are forced to fight and that would be much worse if the war is still on going when we get back to our time. Or worse, Jin Guangshan is the Chief Cultivators or Jin Guangyao..." Zizhen points out.

They all scowl at the reminder of the two Jins who ruined everything. Jin Ling curses because he was already a Sect Leader and had been since his teens after everything in Guanyin Temple, but due to backstabbing politics and the literal vipers pit of Koi tower, he has no one he can trust and he pretty much lives in Gusu Lan. It would be nice to actually live in his own home without worrying about being killed or tricked into a marriage or being dethroned. Sizhui pulls the smaller man against his side and kisses his temple, calming his building anxiety and what would have likely been an epic temper tantrum.

"So we agree? My aunt and uncle, Nie Huaisang, since we are trying to prevent him from becoming the Headshaker and eventually we will get to everyone before we finally work on my... My mother." Sizhui's voice cracks and no one points it out.

"Yes. I say we get Jin Ling's mom first as well. She is the only one who took care of Wei-Qianbei and her death was what triggered his suicide spiral. Depending on how far back we are, I suggest getting her trained up or finding her a weapon that works well for her. She was rumored to be the only one to fully control Wei-Qianbei and it is best to get her on our side and out of the hands of the bastards who would use her against our beloved Senior!"

"Right! I am gonna write to my mother and make a message token for my father... Some of his spiritual power is still stored in Suihua, if I can get them together sonner and more naturally than my father suddenly realizing his feelings and making an ass of himself then better... He will do what he can for Da-Jiu since it would make a'Niang so happy... I don't know what to do about Jiujiu though..."

"Personally, J would rather let him flounder... I understand he was the youngest Sect Leader at the time, and that he was under a shit ton of pressure, but if you truly cared for your so-called brother, you would have said fuck the world and stood by him anyway. We did it with you and Wei-Qianbei despite being kicked out of our own homes for 4 months and making names for ourselves." Jingyi said jerking his thumb between himself and Sizhui. "And on top of that, you killed your brother and then proceeded to hunt down anyone with silver or grey eyes or who practiced Demonic Cultivation all because you still blamed said brother for something he didn't do!"

"Agreed." Zizhen states.

"I hear you and trust me, after finding out my mother two two blows to save Da-Jiu's life and never blamed him, but Jiujiu did.... But he also raised me... He kept me safe, he did his best to love me..." Jin Ling sobs suddenly and Sizhui pulls him into his lap.

"We... We... Will leave him be for now... If he improves and changes for the better, we will do what we can to push him forward. If he doesn't changer or gets worse... I am sorry but I am putting him in a grave so deep not even his vengeful spirit will be able to climb back out..." Sizhui says.

"... Ok... I am... Gonna write to a'Niang..."Jin Ling eventually says once his crying fit was over. The others nod and break up to write or set out their things and get dinner going.

They have until the day after Wei Wuxian's original death to fix things or they will appear back in their original future or a much worse one. Only time will tell...

Chapter Text

Over the next four days, the boys worked out who they would contact first, what they would tell them and double checking the supplies they had. They left the cave to hunt for food nearby, but otherwise did not stray too far in case Wei Changze came back sooner. They agreed that regardless if he was back or not, after four days, they would head for the nearest town using the Compass of Harmony which will point to Gusu and thus give them at least a form of heading. Sizhui, who had studied and memorized his mother's talismans quickly drew up the ones they would need for sending the messages and put the respective message stones with the correct person and having to craft a few more for a few others. Once they were ready to be sent, Sizhui activated the talismans for Jiang Yanli, Wen Qing, Wen Ning, Nie Huaisang and Lan Xichen. These five were agreed on because before Meng Yao got to and manipulated Lan Xichen, he's never once doubted his brother or his faith in Wei Wuxian's pure heart. They had composed letters to each of them, Sizhui mostly writing the ones to Wen Ning, Wen Qing and Lan Xichen, while Jin Ling mostly wrote to his mother, but they each wrote something and provided info that very few people would know and would only share with someone they deeply trust.

"I hope this works..." Jin Ling admits as the talismans turn into beautiful ravens of shimmering mist and moonlight before they fly off to cover the great distance faster, but will turn into their true bunny forms once near enough to their targeted recipient.

"We can only hope, a'Ling." Sizhui promises, kissing his temple while Jingyi pulled Zizhen close, the two more vocal members cuddling as they wait. "We gave them a week to respond to us. If we can get at least 3 out of 5, then we will send the next set to Hanguang-Jun, your father and if we get positive responses from them, the last one we will get in contact with is Wei-Qianbei... I would inform Lan-Laoshi, but...."

They all grimaced. Even after everything was revealed and the truth of why Wei Wuxian had turned to Demonic Cultivation, Lan Qiren was still overly hostile and against him. Truly the man's grudge for Cangse Sanren was so strong that he refused to see the person that Wei Wuxian was.

"Oh, wait... Can we get one off to Xiao Xingchen? I want to prevent the tragedy that happened to him and a'Qing!" Zizhen gasps. "Though after everything that happened and learning what led up to it... I don't want him meeting with Song Zichen..."

"Yeah... Hanguang-Jun was trapped between his feelings, his filial duties and his duties to Righteous path that he wasn't always there for Wei-Qianbei. Also Wei-Qianbei didn't make it easy for him either... Song Zichen's excuses were petty and the fact he waited so long to go find him was not ok. As much as I'm going to likely get yelled at for this, if we can find Xue Yang and rehabilitate him, they would honestly be a better couple. Xue Yang, from what Wei-Qianbei said he saw in Empathy with a'QIng, was capable of being kind. He'd had more than enough opportunities to kill both a'Qing and Xiao Xingchen, but never did until he was caught by Song Zichen. Granted he was messing with them, but I think he had genuinely come to like them and felt betrayed when they finally realized who he was and had reacted as they should, what with him going around and maiming people and then tricking Xiao Xingchen into killing them." Jingyi murmurs as Jin Ling nods his head.

"But Xue Yang's only a couple of years younger than Wei-Qianbei is right now, which should be about 15-16, which means it's very likely too late for him, he was a murderer by the time he was 7 years old..." Zichen adds. "Perhaps... introducing him to Sect Leader Lan? They are both very kind, want to see the best in everyone and I think Sect Leader traveling with Xiao Xingchen would better teach him to see that not everyone is good, not everything is neat and orderly... There is ugliness in the world and we have to help correct that, or at least make it more manageble."

"I think that's for the best...." The others nod their heads...

Nie Huaisang was a lazy, spoiled princeling and that was how he liked it, but he's also very intelligent and crafty when he wants to be. He's able to gather information and rumors with little effort, he's also capable of sneaking things by his brother, who many don't give nearly enough credit to for his observational skills and hidden intellect. So it was a bit of shock to wake up to a black bunny sitting on his night stand, moon colored eyes glaring down at him as if the animal had human like intelligence. Slowly sitting up, he cautiously reached out for it only for it to flash and suddenly a black stone of some kind with a beautiful carving of the Nie Crest and emerald birds appeared with a letter under it. Slowly grabbing the letter, he checks it for any potential dangers before opening it and reading the contents.

Dear Future Headshaker,

We are writing this letter to you in hopes that you will listen to us and take the information we are willing to offer for now and do some good with it. We are actually very reserved about asking you for help because of what you become in the Future we are from and what you did to not only us, but many others. That being said, we will inform you that in the Future we came from, you were Sect Leader Nie, the Headshaker, the most useless of the Four Great Sects, but that's how you portrayed yourself. You actually manipulated so many people, lead many others to their deaths and even shattered the trust in the few people who still genuinely cared for you, so utterly, that one threated to make what happened to the Late Sect Leader Nie, look like child's play if you ever, Ever, got near him or us ever again. The other eventually  committed suicide due to the unbearable guilt he felt for his unintentional hand in your brother's death.

We will eventually tell you who killed him and how they did it, but we need to be sure we can trust you... that is assuming that the one who threatened to kill you doesn't tell you everything in the other letters hidden within the Message Stone. If they do tell you, then you will inform us within the week if you are willing to work with us. But be forewarned. if we see you becoming the Headshaker again, we will personally kill you. We will not allow you to put us or our loved ones in danger all for revenge for your brother, who helped to murder innocents and our beloved Qianbei. And to make sure you don't doubt us or our seriousness. Go ask Sect Leader Nie about cultivating the resentment of animals and beasts, which just barely skirts the line of Demonic Cultivation and why he feels he is better than the man who will eventually create and found a true path of Demonic Cultivation? According to the Clan Precepts, cultivating any form of Resentment, regardless of the original source, is Heresy and those who practice it should be executed...

Why did he get to live when my mother was driven to his breaking point and then when he finally gave into insanity, your brother and the other so-called Righteous Clans killed him and the innocents he was protecting, all because they were Wens? Why did he leave me orphaned and while he got to keep you... Why did you help someone commit suicide just to resurrect my mother, so he could be both the scapegoat and the one to find out who killed your brother and make him pay?

We hope you will make the smart choice, Headshaker, or we will come for said head...

Signed,

The Future Heirs 

Chapter Text

Nie Huaisang was scared shitless after that first letter, the implications and the hatred was hard to ignore. He couldn't sweep this off his back like he normally does when people try to spook him or get under his skin. Whoever these Future Heirs were, they went through some form of hell and their parents/loved ones went through worse. But it was the fact that his own brother died in the future and left himself as Sect Leader. They didn't mention a nephew or a niece, so his brother died childless or even unmarried. He sat there for so long he startled when said older brother's hand landed on his shoulder and he looked up startled from the letter. Before he could react, it was pulled from his hands and read over. The air crackled with anger before it turned to bone chilling shock.

"Huaisang.... What... What is this?"

"Is it true?" He asks instead, his heart racing in his chest, hoping and praying these strangers were lying but the hatred... The pain and anger in that one child's handwriting when he demanded to know why Nie Mingjue got to live while their own mother died for basically the same reasons. "Does the Nie Saber style really use resentment of animals?!" He demands suddenly frenzied, eyes wide and half manic.

Nie Mingjue couldn't speak, his face grim, but wholly unsurprised at this. And Huaisang slumped into his pillows like a puppet cut from its string and let his tsunami of feelings crash and collide with each other until they eventually canceled one another out and he was left numb. Slowly reaching for the Message stone he carefully grabbed it and pressed a bit of Qi into it

It glows, making the attention to detail of the sleeping Beast and Birds so much more alluring as several letters appear, half of them addressed to Nie Mingjue, their seals black and unmarked while the ones to Huaisang had a black Gusu Cloud pressed into it. The brothers slowly gathered them up and Huaisang, noticing he got more letters than his brother began reading his as his brother more paranoidly checked his before finally having no other choice but to read and the first one he did read left him pale and choking as he read through it. Apparently the first letters on the pile were the 'newest' ones and clearly were the angriest of the lot. Each Letter was however signed as Yiling Laozu. The handwriting was not one they recognized, though it felt familiar to Huaisang, like he's seen it but not normally this clean or clear cut. There was even a letter from Future Wangji, his penmanship was impossible to forget was just as icily angry where the other was fiery hot. Two extreme opposites and yet complementing.

They read of their sins, the people they hurt and those who hurt them in return. It left them feeling sick and unmoored in their ocean of repressed resentment. Nie Mingjue had also received a letter, one of the nicer ones in the pile on an array to place inside of and around the Ancestral Sword Hall. He was given a strict sword style to learn and master that would better channel the resentment and calm the Spirits down with instructions on how to create a pendant for both the wielder and the sword to use. There was even a ritual one is to perform to give the Spirit a body of a dead animal to possess so they can move more freely and since Qinghe Nie is plagued by resentful beasts it will allow the spirits to hunt and calm their bloodlust more naturally.

Whoever this Yiling Loazu was, they did him a great disservice. Especially if he truly had helped them win the war against Wen Ruohan and his sycophants. He was also stabbed repeatedly that the man helped even when Nie Mingjue condemned him and the Wen Remnants, who had been elderly, women and children. He heard only the Wen name and wrote them off and condemned the man who saw the injustice and stood up against it and helped to cut him down. Huaisang was much worse, apparently he was very good friends with the future Yiling Laozu and done little to nothing to help him when he needed it most and then used him and his loved ones to get revenge on a man named Meng Yao, who would one day become Jin Guangyao. It was clear that when Meng Yao had still been Meng Yao, Huaisang and his brother had adored the man, even if his brother fought with him like a cat and dog all the time, they never meant one another harm.

When he became Jin Guangyao was when everything fell apart. Granted the man did kill people as Meng Yao and Mingjue was far from pleased about it, but still he was still saveable back then. But now that they know what to look out for and who to be wary of, they find they cannot bring themselves to reach out to the man who ultimately caused their downfalls and their pain and misery. However Mingjue made a vow to never allow Meng Yao near Xichen ever again...

Lan Xichen was unsure what to make of the strange sight of a black bunny sneaking into his chambers at the wee hours of dawn, but it was oddly adorable. It climbed in his window and froze seeing him but then it hops in and does some zoomies before it pounces in his lap, bursting into light and a letter is left there with a black jade token. He opens the letter and blinks at the address inside:

Dear Sect Leader Lan/Bobo

We are writing this letter to you in hopes that it receives you well. First and foremost we wish to say, it is good to hear from you even if you do not write us back. Now then we are from the Future and are the future Sect Leader and Heirs of two Great Clan's and one minor clan. We are writing to inform you that the stone that appeared is a Message Stone made by our Qienbei.

We have sent one out to four others for now, since we are aware that you will not readily believe us or trust in what you see inside the message stone. But to give you some context and perhaps some incentive to look: in the future, very recently for us, you committed suicide due to truth of someone you trust being revealed to be a liar, manipulative murderer. He took advantage of your blind faith that there is good in everyone and kept you from seeing what he truly was, but also from seeing the truth. He turned you from your brother and helped to turn everyone against the man your brother will fall in love with.

Now then, we know as soon as we say this, any trust we built up in you will fall, but we promise we only want to protect you and our future families. Our Qienbei is the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation and did a lot of good for everyone, but due to the nature of his Cultivation they damned him and condemned him. Your brother tried to save him but at the height of his madness he kept pushing him away and caused them both heartache but in the end our Qienbei died and your brother was punished with Discipline Whip, 33 times. He was punished for protecting the Wen Remnants who were elderly, women and children as well as only injuring 33 Lan Elders. But in truth the Elders were merely looking for an excuse to hurt him since he refused to obey them and kill his beloved.

They compared our Qienbei to the Late Madam Lan and even the future they treat him as such. Your brother refuses to let them have say and power and with your recent death, he has all but stripped the elders of their power and sent your uncle into seclusion until such a time he either sees reason or he eventually dies since he won't ever view his marriage as legal or favorable. We learned the truth about Madam Lan one night about 3 years ago in our time. It was by accident, Qienbei had been drinking as he is wont to do, but Lan Laoshi, your uncle, came in and demanded tea. However the cup he grabbed was wine and well... As is typical of the Lans, he passed out and was much more pleasant company. He explained to Qienbei about the story of your mother and  father. He then said he was like her and his mother, untamed demons who only live to destroy his life.

Apparently he fell in love with Cangse Sanren and when she turned him down he became embittered and resentful and has been so since. He resented Late Madam Lan who had been good friends with Madam Wei and that his brother fell for her, but she did not love him back. However instead of giving up, Late Sect Leader Lan kept pursuing her. And with Qienbei, it was because he was the representation that she fell for someone other than him and had a child and said child was the fascinating but frustrating reason your brother was more expressive and even happy.

He blamed them for ruining his family, ruining his life and killing his brother and nearly killing his nephew. Qienbei did not like this and so went to where Madam Lan's home was and performed Empathy on the house and watched through her memories how she had not loved her husband, but had at least let him try to woo her. In the process of their courtship Qingheng-Jun's Laoshi attempted to assault her and she killed him in self defense but the Elders made it seem she did it for the pleasure of killing and it didn't take much to convince Lan Laoshi of it. Ever since he hated her. He advocated to only let her see you and your brother once a month, but felt guilty because of how much you both adored your mother and how genuinely happy she was to see you. She ultimately killed herself when she was informed that you would both be arranged to marry women of the Elders choosing and that she would never get to see her grand children. She didn't want to see that happen, she didn't want to subject another woman to be locked away like a dirty secret and forced to only see her children every so often and only for a few short hours.

Her soul should still be in the house in your time and you can speak to her. Time does not affect the dead so it is possible she knows what we know and will tell you if you do not believe us... She was happy to learn that at least your brother ground happiness but she aches that you suffered so... So yes, we talked too long... Please, please believe us, we want to save you and prevent what happens to your brother and his lover...

You see Qienbei is one of very few rare men who can give birth... One of us is the son of your brother, your  nephew by blood... But could not ever be claimed by Qienbei because of his 'sins.' Your mother got to see you once a month for nearly 10 years... Qienbei didn't get to see use grow up, didn't get to hold us or even now in our future, we can never acknowledge each other as family least another siege takes place. Qienbei is viewed as the ultimate evil even after the truth was revealed and he was proven innocent.

Please write back to us in a week if you believe us!

Signed the Ducklings!

Ps. You and Qienbei called us this all the time because we kept following Hanguang-Jun around like ducklings to their mother!

Lan Xichen was left shaking and a bit pale as he read the pain and panic in the four boys handwriting. These Future juniors, one of whom was his brother's son, had suffered so! He grabs the token and channels some Qi into it when he realizes they never explained how to work it and it glows as letters fall into his lap. He has to admire the beautiful bright blue Gusu Lan clouds on it for a moment while it still flows but ultimately puts it down to look over the letters that landed on his lap...

By the time the sun has fully risen and it is time to start his duties, he has read every letter from Wangji and the few from his brother's spouse, the Yiling Laozu and he feels so much heartache, but so much rage. He squares his shoulders and nods, he knows exactly what he will do, starting with the arrays to protect from the future Wen Attack....

Chapter Text

Jiang Yanli blinks confused when she feels a tug on her skirts and looks down to see a cute black bunny with eyes that looked like moonlight, reminding her of her beloved Xianxain. She giggles and kneels down, ignoring the scoff from Jin Zixuan, as she holds out a hand to see if it will let her pet it. When it does she cannot help but pick it up and cuddle it. It is so warm and soft in her hold and then to both hers and Jin Zixuan's shock it pops into a black stone with a peony with a delicate lotus lake carved into the petals. But it wasn't just any peony either, it was a Sparks admist the Snow.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Jin Zixuan asks his face turning both pale and red as she picks up the letter it has with it and frowned not recognizing the method of delivery or the handwriting.

"I don't know... I have never seen such a method before... The only message spell I know of is the Jin's Butterfly messages... But it felt like a real rabbit and moved like one too. Though the eyes were a bit strange... Then again many animals are strange after being exposed to enough Spiritual or Resentful energy otherwise they would not change into sacred beasts or monsters, respectively." She muses softly and carefully opens the letter, only tj gasp at the first line:

Dear A'Niang/Madam Jin-er Furen/Jiang-Guniang/Yuma

We hope this letter finds you well and hope you will please believe us when we say we are from the future, two of us are your son and nephew, respectively, from that time. However, we never got to know you personally due to your death while we were still very young. To get you to believe that we say is true, when you were about 8 years old your father brought home a boy who later ran away when he was threatened with dogs and broke his leg falling from a tree because you were not strong enough to catch him, but he never once blamed you. You made him soup and he promised to take the blame for any wrong doings your blood brother did while your blood brother was to keep dogs away from him.

Yanli gasped as Zixuan came to read over her shoulder and he chokes at the first few lines, who was calling his fiance mother and aunt!? What the heck is-- he reads more and furrows his brow as he realizes something was written because his fiance was visibly shaking as tears father in her eyes.

"Jiang-Guniang?" He asks catching himself from speaking to her more familiarly.

"Only my brothers and I know about that night, about that promise.... How could... Unless either. A'Xian or a'Cheng told them in the future...." She mumbles to herself as she rereads the opening and feels her heart clench at that her own son and nephew never got to know her in life. She quickly grabs his arm and pulls him to a little out of the way teahouse and as soon as she is spotted the old woman running the place gestures to a private balcony and sets out tea and cakes but sits in the corner to keep an eye on them young couples courting can get a bit frisky when left alone unsupervised.

Jin Zixuan was unnerved by the quickness of the woman and the shrewd glare she tossed him, even as she pulled out some needle work and began to embroider while they sat there. He turns back to Yanli as she reads the letter aloud to him and he feels himself gasp at hearing about her death in the future and about the promise between her brothers and her when they were little. She took a moment to tell him about that memory. It was Wei Wuxian's first night in the Pier and to learn he was terrified of dogs would have normally been used viciously to harass him in revenge, but the icy glare the normally soft and delicate Lady Jiang gave him reminded him too much of her mother and Madam Yu was not to be trifled with.

"I will not use what I learn against your brother, I swear it on my Honor as a Cultivator." He promises and she eyes him critically for just one moment and then nods her head. They turn back. To read the letter once more.

We sent you and four others these messages stones because we felt out of everyone we needed to speak to and save this time, you were the best choices for preventing the tragedies that follow the upcoming events. A'Niang,  you do eventually marry my father, Jin Zixuan, however you are both killed after I have my 100th day celebration. Father went to confront Jin Zixun who had ambushed Da-Jiu and sent him on a rampage that caused father's death and you were later killed after running into the middle of a battle and trying to stop Da-Jiu's spiral into madness. You had actually started to kill him back from the brink after you got injured protecting him but someone tried to kill him from behind and you shoved him out of the way and took the strike meant for him. Da-Jiu snapped and within moments he committed suicide by allowing his own army of Fierce Corpses eat him alive so nothing would be left.

For 13 years, Da-Jiu remained dead, but Jiujiu and the rest of the world kept blaming him and demonizing him. They told me especially that Da-Jiu turned evil and used Demonic Cultivation when he couldn't gain much recognition on the righteous path and was jealous of father, thus killed him in the hopes of having you and you died because you resisted him and he killed you in cold blood. Many of my generation were taught to fear and hate the Yiling Laozu. Jiujiu even went as far as to hunt down Demonic Cultivators and torture them before he killed them... But also anyone who shared similar features to Da-Jiu...

I never realized how wrong everything and everyone was, how messed up the world became until Da-Jiu was resurrected from the dead by one of my grandfather's bastards, Mo Xuanyu, who committed ritual suicide to bring back Da-Jiu's soul in his body. We ran into each other frequently and he always taught me something new, he treated me normally, but he had moments when he would look at me with pained longing and I didn't know why... I thought he was the Lunatic Cutsleeve....

Forgive him, Maiden Jiang, he forgets to stop using that insult even now that we have a better relationship and he himself is in a romantic relationship with me, another male. I hope you are not disappointed in this turn of events.

They are not. So cute together!! It's so rare to see the Princess so soft--

Ignore the idiots! Anyway, it wasn't until the truth started coming out that is when things got flipped once more and I stabbed Da-Jiu when I realized he was the Yiling Laozu. But it turns out he never did anything wrong it was greedy bastards spreading rumors and trying to force him into working for them, mainly grandfather, or destroy him. The knee to do most of the dirty work was my Uncle Jin Guangyao, formerly Meng Yao, but don't trust him or help him he backstabs anyone and everyone even those who helped him! He killed you, father, uncle and so many others! He destroys anything that gets in his way or anyone who calls him the son of a prostitute, even if his mother was in fact a whore by profession. He destroyed whole sects and murdered sect leaders who opposed him or his father, even killing grandfather when the man admitted he would never make Jin Guangyao his heir or acknowledge him as a legitimate child of his clan.

It is awful! He even married his half sister Qin Su, who Late Sect Leader Jin raped the wife of Sect Leader Qin and impregnated her. They had a child and he killed him! The boy was only 2!! But then again he tried to kill Wen-Qienbei and his family and our BYL, that means Baby Yiling Laozu- yes you tend to turn into a mini Qienbei when something upsets your a'Niang, which is scary, but a mini dark Hanguang-Jun is even scarier because you both would go missing for a few hours....

We know exactly what you two are doing and it is great you are bonding over murder, but don't over do it! You don't wanna get compared to The Liar.

Focus, Auntie is likely thinking bwe are insane if we keep this up. I apologize Yuma, but yes, I have developed a... Quirk where anyone who hurts or upsets my mother after the lifetime of endless tragedies he already suffered, I and father tend to... Silence them. I hope you can forgive me...

If what Da-Jiu said is true, a'Niang will even teach you the poison she uses to make some very rude people sick and eventually die. It's a slow but painful process. She used it on someone once for him. Though he would never tell me the full story. Anyway! Long story short when the truth finally came out, that Da-Jiu had been innocent and why he had turned to Demonic Cultivation, the world refuses to believe it to stop blaming behind to see him as anything but the demon they created in their mind, but greedily use his inventions and spells to further their own fame...

We dragged this on long enough, if you believe us and wish to help, contact us within a week. The stone has letters from Qienbei and a couple I felt were polite enough from Sect Leader Jiang to include... And yes, Auntie, I absolutely blame him and cannot kill him because that means losing something very precious in the process...

Signed the Ducklings

PS. We look forward to having your famous Lotus Root and Pork Rib soup!

Jiang Yanli was half laughing and half crying by the time she finished and Jin Zixuan's world collapsed and imposed for a moment. Then he carefully picks up the stone and admires the Peony and lotus lake crest again and decides then and there if they do marry again, he will ensure this crest adorns all of his and Yanli's robes and later their son's. When Yanli gets her emotions under wraps once more, that cold determined glare in her eyes as she grabs the stone and after a moment channels qi into it and a series of letter fall most of which she knows came from Wei Wuxian and only a couple from Jiang Cheng. She grabs the first one and as she reads, she sobs, it was clearly a suicide letter that spoke of the grief and pain he suffered how he was unable to even claim his own child as his own. He was planning to do it within the next few days but the boys must have jumped back in time at that point.

Jin Zixuan felt sick as he read over her shoulder, though he shouldn't, but if what the boys said is true, he needs to know so he can help out as well. It was hard to think of such a loud and bright person wanting to die...

Wen Ning shy pets the bunny as his sister looks at he stones that came out of it. She read the letters and was now pacing, trying to think and decide. The letters were long and very detailed, they even explained a few things they could have only learned from Wen Ning himself since the others were dead. How he is easily possessed, how he is sickly do to it and his internalizing of all the bad things that happen. Apparently it caused him to become an extremely powerful Fierce Corpse. He felt oddly like he knew this, like he knew he was himself and yet another version of himself. He was able to keep the bunny from dissipating and is petting it right now. Finally his sister sits and grabs the stones and she channels her Qi into them and one stone had nothing but medical texts and recipes and diagrams. While the other was letters from both of the future himself and his master.

"A'Ning.... Do you trust this?"

"JieJie, he saved us... He died for us and we died for him... Out of everyone in the world... I trust him and the boys the most, the Ducklings are anything but downy feathers and cuteness. They can and will kill to protect what they claim as theirs..." He says and she is startled at his lack of a stutter.

"Did... Did you come back too?"

"I think so.... I was always half dead... Time does not affect the dead... So I guess whatever emotions or attachments I have with the Ducklings came back with them... I am certain that they will prevent my death. Which concerns me because Master Wei needs a powerful Fierce Corpses on his side, someone who can and will protect him without issue or fear..."

"... Could we not find someone else? Like When Zhuliu?" She asks shaking the paper.

"He is loyal, but.... I don't think he would be strong enough as a corpse. He doesn't hold resentment...." Wen Ning says firmly as he finally lets the bunny vanish and he stands slowly moving with the deadly grace his future self has. He picks up the manual on core transfers and grips it tightly. He hopes they will never need it again, though his future self found a way to make it less painful for Wei Wuxian...

Chapter Text

The boys waited nervously for days, though they were not idle. They had scouted out the nearest town of Fengzheng Zhixiang. It was nestled into the valley before the tall canyons of Qishan with about a weeks travel on foot beyond them. Granted on their swords it wouldn't take long at all to enter Qishan, but they were not going to fly for as long as possible. They practiced calling each other by Shenmi so they do not accidentally call out their real names near untrustworthy people and possibly their future parents in case they do not end up being born. They managed to check the star charts and the locals of Fengzheng Zhixiang, who were surprised to see immortals so far from their towns and cities. They got good deals for wrangling a few Walking Corpses.

They planned to find Xue Yang first, he should be between 10-13 years old now and if he is redeemable, they will work on him if not they had plans to kill him quickly and quietly with an array that their Qienbei made in one of his manic fits brought on by lingering mania and anger from the Lan Elders, to trap someone in a favorite dream or memory and gentle them into death. They only know that Xue Yang had a mother for only a few short years before sickness took her away. If he had any fond memories of her, they hoped to trigger them and let him go peacefully. Granted they do not believe he deserves it, but at the same time, he is a child right about now... or was he closer to their Qienbei's age? They were never sure. Those raised on the streets don't often remember their birthday's or their age due to lacking the needed education or simply they focused solely on survival.

They breathed a sigh when Wei Changze landed in the clearing, the body was fresher, more fluid in mobility. It would seem he completed his task and he wasn't alone a woman in white robes with red and black accents floated around his shoulders not unlike a snake demoness. Her face was impossible to mistake because their Qienbei has the same face.

"Yeye? Waipo?" Shenmi Sizhui asks.

"Hm..." was the low grunt from Wei Changze who notes their careful change in closes and how they kept camp to a minimum but also clearly got much needed supplies.

"Ah, hello~!" Trills his grandmother as she float/slithers over to him and curls around his shoulders and giggles. "My first grandchild and so cute!! A'Ze told me everything and I was allowed back... my uncle was pissed that my soul shattered and I wasn't able to pass on nor could a'Ze... Shall we get going?" She purrs and then slithers to the others cooing over their cuteness and even if Shenmi Ling was the grandson of Yu Ziyuan, she found him utterly adorable!

They agree to start moving they needed to leave now if they would make it to Cloud Recesses. It wasn't hard to send a formal request to join the lectures and it was quickly approved of by the Acting Sect Leader, which shocked them because they recall that Lan-Laoshi was a very strict stickler for the rules, even when he was being a hypocrite. They needed to stop by the postal office in Fengzheng Zhixiang to pick up their Jade tokens. It would hopefully mask the presence of the two on Shenmi Jingyi and Sizhui. Shenmi Zizhen carefully quadruple checked they had everything and secured it all before they started heading to town. They would have to head more towards Yunmeng if they want to avoid Qishan and their patrols.

So imagine their surprise when after they pick up their Jade tokens that they bump into a pair of siblings in black with red accented robes but it was the bold stitch of spider lilies and lotuses against a back drop of rolling clouds that caught their attention. Cangse Sanren has taken on a snake's form and was happily curled around her grandson's shoulders and flicked her tongue with interest but also wary. Wei Changze was outside of town, dressed in full black much like Wen Ning had once upon a time. They were wary as they apologized and made to move on until the oddly familiar but unfamiliar voice called out softly.

"A'Yuan, did you remember to pack extra flares this time?" They turn as one in shock and look at the very much alive features of a younger Wen Ning, who gives them a small soft smile.

"Wen-Qienbei!?" They gasp in muted shouts, hands pressed over each other's mouth in a bid to silence the other and to keep a mob from forming, forgetting that in this time the Wen was still very much a Sect and Clan, the largest of the Five Great Sects and the strongest, for now.

"Hello, boys... please forgive us for not sending word back but I senses where you were and came with a'Jie to greet you and help... I didn't quite come back like you did... remember the stories I told you? Apparently being half dead bad having a fractured soul makes it easier for my understanding memories and skills to come back... Let's talk more at the inn." He waves at the near by inn and the all head there. Wen Qing kept her waimo on until they sat in the private room and the boys had set privacy arrays with a proximity warning to let them know when the servers were coming.

"I am Wen Qing..." she greets with a curt but no less polite bow and they boys give her one back, in awe of seeing the woman in the flesh. She had been rumored to be the best doctor in their world at a young age and even from what their Qinbeis told them about her, she performed the first and only Golden Core transfer and kept their beloved Qienbei alive for as long as she could until the First Siege.

"We're Shenmi Zizhen, Jingyi, Sizhui and Ling." Zizhen states and she cocks a brow at the name.

"Good job." Wen Ning praises and cannot help giving them each a head pat, ignoring the minor flinch Jingyi and a'Ling give. They were not use to him being alive and a'Ling was still wary of him since he had been the one to kill Jin Zixuan. "You are getting better, boys. Who all have you written to?"

"We wrote to Sect Lea- sorry we mean First Jade Zewu-Jun, Jin-er -- oopse we mean Jiang-Guniang and the Headshaker.... as much as we didn't want to include him.... He was Qienbei's best friend once upon a time... besides it's best to get to him before he becomes THAT again... and by doing so we hope he has a tighter reign on his brother..." the boys said talking almost simultaneously and matching dark scowls on their faces.

Wen Qing could not blame them after a'Ning had gathered their whole family and told them everything that happened in the future and how everyone died, she couldn't blame him. But also, Wen Ruohan had started it and the war really didn't help. She studied the books and notes of all the medical advancements she made and her brother made post mortem. There was also all the diagrams, notes, spells and so much more that Wei Wuxian had made passed his death and forced resurrection. Apparently he had learned quite a bit about death and what happened to the mind and soul once they leave the living world behind and in such a violent way as well as the chats he's had with the dead both when he lived in his original body, his first death and in the body of Mo Xuanyu before his suicide.

The boys had been meticulous getting it all streamlined and orderly and they clearly loved Wei Wuxian. As they chattered in about their plans, stopping when served came and went, and who they were considering bringing into the know, but first and foremost: Getting Wei Wuxian not only with Lan Wangji sooner so they don't have to pine for nearly 20 freaking years, but also get him away from Lotus Pier and Madam Yu. She was finding the boys enjoyable, a bit reckless, but clearly willing to risk it all for a better future. She noted that Sizhui was the most invested in this and wondered if he was the baby she delivered and helped to raise. Her grew up so handsome and strong. She will need to prepare her best needles and poison to keep the frivolous hussies away from her honorary nephew!! She will need to find a good sturdy stick too for the really persistent ones....

Chapter Text

Snippet:

He ran as far and as fast as his legs would carry him, in his arms were two babies, some kids followed behind him ranging from only a few months old to just shy of 7. He paused long enough to make sure the kids were still together and following. The older children helped carry the younger ones as they put in the fair bit of distance they put between themselves and their former home. The attack was clearly pre-planned and regardless of what the outcome was, the village was to burn. He had tried to warn the leaders and elders, but they kept telling him to lower his head and keep quiet. All but one.

Heimai-popo had agreed with his concerns and handed him several Qiankun pouches filled with rations, medicine, clothes, blankets and money. She told him to get her as many kids as possible and at the first sign of trouble, run. She ordered him to run and never look back. He was looking back watching their home burn, the screams so loud that even this far their can hear them. The oldest boy, age 7, paused by him, his darker grey eyes wide with fear and a small bit of rage.

"JieJie, we need to go..." He eventually says and Wei Ying nods his head in reluctant agreement.

He keeps guiding the children away from their home, many of whom now orphaned, while those how were like himself, already orphaned long before tonight, kept firm hold of them and kept going. Those who grew up in the streets knew how to survive without adults or access to the comforts of a proper home. They will use those skills now to ensure they survive. Wei Ying stops them every two miles to rest a little, get some water and to check to make sure everyone is still together. He holds the babies still, checking that they are alright, soothing them and the others when these breaks lead to tears and sobbing.

"It's much too dark now to try and go further... A'Yang, take this knife and see if you can find shelter... Don't kill unnecessarily. Heimai-popo said she sent out word to an old friend of hers... Hopefully the message got out in time and they should hopefully come across us soonish... But if you see Wens... Make sure they are unfriendly first and then go for it. But if they offer genuine help, take it." Wei Ying instructs the boy firmly, who looks like he wants to snarl and yell, but then he nods.

Not all Wens are evil, there had been a small family of doctors who brought them some much needed aid only a handful of months back. Who is to say they weren't looking to secret away survivors?

"Ok..." He says eventually and hands off the toddler he had been carrying on his back to one of the girls, a seemingly blind girl, who was busying herself with calming the crying down. "Give me 10 minutes. If I am not back in that time, run." Xue Yang says firmly.

Wei Ying feels horrible sending the boy out alone, but he's the only one capable of keeping all the children together and listening to him. Not to mention the only one able to care for the babies. He hopes more people survived the attack, but there was little hope of that being true. He pulls out another knife from his sleeves and hands it to another girl, she's only 5, but the girl knows how to stab someone. She takes it and nods once and begins getting the others to get her firewood, but no one dares light a fire just yet.

The 10 minutes drag on for an eternity before finally Xue Yang appears, a bit wild from ferreting around in the dark. The others breathe a sigh of relief as he accepts the flask of water and takes a large gulp.

"Found an old gave. It goes pretty deep, but nothing's living it... It's good for tonight..." He states.

"Good job, a'Yang... I sadly don't have any candy or I'd give you one for the good job..." Wei Ying admits sadly.

"Survival is more important than candy right now... When we are safe and have mo ey for it, you can just buy me some then." Xue Yang gives a little fanged smile.

"Alright, we will let a'Yang rest for 5 minutes and then we are moving. You will hold onto each other and follow us. Do not stray, do not let go and do not make unnecessary noise."

"Yes JieJie/GeGe!" They all chirp and go quiet after.

After the five minutes are up, they get up, father the few things they managed to find and followed Xue Yang to the cave...

They travel like this for days, running as far as they can resting when possible, trying to stay hidden in the woods and forests as much as possible. Sleeping in caves or making a temporary shelter if one cannot be found. When they have to be out in the open, Wei Ying keeps a sharp look out, seating awake all night if needs be. Xue Yang and the other kids his age take up weapons or form a small foraging group. The street kids showing the most ingenuity for making what little they have not only stretch, but work for them. Their village was sadly far away from any major roads or cities so there were no inns they could stay in for the night in exchange for some free labor and a meal.

The others slowly adapted to the changes, but so far tensions were low and only the threat of being found by the bad Wens kept any argument at bay. This attack came at one of the worst times because winter was fast approaching and Wei Ying knows that the first snow fall is soon, but they are still days away from another settlement. It was normally a week by horse and cart, but with a bunch of children and on foot, it will take them maybe a month! It was getting colder at night and Wei Ying had to risk building larger and brighter fires to keep them warm.

Once more he stopped them and sent out Xue Yang, who hardly needed to be told by now, the boy taking to the task without fail every time. He was the most violent of the children, having one of worst times on the streets before he was brought into the home all the orphaned kids shared for chores and labor. Wei Ying doesn't like encouraging his more darker side, but then again the boy was half demon and violence came naturally to him. He hopes they would get lucky tonight. Having a roof of any kind would be wonderful if the smell of the wind and the colder feel of it was any indication. He startles slightly when there is a twig snapping too close to them and Wei Ying knows it is not Xue Yang, who knows better than to make unnecessary noise.

The others tense up and Wei Ying slowly turns only to come face to face with the piercing golden eyes of a white tiger. He gasps and nearly drops the babies, who sense the danger and give pitiful mewls and whines. The others give aborted cries of terror as they huddle closer and Xue Yang comes running back only to nearly skid into a tree seeing the massive tiger, going pale and dropping his knife.

Wei Ying slowly looks away from the predator knowing doing so was clear prey behavior, but he needed to check the babies and after he gets them to quiet down, though they still fuss, he slowly looks up and gulps because the tiger had moved closer and was now sniffing at them and then himself. He closes his eyes and hopes he will not be killed nor the children. It is tense and then the tiger gives a low chuff and bumps his cheek with it's head and pulls back. Wei Ying is stunned, confused and frozen in shock. The tiger seems to get annoyed and gives a low growl while bumping the young man again, more insistently. Finally getting it, Wei Ying slowly stands and tells the children to grab their things and follow. They gulp in fright, but do as told, slowly trailing behind the tiger who stalks off, pausing to make sure they are following until it shows them to what looks like an old forgotten manor of some kind. Wei Ying slowly follows the beast inside, before it nods at a set of doors in the part of the manor that was still intact somehow.

"Th...thank you..." Wei Ying says and the tiger gives a low chuff and pads away silent and deadly. The children let out little sighs of relief after a full five minutes since it left had passed. "Alright... We have shelt for now... Food will be a concern, but with the first snow fall likely happening tonight this is our home for the winter... Girls you will take one room, boys you will take the other... I will take the little ones into the last room. We will go through the manor in the morning and see if there is anything we can use to make it livable."

"Yes JieJie/Gege..." They chorus once more and after finding three suitable rooms next to each other, Wei Ying hands out supplies and they get themselves settled for the night...

A silent figure walks into the rooms and lays down thick, warm robes, boots and cloaks for each child and fur lined blankets for the little ones. Pausing by the bed where the sole teenager, perhaps only 15, not quiet yet an adult, slept. His hair was free and his robes feel open where the figure saw spells drawn in blood on his chest which appear to be giving him ample milk heavy breasts where the two babies were latched and nursing even in their sleep. The human is beautiful, gently reaching out  as if to touch, but then the human whimpers and pulls away from him. The being, flinched back as well, but then hovered a hand over the human's head and looked at his memories.

Growling low at the memories of a life of seemingly endless strife and tragedy, the being decides to let them stay here. Nodding, he turns to leave but freezes seeing the boy with dark grey eyes, but now they were lit up in red and the shadows seemed to move with him.

"A half demon?" He wonders aloud.

"Who are you!?" Xue Yang growls. "What did you do to Jiejie!?"

"Nothing..." He states and the bow growls flicking his hands and baby claws appear, but then the being let's just a bit of his power free and the boy all but collapses in fright and under the sheer magnitude of it. "Will not harm you... Would not have brought you here if this one intended harm... Now rest..." He orders and slips silently past and the boy whimpers softly but slowly gets up and cautiously moves to curl up by the bed, intent on keeping guard.

He's heard talks about forgotten gods going crazy and the like and that guy was definitely a god and clearly he was forgotten, but so far he seemed nice... And that is what makes him dangerous...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying woke in the morning to the fussing of the babies, his breasts sore from nursing most of the night, but the two youngest were very hungry and needy things and he had to breast feed at least 5 others. Yawning he sat up and blinked finding a bleary eyed Xue Yang carefully changing one of the others as he yawns widely, his small fangs displayed in the grey light of dawn.

"A'Yang?" He asks softly, getting up and getting to work changing soiled nappies, burping the infants and then moving onto the other babies to get them feed and cared for. He would need to redo the spells on his chest soon so he can keep breastfeeding until they can ween the babies off of him.

"Something's here, JieJie, something old and powerful... Dangerous..." He whispers.

"I figured, but we have nowhere else to go. Not with Qishan's armies ravaging towns and villages as far as Yinhua was... We can try to make it to Yiling and try and find one of the Ghost King's messengers... Your father was a demon right?" He asks.

"Yes, but he abandoned Mama and me! I hate him!!" The boy growls, but softens. "Do you think he did it to protect us?"

"We don't know and can only hope he did not mean to... If he did do it because he's a jerk, I will let you stab him in his baby maker so he cannot get anyone else pregnant." Wei Ying says meanly, smirking at the half demon who grins back, his tiny fangs gleaming again. "Come on, let's see if we can salvage anything and slap together an offering for our Host. After all we were led here by that tiger and we don't want whatever deity lives here furious with us for being rude."

Xue Yang agrees, but is still wary of the white being he saw the night before. He was. Very old and powerful...

Everyone got up and ready, their first task to find something to eat, but as they left their rooms the strong aroma of hot food hit them and curiously they followed it to find a warm dining room that was big enough for them all to sit and enjoy the feast on the table. However, Wei Ying stopped the children from attack it with ravenous hunger. He found the silver needles he got from one of their supply bags and began to test the food, checking for poison, but finding none. Frowning he picks up a small plate and father's a small bit and looks to another boy, about 6, who was covered in a black hood, a long tongue flicking out every now and again.

"A'Qi, would you mind terribly?" He asks softly, not wanting to but the boy was a Snake demon and would not die so easily to human poisons.

The boy walks forward lifting the hood enough for his snake like face was a bit more clearly seen, flicking his tongue out and sampling nibbles. He finds nothing wrong, but admits the food is fused with Yang energy. It is not harmful, but the less than human children would need to be careful eating certain things. Wei Ying nods and thanks him, apologizing for asking him to risk his life for the others, but a'Qi just gives a soft hiss and crown, not minding at all. So Wei Ying makes a new small plate and finds an alter at the back and places the food before it and the children all gather up and begin praying for the lost souls of their village, hope that others made it out and for the kindness of the God, or Gods who reside here for allowing them sanctuary and providing food. Once done they bow three times and move to eat. The older children help the younger eat, gently cleaning up any messes they make as they eat as well. Wei Ying is slow to eat, wanting to make sure the children have their fill before he dares to take his first bite.

However, it is not long before breakfast is over with, the remains carefully sealed for later, it has truly been a fantastic feast with everyone's favorites and foods meant for certain children's diets. Once done they break up into groups to explore and report back to Wei Ying who tracks down anything they can use. It seems that half the temple collapsed some time ago, but where they were resting was protected somehow. They found cloth for robes, a bit moth eaten, but useable. The girls were set to work on making everyone new clothes and cloaks while some brooms and buckets were found. The boys did not need to be told and began to clean up the living areas so they could be more comfortable. Wei Ying kept the youngest with him and entertained for the most part, but also finding anything that could tell them who was worshipped here.

