Nie Huaisang's Scheme: Unite a Pair of Idiots in another time
In a Fishing Village in Dongying...
There lived a small family of four.
Wei Ying, Wen Qing and her younger brother Ning, and their cousin Yuan.
The Prison Camps did NOT do well the Wens that while enjoying a life of freedom and happiness, it was inevitable they won't live long, even with Wen Qing's skills.
Thus they did their best to enjoy the rest of their days.
They were all cremated and buried under a family tombstone that remained nameless to hide they were here.
In this country that speaks a different language, they had to change their names too.
Wei Ying became Gi Musen, having adopted the name Wen for himself, Wen Qing became On Jo, Wen Ning became On Nei, and Wen Yuan became Gi Sono for his safety. Wuxian can pretend he's a widower whose wife died in childbirth!
They even wrote their names differently too, that NOBODY is the wiser as to who they are. They learned, wrote and spoke the language and went native.
Jo also found a man to marry in their new town and her husband naturally got 'the shovel talk' before approving of him.
Sono grew up a happy childhood with lots of friends, and learned cultivation as well as home-tutored by his family. He was talented and Musen encouraged responsible creativity in their home.
'Niisan,' Nei called out to Musen. 'There's some excitement by the pier.'
'Send papermen to observe. Get Jo-nee to stay home and not come out and get Sono home.' said Musen warily. 'If they're normal traders it should deem it safe. But if those we deem enemies...' his eyes went cold. '-well, the sharks will eat well.' Nei noded grimly as he ran out of their home.
Being cultivators, they have long lives and will slowly age. That they are all reliant on a bracelet to make it LOOK like they are aging over the years as well as hiding Nei's identity as a living corpse. Only Musen and Sono doesn't own one as he naturally ages to being a teenage boy.
And Musen is now a mortal man who deteriorates four times faster for losing part of his soul...his Golden Core. That for someone who's only in his late twenties, he looked fifty but his insides are that of a very old man. Not only that, he was bound to the Burial Mounds. By cultivating Resentful Energy, it was as good as HIS CORE. However, by using potent energy that never belonged to him, it showed how much harm it was without it. So he didn't have long left, either.
And Musen's problem was still, the amulet which they unwittingly solved by SIMPLY GOING ABROAD.
It turns out that when far enough from the Burial Mounds, the source of its power, its as good as an ordinary trinket and just as vulnerable.
Musen wailed to them about it that 'he should have done this sooner', and set off to a soon-to-blow volcano to get rid of it.
And so...it was truly gone. But the fact remains that only they know that it is gone, and they still remain criminals at large. The Wens for simply being Wens and Wei Wuxian was wanted for his power that he was vilified just so he has nowhere to go. They exiled themselves for a peace of mind. The last among them to die, being Musen himself while the Wens will live long.
But they don't care for years...
...until now.
...it has been a decade, since they left their country. Sono is now thirteen years old and Jo's apprentice in medicine.
All he can do is wait for Nei's judgment, while cooking dinner.
/Niisan...it's Nie Huaisang./ Nei's paperman reported. /He's uh...buying fans?/
'Hoo? If he leaves quickly it'll be as innocent as that.' said Musen while mixing miso into the soup after removing the konbu. 'However, if he talks a lot longer than he should...keep Sono away from this house and hide in your brother-in-law's place. Make any innocent excuse until they're gone. He's clearly fishing for what he shouldn't.'
/OK./
'If I got an unwanted visitor, do NOT come back. Sono's safety is our priority.' the paperman nodded and went off.
After the soup was done, Musen checked on the rice. Nicely done. He can finally grill squid. Yum.
Soon enough, he heard soft knocks on his door.
xxx
Nie Huaisang was one frustrated gentleman.
The Cultivation World is in an uproar due to the Qiongqi Pass Incident.
Nobody knows why, just an explosion of Resentful Energy there...when they all went to look, its an emptied prison camp, and its enforcers dead in a rather compromising position with writing carved on the walls.
