A/N: Hey guys! I'm finally back with a new story! I've been absorbed by this fandom for a few months, and this story has been rattling around my head for the last few weeks, needing to be told. Please forgive any mistakes on chinese culture as I've done my best to keep it authentic.

I'm really proud of this piece, and hopefully you enjoy it as well!


Wei Ying was hungry.

It had been two summers since his parents had left for their night hunt and two summers since he'd seen them last. He hated that he didn't really remember too much about them. He knew his mother had a nice laugh, but the exact sound of it had long since left his memory. He knew his father's eyes had held a lot of kindness to them.

But they'd be back soon, they'd promised him.

Summers were better than winters. In the summer there were far more street vendors, and if he was lucky, at the end of the day they may offer him whatever hadn't sold that day.

It was how he'd fed himself for so long, relying on the kindness of strangers or whatever food he could find behind stores that had been tossed out.

"A-Ying," he heard a soft woman's voice call out, and he looked up to see one of the street vendors he'd seen frequently with a busy booth through the day. "Come, have a bun."

"But it's not yet night," he said, a little surprised.

"Aiyah, do not mind that," she gave him a warm smile, "When did you eat last? You look so thin. Take it and eat."

He smiled brightly at her, as he took the vegetable bun from her, and continued about his walk. He needed a new shelter for the night, as the dogs had found his last one when it rained the night before, and he'd been forced out.

He took a bite of it and paused when he saw the boy standing there in the middle of the street.

The first thing he noticed was how beautiful he looked, with long black hair and light-coloured eyes. His robes were cleaner than anyone Wei Ying had ever seen and the band across his head had little clouds on them. He wondered if the boy before him was a God who had come down from the Heavens.

The second thing he noticed was despite the lack of emotions on his face, the boy looked distressed.

"Are you lost?" Wei Ying couldn't help but ask before he could stop himself.

The boy tensed then, before letting out a small nod.

"You're not from Yiling are you? Are you a cultivator? I saw some cultivators with robes like yours staying at one of the Inns in town. Is your family there?" Wei Ying asked, and the boy again nodded at that. Huh. Looked like he didn't like to talk a lot. That was fine though, Wei Ying could figure out enough from just looking at him.

"Okay let me take you back there, okay?" Wei Ying said, as he offered the boy his hand. He looked a little unsure, but Wei Ying just smiled at him, "It's just so you don't get lost, okay? It can get crowded on the streets and it would be easier for us to find your family if you don't get separated again."

The boy seemed to accept his explanation as he slipped his hand through Wei Ying's, and together they made their way to the centre of the town.

"I know every street in this city," Wei Ying said proudly to fill the silence.

He didn't like the silence too much; ever since he had been left on his own, he found he felt the most alone when things were quiet. He often tried to fill the silences in any way he could. Befriending kind strangers, talking to animals, talking to himself; anything to make it less quiet.

"I've been here for a few years, and if your family is at any of the inns here, I'll definitely be able to track them down! Don't worry. We'll find out where they're staying and then you won't have to be alone either! I'm sure they're looking for you, I mean look at you! You're so cute!" he grinned.

The boy's ears turned slightly red at that, but his hand remained firmly in Wei Ying's, so he supposed that was a good sign. After all, he'd pull away if he was uncomfortable, right?

"Hopefully it won't take us too long to find them. So, what are you in town for? Is there something nearby that needs cultivators? My parents are cultivators too-" he cut off, unsure of how to continue, "I want to be one when I grow up as well! Maybe I'll be a rogue one or something and learn myself! It can't be that hard right?"

The boy beside him stopped suddenly, "Come to Gusu," he said, and Wei Ying froze.

"What?" he asked, a bit surprised. The boy had barely talked this entire time. But his voice was just as beautiful as everything else about him.

"Come to Gusu. You can be a cultivator. We can teach you," the boy said again.

"I can't," Wei Ying said, and he saw the boy deflate in front of him, "My parents said they'd come back for me soon, and I can't leave here, or they may not know where I went. So, I need to stay here and wait for them."