At some point he saw the white tiger on his walk to the garden with the children for a bit of play time outside. It was lounged in the shade of a magnolia tree that bloomed even in this early onset of winter. There was a pond with lively fish and even the garden was a riot of color. The children were slow to begin playing but soon they were running around and shrieking with delight. Wei Ying found their resilience amusing. He kept the toddlers on a blanket with some of the toys that was gifted to them and the babies in a basket and bundled against the chill of the air. He hums softly and sings to them, making them giggle with delight or drift off to sleep. He startles when a low chuff sounds behind him and he slowly looks at the tiger, it's golden eyes looking at the baby he had just tucked in for a nap. It sniffed softly and gently nuzzled it.

"This is a'Yuan, and next to him is a'Yi... Those two are a'Yue and a'Bai." Wei Ying points at the four youngest, a'Yue was only 1, he looked like a miniature Wei Ying, which was a surprise since his mother and father looked nothing like him. He had only seen the man once dressed in heavy golden robes that could have fed their village for 20 years from the fine quality of it all and the pearls sewn into it. Never mind it was spun from real gold too! The man left due to assassins following him, but he never came back. Mo Zhuliye passed away a little over a month before the village was attacked and she died hoping he would come back to save her and their son.

A'Bai was recently hatched, born from a Heaven Bird Woman, but abandoned. Apparently, this was normal for the females of her species, find and mate, lay an egg and leave it to be raised by the people or animals around it if not let it die. If it survives and finds it's way to her, then it is worth keeping on as her child. If not, she will try again next mating season. A'Bai was mute, his egg having been damaged and everyone thought he would not make it. However, he was born and while he cannot speak he communicates through song. Wei Ying whistles softly and the boy croons a few notes.

"A'Bai is Winged being, a Heavenly Bird... A'Yue's father was some rich Cultivator who had to leave due to assassins hunting him... But everyone thinks he was a charlatan and tricked Mo Zhuliye into bed and once she realized she was pregnant, abandoned her. She did only a month ago thinking he would come back... A'Yi and a'Yuan were just orphaned, their parents killed trying to help us escape the attack... A'Yuan is a Wen, but his parents had been healers. They helped my village so much... We hope to find their family, the Dafan Wens and if nothing else let them have a'Yuan... A'Yi's parents are from Gusu Lan... I don't know much about them or why they were so far from Gusu, but our village is built from the abandoned, forgotten and lost..." Wei Ying says as the tiger lays down to watch the babes sleep and the toddlers fearlessly approach to feel his soft fur and climb and play on him.

Wei Ying is internally having a heart attack as he watches this, but the tiger allows it, only the odd huff of breath when curious hands pull a bit too hard on a sensitive body part. A'Yang hurries over, wary of the animal, wondering if it is a sacred beast loyal to the god here or is the gods in disguise. The tiger watches the half demon come close but does not move, content to be a play mound and watching the babies. Wei Ying assures the boy they are fine and he should keep an eye on the others as the oldest besides himself. The boy hurries away and Wei Ying continues to tell the tiger about the children. Half of whom were either abandoned or orphaned, others were bought as slaves, but freed and the rest had homes and loving families, but sadly lost them in the attack.

The differences were clear in how they acted. Those who had homes and family still subconsciously exclude anyone their families said was the "wrong sort" while the street kids had no issues playing and talking to each other, clearly use to being excluded and spoke ill of. Wei Ying will need to correct this behavior because they were all each other had left at the moment and could not afford to fight or deal with runaways with Qishan Wens hunting through the area for survivors and easy canon fodder.

Chapter Text

Wen Ruohan stood on his sword watching yet another village burn to the ground the screams and cries of the people slowly petering out, save for a few he planned to interrogate. He slowly descended like the God he was soon to be, being so close to Immortality. But he is missing something, the key to the final breakthrough, and he has heard that one guaranteed way to do it was to bond with an immortal or their blood descendants. He of course learned this after the unfortunate deaths of two brilliant and talented Cultivators, Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren. He had at first thought it laughable that a pair of power and talented Cultivators were killed by a mid tier Yao. But then he looked into the so called rumors and eve. Looked for the monster himself, curious of how much a weak beast killed the student of an Immortal.

However, as he investigated and learned more he realized they had been assassinated. Ambushed on the hunt and having easily killed the beast. They were caught unawares and the rest is history. He could not find out who the assassins were or who hired them. But he has an inkling on who it is. Landing he walks calmly up to the hostages and he looks them over, some look strong enough to join his army, some were in a decent enough condition to join his undead arm and the rest? He can just kill them and let them rot. He frowns as he looks at the survivors and realizes not a single one was a child or even a teen.

So they managed to evacuate the children, how clever...

"I have heard rumors about Lady Cangse, about her supposed dalliances with many of the Cultivation Leaders and masters of the current generation, her supposed love affair with the Yunmeng Jiang Sect Leader, and even rumors that she was even my secret lover... But I couldn't care to much for those... No, I know for a fact she was a loyal woman and married her husband. I know they traveled far and wide to help where no one else would or could reach. I heard a very interesting rumor though... Care guess what it is?" He asks.

The people looks at each other nervously, confused and wary of the man. They hoped they could keep their reactions controlled because they do not want anything happening to any of the children, especially Wei Wuxian. Wen Chao scoffed and complained, but his father shut him up with a glare as Wen Zhuliu stood back watching everything with indifference.

"We... We... Only recently heard of the Sanren's death. We are very far away and news does not travel nearly as far or as fast at times. Only things about pandemics or war seem to get to us the fastest..." And Elder croaks out and Went Ruohan has to agree, it took them nearly three days in sword to find this particular village, so it must take much longer on the road, both on foot or on beast of burden.

"Well one of the silly rumors I heard was that Lady Cangse had given birth to Sect Leader Jiang's bastard. Surely a nonsensical rumor like that when the woman was well on the other side of the country, was baseless. But the. I thought about it. What if she did indeed have a child, obviously not Jiang Fengmian's, but with her husband... So I began my search... And I have it on good authority that the Wei child is here... So tell me... Where is he?" He demands coldly at the last second, his knee amused and playful tone vanishing.

The people try hard to control their faces, adopting confused and clueless masks and muttering to each other before another speaks up:

"Forgive our ignorance, mighty Immortal, but we haven't heard of such nor have seen anyone with that name. Unless it is a different character to the Weis we know, who are all rice field works and live at least a two weeks travel to the east..." A young woman says, nervous and trembling all over as she spoke to him.

"Ah yes, we paid them a visit and not of them were who we were looking for. And yes the Wei we are looking for is the Guard of the Gateway. Perhaps if you did see him and not realized, I can describe what we presume he looks like..." Wen Ruohan smirks darkly at them.

Wen Zhuliu stepped forward and began listing what Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren had looked like once upon a time. He the began listing some of the combinations that the Week child could possibly have and the possible genders. Throughout it calmly he villagers managed to keep their confused faces, but they were not as skilled as they thought at hiding their reactions. Wen Ruohan grabs one of their elders and begins breaking his bones as he finally calls them out on their lies.

"Did you honestly think I would be fooled. Those rice patty workers sang like dying canaries about the child and told me I could find them here before we made them permanent parts of their precious rice fields..." Wen Ruohan laughs darkly. "Now then... Tell me everything about the Prince of the Celestial Mountains....."

Wei Ying and the kids wanders intj the dinning hall for supper and found the feast from before perfectly preserved and still warm. They quickly settle after making another offering to the God of the temple. As they are and chattered, Wei Ying watched the separation a moment longer before he calls the children's attention. He addresses the separation issue and what it could lead to and they couldn't afford to lose anYone especially if they weren't survive the Wens. They ducked their heads and reluctantly accepted the scolding, a few tries to rebell and Wei Ying told them if they do not listen to his rules they can go back home.

They all ducked their heads because they had no homes and likely no families to return to. He didn't like being mean but sometimes you had to be the bad guy bro get the children to understand certain things. He promised that as long as he was live they would be one family unit and as such everyone has to get along with each other. Pleased with himself when they agreed and began apologizing to each other. He then laid out their plans for going forward. If the God allows the will remain for the winter months, assuming that Heimai-popo's friend doesn't find them and helps get them away. Otherwise once the snow as melted and the weather is warm enough, they will head to the next village and so on until they find a Heimai-popo's friend's village.

Everyone agrees and they finish their melanin relative silence. Wei Ying redraws they spells on his chest, the more he does the more permanent they breasts will be come and likely he will forever have milk heavy tits. He doesn't fully mind considering he can become pregnant, but that is not a topic he wants to thinks bout right now. Right now he needs to feed his babies and get them settled for bed. Once everyone is asleep, he allows himself to silently cry and mentally throws a fit. It exhausts him much faster than physically doing it. Slowly drifting off to sleep he misses when a man mn white appears and gently settles in the bed and shivers his hand over him.

"... You are the lost Prince's of the Celestial Mountains..." He breathes softly. "You are my fiance...."

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Wei Ying hummed a sweet lullaby even as the pale and stiff hands of undead children carefully claw at the dead earth, finding bones and digging deep into the hard surface for the soft, wet, and nutrient rich earth hidden beneath. Around them, the teenaged forever corpses chopped down stocks of black bamboo and harvested the few fruits and vegetables that managed to grow into the mass grave. He has lived in the shadows of this place since the sudden deaths of his parents. He grew up in the streets, mostly digging through garage for scraps to eat, sometimes someone took pity on him and gave him something fresh, or a day old leftover, but so much better than the slimy and often sour leftover trash.

He fought with stray and half feral dogs for the bits of fresh food he managed to find, which caused him to develop a crippling fear of all things canine. He had a rattle drum he was gifted by a pretty snow fairy when he was very young, but try as he might to recall the pretty creature, the face is all blurred, only that they had eyes like winter sunlight, pale golden and so distant. He kept it safe and avoided adults who seemed too overly friendly. He recalled another urchin who often spoke with a friendly man who would give them presents or treats if they did favors for him. The Urchin almost convinced the others to help out, but one day the man had to leave and asked the Urchin to come with him. They never saw the man again, but the found the body of the child at the edge of the Burial Mounds, strangled and naked. Apparently, the man raped and killed the urchin, but due to the close proximity of the Burial Mounds, one of the monsters got the man or the angry spirit of the child he killed lured him in.

After that the other street kids were more wary of adults, especially men. Wei Ying only allowed those much too hold to lift anything, never mind try to attack him, near. But then again, Wei Ying has always been good at reading someone's nature and knowing if they were kind or not at a glance most times or withing a moment or two of speaking to them. His winters were spent sometimes shed or barn hopping, working for the owners to have the roof over his head and perhaps a meal, sometimes they taught him reading and writing. Wandering Cultivators taught him how to protect himself and the basics of Cultivation. He was apparently a born prodigy since he took to the lessons so quickly and mastered them even faster than others his age or even a few older than him.

He sometimes traveled with them to near by towns to learn more and practice his training. He quickly realized he was especially talented with Talismans and Arrays. His quick mind able to break them apart and find what makes them function and how the radicals are necessary to make them work. By the time he turned 15, he had taken the exams of the 6 Gentlemanly Arts at the local Magistrate 's office and passed. It confuses people that he mastered Calligraphy when his hand writing is so bad that it can barely be called chicken scratch. Wei Ying doesn't tell them that he does it on purpose to keep theirs from stealing his work, but also due to how fast his mind works and how it jumps from topic to topic,bhe doesn't have time to write neatly.

He heard rumors of the Sect Leader of the Jiang clan having come to town not long after his meeting with the fairy, but after a couple of Rogue Cultivators had come to town and offered to bring him with them while they worked around Yiling for the winter months. Apparently, the man was looking for him, but after the last man who came looking for a child... Wei Ying was wary.

Wei Ying was a very powerful Cultivator, even without a formal education or even a spiritual sword. He had learned that spirits both good and bad liked music, so he made sure to learn all the instruments he could because sometimes he had to borrow them to calm or communicate with the dead. He was best with a Dizi, a fuzzy memory of his baba playing one while his mama sang beautifully with him just barely itching at the edge of his mind. He was sade that his actual memories of his parents were all but gone, but he clings to the feelings and essence left of them. The warmth and happiness he felt with them key things they said to him. The only memory he has left is riding on his baba's shoulders as his mama sat on a dappled donkey, laughing as his father smiled silently at a joke or something. It was the last happy memory he had before his parents deaths.

Wei Ying had returned to Yiling through his training and life as a junior Rogue Cultivator, eventually buying a large field for dirt cheap since it was right next to the Burial Mounds and thus was frequently plagued by Fierce Corpses. Wei Ying had built himself a small tent and began farming. He had collected so much knowledge and learned that one can cultivate in various ways so he opted to cultivate spiritually infused foods and work on musical cultivation. Living here means that he can sing and play music to his hearts content without waking the town or getting yelled at when he has to play shrilly to calm a particularly angry spirit or demon.

In recent months a war has broken out and even pathetic Yiling was being occupied by the enemy, but no one bothered to help with the issues. Though admittedly the woman in charge of Yiling was not mean. She actually treated the sick and injured, but overall did not really bother the people of Yiling. He managed to buy some herbs to plant in his farm from her after he had to see her about a vicious canine bite to his leg one time. She was curt and to the point, but overall she wasn't bad. She was actually kind of nice in a no nonsense type of way. Her little brother was adorably shy and so sweet! Wei Ying found out he was actually an amazing archer, but suffered terrible stage fright so they often practiced together and even made a game of shooting kites to show how skilled they truly are.

A low groan sounded from one of the children and Wei Ying smiles, patting the small girl's head, as he takes in the medical her s she found and carefully dug up the dirt clump from witch they grew from. He was always saddened to find the corpses and souls of children in this hellish place but he offered his company and his field for them to play in. They even gifted him with a pair of bunnies, one black and one white and the bunnies after spending years eating his spiritually infused foods and ambient spiritual energy, they developed their own cores and possibly fused with a couple of spirits because they sometimes act like humans and move like them, limitedly of course, but enough so he is vastly amused and amazed. He called them Heihua and Baiguang. They eventually began having babies and while some remained blissfully unchanged, normal rabbits, some became like their parents so they often worked the farm while he ventures around doing small jobs and into the Burial Mounds where he slowly but surely carves path of cleansed area while looking for rare things and gathering a gaggle of dead to sort through and help them move on, or set them to tasks while others he kept ass his personal army, much too dangerous to let free, but refusing to move on because they desire far too much bloodshed and violence.

He's amassed a fortune from the lost gold and trinkets that the Burial Mounds seem to have preserved over the centuries it has stood. He was given medical records and herbs that were kept perfectly preserved and seeming died out or were lost. He gave the books to Dr. Wen Qing and gave her half of the herbs, the other half he kept to grow in his garden. She became friendlier after that and often comes to trade with him, always shocked and amazed that he managed to cultivate Demonic energy by farming and playing music. It was... Surreal for her to see hulking corpses tilling the earth or removing trees and delivering them to town for not only his own purposes but for the town to have free lumber to make much needed repairs and the like.

Her brother was often at his field helping his spiritual bunnies tend to the herb garden. Wei Ying was working on making a house of glass and wood to create a controlled environment with arrays to keep certain plants alive all year round. He honestly hates having to charge more for his goods due to limited stock. He had also realized that corpses leave behind nutrient rich soil, but due to how much resentment clings to the Burial Mounds, the earth on the surface is very much dead and useless. Hence why he has the corpses digging out the rich earth, the bones he finds he makes sure they are very much dead before he grinds them I to bone meal and uses it to enrich the fertilizer he makes for his gardens. He is slowly expanding into the mounds. He is also having the corpse build him a house from the dead wood and bamboo, it is surprisingly beautiful with the varying blacks and grays, he bought items to make paints and sow he painted a beautiful spider lily and lotus filled lack on the white walls and paper doors of his house, making it look hauntingly beautiful.

His home was large, he allowed the street kids and sometimes the homeless to room there for the winter months or the heavy rain season, but not everyone's comfortable with his 'friends' wandering at night. Some of the kids have come to learn anything they can from him and even some of his old Rogue Cultivator buddies came by to buy his produce and Dr. Wen's medicines. They were at first frightened and freaked out, but as they recalled all the questions and theories he had babbled about since he was little, they calmed down because Wei Ying didn't have a mean bone in his body, nevermind knew the meaning of being greedy or envious. It was how he got his Courtesy name, Wuxian: He who is without Envy. Everyone in Yiling agreed it suited him and spoke of his pure heart and soul, regardless of how he developed and cultivated the Demonic path. They were proud of their little Patriarch.

The war was getting worse by the day and too soon Wei Ying couldn't ignore it anymore. Not when he heard about Wen Ning being forced to join an "educational indoctrination" camp. He knew that if the other sects kept ignoring Wen Ruohan's not so subtle attacks on many villages, minor sects and settlements, all within Qishan first and steadily making his way out into the other Sects lands, war was due to come. It was a silent war of who would break first: Wen Ruohan attacking out right vs the other sects finally voicing their concerns/disagreement with his actions.

Wei Ying set up his stronger corpses to keep anyone who is not a native or a frequent guest of Yiling and she surrounding villages from entering. They were tasked to kill if the innocent were threatened or harmed, but otherwise scare or chase away intruders. He called one of the child ghosts to his side and his strongest demon, a woman who had been killed on her wedding day and he smiled as Heihua and Baiguang with five of their children appeared in cute little black and red robes that one of the grannies who sadly passed this last winter made for them with the spider lily and lotus motif that everyone began to claim was the crest of his foundling Sect.

"Alright, let's get our Ning-bunbun back." He declares as the rabbits make sound soft agreement, a recent development. They made little sounds that sounded semi like speech, which Wei Ying has been slowly categorizing into a cypher he plans to sell to the people for only a couple of coppers so they can understand some of the sounds and gestures his bunnies make when they run errands for him.

With that, Wei Ying grabs a black and red feather from his pony tail and flicks it out. It grows ladder enough for him and the bunnies to ride on and off they go on a current of yin and yang energy....

Chapter Text

Wei Ying arrives in a timely manner, having to dissipate the resentment helping him to fly so only the Yang energy was left. He landed towards the back of the group, unseen and unnoticed. He lets the feather shrink and he carefully puts it back in his hair while the Wen soldiers are making their way towards the back with Wen Zhuliu on their heel to ensure obedience. Wei Ying spots the terrified Wen Ning, who is being glares at by not only his own Clan members but the other hostages as well. He was part of a small group Wens who were summoned by Wen Ruohan and are forced into this farce of an "Educational Camp" that is supposedly better composed than the Lectures at Gusu Lan.

Wei Ying has never personally gone to those, Rogue Cultivators were never invited. Apparently, only the Clan Heirs and the Disciples from the main clans were allowed to attend. That was incredibly classist of a supposedly open-minded clan that was found on the ideals of free thought and love. But Wei Ying will think on that later. The Wens have made it to him and he smiles softly as they demand his sword and he admits he doesn't have one, he couldn't afford one. He does give them the old practice sword he got from one Rogue Cultivator when he was a out 7 or 8. He kept is well all these years, while it may have been blunt and dulled at one point, he managed to refine it over the years and while it was not spiritual sword, it cut down the enemy just fine.

The two Wen Soldiers mock him for how poor his clan must be to not give their disciple a sword, never mind send others to accompany him. He does not correct them about his clan or lack of fellow disciples, but he notes how Wen Zhuliu eyes him. He just gives him a polite bow, getting him properly and thank him for personally attention to teach them. It throws so many off kilter it almost makes him cackle. Wen Zhuliu cannot help the nod he gives back with a slight bow of his own and then turns to walk back to Wen Chao as the guard father the last of the swords and leave. This allows him the chance to slip up to Wen Ning's side and wrap an arm on his shoulders.

"Hello, a'Ning. We got worried when we heard you were dragged off to Qishan. I had to convince JieJie that storm the palace and murdering His Excellency was not a good idea." He smiles brightly as the young boy jolts and then sags in relief seeing him, his small group all give warm, if a bit wan smiles, glad their friend and local necromancer was there.

"Is ... Is a'Jie here?" He wonders.

"No. I have her managing the town and my farm with one of the Sisters, who is in charge of making sure the Corpses and Ghouls do as I ordered. I did bring Heihua and Baiguang as well as Xiao Qonglin, Xiao Heiyu, Xiao Hanguang, Xiao Heishuang and of course Didi." He says the said bunnies acting like their normal counterparts hopped about his feet and pawed at their favorite Wens.

"Hey! You should talk to that Wen Dog!!" Growled a Nie disciple grabbing at Wei Ying's shoulder and pulling him harshly away. Wei Ying stumbled, but managed to spin onto of his hold and in a sweeping motion knocked his feet out from under him. "Ah!!"

"Sorry, I though you were an attacker... My bad!" Wei Ying laughs but to those who knew him well they can hear the insincerity of it. "But you see, Wen Ning and his cousins live in my territory and I do not allow people with will intentions into my land. So I would suggest you get it into your head quickly that not everyone with the same last name is of the same mentality or stock. I mean it's the rumors true that Sect Leader Nie is is as big as a mountain and as stubborn as a charging boar, but his brother is as soft and delicate as a fainting flower? And I could have sworn that the Second Lady Nie as formerly a Wen.... It would be a shame if You suddenly went on a Wen Hunting spree. It would mean you would have to hunt down and kill Young Master Nie." Wei Ying says in sugary sweet, but poisonous tone of voice, scaring everyone around him.

"Wei.... Wei-Gongzi...." Wen Ning stutters.

"Hmm?" He hums skipping back over to him to cuddle him, cooing at how utterly adorable he is and how is it anyone can find him terrifying or evil? He teasts the boys by calling them his precious Bunbuns and hands them each a bunny while he holds Heihua himself. "We are the Bunny brigade!" He announces proudly and like that the others burst into laughter at his antics which draws Wen Chao's attention and he stomps his way towards Wei Ying.

"Who are you and what clan do you come from!!" He demands hotly.

"I am Yuandao and I am from the Nonya clan." Wei Ying states calmly, the 6 Wen boys behind him trying to stiffle their laughter because they just know Wen Chao is going to step into that particular frP blindly.

"Nonya...?"

"Yes,  Nonya business!" Wei Ying snaps and there is a ripple of stifled laughter and giggles. "So you are second young master Wen... You look nothing like the rumors nor do you seem as powerful as some of your soldiers claim you are when I see them in the road."

Wen Chao sputters in outrage and stomps off to begin barking orders making them take a copy of the Wen Clan's precepts and memorize them. They are then taken to their rooms and are prevented from talking to anyone who is not sharing their room. Wei Ying gets placed in a room with a Lan and a Jiang. The Jiang's hair piece marks him as the Young Master of the Jiang Clan while the hair piece of the Lan suggests he is the second young master.

"You are going to get your people killed if you don't keep your head down..." The Jiang Heir snarls at him.

"I'm sorry, but who are you? Last I recall I am not a Jiang so I do not need to listen to you and it's hard to kill people if I am not a member of a clan or associated with one. Besides if they try to hurt me, I will be forced to wipe them all out." Wei Ying said with a bone chilling smile before he turns to the Lan, Gongzis, your leg... May I examine it? I have several tools and medicine to help you if you need it. My friend, a'Ning's big sister is a doctor and she makes me cary an entire apothecary on me at all times."

The Lan blinks his golden eyes and slowly nods. Wei Ying gives a deep bow and kneels at his bedside carefully rolling op the pants leg and removing the boot. He sucks his teeth and mutters about idiots and farming. The Lan watches the young man closely as he carefully examines his leg, withholding any sounds of discomfort or pain, but the fact he cannot help but since or an odd hiss when the other applies pressure too close to the break in his leg.

"Good news is you can still fell that, I would have been much more worried if you felt nothing at all. It feels like the break is clean. I should be able to pop the bones back into place and can splint it to keep the bones from moving again. However, I doubt they will let you remain off your feet... So I need to make it so you can still walk around but not hinder you. However it need to stabilize your leg for it to heal..." Wei Ying mutters his eyes darting around the room as he thinks and then he gets a brilliant idea! Heihua perks up and then stands up like a human would on her back legs and pulls out of her robe a Bao. "Thanks! This is exactly what we need!" Gongzis, please eat this, it's leek and radish cooked with a thin chicken bone brother. It will help boost your natural healing."

The Lan looked from the rabbit who was nodding and squeaking as if she were speaking her agreement and the fact she moved like a human was shocking, to the young man who is beautiful, his eyes glow like moonlight and his smile is brighter than the sun. He slowly takes the Bao, it is hot, fresh and so warm. He thanks them and takes a bite, it is delicious, a bit heavy on the flavor, but enjoyable. He finishes off the bao in quick succession. And the Wei nods his head before he tells him he is going to pull and pop the bones back into place.

It will hurt, but he will do it as quickly as he can to keep his pain down to a minimum. The Lan nods and takes a steadying breath as the other grabs his ankle in the cook of his arm and pins it firmly to his slender waist and then in the blinking an eye, he yanks on his leg with giving a firm push on a specific spot on his shin and there is a sickening wet popping sound before his vision blacks out for a moment. He comes to, to find the young man carefully and firmly binding his leg with a strange but wet bandage as the bunny carefully  constructs a splint on the floor.

"Your rabbit..." He states.

"Ah, this Heihua,her mate and some of her babies are with my friend, a'Ning and his cousins. She's very smart you know. And very motherly. Her mate is better at construction than she is, but she knows how to make something simple, but effective. When we meet with the others I will ask Baiguang to make you a better splint. Now then, let's dry this... It will be had for you to move more fluidly, but this cast will keep the bones from moving while we work and train here. And once it dries it will be incredibly hard. But don't worry, you can easily break it off. I heard that Lan's have incredible arm strength, you need only make a small cut at he top or bottom on both sides of your leg and pull it Part. It will break easily enough." Wei Ying smiles.

Heihua nods her head in agreement and produces yet another Bao. The Lan that ks her as she pulls a steamed bun out and hands it to Wei Ying, who thanks her and she eyes the other boy with sharp motherly eyes and squeaks something.

"She is demanding you apologize to me for being so rude before if you want something fresh to eat and not whatever slop that is supposed to be." Wei Ying points at the day old over boiled veggies and rice. He is certain the others that have one of his bunnies is getting fresh food as well. The bj Nie's have developed their own form of Cultivation that bends reality to their will. Wei Ying likes to think of it as magic. Cultivation follows a set of rules and practices, Ying Cultivation follows emotion and intent, Magic follows imagination and an understanding of what is possible vs whatnot not and finding a middle ground.

"Wh-what!? You want me to apology!?" The Jiang snaps.

"Fine, don't. You can eat that then.." Wei Ying points at dhe the food the Wens slide in through what equates as a cat flap. Wei Ying bites into his bun and purrs at the sweet radish, pickled onions and spicy sauces filling. He has not had meat since he was very little, so his bunnies mostly make veggie filled foods, but sometimes they force him to eat at least chicken for extra protein during long and dangerous hunts. Everything is made with what he grows on his farm and he can feel the energy boost already.

"These baos... I feel stronger already..." The Lan says once he finished his second bao and Heihua hands him a small moon cake, she knows it is not the Lunar festival but she loves making them. She chirps softly and Wei Ying translates for her that it is a Lotus jam filled one. "How is this possible?"

"Well... I learned to form a Golden core when I was very young. I think back when my parents were alive, but after I didn't strengthen it until I met some nice Rogue Cultivators when I was about 6-7, and they taught me the basics after realizing  I had a half formed core. It was how I figured my parents must have taught me, but I forgot like I forgot about them... I mostly travel around the area of my home and learned what I could from those willing to teach me. Whatever else I couldn't find teachers for, I taught myself. And since the area I live in is plagued with resentment, I started farming, we are a very poor area and food is a limited resource. I began Cultivating the ground with spiritual energy and cleansing the resentment away and letting the natural yin energy mingle with the Yang. My lands grew fertile and whatever I planted grew quickly, more plentiful and when eaten everyone felt better, stronger. I found a pair of rabbits one day and kept them as peds, feeding them some of the greens and even a few of the weeds and one day they started walking like me and helping to weed the garden where I grow medicine for Wen Ning's sister, the local doctor. It seems the energy infused foods made them form cores of their own and now here we are..." Wei Ying explains.

"...she is.... Cute..." The Lan says softly.

"Yin can hold her if you want. She has no issues being a bunny as you saw earlier. They can revert back to their original selves and then they can switch to their more humanized selves." Wei Ying says and the Lan nods, slowly holding his hand out for the bunny. Heihua happily leaps into his arms and is a cute cuddly bunny for the next hour or two as Wei Ying checks the cast and then carefully fits she split on his leg and rolls his pants leg back down. He has to work his boot back on with a tiny bit of trouble, but finally gets it.

"Thank you... This one is Lan Zhan, Lan Wangji...."

"Greetings Second Young Master Lan, This one is Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian. But you can call me Wei Ying!" He smiles and then gets up and walks to the window where a crow caws. He smiles and accepts the bird with a ote tied to its leg. "Ah, Qing-Jie is worried huh... Heh, I haven't caused chaos yet, but I will soon.." he promises even as he reads the note that demands to know if he found her brother, if they are both alright and to try to avoid causing mayhem on his first day.

"Wei Ying..." Lan Zhan says softly, almost amusedly.

Chapter Text

Over the next week everyone quickly became aware of the fact that the 6 Wen Hostages were in fact hostages and not spies. They also learned that if you are nice to them or the Wei guy, they would sneak you fresh food that tasted amazing and helped boost their spiritual power to keep going when they have to practice Inedia to avoid suspicions. The poor food they do get from the Wens they toss away as soon as they are able to. They also picked up on the fact that Wen Chao was mainly targeting Jin Zixuan, Lan Wangji and Wen Ning as the top three place holders, Lan Xichen being missing also adding to his anger as he placed first, of the archery contest. The others quickly avoided getting between him and his targets least they lose their cores to Wen Zhuliu. Wei Ying felt annoyed by this. Keeping quiet and keeping their heads down is what led to this situation or had they not figured this out?! But then again he saw what happened to those who diffied Wen Chao, their screams as their core were crushed haunted his sleep.

However, seeing it up close he made quick work of healing them and trying to repair the damage. He couldn't give them a golden core, but if he heals the meridians then could reform one, though it would be considerably weaker. He noticed that Wen Zhuliu must be from the Zhao clan and that they were infamous for their "Spiritual Assassination" techniques. He learned a thing or two from them and about the one they tried to turn into a weapon, but he killed his trainers and ran away. Funny how he fled a horrible fate just to end up in said position with someone so much worse. But Wei Ying is anything but an idiot, no matter what Jiang Wanyin claims. He doesn't know the boy or understand why he acts like Wei Ying is one of his Jiang disciples. He has no association with the Clan or the Sect. Just because the Clan Leader came looking for him once upon a time that doesn't mean anything or that he owes them anything.

Lan Wangji on the other hand was always concerned, even if his face and tone screamed 'You will be punished' to those who do not notice the pinch around his eyes or the minute frown of his lips. Wei Ying however grew up living near and sometimes in the Burial Mounds he was so atune with the dead he can catch the minute changes in their moods and even in the living. So even if Lan Wangji looks mad, Wei Ying knows he's actually worried about him and the danger he is putting himself in. He also took to carrying around Heihua whenever possible. It seems he really likes bunnies because he even willingly talked to Wen Ning who had Baiguang with him. It also helped seeing the peerless Lan Wangji speaking to the Hostage Wens, which tells the others they are harmless at least to them.

Wei Ying switched Heihua and Baiguang for a day so Baiguang can check the splint his mate made and make adjustments. The cast was helping Lan Zhan immensely, but without proper rest and food a lot of good it is doing. However, the Lan was able to walk without a noticeable injury for the Wens to exploit and said young man admitted his deepest thanks for that. Baiguang managed to tweak the splint enough to allow him a bit more fluidity in his walking but not so much in a fight, it would still slow him down considerably, but something is better than nothing. Pleased with the results Lan Zhan cuddled the bunny for the rest of the night. Baiguang grinding his teeth in happiness while Wei Ying passed out the baos and steamed buns that Xiao Qonglin gave them. Didi was scouting out what he could while the Xiao Hanguang snuck into everyone's rooms via the cat flap to pass out food and medicine. At some point they all asked him what was up with his bunnies and what did terms boards have goals saddles full of food and medicine on them? Wei Ying admitted he gave them the supplies, wanting to keep their anthropomorphic abilities as secret as possible.

The Nie's took the longest to convince that Wen Ning and his cousins were harmless and meant no harm, but when We Ning and Wei Ying managed to keep their fellow from killing himself after his core was destroyed and healing the damage. Wei Ying admitted that Wen Qing would be able to do a better job since she was a father famous doctor for both her skills and age, but also the fact she was a woman who was highly respected by someone like the Chief Cultivator. Wen Ning admitted that said man was holding him hostage to force her and his family to pick his side in the war instead of remaining neutral as is expected of all doctors. Wen Ruohan may be their uncle, seeing as he was their father's younger brother, but he didn't even spare family. Many of their family members died. Even an Aunt who married into the he Nie clan was spared. It suddenly clicked in their heads and Now Huaisang who the Nie's were viciously protecting this whole time came to greet his cousins from his mother's branch. She had always said they were kind and peaceful people before and now he has proof. He quickly grew fond of Xiao Heishuang, who was a sneaky little thing. Wei Ying would send nightly reports to Wen Qing to keep her from storming Nightless City but also to keep her informed of what is happening and how much he is mitigating the damages. He detailed what he saw of the victims losing their cores and the damage done to them. She wrote back strict instructions on how to spiritually repair the damage and that his skills should more than be enough to create a nugget core for them and they can grow it during down time with meditation and eating his spiritually infused foods.

He passed this info on and the others were quick to cause distractions without endangering themselves to allow him time to pull away the coreless ones and get them treated and creating, as his beloved sister called, a Nugget Core. He explained what she told him of the damages and how to treat them. Again the cores might not be as strong as their original ones but something is better than nothing. He also made sure they had a pile of his spiritual foods in Qiankun pouches which Heihua and Heishuang began to pass out when they got tired of handing out single buns at at a time. He ensured they only ate the recommended amount because too much too soon could destroy their entire spiritual network. They took his words seriously and obeyed.

Wen Chao was furious because while the hostage did look thinner, the seemed... Happy. And with them being happy, they obeyed without flaws or rebellion, minus the Nie's, but they Nie's will be Nie's. He hasn't been able to get anyone to slip up and it was pissing him off. They also survived the Night Hunts he set up so he was planning a really nasty one for them! He informed them of such and within three days they were off. Wei Ying may be causing low level chaos, but he knows better than to cause trouble for those he is quickly becoming fond of. Luo Qingyang confronted him about his purpose and why he was helping them, especially the girls, and he explained the Wens would attack the girls if given a chance, especially When Chao, regardless of his mistress or that he has a wife. She accepted the explanation and the herbs she requested from him to make her sachets to keep the bugs at bay.

The bunnies were kept hidden and protected from the Qishan Wens, especially from Wen Chao. However, everything was coming to a head when they were taken to Mt. Muxi. Wei Ying senses the resentment pouring off the mountain and how it was drawn to him, calling and coaxing. How the voices whispered for revenge and crying for peace and so much more.

It takes him a moment to sooth them enough to stop screaming in his mind, a moment in which Lan Wangji approaches and gently touches him.

"Wei Ying?" He asked concerned.

"There is so many... Too many.... It is almost a second Burial Mounds.... We need to be careful... I need to calm them and sooth them... Many will not rest..." Wei Ying murmurs, leaning into the gentle touch. "If anything happens, get the others to safety..." Wei Ying tells him and Lan Wangji looks mad and is mad.

"Lan Zhan... Call me Lan Zhan if I can call you Wei Ying. Wei Ying will not face danger alone..." He says moving his hand to Wei Ying's face noting how pale he has gotten and how almost thin he appears.

"I will not be alone..." Wei Ying promises as Heihua squeaks and he chuckles as he pets her. "I am never alone... But thank you for offering... But I know what my Cultivation is considered by the others... You are of the Gusu Lan... You would be honor bound to end me or see me brought to justice."

"Wei Ying is Wei Ying... Wei Ying has been nothing but kind and good to us. Wei Ying has kept us healthy and safe." He swears firmly.

"Hey!! You to stop chatting and get to searching!!" Shrieks the mistress.

Wei Ying sighs and looks towards a stream and walks calmly towards the cave from which it flowed into rather than out of. Nie Huaisang saw them walking that way and call the others over. They all trek inside, Wei Ying, who was use to darkness walked easily through the dark while the others hastily fashion torches and follow behind him until they get to a sudden drop. They are wondering if it is bottomless or if the drop wasn't so deep. Wen Chao got annoyed and kicked Wei Ying down, causing Lan Zhan to panic and shout out for him. Wei Ying calls back up with a pained voice:

"I found the bottom!"

The others quickly fasten ropes and vines to the cliff side and climbed down to see Wei Ying rubbing his ass cheek as he limps around a moment. They walk into an open cavern and find nothing but water and islet. Wei Ying stands and stares at it even as the others wander around curious and nervous.

"Wei Ying?"

"He is going to kill us... This is no simple Night Hunt. It is a slaughter....." Wei Ying says softly as Wen Ning and his cousins come close and watch their senior stars at the still water. "Be ready." They bid and he waits for a fight to break out. One was building and he knew that things would escalate and quickly....

Chapter Text

Wei Ying and the Wen Hostages remained apart, Nie Huaisang joined his cousins and Lan Wangji, who remained close. They watched the others wander around, the tension building as they try and find the mysterious monster they were hunting. Wei Ying senses it in the water the spirits telling him it was a corrupted Demigod. He senses so much power and resentment that he was tiring himself trying to sort through those that would gladly move on once their killers would finally pay or that the monster would finally be put down. There were those who wanted to see the Wen Clan fall due to their rage at the clan for killing them off in this cave. And there were those who had been there so long, they refuse to rest. Wei Ying was so deep in his meditation to sort the dead and create the needed bonds to them, he startles when a commotion breaks out.

He looks up and sees the Jin Heir protecting Luo Qingyang and Lan Zhan hurrying over to side with him. Wei Ying notes that the Wens are armed and they are not. He smirks and walks over to them. He waves his hands between the groups to calm them down even though he knows there would be no peace now.

"Ayah, ayah.... calm down everyone!" He calls and steps before then all his bunnies now at his sides cuddled to his ankles. "There is no need to fight...."

"Wei Wuxian!" Wen Chao snaps at him and he beams like he is a student being called on by the teacher and waves a hand. "What are you doing!? Volunteering to be our sacrifice!?"

"ChaoChao, cut off his arm! He tried to molest me before!" How bitch whines at him.

Wei Ying gags and doubles over in mock vomit, though it was a near thing. He likes girls, yes, but mostly to look at and wax poetic about, he has found he leans more towards handsome men, especially the beautiful Lan Zhan. He at no point was near the simpering whore.

"You dare!?" Wen Chao roars and Wei Ying snaps back up his eyes flashing red and an ominous rattle fills the cave as the weapons of the dead shake. Wen Chao gives a squeak of fright and backs up a step.

"I have never touched your snivelling leech. She's ugly and her voice is annoying. And when would I have had the time to do that since I was too busy tending to your victims? And then on this hunt, I was looking through caves and riverbeds for this monster you want to hunt, but won't tell us what we are hunting. I am tired and hungry, I don't have the energy to flirt with her, never mind molest her even if I was attracted to her in that way." Wei Ying deadpans, his eyes glaring at the simpering bitch, who whimpers and hides her face in Wen Chao's arm.

Wen Zhuliu slowly steps forward, clearly feeling that Wei Ying is a threat but he rolls his eyes and sighs.

"You left you clan to avoid being made into a weapon and joined a clan that did just that... Why?"

"Wen Ruohan saved me. I owe him a debt...."

"And yet it is the rest of us who have to pay for that debt...." Wei Ying points out the irony in that sentence. "If that were true, then everyone living today owes my grandmaster for your lives, including your master, Wen Zhuliu and you all repaid her with letting her only daughter, my mother die..." he points out coldly. "Her daughter's best friend was framed for a crime she never committed and died a lone and hidden away from the world. Only two little boys to mourn her." He sighs and shakes his head before he smiles brightly. "So by your logic I should collect that debt for my grandmother.... so let me collect...." with that he darted past them all, grabbed Wen Chao and jumped into the islet and pressed Wen Chao's own sword to his neck.

The Wens tensed as Wei Ying hums a soft but dark tune and slowly from the water weapons began to appear and sliced in the air like a pair of black and rusted wings before aiming at the shore where the others were. His rabbits all stood on their hind legs and had weapons in their hands, Xiao Qonglin the only one weapon less because he liked to fight paw to paw. This shocked the others who as Wei Ying giggles and sends bows to his Wens and the arrows are piled behind them where they create a small wall behind Lan Zhan and Jin Zixuan aiming their bows at the other Wens, not afraid of retaliation because Wei Ying was someone they long since knew to never make an enemy of.

"Traitor-- ack!!" Wen Chao chokes when the blade nicks his throat.

"Shh... you do not get to toss that word around when you killed members of his family for fun, when your father killed them to gain control of the Solar Throne. Your father killed Madam Nie and later Sect Leader Nie when he went to avenge her and without his wife's medical skills to save him he died to a Qi Deviation... you see where I am from, the dead talk to me and they whisper and scream on my ears. I know. Their stories I know their wishes and desires and many of them were tossed into my backyard carelessly by the Wen for centuries... That doesn't mean the other clans and Sects are guilty free, it just means you are the bigger target for revenge..." Wei Ying croons darkly his eyes going red again as Heihua fires her bow and hits a Lan Disciple in the arm and he yelps, falling away from where he had grabbed Luo Qingyang with the intent of handing her to the Wen.

"Hey!!" Jin Zixuan snarls pulling his friend to his other side, but still away from the Wens who were warily inching forward while Wei Ying was distracted by the drama behind them.

Lan Zhan punches the young man in his face, sending him to the floor and flowers at him.

"Shameful." Is the only comment he makes. Lan's were raised to protect not backstab or give into pressure.

Wei Ying whistles and the weapons fly into the hands of the hostages who all quickly charge the Wens as said soldiers try to fight back. Wei Ying stomps on the Tortoise's shell and it awakens to the racket and he smirks as he whistles a hauntingly trilling song as it looks to him. Wen Chao freaking out but unable to move due to the hold on his arm and the blade at his neck. Wei Ying whistles a few more trilling notes and the demigod gets closer to see him in the low light.

"You're a nasty one aren't you... powerful... old... that won't due at all... can't have you running around..." Wei Ying coos at it before he stabs it in the eye, causing it to scream in pain and thrash around but Wei Ying throws Wen Chao off the shell and turns the weapons he didn't give to his fellow hostages on it and began to fight as more weapons began to fight it from the inside. His rabbits have joined the others keeping the other heirs and their age mates from being killed or harmed. Didi used a studded club to bash skills in and break bones while Xiao Heishuang used an appropriately sized sword to fight. Xiao Qonglin was punching and kicking, breaking bones under his tiny paws while his twin Xiao Hanguang used a large mallet to smash anything in his way. Sending Baiguang protected his wife with a spear while Heihua fired spirit arrows at the enemy.

During all the chaos, Wang Lingjiao snuck up to Luo Qingyang and tried to ruin her face, but Wen Ning shot her in the arm, making her brand the Wen Guard on the other girl's right and she was able to kick free and stab him and his partner with their own swords before she wrested the branding iron from Wang Lingjiao's hold and smashed it into her head, a sickening sound echoed as the women fell dead from her crushed skull. The Jin clad female run around smashing anyone on the head while trying to herd the others to the exit when she saw Wei Wuxian taking on the monster. Clearly distracting it to keep it from harming the others. But the Wens managed to beat them out and had cut the ropes. She hears the rumble of thunder and moments later a landslide echoed over head. The others collapsed from the sudden earthquake and realized they were sealed in.

Wei Ying noticed that they were trapped and concentrated harder to kill the beast willing the spirits of the dead to rise and kill the Tortoise and they did taking their weapons and hacking away at it while one brought a black sword to him. He had silver hair and was once handsome. He hands the blade over, after making a sword seal and clearly breaking his ownership of it and Wei Ying bows as he accepts the blad that has clearly spent centuries if not, long, absorbing resentment. It accepted him instantly and he felt the dead calm and go quiet as he flashed forward and cute the head off of the tortoise. He over shot his landing and fell right into the putrid water. But in doing so, he found an opening where a faint glow of light appeared from. He realizes it might be an exit and surfaces before he is helped out by Lan Wangji. He coughs and assures the others he is well.

"What the fuck was that!? What the fuck are those and how the fuck do we get out of here!?" Jiang Wanyin screams at him.

"First and foremost: Stop yelling. Secondly, those are my bunnies and they kept you alive so be thankful! Thirdly: I found an exit and lastly: That was my saving us from a centuries old corrupted divine beast demigod. You are welcome..." Wei Ying states and accepts the warm towel that Heihua brings him squeaking softly as she asks if he is alright. He assured her with a soft head pat and the others all gather close to offer warmth and medical supplies. Wen Ning's there to check his meridians when Lan Wangji asks him to and he assures him that Wei Ying is well.

"Thanks, a'Ning, I have used this power since I was little and living on the streets. I am use to it and it doesn't harm me like it harms others... but then again I listen to them so they listen to me in turn. Now then Baiguang can you make air canisters for everyone and maybe a glowing light? We need to see if there is any danger in the exit I found or if it is an exit." Wei Ying asks his bunny who nods and thumbs his chest before reading into a pocket dimensions and pulling out a lot of materials to construct what was asked of him.

