"Grandmaster Lan, Jiujiu...are you sure about this?"
Jiang Cheng inhaled shakily, starting at the complicated array on the ground. Lan Qiren and himself had taken his nephews, Jin Ling and Lan SiZhui, along with their two sworn brothers, Lan JingYi and Ouyang Zizhen to the back hill of Cloud Recesses.
It had taken months of planning from all of them, Jiang Cheng only realizing they were truly doing this as he stood now. Turning, Lan Qiren looked towards his nephew's son.
Lan SiZhui had a far away look in his red rimmed eyes. Lan SiZhui had used to bore a tranquil expression and was an elegant boy who sent waves of serenity out. He was dignified and well trained, no expectation as he had been raised by Lan WangJi.
'Lan WangJi...'
Lan Qiren repeated the name in his head of his late nephew. He closed his eyes recalling the fateful day the happiness gained after Jin Guangyao's death had been shattered. Jiang Cheng also was reminded about the day. How could he not remember it? So much tragedy...but the worst had to be his brother, Wei WuXian, finally losing his smile.
1 year and 8 Months Earlier:
Wei WuXian smiled brightly at his husband as they flew to Koi Tower. They were arriving to the sect under multiple influences. One, it was Jin Ling's request to see his uncles and cousin. Secondly, Jiang Cheng's daughter, Jiang LiMei (named by Madam Jiang, Fu MingZhu, in honor of her late sister in law), hadn't met Wei WuXian in almost a year.
Wei WuXian was thrilled with a family get together after so long, even though he knew it was also serving as a discussion conference. That was why they were arriving a day early. Flying with them were a few disciples of the GusuLan sect including Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi, and Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren. Lan Xichen's wife was staying back at the GusuLan Sect since she was pregnant with the Lan Sect Leaders second child. The heir to the sect, Lan ShaoQiang was also staying back due to his own studies (and punishment he had gotten while playing around).
"Lan Zhan, look! They're over there outside the Fragrance Hall!" Wei WuXian pointed down and Lan WangJi smiled, nodding.
They flew down, the group on the ground consisting of Jin Ling, Ouyang Zizhen, Jiang Cheng, Fu MingZhu, and Jiang LiMei. Jiang LiMei, who was about seven years old, beamed when she caught sight of the black robes, squealing, "Uncle Wei!!"
Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian stepped down first, the older releasing his husband who went running to the young female, "Little Lotus!!"
Fu MingZhu laughed joyfully, releasing her daughter's hand and letting the two meet. Wei WuXian quickly carried his niece, pinching her cheeks, "My little Lotus, did you miss me?"
Jiang LiMei nodded enthusiastically and saw Lan SiZhui, "Tang-Xiong!"
"A-Mei!" Lan SiZhui stood by his Father, Lan JingYi running with him, "You've grown even more beautiful!"
Jiang LiMei giggled, motioning to Lan WangJi to carry her. Lan WangJi smiled, easily taking the child from his husband and the group meeting together. Jin Ling greeted, "DaiJiu, Uncle Lan, SiZhui, JingYi, Zewu Jun, Master Lan,"
Wei WuXian clicked his tongue, looking over his nephew, "Look at you, almost Jiang Cheng's height!"
"DaiJiu," Jin Ling whined, "I've been this height for ages and the only reason JiuJiu is taller is because he's got platforms on!"
Wei WuXian laughed loudly, ignoring his brother's fuming glare towards the Jin Sect Leader, "Right, right, you're an adult. Aye, speaking of. When are you four going to get married, huh?"
The four sworn brothers all flamed red. Lan JingYi complained, "Senior Wei!!"
"Baba," Lan SiZhui looked at Lan WangJi pleadingly, "Please reason with A-Die. We have a lot of time to marry, just look at ShuShu!"
Jiang Cheng whacked Lan SiZhui on the head lightly, "You brat! What has my shixiong taught you, huh? Hanguang Jun, you better drill back those manners. SiZhui turning into ShiXiong,"
Lan WangJi nodded and agreed, "We already have JingYi and Wei Ying. A-Yuan, give your uncle some face,"
Lan SiZhui giggled, ignoring the offended squawks from Lan JingYi and Wei WuXian.
"Da Bai Zi, " Fu MingZhu greeted her brother in law, taking her daughter from Lan WangJi, Wei WuXian smiled brightly at her, "Di Mei, is Jiang Cheng treating you well?"
"You-" Jiang Cheng was about to hit him playfully, but paused when he saw the disapproving look Lan Qiren was giving his brother.
Fu MingZhu giggled at their antics, "A-Cheng treats me very well, Wei Ying,"
"Good, " Wei WuXian smirked, "Though I still wonder how the two of you married without a love potion-"
Jiang Cheng glared, "You, shut up!"
Lan Xichen laughed, "A-Ying, play nice. We don't want Sect Leader Jiang to lose his mind before the conference,"
"Of course, Da Bai Zi, " Wei WuXian grinned and then faded as he saw the glare he received from his uncle in law, turning his head and smiling at Ouyang Zizhen, "Is your father here?"
"Of course not, " Ouyang Zizhen laughed, "I took over the sect two years ago, remember Senior Wei?"
"Ah, yes! I forgot, " Wei WuXian shrugged.
"Biao Ge!" Jiang LiMei called Jin Ling.
"Yes, A-Mei?" Jin Ling answered easily.
"Food time?"
Jin Ling nodded and turned back to a few Lanling Jin disciples, "Lead the GuauLan disciples to any rooms they need for their stay and provide them with lunch. Everyone here can come with me into the Main hall,"
The two nodded, bowing and turning away. Lan Xichen nodded to his sect, who all smiled and bowed, following away towards the guest quarters. Jin Ling turned around leading the way into the Fragrance Hall. There were already tables set up, Jin Ling walking straight up to the center seat and sitting down with a soft flick of his golden robes. He motioned for everyone to sit down, Lan Qiren saluting the Sect Leader, "Sect Leader Jin is truly well taught,"
Jin Ling only bowed his head out of pure respect when in reality he was not a big fan of Lan Qiren. His cousin and sworn brother served as his and Ouyang Zizhen's messenger birds on how Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi's lives were. It had been years since Jin Guangyao and they all were long past juniors, Ouyang Zizhen and Jin Ling both being well known sect leaders, the OuyangBailing Sect prospering in a way past sect leaders had been unable to do so. It was a huge sect, almost that of a great sect. All the old sect leaders had married and heirs were already born, including Nie Huaisang and his two sons. And while life was prospering and happiness was flowing around, there was still once knick. Wei WuXian, his wonderful DaiJiu, had left behind the tainted reputation of the past and gained a new one as both Lan WangJi's husband and a powerful inventor / genius. The only problem was Lan Qiren, who still didn't approve of the marriage between his nephew and Wei WuXian.
It was reasonable at the beginning, but it had been so long that it was just ridiculous. Jin Ling really didn't understand the huge dislike and one day had finally asked Jiang Cheng about it. Jiang Cheng had explained vaguely about Lan Qiren, who had apparently disliked Wei WuXian the moment they met due to Wei WuXian being the son of CangSe Sanren. He then added saying things that Lan Qiren also blamed Wei WuXian for Lan WangJi's change from the perfect ice statue into a real human, and a severe punishment Lan WangJi had endured for saving Wei WuXian after the Bloodbath of Nightless City.
Jin Ling didn't know what that punishment was and he knew better than to ask Wei WuXian or Lan WangJi about it. So he kept the information for himself (minus his cousin and sworn brothers). Shaking clear of his thoughts, Jin Ling nodded to a female servant, who bowed and the servants all began to place dishes and drinks (tea and wine) in front of everyone.
"What liquor is this, A-Ling?" Wei WuXian asked.
"Drink and guess," Jin Ling taunted, picking up his chopsticks.
"It's good liquor, that's what!" Jiang Cheng announced after taking a sip.
Wei WuXian drowned a sip and hummed in approval, "A-Ling, you've been drinking well and have good taste!"
Jin Ling laughed, the sound fading as Jiang LiMei looked at her Mother, "Can I try liquor?"
"No!" Everyone in the room quickly exclaimed.
Jiang LiMei was the only daughter of the family and was naturally overprotected and pampered by all of them. Even Lan Qiren couldn't help but have a soft spot for the young female. Jiang LiMei pouted, "But-"
"A-Mei," Fu MingZhu scolded.
Jiang LiMei huffed and pouted. Lan SiZhui stood up and took a teapot with him. He poured a small cup for her, "Here you go, you can have this instead. See, everyone in white robes is drinking it,"
Jiang LiMei saw and nodded, smiling again. Lan SiZhui smiled, returning to his seat. Ouyang Zizhen then noticed something off, speaking up, "Ah? Senior Wei, no extra chili oil?"
The atmosphere suddenly changed. Lan WangJi's eyes darkened in displeasure, while Wei WuXian paused eating, looking awkward. Lan Xichen sighed, glancing between Lan Qiren and Lan WangJi. Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi shifted uncomfortably, keeping their eyes on Lan WangJi who gave Lan Qiren a glare. Lan Qiren glared right back, "What are you glaring at me for?"