The boy nodded, accepting his reasoning, even if he didn't look completely convinced. But he was saved from having to explain himself further when the boy's stomach growled.

"It is dinner time," the boy said, slightly embarrassed, and Wei Ying offered him the vegetable bun in his hand, not wanting him to be hungry. It was an awful feeling, and he didn't want the boy before him to suffer.

"Eat this," Wei Ying said, as the boy gingerly took the bun from him. "It'll fill you up."

The boy looked down at the bun, unsure.

"It's okay, it's tasty, I promise," Wei Ying encouraged him. The boy hesitated before ripping the bun in half and offering an equal portion back to Wei Ying.

"Share," the boy insisted, and Wei Ying accepted happily, as he took another bite of the bun. He was grateful for it, as he wasn't sure when he'd be able to find food next, and at least this way he could keep the hunger at bay for a while longer.

"Do any of these inns look familiar?" Wei Ying asked, as they approached the portion of town where cultivators and other rich folk often lived. The boy nodded as he pointed at one a few buildings over.

"Lan Zhan!" he heard a frantic cry and looked up to see an older boy rushing towards them.

"Lan Zhan, is that your name?" Wei Ying asked, "It's really beautiful! My name is Wei Ying! Anyways, I'm glad you found your family Lan Zhan! It was nice meeting you."

"Wei Ying," the boy repeated, as if he was savouring saying his name.

"I'll leave you to it!" Wei Ying waved. He still needed to find shelter before dark, so he didn't have to sleep out in the open again. It made him too easy of a target for the dogs if he did.

He didn't hear the other boy say his name again before the older one scooped him up tightly into his arms, as Wei Ying left Lan Zhan behind. He was glad that he'd helped him find his family, and he couldn't hope that he was reunited with his own soon enough.


It was late when Wei Wuxian finally made it back to Cloud Recesses after securing their invitation. Given the silence of the place he was attempting to break back into, he was certain everyone was fast asleep, however it was amusing to him that they'd left the front entrance that they'd so heavily guarded earlier, unattended. For all that fuss, and now there was no one here but a few wards to keep him out.

He laughed to himself as he prodded them lightly, urging them to let him in. It wasn't hard, and he was more amused than not with how easily they fell before him.

He sauntered up to the wall dividing Cloud Recesses from the outside world, and carefully pulled himself over. He peered into the courtyard, seeing no one, and he took a second to rest on top of the barrier.

He was probably breaking curfew, he knew, and suddenly, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

Carefully, he looked over his shoulder, and froze when he saw possibly the most beautiful man he'd ever seen before in his life.

He did what he did best when he felt uncomfortable; he filled the silence.

"What a coincidence," he said trying to laugh, "We meet again. Second Young Master Lan, you're out at this hour. Are you going to admire the moon?"

Of course Cloud Recesses wouldn't have been completely unguarded. It was foolish of him to think it would be.

Judging by the stoic look on the man's face, he wasn't all that sure he'd be able to talk himself out of this one.

There was a sense of déjà vu as he looked at the man, wondering if they'd ever met before. His shidi always said he'd had the worst memory especially when it came to names and faces.

He hated that Jiang Cheng was right, because it meant he couldn't remember what his own parents had looked like. And it wasn't as if he could ask Uncle Jiang or Madam Yu without it causing more strife.

"I came looking for my sister and brother," he said, trying to charm the man still, "I found the invitation! It's right here."

He reached into his robes, trying to find where he'd put it.

"Breaking the wards is a violation of the Lan Clan's rules," the Second Young Master said simply, and Wei Wuxian frowned. "Those who come in at night should not be allowed in until seven in the morning. Two violations of Lan Clan rules."

He'd been inside Cloud Recesses for less than five minutes and already broken the rules. Madam Yu would not be pleased if she found out.

"Unauthorized carrying of alcohol," Lan Zhan continued, and Wei Wuxian carefully pulled the jars of Emperor's Smile closer to him.