"Wei Ying?" Lan Zhan asks concerned.

"I promise, I am alright... Didi before we leave, erase their memories of what happened. I want the Wens to focus on me, not them..." Wei Ying orders and the rabbit nods and before Lan Zhan can protest or alert the others he fails asleep, as do the others. Wei Ying sighs as he grabs the talisman paper from Xiao Hanguang and sees the needed spells on them and sends them to find the surviving Wens of the little hunting trip and alter their memories so they will focus on a town that was long abandoned near their boarder and he can stay there for the time being...

Chapter Text

Before long the needed canisters and under water light was ready and Wei Ying made sure to leave a note on how to use them in Lan Wangji's hand. His bunnies all squeak at him, asking him if he is certain he wants to do this since the young master of Lan seemed to like him very much over there time as prisoners. Wei Ying gives soft smile and says:

"I would love to leave his memories on altered, but... I practice the 'crooked path' as the Clans would say, they wouldn't allow me to live if they got word of me. So it is best the young masters do not remember me or what I did, they will believe it was the combined efforts of a nameless rouge and Lan Wangji that killed the tortoise. No we need to go so I can get the town ready for when they come to kill me..." He murmurs. "The only ones who shouldn't be affected are the Wens. Speaks of which, Xiao Qonglin, stay with a'Ning and the others and once they are out of her, guide them home." He smiles softly and Xiao Qonglin bows his head, if a bit reluctantly.

Pleased he grabbed his own air canister and dove in. The tunnel was wide enough for them to get out in groups of four if needed, but it was quite a bit of a swim. Strong swimmers like the Jiangs would be able to make it without the aid of the air canister, but the others wouldn't be able to. He left some tether talismans for them and they can use it to help pull those who cannot swim along. Pleased he left enough things, eve medicine and pouches of emergency rations for them to eat when they get out. Wei Ying made it out without needing his canister and tucked it away for a different time he might need it for and seam to the other side of the river. He could see the Wens stationed there with Wen Chao shouting orders to kill anyone who tries to escape the cave. Wei Ying watches him snarl darkly as he stomps over to Wen Zhuliu and Mounds his sword with him since his own was lost in the cave and his mistress was now dead.

He voiced that he wanted to destroy the Wei Sect and they would be making plans to do so soon. Wei Ying is pleased to note that his memories were slightly altered and that they would be coking for him. He lays down a perception barrier to hide the others swimming out and climbing from the river should they look this way or know of the under water tunnel. Pleased once more with his handy work he and his remaining bunnies climbed out of the water got themselves dried off and headed for the town he was planning on using. It was indeed abandoned, the people slaughtered by Wen Ruohan about 20 years ago. They were killed in their sleep and their town set ablaze. No one knows why he did it, but Wei Ying could ask them about it once he gets there...

Lan Zhan jerks awake and ses Nie Huaisang kneeling near him they weren't exactly friends, but their brothers were and thus they were well acquainted. The normally lazy and spoiled young master was fretting over him and once Wen Qonglin and Xiao Qonglin finished healing up his minor injuries and checking on his broken leg, they begins to talk about what to do that is when he recalls the paper in his hand. He looks down at the surprisingly beautiful handwriting. He recalls the owner normally had a messy scrawl that he claimed is because his mind works to fast for his hands to always catch up.

He sees the instructions and then stands with the Wen Boy and Nie Huaisang's help. Once he is standing he calls for their attention with a slightly raised tone.

"We can get out of here. There is an underwater tunnel." He states holding up the paper. "With the Xuanwu dead, we can escape easier and there is no cave ins."

"Hold on, we cannot just trust the words of a rouge who just left us. What the hell made us pass out!?" Jiang Wanyin snaps loudly and Lan Wangji really hates the loud and brash man. He is always shouting and angry over something.

"It was due to our combined spiritual powers and the Assassination Chord unused to kill the Xuanwu. He must have woken up before us and checked around for a possible escape route and then left us not only food and medicine, but also tools to help us get out of here." Lan Wangji deadpans and every is shocked both at the length at which he spoke but also the delivery, like he was being funny for just a moment. The Wen Hostages began giggling because then caught on and soon the others joined in. Wen Qonglin admits his friend was very trustworthy and they can get out of there. If they wanted he could go first and check, but Jiang Wanyin damned to know if he was a good swimmer, which he is not due to his sickly state.

So with that the Jiang heir was the one to dive into the water silently, even if the animal was dead they couldn't be sure if there was perhaps Mrs. Xuanwu that might come after them for killing her mate. It was a tense 8 minutes before the young man was back and surfaced, coming out to tell them that there was indeed a tunnel to the out side and that they can easily get out. It was a long swim so they would need to pair up.

"Our best bet is to get the injured out first, so who hear besides the Jiangs are good swimmers?" Jiang Wanyin takes over and after all the strong swimmers step forward, he realizes they cannot just buy up.

"Here, tether talismans. They bond the caster and the target together and you can basically pull each other long. It is a away to never lose your child or partner in populated areas or even in a forest. It passes through others without harm, but the caster and target can touch it. It allows up to 15 feet between the pair before it snags." Wen Ning's cousin tells them.

They blink and Lan Zhan finishes reading the letter that details how to use everything what they had available and that there were some weapons from the dead monster hat they could use for now until they get their real swords back. With little other choice, they listen to both Lan Zhan and Jiang Wanyin, though Su Minshan kept his head , hiding his anger and humiliation as he was paired up by Lan Wangji with one of his cousins. Once everyone was partnered up into groups of twos to fours, they set out and swam through.

 Once they were free they traveled quickly but quietly to get out of there. Though Lan Zhan paused to look at the bunny on Wen Qonglin's shoulder. Where was Wei Ying? Why did he try to erase his memories of him? He is foolish if he thinks Lan Wangji was simple minded enough to be affected, or even fool enough to allow the amazing and kindhearted young man to face danger alone... But he has no choice right now, his leg was broken and the survivors who had been captured by the Wen would not let him leave on his own...

It was two months later that word spread that Wen Chao killed the Tortoise of Slaughter and that he had hunted down a fool who humiliated behind, tortured him and crushed his core before dumping him into the heart of the Burial Mounds. Lan Wangji was still on bed rest when the news reached him via Nie Huaisang who much like some of the others recalled Wei Ying. They were not friends, but they certain conspired together. The seemingly ditzy Nie was sitting at his table, making tea as he told him to he news.

"Wei Ying is dead? I do not believe that..."

"Indeed not, he is too skilled to be brought down and the fool dumped him right into the center of his power..." Huaisang huffs.

"Indeed. So what will you do?"

"I have been keeping in contact with my cousins and they agree to join the war by providing not only medical support, but also good quality food. Apparently, Wei-Xiong owns a farm and that is where they will get the food from. He has given them permission to use it as needed. I tried to get my spies into the town and get the gossip and details, but the people seem to be very close knit and will not speak of what they know... Wei-Xiong has an impressive support system and they protect their Wei Wuxian fiercely especially with the knees that he is supposedly dead..."

"I see... I am nearly healed. K will join the war efforts. I will also look for Wei Ying just in case he is not truly in the Burial Mounds but lost somewhere in the war torn land."

"Agreed. I will keep you posted... Funny how you claim we are not friends and yet we alone keep our brothers from doing foolish things and run out respective sects in secret..." Huaisang chuckles.

"Mn."

They were not friends, but they were best friends and practically brothers...

Three months later the war was in full swing, three months since Wei Ying's supposed death and whispers of a beautiful demon rising with the sound of flute, that heralds the death and misery the enemy deserves began to circulate.

Three.

Months.

Wei Ying sighed as he finished demolishing yet another watch tower that Qing-Jie told him was full of Wen Ruohan Zealots. He let their victims have at them. Some were strangled, others gutted. Some were hung while others were drowned. Many were mutilated in some gruesome way and others simple died of fright. He awaked the whole ones into his armyband they matched on while he rode on the back of a great black Crow Demon.

Three freaking months and Wei Ying just wanted to go back home and farm!!

"Ugh, why did a wat have to happen!? I just wanna farm!!!(roll credits)"

Chapter Text

Snippet:

The air, if you could call what he pulled into his lungs that, was filled with the sour and acrid stench of charred flesh, burning wood and animal fat. Ash fell like a mockery of snow as black clouds filled the sky, but not a single life saving drop of rain fell. He has no idea what had happened, or why it did. His home was a small forgotten little Hamlet at the foot of the Death Mountains, aptly named the Burial Mounds. They were a very poor place, forgotten and left to rot at the mercy of the unmerciful undead and demons.

His family moved here with orders from his grandmother and grandmaster to establish a family unit and later a Sect to help manage this region since the foolish humans have neglected it for so long. That was what they had set out to do. His mother a Celestial Huli Jing, was welcomed with open arms and enough offerings to ascend her into Godhood the moment she promised to begin mitigating the damages and harm of the Burial Mounds. Most humans avoided their kind due to their natural beauty and allure that humans are helpless against. There is also the fact that Fox Spirits are often playful and mischievous little things, but never cause outright harm or mean anything malicious by their tricks and pranks.

However, it does not stop harmful rumors and fear. He learned young that fear often leads to mistrust and mistrust leads to hatred. He was still a kit when his parents were killed. They had been helping to deal with a Yao infestation on a farm crucial to the survival of the town when Monster Hunters ambushed them and tried to capture and subdue his mother. Wei Ying was staying with the nice Auntie who made tonghulu in the summer and sweet, but spicy Bao in the winter, when they got word that his mother and father had been killed. The town was furious and chased the Hunters away, but not before they made off with Lady Sanren's pelt. His father's tail had also been cut off and likely gifted to some rich noble as a trophy.

Yiling was furious to have lost their protectors, but became highly protective of their little Huli-Jiao. His father had been a merman from the Yunmeng Region, but left when the new Madam came to live and began to segregate the humans, whom she believed were superior, from the Spirits, Embodiments Elements and Nature, and the Evolved Creatures of the Yunmeng Region. She had wanted all the Jiaoren caged and to produce an endless supply of pearls for her daughter's dowary for when she was old enough to marry since pearls were rare and expensive. She also wanted them to create Jiaoren Silk robes for her since only Jiaoren Silk can never get wet or stained or damaged no matter how you try.

His father quietly handed in his Jiang Bell, gathered his things and left before the Madam could become aware he was one of the only five Jiaoren in the Sect, nevermind in residence in Lotus Pier. Tensions like this continues to build over the years and not just in Yunmeng. In Qishan any nonhumans were captured and either tortured for their secrets, experimented on or were killed for sport and their flesh eaten as a delicacy! The Wens under Wen Ruohan proudly displayed their kills and bragged about their hunts, they even kept some Nonhumans as pets that they fuck and rape whenever the mood strikes.

The Jins collected their Nonhuman counterparts as prized pets and living decorations. Many of whom have been forced to carry the Jin King's bastards and were horridly treated by his legal wife and queen due to her jealousy and anger at her husband. So there had to be a boiling point, right? No one knows what set off the war, but it got to a point that the Heaven Officials sent the Celestial Lan Dragons down to deal with the mess. But the Hamlet of Yiling was content in their isolation, raising their sole Huli-Jiao and keeping him protected. As a hybrid between two rare and highly sought after species, it was no shock that he was unearthly beautiful with clear translucent skin as white as a fresh pearl, eyes that were so clear they might as well have been spun glass, reflecting silver moonlight, but were as warm as the sun itself.

He had a shapely form, androgynous and duel sexed as many Huli Jing tend to be, he was comfortable going by any pronouns even if he thought of himself as a male. He adored soft and pretty things and loved wearing pretty dresses. He would swim in the rivers of Yiling and deep into the heart of the Death Mountains where he grows a lake of lotus that have naturally grown red like blood and black as night where he harvests their silk to spin his Jiaoren silks and only the trusted Aunties and Uncles who run the tailor shops are allowed to handle the precious few bolts he makes a year and they mostly use them for him or for the wedding robes of the young maidens so they have a treasure to pass to their own daughters one day. He mostly stays out of sight, remaining in a human form so none are the wiser about his true nature and yet... And yet his home was burning.

The people were ordinary and simple folk. They fell easy under claw and blade as the war they heard so much about in recent years finally spilled into their forgotten hallow and roused the hunger of the Death Mountains once more. Years of his parents lives and his own efforts wasted with one terrible battle. He sat on his knees, hair matted with blood, much and sweet, face streaked with ash and gore as he looked around at his home burning, his family dying and all for nothing in his honest opinion.

They had done nothing!

They lived their daily lives and they worked hard to keep the Burial Mounds sleeping, there inhabitants at peace with offerings or perhaps the odd chance to feast on bandits and highwaymen who thought to harass the sleeping Hamlet. Even the monsters came to adore the spritely half fox half mermaid, who took time to call them out one by one and listen to their stories and grievances. Who hunted down their families, if there were any left and brought them closure at last, those who refused to be placated were tasked with keeping the others at bay or protecting the town in exchange for wine. But now it was gone.

He looked up at the woman who brought this death down on his home, her violet robes and eyes glowing brightly in the hellish red light of the fires around them. He glares at her as she sneers at him.

"So your the bastard of that whore?" She spits and he bristles at the insult to his mother. It still astonishes him that humans were so stupid. Huli Jing mate for life and are so loyal to their mates that without kits to care for, they will fade away and die once their mate dies, immortals or not. Jiaoren also mated for life and should their mate die they turn to seafoam, leaving only their mating pearls behind for any guppies they have had. His parents died, were killed. His father was never allowed to turn to seafoam and his spirit freed, his mother's pelt had been skinned and stolen and as he glares at the woman he sees who did such a thing.

"Typical stupid animal, can't even speak when spoken too..." She spits again, like an angry cat, her painted nails trailing over one of his mother's tails draped over her shoulder as she donned the pelt in the harsh winter night like a prized cloak.

"Oh I speak... But why would I wish to have words with the whore who wears my mother's pelt and uses my father's scales as a whip?" He demands coldly.

"Your father? Don't take me for a fool! I know your whore of a mother slept with my husband! Huli Jings are nothing but sluts after all!" She snaps waspishly.

"And as always, it is idiots like you who ruin the lives and reputations of those like me... Huli Jing mate for life. If my sire was indeed your mate, my mother would have never left him. I would be his heir and you would have never married him because Huli Jing are possessive of what they deem theirs... We do not share... We do not sleep frivolously with others... We take centuries to court and mate because we know that a heat of the moment fling can bind us irrevocably to the other." He spits out, enjoying her offended face. "And Jiaoren also mate fore life and are known to devour the competition.... My father would have eaten your husband had he felt he was encroaching in his mate."

The woman sputters but before she can formulate a comeback or an insult, not even a chance to strike out with her prized whip of Jiaoren scales, a roar split the air and she cannot help but smirk. The dragons were here and were the only creatures she respected because dragons were unkillable by human means and she was sadly very much human, not to mention it was a Dragon who decided of one reached Immortality or not. You do not spit in the eye of a King after all...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying was shocked to see the Celestial Dragons. He had heard rumors that the war had gotten so out of hand that they were sent down, but since the war still raged he had assumed that it was a false rumor. But now they were here their long serpentine bodies flowing in and out of the black clouds like the rise and fall of waves or the needle work of the aunties. Madam Yu smirks, she will get Immortality by presenting this filthy whore to the who clan! Perhaps they will allow her to remove one of his tails as well. The reason she was so powerful was that she was using the power stores in the bitch's tails but that was fading with time and use. It wasn't a limitless supply but if she had a single tail from the brat and it lived the tail would have limitless power!

When she sent the Monster Hunters after that bitch Cangse Sanren, she had wanted her alive but the whore fought back and they had no choice but to kill her, however she had prepared for that scenario and ordered them to bring her pelt back to her. She had foolishly assumed she and Wei Changze had not had any children since she was too busy fucking every other man available and then coming back to her 'husband' at night. So imagin her surprise when she spotted a Huli Jing resting in a fancy shrine of all things surrounded by flowers one afternoon and when it changed back to human form she saw a dead woman come back to life but then they turned and she saw the classic Yunmeng features and new, just new that this was Jiang Fengmian's bastard with that whore!!

She purposely baited Wen Chao into attacking while on an 'illegal' Night Hunt and here was the result! With this pathetic little village destroyed, the Fox has nowhere to go but with its father's family and as its stepmother she has all the rights to offer it up for marriage. Wei Ying glares at her as she grinned with manic glee but then that smile fell from her face when the largest and most deadly of the Lan Dragons landed with an earth shuddering thus, Wei Ying and the men holding him pinned fell over and the fox was quick to change forms and run, he slipped easily around everyone, his small and sleek form making him very flight footed. Madam Yu cursed as she turned to order the Hunters disguised as Jiang Disciples to capture it alive.

But again they fall over, but this time dead from the Dragon's whiskers lashing out and slitting their throats. She gasped and turned only to be met with frozen golden eyes that pierced right into her soul and the last thing she remembers before she is frozen solid is her prized whip and pelt being removed from her. Her last thoughts were of her cursing the damned dragons for not allowing her Immortality....

The dragon smashes the ice coffin with the woman in it to dust under his mighty claw and changes forms to carefully pick up and fold the pelt of the late princess of the 8 Wildernesses and the whip made of Jiaoren scales. Such crimes were heavily frowned upon and to think that one who claimed to be so righteous would stoop so low as to hire Hunters to hunt down and kill what humans seem as monsters. He carefully tucks them away into his Qiankun sleeve and turns as his brother walks up in human form as well his rack of antlers smaller and more feminine in shape, indicating his child bearing status. He shouldn't be here, heavy with eggs as he is, but Lan Xichen was a dragon and even pregnant he can fight and kill and utterly decimate the enemy. He would not lose the babes so easily. His mate, a member of the Nie Tiger clans, their Chief in fact, pads over in his hulking tiger form, dwarfing them for now as he noses his mate and his belly in worry.

"You killed the woman?" His brother asks curious, not even bothering to reprimand the out of character action.

"She was proudly wearing the pelt of Princess Baoshan Meigui. The princess suddenly went missing and then news of her death and someone wearing her pelt spread.... Her mate, a Jiaoren had his tail cut off and fashioned into a deadly whip, his corpse decimated and unable to turn to seafoam. Their spirits are now trapped for eternity.... Why show mercy?" He states clearly, a rare time he speaks at length.

"Hm, I see your point, Wangji." Lan Xichen says and glares at the dust of ice crystals around them picking out the pieces that contain the human woman. "Befitting that she took can never join the rebirth cycle for her sins and the Princess and her mate can get their revenge now."

"There was a Huli Jing... Will go after then... The people?"

The villagers have been deemed innocent and will be revived, they had spent years protecting the Huli-Jiao as they call their resident Heavenly Official. The child of the late Princess and her mate. He is a child of both worlds and has been blessed by the Death Mountains... And thus the Ghost King is furious with this attack... We will clean up here, go get the Huli-Jiao." Lan Xichen orders and Lan Wangji nods, turning and changing to snake form follows where he saw the fox run off to...

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan slithered quickly like a bolt of white lightning after the scent trail of the Huli-Jiao a lesser being would have lost the beautiful scent amongst the decay almost instantly, but Lan Zhan, courtesy Lan Wangji, was the future Dragon Emperor, he had the purest blood of all the clan and his dragon form was extremely massive. His eye sight was unmatched, his sense of smell had no equal and his hearing surpassed even beings with supernatural hearing. He focused all of these senses on the fleeing Huli-Jiao, gaining on the clearly tired creature. He saw the dead had risen and we're trying to block his way. But most collapsed into kowtows before his mere presence while others simply were not fast enough. He noted the Huli Jing's ability to summon the dead and how their frightful abilities were amplified by him. He is curious of the process and how powerful he is. Unlike the stubborn elders, Lan Zhan had a more open view of the world after all the Nie use a form of resentment and spiritual Cultivation. If he had been as stubborn as them, he would have never allowed his brother to abdicate the throne and marry such a man. However, Lan Zhan was a good boy, his brother became his mother after their mother had passed away.

He had sworn that day he would never allow her fate to happen to anyone else. Not his brother, not his own future Empress or anyone within his clan. He had severed the control the Elders had on the clan and the Sect, they are there to pass on knowledge only; if not, they will live quietly in solitude. He calmly slows down outside of a den, the heavy scent of blood suddenly masking the beautiful sweet and spicy scent. He can still find notes of it, but in general, it is as if it vanished. Slithering silently into the cave he finds the Huli-Jiao grabbing an artifact that was chained in place on the wall, speaking softly to it. The cave filled with a cacophony of noise for a moment, but as the beautiful man continues to talk and coax it, the noise calms down until it is floating lazily before him and then in a shining red light a pair of children with tiger features appear and cling to him.

"A'Niang, we can protect you!!" Protests one child, her features not dissimilar to the Huli-Jiao's but the other twin, while not matching his coloring had features similar to himself. It was amazing and a bit frightening.

"Muqin, this one is powerful, let this one protect you." The white haired boy states so very much like Lan Zhan would speak. "Muqin is too beautiful and kind, many will continue to come for him... One is even here now." He states and looks right at where Lan Zhan was curled up hiding behind a rock.

The Huli-Jiao squeaks and spins around frightened, but as Lan Zhan slowly slithers out and morphs into his human form, the pretty man calms down and blushes hotly at the scent of a strong and dominant male. The children calmly stand before the man and block Lan Zhan's path forward, but Lan Zhan doesn't move, safe for a deep bow.

"Prince Wei of the Celestial Mountains, Heavenly Official of the Yiling provence and the Hellmouth known as the Burial Mounds, thrice blessed by Heaven, Earth, and, by the Ghost King himself. This one greets you and wishes to apologize for the unjust treat of yourself and the innocence of Yiling who were killed. The Heavenly Emperor, Ice Lianhua has agreed that a great injustice has served and has given my people permission to revive the people of Yiling and to take the Yiling Provence under the Gusu Lan's protections. I am hear to collect you and secret you away before the Wens became aware of the Jiang's true intentions of capturing a Heavenly Official to boost their powers and to trade off to the others as a spouse or concubine." He says.

"So you won't hurt a'Niang?" The mini Huli Jing  looks alike asks.

"What do you get out of our Muqin if he agrees?" His own mini look alike demands cooly.

"This one is Lan Zhan, Lan Wangji, Uncrowned Emperor of the Gusu Lan Dragons. I humbly apologize for our hand in the destruction of your home." He then gracefully kowtows and the pretty man panics and hurries over to pull him up. He holds on to his kowtow until the man finally says he is forgiven and that as long as his people are revived and protected, that Mounds are safe guarded, he will follow the Heavenly Emperor's decree.

Lan Zhan rises and once he is standing he and the Huli-Jiao gasp as a brilliant red thread connects the two of them it was the Fate String, they were Fated Mates! He almost grabs the man and pulls him into a soul devouring kiss, but restrains himself. He will not be his father, who was assaulted by him and forced to marry him. She resented their father, but never turned that resentment onto himself or his brother. She always claimed they were innocent of his since and shouldn't be made to feel as if they did her any harm. She held that to her last breath and even in her final letter to them, she said she never once regretted giving birth to them. Her only regret was that she could not be with them every single day.

Lan Zhan had promised once his brother was discovered to have a womb and a vulva, that he will never allow what happened to his mother to happen to anyone ever again. Especially his own mate and his brother. The Elders had wanted to send Lan Xichen to a monestary to live our his days in unmarried and childless so there wouldn't be a power struggle for the throne. Lan Zhan chopped that particular Elder's head right off. He glared menacingly at the others and demanded to know if anyone else wanted to speak nonsense. Females were rare in their kind and hatchings even rarer, to deny a Female their right to mate and have children was insulting and unforgivable. Lan Xichen was now Female and should be allowed to have his mate and children. He then sent a letter to the Nie's as his first official act and demanded that only the finest Nie warrior court and eventually marry his brother.

Needless to say, 6 years later, he is now 16 and his brother is happily married and mated, having been thoroughly wooed and is now expecting his first litter. Yes, a 10 year old did all of that and has continued to do so for anyone who wished to marry outside of the family.

"This one will protect you until the end of his days, we do not have to mate; will never force you to. However if you wish it, then this one will gladly accepted your hand and offer his Pearl in return." The Huli-Jiao gasp, a Dragon's Pearl was not only the source of their powers but a physical manifestation of his soul. To offer such a thing was a very serious act of devotion and meant that if Wei Ying wanted to, he could crush the stone and kill the dragon. Wei Ying felt overwhelmed and did the only logical thing then: he fainted...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

His senses were overloaded by the cacophony of sounds meshing into a strange white noise even as his vision goes grey and fuzzy. The only spot of color is the Amulet in his hands, the black iron vibrating at increasingly faster frequencies until cracks began forming. The red tassel with a simple jade rabbit on it and the blood red crystal made from the tiniest slivers of what remained of his spiritual energy and resentful energy adding pops of red and white with a tiny hint of blue. He feeds more power into it, pulling all of his reserves into this last ditch effort. They would not leave them alone, the framed him and attacked. Killing innocent women and children, the sick and infirmed for this blasted thing he created in a bid to bring them all peace. The iron moaned and the voices of the dead reached a deafening crescendo until a significant crack appears and he things softly, smiling around bloody teeth that finally... Finally he can rest.

But I wish I could go back and stop all of this from happening... I wish I knew them what I know now and made better choices...

Acknowledged. System requirements needed: Owner must state requirements.

Requirements? What? Oh well I am dying anyway, I wish my memory wasn't so terrible...

Acknowledged.

I wish that everyone I love wouldn't die on me or leave me behind....

Request denied. Inquiry: Would Owner like to create new command concerning request?

What? Ohhh I guess... I mean I clearly lost my mind and as I am dying I am imagining this strange voice and whatever this "System" is...

Acknowledged. Creating Spell Command: True Hearts Memory. New Skills unlocked: Spell Craft, Elemental Magic, Null Magic, Necromancy, Spectral Walking, Empathy, and Taming Contracts.

Don't know what that means but it sounds cool enough... I am tired... I wish.... I wish Lan Zhan at least liked me a little bit and that a'Yuan was my son... I wish I could protect others like me... Oh...

Acknowledged. Third Gender approved. New Skills: Wind of Fate acquired. Love interest unchanged. Love life unchanged... System will restart now...

Figures that even at the end, I am denied what I want most...

The Amulet gives one last vibrating moan and completely shatters. He is dead before the first fierce Corpse takes it's first bite of him....

System reboot complete.

Begining Time reversal now...

Time reversal has failed.

Attempting Time Reversal again....

Time reversal failed.

Attempting Time Reversal again...

Time Reversal failed.

Alternative option available: Alternate Timeline, create New Timeline in place of current one.

Current Time will be permanently destroyed, acceptable? Yes.

Creating new timeline with similarities to original timeline.

Owner has acquired the Appraisal Skill.

Owner has acquired YinYang Core.

Previously stated Skilled Aquired.

Previous Skills Retained.

Experiences of previous timeline and memories have been converted to Skill points. Title: Yiling Laozu retained, new Titles unlocked as Owner skills up and gains Popularity, Reputation and Love points.

New Timeline ready to be created. System will begin in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

Chapter Text

Master, it is time to awaken. System reboot has completed.

Wei Ying's eye snap open on a sun dabbled patch of grass. There is the sound of a donkey braying softly in protest and a deep man's voice huffing in annoyance while a woman giggles from close by. Slowly he sits up and stares at the strangers before him. The woman's face is oddly familiar, her smile and even the tiny mole under her bottom is familiar. He has seen. Them every time he saw his own reflection in either a bronze mirror in the lake surface. The man's strong features were stranger but the shape of his eyes and even the gentle smile were familiar.

"A'Ying, did you enjoy your nap?" The woman asks softly and she pulls him into her lap and the scent of cinnamon and jasmine fill his tiny nose and he knows it... The once vague memories were suddenly clear and he knows this woman. She is his mother!! And the man who smells of Lotus and spice must be his father!!

"YingYing slept good." He agrees and nuzzles closer, enjoying his mother's hug for the first time in living memory and he nearly bursts into tears.

"Good. We are nearly to your Popo's mountain, she is excited to see you! But first we want to see if you can take your first Monster." His mother gushes and helps clean him up from his nap and his father comes over to kneel down at his side.

"Remember Ying'er, don't be scared, let the bond come naturally as you form a contract with your chosen monster or monsters..." He says softly and the little boy nods his head with a happy chirp. He feels confused a out this task but suddenly something appears at the corner of his eye and he nearly squeaks in fright seeing a transparent window with the words Monster Taming Contract and a detailed explanation on it.

He blinks, but it doesn't go away and his parents don't seem to notice it as they keep talking amongst each other about the best starter monster. His mother apparently has a Nine tailed Fox while his father had a pair of dragon whiskered leopards he called Coeurls. One was balcke with white markings while the other was a beautiful gold to red umbre with black markings. The two hulking cats were lounged in a tree keeping watch of the small family and Wei Ying cannot help but wonder if such strange an clearly powerful creatures existed why had his parents died?

Attwntion: Master, this is an alternate Timeline. The System could not restart the original and thus has the option to recreate it as an alternative to the original. In this world many more monsters and creatures exist and can be bonded to through a Monster Taming Contract.

The Monster Taming Skill is a rare one, very few people have this skill and even fewer can make contracts with Divine or Demonic Levels Monsters such as Master's Father and Mother. Nine Tailed Foxes are both Divine and Demonic Beings while Water Coeurl, like your father's, are Heavenly due to their rarity and their natural nesting grounds being found among Dragon nesting Mountains and rivers.

He almost shrieks at the sudden clear voice that is monotoned and rather abrupt. Like a puppet without feelings. He glances at his parents and they are still talking, having noticed nothing.

Master is the only one who can here me. I am the System. You achieved a great boon in your final moments and were granted me as said boon. You made a wish and set the requirements to fulfill said wish. This is merely the start. The deaths of you Parents were prevented by sending you to Her Eminence the Immortal Empress. Many more changes will occur as well. Though some fates are set in stone.

Wei Ying blinks and recalls his final moments with clarity. It is strange since he is use to only remembering bad things but never good things, but even then his memory is still pretty much shit. A screen appears and he sees the Skill Hearts Memory and winces. It states that not only will he recall everything, certain members who hold a place in his heaet will begin remembering their past after meeting him and he really hopes that is untrue because it's just cruel to give him a Lan Zhan and have him recall how much he hated Wei Ying...

He is distracted by a dark aura and turns to find a black bunny like creature. It has no legs, but hops effortlessly around. It spots him and he sees the tail and inner ears are a gentle greenish Lan blue and he finds it enchanting. He smiles and toddles over, ignoring his concerned parents as he speaks to the bunny and it sniffs at him. It opens it's mouth widely and it has sharp fire teeth but overall he thinks it is too cute. A circle begins glowing under it as he holds out his tiny hand and pets the bunny, another screen appears and says it is a Black Rabite, a High Ranked and extremely rare Demon Lord ranked Bunny monster. It is initiating the contract bond due to his fast levels of Yin energy. He blinks and lets his eyes go red and the Rabies flash that greenish blue and the contract is sealed.

The Rabite hops into his arms and nuzzles him before it grows suddenly big and forces him onto its back and hops over to his parents who gape in shock but then his mother bursts into giggles while his father shakes his head fondly.

"Only our son can tame a Demon Lord...." Wei Changze chuckles softly.

"Our Baobei is the strongest!!" His mother coos as she pulls him in for a hug and pets the now shrunken Rabite as it sniffs at her and then his father.

"No, YingYing, only 3! YingYing is baby!" He denies and they giggle. After a snack they head off towards the Immortal Mountains, Wei Ying curious and nervous of what his Popo was like and if she was aware of his past....

Chapter Text

Wei Ying loved waking up every day to his parents alive and smiling faces, listening to them banter and tease each other as they kept traveling towards his Waipo's home. He was looking forward to finally meeting the legendary Immortal herself. He knows from his last set of memories she had sworn off dealing with the Mortal world even if it meant she had to abandon her children and students who left the Celestial mountain. This included their children, but he recalled a woman with white hair, her features were still fuzzy in his memory, who came when he first arrived in Lotus Pier but was turned away.

He wonders if she had been Baoshan Sanren and had she personally come for him, her direct descendant? He doesn't know. He loves his Rabite, who he named Heihua. He realized it was a she when he found a pastel blue with a darker blue tail Rabite ,who happened to be male and she bashed into him when he tried to do a mating dance for her. Apparently she didn't find him suitable. Wei Ying felt bad for him and formed a second contract with him, naming him LanLan. His parents clapped for him, pleased he was so skilled so young. They would collect three more Rabies bily the time they got to his Waipo's mountain, a pink one with a yellow tail, a yellow one with a pink tail and a pale green, almost pastel green, one with a pink tail. He named the last three Wuji, the green one, Lianhua, the pink one and Labahua for the yellow one. He had two boys and three girls and he adored them. The yellow one simply bit and hopped around in terms of fighting while the pink one was able to do a powerful leaping attack, twirling while doing so and it was very strong. The blue one was able to do three spin attacks one after another as well as a strange AOE attack that summoned dozens of miniature rabbits of the four primary colors and harmed whatever walked into the radius of the attack. While the green one bites and all, it's special ability was being able to turn giant and crush whatever was under it. The most versatile and magically inclined one was the black one and that was a given considering it was a Demon Lord while the others were only ranked from a one star three to a three star threat in terms of power.

Wei Ying for to meet his parents familiars. His mom's nine tailed Fox, Mantou, because apparently he loves stealing them, was super cuddly and could use almost all elemental magics. While his father's Coeurls, Honghua and An Yue, a mated pair, mastered water, lightning, and fire magics. They were calm and often blinked slowly at each other and his family, which his father told him meant they love each other and then so he often blinks slowly back at them. He got to ride on An Yue's back most of the trip. Honghua carried his rabbits while Mantou pranced around them all clearly happy and playful.

He watched his parents fight from the safety of a tree or a high rock with at least one of his parents familiars watching him. His Rabies also helped out whenever though Heihua often just let out her powerful aura and scared away the threats. His father said it was a skilled called Menace, which did exactly that. Skills were learned by anyone and anything with enough intelligence according to the System who he has taken to calling, Laoshi. It turns out he is the only one able to see the screens and interact with them. They always displayed information for him and Laoshi only ever spoke to him. He quickly learned about the world and the skill trees, he opted for learning arrays and talismans again and as well as magic since in this world his Demonic Cultivation fell under the Dark Arts branch and the last know attempted to master it was Xue Chonghai. He still had his skills and mastery of Demonic Cultivation, however he will start smaller his time. He has the time in the world for this and his parents clearly didn't care since his mother had a skilled called Voice of the Dead that allowed them to talk to spirits and ghosts alike. His father also had a skill called Dancing Dead that allows him to summon a certain type of undead warrior to fight for him. So him mastering Demonic Cultivation this time will not get him in trouble.

"Finally, home sweet home!" Cangse Sanren calls happily as they get to the base of a mountain seemingly picked from random. But Wei Ying senses the high level arrays and his silver eyes turned red for. Second as he realizes they are made of both Yin and Yang energy wrapping tightly in a bubble around the mountain.

"Is that you, Xiao Yue Baihe?" An older woman's voice ask and Wei Ying sees moon white hair and eyes that glow like jade in a face far too youthful to be as old as her hair indicates.

"Mama!" His mother cries in happiness and lunges on her.

"Hello my daughter... my beautiful Yue Baihe..." she coos and hugs her and kisses her cheeks, tears in her eyes. "It has been far too long... I feared I would never see you again... I dreamt that you had died...." she admits softly and her jade green eyes look knowingly at Wei Ying. "Is this my grandson? Come here, little one..."

He approaches her and she picks him up, the ease of holding small children clear. He stares into her eyes and she smiles softly.

"You look much happier... I see this is your doing... I am so sorry I could not save you last time... Now then, come, let's get settled!" She coos softly in his ear and his parents beam happily and follow her up the mountain path.

It would be a little more than 10 years later that the Wei Family would be seen again. They had narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by a a bitterly jealous and insecure woman when they vanished and now the world will be in for a surprise when the first Master of Demonic Cultivation makes his debut...

In a silent room, surrounded by rules that chain and oppress golden eyes snap open and a man trapped in his younger body sits up and looks around.

"Wei Ying..." he calls sadly as he realizes he is back in his room but surprisingly his back doesn't hurt. Getting up he heads to the door and blinks seeing a strange white rabbit without legs hopping about his front yard. It has jewel bright red eyes inner ears and a tail. The same red as Wei Ying's when he uses his power. He approaches the bunny like animal and senses the cast power it contains and it seems to study him in return. Reaching out a circle glows under it and him and it seems to accept him. A bond forming and the contract sealed itself. He reaches down and picks it up and a Screen appears and he blinks seeing it is Lowl Level Deity rank.

"... Baiguang... Come, we need to find out what happened..."

Greetings, I am the System. The timeline has been recreated due to the request of the Owner. Due to the skill, Heart's Memory. You are important to the owner and were allowed to retain your precious memories. You have successfully completed your first Monster Taming Contract. Divine Deity class Rabite successfully tamed.

Side note: Today is the start of the guest lectures here in Gusu Lan. Owner will be arriving today.

"Wei Ying!?" He gasps and hurries to get ready, Baiguang hopping around and sniffing things before they head out the bunny turning gigantic and allowing him to sit on its back as it gets to the front gates in three hops. His brother and Uncle blink ins surprise seeing the large creature before it shrinks and Lan Zhan stands on his own two feet. He is wary of his brother and Uncle. His memories from before of his brother trusting his sworn brother over him and joining in on the siege of the Burial Mounds and his Uncle fore whipping him 33 times for merely injuring his elders to protect his beloved. As if learning of Wei Ying's death has been torture enough.

He nods at them as he bends to pick up Baiguang and they stand silently to greet the guests. The Nie's arrive first and Huaisang gushes over his new Rabite and marvels at the rarity of it. The Jins arrive next followed by several minor sects until finally the Jiangs arrive and Lan Zhan tries not to show his excitement, but when he does not find a spect of red among them he frowns and grows concerned. Several more smaller Sects arrive and even the Qishan Wen arrived. But no Wei Ying. Just as he is about to give up hope, the wards shudder at a powerful aura and everyone tenses, hands reaching for weapons. They watch as people dressed in full white with only the leading group having accents in red, purple and black. The woman at the front was stunning her smile familiar and even her laugh. This was Wei Ying's mother and the man with calm smile must be his father. His Uncle sputters in outrage and begins shouting at the woman who smiles softly but it does not reach her eyes, that is until a woman with long white hair calls softly:

"How bold of a lowly mortal to speak so rudely to his superior.... You must be Lan Qiren, the stick in the mud, my daughter, Cangse Sanren has told me about... Are you sure we should let Ying'er attend?"

"Popo, YingYing wants to attend!" Wei Ying's voice calls and it is like Lan Zhan can breathe again. His beloved is there before him hail and healthy! He holds a black Rabite in his arms and there are four others crowded around his feet. "Popo, no need to worry!"

Everyone freezes as it dawns on them that the white haired woman is none other than Baoshan Sanren, the Immortal!

Well shit...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Wei Ying yawns as he clacks in for his 6-month shift aboard the Qiongqi Prison station. He was one of the newer guards and was admittedly green but it allowed him to see his brother, Jiang Cheng, who had been imprisoned for faulting on a super sus loan from their in-laws. But Wei Ying believes he was set up so that their FIL could claim Lotus Pier and all the trades and businesses after the attack and deaths of their parents. He also believes the lecherous bastard did it to get control of Wei Ying himself as well. Wei Ying was a genius and has been inventing and producing unique but handy devices and items to help the people still on the planet and those who live off world in space stations or colonies on other planets.

Wei Ying also sold Hunter items like his Compass of Evil which helps track bounty and dangerous creatures,  or his Black Lure Flags to draw out entities of the preternatural variety. He has also created protective jewelry and accessories for the Hunters and has created protective barriers and arrays as well. He was one of the few people who could mesh magic and science together and thus was very valuable. It also didn't help that with how humanity treated not only the earth but their own people, things were very complex. His brother was also arrested for harboring unmated Third genders, or rather Omegas as they were being called.

Omegas were men and women alike who could become pregnant. At first, the genetic mutation was considered 'unnatural' and anyone who was discovered to be an Imega was to be 'normalized' in the case of the males since the women were naturally able to carry babies before the quirk. However, this caused a rather sudden change in many as those from countries who killed any and all Omegas that were found, but in doing so it triggered a rapid decrease in fertility and childbirth.

Humanity was toing the fine line between being endangered and extinction. As a result, any Omegas were to be handed over to the government, where they would then be assigned a partner who would breed them and any omega children would be groomed to breed with their selected partners until humanity was back to its full power. Of course, they were catering to the rich and the 'worthy' ones first. Like world leaders and royalty. Wei Ying is an Omega and has been hiding it since he presented.  His aunt had been rather strict about hiding his gender until he found himself a good spouse an 'Alpha' as it were.

Jiang Cheng had kept him hidden even after their deaths but of course, that pervert of a FIL had to find out and Jiang Cheng was imprisoned. The man was holding their sister hostage through her marriage to his son but was now blackmailing them into making Wei Ying agree to work for the Jins exclusively but also for Wei Ying to be Jun Guangshan's Omega. However,  Wei Ying managed to get out of trouble and away from the facility. He had to move to Yiling, a small poor Mining station on a planet nicknamed the Burial Mounds. The place was deadly and dangerous, but Wei Ying made it home.

He worked under the name Yuan Dao, a 'Beta' as a prison guard. He got to see his brother on a near daily basis and was secretly working with his brother-in-law to get Juang Cheng out of prison, but also to get Jiang Yanli away from Jin Guangshan. He hates hypersleep because he is always so tired after the long trip. He grabs his schedule and is happy to see he is working his brother's cell block and heads there to begin his rounds and sneak much-needed medicine and gifts to the prisoners from their loved ones. He was a great smuggler, just not of anything big.

He made sure to get to his brother last so he could chill with him most of his day shift before he headed to bed for a few hours to do his night shift at the Max security wing.  It was how his 6-month shifts normally pass, so imagine his surprise when only three months in they get a new prisoner and not just anyone prisoner. The infamous Heiyu-Jun, who happens to be a criminal mastermind. Wei Ying is called to the docking bay and he realizes that every single guard is present. He is not sure what he thought the guy looked like, some supped-up roid monster maybe, but seeing a man who was indeed tall, with broad shoulders and a tapered waistline, he looked normal minus the strange black mask he wore. Apparently,  no one can remove it but him, and he refuses to let anyone see his face.

Wei Ying watches how the guards all tense, many of their electric batons crackling to life as the welders nervously get them ready. Wei Ying blinks under his uniform hat, which he jeeps low to hide his pretty face, as the criminal pauses not that far from him, and when Wei Ying risks looking up, he gulps because he swears the guy is staring right into his soul...

Chapter Text

"Hey, Wei!" Shouts one of the older guards as he spots the disguised Omega doing his post lunch Cell check.

"Yes, sir?" He asks confused.

"You're the newest guy here right? Well, I need you to go grab the food for Max Security and feed the animals." He says and Wei Ying gaps unattractively.

"Sir! I only work Max Security for the night shift!" He yelps in shock. "The Captain doesn't let the greenish near them during the day!" It was mostly due to the fact that some of the criminals in the Max Security don't care for your gender, just that you were small and easily broken. Hence all the big guys work all the day shifts so the smaller guys only have to sit in the security office for the night.

"Well the Captain's not here! And I said to go feed the animals so get going!! Or should I put a call in with Chancellor Jin?" He hisses darkly as he gets close to him. "You know, your name is Wei right? I wonder if you are that Wei Omega that went missing?"

Wei Ying squares his shoulders and lifts his chin in a snarl. He wants to kick this bastard in his balls and maybe chop them off and feed them to him, but no, he cannot risk anything happening to Jiang Cheng or to Jiang Yanli. He grunts out his agreement and marches off to the Kitchens, but his usual Cell block makes a huge fuss for him and he Snickers when one of the normally chill guys starts flirting hard body with the asshole, making him squeak in fright and disgust.

Making his way to the kitchen he smiles at Mo Xuanyu, a boy who could pass for his twin brother, who is finishing loading the Max Security tray with sandwiches and cups of soup. No utensils are allowed in that block because they could be used as weapons or to help the men in there break out. Mo Xuanyu was another Omega hiding in plain sight, and like Wei Ying he was here to keep someone he loved safe. Though Wei Ying knows his brother is innocent, Mo Xuanyu's boyfriend was actually in here for murder. Granted he slaughtered Mo Xuanyu's abusive family, but still. They push the heavy cart, which was more like a miniature tank towards security. Apparently, the dausche bag  squad was on shift and taking over.

They went through five security checks and three pat downs, Wei Ying slapping the guard who was palming his ass a bit too much. He threatened to shove his electric baton down his throat if he tried it again. After that they were allowed into Max Security. One of the nicer burly guards called out that food was here and as the pair of hidden Omegas walked down the hall handing off food and soup. One guy tried to grab at Wei Ying's arm, but he yanked him into the bars, dropping down at the same time, there was a sound snap and the man screamed as his elbow shattered on the bar.

"Hey!! Jackson, back off!!" The guard yells and calls the doctor to come patch him up. As they move along, Mo Xuanyu smiles at Xue Yang, who was too busy doing crutches upside down in his cell.