Wei WuXian gripped Lan WangJi's hand quickly before he could say anything, "Lan Zhan,"
Lan WangJi inhaled and exhaled, ordering, "Bring chili oil,"
"WangJi-"
"What?" Lan WangJi looked calmly at his brother, "We're not in Cloud Recesses, let alone Gusu. Why should he have to be denied eating the way he wants?"
"Lan Zhan, not now!" Wei WuXian exclaimed, but Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes.
"Eating the way he wants, what is this about?" Jiang Cheng demanded, looking straight at Lan Qiren.
"My dear," Fu MingZhu whispered calmly, "The children are still here,"
Wei WuXian also looked at Lan WangJi nodding with his sister in law's words, "Lan Zhan, let's just eat. It's such a nice day and occasion, must we argue?"
After seeing Lan WangJi and Lan Qiren not break the stare, Wei WuXian clicked his tongue distressed. Jiang Cheng had turned away, but was paying attention to the ordeal. Jiang LiMei was young, but she had long figured out that something serious was being spoken about and from the way her older cousins were all eating with their heads down and shy glances, she also remained silent. Wei WuXian and Lan Xichen shared worried looks, the younger tugging his husbands sleeve, "Baobei, please. For me?"
Lan WangJi glanced at his husband, eyes softening at the name, and nodded, "Mn, for you,"
Wei WuXian smiled, turning back to the food and giving Jin Ling a pleading look. Jin Ling cleared his throat and spoke of the first thing that came to mind, "Lanling's been having some trouble with spirits,"
Everyone looked at him surprised. Lan JingYi frowned, "You mean as in a sect under Lanling...not the city, right?"
"No, I mean the city," Jin Ling sighed, "It's been giving me a headache and I've been spending so much time trying to figure it out,"
"Is it serious?" Fu MingZhu asked, looking at Jiang LiMei worriedly.
"Considering it showed up three days ago, I'm uncertain. That's why I asked you to bring disciples with you. JiuMa, tomorrow, please do not take A-Mei anywhere alone and have disciples with you," Jin Ling spoke with utmost sincerity.
Fu MingZhu nodded firmly. She had amazing cultivation, but Jiang LiMei was young and would be safer with multiple cultivators around her. Also, Jiang Cheng was very protective of his daughter and wife. Jiang Cheng looked at his nephew with a serious face, "How bad is it?"
Jin Ling hesitated, before sighing, "The Elders think they're not normal spirits. They've been causing mayhem and a couple of deaths. At first it was just chaos on the outside of the city, last week and it wasn't taken seriously since no one reported it. But then three days ago two people died. The disciples that came in contact with it were injured heavily. The most concerning part was the path we realized the spirit is taking,"
"Where's it going?" Lan SiZhui frowned.
Jin Ling stayed silent, pausing and gulping. Lan Xichen understood and said surprised, "It's heading to Koi Tower?"
Jin Ling looked guilty now and he hung his head. Wei WuXian softened his face, "A-Ling, you couldn't cancel the discussion conference so suddenly. Do not take it to heart,"
"And what if someone gets hurt?" Jin Ling demanded sharply.
"Biao Ge, don't be mad," Jiang LiMei scolded cutely.
Fu MingZhu smiled softly at her nephew and looked at her and her daughters empty plate. She stood up, picking up Jiang LiMei and bowing, "I'll take her and go to our room. I need a nap and A-Mei can read some of her books,"
Everyone nodded, Jiang LiMei waving goodbye. Jiang Cheng smiled farewell, watching as his family left the hall. When the doors shut, Lan WangJi spoke sternly, "No one will get hurt, what do you know about the spirit?"
"That's just the problem! I know nothing!" Jin Ling sighed, "The only way I know its a spirit is because the people who died all were killed by their heart being torn and gaining a huge hole, but no external wound or blood occured,"
Wei WuXian's eyes flew wide, "That's...how malicious,"
"Do you know what it is?" Lan Qiren asked without hesitating.
"Why would I know?" Wei WuXian frowned confused.
Lan Qiren's eyebrow twitched and Wei WuXian understood, "Oh, because I'm a demonic cultivator?"
"No one knows cruel and bloody better," Lan Qiren nodded tightly.
Lan WangJi glared at his uncle fiercely, "Uncle, watch it,"
"Am I wrong?" Lan Qiren argued, "You married him fully aware of his powers, his knowledge, his secrets, his everything. So am I wrong when I think he would know the answer of something vile when he is practically breathing resentment?"
Everyone sighed mentally, long used to the arguments between Lan WangJi and Lan Qiren, Wei WuXian and Lan Xichen trying to defuse both sides. However right now, Wei WuXian couldn't help but clench his jaw irritated, "Master Lan, just because I've used it for more years than LiMei has lived, doesn't mean I know of every creature and critter vile or not,"
"Well then, that's all that needs to be said. Why argue about something unworthy of arguing about then?" Lan Qiren scoffed.
The snide was caught by everyone, Wei WuXian quickly lowering his gaze to the floor. Lan WangJi's eyes flared and he yelled, "Uncle!!"
Jiang Cheng signalled to the four juniors, who all rose with him. Jiang Cheng cleared his throat, "ShiXiong, why don't we go look at the reports?"
Wei WuXian looked doubtful, but Lan Xichen smiled and nodded, "Yes, A-Ying, go ahead,"
Wei WuXian stood up and left the hall with his brother and the juniors. The servants had long since rushed out, Lan WangJi and Lan Qiren glaring at one another. Lan Xichen stood up when his brother did in anger, "WangJi, Uncle didn't mean it,"
"Yes he did," Lan WangJi seethed, storming forward towards his Uncle, who stood up calmly and met him in the center.
Lan Xichen held both of them slightly away from one another, "Uncle, tell WangJi you didn't mean-"
"He'll never admit that!" Lan WangJi snapped, "He's clouded in the mind, always has been,"
"You-" Lan Qiren grew angry, "Look at you! Talking back and disrespecting your elders. I warned you when you wanted to marry him he'd be a terrible influence! He's undisciplined, unruly, unteachable, and you defend him over and over aga-"
"Are you going to punish me for it?" Lan WangJi stopped him, ignoring Lan Xichen's warning hiss.
Lan Qiren halted and laughed, "Punish you? Haven't you been punished for the brat enough?!"
"That brat is my husband," Lan WangJi almost growled.
"He's married to you and yet you let him prance around as if he's not married into the GusuLan Sect. Wearing black and red, running, drinking, playing around, loud noises. You've completely deformed the entire sect for him!" Lan Qiren yelled, "WangJi, how many times must I remind you that you have to discipline him!"
"Discipline him?!" Lan WangJi repeated in disbelief, "And what discipline would that be?"
"He's done many things he needs to be reprimanded for,"
"And is living with guilt and knowing he was framed, knowing that Jiang Yanli died as collateral damage, not enough!?" Lan WangJi raised his voice slightly.
"WangJi, Uncle, please!" Lan Xichen tried.
Lan Qiren shook his head and spat, "We all suffer from that, its not just him,"
"He died!!!" Lan WangJi exclaimed.
"And yet it seemed you paid for it more!"
Lan WangJi looked tired of this argument, "Brother, reason with Uncle, won't you? He'll listen to you,"
"WangJi, one day, you'll see I'm right!!" Lan Qiren seethed before Lan Xichen could speak.
Lan WangJi turned back and shook his head, "No. One day, you're going to realize that you have broken more rules than he ever has. That you have caused him more harm than he has you,"
"Harmed him?" Lan Qiren laughed mockingly, "I've been trying to teach him,"
Lan WangJi frowned, "Forcing him to become used to Gusu food when's from Yunmeng? Having his levels of resentment be checked daily to make sure he isn't using demonic cultivation too much? Not giving him a forehead ribbon after marriage? Not letting him change his surname, and then insulting him when he said he wasn't going to anyway? Keeping most of the disciples away from him? Is this teaching him or trapping him?"
Lan Qiren looked at his nephews, "The last one is context based. The others are done with his cultivation in mind and the reputation of WangJi and the sect,"
Lan WangJi couldn't keep it in and angry, frustrated, tears formed in his eyes as he glared at his uncle, "When you realize your mistakes Uncle, what is it going to cost you?"
Lan Qiren looked at him confused and surprised, but Lan WangJi left the room in haste. Lan Xichen looked at his Uncle with a distressed expression, "Please go and rest Uncle,"
He then chased after his brother, "WangJi!"
Lan WangJi shoved his brothers arm away, turning to him angrily, "Why do you keep defending him and stopping me?"
"WangJi," Lan Xichen sighed sadly, "You know I'm on your side with this, but Uncle is stubborn and has always been strict in matters of love due to A-Die and A-Niang,"
"I'm not him," Lan WangJi stated.