The Wen Remnants were all elderly and children, all of whom NON-CULTIVATORS who were tortured for amusement. And since the Jins enjoyed fucking people, its now their turn to be fucked permanently to death, shown by the Jin corpses present who were on all fours, with sharpened carved rocks from rocky walls sodomizing them to death and the look on their faces was permanently frozen to pain. The expression of a raped virgin's first time having a man's thing shoved in her by force.
They investigated the prison camp and by examining the corpses, they were all indeed, elderly and children clad in Wen Robes!
Jin Guangshan lied to them all.
Yeah, that was a chaotic shitstorm alright, and they were missing, along with his old classmate Wei Wuxian.
He was invited to Jin Ling's 100-Day Celebration but he never came. He clearly saved the Wen Remnants and disappeared since, nowhere to be found.
As the Jin Sect under Jin Guangshan is no longer trustworthy, wondering what ELSE they lied about, other sects took matters into their own hands.
And at the Burial Mounds, Nie Mingjue found Wei Wuxian's research which he pored over with Lan Xichen as considering what side Jin Guangyao chose, he wasn't included in that meeting on his brother's firm request on Xichen.
Inventions that are actually useful, research on Resentful Energy, the true nature of the Burial Mounds and what Wei-xiong found out about himself AND the danger he was in from society itself, not from the power he has that he was really trying to find a way to destroy the Stygian Tiger Amulet, really regretting inventing it as he gets no end of flowery, but thinly-veiled demands to hand it over to the Jin Sect for...safekeeping, but Wei-xiong was no idiot unlike everyone else who fell for Jin Guangshan's silver tongue.
In his opinion, all of them were idiots and sadly, he was right.
Considering EVERYONE but the Jins lost manpower in the Sunshot Campaign, Wei-xiong pieced things out.
He didn't want a Wen Ruohan who would actually succeed this time in ruling over everyone else. And when he got an invite to Jin Ling's 100 day celebration, he felt danger vibes and fumed at daring to use Jiang Yanli of all people against him to get him to come. He felt something was up.
Thus with letters as physical evidence, Jin Guangshan found himself on the hot seat and he was deposed by his own wife and Jin Guangyao who was working with him on that same cause, she killed while allowing everyone else to condemn her husband as he deserved.
She accepted everyone's judgment on the Jin Sect with grace, as long as she and her son, daughter-in-law and grandson are left alone. Open Season on everyone else as she has no idea who's in cahoots with her husband on other crimes, she has no idea who to trust. The Jin Sect will thus start anew under her son in hopes it'll be a truly righteous sect under him this time. She also decreed that the truth about Wei Wuxian must be spread and the truth behind the vilifying rumors, and what the Cultivational World has done to do things right.
She also gave her son ten years to 'dote on his family' before she retires as Sect Leader Regent.
Indeed, the Jin Sect changed under Madam Jin.
He wanted to tell Wei-xiong that, but its been so long, WHERE is he?
Nie Huaisang made it his mission to find him since as did Lan Wangji.
He also secretly studied Wei-Xiong's research and came up with something interesting, and brought it with him.
Thus he knocked on the door.
'Wei-xiong? It's me.' he called out. 'Can I come in?'
'...come in.'
Huaisang wondered why that voice sounds so old...so nervously, he came in to see his classmate who's an old man now to his horror.
'Wei-xiong! What the hell happened to you?!' he was horrified as Wei Wuxian was an old man in a withered body with gray hair. His bodyguard was no better. Wei Wuxian was only 28! Only! What happened that he looks like an old man now?!
'Well, I guess this dying old man can tell you the truth about himself.' Wuxian smirked with an armfold. 'I'll be dead in a few days, so let's get this over with...starting with our good friend Wen Chao, shall we...?'
xxx
A week after returning from Dongying, Nie Huaisang called for his brother, his classmate Jiang Cheng to the Recesses, and asked Lan Qiren permission to talk in Yashi about Wei Wuxian as he found him.