"A'Yang, I made you a BLT and cream of shrimp soup... Just for you." He smiles at them and drops down, coming to grab his food.

"A'Yu takes such amazing care of me... Too bad they won't let me out on good behavior... So, you must be Wei Wuxian... A'Yu tells me you have been taking good care of him... I have to thank you for that. But don't get any ideas, a'Yu is mine." He growls and Wei Ying laughs.

"He looks like he is my long lost twin brother, and I don't know about you, but I am not into incest or even selfcest." Wei Ying laughs. "A'Yu, you can stay and visit with him a bit lkger, I can handle the others. I am sure they heard me break Jackson's arm."

"Ooh, that was you!? Noice!! You have to tell me how you did it!" Xue Yang grins manically.

"Not that hard, he latched on, I sorta panicked, yanked him into the bars at the same time I grabbed hold of his arm and dropped. The bars did all the work for me." Wei Ying shrugs, not really a master move, but certainly one to remind the inmates that he may be pretty and small, but he is far from helpless.

"Noice... gotta remember that one... If they bother you again, tell me... I can make Jackie pay if you want...?"

Wei Ying shakes his head in the negative before he walks away to finish feeding the others. He got to the final cell that held their newest resident. He gulped. Squaring his shoulders he walks forward and the guards open up the Max Security cell. It takes two key cards, a pass code and even a rental scan to open it and even then he has to wait for them to secure the manual to a table. He is finally able to approach and Wei Ying feels like the hare caught in the tiger's gaze, he feels his cunt twitch and moisten as well, a biological reaction to having a clearly superior Alpha's attention. But Wei Ying wants to avoid that. He forces his eyes down and sets the food before the man. It is a simple cucumber and cheese sandwich and the soup is medicinal. The Alpha apparently had a very strict diet and they had to figure out finger foods that would fit it. Once the food his down, he turns to leave but one of the guards says he needs to feed him since he is too dangerous to be trusted to eat on his own.

"Are you fucking kidding me!?" He gasps in terror, but also in anger. He gulps and slowly moves over to the man and carefully holds up the sandwich that he breaks into smaller bites. The man stares at him for a long moment before tacking a bite and Wei Ying squeaks when sharp fangs brush against his fingers. He almost Yanks himself away as the man eats. Wei Ying really hopes he will eat quickly so be can run away and hid in his room until his night shift, but sadly, the Alpha takes his time...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Sect Leader Lan Xichen was meditating, trying to find peace in the hurricane of emotions since Guanyin temple, when there was a knock at his door. He didn't answer but the servant didn't need him to. They told him that Wei Wuxian had suffered a severe attack of sorts and has been hospitalized. When he didn't answer still, they left. He waited until midnight to leave his chambers, making his way first to Wei Wuxian's workshop and finding his latest invention, an array to 'reset' or something like it. He studied it carefully and realized he could send at least his spirit back in time for now, to point of his choosing and Sect Leader Lan cannot help but think of preventing his brother from meeting the one mistake he ever made, to prevent the tragedies he suffered and thus so many others. 

He takes the notes and sneaks I to the hospital wing, his brother not at the bedside of Wei Wuxian, likely because the man told him to rest and not fret too much about him. Pity that he never showed this considerate side back when they were younger. He sat beside the man and waited for him to awaken, which didn't take long since he could likely sense the resentment coming off of him.

"You should learn to love say potentially dangerous areas and spells... Never know when someone will take advantage of them... But I have to thank you, I will now be able to save my brother from you and your corruption. Things will be better with you gone and out of his life..." he states and using the Lan Silencing spell, he quickly smoother the younger man before he can make a sound or try to fight back,  it that his weakened state would allow it...

He works for days while the sect is in an uproar about the sudden death of Wei Wuxian, to draw out the spell and finally activate it. He refused to come out, no one realizing he had been the one to kill the poison at it's source, his brother will recover in time, or rather will not need to recover at all since he will prevent these events from happening....

Lan Huan moaned in his sleep, his chest felt heavy like someone was sitting on it. He opened his eyes in his dream to see he was in a blank white room. Across from him was a man who he assumed was his father, that is until he smiled and he realized it was himself as an adult, but clearly time has not been kind to him. Before he can ask what is happening his future self speaks:

"I know you are quiet confused right now, but I come from a future where everyone we loved or cared for suffered horribly and died due to the sins if one man, well a boy in your time. His name is Wei Wuxian, he may seem like a bright and cheery boy, but he is corruption and pure evil. He plays with Wangji's heart and mind especially..." he sees his younger self stiffen in fright and then a look of determination appears on his face.

Pleased, Sect Leader Lan begins to tell him all of the events that will happen in the future and the ones he may not have witnessed himself, but had heard of either from the source of evil himself or from their friend whom Wuxian corrupted and killed in the end before tricking their brother into marriage. He details the war, the key players and emphasizes that Meng Yao is a good man and gas been h til he was corrupted by Wei Wuxian. By the time he is finished with his explanation and ear I'd his younger self is deep in thought.

Lan Huan had listened carefully and found that while much could be true, not all of it was. His future self seems to have deluded himself into thinking this Wei Wuxian is pure evil. To him it sounds like a care free child who is not use to how others live or function, much like Wangji. And love is a very powerful, but dangerous emotion and clearly his brother loves Wei Wuxian and eventually the young man realized he loved him back. Unlike with their mother, who never loved her husband, but only her sons whom she could not bring herself to resent no matter how they were created.

Apparently, his future self was tricked and corrupted by this Meng Yao person, who not only lied and manipulated himself but killed Mingjue, Wuxian and so many others. That is not something Lan Huan will allow to stand. Coming out of his thoughts, he looks at his future self and makes a silent vow to never become like him, like a shadow of their father. Honestly his future self should gave remembered,: they are Lans and you never mess with a Lan...

"Alright, this one thanks you for the insight." he says eventually and his future self preens. "I assume you are here because there was another upset to Wangji?"

"Yes, due to his experiences with Cultivating the demon path, Wei Wuxian's new body was too weak to handle long term exposure and he suffered a horrible backlash on a hunt. He was bed ridden and had been for days it seems. I was informed only a fee days ago in my time and U visited his shop to see if he was working on creating more monsters, but found the array I used to speak to you. It is clearly still a work in progress since according to the notes I found it was to allow one to merge into their younger self and 'reset' the mistakes that lead to the future. However we are merely in a shared space and talking. Had I known then what I know now, I wouldn't have saved Wangji from him so quickly... Oh well..."

Lan Huan's eyes narrowed at that and when he asks for clarification,  he is horrified to learn his future self used the Lan Silencing spell in conjunction to holding his nose shut to smoother Wei Wuxian who was sickly and weakened. Truly,  his future self was a monster like their father. Pasting in a olsased smile he thanks his future self and they stand to clasp hands, to transfer the memories from his future self to the past and Lan Huan waits until he has them before he strikes. A knife of Yang energy shoved into his future self's stomach and right into his core.

"You clearly forgot, Sect Leader.... Never mess with a Lan... Clearly you are based and cowardly. You deluded yourself and became corrupt. You even killed an innocent man who meant the world to Wangji... I hope to never be one you, but thank you for the memories. I will use them well to prevent as much tragedy as possible. Especially for Wangji and his Zhiji..." with that he gives powerpoint the Yang knife and his older self is blasted away. Either he died or was sent back to his body to die a painful death, he doesn't care.

Lan Huan then sits in the blank space and begins to meditate, organizing the memories by order of importance and going through them...

Lan Xichen awakens at daen the next morning and gets ready for the day, grabbing breakfast and heading to his brother's room. After announcing his presence, he enters to find his 16 year old brother finishing tying his hair up. He takes the Lan ribbon from him and ties it for him. He lingers and wonders if this time he can get him his beloved and secure their future. He must have spaced because he hears:

"Gege?" it has been too long since he heard that and he pulls his brother into a hug.

"I am alright, just a lot on my mind... Today the guests will begin arriving. Are you looking forward to making friends? I hear there are some bright and unrestrained individuals who will be here... Perhaps one of them would be your friend and equal?" he teases softly, silently plotting how best to handle the Yunmeng Jiang mess and protect Wei Wuxian. Unlike his future self, he did not see the memories from a bias stand point so he noticed a lot of unfair treatment the boy went through.

Wangji made a face and Lan Xichen couldn't help teasing him a bit because he looked so cute! Yes, he will prevent the tragedy by ensuring that Wei Wuxian understands his brother's feelings...

Chapter Text

Lan Xichen spied on the Yunmeng Jiangs the moment they arrived in the Cloud Recess and noticed that even if Wei Wuxian was their Head Disciple, he wasn't dressed in the Yunmeng colors of varying purples and royal blues. The only thing to note him as a Jiang was the Clarity Bell that hung from his belt. He was dressed in blacks and reds with the odd splash of gray tossed in.

Colors meant to hide blood and injury from concerned eyes... Madam Yu is truly disgusting. He cannot help thinking as the group finally noticed him and they quickly shuffle around.

Normally the Head Disciple is at the head of the group to lead his youngers, but also most clans just make the Heir the Head Disciple. The Jiang clan was 'unique' in the fact that the Heir was not the Head Disciple, but rather his future right hand man was. However, many believed Wei Wuxian was the son of a Servant, but also a product of Jiang Fengmian's infidelity to his wife, which puts him shoulder to shoulder with his supposed half brother, but Xichen notices that Wei Wuxian had subtly put himself just slight behind Jiang Wanyin, a hidden acknowledgement that he knows he is not the future Heir or Head of the Clan, just the Disciple. Honestly, his future self didn't even notice this subtly. But then again his future self didn't notice a lot of things. As he was going through the memories he got he realized much of it must have come from dead spirits who traveled along with his future self. They showed him some of the same situations from and outsider's point of view and he noticed much that fly right bast his future self's nose.

Wei Wuxian's loudness and chaotic nature was mostly due to unjust treatment at the hands of his adopted family, the jealousy and cruelty of the Clans and Sects themselves, all who were jealous and threatened by the sheer power the boy had. He may not have liked politics, but he noticed the young man knows how to read a room and does so quickly and chooses the best options out of a list of bad decisions business he is not allowed to do what is right or best for his Sect since he 'always makes them lose face' no matter what he does.

"We humbly greet Zewu-Jun!" They chorus in one voice is bowing deeply.

"Hello, this one humbly greets the Yunmeng Jiang. Did you have difficulty getting here?" He wonders softly, knowing they had lost their invite the first time, but Xichen sent some of his most trusted agemates to head into town to purchase spices and at least fish for their guests who are not accustomed to the Lan Diet, but with orders to help the arriving guest disciples and to check they have their tokens before heading up the mountain.

"Nothing that concerns Zewu-Jun, just a minor argument between the Jiangs and the Jins. I hope you do not mind us arriving so early even though we were due the next day." Jiang Wanyin grimaces.

Xichen nods, mentally rolling his eyes at the Future Jiang Leader who let his mother's poison, his own insecurities and shortcomings, and the lies of the world to taint him and twist him against his so called brother. Only Lady Jiang had remained at his side when she wasn't being used by her father in-law or brother for political maneuvering. He also didn't like that her first love only came to like her over soup. He will have to change some aspects of the future. Jin Ling will hopefully be Lan Ling, Lan Rulan if he had any say in it. He rather liked the courtesy name his future brother in-law gave the boy, it was charming and surprisingly fit the boy, but he was corrupted by ill temper by bother his father and his blood uncle. However, it became clear the boy grew to love and adore his Da-Jiu once the truth came out and Wei Wuxian continued to sacrifice himself for those who were less deserving.

Shaking off his wondering thoughts, he greets who will hopefully become his future wife, Jiang Yanli, who was a subtle beauty, her round face befitting a happy woman with large almond shaped eyes that glittered like freshly polished gems of a subtly smokey gray color. He likes the twin braided buns on either side of her head and how she demurely giggles at her brother's antics, but also gently reprimands them. The effect she has on them is hard to miss, a mild tone of disappointment or disapproval cows the might Sandu Shengshou and the Yiling Laozu like a pair of toddlers being denied sweets before supper. She was indeed beautiful and so strong, even if her strength comes from her humanity and kindness, not physical or spiritual power.

"I am sorry to hear that. Please follow me and I shall guide you to your rooms. The female disciples will room with the females.... this is Lan Mae, she will guide Lady Jiang and any other female Disciples to the female quarters." He waves forward Lan Jingyi's future mother, one of his cousins, she will meet her husband during the war and they will have a rushed wedding and eventually have Jingyi again. Sadly his cousin dies in childbirth while her husband was killed in a Night Hunt before the child was even 3. Xichen will need to let the big be raised by either himself and Yanli or by Wei Wuxian. The three boys and the Future Heirs of Bailing Ooyang, Ooyang Zizhen. The boy had been very good friends with Rulan, Jingyi and Sizhui. He even stood up for Wei Wuxian before the boys realized he was the dreaded Yiling Laozu.

Blinking his eyes, he focuses on Jiang Yanli a moment and clears his throat, "Maiden Jiang, I hear you enjoy cooking. If you would like, Lan Mae can bring you to the Kitchens and you can speak with Nainai, she is the head of the Kitchen. If Nainai allows it, you may use our kitchens whenever you desire to cook for those you will or to help cook for the whole of the students in attendance." He offers.

"Oh, Lan-Gongzi is most kind. This humble one thanks you, most sincerely!" She gushes and she is utterly radiant with her smile.

Her brothers fawn over her a moment and she indulges them a bit before she and the small group of females, only 4 in total follow Lan Mae. He then directs the boys to follow himself and he guides them towards their rooms.

"Now then, I must caution you, my Sect has over 3000 rules that the clan must obey, and we expect the guests to follow most of them, primarily the rules against fighting, loud noises, killing within the Recesses, and alcohol. Our founder was originally a Monk and he adopted much of the rules he grew up with in the monestary. We try not to enforce the rules on others because we know that only our Clan and Sect follow those rules." He says and he sees the boys widen their eyes, but Wei Wuxian's reaction was what he was watching.

He can see the wheels turning in his head as he processes and rearranges his thoughts and future actions.

"While I cannot promise you leniency should you be caught breaking the rules, I can however reduce how much you will be punished. My brother is out Head Disciplinarian, he is the one to decide how much you should be punished, I can speak with him and set an appropriate amount for the guests vs what the members of the Sect get should they break the rules. Also, there is a set curfew here that we expect you to follow, please. You do not have to sleep at 9pm, but at least be in your dorms by that time and not to leave until at least 5am. Also the tokens you have are registered. We will know if you come and go at all hours of the day and night." He wants and he is amused seeing Wei Wuxian's mind working, his expressions so open and easy to see, but also amazing.

He waved at the set of dorms set aside for the Jiangs and bids them a good day as he heads back to greet more guests. This will either force the boy to either try and figure out how to get past the barrier to sneak in the alcohol and thus he and Wangji will meet again in the roof, or he will realize what is wrong with it and help them solve the issue. Wei Ying was a genius after all and he was unchallenged when it came to talismans, arrays and barriers. He can always have Wangji help him gather materials for research if he takes the second option. He cannot wait to see what his meddling will produce....

Chapter Text

Wei Ying felt guilty for sneaking out to buy alcohol, but Jiang Cheng was in a foul mood and like usual vented his anger and frustration at Wei Ying to the point that his silent promise to Zewu-Jun to behave himself was basically kicked to death. Jiang Cheng also demanded he buy him some alcohol because as someone from a gentry family, he shouldn't have to worry about such stupid rules. If the Lans can't drink alcohol, then that is on them. Wei Ying only tried once to talk reason with him but when he started hurling insults and hurtful words at him, he opted to simply obey.

So here he was, close to midnight, sneaking back into the Cloud Recesses after he found the gate locked and warded for the night. So he walked around the barrier to a spot he can safely sneak in through but it was rather concerned at how easily he breached it. Gusu Lan was the second oldest Great Sects and had centuries worth of knowledge and power carefully curated and inlaid into the very foundations of the place and yet he was able to sneak in and out with nary a disturbance. He was so lost in his thoughts that he took to long scanning for stragglers before he hauled himself up. He had forgotten his qiankun pouch to put the alcohol in, he had them in his hand.

So if course when he heard athe faintest sound to his right and he turned check, he nearly falls from his perch while almost dropping the rather fragrant smelling wine as he tries to not fall or scream. He pats his chest to calm his heart even as he is mesmerized by the stunning beauty of the Lan standing in a watch tower that he somehow kissed as he snuck around the Cloud Recesses.

"It is past curfew, those who are not in their dorms by then will not be permitted to enter until 7am, please leave. Alcohol hals is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses." He states in a smooth but deep voice. Wei Ying feels a shiver go up his spine and a tingling warmth fill his body. He blushes as he realizes he's grown wet down there and tries to hide his sudden attraction to the dangerously handsome Lan by acting like a charming fool and trying to bribe him with the wine.

This leads to them arguing slightly over the rules, Wei Ying slipping up and admitting yes he was warned by Zewu-Jun about some of the rules, but he was ordered to get the wine. Realizing he almost outted his Shidi, he chose to instead comment about how easy it was to sneak in and out, that he had expected better of such ancient wards. The Lan had moved from his tower to hover above Wei Ying, who was trying to avoid staring in desire but also unable to look away from such golden eyes that pierced through his very soul.

"Who sent you--" Wei Ying squeaks and in a beautiful flurry of robes, he looks like a falling flower as he jumps away and as soon as he lands he flees, leaving a stunned Lan and an amused first Jade who secretly watched and waited. He slowly approaches after his brother seems to not register that he allowed the trouble make in and to get away with the contraband.

"Wangji, it is late." He calls softly and his brother startles like a bunny, it is both cute and a bit of a blow because his brother should not be scared of him.

"Xiongzhong..." He greets after he jumps down. "There was a rule breaker...."

"Not everyone lives by the rules of our clan, Wangji and it is unfair to expect them to obey them like we do. And even then rules are meant to be guidelines; not absolutes. Why not try befriending out new troublemaker and see how the rules bend and reshape themselves around him. Besides many of those rules are ridiculous anyway and curb one's personality. A personality is what makes everyone unique. You are quite and solemn but are shy and very caring. I am outspoken and friendly, but I harbor much in my heart even my negative emotions. Mother was kind and gentle, even if others believed she was a cold-hearted murderer, but could she be so when she was nothing but kind to us? Would she not have escaped at the soonest opportunity?"

Wangji lowers his head in thought before he nods once he seems to understand what his brother is telling him.

"And while you attempt to make friends with a guest, do pay attention to how he interacts with others and try not to take everything he says at face value. I believe he was from Yunmeng and their culture is vastly different from ours. They are a loud and colorful people and I hear that everyone harmlessly flirts with each other but it is their actions that speak volumes. If you find yourself believing false words, look at how he moves or what he does. Humans are complex, Wangji, and we change and adapt as he grows and travel. Stagnation is our antithesis." He advised and then pulls his brother into a hug. "I see your ears, Wangji, did you find out troublemaker pretty?" He teased softly.

Wangji gives an annoyed huff as he lightly jabs his brother's ribs for his teasing but does not otherwise break the hug. He has grown rather reluctant to touch do to his craving for his mother's affections after he death, but this feels nice and he wants to indulge in it for a while longer. When he feels settled he pats his brother's arm and they break apart to got o their respective rooms for the night ...

Wei Ying fights back another yawn, sleepy still from his late night trip and his anxiety getting the best of him as he waited for angry Lans to storm his room and drag him off for punishment. But it never happened and he fell into an uneasy sleep. He was rudely woken up by his Shidi and they were nearly late to the opening lectures which turns out to be going over the Lan  Rules. They were just getting to rull 1034, Do not wear excessive accessories, which is extremely stupid in his opinion when he started to doze off again. He and everyone else startle when the scroll is suddenly slammed into the teacher's desk at the front of the rooms and Lan Qiren gives them all a glare.

"I am reading the rules so no one can claim ignorance to them when they are caught breaking them... But seeing as you are all bored and not listening." He may be saying this too the room, but Wei Ying feels like this is directed strictly at himself somehow. "Fine let's move on to better topics... Wei Wuxian!"

And he knew it, he was being targeted. He jumps to his feet and bows to acknowledge his teacher.

"Who was the first to focus on familial Cultivation vs. open Cultivation?" Lan Qiren demands.

"The Founder of Qishan Wen, Wen Mao." He answers just as quickly as he was asked and like that they quickly went rapid fire.

The Nie Founder was a bitch.

The heraldry of the Lanling Jins is the Sparks admist Snow peony.

Ghosts form from head humans, demons from live humans, monsters from dead non-humans and beasts from living non-humans.

Everyone was amazed at his knowledge and the speed he delivers his answers, but as he continued get them right, several people, Lan Zhan too, noticed how Lan Qiren grew more annoyed and angry.

"Beasts and monsters are often confused for one another, how do you tell the difference?" He demands. Trying and failing to stump the brat.

"Simple: you see that tree?" He turns to pout out the left side of the room's window at a tree. "If it gets absorbs power and knowledge from the books and ambient spiritual power, cultivates into a higher being it becomes a Beast., but if I take an ax and cut it down, but the tree stump that remains still cultivates into a higher being, it becomes a monster." Wei Ying explains.

"Hm, as the Head Disciple, you should have long ago memorized these answers and thus should not be proud of yourself. If one gets a big head just because they killed a few Bat Kings in their Mountainous homes, they will surely lead to misplaced arrogance and a terrible reputation." Lan Qiren sneers.

Wei Ying felt his eyes flash slightly as he narrows his eyes. Everyone was stunned at she rather rude dismissal of Wei Wuxian's intelligence, not everyone new those answers nor did more than half of them now that there a difference in the four main groups of monsters they hunt! There was honestly no need to be so rude!! Lan Zhan narrowed his eyes at his Uncle.

"Fine let me ask again: there was an executioner with a wife, his parents and two children. He executed more than 100 people before his sudden death in public and as retribution, he was left in the road for several days. He soon rose and began to haunt and kill. How does one deal with this?"

Wei Ying knew the answer but he had several other questions. Why let the town executioner just lay in the road for doing his job unless he was a serial killer who executed people for fun? What about his family? Would they not have moved him and have him given funeral rights unless they were afraid of him or resented him? But also how did he die so suddenly? Was it the resentment from the families of the the executed that created a miasma that targeted strictly him? Or perhaps the resentment from the executed victims--

"Wangji, answer." Lan Qiren says once he sees that he finally stumped the brat of Cangse Sanren.

Lan Zhan stands, a look of disapproval in his eyes aimed at his Uncle, who thinks the look was meant for the Jiang Head Disciple.

"First liberate. Find out what his last obsessions are and attempt to set them free. Second suppress. If one cannot liberate his lingering regrets or have liberated then but he still refuses to move on, suppress him. Finally eliminate. If after the first two fail the issue still persists, eliminate him." Wangji states clearly.

"Exactly, one should follow these exact and be as steadfast in life or they will be seen as unruly." Lan Qiren sneers at Wei Ying once more, but said young man looks at him with a cocked brow.

"I knew the answer already, but what ai was wondering was this: Was the man the town Executioner, if so why would you unfairly punish him in such a way for doing his job? I can under stand the families of the victims holding resentment for him and leaving him to rot, but what is the excuse of the other townfolk and even his family? You said he at both parents, a wife and children and yet the left his body to rot and fester in the streets. Of course he was going to rise as a vengeful ghost and haunt them all! I would to if I was was disrespected like that." And everyone froze and blinked now also wondering the same thing.

"It makes no sense unless he was a serial killer and enjoyed killing his victims execution style. Then that is the only reason I can see why he was left to rot o. The street and why his family would not give him funeral rites and bury him. And if he killed over 100 people, then he would definitely rise as a Fierce Corpse and powerful one at that. But I just had a thought: what if it wasn't the original Executioner who rose, but the collective resentment of the families that did and it causes the Fierce Corpse to go on a rampage? Libration would be impossible at this point and normally fails unless the wish is like a last mean or a new item of clothes. But also Suppression is a bad choice as well because it is only treating the symptoms, not the source and if you keep suppressing then you end up with something like the legendary Xuanwu of Slaughter or the Burial Mounds." He continues and everyone is now listening in fascinated.

Even Xichen who had been hiding by the window couldn't help listening in.

"That being said, this would leave Elimination as the only option, but it is a waste. The way I see it energy is energy regardless if it is Spiritual or Resentful. Spiritual energy can be used to fill oceans and raise mountains so the opposite can be said for Resentful energy. It could rain oceans and raze mountains to their foundations. But spiritual energy can be used and has been used to harm and kill others before, so who is to say that resentful energy cannot be used to save and protect people? If we could study it and learn what makes it so dangerous and find a away to tame and use it we could use it to fight massive wells of resentful energy like the Burial Mounds and then no place would be forbidden ever again." Wen Ying says impassioned, but quickly ducks as a scrolls soars over his head and smacks into Huaisang behind him.

"How dare you speak of heresy!! You almost had me fold with your intellectual questions but then you go and speak of reversing the natural order!!"

"Who said that what we do is the natural order of things? Yin becomes Yang, Yang becomes Yin, there is always a balance. So why can there another be those who harness resentful energy to do good?" He challenges back now getting angry.

"Your mother thought such a dangerous thoughts and look what happened to her!!" Lan Qiren bellows and Wei Ying gasps before his eyes flash a brilliant silver and his aura explodes outward shoving everyone minus Xichen and his brother to the ground.

"Don't you dare speaks as if you knew her!! Don't you dare say my mother deserves to die when I was fucking 3 years old!!" He shouts stomping up to the pinned teacher. "If you have unresolved issues with a. Dead woman then clearly there is something wrong with you... If you are just another Madam Yu, then. I will not tolerate any abuse you attempt to throw my way... Natural order my ass... And did you not state that Holding Grudges is against the rules, but clearly you are above those rules so they do not apply to you..." He sneers and turns to leave. As he goes his aura suddenly sucks back in as if he didn't nearly crush everyone. Lan Zhan glares at his Uncle and turns to follow the upset boy.

"Uncle will copy Conduct and Etiquette 500 times in handstand." He orders and Lan Qiren is left flabbergasted again. Xichen has to practically smother himself to muffle his laughter at his uncle's dressing down and pretty much shoving his brother together with his remark about Wei Ying's mother. He once made such a comments about the twins mother and that earned him a similar punishment from his youngest nephew.

"This will be easier than I thought..." He mutters to himself.

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Wei Ying wandered around the exotic pet store, his brother's graduation was coming up soon and he wanted to get him a cool gift. But the only animal his brother really liked, Wei Ying was utterly terrified of. There were spiders, birds, weasels and even bunnies and snakes! He spent a bit of time petting the bunnies, contemplating if he should get a pair for himself to cuddle with when his stress levels have reached their limits. Obviously he is sending the gift via their sister since Madam Yu kicked him out when he was 17 and he hasn't been allowed back ever since. But it is hilarious that she can take from the trust fund his parents gave him since he 'owes her for sheltering him and ruining her family all these years.'

He sports an African Grey and is heavily considering bit when he sees a bit of white from the corner of his eye and turns to see a white reptile of some sort. It looks like. Snake, but it has a tuft of fur or hair on its head with cute little nubby horns of sorts and on its tail. He watches it meticulously clean itself and clean its tank, pushing all the dirty things to a corner and then it seemed to notice he was watching and Wei Ying decides right then he will get the cute little Noodle! He looks for a worker and asks for the Grey and the snake, who looks like a normal white snake when he comes back with the worker, but he doesn't question it. He will come back for the bunnies later. Paying upfront for the animals, he takes the cage and carrier tank out to his car before he quickly comes back for the supplies he got for the animals and heads home.

Over the next three hours he sets up temporary indoor aviary for the Grey to get comfortable and then setting the tank up for the snake. He calls his sister to let her know he found a bird for their brother and she promises to stop by in a few days to help him train the bird and to drop off his monthly allowance from both his Trust Fund and what she and her husband set aside for him since her mother has all but stolen his birthright from him. His mother's company was being managed by Madam Yu and Wei Ying hated it. If the world found out the Jiangs were actually bankrupt and stealing money from their foster son it would be a huge scandal, but to keep it on the hush-hush, Madam Yu pays him monthly for his upkeep and silence, but also threatens him. He hates that his reputation was all but ruined by the woman growing up so even if he bitch or complained, no one would believe him.

He hangs up with his sister and starts making dinner and food for the animals. The worker told him the snake was a weird one since it refused to eat anything but fruits and veggies. Wei Ying bought some tofu and decided to test if it would eat it or mushrooms since they were a good meat substitute. Making a fruit salad for the Grey and setting it in his aviary, Wei Ying turned to finish cooking his and the snakes meal before bringing it on a small plate, more like the saucers of one his fancy tea cups, and setting it into the large tank he had set up for it. The snake had refused to come out of the fake burrow, but seeing the tiny cubes of tofu, a nice broccoli and carrot salad and some plain rice on the tiny plate, it slowly came out and then seemed to bow in gratitude to him and waited for him to leave.

Wei Ying realized he was shy and left to go eat his own spicy stir fry and read the pet care books he got...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying found it cute that his strange new snake friend seemed to have a schedule. Whenever he got up for work, the noodle was coiled up under the sunlamp which he set on a timer for the cutie, seemingly meditating. He would remain like that until Wei Ying got showered and dressed for the day and started breakfast. He would even bow his head politely when Wei Ying would bring him his meals. Today was a soft boiled egg with cucumber and avocado sushi rolls.  Carefully putting the meal in the teacup saucer which he has officially retired just for his sweet little Noodle to eat off of.

He set the food in and grabbed the water bowl to clean out and put fresh water in. Pleased with his work, he attended to the Grey and once the feather brain was good to go, he headed out to work for once. Though he normally works from home, there were days he had to go into the office to do actual work. He texted his sister on and off throughout  the day and stalked his brother's Twitter account, liking a good chunk of his tweets and commenting on one of two of them. Over all things were great. He got home to feed the animals, noticing the dirty debris in the snake tank had been pushed into a corner and he smiled softly as he put in his gloves and cleaned it out and put in fresh debris for his little beat freak of a noodle.

He kept practicing with the Grey and as his sister had promised, she had come to visit a couple of days later and she fawns over both the Grey and his snake, whom he took to calling Heishuang. Which is funny considering he is white.

"We have time to get this pretty boy ready for a'Cheng and I am glad you got someone to keep you company, but I thought you would have gotten a bunny?" Jiang Yanli asks.

"I am gonna still get them, but this little guy was so strange, but cute that I couldn't help myself. And he loves fruits and vegetables! He seems to like my tofu cubes the best though." Wei Ying says and sets the fried pieces of tofu onto the saucer and drizzles a bit of sweet soy sauce on them and a the teacup has been made into a bowl of sugar dusted fruits. He sets them in the tank and Heishuang once more bows and waits for them to leave before he begins eating. "He is rather shy, so he will wait until I am not looking to eat. He also cleans his own cage! I come home to a little pile of ruined or soiled debris in the the corner of his cage and all I have to do is grab it real quick and put in some fresh ones as a fair trade."

Yanli blinks and coos at how cute that is and Wei Ying couldn't agree more. They kept this up until the graduation and Jin Zixuan had it recorded for him to watch later. It took months and in that time Wei Ying started to let Heishuang out of his cage often. The snake had explored around at first and seemed to enjoy his potted herb plants by his window in the kitchen, often found dozing in the shade of them on too bright days or threaded through them on cool and cloudy days. He also enjoyed the cushion nearest his genzhung. Well it was his mother's, but still. Wei Ying sometimes taught online music classes and he was talented when it came to the more traditional Chinese instruments verses the more modern Western ones. He played the flute the best, but he wasn't terrible with a violin either.

Noodleji liked to come and sit and watch him play or teach, the snake sometimes would carefully slither up when Wei Ying was just simply practicing and would use his tail to pluck very simple melodies. Wei Ying figures he likes the vibrations from his genzhung, or liked older music as a whole. So when he would leave he turned on the radio to the classical channel and turn it up enough for the animals to not feel lonely but not so loud to brother his neighbors, who already have to deal with the Grey's sudden bursts of energy and noise.

Wei Ying sat at home watching the Graduation on the schools website live while Heishuang had curled up beside him on his favorite cushion. Yanli had come to pick up the bird, whom his brother decided to name Pringles because of his favorite past time of banging around empty Pringles canisters. Not the most creative name but hey, it was his brother's choice, not his. He can hear Pringles shouting with the clapping and cheering for Jiang Cheng, chants of 'Wuv ChengCheng' semi clearly heard. It caused him to laugh as his brother's face turned bright pink while he grabbed his diploma. Turning off the video he turned to Heishuang and smiled sadly.

"I am glad he's finally done with school and soon will be able to get a job and move out... As soon as he is gone from her house, I can finally start pushing back..." He murmurs and dozes off...

Wei Ying moaned softly as he awoke. He had no idea why he did, but then again he was sleeping on the sofa and that was probably why. Slowly getting up he walked into his kitchen to grab some water when he sensed something was no right and slowly turned only to see the flash of a blade. He squeaks and ducks, dropping into a vertical split and open palm striking the attacker in the crotch before he quickly twists and swings his legs up into a horizontal split and spin kicks three more attackers. He gets sot his feet and tries to grab his landline to phone for help, but finds the wires were cut and he is certain his cellphone has also been destroyed.

"Shit, she didn't say he knew how to fight back..." Grunted one of the goons.

"Shut up and grab the little shit!! Hurry!"

Wei Ying bolted he needed to get out of here and there were only three exists. His main door, which they would have blocked or had someone waiting for him on the other side of it, the fire escape in his kitchen, which would take him down to the back alley, which again was not an option and the window in his bedroom, he can free climb his way to the next floor since there was an abandoned apartment up there that had access to the roof. Seeing that as his only choice, Wei Ying dodged two more grab attempts, using things he learned from YouTube videos and hanging out with people like Nie Huaisang, Mo Xuanyu, He Su and Lou Qingyang for years! Out of all of them, Lou Qingyang was a martial artist, He Su had self defense lessons, Nie Huaisang was deceptively strong, and Mo Xuanyu was that clumsy person who could actually beat the the crap out of you without trying or meaning to.

Wei Ying picked up things from them since he started off in Tai Chi lessons young but was banned from them when he got better and stronger than Jiang Cheng. Even without training in years, Wei Ying still won most of their spars. He crashes into his room, accidentally knocking Heishuang's tank to the floor and hissing when he cut his feet on the glass, but he needed to get out of there and fast! He will worry about his pet later, but try as he might to get his window open and to ignore the pain in his feet he couldn't get out in time. A black gloves hand clamped firmly over his mouth as strong arms grabbed him tightly and firmly. He kicked and screamed as best he could, hopefully he made enough of a racket to alert his neighbors, but then one of them produces a rag soaked in sleeping agent and presses it harshly to his face. He tries not to breathe while still trying to break free, but it an effort in futility.

"Shh... It will be over before you know it..." One person laughs harshly in his ear and he struggled harder to get away, but he has no choice but to gasp for air and inhale the sleeping agent. He feels instantly overwhelmed and dizzy, his vision going in and out. He is about to pass out when a sudden white glow appears and he swears he sees a snake like man with long white hair appear. But then his world fades to black...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying floated in and out of sleep, his mind in a drug induced fog, as his body felt numb, but oddly weightless. He doesn't know how long he drifts in this state, his thoughts sluggish and just as weighed down as his mind, filtered here to fore. He thought of his biological family, the precious few memories he has of them before they died and he was lost in an unknown city, living between the streets random orphanages and the too few homes that were anything but kind to him until Uncle Jiang found him.

He was grateful to Uncle Jiang for saving him, bringing him home and nursing home back to health. He met his sister, Yanli, who was as sweet and kind as an angel, but could be deceptively terrifying if the mood struck her and he met his grumpy grape of a brother, Jiang Cheng. The boy hadn't been too thrilled at first since his father tried to give away his puppies, just because Wei Ying was scared to death of them. But he managed to convince him to simply house them in a different area of the house and Wei Ying would avoid it so Jiang Cheng can keep them. It has earned him some points with the boy, who still hadn't fully warmed up to him until he scared Wei Ying with a threat of letting his dogs eat him and causing him to run away in terror, only to fall into the lotus pond behind the house and nearly drown.

While his father had started to teach him to swim when he was very young, Wei Ying wasn't very good yet nor did he know how to stay on the surface without help or his floaties. So you can imagine how quick he was to sink into the deep water and nearly drown in a full blown panic. Jiang Cheng had chased after him and tried to help, but being so young and not nearly as good of a swimmer either, they both began to panic. They made enough of a racket to get Yanli's attention and she, even though she was sickly easily dove into the water like a mermaid and pulled them to safety. After she had them dried and dressed, she demanded to know what happened and Jiang Cheng burst into tears and admitted his fault. Wei Ying tried to take the blame, but Yanli refused to let him since her brother knew he was scared of dogs and had knowingly threatened  him with them.

After that they got along, Jiang Cheng promising to never let dogs hurt him again, even promising to train Princess, Jasmine and Little Love to be the bestest of the bestest girls and protect Wei Ying. He has to admit that he did love those three, eventually, especially Jasmine, who always belly crawled to him with her favorite bunny stuffie to cuddle. She seemed to realize he liked bunnies so she always chose bunny toys and cuddled them unlike her sisters who seemed to enjoy tearing their toys to pieces. They knew better than to touch Jasmine's toys though. The only person in the Jiang Household who refused to like him, accept him or even be remotely kind to him, was Madam Yu. She hated him for breathing.

She accused him of being Uncle Jiang's bastard child since apparently the mand had a thing for Wei Ying's mom. But no matter what he never cleared the air and Wei Ying kinda resented him for that. The last dregs of childhood were spent in mixed emotions of love and comfort to hatred and resentment. He was abused by the Madam, who always claimed that Jiang Fengmian loved him more than their son. But anyone with eyes could see that was untrue. Not even when his own children begged him to stop their mother from hurting Wei Ying, he did and said nothing. By the time Wei Ying was 17, Uncle Jiang had passed away due to a fatal heart attack while at a charity event. After that he was kicked out of the house and for the last few years has lived on his own, working and paying for his own schooling.

However, Wei Ying learned that his parents were rather well off, very well off in fact. His mother was the daughter of the world renouned musician, Baoshan Sanren. She also owned serval schools and companies, three of which Wei Ying's parents were the heads of. He found out from Uncle Jiang's solicitor that he had a trust fund and that Madam Yu has been using it all these years. He had to wait until he was either 25, if he got into a high ranked school for his higher education , or 30 if he did any extra schooling like becoming a doctor and the final  way to get it was for him to get married. Once one of those happened he would be able to use his full trust fund and eventually get control of his family's personal accounts and companies.

He had been furious when he found out and had stormed up to the Jiang Property to demand answers from Madam Yu, who had no say or right to his money or his companies, but she had ignored him and when she did decide to tell him, through the intercom fo all things to boot, that he owes her for letting him live, letting him eat at her table, sleep in her home and steal the love and attention fo her husband from her her and her children. That his mother owes it to her for ruining her life and marriage. That she will see him die in the gutter like his whore of a mother. And that if he tried anything, she will ensure bad things will happen.

Wei Ying had been left horror struck at the thought of her hurting his precious few loved ones just to hurt him. She had done it before. She had hurt Jiang Cheng when they were younger and learning Tai Chi together. When it was obvious that Wei Ying was better than her son, she had broken his arm and told Wei Ying that it is his fault she had to do it. She had given Yanli a mild poison that made her severely sick when she got a call from the school about him creating an LBGTQ+ drama club to rive the regular drama club since they won't let a woman play a man's role, or vice versa and refused to address the trans and non binary members by their preferred pronouns. It caused a bit of a ruckus, but ultimately was resolved peacefully and they wanted to inform her that he was getting a special ward for his actions.

After that, Jasmine got hit by a truck and was killed, since out of the three, Wei Ying got along with Jasmine the most. She blamed Wei Ying for placing higher than Jiang Cheng on their midterms that final year of highschool. And when he then got into a good college despite her attempts to sabotage him at every turn, a college that was better than Jiang Cheng's, she poisoned Little Love who happened to be pregnant. It devastated Jiang Cheng, who had quickly given Princess away to keep her safe from the monster he called his mother. After that the siblings made a plan, Wei Ying would do what he could tk stay under the radar but still get what he needs done. Jiang Yanli, who had finished college already and was due to marry would convince her husband to help her pay for his living expenses since his allowance from the trust fund was so small due to her mother stealing his money and causing him to get financial penalties. Jiang Cheng was to pretend he resents Wei Ying and cut all communion with him. It was painful, but then worked around it with dummy accounts on social media and back up ones to keep in contact.

As soon as Jiang Cheng graduated, and was out of the house and thus no longer a hostage for Madam Yu to use against Wei Ying, he can go at her anyway he desired. But somehow she must have found out because even if the men didn't say who hired them or their client's name, he knew that only Madam Yu would hire them to get rid of him. He was so tired of it all, maybe dying will be better in the long run?

"... Do not die." A voice, low and rich, deep like a the soothing roar of the ocean whispered in his ear.

 He turned away from it, he was in pain, his soul hurt his mind hurt, his heart hurt. His body bore scars of years of abuse, he was likely to die alone anyway, so why bother living?

"Wei Ying will not die, this one forbids it..." He moaned and slowly opened his eyes to glare at the one being so demanding only to stare in awe of a very handsome man with long white hair piercing golden eyes and a broad, ripped torso. A naked torso...

Wei Ying jolts awake fully and presses back against the wall behind him in shock only to scream when he realizes where legs should be was a very long serpentine tail!

"What-!?" He squeaks out.

"This one is the one you call Heishuang. However that is not this one's name. This one is Lan Zhan, Lan Wangji of the Celestial Dragon Clan of Gusu." He bows deeply to him and Wei Ying does the only logical thing: he faints because nope, no, he is dead or hallucinating right now...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Wei Ying giggles excitedly as he helped dress the Ducklings in cute animal costumes, some wanted to be monsters and a couple wanted to be their role models! A'Yuan was dressed as an adorable bunny while Lan Jingyi was dressed as a black cat and Ooyang Zizhen was dressed as a simple ghost. They were excited to try the Yunmeng tradition on this day. You see in Yunmeng there was a festival celebrated where everyone wore costumes of things they either love, wish to be, or fear to dance and play, many sweets are often given on this day and the most important reason of all to do this in the kids minds was their their beloved Senior Wei was born this day.

Wei Ying had forgone his usual robes for an alluring dancer outfit that revealed much of his body, his gauzy viel made it hard for anyone to see who he truly was and it was incredibly rare for him to be let out of the Cloud Recesses, especially on his own birthday. He grabbed a bright pink rope and tossed it out and little hand holds dropped down it's length. He calls the children to grab one of the handles and to not let go no matter what. They quickly do as ordered and he takes the lead of the rope and off they troupe towards the Wen Village. Apparently, a'Yuan told his Auntie Qing and she told the family and they opted to try and recreate the tradition as well as to do something for their savior who has given up and continues to give up so much for them.

The gate guards frown at their brightly colored group, sneering at Wei Ying himself, but he shows them the special token he was given to be able to go out and they let the group through, but not before saying some hurtful things, never realizing Children can be more demonic than the most fearsome demons when you snub someone or something they love. And they would find out come morning to never bully Senior Wei again...

Wei Ying walked the children along the path to the village, it is much to early in the day for the festival, but it had to be adjust for the Lan Schedule and the fact that there was quite a bit of travel for the tiny feet of the children, who range from 3-6. Once they get to the ward lines of the Village, Wen Ning appears wearing a more traditional Fierce Corpse Costume, paper talisman included hung before his face as he greets them. The children give playful shrieks and run up to him and he easily bends down to allow them all to clamor on as best they can and he carries them all into the village proper. The place is a riot of colors and the air full of savory smells and familiar spices. Wei Ying smiles and walks along greeting everyone as the children are slowly set down and are allowed to go play with the games and toys the Aunties and Uncles put together. The grannies having cooked the feast for later and some of the grandpa's handing out sweets and treats.

The place was a bit more lively than normal, some people from Caiyi having heard about this festival from the Aunties who did the shopping leading up to this event came to part taken because it was new and sounded fun. The same was said for some of the Disciples who came for the lectures that year and Wei Ying gasps in delight when he spots a woman in purple and runs up to his sister, who is heavily pregnant again with her second child, dressed like a Goddess while her hands actually had a golden peacock costume on and Wei Ying couldn't help but burt into laughter. His nephew was dressed like a mini Yiling Laozu and was not afraid to whack your knees with his bamboo glue if you said anything mean about his beloved Da-Jiu!

Even Nie Huaisang heard about this because of course he did and he was dressed like a pampered mistress and was even being carried around in a sedan! Spoiled thing that he was. He was shocked to spot Nie Mingjue dressed like an Ogre and giving playful roars as children attempt to hit the wooden plank on his chest to win a prize. Lan Xichen was dressed normally, but he had a simple mask that made him into a Mourner tied to the side of his face. He was quite pleased and even helping the grannies move heavy baskets. In all honesty the old biddies were too busy fawning over how strong and handsome he was, grousing that their current or late spouses weren't nearly as pretty to look at or as attentive as he was. He just smiles and assures them that he doesn't mind.