"But to him your marriage has been a mixture of both of them," Lan Xichen frowned, "You attacked 33 elders for A-Ying, who had just lost control, A-Niang killed Father's teacher. You were bed ridden and went on a journey for two months, sealed your spiritual energy without hesitation, took him to Gusu to hide when his identity was revealed. A-Die secluded and married A-Niang to protect her. WangJi, you're not our parents, but Uncle saw his elder brother suffer because of love and he watched you go through the same..."
"Its not the same!" Lan WangJi hissed, "Wei Ying is-"
"WangJi, you know what I mean!" Lan Xichen stopped him.
"No, you can't justify anything!" Lan WangJi frowned, "Brother, you and uncle still have a good relationship and I know you want Uncle and I to reconcile, but it will never work if Uncle doesn't treat Wei Ying correctly. Wei Ying has stopped trying to defend himself to Uncle, he accepts it without complaint. As his husband, don't you think it doesn't hurt me and enrages me?"
Lan Xichen couldn't refute there, sighing. He nodded and patted his brother's shoulder, "Go, check on him,"
Lan WangJi quickly left and found the four juniors in Jin Ling's study looking over the spirit reports, but Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian weren't there. Lan SiZhui saw him first and informed, "ShuShu went to his room to check on ShenShen and A-Mei. A-Die went to your room,"
Lan WangJi nodded, asking a disciples to lead him to the room he and Wei WuXian were using. He walked in without knocking, closing the door behind him. He found Wei WuXian sitting on the edge of the bed, his black outer robes set aside and Chenqing twirling in his fingers. Lan WangJi walked forward, sitting down and brushing some of the hair from his husband's face, which snapped Wei WuXian out from his daze.
He smiled at Lan WangJi, "You're back!"
"Mn," Lan WangJi, pulled Wei WuXian close to him, the younger leaning straight into the white robed cultivator. Lan WangJi stole a quick kiss, "Love you,"
Wei WuXian smiled, "I love you,"
He then let it fade and asked hesitantly, "Did you and Grandmaster Lan argue, again?"
Lan WangJi looked away, face turning into displeasure. Wei WuXian saw it and smiled, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about it. We haven't done everyday is everyday in for a while due to travel,"
Lan WangJi already felt the teasing stroke on his jaw, giving Wei WuXian a small warning look, "It's middle of the day,"
Wei WuXian raised an eyebrow casually tugging on the white forehead ribbon, "When has that stopped you before Er-Gege,"
"Wei Ying," Lan WangJi warned as Wei WuXian's fingers brushed softly against the edge of his robes, while Wei WuXian pecked his chin.
"Hm?" Wei WuXian teased and then, raised his arms above his head and stretched, "I'm here already,"
Lan WangJi had to force his eyes to not trail about, however the thin material of the red inner robes were not helping. Lan WangJi sucked in a breath, turning his head fully away. Wei WuXian smirked, wrapping his arms around the older, kissing his husband's ear before saying innocently, "Gege, do you even remember the last time my skin was this fair and free of all your love bites, hm?"
Lan WangJi fisted the bed sheets and warned, "Don't start something you can't finish,"
Wei WuXian has been married long enough to know that his lover was never joking with these warnings. Wei WuXian paused for a bit, truly debating if he wanted to go down this route. Making his choice, he reached out gently, making Lan WangJi look at him. The older's golden orbs were already slightly darkened and Wei WuXian grinned at him, "Baobei, we've shared nothing more than kisses for three days. Please, let's reward ourselves for being patient,"
"Wei Ying...once I start..." Lan WangJi's hand reached up and undid the red ribbon with a firm pull and Wei WuXian smiled lovingly, "Lan Er Gege, as long as you have a silencing talisman and a locking talisman, do whatever you desire,"
Lan WangJi activated the talisman easily, Wei WuXian giggled at how ready Lan WangJi was. The two quickly locked lips and melted into the sheets and mattress.
The following evening; Discussion conference dinner
The sect leaders and main clan figures that had attended the discussion conference were all eating with soft chatter buzzing around the room. Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian were talking with one another, laughing and teasing. It was all a warm atmosphere, food and the smell of wine wafting around the room.
But it seemed that it had been too peaceful, because the doors of the hall flew open and a Jin disciple ran forward, "Sect Leader!!!"
Jin Ling sat up at once, "What is it?"
"Two disciples sustained injuries after fighting a spirit!" The disciple informed and Jin Ling shot to his feet alarmed.
"Here? In Koi Tower?"
"Yes! It-"
"I know what it is, sent out drills and spread the word. Keep all the servants inside and make sure any children and their mothers are safe!" Jin Ling ordered, already descending and Suihua unsheathing. The other Sect leaders had stood up as well. Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng ran to Jin Ling stopping from bursting out. The older spoke seeing Jin Ling's expression, "Slow down, A-Ling. Everyone in the room needs information before you go swinging,"
Jin Ling huffed but nodded, turning around and quickly summarizing the situation about the spirit. The head Jin disciple who had been in the room spoke up, "Sect Leader, remain in the room. I will handle it, please stay here,"
"But-"
"Sect Leader Jin, please," The boy said sternly and then left the room.
Jin Ling sighed, nodding, pacing around the center of the room. Nie Huaisang fanned himself worriedly, "Sect Leader Jin, is there a weakness to the ghost?"
"I don't know! It vanishes in the day, that's all we've confirmed. And one of the group of disciples that fought it learned that while its right hand can pass through our skin, its body is that of a physical being and it can be killed by a stab to a vital area," Jin Ling rambled.
Ouyang Zizhen and the two Lan juniors rushed forward, all three of them standing around him to comfort him, "That's good information,"
Lan WangJi unsheathed Bichen along with many other cultivators unsheathing their swords, when the door suddenly rattled and they heard the yells of the head disciple shouting orders. Everyone stood on guard until the doors flew open and three Jin disciples flew into the room landing on the ground coughing. Jin Ling rushed forward, checking them before cursing. He then stormed out of the room, the rest of the cultivators following him. The courtyard was a mess, the disciples of the Jin sect and other sects all either unconscious on the floor, injured, not here due to protection of the defenseless, or were fighting.
"Oh my god," Lan SiZhui gasped, seeing the spirit.
It was built out of a deep black substance with piercing purple eyes and no pupils. It had no legs, just a torso that swirled with the same magic substance and two arms with tallon like ends. Its head had no hair and there was no mouth, but they all could hear the screeches as it flew around and attacked.
"Thats not a spirit," Wei WuXian suddenly revealed.
"What do you mean?" Someone demanded.
"What is it then?"
"How is that not a-"
"Shut up and let him speak!" Jiang Cheng snapped.
Wei WuXian swallowed, "Thats...that's not a spirit. I would've felt it, but I can't feel it at all. There's no resentment or spiritual energy. That's magic, pure magic. That...is a curse,"
"A curse? Like a Devil's Curse Marking?" Lan WangJi looked at his husband who nodded.
"Sort of, but I've never heard of a curse this malicious...especially at this time. M-maybe a years and years ago, but this..." Wei WuXian looked at Jin Ling, "A-Ling, curses are cast on specific people for different reasons. Has anything happened in the last two weeks, have you done something to make a curse chase you?"
Jin Ling shook his head, "I haven't left Lanling for a few weeks too busy with reorganizing the archives and training and other stuff,"
"Then who else might have done something?" Lan JingYi asked.
Jin Ling shrugged, "I don't know! In two weeks so many people could come and go! There's nothing in my head that's standing out,"
"Then the sect hasn't done anything," Lan Xichen spoke, voice grave, "Someone's trying to cause trouble,"
"But who?" A sect leader asked, "This curse only came now, meaning its after all of us?"
Wei WuXian hesitated and then suddenly extended his hand. Everyone around him gave his attention. Jiang Cheng froze as he saw the familiar black tendrils. Wei WuXian's eyes turned red and he narrowed his eyes, hardening his gaze on the curse and collecting more resentment in his palm. Frowning, he sent the burst towards the curse, everyone watching as the resentment hit it straight on the upper left arm, but instead of causing pain it went straight into the ghost the screeched. Wei WuXian lifted Chenqing and began to play, but didn't get past ten notes before his body lurched and blood spat from his mouth.
"Wei Ying!" Lan WangJi held him close, "What happened?"
"I..." Wei WuXian was startled, "I tried to control it...I can't,"
"Everybody look out!!" Ouyang Zizhen screamed and everyone scattered as the spirit flew towards them.
That battle was tight, but the curse knew it would lose. Unfortunately, it had a few other abilities. The curse howled and multiple strings of the same black substance it was made of. Multiple smaller curses appeared and began to attack. There were so many that the cultivators all split up, defending themselves and trying to kill them. Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi were staying near one another, trying to protect each other. Wei WuXian had picked up a random sword on the ground seeing as Chenqing was useless here and he didn't want to risk calling any resentment in case it did something worse. Luckily, the golden core in his body that had once been weak had grown quite well over the years and Wei WuXian's swordsmanship had been polished up.