So he'd snuck in two bottles of Emperor's Smile. Alcohol always helped him feel less when he felt too much, and more often than not, it helped him sleep when he couldn't muster the ability to do so naturally.

"Three violations of Lan Clan's rules," Lan Zhan continued unfairly. He'd tried to argue that he just came, how could he know the rules? But the Jade in front of him was unmoved. Perhaps attempting to bribe the man right after was not the wisest move. Especially given the man immediately added on another rule break for it.

Nor was it wise of him to try and jump straight into Cloud Recesses, given the man immediately drew his sword out to stop him.

He glided against the movements, as if the two of them were dancing over fighting, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of happiness as he moved in harmony to the other man's movements.

Why did he seem so familiar?

If Lan Zhan recognized him, he certainly didn't offer anything to suggest so, nor did he allow any leniency with his movements.

Wei Wuxian on the other hand, was having fun. It had been a while since he'd sparred anyone who was an equal. As much as he loved Jiang Cheng, the boy had much to prove with their fights. But with Lan Zhan it was different. Lan Zhan had nothing to prove, other than a desire to punish Wei Wuxian, but he wasn't about to make it any easier for one of the Twin Jade's to do so.

Despite losing one of his jars of alcohol to the battle, he drank happily from the other one. It truly was the sweetest alcohol he'd ever had.

"Such a pity," he sighed dramatically, "All the young maidens in all the clans admire your beauty," he said looking over at the man appraisingly. Because he truly was beautiful.

"What is a pity?" Lan Zhan said, looking at him with something he couldn't quite distinguish, and Wei Wuxian swallowed a smile.

"A pity that they don't know how rigid and relentless you are," he said as he took another sip. Beauty on the outside didn't mean he was beautiful on the inside, did it?

He tried to continue to speak, only to find that he couldn't. He'd been silenced.

Later, when he found himself back in his rooms with Jiang Cheng, he complained about the unfairness of it all. How unfair it was that Lan Zhan was so beautiful. How he had a face that could make anyone fall in love with him. And how unfair it was that the man in question didn't allow any leniency and how eager he was to jump to punishment.

He complained until Jiang Cheng hit him in the back of the head and told him to shut up.


Wei Wuxian was in pain. He'd been in pain since having his core cut out of him and was almost immediately thrown straight into the Burial Mounds. But he'd done what he needed to do to survive.

He crawled out of there, harnessing the resentful energies in a way that would make Lan Qiren spit blood if he knew.

He used it to hunt down the Wen he found, making them pay for the pain he'd inflicted on the people Wei Wuxian cared about.

They'd killed Uncle Jiang and Madam Yu. Killed Lan Zhan's father. Taken Jiang Cheng's core.

And they would pay.

He smiled as he played the dizi, despite the pain, as resentment flowed around him. The spirit he'd summoned fought with Wen Zhuliu, and he knew it was only a matter of time before the man fell just as every other Wen did before him.

He couldn't help but feel the satisfaction, knowing that man had caused so much pain, melting the cores of the family who had raised him, despite never being able to call them as such.

As the spirit dissipated away, Wen Zhuliu rushed towards him, ready to strike, but he didn't flinch. He had no more core to lose.

Instead, the man was dragged backwards, as Zidian wrapped around his neck, pulling him backwards, choking him.

That, however, caught him off guard, as he saw Jiang Cheng and Lan Zhan drop into the room.

They had seen what happened. They knew he used resentful energy.

He snuck a glance at Lan Zhan, who ignored him pointedly until Wen Zhuliu stopped moving.

"Your sword," Jiang Cheng tossed it to him, and he didn't have the heart to tell his shidi that it was useless to him now. That the weight of it was more than he could carry, despite not wanting to show it, and that even if he could lift it, he could never wield it again.

He didn't regret it, and instead chose to thank his brother, who'd never been too good at conveying his emotions, as he brushed off the thanks.