There is a sudden hush as someone dressed in dark blues and blacks with a thick black hood walks through the crowd of civilians and Cultivators alike. Wei Ying noticed the tension and gasps when the man pulls the hood off to reveal a Dragon Emperor clad Lan Zhan, even the headdress! Everyone gasps and murmurs in awe as he bows to Wei Ying and holds up a present. It is a basket and when the man looks in it, he gasps seeing a black female bunny, her white mate and several balls of white to black baby bunnies. They each had on miniature robes of all of Wei Ying's friends and family!

"Happy birthday, Wei Ying..." He intones and the younger male easily cuddles up to him once Wen Qing, dressed as a Heavenly Empress, takes the basket and the pair share a kiss.

"Alright, enough dog food!!" Jiang Cheng shouts as he wears a traditional Yunmeng Festival uniform. "Get your fool ass to the center stage! It's best to get to the highlight of today before it gets too dark and the little ones crash from all the sugar!" He grumps.

Wei Ying laughs and pulls away to run and do an amazing series of handsprings, flips and sticks the landing in the heart of the stage, having gotten everyone's attention. The sun was low enough now to paint the world in a reddish orange glow, and the lanterns shown brightly. Wei Ying spins once to draw the remaining stragglers attention as the Jiangs get to their positions and Jiang Cheng gives a mighty war cry and begins drumming the others follow and it is an amazing show. The Jiangs, while nobility, often mingled with the common folk and learned various talents. Lady Jiang normally danced with her brother, but due to her pregnancy opted to sing various folksongs and play her Pipa. Wei Ying danced with amazing grace and skill, even without a golden core, it was hard to not notice bits of his sowed forms in his dances.

Lan Zhan held a'Yuan in his arms as they watch their beloved Wei Ying dance and glow. You wouldn't believe he fell from grace with how radiant he is! As his finally dance comes to an end, the sun is newly set and the feast and the fireworks show finally begin. As the family of three surrounded by friends, family and their amazing little Ducklings , enjoy the show, they cannot help but smile. Their future was not what they wanted, but for now they were content...

In the morning there were screams as the two mean guards found their rooms filled with bugs and a pumpkin carved convincingly like a human head on the floor. If a'Yuan ran into a semi scary Gege, who looked similar to his mama, and payed him five cinnamon chews and two candied apples to carve it, then no one needs to know...

Cue Yang had intended to cause chaos at the secret party, but had ended up enjoying himself because of all the sweets and the fact the people were in costumes and no one was even being remotely rude. He ran into some bunny clad kid who tried to talk shop with him when he noticed he was carving the gourds to look rather convincingly terrifying. He would normally just jack what he could, but the kid was three and hadn't harmed anyone and that was just cruel since it was done to him so often. Cue Yang 'haggled' the price to a handful of candies, a spicy sweet kind of Yunmeng specialty apparently, and a couple of candied apples and got to work. The child even gave him a token to use to later out the finished item in the rooms of the two meanies who hurt his Mam's feelings. When he heard that he frowned and asked who his ma was and when he saw the Yiling Laozu, dancing and singing on the stage, he felt amazed. The energy was charged and he smirks and agrees. If he kept the token so he can come sneak in whenever he wanted to spend time with the Laozu's adorable kid, then that was his business...

Lan Zhan said nothing as the homicidal teen came and went as long as he didn't harm his child or wife. If he makes sure there is a room just for Xue Yang, with a pile of sweets, some money and a name every so often. Then that was his business. And if a week after one the boy's visits that person dies a gruesome death? Why does it concern him?

Especially when some of the names were the Elders who clipped his beloved wife's wings....

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Ever since his parents died he wore a veil to hide his face and whenever in possible he fashions gloves to cover his hands. The old man at the inn had said he was very pretty and tried to touch him like he sometimes saw Baba touch Mama, who always giggled and told him to wait until a'Ying fell asleep. He was not an adult or married his his parents so that means that the old man was doing something bad. He had slapped the man while scared and the man let out an unearthly scream. Wei Ying watched in horror as the man began to wither away before his eyes. The skin going black and then off grey like ash as it ate away at his face.

He grabbed his parents things and ran away. After that he spent years on the streets avoiding people who tried to touch him like the old man did, sometimes he would touch their hands or jab at them with his fingers and they let out inhuman screams of pain and agony as where he touched would wither away. He had thought he would be saved from the streets around the time he was 8 or 9, but the man who claimed to be good friends with his father had took off his veil and after seeing his face, had commented that he looked as pretty as his mother. That wouldn't have been bad if the man hadn't commented on how he should train him up and keep him locked in his bed chambers. Wei Ying tried to hurt him like the others but he seemingly was not affected and had managed to get his thingie out and was rubbing it up and down. Wei Ying screamed and suddenly a black skeletal hand shot out of the ground and grabbed the man by his thingie and the scream be let out will haunt many for years as Wei Ying ran away. He left Yiling then and wandered out into the wilderness.

He ended up in a small poor village at the base of a mountain that looked oddly like a sleeping Buddha. He was scared of the adults and often hid from them. So he was not expecting a little boy, who had been chasing a kitten to find him and not suffer from his touch, when Wei Ying had screamed in fright and tried to run away and the boy grabbed his hand to stop him. He was coaxed to meet his granny, who reminded him of some of the old aunties who use to give him shelter or leftovers back in Yiling. She was bent and leaned on a cane, even if she didn't look that old yet. He was terrified of her son however. Uncle Four as the man asked to be called had not taken it to heart and left.

It would be months later that he would tell them of what happened and Granny would sit the children down to explain what sex was and what rape is and what the difference between the two was. Wen Ning and Wen Qing were familiar with the concept since they were studying medicine and how to heal and not to mention that most of their family was doctors. Granny was curious about his 'bad touch' and had her son and one of her nephews find a sick and half mad dog. They were going to kill it anyway since anyone who got attacked by a half mad dog often became gravely I'll and acted like a feral animal themselves and died if not treated in time or put out of their misery.

They learned the. He was terrified of dogs, but had in fact used his 'bad touch' to kill the dog. It was a slow and agonizing death. Granny and the other adults watched for hours as the black ate away and nothing but bone was left behind. The bones were blacked as well, as if burnt, but were far from brittle. In fact it took them melting them in the forge to even damage them and the black metal like substance was very powerful and durable. They had never seen anything of the sort and needed to run tests and do research. After that Wei Ying was made a member of their town and family, he learned medicine and other handy tools and studied Cultivation under Granny Wen's instructions, which they learned he was a prodigy with how quickly he learned and made breakthroughs.

Wen Qing was impressed, but pretended she wasn't, though she helped research the strange mystery behind his 'Bad Touch' while Wen Ning enjoyed having a friend who his bullies for cousins could chase away or steal from him. Wei Ying slowly got use to the adults and learned so trust them. Though he will never be full comfortable around older men. Not everything he touches dies from his touch and clearly he can touch people and be touched for health exams without harming anyone. So it has to be based on his emotions or acted based off the intentions of the person touching him and if Wei Ying was scared of them or just generally scared. Wen Ning started calling his touch 'Withering' since that is what happens to those he touches.

Wei Ying tries not to think too much on the people he has killed in self defense, which Granny has assured him that no one would blame him when they tried to pray on a child. He throws himself into his daily lessons, chores and just living a happy life.

By the time he was 16, he has mastered his Wither ability, but feels better wearing gloves that cover all of his fingers minus his forefingers and thumbs. He has mastered everything he was taught, the Six Gentlemanly arts and has formed a powerful golden core. He still wears a veil when he goes out, but he also wears female garb so people don't bring it so strange seeing a man in a veil. He avoids Wen Chao and Wen Xu, the bully cousins of his sister and brother. He wants to avoid the temptation of grabbing their throats and watching them wither away. But he also hates that lately that Wen Ruohan has been snooping around and has threatened everyone to force Qing-Jie to serve him as his personal doctor. And he really hates that he is sending them to Gusu without much choice. Wen Chao was even tasked to escort them and Wei Ying really wants to just end him because the bastard constantly picks in Wen Ning!

But kk ows if he kills him then everyone back home would suffer the consequences. The three siblings had at least quickly slapped together and appropriate gift for the Lan's, Wei Ying made up some amazing anti fire wards and arrays for them. Wen Qing made copies of some of the oldest medical texts her family owned for them and even Wen Ning made a bow of sturdy black pine for each of the Twin Jades. If nothing else they will hopefully endear themselves to the Lan's when they crash the Lectures so late...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying was glad to finally see the gates of the Cloud Recesses as they created the final set of stairs. The trip was already a long one, but made even longer with Wen Chao's bitching and complaining, wasting time unnecessarily at inns, the few brothels along the way and harassing people just for the pleasure of it. Wen Qing had kept Wei Ying from nearly killing him with his Wither ability while Wen Ning tried to be as invisible as possible throughout most of the trip. Getting the gifts ready and having put on simple white robes to try and make it clear that at least three of them were trying to be polite, they got to the gates where Wen Chao proceeded to make a scene and then break into the Recesses.

Wei Ying cursed under his breath as he helped tend to the two guards who had been hurt. This forced Wen Chao to hold his horses because Wen Qing was not shy about stabbing him with her needles and she would tell his father about the delays and his bratty behavior. By the time they finished patching up the guards, Lan Qiren had come to see what had interrupted the welcoming ceremony. At his sides were his nephews and behind them was all the guests disciples and even Lan Disciples who were curious and wary of the scene before them.

"Wonderful, he's going to make an even bigger scene... Can I please just--"

Even think about taking off those gloves and I will chop off your hands..." Wen Qing growls with such finality in her tone he sulks. They finish up and quickly bow to their soon to be hosts when Wen Chao is done MAKKNG an ass of himself. "This one apologizes to Grandmaster Lan. We know we are late and do not have an invitation. However, Sect Leader Wen should have sent word ahead of us about our arrival and why we are joining... If it has not, then here is a secondary copy..." She pulls up the letter and holds it out to Lan Qiren, who takes it and sees that indeed bit is the Chief Cultivator's penmenship.

"So you wish to study medicine and healing while your brothers are here for etiquette lessons... Very well." He huffs and the three quickly pull out the gifts. Wen Qing hands over the copies of the medical texts she made, Wen Ning handed over a box of homemade teas and Wei Ying steps forward to offer the two bows he made for the Twin Jades, who slowly accept them from him.

As the bows left his hands, he chanced a glance up at the famous Jades of Lan and felt his breath still in his lungs. They were indeed very beautiful, peerless and unblemished in anyway. He felt unkempt and ugly in their eyes as he looks down and backs away, only to be kicked on the ass by Wen Chao and shoved into the twins. He gasped and flailed as he tried to avoid crashing into the beautiful men, but also blindly reaching out for something to grab for stability. However his hands clasped fabric and not just any fabric. No, it was the ends of the famous Lan ribbons. He yelped as he fell, the ribbons coming undone and it was utterly silent, minus Wen Chao's howling laughter, before all hell broke loose...

Chapter Text

Wei Ying slowly sat up, wincing from where he had hurt his hands and elbow upon his landing, the ribbons still clutched in his hands and when he blinked the pain out of his face and looked down at them he was at first confused but then Granny's voice suddenly echoed in his mind:

"Remember, a'Qing, a'Ning, a'Ying: The Gusu Lan forehead ribbon is sacred to them, do not touch them without permission and try not to tease them about it either. Touching the ribbon is forbidden and seen as an assault upon their person."

Oh dear Guanyin, he just assumed the twin Jades of Lan! He is going to be killed! He tunes into all the shouting going on and it seems Grandmaster Lan is demanding Wei Ying be whipped for his audacity to touch and even remove his nephews forehead ribbons. Wen Chao was vastly amused and only argued with him just to rile him up further, increasing how much he would be whipped. Wen Qing and Wen Ning were struck silent at how much of mess just happened and were unsure what they can do to protect their brother, but any actions they take will make it so much worse for him and their family, already once word reaches Wen Ruohan about the 'assault' he will punish their family as whole.

The twin Jades on the other hand were ignoring the chaos as they felt... Unleashed for the first time since they were children. Lan Xichen watched the others with slightly widened eyes, draconic slits appearing in his eyes as Lan Wangji looked down at their future wife, who looked so scared. Slowly they look to one another and have a quick silent conversation and then they nod. The kneel down to were their future bride is still on the floor, frowning at the bruises and scratches she got from the harsh landing. He had tried to avoid crashing into their person's and fell between them, catching the ribs in the way down, very likely because he was trying to stop his own fall at the same time. 

Xichen pulled a jar of healing salve out and began to apply it gently to his bride's hands and admired how small and thin they were, they looked perfect for either playing the Guqin or maybe a Xiao. This startled the boy to look at him and yes, the boy is indeed beautiful. They had thought so when he first stepped forward to gift them with the black bows, their first courting gifts now. Wangji dipped his fingers into the jar and began to carefully rub it into the small wounds on their sweet little bunny's face making him look at Wangji, who sucked in a small breath at the beautiful silver of his eyes. Pure moonlight and stardust silver that shown with a liveliness that he wishes to protect always.

Their actions drew the attention of the others and once they finished treating the younger boy's injuries they calmly tie their ribbons onto each of his wrists, making their Uncle shout again in a garbled protest. Wen Chao sneered and called him a worthless bitch that his crusty old aunt adopted. Wei Ying snapped then. He jumped to his feet and spun around so sharply it startled everyone. He walked up to Wen Chao and backed him up to the ease of the stairs and leaned into his ear as the other flailed to keep his balance.

"You can attack me, assault me, harass me and even insult me... But never, ever touch my family... If you or anyone who associates with you ever do... I will make you suffer like no other..." He promises and pulls away and blows in his face making him tumble down the stairs , his guard running to save him. Wen Zhuliu stopped beside him, a stern glare on his face and Wei Ying turns a bright smile to him.

"If I were you, I would really thing about what it means to owe someone your life. Making others pay off your debt is no better than being a bully and a tyrant yourself. You are no better than the people who tried to kill you, Zhao Zhuliu." He tells him and he flinches the tiniest bit and nods once to go tend to Wen Chao.

Wei Ying spun on heel once more startling the Lan's and he walks up to Lan Qiren and cuts a deep and apologetic bow.

"This one sincerely apologizes for the actions of his cousin and the unintentional assault upon the Jades of Lan. If punishment must be meted out then this one humbly accepts it." He says softly.

Lan Qiren sputters and then harrunphs softly as the boy knows he did something wrong and is not trying to get out of his punishment perhaps only 20 lashes will do and with a normal whip rather than the discipline whip that he originally wanted. He had heard word of a boy with Cangse Sanren's face but his father's coloring. He brushed it off since the woman hasn't been heard of in years. But then at a discussion conference about a four years ago, Jiang Fengmian announced that Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren had died and their child had gone missing. He had searched silently for years for the child, but had to give up and assume the child was dead.

It made him wonder if the Rumors were true or not about the supposed child of that woman. But here and now he saw a mini Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren. The boy was a perfect blend of the two. Dressed as he is in reds and blacks, he looks so much like his father, if he worse a more feminine cut, he would look like his mother. That though irked him to ko end. That devil woman..

"There will be no punishment. You did not assault us nor did you intend to. You even avoided crashing into us after you were so rudely kicked forward. Wen-Gongzi, allow me to explain something about our ribbons." Xichen says gently, reaching out to touch his sweet little bunny's hands and pull him out of the bow.

"Popo says they were sacred and we can't touch them without permission or it would be seen as an assault!" He protests.

"She is correct, but do you know why they are sacred?" Xichen asks and when his sweet bunny shakes his head, Wangji steps forward and says, "Only family and spouses are allowed to touch the ribbon. To remove one's ribbon is to release their restraint. You pulled both of ours off... You are now our fiance."

Wei Ying squeaks and looks at the ribbons they had. Wrapped around each of his wrists and then looks at his sister.

"JieJie?!"

".... I am writing to Popo and Uncle Four..." She says and walks away, following a female disciples to the post tower. Wen Ning was flustered and panicking in his adorable way looking between his retreating sister and his confused brother.

"Sorry, Ying-ge, but...." He says softly and Write Hing cannot even fault the poor boy as he turns to hurry after their sister.

He looks back at the twin Jades who look at him with intensity and he gulps.

"Umm... Can.. can we speak about this after... After Popo and Fourth Uncle comes? They are my guardians... I am Wei Ying, Courtesy Wuxian. I am Wen Wing and Wen Ning's adopted brother." He bows lowly to them in greeting.

"Wei... Did you say Wei?" Lan Qiren asks, gripping his beard harshly, a mix of feet and apprehension filling him.

"Yes, why?" He wonders looking back at the stern Grandmaster.

"Is... Is your mother Cangse Sanren?"

"She was... But she and Baba died when I was about 4 years old... They went on a Night Hunt to help the town we were staying in for a couple of days to help pay for our stay. I remember seeing three women in non-descript  clothes leave after them. They ever returned." Wei Ying admits. "I waited until morning for them and went to look and found what was left. I managed to find the undertaker and he buried them in his family graveyard. After that I was left on the streets. I only remember this because Popo taught me how to work past trauma and build a mindscape to store memories." Wei Ying says. "I lived in the town we last stopped at for a few years, begging and eating scraps, getting chased by feral strays and the odd domestic dog at the behest of their owners. I ran away from the town after one too many people tried to trick me into sexual favors, especially this man in purple who claimed he knew my parents."

Lan Qiren stiffened, there is only one clan allowed to use purple in the Jianghu and that was the Jiang Clan. The Twins on the other hand clutched his hands tightly hearing the horrible past of their sweet little fiance. Lan Xichen noticed the gloves then and was curious.

"Did you injure your hands?" He wonders.

"Oh, no, I just like these gloves! He lies and the three Lan's catch it. Even as he smiled brightly and said it so cheerfully, there was a flash of panic in his eyes and the way he flexed his fingers, as if checking something and then the minute tick of relaxing when he found whatever it was. He pulled his hands free of the Twins hold and bowed again and hurries away with an excuse to go speak to his sister, all but running after her.

"That is impossible... Jiang Fengmian said he died... But the child claimed to have seen someone from the Jiang Sect..." Lan Qiren murmurs.

"Uncle." Wangji calls and he looks at his normally very quiet nephew. "Want Wei Wuxian for spouse."

"I agree with Wangji... I can tell he has a pure heart and a kind soul. He will bring back a liveliness that is sorely lacking... And don't start on the rules. They are oppressive, look at Wangji... Look at the children in the Cresh! Children are ment to run around and play, screaming and shouting with joy, not silent or restricted on what they can play..." Xichen speaks up, cutting of his uncle when he opened his mouth to protest. "Those rules killed our mother, we will not let them kill him too."

Lan Wangji calmly walked to stand beside his Uncle and whispered in his ear:

"Remember, Lan Zhe, you only live because you raised us... If not you would have joined those worthless murderers for what they did to us... Or did you forget that your precious Laoshi assaulted our mother and nearly cussed her to miscarry a'Huan?" He pulls away when he feels his uncle tremble under his hand and he bows respectfully tk him. "We will have what we want and you will act as we dictate... If not, your life will be very short lived, Uncle... Just be glad we will make it quick and painless unlike those worthless worms and the thing that sired us...."

With that he walked away wanting to test his bow. Lan Xichen had distracted the others with sending them back to their rooms or chores so no one notices the tension between them. Once it was just Xichen and Lan Qiren, he turns to his uncle his smile a blade on his face and his eyes inhuman and glowing with hidden fury.

"This clan was built in love. You tried to arrange our marriages, the elders tried to arrange yours and former Sect Leader Lan's... You fell in love with a man who fell in love with the daughter of an Immortal band you resented her ever since and now her son is here... And if we have our way will be our bride in the near future. Just because you are one of the few who do not get it have a happy ending does not mean you get to spread the misery... If this clan was about politics and political marriages, we would be no better than the Jins and Jiangs or have you not noticed the last few arranged marriages in those clans ended in disaster... Remember uncle your beloved Wei Changze was supposed to be Jiang Changze, Heir and Sect Leader of Yunmeng Jiang but because of a political marriage he was reduced to a servant and not a Sect Heir. Jiang Fengmian may claim he loved him, but he resents him for marrying Cangse Sanren as much as you do. However it is not because you love her, but Wei Changze. Jiang Fengmian loved Cangse Sanren... Wei Wuxian is their child and you both will either love him or hate him... If you hurt him in any way, you will never see the blade coming..." He then bowed as if he didn't just threaten his nncke or lay out his past sins and secrets and left the old man there.

Lan Qiren contemplated for just a moment if he should trip himself down the stairs and let it all end? It would surely be more painless than his nephews plans....

Wei Ying was a nervous wreck for the whole two weeks it would take Popo and Uncle Four to make the trip to speak about the engagement band haggle the Bride price. Wen Qing chaperoned her brother's meetings with his finances and the dates with Wen Ning sometimes joining. Classes were also interesting, Lan Qiren was a strict and firm instructor, his etiquette lessons helped to shape the future leaders on how to act during public events, the future ladies learned how to be seen and and behave, but also got lessons from a female instructor ob the delicate and cutthroat art of female politics. Wen Wing could care less, but found them enjoyable never the less, she was a doctor, but also the favored niece of the Wen Sect Leader, she often had to attend him at events and it was nice to know how to act and speak to others, she was normally too blunt and scathing with her words.

History lessons were. But dryer than the Wen Trio cared for, but it sometimes pays to know this so you can either show proper respect to certain clans or embarrass them depending on the situation. Theory lessons was always a debate because as Much as Lan Qiren wanted to claim otherwise, Wei Ying was a genius and his theories were sound. The only major issue they had was about using Resentful energy. Wei Ying did not admit that he can use use it and control it and he has never really been affected by it, but accepts the dismal from the class, though throwing scrolls at him was uncalled for.

So yes, he was nervous as he waited for Uncle Four and Granny to crest the top of the stairs, a pair of Lan Disciples carrying granny on a palanquin since those stairs were too long for her. Uncle Four laughed softly even as he was a bit winded by the climb and gently holds his arms out to Wei Ying, who dashes forward to give him a quick hug. He had finally gotten use to the men in his new family, but they always wait for him to inneshiate contact first. They know about his Wither ability and try not to trigger him like when he was younger. He still wore his veils in public but he was still beautiful even if only you can see his eyes.

Granny was helped out of her palanquin and Wei Ying all but tackled her in a hug.

"My Ying-er got himself two fisnces, I hear... I told you were very beautiful." She jokes and he whines hiding his face behind the billowy sleeves of his robes. People quickly realized he switched between female and male clothes seamlessly or rather his robes were designed to allow him to change from male to female clothes with the pull of a robin or a loosening if a tie. They also realized he never once took off his veil while around others.

Minus when it fell off when he first arrived and was kicked, no one saw his face again. Those who were lucky enough to see it whispered about his Fae like beauty. Though they always made sure neither Jade was near by, some people who talked about how beautiful Wei Wuxian was near them got punished harshly for gossip and daring to try and woo him.

"Popo, I swear it was an accident!"

"Be that as it may, rules are still rules, Ying-er I taught you this." She gently pinches his cheek and he pouts but nods. "Now, guide me to these fiances of yours and I will get started on getting you a decent bride price." She says firmly.

Wei Ying giggles because he knows Granny will be brutal in her negotiations. She will be thrice damned if she didn't see her grandchildren happily married before she died. Wen Qing was a stubborn thing and has yet to find someone to marry and very likely will not marry. But Wen Ning might be able to marry if he finds someone who suits his shy nature. Someone who can be gentle with him but defend him against the bullying of others. But also be vulnerable enough to trigger Wen Ning's rare, but volatile rage.

"My life is a chaotic mess..." Wei Ying sighs and guides his granny and Uncle towards the Magnolia room to meet his future husbands and in-laws...

Chapter Text

-major time skip and scene change-

The sound of battle echoed across the valley walls like the dull roar of a thunderstorm at sea. The Rebellion had been betrayed, fed false information that trapped them here surrounded on one side with Qishan Wens army and on the other, demonic puppets being controlled by Wen Ruohan's mad dog, Xue Yang. Lan Xichen fought as best he could, angry tears filling his eyes because he had thought Meng Yao was his friend, the he would not lie to him and yet it was the information from Meng Yao that led them here. Nie Mingjue stood protectively over Wen Qing as she was doing her best to save a fallen Jin Disciple's life.

They had dismissed her warnings, her words. The information she brought them and shared with them if they help her find her missing brother and leave her branch of the Wen Main family alone. They had not wanted any part of the war or the machinations of their leader, but had no other choice when he realized the talent of his niece in medicine though he seemed her brothers as useless. One was sickly and weak while the other was much to childish and flighty. She even went as far as to allow her youngest brother and a few cousins to sneak into Yunmeng Jiang and retrieve the corpses of the Master and Madam, while also breaking their children out of the Jiang dungeons. They had managed to get to them in time to prevent the lose of the now Sect Leader's core and the rape and humiliation of Maiden Jiang with their timing. Her other brother had been missing since he helped rescue the young masters and ladies from the Indoctrination camp after Wen Chao had abandoned them to be eat and killed by the Xuanwu of Slaughter.

Her remaining family was being held in the Unclean Realms, but Young Master Nie has promised he would not let them be harmed or mistreated. They were hostages to ensure her cooperation and yet they refused to listen to a Wen Bitch. And now they were paying for it. The remaining Jiangs fought hard and killed anyone in red, especially the new leader. The few Jins who had joined the Heir of Lanling in aiding the fight were being over run because when the ambush began the one known as Meng Yao had proudly displayed his new robes with flames and golden crests depicting him as someone in high standing in the Wen hierarchy. He denounced his ties to the Nie and told them that the Jins had been helping Wen Ruohan this whole time. It caused chaos and now they were losing too many.

"Damn it... A'Ying... Jiejie's sorry, she won't be able to find you this time..." She sobs as she realizes that she was likely going to die either in this battle, captured by her Uncle and tried and executed for treason, or by these people who will not see people, just Wens. She has endured insults and attempts on her life, she even put up with sexual harassment while helping as best she could so she could get help finding her brother. Meng Yao called out for one final volley, this one likely to kill everyone but when the arrows began to fall, they froze and the fires around them flickered from a bright orangey red, to a deep and hypnotically brilliant green. And then war drums were suddenly being dumped in a rhythmic, but energizing beat. Over the valley a single male voice speaks out:

In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity

All warfare is based on deception

She gasped because she knew that voice! Many others were confused or thought they might know the voice, but among the younger generation of fighters, one Lan looked up in shock and hope, his golden eyes searching for the figure in red and white, looking for a sunny smile and high ponytail. But then the ground began shaking and rising from it was various monsters and creatures of an undead nature. Fierce Corpses, feral corpses, standard zombies, skeletons, ghouls and so much more. Both human and nonhuman. And then someone pointed up at the tallest point of the Valley and there in blood red, grave black and ash gray, stood Wei Wuxian, his hair down in a half up style, voices began whispering ang growing louder until they were singing loudly over head:

It's always on the verge

This pent up rage that's building up

You know you can't fight the urge

We're burning higher, warming up

Let it all out (blood, blood, blood)

Keeping your vow (blood, for the Blood God)

We want it now (blood, blood, blood)

Going out of control

We're the voices in your head

Gonna scream and shout we want them dead

Gonna turn your vision red

The battle never ends

We're the voices in your mind

Our justice must be blind

Let chaos be divine

The Blade will never die

As the voices sang, both male and female alike, all of them full of rage and manic delight. The army of undead burst into action, attacking and killing the Wen army, destroying the Demonic Puppets as Xue Yang screamed in outrage and tried to attack Wei Ying, but also he was manic with delight and glee, wondering if he can torture the secrets out of him before he kills him. He lunges for his back, taking advantage of Wei Ying's seemingly oblivious state but then a woman in red suddenly appears and claws him across his left thigh, deep and long, all the way to the bone. She then says:

zhī bǐ zhījǐ

Know thyself, know thy enemy

bǎizhànbùdài

A thousand battles, a thousand victories

And then the voices call out again while Wei Ying calmly pulls out a jar full of strange looking sand and six black skulls.

Burning remains, light the funeral pyre

Breaking it up, 'cause we're tearing it down

Branding the truth on a world of liars

Please your God and release the hounds

Let it all out (blood, blood, blood)

Keeping your vow (blood, for the Blood God)

We want it now (blood, blood, blood)

Going out of control

With every chant of blood, the monsters grow more frantic and crazed, spurned on by the singing even as the Wens begin to retreat. But they don't get far because Wei Ying fills the tsix skulls with the strange looking sand and smalls them down on mounds of grave soil when he puts the last two skulls down in the center of each grave soil pile, the skulls eyes light up with the same eerie green flames as they begin to rise, the sand and grave soil swirling in twin tornadoes around the skulls forming a spine ribs and three neck joints connected to them and the skulls float to the belt formed bodies and attack themselves as the voice grow louder, excited and frenzied by the appearance of not one but two massive monsters. Wei Ying whistles sharply and they let out either rattling shrieks.

You don't need sanity when you have anarchy

You don't need government when you have covenant with your God

Make them wither away, make their foundations decay

You see it coming, it's judgement day

The massive skeletal monsters began spitting out hellfire from their mouths and creating explosions of resentment that took out the Demonic puppets and the remaining Wens as Wei Ying jumped down, floating on a cloud of resentment and he walked forward through the stunned Rebels as he heads up to the city gates and with a a sneer he lets his blackened hands touch the great shn carved gate doors and they began to rapidly age and rot before ultimately withering away. Meng Yao had fled quickly into the city to warn Wen Ruohan, but Wei Ying's war path was not slowed or stopped in the slightest. The Rebels shock off their shock and hurried after their strange and unexpected ally. Wen Qing was horrified of what happened to her brother. His hands were black and from she could see it was spreading up his neck and ever onto his face! She quickly finished patching up her patients, needing to get to Wei Ying and get him to come back to himself!

We're the voices in your head

Gonna scream and shout we want them dead

Gonna turn your vision red

The battle never ends

We're the voices in your mind

Our justice must be blind

Let chaos be divine

The Blade will never die

There was a wake of withered corpses, decay and rot. However the non Cultivators and the few who did have golden cores, but were innocent were left alone and Wen Qing quickly ran up to Nie Mingjue and grabbed his arm when he nearly cut down one of the Cultivators left alive!

"Stop!! My brother is leaving some alive either because they did not commit grievous acts or if they did it is so they can be tried and punished justly!! Please don't kill anyone!! Even like this... Whatever this state is, he knows who needs to die and who needs to be properly punished vs those who are wholly innocent or had no choice but to serve Wen Ruohan! Please, J am begging you to listen to me!!" She cries and he does stop, part of him, the part that was still bitter and hateful of all things Wen due to his father's sudden and untimely death, but he also sees the logic in her reasoning. Besides he doesn't want to be on the receiving end of water this... Power is.

Suddenly the voices got quiet as they whisper in everyone's ears, even those within the palace. Xue Yang's dying scream the only real loud noise for a moment. And then they voices grew steadily in volume, but also in frantic pacing until they were shouting for all tk hear:

You know you're one of us

There's no escaping us

There's no one you can trust

So leave them all for dust

You know you're one of us (one of us)

There's no escaping us (one of us)

There's no one you can trust (one of us)

So leave them all for dust (one of us)

We're the voices in your head

Gonna scream and shout we want them dead

Gonna turn your vision red

The battle never ends

We're the voices in your mind

Our justice must be blind

Let chaos be Divine

The Blade will never die

As the song and drumming came to an abrupt end the rebels had caught up to Wei Ying who stood at one of the foundation stones and touched it. The stone began to water and crumble away, but not just the one he touched but all of them. And like a domino effect the Inferno Palace began collapsing in on itself. Lan Zhan watched this all happen with wide and terrified eyes.

"Wen-Daifu!?" He calls to her as she draws level with him, his brother, Jiang Wanyin, Jin Zixuan and Nie Mingjue joining them not even a moment later. "What..."

"... Wei Ying has always had this power, ever since he was a very little boy... He didn't know how to use it, only when he was scared or in danger did it ever manifest. Many people tried to hurt him, rape him, or kill him. A man claimed to have known his parents and a'Ying would have blindly believed him had he not try to molest Wei Ying not even a moment later..." She begins telling them with unease welling in her chest. "When Wei Ying touched the man and he didn't get hurt like the others, he grew even more scared but a skeletal hand withered and blackened shit out for the ground and grabbed the man's nuts and like with anyone or anything that gets touched with the that power, it withered, rotted and very likely fell off of had to be removed before it could spread further along his body and eventually kill him."

"Is that why he covers his face? Or is it because this ability scarred him?" Mingjue wonders gruffly having seen the veil that covered his face before he had gone missing and even now.

"No, it is because he is utterly beguiling. His mother was a beauty when she was a live and her husband was quite handsome, they made a very beautiful child together and Wei Ying, even now is an unparalleled beauty... But a'Ying's powers have never been like this... This powerful nor has he displayed such fine control of it. It is why he wore specially made gloves to protect not only himself but others as well. We called the ability Withering because as you can see anything it touches withers away and decays instantly..."

They watched as the palace finally collapses, Meng Yao and Wen Ruohan with all his most trusted or loyal followers having just barely escaped the collapse. She noticed only key places remained in damaged, likely the libraries, the to treasuries and private collections, but also innocent people who were trapped for now in those rooms. 

"Wei Ying... He's not well.."

"No, he's not... But until this is over and I can speak to him and evaluate him, I cannot be certain what happened or if he changed at all.."

"Oh he has changed alright, look at this wake!!" Jiang Wanyin snarls waving at everything around them.

"Do shut up!" Wen Qing snaps back. "My brother has suffered a lot of trauma in his life and his power gets out of control when he's scared, hurt or overly emotional, especially when angry... But .." she doesn't know how to finish or justify what they have witnessed it is not until those great skeletal monsters come back that anyone tenses that is until they spot Wen Wing and appear to be waiting eagerly for her. She slowly walks off forward and ignores the men behinder hissing for her to come back or to stop. She reached out a hand and touched the monster to her left and instead of being harmed she feels a gentle coolness to it and begins petting one and then the other.

"JieJie..." She sees her brother walking towards her as the monsters stop being cute in massively terrifying way and face her Uncle and his cohorts.

"Wen Qing!! Why didn't you tell me about his powers!? I could have trained him well into a perfect soldier for Qishan Wen!!" Her uncle bellows out both furious and in utter awe.

"You would have crushed his soul!! I knew, even at a young age, that you would have destroyed him to make him your perfect weapon!! I knew as strange as his power was, you would have tried tk harness it!! You did it to Wen Zhuliu and you did it to the Xue boy!! And look where that led them; their deaths!!"

Chapter Text

Wen Ruohan burst into laughter as he flew down to where the leaders of the Sunshot Campaign were standing. Wen Qing had come to stand near Wei Ying, gently touching his shoulder and he visibly relaxes at her touch and she pulls him to her chest and buried his head near her heart.

"They died because they were weak!" Wen Ruohan shouts.

"They only died because you sent them to their deaths as you have done with so many people both family and enemies alike!! Like hell was I letting you hurt a'Ying!!" She yells back furious. "You are even thinking of hurting him right now!! You think that if you offer him his heart's desires that he will join you! You tried to destroy what he wants!! You forced him to reveal himself and likely ruined any future he had!!"

She was practically snarling as she holds Wei Ying closer as he tenses in her hold. His two giant skeletons snarl and rattle as their greenish blue eyes blaze brighter and they let out unearthly shrieks.

"What are these?" Meng Yao wonders eyeing the monsters with curiosity but also apprehension.

"Withers..." Wei Ying murmurs to his sister. "Manifestations of my rage and anguish... I need special skulls and soul sand to make them... They can only be found in Lianzhung Hill..."

"I see." She sighs in relief because that means no one can get them so easily, but it makes her tense that Wei Ying knew where to get them and had been able to get them. "Go to your Lan's, they have missed you."

"But..."

"Xiao Ying!" Lan Xichen calls and pulls him from his sister as Lan Zhan joins him and they pretty much squish their adorable fiance between them. "We were so worried about you..."

"... You... You were? You... You still want me?" Wei Ying asks shocked and with such a painfully tiny voice as if he could not understand why they still want him.

"Mn, Wei Ying is Wei Ying... Wei Ying is ours..." Lan Zhan says and it melts the smaller male. Lan Xichen picks him up, frowning at how small and light he is.

"Our Xiao Ying is too light... A'Zhan, we will need to feed him properly."

"Mn, Gege is correct." Lan Zhan nods seeing how thin their beloved BB has gotten, he was never a heavy person to begin with, but even for his svelte frame, he was much too skinny. They tune back into the conversation, or rather the argument between niece and uncle, Lan Xichen glaring murderously at Meng Yao, who was glaring at Wei Ying as if he stole something from him. The others had joined them, Nie Mingjue tense and uneasy, but with all the help that Wen Qing has provided and listening to the horrors her and her family have suffered he felt himself rearranging his world view. He was also worried about the Wei boy, he was one of the too few genuine friends his brother made and when he had gone missing it really worried Nie Huaisang.

Jin Zixuan was glad to see the annoying boy was alive, but he was worried because he looked so tired and pale. Jiang Wanyin glared at Wei Ying, who was happily cuddling with his fiances, a lot of the tension leaving him and letting them see just how utterly exhausted he is. When the argument got too heated he snapped open red eyes and one of his Withers opened it's mouths and fired a flaming skull at one of Wen Ruohan's generals refusing him to blackened ash.

"Will you shut up!? You lost! Take it gracefully or I will show you what happened when you piss me off and I won't just destroy your house!!" Wei Ying snaps irritable.

"Shh, Xiao Ying, don't let them ruin your cuddle session... Though I will ask you to please use your ability on that lying snake..." Xichen says softly while glaring at Meng Yao. Wei Ying follows his line of sight and glares as well, unimpressed and more than happy to do as his lover asked. Lan Zhan just pulls a snack from his sleeve and feeds it tk him and he calms again, content to be fed and cuddled for now...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

The classroom was buzzing with activity, the students were all mingling, mostly those from the other sects and clans, but a few from the Lan Clan were at least attempting to make friends if not acquaintances. The most chatty of the group was the Head Disciple of Yunmeng Jiang. He was a happy and bright young man and the Lan's had never seen anyone so pretty before. His laughter was musical and happy, he was free with his touches, which was a bit unnerving at first, but many found that they did not mind it too much.

What they did mind was Heir Jiang's attitude and how he constantly blames and belittles Wei-Gongzi. Even the few Jiang Disciples who had stayed for the lectures looked sour faced, but they couldn't really say anything to the Heir who in turn turned his ire on them. Which in turn caused Wei-Gongzi to draw that ire to himself. What was the point of trying to protect their Dashixiong from Jiang Wanyin, when he would just make himself the target anyway? The most they could do was try to engage their Dashixiong in games or idle chatter since they couldn't risk their Heir writing back to the Madam and having said Madam call their Dashixiong home. The idle chatter petered out when the bells sounded the hour for lessons and everyone followed the Lan's example to sit down. They had started explaining about some of the rules and why they were in place, but would need to do it later now.

Everyone had just settled into their places at their desks when the doors quietly open and two men who could pass for twins walk in. One had a gentle and smiling face, he nodded to a few of the Lan's who nod back or seemed to turn pink with delight at having been acknowledged while the more stern faced one walked to the desk and set down the scrolls that he had selected for today's lesson. Turning to face his students, he bows slightly to greet them and they stand as one and bow back in greetings as well.

"This one is Lan Wangji, this one will be your Laoshi for these lectures." He states in a low, monotoned voice, but it doesn't distract from how ethereal he appears to be. He bids them all to sit and his brother calls up each clan one at a time and they present the gifts they had prepared. Though many were wondering where old man Lan was.

What no one outside of the inner family of the Lan Family know is that most of the Elders, their Uncle  and father included, had been killed in revenge for the hands they had in the Twin Jades mother's death. Those who survived the slaughter, promised fealty or were too scared to try and cross the Twin Jades. Especially, Lan Wangji, who had somehow learned and mastered the Assassination Chords. They had seen how proficient he was at using them when he killed the Elders who hid the fact that their mother had been assaulted by one of the Elders and killed him in self defense. They called her a murderer and tried to have her killed to hide their sins. They would have killed Lan Xichen, who had been an unborn babe at the time. They allowed them to see that Lan Wangji had unlocked the Dragon blood of their clan before he slaughtered them all.

They killed their father for imprisoning their mother and allowing her to be so poorly treated that she ultimately took her own life just to be free. They also resented that they were the results of rape and not love. They swore that should they have ever fallen in love, they would never cage their beloved. They would rather suffer in silence than see them fade and ultimately die in a pretty cage. The gifts were presented and accepted. Most were things that would have pleased their Uncle, had he been around, but they accept them never the less. They had just called up the Jiang Sect when the doors to the classroom were thrown open and in came the Wens.

"How dare the Lans not invite the Wen Clan to heir pathetic little Lectures..." Sneers Wen Chao, but then he pales seeing the glowing golden eyes of the younger Lan brother, his face impassive, but you can sense the danger he exudes.

"We did send an invite and his excellency sent a reply stating that Qishan shall handle the education of its disciples. So we have not snubbed the Wens, if his excellency did not inform you, Wen-Gongzi, then it is something you simply must bring up with his excellency. If you are here to join, then you will need to wait a moment since another Clan was presenting their gifts to us." Xichen says with a smile that does not reach his eyes.

Wen Chao is sweating because he is pinned under the golden glare of the younger brother, as if the man can see his very soul and finds it lacking. He is left frozen for so long that only becomes aware of anything when his cousins have been requested to sit and Lan Xichen has ordered some rather impressive guards to escort Wen Chao and his men back to the gates and secure them. He couldn't protest or anything. By the time he was able to really react the gates were shut behind him and the large guards stood there glaring at them with blank faces. Wen Chao had no choice but to leave...

"Apologies, Jiang-Gongzi, but you were saying?" Lan Xichen asks.

The Jiang Heir nods and restarts his speech while Wei-Gongzi brought forward the box filled with scrolls and sample talismans. As he was passing the box to Lan Wangji, the older male caught a peculiar scent and blinked his golden eyes, feeling them slit slightly as he looked down at the young man. His brother must have caught the reaction because his light brown eyes brightened to an almost gold color as he smiled genuinely at the young man.

"We thank you for the gifts... Now then please sit so we may go over the rules we expect the guests to follow and why some of these rules are there. We will not cover all three thousand of them, but know that we will be down sizing them in the next few years... Now then..."

After lessons for the day, Wei Ying was quickly asked to join some Lan Disciples to tour the Recesses and a few others joined them, especially Nie Huaisang, who had seen the spark between his friend and his brother's best friends. And if he caught the smile on Xichen-ge's smile correctly, then he will be welcomed to meddle as much as he could safely get away with to push Wei Ying towards Lan Wangji. If they also did it to keep the volatile Jiang Heir away from him, then that was their business...

Chapter Text

Later that night, Wei Ying couldn't sleep, the silence of the night much too quiet for his tastes. He is used to the sounds of the late night market or even the sounds of the boats gently knocking against the docks. The air was also too cool, where Yunmeng was hot and humid, even in winter, the sounds of insects and night creatures calling to the night. Slowly sitting up and pulling on his outer robes, he slips from the room while his brother was deeply sleeping and likely to not wake until morning. Pulling on his boots, he sets off on the path to one of the gardens that the Lan's had shown him earlier in the day. The Lan's truly kept the 'silent and tranquil ' vibes even sleeping. He couldn't hear anyone who wasn't a guest disciple snoring or anything. He wandered to one of the gardens on the edge of the main areas, hoping to avoid any late night patrols as he sits down on the bench and carefully pulls an old and well worn Qiankun pouch from his sleeve and pulls out an old locket. The silver guilded cover cracks open easily and inside was a single lock of hair from his parents, carefully preserved with spells and enchantments. He brings it close and the warm scents of cinnamon and lilies, his mother's scent mixed with warm earth after rain and spices, his father's scent, mixed in harmony and he was able to relax.

He closes the locket and presses a kiss to it as he lets the silence slowly becomes a norm for him, even if silence meant danger and ill fate. The night his parents had died, it had been silent. The first time Madam Yu had hurt him had also been silent. Silence was always a prelude to much pain and suffering in his life. He hated silence. He startles when he senses someone too near and turns to see Lan-Laoshi standing at the foot of the bench he had sat on. He blushes and quickly jumps up into a deep bow, mentally cursing his inability to obey even the simplest of rules.

"Forgive this one, I know it is after curfew, but I couldn't sleep... It is too quiet..." He admits truthfully.

He startles again when a large hand, long fingers all elegant and mildly calloused from playing an instrument rather than from holding a sword, cupped his chin and he looked up. The moon was behind his Laoshi and it.... It left an impact on his heart. He was a beautiful man and with the moon haloing him, he looked more like a god made flesh. Wei Ying wanted to somehow instantly capture this image in an instant portrait, like a device that could make a painting with a single click of a button or some such. He didn't realize that similar thoughts were floating in his Laoshi's mind. The dragon blood gently simmering with the desire to own, claim and possess the pretty young man, but he was only a child of 16. He needed to wait until he was at least 20 before anything beyond friendship could happen between them. And even then, the child might not like him back in the same way, even if he smells of want and mild lust.

"You are from Yunmeng... Is it not too cold to put so late?" He wonders as a chilled breeze blows by in that moment and the boy shivers.