Wei WuXian gasped when seeing a copy sneaking up behind his brother and rushed over slashing at the copy. Lan WangJi watched him from the corner of his eyes, confirming his lover was safe and knew Jiang Cheng could protect both of them with Sandu and Zidian. He fought on his own, looking around and making sure everyone was handling. He saw his son and his sworn brothers all fighting together and sticking close to one another. He saw Lan Xichen protecting Nie Huaisang and making an escape path so the Nie sect leader could go and find Fu MingZhu and Jiang LiMei to ensure they're alright.
Lan WangJi realized someone was missing and he began to search. He fought and avoided, ducking under and kicking back. He hadn't brought his zither, the same way Wei WuXian hadn't brought Suiban. No one was expecting this big of a threat. Lan WangJi froze when he saw his Uncle surrounded by a few of the copies. Lan WangJi raced over, destroying one of them and helping Lan Qiren fight off the others. Lan Qiren huffed, "I don't need your help, go find Wei WuXian, he doesn't have his sword,"
Lan WangJi blinked confused and after slashing at two copies, "What?"
"Wei WuXian doesn't have his sword and I don't hear a flute," Lan Qiren explained, while fighting "I don't want you to fall into despair if he gets hurt,"
Lan WangJi was about to respond but saw something fly towards his uncle at alarming speeds. He yelled alarmed, shoving Lan Qiren out of the way and yelling, "Uncle!"
Lan WangJi froze and his breathing got caught in his throat. Lan Qiren turned to him, eyes widened and face paling. Lan WangJi choked slightly, staring down where half n' inch of the black talon fingers were in his chest. The talons were connected to the black arm and Lan WangJi looked up to see the curse staring at him with purple eyes gleaming.
"WANGJI!!!" Lan Qiren yelled loudly.
Wei WuXian heard the call and froze, glancing at his brother who also looked alarmed by the fear in Lan Qiren's voice. Wei WuXian began to fight harder and he called out, "Lan Zhan?! Lan Zhan!!"
Lan WangJi stared at the curse and then hardened his gaze. He gripped the wrist, preventing the curse from pulling back. Right now, it was just the ends of the finger, Lan WangJi might have a chance, but...Lan WangJi had another and a better chance to take.
"WangJi, what are you doing?" Lan Qiren demanded, slashing at another copy and trying to get to his nephew.
"Uncle," Lan WangJi looked at him and gave a pleading smile, "Please-"
"Lan Zhan!!? Where are you?!!"
Lan WangJi closed his eyes at hearing his lover. He shook his head, telling his Uncle firmly, "Take care of Wei Ying for me, please protect him, please Uncle,"
Lan Qiren stared at him shocked and then screamed his nephew's birth name as Lan WangJi walked forward and stabbed Bichen straight into the curse that had been struggling in Lan WangJi's grip. The arm went right through Lan WangJi's chest, blood spitting out from the Second Jade's mouth.
The curse let out a wail of pain and all the copies vibrated before bursting into particles and fading away. The battle began to slow and everyone who saw the jade gasped and froze. Wei WuXian, who had been running and searching, came to a horrified stillness when he saw his husband with an arm pierced into his chest and Bichen pierced through the curse.
Wei WuXian felt tears suddenly well and he screamed, Chenqing falling from his fingers, "LAN ZHAN!"
The curse vibrated and it exploded much like the copies, the black magic fading and the corpse of an aged man fell to the ground. Bichen had been released from the corpse, but it clattered to the ground. Lan WangJi stumbled back, meeting his uncle's terrified gaze before falling backwards.
Wei WuXian dashed forward, falling to his knees as he caught Lan WangJi and cardeled him. Tears were streaming down his face, "NO NO NO NO!"
Lan WangJi glanced up at him, reaching out and placing his hand flat against Wei WuXian's cheek. Lan WangJi smiled weakly, "Why are you crying, my love? I'll protect you even if you can't see me,"
Wei WuXian shook his head, "NO! You can't- you can't leave!!!"
Jiang Cheng walked forward slowly, crouching down and placing a hand flat against Wei WuXian's back as support, staring at Lan WangJi with shock. Lan Xichen had arrived as well, fear in his own eyes, "WangJi...what did you do?"
"Killed a curse," Lan WangJi answered but choked as blood spilled from his mouth again.
Wei WuXian shook his head desperately, "Lan Zhan! Lan WangJi! Hanguang Jun! You can't leave me!! What- What am I supposed to do then?"
Lan WangJi wiped away as many tears as he could, keeping one hand against Wei WuXian's cheek, "Husband..."
"Hu-husband!" Wei WuXian cried, "Please- please! I've lost s- so much. I can-can't lose you too..."
Lan WangJi smiled helplessly, about to speak when he heard a heart gutting call. Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen looked up to see Lan SiZhui and the other three juniors. They had been fighting on the opposite side, but they heard screaming and crying and came here. It didn't take much for them to realize what had happened when they saw a bloody Bichen, a corpse, and Wei WuXian crying over Lan WangJi. Lan SiZhui's sword fell from his fingers and he ran forward, collapsing onto his hands and knees, eyes wide and tears just barely kept in, "Baba...B-Baba!"
Lan WangJi moved his hand from Wei WuXian, lowering it and reaching for Lan SiZhui's cheek, "A-Yuan, be good,"
Lan SiZhui broke down, "N-no! No! Please! Baba! Baba!!"
Wei WuXian was shaking violently, "Lan Zhan,"
"I'm here," Lan WangJi said breathlessly, forcing himself to not leave yet, "Wei Ying, don't be sad,"
"You're dying!!!" Wei WuXian yelled at him and he cried weakly, "W-we were h-happy..."
Lan SiZhui shook his head, "There has to be something!!! Anything!!!"
Jin Ling and the other two juniors had walked to stand behind Lan SiZhui their own eyes brimmed with tears. Jin Ling choked, "...Im s-sorry, I didn't-"
"Its not your fault, " Lan WangJi coughed, "You didn't know,"
"There had to be something to- to-" Wei WuXian whimpered, "How can you leave me?!?! Lan Zhan!!! Don't leave!! Please, please,"
Lan WangJi smiled painfully, "A-Ying..."
Wei WuXian choked on sobs at the intimate call, "A-Zhan..."
Lan WangJi felt his meridians begin to cool and his eyes felt heavy. He rushed, "Brother, I'm sorry I can't meet your second child,"
Lan Xichen smiled sadly, tears slipping from his eyes, "I'll tell them all about you, I promise,"
Lan WangJi nodded and then glanced between his son and husband, "Take care of them for me,"
"Always, " Lan Xichen nodded, choking a bit at Wei WuXian whining and Lan SiZhui crying louder beside him. Lan Xichen stroked his brothers head, "You've done so much good, you've been through much as well. Rest peacefully now, didi,"
"Zewu Jun!!!" Wei WuXian and Lan SiZhui screamed in denial.
Lan WangJi smiled at his brother before he reached out, pulling at Lan SiZhui's sleeve. Lan SiZhui leaned closer, Lan WangJi stroking his head softly, "...im so proud of you,"
Lan SiZhui sniffled, "Baba...I love you,"
"I love you, " Lan WangJi smiled, "my son,"
Lan SiZhui sobbed loudly. Lan WangJi looked at Wei WuXian. With his last strength he lifted himself up a bit, Wei WuXian closing his eyes as they kissed softly. Lan WangJi whispered against his lips, "I love you so much,"
"I love you, " Wei WuXian whispered.
Lan WangJi pulled off his forehead ribbon. He placed it against Wei WuXian's forehead smiling lovingly, "Perfect,"
Wei WuXian broke down even more. Lan WangJi cupped his face with the hand holding the ribbon and found Lan SiZhui's hand with the other. Lan WangJi felt a tear pass his eye and he gave them softest expression anyone had ever seen, "Thank you,"
Lan WangJi's body stopped fighting, turning limp in Wei WuXian's grip, the golden eyes closing softly. The hand that had been carressing Wei WuXian's cheek fell down, Lan SiZhui's body shaking as he felt the grip of Lan WangJi's hand loosen.
The entire world collapsed around Wei WuXian, everything in his body turning cold. A glass shattering scream ripped from his throat, a wave of spiritual and resentment energy bursting out all through Koi Tower. Jiang Cheng hugged his brother from behind and pressed his forehead against the demonic cultivators back, sending some spiritual energy in to keep his brother from going completely ballistic. Lan Xichen gasped a bit shocked, but hung his head in defeat, biting his lip at the loss of his brother. The three juniors collapsed to their knees, hugging Lan SiZhui who was shaking his head and exclaiming in denial.
Everyone behind them had already frozen and began to sob silently from the scene. Lan Qiren was so in shock that he didn't even register tears streaming. Only when he felt the swarm of resentment energy did he snapback.
Everyone looked at Wei WuXian, his broken eyes swirling red with faint black tendrils beginning to filter from his body, "Who?! Who sent this curse?! I'LL KILL THEM!!!!"