So yes, the needed people gathered.
'You said you found Wei Ying?!' Jiang Cheng demanded from Huaisang who looked really sorrowful.
'I found him after ten years.' said Huaisang softly. 'But we all know from his research...that he doesn't have long to live...' he said shakily. 'When I found him again, he didn't look like a man of 28...he looked like a withered old man. Because his research proved true.' the Sect Leaders and Wangji looked horrified. 'We talked a bit. I updated him on mainland events and he laughed, saying 'serves that man whore right'.' the Lans choked at his language, while Mingjue raised an eyebrow and Jiang Cheng to snort. 'He said that torture at Qiongqi Pass didn't do the elderly much good since fleeing, that they all had less than a decade...they died five years ago, the only surviving Wens being Wen Qing and Wen Ning. They were fine living in obscurity and knowing peace.'
'They went as far as changing names...but Wei-xiong never dreamed I'd find him for thinking out of the box. Was I the only one who thought he'd go abroad?' Huaisang griped with an armfold.
'...where?' Wangji asked him shakily.
'Dongying, an island country east of Gusu.' Huaisang told him. 'From Nanyi Port, straight to Akutagawa Coastal Town. Its where they live now...and he says don't bother visiting as he only has a few days left to live and he wants it in peace...he had no regrets too as he was able to destroy the amulet by sheer dumb luck by thinking of going abroad.'
'By going abroad, far away from the reach of Burial Mounds' massive power, the stupid thing became no different from a typical bargain sale trinket when rendered powerless. Wei-xiong happily chucked it to an active volcano and watched it melt. But when he did...its when his health began deteriorating due to his connection to it. It was a price he was willing to pay, and a big fuck you to Jin Guangshan.'
'Without the amulet, he could die in peace and content that a second Wen Ruohan will never rise.' Huaisang sighed wistfully. 'He will never come back here, considering what Jin Guangyao did after Qiongqi Pass Incident...he spread rumors vilifying Wei-xiong and the gullible public believed it and Wei-xiong was aware of what society says about him. He'll just suffer here.' the Jiangs choked and the Lans wasn't too happy while Mingjue was disgusted.
'That bastard...had I known what snake he will be, I should never have trusted him.' said Mingjue gruffly. Xichen wilted at his seat while Jiang Cheng looked furious. 'In the end, him and his whore of a father lost everything as their comeuppance as they deserved.' he said in contempt before his expression relaxed. 'All we can do now is make things right for a dying man. He would die a hero...no, a martyr given circumstances. He should get what he deserves. His peace.'
That's what they all agreed on.
'You went by boat right? How long did it take you?' Wangji asked Huaisang.
'Ten days on the ship I used...by sword, my bodyguard estimated a week over open sea its like seeking death as there's no place to rest on open water.' said Huaisang. 'Should you try now, don't bother. Its a wasted trip.' he said softly, taking out letters for the Jiang siblings, and for Lan Wangji. 'You'll just see his cremation urn. He didn't want anyone to see him that way. And he wants to stay in his new hometown. Wen Qing and Wen Ning probably buried his urn with their elderly relatives by now.'
The grief and heartbreak on Wangji's face was palpable. So was his despair. Yanli burst into tears while Jiang Cheng was failing at trying hard not to cry.
'Huaisang...' Xichen gently chided Huaisang with his word choice.
'Lies destroys, Er-ge...and Wei-xiong experienced the worst of it.' said Huaisang flatly. '...honesty, however painful, brings closure and relief after.'
Sorry he had to lie, but Huaisang respected Wei-xiong's wish of a deteriorating old man.
But he left a way out for Wei-xiong.
To...start things differently. He better not waste his research! Humph!
xxx
Burial Mounds...