"Y-yes... Um... But..." The boy tries to stammer out an excuse or an explanation, neither of which Lan Zhan cares to hear, but he slowly drops his hand and takes hold of the locket he had seen the boy holding. He had felt instantly jealous and angry, but the boh had looked melancholic while holding it. "Ah, that's... That's my a'Niang's!" He cries out in protest.

Lan Zhan holds it a bit more delicately then, knowing how infinitely precious a trinket from a beloved parent was. He admires the craftsman, clearly handmade and skillfully done. Perhaps a courtship trinket once upon a time, turned momento. He carefully opens it to find the scent s that had drawn him closer before, the scent of love and family. He closes it again and hands it back to his student. Wei Ying takes it gratefully and puts it away once more, still nervous and shy. Lan Zhan tells him to follow him and he does, looking dejected. But when they move past his brother's residence and towards the kitchens, the boy blinks confused. Lan Zhan enters the kitchen and finds some milk, honey and a jar of spiced magnolia petals. He sets to work making magnolia milk tea and once it is nice and warm, he pours a couple of cups and sets them at the small table where he had gently banished Wei Ying to.

"My Muqin learned this from her sworn sister... She would make this when I was much younger and had a bad dream... I make it now and then to remember the good memories of her." He admits softly.

Wei Ying gasps and looks at him with wide silver eyes before he seems to understand and blushes, ducking his head down and does not offer an empty platitude. He takes a cup and carefully takes a sip and lets out a pleased little hum of delight.

"Oh, I think my a'Die and a'Niang made this for me once... But my memories or so bad, I can't really tell if it is true or just something I wish was true... But I remember lavender and lotus.... My a'Niang used lavender milk and a'Die would make lotus milk... I think..." Wei Ying closes his eyes and scrunches his face up cutely in deep thought.

Lan Zhan wants to lightly brush his finger against his nose, it reminds him of a cute little bunny with how it scrunches up and lightly twitches. Wei Ying takes another sip of the tea and purrs contentedly, even as he tries to recall.

"Perhaps this Laoshi can teach Wei-Gongzi some memory exercises that will allow one to recall most of not all lost memories and keep them and any thoughts or new ones well organized. That is if Wei-Gongzi wishes to spend a bit of extra time after lessons?" Lan Zhan offers, his draconic eyes glittering with desire to see his treasure more often.

"Really? But isn't that against your rules?" Wei Ying wonders with both hope and worry.

"It is not. It is a skill anyone can learn. Most have a good memory to begin with, it was developed to help those who suffered from traumatic memory loss or had memory curses placed on them. It also helped victims recall details of crimes committed against them to help bring justice about." He assures softly.

"I see... If Laoshi thinks it will help, then I don't mind spending more time after lessons... Perhaps every other day? Many of my age mates have been very kind thus far and want to learn some things we do in Yunmeng, like Kite Shooting and how our sword style is so wild, but elegant, at least according to Nie-xiong." Wei Ying agrees happily enough.

"Mm, this Laoshi is pleased Wei-Gongzi is making friends and said friends are genuinely happy to broaden their knowledge and skills... Perhaps when we have sword lessons you would be willing to demonstrate the Jiang style? I will asks the others to have their best swordsman also show off their respective styles as well... But now it is late. This Laoshi will allow you to return to your chambers unpunished to night, but do not make it a habit. If you wish for more of this to help you relax and sleep, you may use the bell in your chambers to speak to Nainai and ask her to make you some Magnolia Milk tea. She will gladly make it and send you a pot to help you relax and rest." He says when he sees Wei Ying give a sleepy yawn.

"Ok... Thank you, Laoshi... And please call me Wei Ying..."

"If that is what Wei Ying desires... Now come, This Laoshi will walk you..." Lan Zhan says and helps him stand up and all but carries him back to his rooms. Once the noise in the room settles down and he can hear two sleeping heart beats, does he turn to leave, spotting his brother with a sleeping Nie Huaisang draped in his arms.

"Brother, did you wear him out again?" He asks.

"Huaisang is not as delicate as he likes to portray and even then, I know his limits..." Lan Xichen chuckles darkly as he moves past to drop off his little lover in his bed chambers and tuck him into bed. "Besides no one but you, he and I know what we have been up to. And I don't doubt you will soon be joining me in such activities with Wei-Gongzi shortly if I know you as well as I do..."

"Mm...."

Chapter Text

Wei Ying kept to his best behavior after that night, struck by how otherworldly his Laoshi looked in the moonlight. He was glad that the rules the guests were expected to follow were not many, but there for not only the protection of the young teens, but also of their reputations and those of the Hosting Clan as well. As much as many wheedled him to sneak in wine, he didn't dare risk it. He didn't want to disappoint his Laoshi who had kept his promise to begin teaching him mental techniques that were slowly, but surely showing a marked difference in his memories. He is slowly able to recall actual memories that had been severely twisted in his mind, in their more proper forms, recalling details he missed in others and he was able to build a library in his mind scape to put his ideas, good, bad and the in-between.

They didn't always spend that time meditating or practicing building his mind scape, sometimes they talked in depth about his inquiries, theory, and his raw talent at inventing spells, arrays, talismans, and tools to make hunting easier. He also spent time with his age mates, he had a large friend group with almost every clan in attendance with a few exceptions of course. He was currently playing with Nie Huaisang, He Su, and Wen Ning in the stream they found in the back mountain, Wei Ying showing them how to fish with only their bare hands. So far, Wen Ning and Nie Huaisang were hopeless at catching, but they were having fun trying. He Su managed to catch one but had slipped and fallen, losing his fish in the process. Wei Ying had caught a couple dozen by now and was just catching and releasing the the ones he got now since he didn't want to over fish.

Meat wasn't allowed in the Cloud Recesses, but they made an allowance for the lectures, mostly fish, but on occasion they made chicken as well. Wei Ying laughed as he spooked Huaisang intj thinking he was drowning, but when the others laughed, Wen Ning shyly helping him stand up in the thigh high water, he flushed red with embarrassment.

"Here you are!! What are you doing, losing Yunmeng Jiang face again!?" Came the voice that had quickly become the most hated besides one of the Jins, and instantly all the good humor left even as Wei Ying kept his smile, but this one, Huaisang noticed was more like an empty mask of the one he had seconds ago or the one everyone sees when they find him and Lan Wangji talking after lessons or walking to the library.

Anyone with enough sense and eyes knew that Wei Ying was crushing hard on the Second Jade and the older man clearly felt affection for the lively boy. He somehow managed to worm his way into the hearts of everyone, including a very curt and standoffish Wen Qing when she found him defending her brother from the Jins and then pulling him to practice shooting his bow. The young man had a talent for teaching and clearly had a soft spot for the young and innocent. She had even seen him playing with the youngest members of the Lan Clan the few times anyone under the age of 10 was seen thus far.

"Ah, why would you think I did that? They wanted to learn how to fish and I was teaching them!" He smiles softly.

"Tch, if that is true then why the hell is Lan Fong-gui looking for you!? He said he needed to see you urgently!" Jiang Cheng shouted, glaring at Wei Ying, who blinked wide eyes, looking genuinely confused.

"Jiang-Xiong!" Huaisang quickly wades out fk the water, squeezing the excess out of them once on land and taking a towel that was in the basket to the left of the one holding the fish, to dry off a bit more. "Lan Fong-gui, is the current Talisman Master of the Lan Clan, if he is looking for Wei-Xiong, then it is not that he did something bad, but likely did something to get the fussy old man excited!" He reassures.

However, Jiang Cheng bristles instead. He's been rather angry that he is being overlooked by the Twin Jades and almost all the Lans because they are all too busy fawning of Wei Wuxian. Wei Ying however, hearing who the Lan was, quickly gets out, also drying off as did Wen Ning and He Su, they were getting back into their other robes when Wen Qing walked around the bend with Lou Qingyang, Qing Su and Jiang Yanli, the for girls were quietly chatting and sometimes there were giggles from at least Qin Su and Yanli before they realized the boys were there and they all, minus Wen Qing spun their backs to them faces red. Wen Qing, as a doctor from a very young age, quickly glanced them all up and down once, assessing for injuries but finding none, nods and looks closer at her brother, who looked far more relaxed than he has ever been in his life after the sudden deaths of their parents and several of their aunts, uncles and cousins.

"A'Ning, come." She calls firmly. "Zewu-Jun said that they will be hosting an archery tournament to test how much everyone has improved. He wanted to know if you would like to join in to try and get over your stage fright."

"Ah, um.... Y- ye- yes..." He agrees and moves a bit quicker and hurrying to her side once he was dressed and as dried as he could get without changing his clothes. The others finish up and Wei Ying picks up the basket. He will drop it off with Nainai to see if she would make fish dumplings soup with them. Or maybe grilled fillet of fish.

"I will go see this Lan Fong-gui after I drop this off with the aunties in the kitchens." Wei Ying says, he hopes he can finish the chat quickly because he wants to watch Wen Ning in the tournament.

"I swear, ai will break you damned legs if you cause trouble or make Yunmeng lose face!!" Jiang Cheng snarls, but is cuffed on the head by his sister who is frowning heavily at him.

"Jiang Cheng, that is going to far. A'Xian has not caused any trouble at all. There have been no complaints or overly much mischief. And what little there is, it is being kept away from the public eye so Yunmeng Jiang is not losing any face whatsoever on his end. You, on the other hand, have been getting into arguments and have broken several rules thus far, mostly the no yelling rule and the no belittling rule." She has her hands on her hips and is giving him that look that has everyone suddenly feeling like naughty children who were caught sneaking sweets before supper.

"Ah, Lady Jiang, company." Lan Xichen says as he comes up from a different path, a glowing silver robe wrapped around a at least 6 Zombies. "I was fetching live targets for the advanced archers to use during their tournament. Is something the matter?" He wonders softly, his smile gentle, but Huaisang knows his lover well, that smile was deception in the purest form. He must have been there for a while, watching and listening. He mentally snorts about him casually breaking the eavesdropping rule and right now, the no lying rule. But then again, after the hell that the previous rulers of the clan put his mother through, Huaisang cannot blame Xichen-ge.

And you can't call it lying if he had his proof in his literal hands.

"No, Lan-Zhongzhu, forgive us for our loudness..." Jiang Yanli cuts a perfect bow of apology.

Huaisang has to admit if things had been different, he could see the petite Lady Jiang being with Xichen-ge. They both had that gentle aura and kind persona, but both had spines of steel and a super low-key killer aura. He hasn't seen much of it from Lady Jiangs, but the few times, like just now, where she either uses her brothers' full names or a takes a certain tone, it belies danger.

A rose has its thorns after all.

"I see. But you need not apologize, this area is just outside of the barrier that marks the edge of Cloud Recesses. However, if the issue persists, I am more than happy to help mediate it. Now then best hurry or you will be late to join the tournament, the ladies will also be having a go." Lan Xichen says and Lou Qingyang perks up and begins bullying the boys to move it.

Xichen catches his lover's eyes and they have a whole conversation with just a single glance, slight ticks to their facial expressions and the barest motions of their heads and Xichen's eyes narrow as he looks at the Jiang Heir. He will need to speak with Wangji about the brat and how he treats Wei Wuxian. The boy is far too bright and brilliant to allow this abuse to continue. He will begin drafting his letter as soon as the afternoon's activities are done with to go along with the marriage purposely he had drafter after he had seen Wangji out his soon to be little lover to bed that first night. He is certain that Wangji will take exception to Jiang Wanyin's constant verbal abuse of his precious little Wei.

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The sounds of battle was a full roar as the screams of the dead deafened him. He was lost. He had struggled and fought for so long to keep those he loved safe and they were all but gone. The Wens who called him their own, his son, his siblings... And even now his beloved had jumped between him and his former brother, Sandu piercing through his heart and ont of his back. The tip coated in brilliant crimson and the white robes quickly dying blood red as well. His world shattered then and as if the world suddenly went mute and dark, a bolt from heaven dropped the brilliant crimson light causing everything to stop and freeze. The fighting Cultivators and the undead stopped and watched as three more bolts all a deeper red than the first struck. Four was an unlucky number and yet in this moment is was significantly glorious and lucky.

One would think the Heavens were aiding in riding the world of an Evil, but as the bolts vanished their stood Wei Wuxian, while and healthy one more, a faint glow declaring him immortal. He had passed his trials, had sacrificed everything he had to give and even as he spiraled into suicidal thoughts, a single prayer to start again, to stop this madness from the beginning. To ensure all he loved lived. And then he held up a hand and the Stygian Tiger Amulet flew to him and he closed his fist and it burst into dust that blew away to never cause trouble again. Many screamed in outrage and fury at it's destruction, but he could care less. He then drew an array in the air and just as he was activating it, Jiang Wanyin thrust his sword into his stomach. Wei Ying looked down at the mortal brat and smiled softly, somehow a part of him still loved the little back stabbing bastard. So he will not kill him, but he will not be there to save him from his mother and his own poison....

"Goodbye." And then a black bolt shot up from the earth and everything was gone...

Wei Ying awoke in the Burial Mounds as a child, somehow that was confusing until one his mort loyal Ghost Brides apparel and gracefully bowed to him.

"Mighty Immortal, this lowly ghost has brought her master and his parents to the heart of Lianzhung Hill." She says. "Daifu is treating Master Wei and Mistress Cangse."

"Thank you, Zise." Wei Ying says, getting up from the bed that has clearly been carefully restored by someone. It was soft and warm, the room was made from dark woods and ash infused paint. The place reeked of death, but it was oddly comforting at this point. It was his home and his personal hell.

Two more ghosts appear, their faces covered in Mourner Veils. In their hands were beautiful black robes embroidered in gold and rube red threads of a mighty Phoenix rising from its ashes. He noted the spider lilies that decorated his shoulders and sleeves of his robes. He smiled softly as they help him bath and dress, his hair was combed and carefully braided on the top half and the then left to hand down with a beautiful golden hair net of butterflies and spider lilies helped pin it in place. It was a simple and understated crown, decorated with rubies and black glass like gemstones. Once ready he followed his ghost bride, Zise, to the healing ward and he sees he is in a palace of sorts. It is under construction by the Fierce Corpses and the Ghouls, many ghosts flew to and fro, bringing materials and tools as needed. Skeletons stood at key points, spears held firmly in boney hands. They were standing guard, seemingly weak, but Wei Ying senses their strong resentment.

They snap salutes as he walks by and he nods once, naming each one as he goes. Many have forgotten their names, so he gave them new ones. Those who managed to keep their names, preened at hearing their names being called. Once they got to the Healing ward, Zise floated into the air, her red dress turning to mist as she glares at her fellow Red Brides, who had been wondering if the pair on the bed would die and if their master would let them eat them. She slaps one of the more disloyal ones on the head with her sharp claws. Wei Ying snapped his fingers and they froze.

"My Mama and Baba are not food or pets to be played with... If they are harmed or killed... I will ensure you never reincarnate... Zîsè, find Labahua and Meigui, tell them to come stand guard of my parents. Were is old man Cho?"

"He is finishing clearing the fields."

He smiles softly and thanks her. He turns to the others brides who whimper as he lets his eyes turn red, he may be a toddler again, just barely 5 years old, he is immortal and much of his knowledge and memories came back with him. He turned to Daifu, who waited patiently for his attention before they bow and in a voice that was neither male or female, said:

"Master and Mistress have been gravely injured, but this one is most knowledgeable, however the resentment is not good for the bodies or souls of the living... Daifu will need skilled living Healers to help." They said.

"I know such doctors. Someone find me Wen Chong and send him to me. I have work to do for him to be ready to speak with his relatives and convince them come aid us. I will need one of the fresher Corpses as well, I want to purchase as much as possible to make living here better. I will sort out those willing to remain and aid me and those who wish to move on finally. Anyone who proves to be too dangerous or a major nuisance, they will be destroyed."

"Yes my lord..." The Brides say as one and bow, before they leave.

Pleased he turns to his parents and sees that he had indeed grown to look much like his mother, even if he had his father's brow and ears. He gently sits beside them and waits for his orders to followed...

Word spread that supposedly Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren had been killed on a night hunt. Not long after that an entire village was burned to the ground and none survived. Even the Madam Lan had suddenly vanished, many speculated the Lan Elders had been responsible for it. They heard rumors of Madam Lan being imprisoned and punished for a crime she never committed. Rumors that the Lan Elders have been slowly corrupting the clan by brainwashing the children into being obedient puppets, especially the Heirs of the clan.

What no one knew was that they were alive, hidden within Lianzhung Hill. He spent his days clearing the resentment from the living areas and the farms, his personal farm filled with many crops and herbs, especially a specialized hybrid flower of Spider lilies and lotuses. He created perfumes, teas and a special type of silk that he personally weaved and made into bolts of fabric that could retain spell work and amplified it when they were seen in. His family was almost complete. He had his Qing-Jie and Ning-di, he had Lan Zhan's a'Niang safe with his parents, who helped her get over her trauma and retrain herself again. She was amazed at the brilliance of Wei Ying and how he controlled so much at such a Ying age. He eventually told them he was Immortal and had come back in time to stop the pain and suffering that had once filled his life.

Wu Chunli was allowed to send secret messages to her sons and sometimes she would get to see them, with an armored escort of five Fierce Corpses, two Red Brides and one small Ghoul girl who took to the woman as a mother. She was also deadly and strong. Wei Ying had smiled at that and wondered if the two would accept their pseudo sister. He would meet them soon enough, but his focus was on Jiang Yanli for now, he had finished the dresses for her, the teas and medicines to help her when she gets sick and to help her core grow.

Pleased he turns to his farm, he was working on his soybeans, he was looking forward to spicy tofu dumplings when they were ready. He once he got his sister back, he will work on his few friends. The rest of the world can fucking burn....

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The pained whimpers and broken sobs of a man who had been tortured into mute anguish filled the water refinery. A metal chair had been welded to a grate at the bottom of a reservoir that would take contaminated water in and once it is full, will seal off and begin the refining process with a series of electrical currents and a high speed mesh and cloth filter like fan to remove a heavy amount of pollutants from the water before it will be drained out and sent onto a series of natural and manmade filtration systems to make purified water. But that was not why they were there. No, this man had been selling secrets under the table to their rivals and even a few enemies.

That wasn't nice.

They had given him a few chances to clean up his act or to simply leave and they would consider the matter under the rug, but then the man endangered something extremely precious to them.

They could not ignore the matter now.

So they spent the last three days, supposedly at a conference, but in actuality torturing this fool for those three days. They knew what he stole and who he sold it to and who he shared personal information with. Now they were at an end of their little playful date. The man was missing finger nails, fingers, toe nails and toes from both hands and feet. Multiple bones had various breaks in them from the beatings he received. He was missing an eye and part of an ear, many of his teeth had been ripped out and his nose was broken. He had passed out multiple times over the last 72hrs, had vomited from the extreme pain and the horrific sights of seeing his mutilated body, even being forced fed his toes and even his eye.

He couldn't scream anymore, never mind talk, so his pleas fell on deaf ears when suddenly the flood gates opened after his tormentors cleaned up and climbed out of the reservoir. Hundreds, if not thousands of gallons of water came rushing in faster than the speed of sound and within moments the reservoir was full and sealed. If the man didn't drown he would be electrocuted to death and then very likely torn to shreds before what is left of him will be made into purified water which they will either deliver to their enemies territories or simple toss into the incinerator, since they do not wish to poison innocent people with tainted water. They also made a mental not to have the remains fished out and burned before having the entire refinery thoroughly deep cleaned before they begin using it again.

They watch on the CCTV as the fool's end comes and he is disposed of before they give the orders to have the bottles of 'water' sent to Wen Chao's territory once they are done being filled and to have the place thoroughly deep cleaned by the end of the month, five times to be safe, before begining normal operations. Once they were done they had back to their hotel and take long showers before helping each other come and braid their hair. They had just gotten into the shared bed to read a bit before going to sleep when one of their phones ring with a beautiful Guqin, Xiao and Dizi song, an original composition.

"Hello, Xiao Ying..." Greets the oldest twin as he feels his younger brother by only 30 seconds, lean on his shoulder as he switches to video call and they are greeted by the adorable sight of their beloved dressed in Lan Xichen's pajama top and Lan Wangji's smallest pair of shorts, which still sat a bit too big on their lover, but thankfully bhad a draw string sewn in to keep them on his wide hips.

"Hi, a'Huan, a'Zhan!" He greets back, looking sleepy and so very adorable as two fuzz balls twitch beside him and they cannot help but smile at how cute their bunnies look. Both their lover and the animals. "When are you coming home? YingYing is lonely..." He pouts at them so cutely, they have to resist flying home right this second so they can kiss and nibble that pout off his kissable lips.

"We have one more meeting tomorrow morning and if all goes well, by lunchtime we should be back home." Lan Xichen promises and his twin hums his agreement.

"Will bring back a present for Wei Ying." Lan Wangji promises.

"I don't need presents, unless it is my Geges coming home...." He whines softly, but yawns a moment later.

"Wei Ying is sleepy, we will stay on the call until Wei Ying is asleep... Are Heiyu and Yin Lianhua taking good care of our Wei Ying?" Lan Wangji asks, smiling at the two bunnies.

A sleepy hum is their answer as is the sudden sound of Yin Lianhua trying to nibble on the phone, but Wei Ying gently scolds the bunny and moves the phone away from her reach for the moment. They all get settled and the twins begin singing their song to sooth their lover and once he is sleeping, they watch him sleep for a few minutes before hanging up and opting to go to bed themselves. It was likely 3am where their beloved was, and just turning to 9pm here for them. The sooner they sleep, the sooner the meeting happens and the sooner they can be on their way home to their precious lover...

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He dashes behind some rocks, quickly clamping his hands over his mouth and tries to take steady breaths through his nose even as multiple men rush past shouting that he cannot get away, or that he couldn't have gone too far. He presses back against the rock, trying to slow his racing heart and erratic breathing. He listens to the men as they continue to look around searching for him, some chattering nearby as they do so:

"Damn that Wei-brat... He couldn't have gotten too far!"

"I don't understand, why are we chasing him? Isn't Jiang Wanyin Sect Leader?" One the young men ask, likely clueless to what truly happened tonight.

"Yes, Sect Leader Wei chose Jiang Wanyin as his successor, but Wei Wuxian threw a fit and ran off. Sect Leader ordered us to capture him alive." Someone else says, clearly lying.

Like hell did my father choose him as the new Sect Leader! He poisoned my parents and then slit their throats after he forced father to sign over the Sect. But that won't fully happen until I am either dead or marry that Jiang bastard... He thinks glaring into the darkness as he finally calmed enough to try and sneak away. He listens carefully for them as they slowly move away, but they are not so far that they missed the sound of a twig snapping.

He looked down at his foot and sure enough he had stepped on the twig. He bolted before he gave it another thought as the men shout after him. He cannot let them catch him, he refuses to marry that traitorous bastard! Thank goodness he was always the fastest runner, he had made it to the treasury and grabbed as many bags of money and gems as he could before blood locking the deeper vaults. Even with the public vault there was plenty of money to use but they cannot hope to get the rest even if with parents blood. He also used his new spell to back everything in the forbidden section of their library and relic vault. He did the same to his and his parents belongings. He had told a servant to secret his parents' bodies away once the coast was clear and to send off a message to his grandmother as soon as possible. The Jiang bastard may have stolen his sect and home from him, but he had no real power or control since Wei Ying had everything that could boost his status with him.

"Wei Wuxian, stop!!"

He ignores the command, but stops a moment later when he sees a cliff. He looks down into the darkness, unable to tell how far a drop it is before he turns to face the men coming towards him. He glares at them as they slowly surround him and begin coaxing him like a frightened animal but he spits at their feet and jumps back, allowing himself to fall...

Wei Ying moans softly, eyes blearly blinking open a second and he sees someone in white? He reaches out with a weak hand and grabs their wrist.

"H- help..." And he passes out...

He is curious of the mortal who landed in his territory, they were covered in mud and blood, looking very much near death. Carefully weaving spiritual energy around them, he picks them up and slithers off. He will do what he can for now and once the mortal is well enough, he will demand answers, but... He is unsure what to do with the human afterwards. He smells... Pretty and like a potential mate... But his kind only mate once and mating a human is death sentence....

Chapter Text

Wei Ying slowly regained consciousness, at first thinking he was at home, sleeping soundly in his room. He turns on his side and snuggles back into the fur blankets, nice and warm and carrying a cool wintery scent to them. Any moment now, his mother with come and playfully bully him from his bed-- wait, fur? He bolts awake as suddenly everything crashes on him and he recalls his so-called best friend had killed his parents and claimed Wei Ying's birthright to the Triple Flower throne. How half the men who came in as disciples in the last couple of years were loyal to the Jiang bastard and very likely anyone loyal to the Weis would be killed or kicked out, if they didn't end up imprisoned first.

He groans as his body finally catches up with what happened and he falls back onto the super soft bedding, moaning in pain even as he cried and mourned the deaths of his family and those who were loyal to him, who helped raise him since he was a babe to now. He needs to figure out where he is and heal up quickly and travel to Mount Shouyue, the home of his grandmother on his mother's side. His granny may not leave her home very often, choosing to remain unaffected by the idiocy of the Jianghu, but every now and again she likes to cause lowly level panic and chaos, especially if it means she gets to spend time with her beloved daughter and grandson.

He startles when he hears rustling and tries to sit up again, but his ribs protest and he can only lay there and wait for the possible threat to get closer. However he is met with a handsome man with long white hair dressed in pale blues and animal bone jewelry with the odd raw gemstone and polished stones. He looked like a God of the Wilderness, but Wei Ying could not sense anything from him. Either Wei Ying's senses were dulled, or the man was just a normal man and not even a Cultivator.

"You are awake..." He stated, not even surprised, or if he was, he his it well. "Here, some vegetable broth... You have slept for three weeks."

Wei Ying gasps in shock, he must have been in a real terrible state to have slept so long. He thanks the man for his aid when he carefully pulls him into a sitting position, propped up by massive pillows of fur and with weak hands clasps the wooden bowl of warm broth and tries to sip it, but he was too weak. The man doesn't need to mind helping to feed him, but he is very quiet. It makes Wei Ying curious, but not want to break this seemingly unspoken rule of not talking while eating. Once he has drunk two bowls he feels full and says so. The man nods and sets the bowl aside and sets about making medicinal tea. It smells nice, but Wei Ying knows how deceptive the smell is, the tea would be horribly bitter if not outright gross.

One of his personal guards, Xue Yang, always told him that medicine is always bitter and rarely sweet. Poisons, on the other hand, were always sweet, almost sickly so and very rarely did they taste bitter. Of course he always said this as he would make Wei Ying, from a very young age, take sips of various poisons, slowly building his immunity to them, but also teaching him what to look for when it given to hims straight up, but also when mixed with food ans drinks. The most dangerous of poisons had no smell, color or even taste and Xue Yang always emphasized that he must keep a Poison absorbing stone on hand at all times as well as several panaceas just in case. He vaguely wonders if Xue Yang escaped the coup de'tat and if so, where was he now? Xue Yang was a couple of years older than him, a former street rat turned assassin, but his mother beat his ass and dragged him home literally kicking and screaming the whole way.

He was adopted as Wei Ying's big brother, but the boy kept his birth name, after learning that he was descendant of the Mad King Xue Chonghai, a former friend of Wei Ying's granny. He had gone out to restock this poison reserves and some of them were very hard to find, so he was prone to leave fore a few months. He was due back any day now. He also wonders about his Uncle Xingchen, wondering if the older man got out of there safely, he had been visiting when everything went down. Wei Ying had caused a massive distraction to let people escape before he was chased for days on end by Jiang's men.

He sips on the tea when it is passed to him, finding it to be a mild pain tonic before he drinks it with more enthusiasm. The man has no reason to poison him, but Wei Ying is a it hard-pressed to trust blindly for now.

"Thank you... I am Wuxian... Just Wuxian..." He introduces himself, not wanting to give his actual name just in case this man was a Jiang supporter.

"Wangji." Was the simple reply. "Rest, no one will harm you here... This land is fiercely protected and none are allowed without my permission." He says and gets up to leave once the medicine starts working and Wei ayk g yawns sleepily.

"Thank you..." He drifts off missing the snake tail the man was sitting on coil around the bed he was resting in.

"Rest well, Little Prince Wei." He whispers softly. The Wei clan worshipped the White Snake and White Tiger Gods who watched over their lands. He coils fully in his snake form around the bed, keeping his eyes trained on the entrance to his home, ready to kill anyone who dares enter...

Chapter Text

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Wei Ying was growing angrier and more frustrated with the time being wasted trying to play nice with the Jins. He had tried asking politely after he had prevented the public bullying of Lan Zhan, who many were trying to pressure into drinking when they know Lans are forbidden from consuming Alcohol. He broke that rule when he was 16 and found out why when he had to spend the night reigning in a very bratty version of Hanguang-Jun, though he will admit it was hella cute and a little fun, but the fact Lan Zhan got punished for it even though Wei Ying told them he had forced and tricked him into drinking. That had made his stomach twist uncomfortably. It is one thing for Wei Ying to be punished for his own actions or lack there of in certain cases, but it is another when someone else gets hurt because of him.

Of course the fat Jin was being snobbish and obstinate just to be that more annoying and Wei Ying didn't want to wait any longer than he already had, he needed to find Wen Ning and if he found him he could find-- he had no time to waste!! Why couldn't the Gods do their damned jobs for once and make things easier for him!? As if his thoughts were heard a great tornado of spiritual power began to fill the room slamming everyone either into the floor or the nearest wall and pillars as from outside Wen Qing is dragged in from her hiding spot and tossed to land beside Wei Ying, gently, as the doors slammed shut and sealed themselves. Everyone was trying to scream or struggle against the currents of spiritual power as faint pops also filled Glamour Hall as more people are brought in and tossed either gently or not so gently around the room. It  only stops when the faint sound of 7 silver bells chime and everyone is allowed to move and see once more. The room seems to be decided into three groups, the largest being those on Jin Guangshan's side of the room near the dias he sat on, the others sitting with Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan, a considerably smaller group in comparison to the first and the rest, and thus the smallest group sat with Wei Ying, this included Lan Zhan much to everyone's shock. Before anyone can panic or start making demands, the 7 silver bells ring again and they look to the center where seven young children stood ranging from 5 to at least 17.

Four of the children were clearly Juniors, two of them in Lan colors and with the main branch cloud emblem on their ribbons, but one had a brilliant scarlet red ribbon bound in his hair. One in Jin Gold, also sporting a brilliant red hair ribbon, but also had a Jiang Clarity Bell on his belt. And for the Jins, he also had a very familiar sword strapped to his side. The last was a boy from a minor Sect, the Ooyangs by his looks, but he was dressed in Nie colors though the uniform looked much nicer than the standard ones currently worn. There was one more who was the tallest of the group, but dressed in black and gray, heavily frayed and very likely dirty robes. Two chains dangled from his hidden wrists and his hair covered his very pale face. His hands were clasped by two small children a boy who looked about 7 in Lan robes again with inner family motifs and the youngest at 5 a little girl, she had a Lan forehead ribbon, but she wore layers of purple and red, heir hair styles not unlike the current young mistress of Lotus Pier with a single robe of Lan White to blend the colors together.

"Gege, where are we?" She asks, looking up at the two older Lan boys, more specifically the one with the red ribbon.

"This is Glamour Hall, though it somehow looks guadier than I remember it being with the Liar ruling the Sect..." The only Jin says looking around in disgust at all the gold and super flashy decorations. "Wen-Qienbei, did we land at the correct place and time?"

The only Wen among them jolts, his movement both fluid and stilted as he looks up and Wen Qing gives a muffled gasp as she recognized her baby brother's face as he looks around with unblinking eyes too dark for his normally soft grayish blues. He does not let go of the children's hands as he twists himself left and right and nods once.

"This should be right before the first Qiongqi incident, the one that triggered the catalyst and the events to follow... A'Hua, a'Long, hold onto your brother and cousin, do not let go of them unless they tell you to."

"This is the start of everything? But I thought it was because of Wen Ruohan's actions? Shouldn't we have traveled back further?" The Nie clad young man asks.

"Uncle was responsible for the lead up, but it was after the war when all the real pain, misery and tragedy happened. We could not travel further beyond this point or we would erase everything in our timeline. This means you all would have likely not been born or even killed." The Wen says lowly. "I only agreed to allow this to happen to prevent Master Wei's deaths and those of our family."

Wei Ying blinked; deaths? As in more than one? And why the heck does the Wen look familiar and feel familiar and then the black eyes land on him and they shift before everyone's eyes to a humanism grayish blue before they go back to being black. The kids noticed and turned to face who he was looking at and they blink confused.

"M- Master W- Wei?" The Wen asked and that stutter was painfully familiar now to both Wei Ying and Wen Qing. "A'Jie!? I... It has... Been too long... Since I last s- saw you a- a- alive!" He gasps, unable to cry even as he gave the aura that he was.

Wen Qing froze: alive!? As in she died?

"WEI WUXIAN!!!" Jiang Wanyin, from the Guangshan section. Everyone flinches or startles. "What trouble are you causing now!? Why are you causing the Jiang Sect to lose face!?"

The kids snapped towards him, the Lan's looking murderous. A'Hua tugged on her brother's hand and he looks down at her and she points at Jiang Wanyin.

"Is that the man who killed a'Niang twice?" She asks and everyone goes still and quiet. Wei Ying sucks in a breath, his face paling as the innocently asked questions makes everyone freeze, choke in shock or pale in horror.

"Yes, Chunhua, that is sadly my JiuJiu and the man who killed Da-Jiu twice... The Jin says after he kneels down to her level, a sad look on his face as he gently adjusts her buns, deftly adjusting the red ribbons holding her hair in their signature buns.

"A'Ling, do you wanna handle introductions?" The red ribboned Lan asks, his tone calm and polite with a smile similar to Zewu-Jun's, but the icy glare in his eyes spoke of Hanguang-Jun.

A'Long had been quiet for the most part,  looking at the faces of so many familiar and unique familiar people before he spots someone familiar and tugs on his older brother's arm again. The red ribboned Lan looks at him and he shyly points and the strangers turn to look.

"Holy shit is that a baby Hanguang-Jun!?" The other older Lan boy shouts and the Lan's all balk in shock at the very un-Lan like behavior.

"Baba!!" A'Hua gasps with delight and breaks away from her siblings to run to Hanguang-Jun. As she does so everyone sees her silver eyes and her smile and know instantly sho she is related to as she jumps onto Lan Zhan's lap and hugs him tightly. "Baba looks much better! No longer sad or old!" She chirps brightly, cupping Lan Zhan's face and practically pressing hers to his as she studies him intensely.

"Lan Chunhua!" Snaps the red ribboned Lan in a firm tone, identical to Lan Zhan's when he snaps at Wei Ying. "Uncle Ning told you to stay out and not leave my side..." He scolds softly as she jumps down and ducks her head. She has her hands behind her back and twists side to side as she scuffs her shoe against the flagstone flooring.

She looked like a mini female Wei Ying as she did it. She recites what she did wrong while explaining she got so excited to finally recognize a 'safe face' among all the strangers and that it had been their Baba, who looks much better than the one at home. The older males all soften as she gets upset for worrying them and getting scolded, but she is only five, what can one expect. Lan Zhan feels his heart clench as he carefully touches her head and she turns to him, he uses his sleeve to gently daab at her tears.

"No need for tears, a'Hua did nothing wrong, but a'Hua should listen to her Gege and Uncle better..." He tells her softly but firmly.

"Yes, Baba... If Baba is here then where is a'Niang?" She looks around for her mother, and then notices the man in black and red robes sitting not too far from her Baba and gasps. "Baba said that a'Niang was prettier before he came back from his adventure among the stars! Are you a'Niang!?" She hurries to Wei Ying and he startles as she climbs into his lap, instinctively he picks her up with one arm the other supporting her back as she grabs his cheeks and does the same thing she did to Lan Zhan not even a moment before.

This startles the older boys to look at he sole male in black and red robes. They were so use to Mo Xuanyu's face and body, constantly forgetting that Wei Wuxian had been forcibly reincarnated via soul possession ritual. While Mo Xuanyu had had similar features or as Wei Ying inhabited the body for so long his features slowly morphed to be a blend of the precious occupants and Wei Wuxian's features. No one is really sure since the guy always worse badly done makeup and was always a mess. Wei Ying let's the girl examine him as the strangers come over. The Wen gets down and kowtows to Wei Ying.

"Master Wei..." The other boys gasp, minus a'Long who pills from his brother to  come study the face of his mother, the face his older brother got to see but forgot due to sickness and trauma. "It has been too long since I saw your real face..."

"W- Wen Ning... Why... Why do you feel... Feel like a Fierce Corpse?" Wei Ying asks.

"Because I am..." He admits and everyone goes deadly silent. "You see, you would have gotten the information to where I am being held and by the time you get there, I would up have been dead for less than a day. A spirit lure flag, one of the faulty Jin products, stabbed through my ribs. You also would have found the rest of the innocent Wens killed and tossed carelessly into a massive grave pile, elderly, women and children of varyjng ages and you would have lost your temper. In you anger you called to the dead to rise and kill those who killed them. My body got up and went on a rampage only killing 12 guards and then slumping over again once they were dead. The rest attack you and the resentment reacts on its own to protect you while you are lost in the voices of my family speaking to you. The only reason you didn't fully lose it is because granny had a'Yuan with her and kept him safe as best she could. You snap out of it and get the remaining members of my family together and leave, you had a small argument with Lan-Er-Gongzi, telling him that if he were the one to kill you, you would not fight him, but to spare the others especially a'Yuan who was thr only child tk survive the camp."

Many people gaps and suck in breaths of horror the Jins look panicked especially Jin Guangshan, but Jin Guangyao keeps a placid face. He secretly sends a message butterfly to kill all the prisoners and to burn the corpses. But when it tries to fly away unnoticed it suddenly appears before the Jin clad young man and they hear the message Jin Guangyao was trying to send. Said man freezes as Xichen, who was sitting with Jiang Yanli's section looks at him with wide horrified eyes while Nie Mingjue who had been sat in the Guangshan section but even within that Sect there seemed to be factions, glares at the tiny male, who is pale faced.

"Yeah, no. Like hell were we coming back to he last and not setting up an unlimited confinement array without taking in every possible way that someone can try and sneak out, send secret commands or messages... Hello, Liar... I don't miss seeing your face..." The Jin snarls and and to the others shock the red ribboned Lan taps his sister on her head and she looks up.

"A'Hua, remember that flower man who we told you caused all the trouble for a'Niang, killed a'Ling's Mama and Baba and our Aunties and Uncles and granny before you and a'Long were born?" He asks and she nods. He points at the short man and she glares her eyes turning crimson red and suddenly three resentment filled dolls appear and pin Jin Guangyao to the floor, deadly claws held to his neck. "Good girl."

She beams at the praise and turns back to her study of her mother.

"Di.. did that child just--"

"A'Ling, introductions please..." The red ribboned Lan says as he helps his uncle up from the floor after Wei Ying finally got him to stop kowtowing to him. Wen Qing was still horror struck to know that her brother died, all her effort was for not, but somehow he was a sentient Fierce Corpse. She wanted to be furious with Wei Wuxian, but from what she knows of herself, she would have begged him to do something to bring him back to her, even if he was just a mindless zombie or even a spirit forced to haunt the earth, as long as he was near she would have gladly sould her soul to the Devil King himself.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Jin Ling, Jin Rulan, Sect Leader of Lanling Jin, former member of the Four Great Sects. Son of the late Sect Heir Jin Rong, Jin Zixuan and his wife Jiang Yanli, Jin-Er- Furen of the Lanling Jin Sect." He bows and suddenly Jin Zixuan was blushing and sputtering, looking from the young man to his former fiance and back. Jiang Yanli had covered her face with a gasp, taking in her future son, he was a tall and handsome young man, not as tall as the Lan boys but certainly a good height.

It takes another moment longer before there are explosive shouts and cursing. It goes on for about 2 minutes before everyone is suddenly silenced and Jin Ling looks down at a'Long and chuckles, gently ruffling his little cousin's hair.

"Thank you, a'Long."

"Too noisy, disturbing a'Niang is forbidden." He deadpans and every realizes he is a mini Lan Wangji, especially Lan Xichen, who wants so badly to grab his nephew and pinch his round cheeks. Lan Zhan approves of the skill and power the child has but he is still confused on who is a'Niang and why the children are so hyper focused on Wei Ying. Wei Ying on the other hand is surprised and a bit amused at a'Long's actions. He pulls the boy into his lap and he shyly cuddles close.

"As I was saying. This is Nie Song, Nie Zizhen, adopted son of Sect Leader Nie Huaisang and the former Heir of the Bailing Ooyang Sect." He waves at the Nie clad man. Nie Huaisang gasps from Yanli's section as his brother chokes and sputters at the Sect Leader title his brother has and then gives a saddened smile. He knew it, he was going to die young, but when did it happen?

Sect Leader Ooyang on the other hand jumped up to his feet and made death threats against Nie Huaisang, which got Nie Mingjue angry and he towered over the suddenly cowering man, growling at hint o repeat his threats to his face.

"Wow, Uncle... How... Upstanding of you..." Nie Zizhen spits out in Mingjue's direction, glaring at him. "I would be happy and even tickled a little pink, if you were a fucking hypocrite and damned fool." Everyone gasps at the balls on the kid. "And don't get it twisted, I only agreed to be adopted by Sect Leader Nie because we needed someone to keep an eye on the Mastermind. We don't appreciate how you reciprocate your friendship with our Wei-Qienbei." Nie Huaisang gulps at the cold glares he got from the strangers, looking pale and nervous, genuinely so. He wasn't the Mastermind yet, he hadn't yet gone through the events that turned him cold and calloused, to use people and then dump them once they had served their purpose.

But that doesn't erase the fact he put their lives in danger multiple times to force Wei-Qienbei to expose Jin Guangyao's crimes and schemes. It was too little, too late. It also crushed their beloved Qienbei's heart to know that one his last few friends used him.

"A'Song." The un-Lan Lan says softly, and he nods once, but does not apologize or take back his words. Let them fucking hurt.

"Moving on. This is Lan Bai, Lan Jingyi, Zewu-Jun's adopted son and Current Head Disciple of Gusu Lan. He should be about two or three now, newly orphaned what with his father dying in the Sunshot campaign and his mother having contracted sepsis during a night hunt gone wrong." Jin Ling continues without much preamble. The Lan's or shocked to know he's a Lan by birth and even their Sect Leader's soon to be adopted son. Jingyi gives a bow, picture perfect and graceful as one would expect from a Lan, but the cold smirk in his face was very un-Lan like.

Jingyi does not bother with any quips or jabs, Zewu-Jun had suffered enough and with the reveal just moments ago about Jin Guangyao's betrayal, he's not gonna bother rubbing salt in that wound, what the came to do and show them certainly will do that for him.

"And then finally Wen Ning, Wen Qonglin of the Dafan Wen Medical Branch, first Sentient Fierce Corpse and the dreaded Yiling Laozu's Ghost General... A 17 year old boy you all killed because of his family name." Jin Ling hisses and enjoys the flinches and pale faces. If the rest of the room as Wen Ning bows to them politely but not with the usual level of respect he would have shown when he was alive. "Wen-Qienbei if you feel better hiding up high, go for it. I know being in Koi Tower is not comfortable for you since you were forced to watch your sister burn and then be locked away in this golden hellhole for 13 years." Jin Ling adds in.

Wen Qing sucks in a breath as her brother nods and with ease jumps to the high rafters, managing to vanish among the bright sealing on the odd jungle of his chains heard every now and again.

"And to the three most important reasons why we are here... This is Lan Yuan, Lan Sizhui, Heir of Gusu Lan Sect and son of the Current Chief Cultivator, Hanguang-Jun. His brother Lan Long, Lan Heishuang the second son of Hanguang-Jun. And their little sister Lan Chunhua, the only daughter of Hanguang-Jun." He says and everyone cannot help but look at the three red ribbons wearing children. Sizhui had bowed with a coolly police smile on his face while Heishuang cute a curt but no less polite bow with a deadpan stare on his face looking exactly like a mini Lan Wangji while the only girl gets up and carefully courtesies to the room.

"Who is Wangji's wife?" Lan Qiren asks, sitting in one of the mini factions withing Guangshan's faction. He is already making plans to find the woman and arrange her marriage to his nephew quickly so he can get him away from that devil spawn.

As if the time travelers were waiting for someone to ask that. Sizhui steps forward.

"As a'Ling said, This One is Lan Yuan, Lan Sizhui, son of Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian. I am currently 2, going to be three and am currently being held with the Wen Remnants in the Qiongqi Pass prison camp. My siblings and I are all biologically the sons of Hanguang-Jun and the Yiling Laozu. I am 15 years older than my brother and 17 years older than my sister due to the long absence of our mother. A mother, you all drove to insanity and suicide.... I was only 4 years old." He says so coldly that at least 4 levels of Hell froze over.

Again there is a long stunned silence and then pandemonium. Wei Ying's pale face was the only confirmation Lan Zhan needed when he turned to look at his beloved. Wen Qing ask looked shaken but also with wide eyes wonder. Wei Ying looks at his oldest child, who has the softest, warmest smile as he kneels down and then kowtows, making the room go silent.

"Forgive this unfilial child... When a'Niang died, this one got sick and the fever did not break for two weeks. But this one survived when Baba was told I would die, but at the cost of my memories of you. And this big brother apologizes for lying to his brother and sister."