His eyes saw the corpse and his eyes glowed brightly, spikes of resentment suddenly burst from the ground impaling the body and hoisting it up. The rusty scent of blood began to waft around the courtyard but Wei WuXian didn't care. There was too much pain in his heart.
The spikes moved, everyone turning away to hide the view of the gruesome sight as the body was shredded and ripped apart. Wei WuXian didn't feel better, his wails getting worse and more broken, Wei WuXian intertwining his fingers with Lan WangJi's hand, feeling the forehead ribbon between their palms. His body curled, forehead almost touching the unmoving chest, "I- ha-have lost everything. W-why did I l-lose you too?"
"ShiXiong, " Jiang Cheng choked painfully, "Lets bring the body inside..."
Wei WuXian whimpered as Lan Xichen picked up Lan WangJi. Wei WuXian's hands fell to his lap with the forehead ribbon in his fingers. Wei WuXian stared at it before choking and turning to his brother, "I lost him..."
Jiang Cheng had never hugged his brother tighter.
Five Days Later: GusuLan Sect
Wei WuXian knelt in front of the incense burners, the smell of sandalwood rafting around the room of the ancestral hall. At his side was Lan SiZhui and Lan Xichen, the youngest sniffling and burning paper money. It was the third day of the funeral progression and the mood hadn't gotten any better. Everyone was dressed in white, Jiang LiMei being held in Tai GengXin, Lan Xichen's wife's, arms silently as Fu MingZhu was being held in comfort by her husband.
Lan Xichen glanced at his brother in law, "A-Ying, come let's get some food-"
"I want to stay with him..." Wei WuXian muttered softly, staring at the casket that Lan WangJi's body was currently resting in.
"A-Die, " Lan SiZhui spoke softly, "Please,"
"A-Yuan, go out with everyone else, " Wei WuXian didn't even look at the boy, "I just...just a little longer,"
Jiang Cheng looked at his wife, who was crying lightly. He nodded to Lan Xichen, the older sighing. He stood up, patting Lan SiZhui twice. The boy hesitated, giving Wei WuXian a tight hug and turning to the casket. He bowed deeply, "Rest well, Baba,"
Wei WuXian bit his tongue to avoid sobbing. He closed his eyes and waited as he heard all the footsteps leave the hall. The moment he couldn't hear them anymore he broke down, shoulders shaking violently and tears streaming.
"Wh-what am I su-supposed to do?" Wei WuXian asked, burning more paper money and lighting another three incense sticks.
He stood up, walking around to peer into the casket. It would be closed tomorrow morning, then lowered into the ground. Lan WangJi was dressed in elegant white robes, looking as handsome and tranquil as ever. He looked like fresh snowfall in the majestic views of Gusu.
Wei WuXian was cold and numb. He wished desperately for his husband to awaken and kiss him. He wanted this all to be a cruel dream. A nightmare. Wei WuXian noticed the bare area of Lan WangJi's forehead ribbon. It wasn't there anymore, instead it was currently tied in Wei WuXian's hair.
"My love, my husband, my Lan Zhan, " Wei WuXian called out breathlessly. He wanted to say so many things, but wasn't sure where to start. He exhaled and sniffled. He choked, "You told me to never have to say these words between us, so why is that the only thing I feel I should tell you..." his figure shook a bit with a sob, "i'm sorry...and, thank you..."
"Rest well, A-Zhan. I love you..."
Wei WuXian didn't care for etiquette, placing one faint kiss on Lan WangJi's lips. He then forced his body to step back and just stand there, staring into the casket. He began to sing their song, tears running down his face and his heart breaking a bit more with every note.
Lan WangJi was buried the next day and a tablet of his name rested in the Ancestral Hall. The Cloud Recesses was covered in grief and sorrow, silence gripping it like a web. It hurt more when everyone saw Wei WuXian, who's laughter and voice had once spread warmth amidst the mist and fog, but now was gone.
The days kept passing, but Wei WuXian never wore black or red again. He stayed in white, the forehead ribbon in his hair. He was either in the JingShi or the ancestral Hall. Nowhere else.
Lan SiZhui spent time with Wei WuXian more than anyone, Lan SiZhiu finding comfort in his father. Lan SiZhui had duties and he had things to take his mind away, it helped him in some ways training and night hunting. He began to feel a bit more, slowly accepting that Lan WangJi was gone, Lan JingYi always around to help him and distract him.
Four Months after Lan WangJi's death
Lan SiZhui gasped when he saw Wei WuXian walk into the main hall with Lan Xichen at his side, "A-Ying, you didn't eat your breakfast again,"
Wei WuXian didn't say anything, just nodding and sitting down. Lan SiZhui placed a hand over Wei WuXian's, the demonic cultivator gripping it firmly and exhaling shakily, "Jiang Cheng is coming today?"
"Yes, " Lan Qiren answered softly and then asked, "Do you want to return to Lotus Pier for a while?"
Wei WuXian looked at Lan Qiren, "I am part of the GusuLan Sect now, I will not head back. I will stay here!"
"A-Die,"
"A-Ying,"
"I was just asking, you haven't broken any rules, " Lan Qiren spoke softly, "You haven't done a lot of things. I know you're grieving, but everyone else is as well. You have a life WuXian,"
Wei WuXian stared at the male, teeth grinding together and eyes glossing over, "A life? I have lost my life!"
"A-Yuan, go outside," Lan Xichen ordered and Lan SiZhui frowned, but left the room to wait for the Jiang sect leader.
"A-Ying," Lan Xichen reached out but Wei WuXian shook his head firmly and stood up, glaring at Lan Qiren, "I don't feel like myself! I wasn't even like this when I lived in the burial mounds! When I defected! When I turned away from my entire life! I have never felt this numb and broken in my two lifetimes!!"
"I'm not telling you can't feel that way," Lan Qiren tried to keep his voice low.
"You've been telling me how to live ever since I was 15!" Wei WuXian exclaimed.
"A-Ying, please calm down. Uncle is worried about you," Lan Xichen said warmly.
"Worried about me? He probably wishes I died instead- hell I wish I died instead!!" Wei WuXian pushed away Lan Xichen's arm and stormed out the room.
"A-Ying!" Lan Xichen stood up and rushed out after him, "A-Ying, don't talk like that,"
"Why n-not?" Wei WuXian sniffled, pausing and turning back, "Why can't I?!"
Nearby disciples all paused seeing the scene, eyes fixing on the three. Not too far, Lan SiZhui Jiang Cheng towards the Elegance Hall to meet with Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren, conversation fading as they heard bits of the scene in front of them.
"WuXian, all I'm telling you is that its not healthy for you to enclose yourself. I've seen three people do it and it was painful," Lan Qiren had followed as well, voice friendly as it could get, "You're not the only one who isn't hurting, everyones hurting,"
"The cultivation world isn't grieving!" Wei WuXian exclaimed looking mocked, "They didn't know him!! No one knew him like I did!!"
"WuXian, do you think no one understands what you're going through?" Lan Qiren asked bluntly.
Wei WuXian yelled, "YOU DONT!"
"A-Ying..." Lan Xichen called breathlessly.
"No, no! No one understands what I'm going through, especially not you, Grandmaster Lan Qiren!" Wei WuXian's body shook with tremors, "You aren't me! You haven't been losing people since the age of five!! You didn't suffer your entire sect's massacre!! You didn't go through a golden transfer and then get tossed into the Burial Mounds!! You didn't feel your mask breaking little by little everyday with every fucking insult!! You didn't defect! Or become the cultivation world's reject and target!! You didn't kill your sister's husband, then get paralized and watch as your new family left and marched to death, and then had your sister die in front of you!!! You didn't kill yourself like I did during the seige all those years ago!!!!!"
Everyone's heart shattered.
Jiang Cheng choked, "S-shiXiong..."
"A-D-die," Lan SiZhui covered his mouth in horror,
Wei WuXian sobbed, hugging himself tightly, "You we-weren't framed. Yo-you aren't me! I just lost everything all over again and I d-don't know what to do or h-how to feel ANYTHING!!! To the world, Lan Zhan is Hanguang Jun, the second jade. To you he's your nephew, brother, best friend, whatever! But for me? For me, before anything else, before he is your nephew or brother, he is my husband!!! He's my soulmate, my savior, my lover, my best friend, my classmate, my everything!!! He believed me and loved me and cared for me when I thought no one would ever and that I didn't even deserve it! He was my entire life a-and I j-just lost t-that..."
Lan Qiren walked forward, blinking back tears and pulling Wei WuXian into a tight embrace. He ignored the shocked stares of everyone, stroking the back of Wei WuXian's hair as he wailed. Lan Qiren sniffled, "I'm sorry, you're right. I can't understand you, especially not in this. But WuXian, you are not alone, "
Wei WuXian shook his head, "I m-miss him so much,"
"I know," Lan Qiren nodded, "I miss him too,"
Four Months Later: Eight Months after Lan WangJi's death
"This is a terrible idea," Jin Ling hissed at Lan JingYi and Ouyang Zizhen.