The withered old man rejuvenated back to his handsome self again when he was 'back home' in the Burial Mounds, courtesy of Huaisang. Wen Qing and Wen Ning gave him their blessings to set things right and hopefully, save those who should be saved this time around. Wen Qing had to learn Demonic Cultivation to keep Wen Ning and be his new 'master' now. But unlike Wuxian, she would be OK as she was not 'bound' like he was. And when of age, A-Yuan will join the Lan Sect to learn Lan Music to cleanse Wen Qing periodically.
'To start over...to start anew, was it?' Wuxian chuckled as he looked at the research Huaisang brought him. Huaisang is now secretly, a Demonic Cultivator, having gone this far to save him in his own way as he truly, cannot go back any more no thanks to the Jin Sect. He also learned how Lan Wangji truly felt for him.
Lan Wangji, given the rules of Lan Sect, was unable to truly express his feelings, but anyone can see it. Wei Wuxian was just as oblivious.
Had he known how good a friend Huaisang would be, he should have done better to deserve this second chance he gave him.
Shijie has a son, Jin Ling who's now ten years old. She wanted him to give a courtesy name, but he was long gone, so it was Cheng who gave said courtesy name. Because the next generation is to have the word 'ru' in it, he gave Jin Ling the name Rujue, meaning, 'to be like loud laughter'. Jiang Cheng felt that since Jin Sect is now clean of snakes and backstabbers as well as bad examples when Madam Jin cleaned house, Jin Ling can have a happy childhood in Jinlintai and grow up with laughter with no fear of every nook and cranny there harboring ill will.
The Jins approves. That meaning, was wonderful. The name would truly reflect the changes of Jinlintai, as they took in new disciples out of orphans with a brand new curriculum to make sure the new generation grows up righteous with morals this time. Jiang Yanli wants to be a teacher when her son is five years old. She would teach Social Graces and it has to be reinforced in hopes of spreading the next generation of good adults.
Even Wuxian agrees. The peacock gave his son the birth name Ling in hopes he would rise above the muck of his parents' past.
And now, bringing Huaisang's research to life by drawing an array using blood he collected...he began casting it.
'Huaisang, thank you.' he said softly. 'I'll do things right this time around.' he said. 'I'll save the Dafan Wens, and kill Meng Yao...and most importantly, never make that stupid tally.' he swore as he created the array.
'Wei Ying! Wait!' Wuxian winced as behind him, Lan Wangji got off of his sword, clearly having rushed to catch up to him but was stunned he was still young. '...didn't Nie Huaisang say you're a withered old man?' he's as handsome as ever.
'I was...but stepping foot onto Gusu rejuvenated my weak body...and the closer I got to...home,' Wuxian waved his arms open, indicating the mounds, '-the faster I returned to these good looks.' Wuxian chuckled jokingly. 'I am bound to these mountains through the tally...or so I thought. In reality, it's these mountains I'm bound to.' he said. 'But why are you here?'
'Nie Huaisang told me that he gave you a ritual...will you actually do it?' Wangji asked him worriedly.
Wuxian's eyes darkened.
Nie Huaisang told him many things...so this much was to be expected. Lan Wangji came after him.
'And I'm sure he schooled you enough. That I have no future here. The whores of the Jin Sect made sure of that, before their deaths.' said Wuxian coolly. 'Jin Guangshan and his whore of a son Jin Guangyao...they ruined me so bad for a power I cannot give them with good reason. Gonna stop me?' he asked with a raised eyebrow.
'No...let me come with you.' Wangji pleaded, causing Wuxian to squawk. 'I regretted these ten years...if only I talked more...you wouldn't misunderstand and hate me. That not everyone is my brother who could understand a few words.' he said in a broken voice as he shook. 'All I wanted was to protect you. All I wanted...was to be with you.'
'...when and why did you start loving me? You hated me since we were young.' Wuxian asked him, utterly baffled by this...weird turn of events.
'...I had a long time to think about it.' said Wangji. 'When I thought about it...I realized it when after you were long gone after expulsion. But even then I had no idea what the feeling was. And then you shocked me by pulling my ribbon off...o-only a Lan's fated one can...' and he went awkward. Wuxian blinked owlishly before he realized it must be some romantic rule he accidentally broke which may explain why Wangji left early in the competition.