"Gege, a'Hua not mad! A'Hua knows that to travel the stars in heaven one has to be not alive anymore. She is very smart!" Chunhua chirps brightly.

"Mm, Yuan-gege no need to say sorry. Yuan-gege only said a small lie to try and protect us." Heishuang assures.

He sits up and his siblings go to sit on his lap now. Wei Ying feels bereft and his insides twist. He was so sure he lost his ability to have children, it was a miracle that he had a'Yuan, his body retaining enough of his spiritual energy tk help feed and carry the life of his son all through the surgery and the hellish nightmare that was his first 'visit' to the Burial Mounds. His son grows up so handsome and so polite. He highly doubts that even if he allowed to help this time that he will do any good.

"Wei Ying..." He stiffens and looks at Lan Zhan, who has open concern and hurt on his face. "When? Why?"

"You started to get a bad infection in the cave after we had killed the Xuanwu. I had no more spiritual energy to spare so... So I did a special technique that if done correctly can raise the spiritual powers of the partner and heal them. If done incorrectly can weaken their vitality and even kill them... It is... Well it is called the Red Lotus technique." He says after he glances at the attentive children. "I am one of very few people who are neither and yet both genders, even if I am classified as male. I used the technique to bring back your spiritual energy and heal your leg as much as I could but then I passed out after getting us cleaned up because I didn't know when we would be rescued... I asked you to sing for me after you were well and awake again..." He licks his lips and lowers his head. "I didn't know I was pregnant until..."

"Until I was halfway through removing your core to put into Sect Leader Jiang's ungrateful ass." Wen Qing snaps, still furious over the discovery and how she nearly killed an innocent baby. "By that point, you were about a month along and I could stop the surgery... I told you to rest but you didn't listen and then you vanished for three months... I was worried sick until you came back and you were in such a state, ai thought you had lost... But then only a couple of months after your return you showed up on my door step in labor and your demons had to keep you literally glued together with their resentful energy while I helped you give birth! I am surprised your oldest son is even as healthy as he is being born early and with all the trauma you suffered. You should have miscarried 30 times over if you'd had been anyone else!" She is yelling now. "I had nightmares, a'Ying!! For months and even now!! I never, ever want to do that surgery again! I am so sorry but I cannot bear that secret anymore. I nearly killed you and your son!! Even if it was to save that stupid bastard's life and how does he thank us!? He lets my family be hunted and killed, doesn't bother looking for you until after he makes it to the Sunshot Campaign meeting and even then he spent more time fighting and killing Wens than looking Hanguang-Jun only stopped when he could not avoid a skirmish, but he was unrelenting in his search, he interrogated every Wen he came across!"

Wei Ying grabs her hands and she just shakes her head but holds his hands tightly.

"I'm sorry for making you do it but... He's my brother and like you said had our rolls been reversed you would have begged me as I had you... I didn't know I was pregnant. If I had... I would have found some other way to snap Jiang Chang out of his suicidal starvation even if I had to feed him the food mouth to mouth." And she feels like a weight lifted from her shoulders. Wei Ying was selfless, dangerously so, she worried that had he known he still would have picked tk be butchered, regardless of the baby. But knowing that if he had known, he would have chosen another option. Or at least found a 'donor' very likely Wen Chao or Wen Zhuliu.

".... Wait..." Yanli gasped feeling her heart sink as it all suddenly makes sense. "A'Xian... Where did you go when you were missing and please don't say you were lost..."

"... After the surgery , I went to wait for Jiang Cheng and then we were to head to Qinghe, but I got ambushed by Wen Chao, was beaten bloody and then he threw me from more than 100 feet in the air into the Burial Mounds... I was there for three months, coreless, pregnant and the only options I as for survival was eat or be eaten, Cultivate the Resentment or be lost to it forever with my unborn child... I had no other choice..."

And suddenly it doned on him why he does not carry his sword, why he gets sick after eating meat, why after the war he drank and drank and drank.

He was Coreless...

Chapter Text

It was utterly silent in the hall after that confession and the sudden realization of what had been said. Jiang Wanyin felt like he had his core crushed again, fingers digging into his lower dantian where his core-- Wei Wuxian's core-- sat spinning and glowing like a mini sun. Jiang Yanli on the other hand got up, holding her baby in her arms still, and rushed to Wei Wuxian's side. She carefully pulls him into a side hug, even as weak as her own core is, now she is stronger than her brother. He goes stiff for a second and then all but collapses in her arms sobbing and it truly shows how overwhelmed he is because Wei Wuxian never cries, not since his first month of living at Lotus Pier.

Wen Qing composed herself as the young men and the children from the future all give their beloved Senior soft looks, the two youngest cuddling against him. Lan Zhan felt his chest tighten, his world zeroing in the echoes of "He gave away his core, he only did what he needed to survive, he did not stray for greed, he started to save their unborn child" filling his heart and mind. Then it imploded and he let out a shuddering breath. His husband, his beloved has suffered so much and will suffer even more in the very near future if what the children say is true.

The semi silence lasts another moment before it fully clicks in everyone's head what had been said and once more chaos erupts in the room. There is screaming, demands for Wei Wuxian's head, arguments and so much more. But as quickly as chaos descended on the room it was abruptly silenced by an annoyed Heishuang.

"Disturbing a'Niang is Forbidden, upsetting a'Niang is Forbidden, threatening a'Niang is Forbidden." He scolds and Lan Zhan cannot help but agree and be proud. "A'Niang has already suffered enough and will not suffer anymore... Even if we have to kill you." The child growls that is echoed around the room by shadowed Yaos that take the forms of dragons along the walls. Everyone gulps in shock and in fright at the power the two youngest half.

The puppet/dolls that the little girl was using to keep Jin Guangyao in place did not look overly threatening, but their deadly bladed nails and the eerie giggles they let out sure helped with the creepy factor. Sizhui didn't bother to scold his brother and sister, instead he gently pat them in the head and  turned to his mother who was calming down.

"Before you panic, we brought everyone here, even the Remnants, they are behind you." Wen Wing gasped and looked behind her and sure enough her family was there, still dirty, still frightened, all of them old, women and children. But it wasn't hard to see that a good chunk was missing, either dead at the hands ofnher Uncle and the war antics, or having died in the Jin Camp. Granny was sitting up as much as her old body allowed, looking as imposing as her tiny stooped frame could support. In her arms was a baby, and Wei Ying, had also turned around and gasped seeing his son in her arms and quickly took him. Little a'Yuan looked startled until Wei Ying started humming a familiar tune, one he faintly recalls but never knew the name of. It settles him quickly. On a pallet was Wen Ning, looking pale and clearly beaten to a pulp.

"A'Ning!!" Wen Qing cried as she crawled to his side.

"He is alive, just barely." Zizhen assures her. "There cannot be two exacting people in the same place or it ruins the spell and the timeline. And since our Wen-Qianbei is already a Fierce Corpse, it gave your brother more life force and time. Here, he prepared everything you would need to get him stabilized and treated." He adds as he pulls out the pouches with the needed medical supplies.

She thanks him and gets to work, Zizhen helping whenever she asks with Jingyi easily taking out his own pouch and tending to the others. They ignore the silent fist going in from the Guangshan section as they get everyone Wei Ying's section treated and calmed enough to listen to what is happening. Once they are done, they settle everyone in comfy pallets and pillowed chairs that are low to the ground so they don't have to struggle to their feet just to sit. Wei Ying had happily cuddled baby a'Yuan that while time, fussing and fretting, getting angry that the plump little baby he had to leave with Granny Wen had gotten so skinny. He was also upset that he grew distressed seeing the golden robes of the Jin.

Lan Zhan gasped as he saw his son for the first time, he looked exactly like him when he had been that young, but skinnier. He had the same nose the same as eyes though his were paler in gold almost silvery gold instead. He was filthy and had on a Wen robe, but he was living with them so they probably did it to protect him from the Wens who would have likely killed him had he been in Jiang purple or Lan blue. Wei Ying realizes Lan Zhan is there holding him and shyly introduces father and son, proudly stating he bore him all by himself. Which for the most part was true. Lan Zhan was both proud of Wei Ying and heartbroken that he hadn't known or been there for him.

Jiang Yanli giggles and introduced her son to his cousin, who looked awesome to see someone even smaller than him, a gentle finger poking a really chubby cheek.

"Baobei..." He mumbles.

"Yes, he is your Yuma's Baobei... Got to Popo for now, a'Niang needs to hand out time-outs and spankings to the naughty Jins..." He says so softly and sweetly even if his tone turned deadly at the end as red eyes glared at all the Jins in the room minus the Peacock and his future Nephew.

Jin Ling had been busy the whole time setting up a massive pearl, the size of a watermelon, on a golden stand that had been etched with arrays and spells, in the center of the room. Sizhui calmly got up after he made sure his younger self and his mother were safe and happy, catching the younger version of his father's eyes and the two share that look and nod, the same one they shared in the future when they would bond over torture and murder of anyone who dared to harm their precious Wei. His little brother wasn't yet old enough to join them but even a'Long shared the look and nod, he obeyed the rules their father set forth about their mother's safety, his peace of mind and general happiness to the letter. He quoted them at others as if they were the rules on the Wall of Discipline themselves. Chunhua was just content for now, happily cuddling her mother and cooking over how cute her big brother was as a baby.

"Alright, now then by now you all would have realized that the section you are sitting in indicates your threat level. Those of you sitting with my mother are neutral, but not necessarily guilty free. Sorry, a'Niang." Jin Ling speaks up once everyone finally calms down and settles, having noticed him setting up the strange item. "Those sitting with Grandfather are hostile threats that can and will be eliminated if they try any bullshit and believe me, I will know... As for those who are sitting with Da-Jiu, they are innocent and had been killed unfairly for the greed and fear of the rest of you idiots."

Everyone flinched at his snappish tone while his friends sit around their Qianbei, each looking content and happy, but also like they would kill at a moment's notice. Pleased, he activates the spells and the orb begins to float and a beam of light shines from it and reveals a woman's face. She is unearthly beautiful with glowing blue eyes and long silver hair.

"Great grandmother, this one has set the device and we have everyone present and disarmed. A'Long is keeping them quiet while a'Hua is keeping the Liar in place since he is the bigger threat at the moment." Jin Ling greets her with a deep and respectful bow.

"Good, Ling-er, you may sit with your parents. Greetings I am Baoshan Sanren, mother of Cangse Sanren, grandmother of Wei Ying, courtesy Wuxian and Great Grandmother to Lan Yuan, courtesy Sizhui, Lan Long, courtesy  Heishuang, and Lan Chunhua. It seems much has happened recently and I am severely angry about it... How dare you all besmirch my daughter and her reputation!! How dare you gossip mongers run afoul of my grandson!! How dare you harm Innocents and have the nerve to claim you are Righteous!!" She bellows out and everyone is left quaking at the power she holds even if it is cut down to a fraction due to the device and the clear distance between them.

They all pale and full, as. She glares at them all, especially the Lan's and the Jins.

"Who are you idiots to decide what is right and what is wrong, what is black and what is white!? Did you forget the world is made up of various colors, that it is not strictly monochorionic!? Just because one person killed your daddy doesn't mean everyone with the same last name is the same!! And did you forget for someone to be come a tyrant they must first cause tyranny to their own people first!? The Wens were as much a victim as they were the enemy!! Not all of of them wanted to join the war, but had no choice because their families were either held hostage or killed!! Tell me, would you not have done the same had it been you in their place?" She demands darkly, glaring specifically at the Nies, especially Nie Mingjue, who feels like a child. His face is burning with humiliation, but he cannot argue the point because had Huaisang been held hostage and threatened with unspeakable torture, be would have done anything to keep him safe. Even if it went against his morality.

Baoshan sneered at him as she turned her attention to the Lan's next, who stiffened.

"And don't get me started on you!! Who the hell do you think you are bastardizing Lan An's rules and precepts!? Who the hell are you to curtail one's freedom of self expression!? And the who the fuck do you think you are to judge how I raised my daughter!?" She is practically screeching as the Lan's all pale and shrink down under her fury. "My daughter was wild and untamed because that is how I wanted her to be! I didn't want her to be some pretty trophy for her husband to show off and sire children on! I worked hard to teach her everything I know and beyond, I trained her from birth to be a strong and powerful Cultivator and what happens!? A jealous, insecure little girl has my daughter and her husband killed!!" Here she turns and glares at Jiang Wanyin, clearly telling them just who he was referring to. "And then you all have the nerve to question my grandson's parentage, mock and belittle him when you feel your fragile egos get bruised due to his intellect and skills... I would rather my daughter marry a lowly servant and be happy than to marry an emperor and be miserable for the rest of her life!!"

Everyone felt the sting of her words while Wei Ying watched the face of his grandmother with wide eyes, he can easily see where some of his features came from meaning his mother must have looked like his grandma and passed him those same features! He also listened to her ream everyone for his sake and even for his parents, even if they are not here to witness it.

"Now then, I have prepared this Dragon Pearl to show you what your actions, in action and egos have lead to and will lead to in the very near and in the far future. Everything you see is true, nothing is doctored. After all, Dragons never lie..." She purrs darkly as her image fades and then then a black screen if sorts appears and the words "The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation" appears before the first thing they hear is people celebrating Wei Ying's death...

Chapter Text

"Great news! The Yiling Patriarch is dead!!" Someone had shouted as the images of a random tavern in appears of people eating as someone bursts into the room and shouts for all to hear. There is a moment of utter silence before the others begin cheering. They begin to gossip unashamedly about Wei Ying as if they knew him, but the tavern image fades out to reveal a battle field.

"Thank the gods! The foul scoundrel dared to try and topple the Heavens only to be toppled in the end!"

The image showed Wei Ying standing on a hill, his flute in one hand and the Yin Hufu in the other. Down below an army numbering in the thousands stood at a barrier at their feet the dead bodies of elderly, women and the infirmed. A small flash of an earlier image of those same people, alive and begging Wei Ying to flee with a child in his arms even as they donned old and tattered Wen robes, nothing flashy or even decorating them as anyone of high status, just noting them as being from the Wen Clan, the oldest of them an old woman, giving a small red lion toy to the sobbing child as she assures him all will be safe come morning. She then erects a barrier using a talisman that Wei Ying clearly made because it uses the ambient Yin energy to prevent him from getting close and he had no choice but to watch them leave.

He did not stay idle either, once his shouts and begging went unheard. He drew a spell and a black rabbit appeared.

"Tell Lan Zhan to come as soon as he is able... Tell him to protect a'Yuan..." He tells the bunny who flees not long after as he gathers what little supplies he could and begins singing a heartbreaking final lullaby to his son. Promising that all would be safe come morning and that he would be there with him, which in the end had been a lie. They watch him hide his son in a dead tree stump after putting him to sleep and with eyes as red as a mad demons, wakes the entirety of the Burial Mounds and makes his way to the barriers. His barrier is broken with the deaths of the Wen, the one keeping the army out is broken by Jiang Wanyin's Zidian. After that it is an unfair slaughter. The dead defend their home but do not actively fight. Most of the fighting happens when the Yin Hufu is someone's and instead of killing the army of undead, they kill each other for it.

"Figures..." wei Ying sneers watching this unfold with unblinking eyes.

"I heard he wiped out 3,000 warriors that night!" Someone had shouted in the voice over.

"3!? Don you mean 5,000!?"

"Hmm, yeah, your right 5,000 sounds more accurate." The first voice says

Wei Ying rolls his eyes because of course it was the common folk who were 'telling' the story, proving once and for all that rumors are never based on anything but a few simple facts and mostly exaggerated to make them sound even more impressive or unbelievable.

The image shows the Yin Hufu trying to get to its master, while avoiding the greedy hands of the people, who killed one another. Other voice overs, clearly from years in the future stating that Wei Wuxian had been out of his mind when he slaughtered those people during Never Night. As if no one was currently watching what an utter lie that was. As the Yin Hufu made it to its master, the battle came to an end and the undead began to walk up around Wei Ying, the bodies of the Wens rose and formed a barrier to that kept Jiang Wanyin safe from the backlash about to happen. But before they could see it the voice overs began talking about Jin Zixuan, changing to show a different attack on Wei Ying where his only shield was Wen Ning, surrounded on all sides by Jin and a few Nie and Lan archers, all of whom were unleashing volley after volley of arrows down at them even as Jin Zixuan was shouting for Wei Ying to stop fighting. Anyone with enough braincells can see that Wei Ying stopping means he would very likely be killed before anything can be said or done.

They could see he is surrounded and losing connection with reality, like a cornered rabbit facing a pack of starving wolves. They realize that the Jin's had ambushed him and Jin Zixuan was not helping the situation. Even as he ordered the Archers to stop, no one listened and then he made his fatal mistake. He grabbed Wei Yin, who had not noticed him after his vision only tunneled to seeing threats. His mind haunted by images of undead trying to kill him, him fleeing, striking out with water to slow them down to stop them. When he became aware again, Wen Ning's hand was punched through Jin Zixuan's chest. The Jin Heir gasping out that Jiang Yanli was still waiting to see him before he collapsed dead. Wei Ying screamed in horror his control snapping and the dead around them rising to distract the army. He fades out and when he wakes he is back in the cave of the Burial Mounds shouting at Wen Ning, who accepts it, but the can also see that he is not really yelling at Wen Ning, but himself. Wen Wing grabs his hand knowing he is feeling scared for what will be shown next.

It would seem that because of Jin Zixuan's death, the army attacks. It is showing things according to the gossip but it is not hard to see what events lead to what.

"His only crime was to be at odds with Wei Wuxian. Truly, he was out of his mind! And what about the Jiangs? They invited him into their homes and he all but annialates the whole clan, you would think he would have spared Madam Jiang, since he was rumored to be raised by her!"

"Foolish girl didn't realize she was raising a white eyed wolf!"

The images flash through a series of images of the Jiang Siblings from a young age to the current to the future, close and happy at first but slowly drifting apart until they were clearly displaced in different paths and uncrossable rifts separating them.

"Indeed, if there was one thing I wish was true, it was the affections that Wei Wuxian held for his adopted sister. How could he kill her in cold blood and leave her son parent less? As if killing his father wasn't bad enough." Someone, a female sighs.

"Don't you know? He was in love with her and hated Jin-Gongzi for stealing her away. He felt betrayed by her and thus killed her!" Someone shouts.

"Eww!" Wei Ying gags, "Shijie is my sister and nothing more!! Gross!! I would never be in love with her like that!!" He cries out turning green and Jiang Yanli cannot help her giggles.

"Xianxain is only my baby, he cannot be my lover." She assures the room with a gentle laugh, but there is a hidden steal in it that feels far too much like a knife at their throats.

The images change to the battlefield, but a slightly different one in the background there is a burning stake and Wen Qing feels sick knowing that was her death, to be burned alive, and in the courtyard of Nightless City no less. Jiang Yanli had been struck by a sword, having foolishly run out onto an active battlefield where everyone is too hyper focused on the next threat. They couldn't be sure if it had been one of the Undead who hit her or knew of the Living but she wasn't too critically injured, her brother having caught her and is feeding her spiritual energy even as he yells at Wei Ying, who admits he stopped long ago and that something was wrong, these puppets weren't his or listening to him. Which peaked several people's interests, but then they focus on how Jiang Yanli is holding a hand out to him, assuring him that she knows he didn't mean to kill her husband. That she was worried for him and wanted him to confide in her like he use to. And then her eyes shifted just the slightest bit over his shoulder, going wide and then she surges forward, shoving him hard. He falls from the sudden shove as a spiritual sword sails just past his shoulder and pieces into Jiang Yanli's heart. She is dead before the blade pierces out the back and falls limp into her brother's arms.

Suddenly it all makes sense. Wei Ying spiraled out of control due to a series of unfortunate events and watching his loved ones, one after another die for him, of course he went mad in the end. Jiang Yanli feels her heart break knowing this was likely the final straw that broke the camel's back and suddenly they were at the battlefield once more, Wei Ying surrounded by his Undead army and holding up his Yin Hufu and then he begins drawing every last amount of Resentment towards it. And it begins glowing like a blood red sun. Everyone freezing to watch eyes going wide with shock and horror for what was to be unleashed but instead surprise fills them as the Yin Hufu continues to draw in so much resentment, going critical and in a powerful explosion, shatters. Everyone is knocked to the ground or forced back from. The sheer force of the blast, a blacked piece of iron falling as the army of undead goes berserk, but instead of attacking them they turn on  Wei Ying and everyone is horrified at the last image of a smiling bloody Wei Ying as he is eaten alive. Nothing is left when it is over, only a ribbon, his flute and remaining piece of the Yin Hufu...

The image goes back to the tavern of the gossiping common folk, mocking and sneering at Wei Ying's supposed dastardly deeds and praising his suicide to break his most powerful weapon as the only good thing he did in his entire life as if he hadn't sacrificed everything for those he loved. Eventually their voices fade out and the images stop for a moment to allow the room to swallow what they learned. The Future group give shuddering breaths, seeing that all they were taught of the Battle of Never Night was a bloody damned lie. Jin Ling clung his parents hands who clung just as tightly to his seeing how they had truly died. Both deaths were never caused directly by Wei Ying, despite Wen Ning having killed his father. But at that point it was clear his uncle had been trapped and a trapped animal will lash out without thinking of reasoning. His mother has shoved him out of the way of an attack that would have killed him.

Sizhui held his younger siblings tightly even as the three clung to their mother, who looked shell shocked. Lan Zhan was utterly devastated. He had not been there. Why had he not been there? Jiang Wanyin was horrified by what was to come. He led the attack on his brother. He let them in and let them kill the innocent.... Wen or not. The images begin again but this time it shows the Cloud Recesses.

"For consorting with Evil and daring to raise your sword against your Elders you will be whipped once for each elder you raised your blade to and harmed!!" Came Lan Qiren's voice and the image focuses on a shirtless Lan Zhan, his hair carefully picked up into a bun as the Lan Discipline Whip was brought out. It was cruel looking thing, supposedly made from the bones of a dragon's spine. It was raised by an elder and came down with a sickening crack on Lan Zhan's back and he hardly twitched.

Blow after blow came and they watched on in horror as his back was torn to pieces, he stitched and grimaced, but overall never made a sound when 15 lashes landed. Lan Qiren stopped the Elder to ask him if he repents.

"Grandmaster Lan." Lan Zhan's older self says and everyone winces at the clear bitter hatred in his voice. "This one dealers ask: Who are you to decide what is good and what is evil? What is black and what is white?"

Lan Qiren sputters in outrage and orders the punishment to continue. At 25 strikes , Lan Zhan collapses and has to be pulled up and tied between two posts as the last strikes land. Totalling in 33, strikes. The doors to the punishment hall are finally opened and Lan Xichen bursts in like a storm of white quickly gathering his brother in his arms, who is unconscious.

"Seal his core and lock him up. Let him heal the slow way to learn this lesson well." Is Lan Qiren's orders and the real Lan Qiren feels sick but also vindicated that nothing good ever comes from associating with evil.

"Uncle! You have gone too far!!"

"And you are far too soft on him!! He is no longer a child in need of coddling!! Here I was fearing he would be his father's son, when I should have been fearing that he would be like that criminal who birthed you!!" The man bellows out.

Everyone is shocked by this and Lan Zhan's eyes go wide before he glares at his Uncle.

"Pause." Sizhui says and stands up. " For clarification: killing your rapist is not a crime. Killing a pedophile is not a crime. You punished my grandmother for doing the right thing. You stole her children from her and drove her to suicide for being righteous. Much like you did to my mother. You saw it yourselves. Those Wen were elderly, incapable of fighting a war let alone protesting their Sect Leader's mad machinations. Women who rarely are allowed to cultivate other than to produce strong heirs, and the infirmed who have little to no use in society... You blamed two innocent people and caused their deaths. You have no right to speak..."

He then sits and calls for the images to continue. They watch as Lan Zhan is bandaged up and left healing a bit before he is to be moved into seclusion, but Lan Xichen has vanished for a few days and when he came back he smelt of ash and death. Lan Zhan opened his eyes to see his soiled clothes and turns his head away.

"I told you that Wei Ying was innocent to that he had no army... I asked you to come see the proof of my words... But you chose to side with the Jins."

"Wangji, my hands were tied what did you want me to do? We are still recovering from he war with the Wen, we cannot afford a second war and not with the Jins holding so much wealth and resources!"

"Another Wen Ruohan." Lan Zhan huffs ignoring his brother's plight.

"Well... I just came to tell you... Wei Wuxian is dead... The Burial Mounds have been destroyed and we are currently going through his things to destroy anything dangerous and separate anything too powerful in case he comes back looking for revenge-- Wangji, what are you doing!?"

Lan Zhan had pushed himself up and was trying to get dressed, somehow able to move after such a brutal beating. He shoved his brother off of him many times slapping his hands away when he tried to strip him again. It was a rather one sided fight and an awkward one at that but then Lan Zhan slapped his hands once last times and hissed:

"Since you believe your precious Jin Guangyao, go whine to him!! Maybe he will get that white he calls a father to punish me even harsher!!" He snaps and manages to limp his way out and despite his injuries flew all the way to the burnt remains of the Burial Mounds. He walks the familiar path to the village and the images shift between the aftermath of the battle to images of a tiny bit somehow surviving community. The burn remains of the mess hall were suddenly filled with images of women bickering over how to made either turnip soup or turnip congee for lunch today. The decimated fields turned to the image of a dirt covered Wen Ning punching the ground to break up the dead earth while the few males tilled it hoping to produce something edible as a couple of the infirmed moved slowly tossing turnip seeds into the fresh holes to plant.

The well where a water ghoul had tried to crawl out of but came face to face with a red eyed Wei Ying, a toddler on his hip looking high unimpressed shrieked and fell back in before Wei Ying handed his son to Granny Wen and he jumped into the well and there is a god awful racket for a moment before he is climbing out, holding the Ghoul by the fin that replaced its legs and drags it into the forest all the while complaining that he now has to recleanse the water of the foul mess of the corpse and the dirt he had on himself. They watch him spin twice in his heels and fling the water ghoul into the foul looking river and clap his hands of any dirt on them.

"And stay out!!!" He had shouted in annoyance.

More images of the supposed army kept flashing by, Wei Ying helping to till the land, doing laundry, sewing, playing with his son or busy creating talismans and tools, all for purifying the land and water and making farming so much easier. All the while voice overs of rumors from the Jin's of Wei Ying's misdeeds echoed. And mostly from Jin Guangyao's and Jin Guangshan's mouths. It was as if the images were giving a sarcastic: Yes the 'dreaded' Yiling Patriarch everyone! Fear his army of Turnips!

How an image can be so sassy, is beyond them but they are seeing the point. Wen Qing was surprised at Wei Ying's strength. He was coreless and clearly starving and yet he managed to fight and drag the Water Ghoul out with his own to hands and fling it quite a fair distance away into the river. That was most certainly impressive. She also noted who had all remained of her family at this point they weren't very large, about 100 people or so, but there was barely 40 left. No children and no means to carry on the family name. Their line would end with them and it shattered her heart. Maybe she should stop being so stubborn and finally settle down...

They watch the once content little village flash back to the dead silence and the burned skeletal remains of the Siege. Suddenly the black bunny appears and in Wei Ying's voice asks him to take care of Wei Ying. It was apparently trapped there unable to leave and had waited for him. He follows the bunny to where Wei Ying hid the child and it vanishes. He pulls a'Yuan out and he is cold and clammy with sweat pouring off of him. As soon as he is grabbed a paper man falls and the child awakens confused and scared looking for his a'Niang and Lan Zhan can only hold his close and whisper soft lies about his mother being back soon...

They watch him make the long journey back to the Cloud Recesses because no where else would be safe and at least he had some leverage there. Then show him threatening to leave the Sect or even killing himself if they allow anything to happen to his child. That he was adopting Wen Yuan. Wen Yuan became Lan Yuan and later he was given the courtesy name Sizhui and often had a red ribbon tied into his hair.

Lan Zhan was locked away for three years only getting daily visits from his brother and son, each year and for 13 years after the battle, the clans gathered to try and summon Wei Ying's soul, but he never appeared or answered. Nothing strange or out of the ordinary happened. But it didn't stop shut from happening. They saw images of Demonic Cultivators being hunted down and either given jobs in the Jin Sect or tortured and killed by the Jiang Sect, especially those who shared features with Wei Wuxian. They watched how they heavily doctored the events that lead to the birth, rise and fall of the Yiling Patriarch. How they vilified him and yet unashamedly used his inventions during night hunts.

How they spelled lies to cover their own sins and guilt. How they practically brainwashed an entire generation. All the while unaware that the son of the Patriarch was alive and being raised to know that said man was not actually evil, that he only ever stood up for what was right and just. Lan Zhan taught the children he was not evil. He taught them what Wei Ying taught him and the children obeyed him. His reputation as Hanguang-Jun was pristine even if it was to hide the ugly scars under the surface. And for 13 years the world was at peace until a Jin Bastard had been pushed too far and decided to sacrifice himself to summon Wei Wuxian's soul back from the dead....

Chapter Text

There was a pause as everyone slowly digested what had been shown, the lies they, themselves came up with and believed as the truth, and what Lan Sizhui had said about the Late Madam Lan and Wei Wuxian's innocence. Wei Ying held his baby closer and felt numb, even as Lan Zhan and Wen Qing hug him tightly between them. Horrified and heartbroken, but fiercely determined to protect this too kind heated fool from the rest of the world. The Wens able to watch also shifted closer, clearly making up their minds of this young man who literally sacrificed everything for them and in the end paid the ultimate price.

When the images began again, they were given another pretty narrative that did not match up with the images on display. Mo Xuanyu, a cut sleeve bastard of Jin Guangshan, who had been driven out of the Jin Sect for 'harassing' his half brother and supposedly being in love with him despite their shared blood. However they saw that Mo Xuanyu had been brought in due to his talent in arrays and made to work on Wei Wuxian's stolen notes on Demonic Cultivation. How after Jin Guangyao was made Sect Leader, he happened upon him speaking to a supposedly dead young man by the name of Xue Yang, Xue Chengmei, who was trying and failing to control Wen Ning, who had been rumored to have been ground into ash with his sister.

Wen Qing felt her heart lurch painfully in her chest at this, glaring at the faces of the two men who drive nails into his head and even then he refuses to obey them. They mock his unfaltering loyalty, even when his master has long been turned to dust and bones before they try to recreate the process that Wei Wuxian supposedly used to turn a bound and chained Nie Mingjue's rising Fierce Corpse into a sentient puppet for the Jins. The Nie and Lan are shocked and horrified as the Jins gulp and try to inch away from the growing hostility. Lan Xichen feels like he's been punched in the gut and then stabbed, feels the blade twisting. He had trusted Jin Guangyao, had faith in his 'good character' and yet he is being shown that his judgement is flawed and his brother's judgement had been accurate.

He watched the pair try and fail to get Mingjue's corpse under control and ultimately chopped it up. The arms, legs and torso being carefully snuggled out and hidden, only Jin Guangyao, who had developed a bad habit of claiming trophies from his victims, kept said man's head chained and sealed in a secret vault next to Wei Wuxian's sword. And image, a flashback of after the Siege of him collecting it and 'offering' it to Jiang Wanyin who glared at the blade with utter contempt and told him to melt it down for scrap metal, as he walked away. They see Jin Guangyao stay long after the others have left looking by lantern light for Chenqing, wanting to add it to his 'collection' as well as for the remains of the Yin Hufu. Once he found the iron piece, on half of the amulet that had survived and was still brimming with Yin energy, but not nearly as much as it had originally. He took it and presented it to his father while telling the other Sects that it had been utterly destroyed and nothing remained of Wei Wuxian only his inventions, some useless notes and his sword.

But then a nother image appears of Chenqing being set on a pedestal in a far corner of a Vault and only the Jiang Clarity Bell giving away who had it. It was left there to collect dust, but a faint wisp wafted from it like a spirit flame, but too week and it moves through the vault touching upon things that seemed random, but the Jiang Siblings gasped upon realizing they once belonged to Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren. The flame moves out into the Pier and towards the sounds of a crying infant and joins with a another piece of spirit flame and dances for the baby, who sees it and coos and plays with the flames. They realize it is a piece of Wei Wuxian's sole and it was lingering near Jin Rulan, his beloved sister's son.

More images appear of spirit flames, scattered across the Jianghu and lingering near people who meant something to the soul. The largest pieces lingering near Lan Wangji and Lan Sizhui, but due to the pain and suffering of the life once lived, they refused to answer anyone's summons, but would play back the mournful Melody that Wangji would play to soothe their son. Somehow Mo Xuanyu was able to fashion a special Spirit Trapping pouch, an invention by Wei Wuxian, that called to and trapped the pieces of Wei Ying's soul. Slowly but surely piecing it back together over the 13 years of his death and when he had learned those secrets of his half brother's, he was driven to insanity and threatened with death. He was forced back home in shame, where his mother soon died from mortification, his aunt and her family abused him into a psychotic breakdown and he finally took the notes he stole and cobbled together from bits and pieces he was forced to work on to create the Soul Sacrificial Ritual and committed suicide to get revenge on not just his Aunt and her family, but on Jin Guangyao especially.

The narrative told them that Mo Xuanyu had always been odd and into the obscure, had taken an unhealthy obsession with the Yiling Patriarch as well as his half brother, Jin Guangyao and went out of his way to seduce him. They spoke of his strange predilections and how when he could not grow stronger on the Righteous path, he turned to the crooked one and was driven into insanity from it. Wei Ying sneered at the bullshit being spewed and how once more the narrative never matched the truth and he knew the instant Mo Xuanyu's soul died and his took over the body, how they briefly met face to face as the exchanged places and Mo Xuanyu, due to his frayed mental state did not clearly state his desires, only that he was glad he could give his life for the Yiling Patriarch.

The last image they see of Mo Xuanyu is a heartbreaking smile, one they had seen on Wei Wuxian's face right before his death and then Wei Ying is waking up to a foot kicking him in the face. He is so out of it, having been body less for so long his soul had not fully adjusted and his motor skills were rather pathetic. His thoughts were displayed loud and clear though and everyone couldn't help the mild chuckles as he grumbled about being the Dreaded Yiling Patriarch and the brat who kicked him, having the nerve to do so. It quickly became clear that his last coherent thoughts before his death was while he was the Dreaded Yiling Patriarch, but he was also aware of his death and he complained silently that Mo Xuanyu chose the wrong ghost. That he had been so intrusive as a ghost that despite what others say, he didn't bother anyone.

If they hadn't seen it for themselves, no one would have believed him. They all thought he was evil incarnate and would have not doubted that he somehow set this all up, if not for the fact they had seen his ghost fragments float harmlessly through the world until they were called and forced to merge with the pieces that Mo Xuanyu had managed to collect. What no one could tell was, who had been the one to skip him the pieces of the ritual and the notes in the pouch with specific instructions to collect Wei Wuxian's soul. The person was shadowed and cloaked.

But Wei Ying had noticed a tiny detail, a specific embroidery on the sleeve that had peeked out during the exchange. Only one person had that specific embroidery, but why would they help someone commit ritualistic suicide? Was their drive for revenge that strong? What had the world done to his remaining friends and family?

Chapter Text

The sounds of thousands of Cultivators battering at the barrier was deafening. The rest of the Wens had bowed to him, thanking him for all he's done and ushered him away with little a'Yuan in his arms. The child was scared and clung to him tightly and his favorite red lion toy that Granny had sewn for him. Wei Ying closed his eyes, knowing there was nothing that could be said or done now. Wen Qing and Wen Ning had died in vain, the others weren't just going to let them live in peace. Not with their greed for his power and their fear of it. He wasn't blind or deaf, no matter what Wen Qing claimed. He knew this was going to happen eventually, but he hadn't expected it all to happen the way it di. He couldn't help the cynical thought that wondered if this was all ploy to get him chained up to one of the clans, very likely the Jins, or their hands on his Amulet? He wouldn't be shocked if that was true. The sounds had grown distant and Wei Ying began to hum softly, a lullaby he created for his son, one that was to safe guard his dreams when Wei Ying couldn't, to accompany the nameless song he learned from Lan Zhan. He feels his heart stutter, wondering if said man was out there? If he is, Wei Ying will gladdly fall on his sword, but it would shatter his heart even more because it would mean his feelings were truly in vain and he would be trusting their son with a father who may not love him as he should be loved. He begins singing, softly and sadly because this is the last time he will be able to sing this lullaby to his son:

I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said I'll never let you go
When all those shadows almost killed your light

He kissed a'Yuan's forehead, fighting back his own tears as he walked deeper into the Burial Mounds and came out in a clearing where a single tree stump lay. He went and sat down on it and adjusted his son in his arms and memorized his face.

I remember you said don't leave me here alone
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight
Just close your eyes, the sun is going down
You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now

Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound
Don't you dare look out your window, darling, everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold onto this lullaby even when the music's gone, gone

He kisses his eyes and his nose then his cheeks between each line of the son, fishing out a Paper Man talisman and after bringing his son into his arms one last time before he places it on his back. A'Yuan doesn't get to protest or even realizes what happened before his eyelids grow heavy and he falls asleep in his mother's arms. Wei Ying finally let's his tears gather in his eyes as he gets up and carefully kneels down and places his child in the stump and then gently touches his forehead and with a small burst of pure Yin energy, erases himself from his son's memories. He then takes out a second talisman and draws on it creating a barrier to protect his child and then turns to a raven and sends it off with message for Lan Zhan with this location and the words: 'Thank you and I'm sorry' written on it. The same words Wen Qing said to him and then she was gone. The Wens said something similar not even a handful of moments ago and now he was saying them. Once he was done, he turned back towards their home and began walking down, still singing, letting the Burial Mounds hear this last song, even as slowly skeletons and corpses began to rise, ghosts, ghouls and hags began to appear, demons  and so many various monsters began to appear from thin air as well. His eyes bleeding red as he crested the ridge over his home and glares down at the Cultivators. He glares hatefully at all of them, feeling betrayed by his so-called brother and people he had once respected and had been friends with.

Just close your eyes, the sun is going down
You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now
Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound

Ooh (ooh)
Ooh (ooh)
Oh whoa (oh whoa)
Oh whoa (oh whoa)
Ooh (ooh)
Ooh (ooh)
Oh whoa
Oh whoa

He holds up the tiger Amulet. He had broken it in half and had destroyed the first half over the course of 4 months leading up to the attack at Qiongqi Path where he accidentally killed his brother in-law, but he didn't have time to do the same to this one and he knows that the backlash will be emence and will take him out, but hopefully he can take some of these bastards with him. He holds the half out and begins to channel his power into it, his army keeping the others away and steadily cracks began forming it, slowly resentment began to leak out and blood red light as he began crushing it with his fist and power, feeling the Amulet fighting with him until finally it explodes in his hand and with it the world goes white and all anyone can hear is his final screams and the sounds of flesh being torn apart and hungry monsters feasting...

Little a'Yuan slowly awoke from his dreams, the voice of someone singing to him fading away as he looked at the man across from him, also sleeping, but he was resting on his front, his back bandaged. He remembers him, he was his Baba, but he wasn't allowed to call him that, he had to call him Rich-gege. But who had told him he wasn't allowed to call him that? He doesn't remember. After getting up and moving to the window to look outside, he doesn't notice the last traces of the paperman fall away from him, slowly turning to ash as the voice fades from his mind and memory, but the melody doesn't...

Just close your eyes
You'll be alright
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh

Lan Yuan grows up in Cloud Recesses, learning to read and write, learning the 4000 rules, helping his baba heal and sometimes traveling with him when he goes to play Inquiry, he makes a friend, plays with the bunnies in the back hill. He slowly grows up, becoming a well mannered and happy child, then a polite and upstanding teenager. He learns the guqin like his father, he masters Inquiry and is almost on par with his father's skills with it, helping to look for someone called Wei Ying, who was very important to his Baba. He fails to get an answer. He also learns the song, Wangxian, from his baba and sometimes when he sees a grass butterfly toy or a red lion plush, perhaps a certain pitch to a laugh, the fluttering or a red ribbon, he recalls a beautiful Lullaby. For 13 years, this is his life and when he is 16, he hears the Lullaby, he's not sure how he knows it is the real thing, only that it was always a faded memory. He hears it at Mo Manor, distracting him from the Night Hunt for a moment.

He doesn't get to look for the singer, not when everything turns to chaos, but he's certain that whoever it was was his Mother, Wei Ying, the one he and his father have been looking for for so long. He will need to tell his father once they finish this hunt, but thankfully Mo-Gongzi was willing to help them...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Wei Ying carefully climbed up the wall, keeping as low as possible to the tiles as he scanned around for any portals or stragglers hanging about. Seeing no one, he gives a soft giggle of glee and finishes climbing into the wall, two jars of Emperor's Smile in his hands. He cannot wait to gleefully drink them! He is about to slid down the other side of the wall when the faintest clink of tiles sound and he looks up to see at piercing golden eyes. He squeaks and nearly falls, but his grabbed by the waist and pressed into a powerful chest and oh goodness are those muscles ripped! He cannot help pressing the flat of his fingers against the tight hard pectoral muscles for just a moment, his brain fizzling with shock, arousal and confusion.

"Drinking alcohol hall is forbidden within the Cloud Recesses...." Comes a low, commanding voice.

Wei Ying violently shakes his head internally refusing to think seductive and purposely enticing, because that is impossible they just met!! He doesn't like guys..... Or girls.... Or he doesn't know!! He never has time to actually consider who  he is attracted to! He knows he has to marry a woman to have children, but he also knows that Madam Yu will be the one to pick out his wife since she is determined to see him miserable and serving her sone fore the rest of his pathetic life!

"Wei Ying is being rude to me..." The other teen purrs darkly in his ear, licking the shell of it just so. That was definitely seductive!!

Wei Ying yelps and pulls away, not realizing the other had his wine as he flees into the Recesses and towards his bed chambers with Jiang Wanyin. Lan Zhan smirks as he hides the wine in his robe sleeves and then begins drawing out a complex array and sends it out into the heart of Cloud Recesses. He watches the glow appear a breath taking indigo, a combination of his and his Wei Ying's spiritual powers. Once the flash settles a rush of power spreads through the Sect and locks into place. Pleased with the new protection wards in place, he hops off the wall and walks to his home, ignoring the sudden bustling of the others...

Wei Ying is fidgety in the morning as they head to the welcoming ceremony. He couldn't really sleep so he spent the night drawing a complex but powerful array, unknowing that it was the same one that was triggered the night before. He had been tasked with it by Uncle Jiang with the pertinent information from Gusu to help. He just recopied it into a neater and more readable design and instructions. He had beautiful handwriting, it was afterall one of the 6 Gentlemanly Arts, but he often went with speed and that normally meant his writing was a chaotic mess. It prevented thieves as well.

So with the finished scroll tucked into the other gifts he would give to Grandmaster Lan, he hoped that would help take his mind off of the hottie from last night. But no, it did kit because said hottie appeared before him, handsome and deceptively built. Those robes hid his beast of a body. Wei Ying shivers as his brain shorts out and panics again. The hottie walks towards them and Wei Ying for once shies away and that gets his sister's attention as their brother squares himself up to greet the important person coming up to them.

"Greetings --"

"Head Disciple Wei, Grandmaster wishes to speak with you." Lan Zhan cuts in rudely, having little to no respect for the bastard that killed his beloved, twice.

Wei Ying blinks confused.

"Huh? Did I do something wrong?"

"An airway had been activated last night and the Grandmaster is gathering everyone with talismanic talents. You are quite famous or infamous for your creative, if impractical ones."

Jiang Yanli giggles and gently pushes him forward.

"A'Xian I think they need help." She tells him.

"Ah... Right!" He quickly bows to the hottie. "This one is Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian of Yunmeng Jiang! Please if I can be of assistance, then allow me to aid you."

Jiang Wanyin fumes but is kept silent by his sister as Lan Zhan nods and leads Wei Ying away...

You see, Lan Zhan used a ritual his husband had created in a fit of madness to try and 'fix the mistakes' of his past. But it requires a massive amount of Yang energy to power it, something he could not do coreless in his first body nor with Mo Xuanyu's weak golden core. So he had left it in his locked cabinet of 'useless/dangerous' things. So when that bastard who had his husband's golden core in his chest attacked and killed said husband, Lan Zhan made the final breakthrough to the first stage of immortality and quickly destroyed the Jiang Sect before finding the array and packing up everything, even Chenqing, before he drew it out and activated it.

He had awoken in the past as a child handing his rattle drum to a child Wei Ying. He gasped and would have taken him home then and there, but he was prevented by the wall of Fate. So he reluctantly allowed himself to go home knowing the innocent boy, his husband was, would soon end up with the Jiangs...

However, he will work hard and he will circumvent the Fate's plans....

Chapter Text

Wei Ying followed the Second Jade, confused and curious as he was also cautious of this being a trap. But the little he knows about the Lan's is that they hate gossip, lying and subterfuge of any kind. They value honesty and will take anything you say at face value, which is an admiral quality in a Sect, but also leaves them vulnerable to a truly skilled liar. Wei Ying hates to admit it, but he is a good liar. Able to hide his pain with smiles and segways into jokes or stories he tells with a bit of extra flare to hide how much he is hurting or how scared he is. He can handle monsters, demons and ghosts without a problem, but facing Madam Yu? He would rather kiss Jin Zixuan. But nothing terrifies him more than dogs. He cannot help the fully body shiver at the thought of those deceptive demons that others seem to adore.