"Senior Wei wanted to talk to us anyway," Lan JingYi reminded, "And considering he's basically gone into unofficial seclusion in the JingShi, I miss him and want to see him a bit more,"
Lan SiZhui hangs his head and Ouyang Zizhen hits Lan JingYi on the arm with a scolding look. He then pats Lan SiZhui's shoulder, "You don't have to do this if you-"
"No, lets do this. Shushu also went to visit...and A-Die is closing almost everyone off. If I can get anything about how he truly is..." Lan SiZhui trailed off sadly.
The other three shared sympathetic glances, Lan JingYi leading the way to the JingShi. The four boys snuck around the wall finding a window. Jin Ling carefully opened it a bit, the four crouching below and listening to the conversation between Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian.
Inside, Jiang Cheng had entered only fifteen minutes back. Wei WuXian had been sitting on the edge of the bed dressed in robes that were much too large for his body, hair open and falling in waves. He was caressing the forehead ribbon in his fingers, silver eyes staring into the distance. Jiang Cheng served up the cup of herbal tea he had brought, sitting beside his older brother and gently said, "Drink some tea,"
Wei WuXian blinked for a few moments, turning to him and nodding. He took the cup and drank it slowly, no words escaping. Jiang Cheng looked at the mess around the room and sighed. He placed the tray of food down beside Wei Wuxian as he stood up, "Eat or I swear to god, I'll get Wen Ning to carry you to Yunmeng,"
Wei WuXian looked at Jiang Cheng, before silently taking the tray and beginning to eat. Jiang Cheng sighed sadly, moving around and cleaning up the room. He also set another fresh pot of tea to boil. After a while, he returned to his brother's side and placed the empty tray on a table, "You're still wearing white...I saw your robes. Do you want me to buy you new ones?"
Wei WuXian shook his head and then spoke, "Did you know...when I first saw these robes, I thought of them as mourning robes?"
The juniors shared pained glances. Jiang Cheng's expression softed into sadness, "I did not,"
"I didn't understand and made fun of them. I'd joke about it..." Wei WuXian sniffled, "Now I'm wearing them for that exact reason,"
"ShiXiong," Jiang Cheng sighed weakly, "We're all worried about you,"
Wei WuXian croaked, "Why?"
"The last time you stepped out of this room was to meet Zewu Jun's newborn daughter's one month celebration," Jiang Cheng stated, "That was almost 6 months ago,"
"And?" Wei WuXian looked at Jiang Cheng, "What is there for me to do? Who is waiting for me outside that door to greet me and know me?"
"ShiXiong, you aren't alone..." Jiang Cheng insisted, "And if not me or us, what about your son?"
Lan SiZhui sucked in a breath hearing himself be mentioned.
Wei WuXian also paused, a few tears slipping, "A-Yuan is an adult. He visits me, he talks to me, he tells me things, I love him, but- god Jiang Cheng I'm terrified,"
"Terrified?" Jiang Cheng was confused, "Of...SiZhui?"
"No, how can I be terrified of my own son?" Wei WuXian shook his head.
"Then?"
Wei WuXian looked down at the forehead ribbon, "If I indulge with anyone else I care about...if I let myself latch on a-again...I'm gonna lose them t-too,"
Jiang Cheng and the juniors' hearts squeezed painfully. Jiang Cheng pulled Wei WuXian into him, the older breaking down, "I'm cursed, I'm cu-cursed,"
"No, no, shut up," Jiang Cheng denied.
"First my parents, then your parents- o-our entire sect, then Jin ZiXuan, then the Wen remnants, then Shijie, then I lost myself..." Wei WuXian cried painfully, "A-and now L-Lan Zhan..."
"ShiXiong," Jiang Cheng gritted his teeth, "Its going to be okay,"
"No, n-no its not! I c-can't e-even feel an-anything!" Wei WuXian shook his head, "Shidi, I c-can't even try t-to smi-smile..."
More pain.
"ShiXiong, I'm going to help you, no matter what," Jiang Cheng promised, "I promise, I am going to give you every drop of happiness and love you deserve,"
Wei WuXian cried harder, "What ha-happiness? W-what l-love? I'll l-lose it i-in the en-end,"
Jiang Cheng closed his eyes painfully, "No, no, I'll do something. I promise,"
Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng pulled back, the younger wiping his brothers tears away softly. He then smiled sadly, "A-Jie is going to take care of him, you know,"
Wei WuXian nodded sniffling and looked towards the Zither in the room, "She'll take great care of him, Wen Qing too. Maybe my parents..." Wei WuXian smiled slightly, "He can be with his parents again..."
"Yeah, he'll be watching over you too," Jiang Cheng ensured, "He loves you to the ends of time,"
Wei WuXian looked down at the forehead ribbon, bringing it to his lips and kissing the cloud pattern tenderly, "I love him just as much,"
Jiang Cheng smiled, but it faded as Wei WuXian revealed.
"I'm learning Inquiry..."
The juniors all bit down to stop themselves from whimpering or sobbing. Lan SiZhui bent over, hand over his mouth and eyes closed painfully.
"Oh, shixiong..."
"I know," Wei WuXian swallowed, "But...but maybe. Maybe..."
Jiang Cheng stopped him with a hug. Jin Ling had enough, pulling the other three and they hurried over to the front of the house. All of them inhaled shakily, calming themselves down and trying to breathe properly. Lan SiZhui placed a hand over his heart before saying, "Let's go knock. I want to know why A-Die needed us,"
Ouyang Zizhen reached the door and knocked twice, "Senior Wei?"
Wei WuXian looked at Jiang Cheng and nodded, "Bring them inside, I asked for them,"
Jiang Cheng nodded, muttering a small sweet phrase and walked to the door. He opened the door and gave the four soft smiles, before motioning them inside and leaving himself. The four males inhaled the scent of sandalwood, Lan SiZhui feeling a small comfort touch his soul. Lan WangJi always had this scent wafting around him.
"Sit down," Wei WuXian's voice was soft, so unlike the Wei WuXian they had all first met and grown up with for the last 14 years.
Wei WuXian had moved to a table, the white robes fluttering around him. He had reached up tied the forehead ribbon in his hair, sitting down in front of the table where a steaming pot of tea was waiting. The juniors sat down around the table, muttering kind thanks as they were served. Wei WuXian drank his cup first, placing it down softly. He then muttered, "Do you know why I wanted to talk to you all?"
"No," They all said.
Wei WuXian smiled weakly, but it faded just as fast. Wei WuXian nodded, "Come with me,"
He stood up and walked towards the door, leaving the JingShi. The four looked at one another startled but hurried after. They walked in silence, following Wei WuXian towards the ancestral hall.
"A-Die..." Lan SiZhui whispered.
"Sh, come," Wei WuXian walked inside.
The four boys left their swords outside the hall, walking in as well. Wei WuXian walked to the center pedestal where the tablets for the main clan sat. Wei WuXian wordlessly knelt in front of one of them, eyes staring at the name with sorrow. The four also knelt down, Jin Ling and Lan SiZhui on either side of Wei WuXian, Ouyang Zizhen next to Jin Ling and Lan JingYi next to Lan SiZhui.
Wei WuXian inhaled, reaching forward and lighting up two incense sticks and kowtowing. The juniors followed his motions, watching Wei WuXian closely as he straightened back to his kneeling position. Finally, he spoke, "Did you know today was the day Lan Zhan and I first met..."
The juniors did not know.
Wei WuXian smiled nostalgically, "We were 15, so different, our first impression of one another wasn't the best. I snuck into Cloud Recesses after curfew with wine,"
The four giggled amused.
"Lan Zhan caught me on the way in...thinking back, he looked surreal," Wei WuXian spoke breathlessly, "Like an immortal of the moon with beautiful gold eyes...however, I wasn't aware I had suddenly fallen in love, neither was he. In fact, the two of us never got along during lectures, I teased him and annoyed him to no end..." his smiled faded, "You must've heard of it. Fire and Ice, Yin and Yang,"
"Yes," The four muttered hesitantly.
Wei WuXian nodded and choked a bit, "I never would have been able to remember the date if Lan Zhan hadn't told me when we were deciding the date of our wedding,"
The juniors' eyes widened. Wedding anniversaries weren't celebrated often in the main sect families. After all, the generation before them was a jumble of ill fated marriages. Lan JingYi spoke out, "Today is yours and Hanguang Jun's..."
Wei WuXian nodded letting his tears fall again, "I never thought I could lose him...it was always the other way around. W-we both always assumed I was in danger with my reputation and weak core, he protected me..."
Wei WuXian sobbed a bit, "I di-didn't know I had to protect him to such a-an extent..."
"A-Die,"
"DaiJiu,"
"Senior Wei,"
Wei WuXian shook his head, wiping his tears quickly and shaking his head, "I'm fine. I'm fine...I just...I feel like worse than when the backlash hit me,"
The juniors shared solem looks and promised themselves to always be there for Wei WuXian.