This repressed idiot, no thanks to all those rules had begun to become a human by gaining a human heart and learned slowly what love was, but got utterly bamboozled until Nie Huaisang must have dumbed it down enough for him and decided on this course of action.
'...I have no idea how to say it...so I wrote a song...the song I played for you when we were trapped in the cave.'
'Coming with me means death.' Wuxian reminded him. 'You still have family.'
'...I left a letter behind without implicating Huaisang. I owe him that much. Its simply...a farewell letter to be with you.' said Wangji softly. 'They don't know how much it hurts losing you. They'll never understand how I feel. How would they know, they never met their Fated. We Lans only ever love once.'
And Wangji fell in love with him. That he'd rather die than lose him again. Wuxian wasn't sure how to feel about that. Lan Wangji, of all people! This living ice block! And enough to go with him to death than live alone without him.
He wasn't sure how to react to that.
But...at least its all clear now. Lan Zhan never hated him after all.
His heart felt light.
'Well, it's a gamble in fate, alright?' Wuxian told him. 'I have no idea if we'll end up in the same destination.'
'I'll still find you either way.' said Wangji stubbornly.
'Well...here we go...we'll have to modify Huaisang's research a bit to include you.' said Wuxian with a smile as he began modifying the array. 'I guess...all that became of us was because of poor communication. We too, shot ourselves.' he chuckled sadly before finishing his modifications. 'I will handle the killing of Meng Yao. I intend to go back very young...at least I want to see my parents again.' he said wistfully. 'My lousy memory made me forget them. I want to see them again.'
'...I'll visit mother often as well. She died when I was six.' said Wangji softly.
'Haha, they died on a night hunt when I was six, too!' Wuxian laughed sadly. 'I'm not letting fate repeat that twice!'
'...we have a lot to do then?'
'Yeah...' and together, they activated it and died together.
xxx
'Wangji, you didn't come for dinner.' Xichen knocked before entering an empty Jingshi. 'Wangji?' he waved his hand to open the lights with his qi.
There was a letter on Wangji's desk, with a paperweight above it. It read, 'to my brother and uncle'.
He picked it up and read it.
I struggled with my heart. I learned that
what I felt was love. I wrote a song that
spoke of my feelings. He heard it while
trapped in darkness with me as I played
for him, but he never knew the name
of the song.
And because of my inability to talk during war,
misunderstandings created a rift. He believed
I hated him when all I wanted was to protect
him. If only I was a better talker...if only I knew
what my heart's wish was, would we have it better?
Three thousand rules may be a guide, but we only
followed by word, not by the heart within the rules.
We became slaves to a wall of words, suppressing
our ability to feel. I realized that too late. Rules
that's supposed to protect us instead enslaved us.
How much did we miss and lost in the end? How
many of us could have met our treasured fated,
only to lose them to someone else?
I lost Wei Ying no thanks to the machinations of
two whores of peonies. They destroyed him for
what can never be theirs, for a worser villain than
the scorching sun will be born should they have the
taboo. He didn't let them have it and he was spitefully
ruined.
My hatred knows no bounds as they played the world
for fools just to hurt an innocent man who may have
delved into taboo, but it was to save us all from the
scorching of the sun seeking to burn us all. And how
did our society repay him after listening to the whores
of flowers? There is no going back now.
I will go and join him. He died a broken man broken by the world...
And I will die of a broken heart where half my soul is lost forever.
After all, we love only once, and never again.
-Lan Zhan
Xichen was horrified, immediately running to his uncle in horror.
Lan Qiren launched a massive search party for his younger nephew, his hands shaky with what's basically, Lan Wangji's last will.
They never found him...
They tried Dongying, where Nie Huaisang said where he found Wei Wuxian.
Thing is, Lan Wangji wasn't there. The locals never saw anyone like him.
Where could he be, even as a cooling corpse?
The Lans mourned his death.