"Is Wei Ying cold?" The Jade asks and Said young man realized that this is the second time that the Lan called him by his given name and it felt.... Nice. Like his name was being caressed with utmost love and care, treasures in a away he himself was not. He does not realize that this is actually the third time, having been so shocked last night to recall how he whispered his name, only focused on the handsome man who held his waist like the hero of a romance novel and Wei Ying, the pretty maiden in need of saving.

He blushes suddenly and shakes his head to both dispell his wandering thoughts but also to deny the Lan's question. They arrive at the center of the Cloud Recesses where a few others from the other clans and several Seniors and Elders from the Lan Clan are gathered. Lan Qiren is at the center with his eldest nephew and both wait for Wangji to arrive. When they spot him and the only one with Talismanic talents from Yunmeng, Lan Qiren felt his mustache twitch as he sees the only child of the only man he ever loved, a bear mirror image of him, but even he could admit that Cangse Sanren was a truly beautiful woman and a good kind soul, if wild and unrestrained. He can see some of her in her son, especially in the color of his eyes and the small smile that seems to take permanent residence on his lips.

The bitter part of him wants to rip that woman's son down and break him like his heart had all those years ago when he had fought for so long to be granted permission by the elders to allow him to court and marry Wei Changze, only to find him on a romantic picnic date with the wild woman, both sharing a secret kiss under the late afternoon son, looking so stunning and breathtaking together. He felt betrayed, but how can you be betrayed if you never had his heart to begin with? Shaking his head, he scowls as his nephew brings the rumored troublemaker closer. He bets the boy is at the center of all of this.

Wei Ying stops among the other young masters front he clans, noticing he is the only one of lower birth here, but that does not bother him. He waits quietly even as whispers of his name and his servant status hiss into his ears. For a Clan that does not allow gossip, the Grandmaster is certainly allowing it to happen right in front of his nose. But then, Wei Ying noticed the glint in his eyes and knows he is dealing with another Madam Yu, someone who hates him simply because of parents he barely remembers and yet seems to be exactly like them in every way. He listens as the explanation is given and then watches as the three main clan members draw a bit of blood and spiritual energy to make the wards visible and as soon as they do. Wei Ying recognized his work but wonders how this happened when he had just recopied it this morning? But then again the scroll has not been in the same place he had left it before he snuck out the night before. He assumed it was Jiang Cheng's doing, likely putting his name on it to get some kind of recognition. His brother hated that he could never compete with him and Wei Ying has always done his best to sooth his ruffled feathers and soften his heart from the bitter jealousy and poisonous hatred that tries to fester in his chest.

But what if it hadn't been his brother? Could someone have taken his scroll and used it to get him in trouble? Well might as well step forward for 'execution' as it were. The others were in awe of seeing another clans defense network while Wei Ying was carefully analyzing how his work seemed to act as a patch job in some areas, a support strut in others and an umbrella over the rest. It was admittedly one of his better works and he is happy to see that it anchored properly into place, even if he is heavily miffed that someone stole his work. He let the others try and examine it once they were granted permission while he simply pulled the scroll with the neatly written spells, diagram of the array and the radicals used with an explanation as to why they were picked. The shield is meant to be adaptable, able to change it's focus as if it were sentient. It even seemed to recognize it's creator as it pulsed as he stepped forward towards Grandmaster Lan.

"Grandmaster, this one is Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian of Yunmeng Jiang. This one does not know how this array got out, but this was to be gifted to the Lan Clan at the Welcoming Ceremony..." He executed a perfect bow, dipping lower to show his sincere apology as he holds the scroll with the array out on the flat of his hands. He had made it from scratch, a finally widdled willow wood shaft, polished silver knows on the ends to hold the long roll of lotus papyrus in place the waxed backing of the scroll to protect it from the weather and water. The leather thong shat ties it shut and the elegant whorls of clouds and cranes that helped decorate it. He feels it taken from his hand harshly and bows lower as he steps back.

Lan Qiren knew it! Not even a single night here and already causing trouble and trying to take credit for another's work! How utterly shameless!! He ignores the rumors he hears of Wei Wuxian's supposed genius status and Mastery of the 6 Arts. No one outside of the Lan Clan has really achieved such a title since Wen Ruohan, other than his nephews who have each master 4 of the 6 Arts, well 5 of 6 in Xichen's case. Wangji never had a talent for art beyond possible skills. He was no master artist, sadly, but what he lacked in painting skills he made up for with his musical genius. Lan Qiren read through the scroll and furrowed his brows because nothing that wasn't balanced should not work as it so clearly does not should it be as powerful as it feels.

Lan Zhan watched the exchange closely, a hidden proud smirk dancing in the edge of his lips as he watches his Wei Ying demonstrate the grace and political awareness he often 'lacked' in his old life. His Wei Ying was always aware of when and where he can act out, always making sure to draw any negative attention to himself and always declaring his actions were his own and had nothing to do with Yunmeng Jiang, since all anyone ever cared about was how he was supposedly losing face for the Jiang Sect. No one ever seemed to notice that it was due to his humility and willingness to accept his own faults or the faults of others as his own that made him a good Head Disciple, that made his Shidis and Shimeis adore him so, up until their dying breaths and why after the Siege, those who remains from the Massacre of Lotus, left. They could not believe that their beloved Dashixiong had truly turned into a monster, sure they were scared and wary of his new power because they feared he would lose that battle and become the thing they feared but somehow, someway he managed to remain their ever kind and gentle, if now standoffish, Dashixiong.

Many of whom had gone rogue or came to the Lan Sect and were lucky enough to be allowed to not only join but tk train under Lan Wangji when he had been set free from Seclusion. They also adored Sizhui when Wangji once let it slip by accident that Sizhui was actually Wei Ying's son  he never lacked babysitters even if they rarely got that chance what with his reluctance to allow his little radish to leave his side and the off chance he had to, Xiongzhong gladly spoiled his nephew in his absence.

"Prove that his is your work." Lan Qiren demands haughtily as he thrusts the scroll at his eldest nephew, who is more willing to believe the young man than his uncle.

Wei Ying stands straight and like last night he creates a cloud of glowing butterflies that he based off of these really beautiful silver ones he once saw while still on the streets of Yiling, guiding him away from danger and to an old forgotten shrine of a faceless deity who looked to be a farm of sorts. He ended up living in that shrine for years, but then he got careless and was nearly mauled by a pack of feral dogs and rescued by Uncle Jiang. He has tried to recreate those same butterflies, not as many things more than to hold onto that rare moment of pure joy and safety he felt in the streets. How they seems to always guide him to food and water, or something useful among the trash and scrap piles. He always shared his finds with he faceless God and thanked him for his pretty messengers and how he wished he saw his face so he can make a smaller statue of him.

Wei Ying watched his butterflies fly towards a weak point in the Lan's original barrier, pointing it out and Lan Qiren twitched because this suggested that he had done this once before. They were not a silver as he would like them to be nor did they give off particles of stardust, but their bluish forms shed a gentle but brilliant light in the dark and the sparkles that fall from them look like falling snow instead. They hit the barrier and start to open a hole that no one notices even if they are watching it happen but before the whole could get bigger than a pepper seed the purplish barrier patches it and creates a new net both inside and out side of the barrier.

"As you can see, Grandmaster, this barrier has a conscious. It can sense dangers far more accurately than the living because it is using she spirits of the dead who linger and live peacefully in the area to find danger before it reaches your awareness. It can adjust itself and even fight back if the need arrives. Though I doubt a fight will be forthcoming for a very long time, at least future generations will be protected. And unlike the old wards it is self sustaining, taking the ambient energy and converting it to pure Yang energy. Even yin or resentment are refined to fuel the barrier." Wei Ying explains, pointing at how the Barrier shifts itself back to normal after it checks for danger and finds none.

*This is most impressive. Do the Radicals have an meaning?"

"Well Uncle Jiang told me that the barrier was a gift for your clan and expressed that I was not to share the information with others. I based it all on the info you gave him and I noticed that while strong and theoretically impenetrable the Lan Wards should be, if no one has added more power or even checked for weakening areas in such a long time, then no one would notice the danger it posed until an attack happens and it would either collapse or the enemy found the key to get through. The one I made is not balanced to help anchor the originals properly and give them extra support. The holes will have a next work both in and outside of them, where there is weakness there are now struts to hold them up against an onslaught of attacks, and an Umbrella that keeps all within safe from harm." Wei Ying finishes his explanation. "I am wondering how it got here when I had only just recopied it this morning onto the scroll you now hold." Wei Ying admits.

They blink surprised. Wangji gives a small smirk of pleasure at how everyone stares impressed at the detailed explanation, but without giving away secrets that we're not his to give away and the weak spot he exploited led to the area they normally hold prisoners in back during times of war and strife. Xichen smiles brightly as he reads the scroll again with a new found understanding.

"While balance is key, a bit of imbalance makes for something adaptable and unpredictable.this array was meant to attach as a support strut, not to take over. But it seems your barriers have weakened considerably over the years of it is taking in the form of an umbrella." Wei Ying points out.

"Indeed, we will need to look into this." Xichen agrees. "If it is alright with Yunmeng Jiang , I would like to request you accompany my brother and please research the old barrier to see if you can come up with a way to strengthen them. Of course, I would expect your utmost discretion...."

"As Zewu-Jun asks... I will speak with my brother and see what he says." Xichen nods at that as Wei Ying turns to he Grandmaster, "Again my apologies. I have no idea how it got activated when I was only copying it from my original notes to the new scroll. I normally write messily, but I worked hard to make my writing neat for you to read." He admits ashamedly. And Qiren felt his brow twitch.

"Hmph, exactly like your mother..." He sneers.

"... Excuse me, but whatever your issue with my mother is, I do not need any harassment from you. I get enough of that already... I barely remember my parents after they died, so kindly listen to your own rules and stop listening to rumors and assuming things. And isn't there a rule against holding grudges?" He calls back with a deadly tone that shocks them but Wangji, who calmly steps to his side and glares at his Uncle.

"Uncle will write Etiquette and Conduct 500 times in handstand." He orders and then grabs Wei Ying's hand and pulls him away as the others gasp and gossip in their wake. Wei Ying is stunned and cannot help admiring the strange but handsome Second Jade...

Chapter Text

Snippet:

The world slowly came back in its and starts. It took far too long for him to recall his last memory. A voice crying his name... What was his name? The person was ther-- no, not there... A device... A small thing... A phone! But aren't phones wired? A wireless? No... No not a wireless, they need a certain radius to work... A cellphone?

That had to be it, a cellphone... But he could have sworn he saw them... Maybe not the real them but a phantom image, like he imagined them right before- before what? He heard voices speaking:

"Yes, I confirmed the body as belonging to Wang Yibo."

Is that his name? What does it not feel right?

"It's a shame, he was such a a brilliant mind and talent, only to throw it all away for something as pathetic as morals and sentiment..." Sneered another voice. "Anything else in his file?" Another condescending voice sneers.

He knows that voice...

He HATES that voice...

"Yes, he is survived by distant relatives who lives in their home county of Gusu, none of whom are close. We might have better luck with a sibling if he had any as a test subject due to similar DNA, but the relatives are at least three generations apart and thus do not have a direct bloodline." Someone else says in a bland voice.

"Tsk, damn it..."

"He is also survived by a lover or an ex-lover by the looks of the investigation. They seemed to have seen the news coverage and called Mr. Wang right before he was killed and released the virus... We already went to Mr. Wang's home and thoroughly investigated it. There was nothing, no notes, drives or anything. We also checked his personal lab... The only sample of the Wuyun Virus was on his person and was shattered when he was shot to death..." The bland voices person said suddenly becoming nervous at the end.

There was silence and then the voice he hated started yelling and making outrageous demands.

"Fine, cut him open and get me my virus back!! I don't care how much you salvage!! And bring in anyone who was exposed as well!!"

After that there is a long silence. Long enough for him to pull fragmented memories together.

They said my name is Wang Yibo, but I don't think that is my true name... Who.. who is that smiling person? They call to me... They called me...

// "L-- Z--, where are you!? What are you doing!! Please... Please don't do anything rash!!" Their voice is strained with grief and fear, hitched on sobs. He is certain they look so pretty when they cry, but not like this. Their voice is also sweeter and so full of life...

"L-- Z--!! I am watching you on the news! They say you're a terrorist! Please tell me you didn't do anything!! Please, just give them what they want! I will call your brother and we will get you extradited back to Gusu!!"

He must have said their name name, soft, heartfelt but utterly broken. He knew he would not make it.

"Please... Please!! L-- Z--, come back to Gusu with me!!"//

He had recalled thinking as his world exploded in noise, pain and fluctuating heat and cold, that it was ironic to hear such a phrase from the other...

He tries to recall his name anything, but other than a voice, the phantom image and scattered fragments of his memories. There is nothing. He only stirs when he hears the first voice speaking. They say that his name is Wang Yibo, but he is certain that is wrong, that he is in his mid to late 20s, he's over six feet tall and weighs nearly 300lbs pounds, there is an off hand comment about him being pure muscle and being ideal for the introduction to the virus, but sadly with his death and the only sample being gone it is a waste.

A virus...

A flashback of hours, if not days, spent working in a lab, testing and retesting samples, failures and going back to the basics. He did this so many times until finally, finally after countless hours, sleepless nights, days and weeks and months! Literal years of his life to create a specialized virus that could be the breakthrough in pharmaceutical production. However, he learned his project was to be "scrapped." His notes and all his hard work would be confiscated  and he would be "let go." He wasn't a follow, a few others who had made promising works were also told the same and "let go" one of them had apparently "committed suicide" just the previous month, jumping in front of the train at the main train terminal in Hong Kong.

He was never going to be allowed to live. His. Eyes suddenly snap open an unnatural glow to them as he stared right at the doctor about to start cutting through his chest. He yells in shock as his partner also gasps and backs away from him.

He slowly stands from the table, uncaring of his naked form slowly moving his body which feels... Alien somehow. He is in the middle of poking at his cock when two heavily armed men burst into the room and his vision suddenly turns black and only the four people in the room appear in strange colors the two corners are mostly yellow while the two heavily armed men are a glaring red and purple. A growl rumbles out of him, inhuman and deadly as he swings an arm out, his arm suddenly stretching inhumanly long turning black and dark blue as what appears to be bone grows from it like spikes or blades and slices through the four of them before his arm then branches out and grabs the pieces of. His victims and... Absorbs then?

He gasps and collapses to the floor as his mind is flooded with memories, their names, their thoughts. They had families, but gladly accepted blood money to support said families. They lavished in death, blood and money, uncaring of the lives they helped to ruin, of the families they left to mourn the deaths of previous victims. He gets email accounts, banking and the like and when he is able to stand again, he slowly walks to the table where his things were and slowly puts in the ruined white button up the black slacks and the blue sweater. He stumbled to the desk and grabs the file, his file and finds his address, a few photos of his home and what looks like a blowup photo of a pretty young man with a radiant smile.

Xiao Zhan.

His lover.... But why does that taste wrong on his tongue? Nevermind that, he grabs the key pieces of information, the photos and considers how he will leave when his body feels suddenly strange and he turns to see a mirror and watches as black and blue biomass bursts out of him, painlessly and swallow him from head to toe, but still able to see it as it happens and then one of the doctors he killed is there in his place. He cannot help but think this is handy as he quickly goes around the lab finding files and a few External drives to quickly back up the info from the computer.

He stuffs it all into Dr. Feng's messenger bag and then grabbing some flammable chemicals he sets the place on fire and slips out the emergency exit just as the fire alarms set off...

Time Skip; POV change

Wei Ying sat curled up in his glass cell, his forehead pressed to his knees. He was losing his mind, he is certain of it. Voices cried and whispered in his ears as he felt phantom fingers clawing and grabbing at him. He was exhausted mentally, physically and emotionally. It has been two years since his ex died being accused of being a bio terrorist. That he created some super plague that was infecting certain people across the country turning them into modified zombies like our of a Resident Evil game. He had not had the time back then to properly mourn.

Lan Zhan had taken him out on a beautiful date at the start of his new project and told him he was going to be extremely busy and had purposed that night but. Then two years into the project he suddenly started being cold and spending longer hours in the lab. Wei Ying had confronted him, asking if he was really working or cheating on him. Lan Zhan told him he was cheating on him and it had broken his heart. They fought and argued. But now thinking about it, Lan Zhan was a terrible liar, he was raised by his family precepts that had lasted since ancient times, like even older than the Wei Dynasty. They do not lie and the few times his Lan Zhan has tried to lie to hide a surprise for him, Wei Ying knew it because Lan Zhan's ears turned a cute pink and twitches not unlike a bunny's ears when nervous.

He was too emotional back then to notice his twitching ears, the way he never once looked dhim in the eye, another nervous tick his eyes were too earnest so he avoid eye contact when he lies or he just simply does not face you. He had lied about cheating to get Wei Ying to break up with him. He only released it as he was packing up his things to return to Yunmeng. A postal delivery had been set to bring him a note and a small package with a Biohazard seal on it. The letter was Lan Zhan explaining that he had to break up with Wei Ying to protect him from Wentech. He was to keep that box safe from his former employers, burning it if he must but also to hide the thumb drive that had all the information he could gather to utterly ruin Wentech and Wen Ruohan's reputation.

Wei Ying felt like a god-damned fool, but he still did as told. He packed up and left. But his biggest mistake was forgetting to ditch his phone. It was how the Jins found him and kidnapped him. Ever since he has been here, being experimented on. Something he never told his ex, was that he wasn't some poor art student who had been kicked out by his family, but a member of a centuries, if not millennia, old guild of Assassins. He had run away from what their particular branch nicknamed the Farm. His back was littered in old scars from his foster mother's whip. She was always jealous and insecure when it came to her marriage and her unresolved feelings with his mother.

It also doesn't help that the Weis were the oldest family in the Assassins. Even without holding high status or money, his family was practically royalty among the Assassins and that made her angrier especially since only certain families can use Cultivation and even rarer still, they could control Yin. There was ancient relics that were saturated in Yin and Yang energy, four pieces called Yin Iron and a fifth pieces called the Yin Hofu. And there were 7 Yang rich items with and Either simply being called the Dragon's Pearl. The times have been found and lost over the centuries of their war with the Templars, Illuminati and so many other Secrets Orders and brotherhoods it is ridiculous.

Wei Ying had wanted nothing to do with it, especially because his foster parents expected him to basically act as a meat shield for their children, whom he adored as like his own siblings, but also to sacrifice his entire life to the Order and find those items for them. He had moved from city to city, town to metropolis, always changing his identity and only staying long enough to earn more money or until he was nearly found. The longest he stayed in a place was Hong Kong, with his boyfriend. They met under the aliases of Wang Yibo(Lan Zhan) and Xiao Zhan(Wei Ying) on a college film project of a super popular BL light novel called Modao Zushi. They were playing the main leads and well along the way they fell in lover for real.

He spent nearly 6 years of happiness and then it shattered. He doesn't know how much longer he can put up with this. He had seen some of the others who had been brought in and used. A boy named Mo Xuanyu had sadly died due to the Memory Dives through the Animus. Another boy, a Xue Yang had been driven insane and was the Jin's attack dog while he was still useful.

The Animus...

It was a piece of super highly advanced technology that allows one to fall into a simulation world build from the memories hidden within your DNA. More specifically the DNA of certain long standing Assassin families who had at one point or another been in contact with or helped hide away the Yin and Yang Pieces. They weren't the only three to suffer this, many others, random hobos and runaways ended up in this place until they stumbled across Test Subject 3, Mo Xuanyu, who had gotten them the info of who exactly to target, but in the process his brain was fried and he was left a vegetable until they finally pulled the plug in him, he was only 17.

That clue lead them to his parents, more specifically his mother, but with her death and no information of her and his father having children he was in the clear, but then he fucked up and his first trip into the Animus gave them the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Now he goes into the Animus every three to four days, being tortured and experimented on in between sessions with only one day to rest every other month if he is lucky. He can handle torture, it was one of the first few lessons you learn on the Farm. Poison production and antidotes, building an immunity to most of not all poisons, anatomy, Qi blocking and releasing, acupuncture and torture to be more specific. He even handles the exposure to Resentful energy better than most, even more so than Mo Xuanyu had or even Xue Yang. He certainly was keeping his sanity better than them.

However, it was his trips I to the Animus that were undoing him. You see the longer and the deeper you go in the memories the more bleed through you suffer. It was aptly named the Bleed Effect. People who came before him would start acting like they were in the Animus, often becoming hostile or violent. Some seemed to just simple loose it, self mutilating and drawing symbols in their blood writing ramblings and the like on the floors and walls of their cells until they either bleed to death or are put out of their misery. Wei Ying has picked up skills, he sometimes goes into a Bleed and relives a memory either one that was selected for him or a continuation of it, sometimes precursor to that specific memory. He often wakes up in the 'gym' which is a large warehouse like space with a parkour course for the 'test subjects' to get exercise in. He often woke up having climbed to the very top and about to jump into a mat far below.

He always woke up dizzy and terrified. He was always confused and only ever got violent twice. The Jins wanted to keep him for as long as possible so they made sure he was well taken care of. He especially hates Jin Jixun, who mocks him after they discovered he was a Third Gender. He would call him 'Bitch' and 'Cunt boy' all because where his testicles should be he had a vulva.

There was a hiss and a metallic clunk at the end of the hall and he tensed. That sounds meant he was going into the Animus. He could tell by the sound of the shoes coming. Jin Guangyao's loafers were expensive but comfortable for the tiny man's feet since he spends long hours in them, mostly keeping an eye on Wei Ying's progress through the memories and with their experimentations.

"Mr. Xiao." He greets with a gentle and friendly smile that would have fooled a lesser person than Wei Ying. Wei Ying had an image ability to tell a person's nature at first glance and he knows this seemingly harmless little man was the deadly scorpion waiting to get his stiner in you.

"Dr. Jin." He greets back neutrally.

"We have a long session today." He says and Wei Ying does not bother lifting his head from his knees. He just wants to go back in time to when he and Lan Zhan were together and he happy. Before that blasted Blacklight project!! He wishes he took his lover up on moving to Gusu tk meet his family. Because he had been scared to reveal his past the Lans, to risk inter Sect politics which would mean the Jiangs would have to be invited to the Wedding and risking being taken back by them... 

There were very few Cultivation sects left in the world, mostly the Great Sects, Nie, Lan, Jin, and Jiang sects be specific. The Jins would have still been clueless about him or if they did know it, they could not kidnap him from the Lan Territory nor could the Jiangs have done so since he was no longer a minor and no longer needed their permission to marry. He was such a a damned fool back then. How many times had Lan Zhan begged him?

Wei Ying, please come back to Gusu with me?

We should go to Gusu, you will love it there, I promise...

Wei Ying, let us get married in Gusu...

He had rejected him so many times and the one time Wei Ying begged Lan Zhan to go to Gusu, he watched him be shot dead on national TV. He wants his life back, he wants his Lan Zhan back. He doesn't move or acknowledge the guards as they enter his cell and grab him by his arms and drag him from the room. He hopes this time when he goes in, he doesn't awake up....

Lan Zhan isn't happy. For two years he looked for Wei Ying and for two years, nothing. He slowly regained his memories through absorbing people he worked with, traitors who sold him out, people he did not get long with in his human life. Through his brother and Uncle, but they were shocked to hear he had had a lover at one point. They used their connections and resources to help find Wei Ying. They found his maternal Uncle, Xiao Xingchen and he told them about the Order of Assassins and their mission when he could not tell them where Wei Ying was. That last he had heard of his nephew, he had been safe with at the Farm under the Jiangs control.

Only to find out he ran away at 16 and hasn't been seen since. The Madam going as far as to say "the little slut is very likely dead in a ditch somewhere like his whore mother" which got her nearly strangled to death by Lan Zhan. He only let her go to avoid giving away his inhuman nature.

After that he slowly put the pieces together and realized his Xiao Zhan was Wei Ying. So they put feelers out for any possible alias both old and new for Wei Ying, but so far nothing. In the meantime, be occupied himself with dealing with the remnants of Wentech, which has been taken over by Jin Industries. That is why he is in disguise right now as a janitor and he just walked into the security broom and is cleaning up, but discreetly look at the screens to see if he can spot any suspicious activities or escaped Wen employees.

So imagine his shock when a screen near him lights up as the security in guards turn to look at it and press a few buttons and it begins recording. He watches as a young man is dragged into a room and forced down into a table where he is strapped down and IV is hooked to his arm. When they move he sees--

Wei Ying.

Chapter Text

Wei Ying is not alright. Ever since he first drank from that blood red pool of water, he has felt... Alien in his own skin somehow. The voices of the dead honestly do not help matters either. The war is also not helping with every battle and so much death and negativity spreading like a plague across the lands.

Wei Ying sometimes felt like an outsider watching as his body interacted with people or how much pleasure he felt when he wrought devastation across the battle fields. He was tired of everyone just assuming things, demanding things of him and he hates that he's grown so short tempered with people he normally has so much patience for. But the voices wouldn't stop talking or twisting things to try and break him.

He knows this path is leading him to an early grave.

But he wishes people who claimed to know him, to trust him, would do just that!!

TRUST IN HIM!!

Believes in him!!

He swears he's slowly turning into a monster and if it continues...

Will someone even be willing to save him?

He felt so much rage building in his chest, the weight of so much expectations and the disappointment for his 'arrogance' and the rumors that no one was even pretending to not be making up right there, in front of his face. He is sick and tired of trying to fit the moulds others made for him because being himself is apparently a crime.

"... Isn't that right Wei Wuxian!?"

He snaps back to reality and looks up to see a fat Jin with an unimpressive face standing arrogantly before him. He suddenly realizes that there is a crowd and at his feet was a fallen bowl of pig intestines. The tackiness of the blood on his face the smell of raw meat...

He suddenly doubles over and just loses the bile in his stomach making everyone scream and panic because on his second heave, blood splatters out before he snaps red eyes on the Jin and grabs him by the throat and picks him up as weak as be is and crushes his throat.

"Do you think your fucking funny?" He demands darkly. "You know what? I don't fucking care anymore... Since I am clearly unwanted here.; good luck in the final battle tomorrow." He tossed the fat Jin into the mess at his feet and pulls his flute out. He plays a short but shrill song and all the dead and resentment awakens and begins leaving as the corpse of an impressive monster comes towards him and mounts it.

He wasn't joking.

He is done.

They want keep talking shit about him? Then let them suffer the consequences on of their own actions. He doesn't look back or listen to anyone calling after him. He does stop his mount when Jiang Wanyin orders him to return to camp and he glares down at him.

"You don't get to fucking order me around anymore... I am sick and tired of being your emotional punching bag and I am not dying again for you!! I already gave up my life by allowing a Wen to gut me open and rip out my golden core so you can fucking live!! Because as you and your mother loved to remind me daily, Shijie is not my sister and I will be nothing more than a Servant in your eyes...So since I have no fucking golden core, I shouldn't even be on the battlefield and yet I have done far more than any of you so-called 'Elite' Cultivators!! And since you care more for your damn Sect's face, I am saving it by leaving!! I already fulfilled my last orders by keeping you alive and getting you to Meishan. You don't need my useless ass anymore!!" He snaps his voice echoing over the dead silence at the revelation that this entire he was fighting a war without a golden core.

That because he didn't have said Core he developed Demonic Cultivation to help them in this war... And because of their carelessness, he was leaving them!!

Many tried to beg him to stay, but he ignored them ordered his mount to leave and once they got passed the last tent the mount jumped into the air and flew off...

Wei Ying refused to feel guilty as he learned from the gossip in the market place as he sat working on his newest painting. The war had once more shifted into the favor of the Wens but now it was a race to find him and get him and his powers on side, but Wei Ying had hidden himself well. He avoided the reds, blacks and purples of his old life though he feels like he is disrespecting his parents memories by not wearing red or black. He wore browns and greys, he wrapped the top half of his face with gauzy bandages, giving the excuse he is mostly blind and keeps his eyes covered to not make others uncomfortable. He wonders from town to town lending aid where he can. He avoids letting anyone see Chenqing but he does use him to cleanse the towns from any unrest and hauntings as he goes.

"Yeah, I heard directly from one of my nephew's who's in the Ooyang Sect! The  Sunshot Campaign is not going well because the literal night before what was supposed to be the final push into Qishan, their secret weapon, the Demonic Cultivator, suddenly left."

"Bet that foulsome monster joined the Wens." Someone spat.

"Actually, no he didn't. He's traveling around the war torn countries and lending his aid. I got a letter my my grandmother, she was saved from a Prison camp by that 'Foulsome' person as you said when she was accused of being a Wen Sympathizer just because she lived in a village just on the inside of the Qishan Wen territory line! My grandma can barely look after self and my sister and her family had moved there to take care of her! If that 'monster' was truly a monster, he wouldn't have bothered saving innocent lives or even helping to calm the restless undead in the area either!" Someone else snaps furious. "I also heard he originally started in Yiling, the people have taken to call n him their Patriarch and honestly, I support the Patriarch!"

There was a commotion and he was forced to set down his brushes and walk over to them.

"Gentlemen, there is no need to fight." He says softly and they apologize to him because he was helping their master by painting a beautiful mural that has special spells hidden in it to try and revive the garden of the Flower Maiden after she and it were burned by the Wens.

"Hey, what do you think about that deserting bastard?" The second man demands.

"...Me? Personally, I think you should mind you're own business. I travel and have actually been in a few of those battles on the main line. That guy you are bad mouthing actually had enough of people like you, people who can do nothing but spew hateful words or Lord their ignorance over others just because they cannot gain recognition of their own. And if you think the Patriarch is someone to hate and revival, then why don't you Cultivate then find a skilled doctor to cute the source of your power from  your chest and give it to your friends here and then get thrown into the heart of the Burial Mounds and cultivate the Demon path. If you can do it, then you understand why the Patriarch left after taking so much unjust treatment, insults and be expected to just take it like a pig eating slop." Wei Ying demands and the man goes quiet.

"What!?" They gasp.

"Yeah, you heard me correctly. I was there when he left. He gave up the golden power that brings one to immorality to save the life of someone he once thought of a s a brother. And what was the thanks he got? Three months in hell within the Burial Mounds and then forced to join a war and sent into every single battle with little to no rest, mocked and insulted because his so called allies felt they were entitled to disparage him. Not to mention that he had to break into gaves because his Allies kept cutting down his undead army during every fight. He was already losing some to the enemy, but tk have his so-called allies also cut his arms down was taxing and draining." Wei Ying scoffs when the men were left flabbergasted.

"But.. but he still deserted the war! He's the reason why many more are dying every day!! If he hadn't left this would all be over!!"

And Wei Ying let's out a loud bark of unfriendly laughter that made everyone freeze, the hair on their necks standing up.

"So I am to blame am I?" He whispers and then says louder. "Who says that if he had remained that the war would be over? How do you know that there wasn't an ambush waiting for them? Who is to say that the Patriarch would have made it through the battler or that once the war ended that the others wouldn't behave killed him because he is a Demonic Cultivator?" He laughs again, mirthlessly. "See, it is because of people like you, he left. He left because he realized that even if everything he did was for the righteous and just path and the right for freedom and humanity, he will never be accepted or even allowed to live simply because of the only path left to him... Now do shut up. I have work to finish." He snarls and turns back to his station and gets back to work.

The market slowly comes back to life after that with new chatter, but now it was debating if one uses the accepted path to do evil shouldn't still be considered the 'Righteous' path and if one uses evil tricks and wicked methods to do good, is it truly 'evil' in the first place?

What is Right?

What is Wrong?

What is Black?

What is White?

Who is truly Good?

And who are they to say who is truly Evil?

Wei Ying's journey brought him back to the Qishan and Qinghe boarders where once more the Campaign was gearing up for a final push into Qishan Wen lands and primarily into Nightless City. It has been 4 years since the start of the war and now every Sect was forced into it. What with Jin Zixuan finding out that his father had his half brother spy in the Qishan Sect but instead of helping the Allied forces, he was using Meng Yao to aid the Wens. This caused a major issue as Zewu-Jun, Maiden Jiang, Young Master Nie and several prominent elders from several smaller Sects to be captured during a night raid on the medical and supply camp.

As much as Wei Ying wanted to pretend he was unaffected, he couldn't. He has spent the last four years forging a strong path into the endless darkness of his Ghostly Path, he finally had full control of his powers and he can choose to be a good man and then in a blank he could be the monster that goes bump in the night. He had created a brand new army of sentient Corpses half were once humans who wanted vengeance at first but chose to remain after he helped them kill the Wens who killed them or hurt their families. The other half were a mix of Demons, Ghosts, monsters and ghouls.

His strongest monster was the reanimated corpse of a Qilin. A creature that represented fortune, long life, and the auspicious  splendor  that comes with the birth/death of a Sage or even a prominent Ruler. To kill one is seen as the most heinous of acts because if the creature was all that was good and lucky in life, then in death they were the exact opposite. Which is pretty ironic all things considered, since Wei Ying is basically the newest Evil in the world. His strongest Ghosts were the Red Bride and the Triplets with a child ghost who shyly clings to him. They were the strongest and most resentful of the lot. The Bride, a'Hong as she insisted he call her, had been killed on her wedding day by the man she was to marry and his mistress. She was then dumped here and the mistress disguised herself as a'Hong and got married in her place. They ended up stealing her vast fortune and estate.

The triplets were not in fact sisters but a woman with three split personalities who was tortured and raped to death her body tossed into the Burial Mounds where her corpse was eaten but her personalities manifested as three identical women. There was a'Mi, a'Qi, and a'Fa, Each having taken a sound from the original woman's name which was Fa Miqi. A'Mi had a bubbly and bright personality while aQu was a bit more subdue and often a bit gloomy while a'Fa was assertive and a bit combative.

The Ghost child, he is unsure of where they came from or who they are, only that the poor thing had starved to death. Wei Ying has taken to carig for the child, who by now no longer looked like it once did, all skin and bones with a bloated belly having tried to drink as much water as possible to starve off the hunger but ended up causing bits death. He could not call it by a specific gender because the child never allows him near it when undressed. It wears a mix of male and female cut robes. It is normally very shy and content to cling to his side but once it goes into battle... It is a terrifying sight to see it's bones twist and crack as it crawls after you while either shrieking like a dying babe or cackling like a playful child as it crawls backwards along the ceiling.

But none of them compare to the Burial Mounds itself. The collective consciousness of it formed a body from bits and pieces of scattered remains, ashes and bones. The figure was male and stood impossibly tall and broad shouldered. Dressed in furs and black cloth, he looked like a barbarian. Wei Ying had named him Zhingming Bingshuang since he seemed to leave a wake of deathly cold in his wake.

The only reason he came back was because he still loved his Shijie and Nie Huaisang was his best friend. He also knows that Lan Zhan would be devastated if he loses his brother. It has nothing to do with the fact that Wei Ying realized the reasons why he pestered Lan Zhan and pushed him away so hard was because he had fallen in love with the man, but because he was dumbed to die much sooner than the other, he chose to run away from his feelings.

Wei Ying pets his Qilin's neck.

"Biqing, let's go say hello..." He says, wearing the beautifully crafted robes that Granny Wen made from him after he rescued the Dafan Wens from a Prison camp and set them up in Yiling on his private lands just outside of the Burial Mounds.

The robes were onyx black with subtle silver embroidery of the Death Mountains with Biqing stand on ledge. The leaves had dark crimson flames that were actually the petals of blood red lotuses and spiderlilies. Both flowers representing Death, Yin and Evil. He found Granny's sense of humor golden! He wasn't some Demonic Cultivator to the people of Yiling or the Dafan Wen Branch, he was the Grandmaster of Yin and he must look the part. There were bamboo stalks through our the mountains of his robes and each stalk had a Characteristic of Yin stitched into it. All 34 characteristics that have helped define him and some that many would not believe fit him.

By the time they arrived at the battle front the Sunshot Campaign was losing. The Nie, Lan, Jiang and the Jins who sided with Jin Zixuan were all surrounded by a larger army of Wen, the Jins following Jin Guangshan and Wen Ruohan's demon puppets. Wei Ying looked at them all from his vantage point of top of the Inferno Palace, leaning on Biqing's neck as if he was his person throne, the Qilin content to let his master lounge. Zhingming Bingshuang stood at his shoulder silent like a statue, fathomless eyes taking in the losing battle.

Wei Ying pulls Chenqing to his lips and begins playing a gentle melody, soft and sweet, calming even. It is so out of place it effectively stops the battle and he opens his eyes, still his normal silver for now, as he finishes the last few notes and pulls the flute from his lips.

"Oh, sorry, do continue, I didn't mean to interrupt!" He laughs brightly, but the sound is hallow and leaves a shiver up all their spines.

"Who the hell are you!?" A Wen General demands.

"Oh, me?" He gets off his mount and jumps off the roof, floating down as gracefully as a fallen flower petal until he touches down on the top of the stairs and then calmly walks down to the general and gives an elegant bow. "This one is Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian. Formerly of Yunmeng Jiang, but am now a Rogue Cultivator."

"Y-you-- !? Insolent brat!!" The man sputters and goes to kill him. "Jiang-Rat!!!"

His blade never touches Wei Ying since the man is suddenly headless thanks to Biqing biting said head off.

"I am also the one who hunted down Wen Chao and tortured him three weeks straight before I finally killed him..." Wei Ying purrs happily and Wen Ruohan's eyes light up and glare at him.

"You killed Chao-er and Wen Zhuliu!?" He growls. "And what the hell do you think you are playing at boy? Bringing a powerful undead creature to me! Such a fine gift to your new god!!"

"Oh?" Wei Ying asks calmly and then his eyes turn blood red in a flags and he snaps his fingers. "Kneel!"

Every since monster, corpse and ghost obeys without failure and no matter how Wen Ruohan tries to pull command from it it doesn't work.

"You have Yin iron!?" He demands.

"No... I don't need such a finicky thing to control them... I have this..." He calmly pulls out his Amulet. "See, I would have used this a few years back to end this damn war much sooner, but I was told I should leave the war efforts to the real Cultivators...." He says and many in the allied forces flinch or sputter at the jab. "But see, you mad me come back because you took something's important to me... And for your sake you better hope my child finds them safe and unharmed..." He tells him. "Because if they have been harmed in anyway.... I will personally drag you down to hell and toss you at the Ghost King's feet as my thanks for his blessings."

"You--"

They turn to the palace doors where Lan Xichen is being carried out on the back of a bear like Yao, the man is hurt and feverish, clearly having been tortured. Jiang Yanli is cradled in the arms of one of his Corpses, he carries the young woman and a baby in her arms, carefully shielding them with a'Mi floating at his shoulder looking ready to devour anyone who tries to get close. Nie Huaisang limos out, leaning on a'Fa and a'Qi's shoulders, he too looked like he had been tortured.

"Master, these are the only living people we could find of the prisoners said to have been taken..." A' Hing says as she materializes at his shoulders, purring darkly as she sees the terrified face of Jin Guangshan. "Oh... The Jin eh? Tell me, are you Jin Suzheng's descendant?" She asks and the man slowly nods. "Ah... You look just like him... Bet you can't keep it on your pants either... Tell me, how many women have you raped, killed or left pining for your worthless ass? And be honest or I will make this so much worse..."

Wei Ying on the other hand stiffened and then calmly breathed through his nose.

"Wen Ning and Wen Qing?"

"Here!!" A tiny voice pipes up and he is surprised his Ghost Child spoke up. The child held the siblings hands Wen Ning looked like a stiff wind would blow him away while Wen Qing looked vatter since Wen Ruohan still needed her skills and those could not hurt her overly much. It hurt her more to watch her brother and the other prisoners get tortured.

"Good... Xiao Gui, take them to the camp... Girls...." The triplets perk up as does a'Hong. "Take out the Jins."

They cackle and dive at the enemy Jin's, a'Hig going right for Jin Guangshan as the hostages are taken away by the little Ghost through the shadows as Wen Ruohan ears and attacks Wei Ying who spins away and skips out of his wild attacks. This brings the armies to action. But everyone cannot help pausing to watch Wei Ying literally dancing around the Wen Sect Leader as the man tries and fails to kill him, failing even worse at trying to wrest control of the dead from the young man who has them calmly moving dead bodies from the fight and laying them in near rows according to their Sect. Zhingming Bingshuang and Biqing watch their master for a moment longer before he steps back and Bingshuang is suddenly attacking with skills of thousands and beating the Wen Sect Leader into a bloody mess. Wei Ying suddenly cackles and the battle shifts into a full on bloodbath he avoids any attacks aimed his way by the Wens as the allies catch up and over take the now panicking enemies.

Somewhere in the chaos Wei Ying sees Lan Zhan, who got even more unfairly handsome.

"Wei Ying... I am so sorry...." He gasps out and pulls him into a hug which shocks him. "Did not realize that Wei Ying had no other choice... That my words were hurting Wei Ying so much... I... I wanted to bring you to Gusu, not to punish you... But tk heal you... To protect you..."

Wei Ying is surprised but then goes boneless with relief and hugs him back.

"I could never be angry with you... Even if I truly turned evil, I could never be angry with you and would have gladly thrown myself on your blade should you have ever taken it up against me..."

"Thank you for saving Xiongzhong and the others... Are you alright? Is this harming you?" He worries and Wei Ying cannot be angry this time because the man is truly worried.

"You are lucky I love you or J would be so mad... But yes I am alright, I took my time away from the war working on my abilities and mastering then fully rather than my half assed initial work due to my fight or flight instinct being triggered and never settling." Wei Ying smiles at him.

"You... Wei Ying loves... Me?" He asked and Wei Ying pales when he realized he said that out loud but before he can speak any excuses, he is kissed relentlessly. "Love Wei Ying... Want Wei Ying, can only ever be Wei Ying..."

"Good... But... Right now... I fell like a monster..." He grins evilly, his eyes gonna redder as he spins away from his hopefully soon to be lover as he goes to deal with Wen Ruohan after his time limit for Bingshuang was up.

They can work out the marriage details later after he makes sure his sister and friends are safe....

Chapter Text

Snippet:

Nie Huaisang fluttered his fan nervously as he stood half hidden behind a cedar tree, one of the few that helped decorate the many intersecting pathways of the Cloud Recesses. A wall of bamboo stalks that looked like they were touching the heavens kept others from sneaking up on him. If he specifically chose his palest green and yellow robes with the odd splash of grey and black to help blend into the bamboo stalks, then that is merely coincidence. He is spying on the group that arrived late this afternoon. He was carefully looking at heir faces and cannot help the frown of displeasure on his face. He doesn't even startle when someone slides in beside him.

"Wangji-xiong,  I don't see him!" He worries his lip as the silence shadow at his side gives a low huff, his version of a laugh. "This is no laughing matter!! What if he doesn't come!?" He hisses at him.

"He is here... Saw him when we brought back the body... Will meet him tonight... Need to wait for Qonglin as well." Lan Zhan says calmly and it makes the Nie deflate in relief before he gives a low growl.

"We have to deal with THAT shit again again.... I don't know what is worse... My visions, you or the possiblity that whatever that freak flash we all saw might have caused soul possessions all over the Jianghu..." Huaisang grumbles out rubbing his brow.

"Don't worry your little head... " Another voice says and he does startle as he turns to see Lan Xichen. "I have just finished clearing out the Forbidden Section and filling it with... Your lovely collection..." He chuckles darkly as Lan Zhan gives an actual chuckle which freaks out Huaisang even more.

"Did you copy the books as well; the ones in the main library, I mean." He wonders.

"Yes, the original have been placed in secure chests and blood locked bad have been placed in Ancestor Yi's cave. We also erected extra barriers... However they will not hold for much longer unless we get Xiao Ying to create new ones."

"I see... So the plan is to protect him and his reputation at all cost in case he has to go down that path..."

"Unfortunately, his path has been set in the cosmos.... He is always going to be the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation... However, were versions have failed to protect him or failed to save him, we have taken extensive notes and will adapt and adjust..." Xichen says firmly, his eyes narrowing as he glares at one person in the courtyard in particular. "We will keep any fake friends away... We need to keep Maiden Jiang alive at all cost, Huaisang I need you to convert Maiden Luo into a spy in the Jin's Tower, we can speak with He Su and get his clan to start moving the Dafan Wens into their land and into their clan. Wangji--"

"Have already sent a missive to Maiden Qin and she shall arrive by morning with a small entourage. Have also sent a servant to pay for Miss Sisi and bring her here. Madam Meng is slowly recovering from her illness in a nice cottage in Feng Village and we received a letter that Madam Meng has given birth to her final child, a little girl she has named Daiyu Chun." Wangji cut in and smirked softly.

"Good... That should keep Meng Yao stable for now... Hopefully we done need to kill him, he is too useful." Huaisang sighs, but these is a deadly coldness to his voice. "I am having a hard time getting Da-ge to listen to me... Er-ge, could you help me? At least get him to stop being so damn pestimistic? And help unwaep his sense of justice?"

"Work hard, improve not only your martial skills, but also your Cultivation level. Xiao Ying can surely help you with your new fighting style..." The Twin Jades look at his fan and he gives a sheepish smile and hides the metal fan back in his sleeve and pulls out an identical paper fan.

"Go now, will need to wait for Wei Ying..." Lan Zhan says softly at he notes the time.

"Have fun, but don't be too mean to him."

"Hm." He purrs darkly, licking his lips.

Huaisang moans softly at the dark look and that little lick.