Three Months Later: 11 months after Lan WangJi's death
Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow at the man in front of him. He had come to Gusu to check on his brother again after learning from Lan Xichen that Wei WuXian was being watched closely by healers after finding jars upon jars of Emperor's Smile scattered around the JingShi and Wei WuXian passed out.
Lan Qiren took a sip of his tea and sighed, "One of the last conversations I had with WangJi was an argument,"
Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes, but nodded, "Not surprising, but alright,"
Lan Qiren didn't comment on the jab, accepting it, "He told me...when I realized my mistakes, the things I've done wrong, the harm I've caused WuXian...what would it cost me?"
Jiang Cheng was now aware of the severity of this conversation, pouring himself tea and drinking it slowly, "I see...and I'm assuming you've realized now,"
Lan Qiren nodded, "And the cost was WangJi's life and his husband's laughter. A laugh I never even realized I had grown so fond of..."
Jiang Cheng nodded slowly, "I believe you should be telling my ShiXiong this stuff,"
"I did," Lan Qiren whispered, "The day before he drank until he passed out,"
"Oh geez," Jiang Cheng muttered tiredly, "Alright, Grandmaster Lan, why are you telling me this?"
"I did not know who else to speak to. Xichen is much too busy and the juniors are...the juniors," Lan Qiren explained, "Plus, you are my martial nephew in law,"
Jiang Cheng coughed a bit, before nodding, "Okay, fair enough. I've been trying to come up with a way to help him, but nothing's working. I can't fault him either, Hanguang Jun was...everything to him,"
Lan Qiren shook his head in defeat, "There must be some way...I already told Xichen to teach him Inquiry and provide any books on it, its giving WuXian some distraction but its a weak one,"
Jiang Cheng nodded with pursed lips, "When I learned the truth and heard of their marriage, there was a reason I helped them plan it. Not only out of guilt and a way to fix our relationship, but because I knew Hanguang Jun would be able to keep ShiXiong happy and heal him as much as possible,"
"But now thats gone," Lan Qiren clenched his fists, "And WuXian's pain became worse than ever,"
"If he had the seal and no core, he would've lost control," Jiang Cheng put plainly, "The same way he did when Jie died. When Jin ZiXun broke the gift he had made for A-Ling. When he stormed to nightless city when the wen remnants died,"
The door flew open and Lan SiZhui rushed forward, his sworn brothers and cousin right behind him with alarmed faces. Lan SiZhui hit the table and blurted out, "What if we changed the timeline?!"
Jiang Cheng and Lan Qiren blinked.
"What?" Lan Qiren frowned.
"A-Die messed around with a bunch of things and he would tell me and B-Baba about it all the time," Lan SiZhui explained, "One of those theories was time travel and changing reality. He has a large amount of notes and even a bunch of theories and arrays,"
Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes, "Were you four listening?"
"Yes, Shushu, I will take punishment for all of us later, but think about it!" Lan SiZhui exclaimed, "We could save Baba and A-Die! And if its possible, we might be able to fix everything from 27 years ago!"
Jin Ling burst out to add fuel to the fire, "We could save my parents!"
Jiang Cheng eyes widened, "Oh my god,"
"Grandmaster Lan, we can save your brother, avoid Baba's punishment entirely, save Lotus Pier, defeat Wen RuoHan earlier," Lan SiZhui offered, "And...and...we might be able to help A-Die. If we tell him we can save Baba, he might begin to do things again,"
Ouyang Zizhen cleared his throat, "Right, but if we fail Senior Wei might become even worse or become completely obsessed with reviving the dead to the point we might seriously lose whatever sanity he has in his grief,"
Everyone looked at Ouyang Zizhen disturbed by the words. The sect leader raised an eyebrow, "No one else was going to say it,"
"Then we won't tell him," Lan JingYi suggested, "We'll do it ourselves and if we need input, we can just..." He looked at Lan Qiren awkwardly as he said, "just lie about it and get our answers,"
Everyone expected Lan Qiren to say something, but instead he looked deep in thought, "...Would WuXian be able to be happy?"
"What do you mean? Of course," Jin Ling frowned.
"No, I mean...he's suffered much. Before and after demonic cultivation," Lan Qiren sighed, "Do you think we could send enough things back to fix a lot of things? Things our past selves did or ways we treat him...the DafanWen Clan should be rescued,"
Lan SiZhui paused, "Uncle Wen wont need to be a fierce corpse a-and we won't have to live in the Burial Mounds for a few years!"
"Senior Wei won't have to carry guilt anymore!" Lan JingYi clapped his hands.
Jiang Cheng inhaled, "Meet me at his workshop in five minutes. I'm going to ask him how to open it,"
He then turned to Lan Qiren, "Grandmaster, are you joining them?"
Lan Qiren nodded, "Sure,"
Jiang Cheng hurried out of the room and headed towards the JingShi. He knocked twice before entering. His brother was laying on his stomach in the middle of the bed, staring off in a daze. He did that often now, dazing out. Jiang Cheng cleared his throat, "ShiXiong, how do I get into your workshop?"
Wei WuXian blinked. Once, twice, three times.
"My...workshop?" He repeated, confused and slowly rolled onto his side to look at his brother, "Why do you want to go in there?"
"I...wanted to check something and i'm sure you'd have written down something on it," Jiang Cheng explained vaguely.
Wei WuXian looked at him for a few seconds and then sighed, "Okay, get me my robes ill come w-"
"ShiXiong," Jiang Cheng hurried over stopping him, "ShiXiong you don't need to leave. I know you find it comforting in here,"
Wei WuXian narrowed his eyes, "You've been telling me to leave for months,"
"Well that was before i learned you drank yourself to sleep," Jiang Cheng snapped.
Wei WuXian huffed, "Not my fault...it was a full moon. I saw it from the window,"
"...so?" Jiang Cheng didn't get it.
"Lan Zhan always brought me Emperors Smile and we would stay up. I would drink the liquor and he would sit with me. We'd talk and reminisce," Wei WuXian spoke longingly, "We first met because i snuck in liquor and under the full moon,"
Jiang Cheng both felt awful for asking and slightly blank at the information on how the two lovers spent their time. So he just nodded and awkwardly switched the conversation again, "So...how to get in?"
Wei WuXian sighed and stood up. He trudged over to a desk that was littered with a mess of trinkets. Wei WuXian surfed through the items, pulling out a long and thin metal piece resembling a needle. It was the key to the lock on the door.
Jiang Cheng grinned, reaching out, but Wei WuXian quickly moved it out of reach, "What do you need in there? It's a mess and you wont be able to navigate it,"
"Tch, I need a lot of things. Just give me the key. I'm not gonna activate or steal anything," Jiang Cheng clicked his tongue.
Wei WuXian narrowed his eyes, "You've never been this interested before..."
"ShiXiong! What do you think i'm even gonna do? " Jiang Cheng frowned.
Wei WuXian exhaled, "Theres a lot of things in the manuscripts that cannot leave. Plus, theres random and unfinished inventions and arrays and talisman, half of the stuff in there is dangerous. And theres a shit load of nonsense,"
Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, "If you want to come outside and come along with me just to work on stuff, I'm not stopping you,"
Wei WuXian hesitated and then his eyes turned hard, "No, here,"
He shoved the key into Jiang Cheng's chest roughly, the sect leader taking it with confusion over the sudden switch, "Whats wrong?"
"Nothing, I just don't want to risk going in there and start something I'm gonna regret," Wei WuXian hissed and turned around, "Go,"
Jiang Cheng looked at his brother's back sadly. He then told the other as he turned away, "ShiXiong...I will fix everything,"
Wei WuXian's knitted his eyebrows, turning towards Jiang Cheng and watching him leave. Wei WuXian repeated, sadly and lost, "Fix everything? What can you fix?"
6 months later: 1 year and 7 months after Lan WangJi's death
It was possible.
They had found the manuscript for time travel, reality, and other things they thought they might need. Strangely, Wei WuXian had a ton of notes and things made for going back in time. They found other notes about soul searching and the effects of soul calming, which rendered to Jiang Cheng as strange, but he didn't ask about it. His brother had, progressively, gotten worse, especially after the first death anniversary. It had been the final push to finally turn his brother into such a weak state.
His appetite was gone and his weight had diminished. Lan WangJi's old robes were already large on the small frame of Mo XuanYu's body, but now, Wei WuXian was thin enough to wrap himself up in the robes and have fabric left over. He was too skinny. His face had gotten paler and his eyes were dulling with each day. The only time he seemed remotely alive was when Lan Qiren would enter the Jingshi and teach him Inquiry.
Lan Xichen had offered instead, but Lan Qiren said he had to be the one since for multiple reasons. Also, Lan Xichen already had enough with maintaining sect duties without his brothers help anymore and being a father and husband. Jin Ling had also tried to help as much as he could despite everyone telling him it wasn't necessary. But they all knew why.
