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After the events of Guanyin Temple, Jin Guangyao had become the cultivation world’s most hated person. For months, all anyone could talk about was Jin Guangyao and just how evil he was.
Wei Wuxian should have guessed that the cultivation world wouldn’t ignore him forever. Sure, he wasn’t as heinous as Jin Guangyao now in their minds, but he was still the Yiling Laozu. He had still killed so many people. He had been a fool to think for even a moment that he could live a peaceful life forever.
His marriage to Lan Wangji did prevent some people from speaking out on their displeasure of him. No one wanted to get on Hanguang-jun’s bad side. The Gusu Lan Clan members tended to be on Wei Wuxian’s side as well. He was one of them now, and any insult to him was an insult to the entirety of Gusu Lan.
That still wasn’t enough, in the end.
He heard the whispers. Usually it was when he was alone. He would hear nearby cultivators telling each other: “That’s the Yiling Laozu. He killed 3,000 people.” Or something along those lines. Usually more vicious than that.
When he was with Lan Wangji, these whispers would still come, but less frequently. If Lan Wangji heard them, he would turn a glare, ice cold, on the perpetrators, and they would shut their mouths. Lan Wangji would then sweep one of his arms around Wei Wuxian, drawing him closer, and they would continue on with their day.
Wei Wuxian was fine with it. He was used to it. He had spent years enduring this. But maybe he had his breaking point too.
It was at a night hunt. It progressed as normal, at first. Wei Wuxian usually came with Lan Wangji, but this time, there was urgent political business, and as Lan Xichen was still in seclusion, Lan Wangji had to take care of it. So Wei Wuxian went to the night hunt alone, though he made sure to tell Lan Wangji all about how much he would miss him and how he couldn’t wait to come back home and be with him again.
Thankfully, this night hunt wasn’t too difficult. The monsters all dealt with, Wei Wuxian had been planning to go back into the nearby town, get Little Apple, and head back to the Cloud Recesses. However, fate had other plans.
“Yiling Laozu!”
Wei Wuxian turned around and quickly avoided the stab that came at him. “Hey! What’s that for?!” he demanded. Sure, people talked shit about him still, but no one had done this yet - until now, it seemed!
The cultivator was glowering at him. “My father and my brother were slaughtered by you at Nightless City!” he growled. “I shall take my revenge!”
Another cultivator grabbed the first one’s arm. “You can’t! It’ll be dangerous if he fights back, and you know he’s part of the Gusu Lan Clan now. He’s married to Hanguang-jun!”
The first cultivator snorted, looking at Wei Wuxian’s black robes. “He sure looks like he is.”
“I have white robes,” Wei Wuxian muttered. “I just don’t see why I should wear them outside the Cloud Recesses. They’d get dirty.”
The first cultivator lunged at him with his sword again. Wei Wuxian once again dodged, this time bringing out Chenqing as well. He didn’t want to have to hurt anyone, but this was a matter of self-defense.
Thankfully, the second cultivator brought out his own sword and quickly disarmed the first one. “Our sect leader will be very disappointed in you!” He snapped. “Come on! We’re leaving!”
The first cultivator fought back, but it seemed the second cultivator was stronger. “Sorry about him,” he called out to Wei Wuxian, then left, dragging the first cultivator along.
Wei Wuxian felt relief. They were gone.
But also, he felt a pain in his chest.
…He just wanted to go home.
Lan Wangji still had not returned to the Jingshi by the time Wei Wuxian got there, so he flopped down on their bed and waited.
Thankfully, it did not take too long for his husband to return.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian called out, immediately sitting up.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji greeted, traces of a small smile on his face. A smile reserved only for his husband.
“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian said again, grinning, but it felt forced.
Lan Wangji noticed. “Did something happen?”
Wei Wuxian didn’t plan on telling him anything. No need to make him worry. “Ah, nothing, I’m just tired.” He waved it off.
“Wei Ying…”
Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Wangji again. He opened his mouth, then closed it. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to say. Finally, he opened his mouth again and whispered, “I need a hug.”
Lan Wangji didn’t even hesitate to come over and wrap Wei Wuxian in his arms. Wei Wuxian let out a small, choked sound, then returned the hug.
“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan,” he whispered. He wanted to say that name forever. “I had a really bad time.”
“Tell me about it,” Lan Wangji said, then added, “If you want to.”
Wei Wuxian swallowed. “I met some guy who lost his father and brother at Nightless City,” he murmured. “He tried to kill me.”
Lan Wangji stiffened. His grip on Wei Wuxian tightened. “Who,” he demanded.
Wei Wuxian forced a laugh. “Ah, I’m afraid I didn’t catch his name. Shame, huh?”
“If you see him again, tell me,” Lan Wangji said.
Wei Wuxian nodded slightly. He leaned into the embrace.
“I wasn’t lying when I said I was tired,” he murmured. “Can we go to sleep now?”
“Yes,” Lan Wangji answered. They were both still wearing their outside robes, but that didn’t matter. They laid down, and Wei Wuxian buried his face into Lan Wangji’s neck.
“I love you,” he murmured, then quickly fell asleep.
He knew what Lan Wangji’s response was, anyway.
Wei Wuxian woke up earlier than he usually did. To his surprise, Lan Wangji was still in bed with him.
I know I’m up early, but for him, this is late…
Wei Wuxian wasn’t going to complain, though. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to start to slip back into sleep.
He didn’t know how he’d react the next time something like this happened, but hopefully it would go better.
Not that he’d complain about more cuddles with his husband.