Jin Ling blamed himself for everything.
He blamed himself for Lan WangJi's death. He blamed himself for his cousin's loss of his father and the declining health of Wei WuXian. He blamed himself for the suffering he was putting Wei WuXian through. Jin Ling had once come to Gusu unnancoued, just to visit Wei WuXian and tell the other all the things that came to his mind. Contrary, Wei WuXian did not blame Jin Ling, he had never even shown a hint of disdain even when his mood was awful.
Of course, Jiang Cheng couldn't help but feel like Wei WuXian thought he was only getting karma for their sister and late brother in law. It was a sad thought, but it made sense for his brothers mindset.
Jiang Cheng and the others had already sketched an array and they were roughly tampering and experimenting with it and seeing how things would work. Of course, they didn't mess with time yet, only redrawing and adjusting points of the array. It was rather simple. They would be sent back to a dreamlike space where only specific people would be present. The Jiang family, Wei WuXian, Twin Jades, Lan Qiren, Madam Jin, Jin ZiXuan, Nie Huaisang, Nie MingJue, Wen Qing and Wen Ning. They didn't really know how the array would hold and what would happen to their timeline now, so they had planned to write a letter to Wei WuXian explaining that if he was still there and could read it, to check the backhill and see if their bodies were present.
Right now, they were all in Wei WuXian workshop, talking about events in the past they found important when the door opened slowly. Their conversation paused and Jiang Cheng flicked his wrist, sending all the notes into a box and up Jin Ling's sleeve.
"A-Xian?" Lan Qiren looked stunned as he saw the oversized white robes and the pale face.
"Uncle Lan," Wei WuXian greeted.
The two had grown closer over the last few months, Lan Qiren able to do nothing else but to treat his nephew in law properly. He had made mistakes, unforgivable ones, but Wei WuXian had forgiven him without hesitation, even in such grief.
The silver eyes swept over them and Wei WuXian walked in slowly, "What are you doing?"
"Talking," Lan JingYi informed.
Wei WuXian narrowed his eyes but he coughed lightly. He then glanced around and sighed, "Please don't do anything stupid..."
"What would we even do?" Jiang Cheng asked.
Wei WuXian glanced towards a shelf, a shelf the others had found the time travel notes on. Wei WuXian's fingers seemed to twitch before he dragged his gaze and shook his head firmly, "Theres stuff in here that might make you go mad, don't,"
"What kind of stuff?" Lan SiZhui asked curiously.
Wei WuXian paused and he shook his head, "If the words pass my lips, I'll be the first to go insane..." he then looked at Lan Qiren tiredly. It had been months since Wei WuXian had walked or spoken such long sentences outside of the Jingshi, "Is...Is...GengXin-Jie free?"
Lan Qiren smiled and nodded. He walked over, "Come on, lets go,"
Wei WuXian more or less leaned fully into the support, "Uncle, my headache got worse,"
"I'll get a healer for you," Lan Qiren muttered as they all left.
The juniors stayed silent, following behind the older three, but their faces were solem. Jiang Cheng walked by his brothers side, "A-Mei's been wanting to see you. Since your birthdays in a in a few days, I can bring her,"
"Birthday..." Wei WuXian repeated the words as he was sat down, back against a large Magnolia tree.
Healers had urged them to have Wei WuXian outside as much as possible. So when he did come out, they all had meals or stayed under the large Magnolia tree in the center of Cloud Recesses, not too far from the Elegance Hall and Library Pavilion. Jiang Cheng sat at his side, while Lan Qiren went to find his niece in law and probably some food.
Jiang Cheng nodded, smiling and speaking softly. His brother had become a different person and it hurt so much. But he couldn't do anything else. He lucky in the sense that the officials and the senior disciple, along with his wife, were all extremely capable and strong leaders. They understood his frequent leaves from the Sect, all aware of their former Da-Shixiong's conditions. Jiang LiMei had turned almost five months back and it was the first time Wei WuXian had left Gusu, that too.
It was the first time the public had seen Wei WuXian and the change had been heartbreaking to the world that had once hated him. No one could deny that the Yiling Patriarch seemed more dead now, than he did when he had actually died.
Shaking away the thoughts, Jiang Cheng continued the conversation, "Yeah, do you want me and A-Zhu to visit?"
"Aren't you busy?" Wei WuXian looked at his brother, Ouyang Zizhen, and Jin Ling, "You three come here so often...sorry,"
"No, no, its not your fault," Ouyang Zizhen reassured, blinking back tears for the senior that had been a pillar for him.
"A-Ying," A melodic voice spoke.
"GengXin-Jie," Wei WuXian looked up at the female dressed in white, a baby girl in her arms.
Tai GengXin was the oldest female of the family, with a kind heart. She cared for all of them as her real brothers and Fu MingZhu as her own sister. The girl in her arms was her daughter who was now over a year old, Lan XiaoHong. Wei WuXian didn't smile much, but when he did, he was with the younger children or the juniors. Tai GengXin handed her daughter to Wei WuXian, who smiled automatically as he cradled the baby, looking down at her with soft eyes, "Hello, A-Hong, its your Uncle Wei again,"
Jiang Cheng smiled, looking at Tai GengXin gratefully. She only smiled sadly and stroked the back of Wei WuXian's hair. Wei WuXian's smile slowly faded as he rocked back and forth, staring at Lan XiaoHong, who was staring at Wei WuXian with a giggly face.
"She's got hints of amber in her eyes," he muttered, "Like Big brother,"
"She does," Tai GengXin agreed, "Hey, A-Ying. Why don't you tell me, do you think I'll have to worry about boys trying to court her often?"
Wei WuXian smiled again and nodded, "Yes. But she's got a tough family, she'll be protected. A-Yuan and A-Ling and A-Mei are her cousins after all,"
"A-Mei is going to protect her for life," Jin Ling laughed, "Right, SiZhui,"
Lan SiZhui laughed before nodding, "Mn,"
Wei WuXian looked at Lan SiZhui at that moment and then his gaze turned nostalgic. He looked down at Lan XiaoHong, who squealed for attention, reaching up and tugging at the loose robes. The jacket was quick to respond to the small tug, slipping off Wei WuXian's shoulder to expose more white robes. Wei WuXian saw that and sighed fondly, "Already have the Lan arm strength, A-Hong?"
Their response was a squeal and giggle.
Everyone smiled and laughed, even Wei WuXian smiled. He then lifted Lan XiaoHong up to sit properly on his knee. He pinched her cheek, "You're going to grow up so loved,"
He then suddenly winced and his face turned pained. They had seen this enough times to know that Wei WuXian had just been visited by a dark thought. TaiGengXin took her daughter and ruffled Wei WuXian's hair, "Oh, A-Ying. Your ribbons a mess,"
Wei WuXian quickly reached up and tugged it, hair falling loose and fluttering in the autumn wind. They'd have to go inside soon, the cold not good for the little Lan XiaoHong and Wei WuXian. Jiang Cheng watched as his brother didn't retie his hair, instead he leaned to Jiang Cheng, resing his head on the youngers thigh. Jiang Cheng let him, brushing the black hair and watching as Wei WuXian dazed off, fingers brushing over the forehead ribbon.
The juniors and Jiang Cheng shared a gaze.
One more month and then they could give Wei WuXian happiness.
A month later: 1 year and 8 Months after Lan WangJi's death
"Yes, we have to do this," Jiang Cheng nodded to Jin Ling, "Get ready to activate the array,"
Lan Qiren nodded, all of them standing around the edge of the array in a circle. Lan Qiren and Jiang Cheng activated most of the array to create the dreamspace and summon their past selves into it. The juniors would activate the teleporting feature. Their palms glowed with spiritual energy and Ouyang Zizhen gulped, "Once we do this...theres no going back,"
"A-Xian deserves a chance," Lan Qiren exhaled.
"A chance at what?!" A yell came from behind them and they all jumped, the juniors spiritual energy pausing from the startlement.
Jiang Cheng turned back to see a pale and angry and slightly feared Wei WuXian walking towards them. Lan SiZhui yelled alarmed, "A-Die?! Weren't you asleep?"
"Asleep my fucking ass!! What the fuck is going on?!" Wei WuXian demanded as he walked towards them.
"ShiXiong just trust us!" He said and then turned to the juniors, "Gather energy and get ready to activate it!"
Wei WuXian scowled, not stopping his pace "Jiang Cheng!!"
"DaiJiu, don't come!!" Jin Ling screamed.
Jiang Cheng turned to his brother, "ShiXiong, please,"
"What was the note?" Wei WuXian demanded, "Stop! What are you doing!?"
Jiang Cheng ordered, "Just activate it!"
The juniors all looked stunned and hesitated as Wei WuXian told them to stop, bursting into a dash, the white robes fluttering around his weak frame.
"Do it!!" Jiang Cheng screamed as brother got too close.
He then grunted as Wei WuXian's body crashed into his at the same time as the juniors slammed their palms down and activated the array.