"Where have you been these last three months?" Jiang Cheng pushed him, and he tried to not stumble back too much at the movement.

"It's a long story," he said instead, not wanting to go into it. And to his surprise, Jiang Cheng hugged him tightly, as if he was afraid Wei Wuxian would vanish again if he let him go.

"We made a deal to meet at the foot of the mountain," Jiang Cheng sounded pained, "I waited for you for five days. I was worried about you for the last three months. Second Young Master Lan and I raided the Indoctrination Bureau at Nightless City. They said you were cast into Burial Mounds."

He looked over at Lan Zhan, moving to take a seat before responding. Was the other man worried about him?

Lan Zhan had never looked at him with anything other than indifference at best, and hatred at most, though that probably went against one of his sect's rules.

"If I'd been tossed into the Mounds how could I be here now?" he said simply, brushing it off.

"That's right," Jiang Cheng said with relief, eager to believe the lie Wei Wuxian was trying to sell. "No one can survive that place."

The questions continued; where had he been, why had his appearance changed, did he hunt the other Wens?

He spun another story and Jiang Cheng scoffed, and he was grateful that despite the disbelief, he was able to hide behind it and avoid the truth.

"I'm glad you're back," Jiang Cheng said finally when Wei Wuxian said they'd talk about it later, "Why didn't you come back sooner?"

He sounded a bit childish then, but given everything his brother must have gone through, he couldn't hold any fault with him over it.

He brushed off the concern, instead praising his younger brother for the efforts he'd gone through to rebuild the Jiang Clan since his disappearance.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said, and he felt his heart skip a beat.

"Second Young Master Lan," he said formally, to put distance between them, "No I should call you Hanguang-Jun."

"The person who hunted down the disciples of the Wen Clan along the way, was that you?" he asked him, and Wei Wuxian could sense the unhappiness in his tone.

It was unsurprising that he was unhappy, given Wei Wuxian was using such methods to achieve his goals. His brother was quick to join the questioning.

"You killed them?" Lan Zhan asked him. "Why did you give up the sword for something else? Answer me."

As if Lan Zhan could understand. And even if he knew the truth, would he condone Wei Wuxian's behaviour?

"What if I don't want to answer you?" he brushed off the questioning once more.

Lan Zhan moved towards him, and he simply moved out of the way.

"Lan Zhan," he used the man's given name, "We've been reunited after so long. It is not proper to confront me with so many questions. It's been months since we split up after hunting the Tortoise of Slaughter. Even if you don't cherish our relationship as classmates, you shouldn't be so ruthless."

"Answer me," Lan Zhan pressed again.

"I already did, but you didn't understand me," Wei Wuxian said, with a pout.

"Then return with me to Gusu and explain it to me," Lan Zhan urged.

Return to Gusu to be punished? That was laughable. Why would he go eagerly towards punishment for his perceived wrong doings?

"Gusu, with its three thousand rules? No thanks," he laughed. "I prefer Yunmeng."

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said more urgently. "Don't joke around."

He stepped forward again, but this time Jiang Cheng stopped him.

"Lan Zhan, what do you really want?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan paused. "There is a price to pay for wicked tricks. There is no exception through history. These tricks will harm your body and your temperament."

He wanted to laugh. It wasn't as if he had may choices. "Wicked tricks? Second Young Master Lan, I didn't snatch anyone's spirits, so how could it be a wicked trick? I use talismans and play music. And even if they were, I know what will and won't harm me. I'm in charge of my mind and I understand what I'm doing."

"There are some things you cannot understand on your own!" Lan Zhan said firmly, and Wei Wuxian wanted to laugh.

So the solution was for him to be locked away forever? Not a chance. Not when there was a war going on around them.

"How would others know my temperament, and why is it any of their concern?" he couldn't help but ask, not sure why the man was so angry. Surely, he couldn't be this mad over a few rules.

"Wei Wuxian," Lan Zhan said angrier than he'd ever seen him.

"Lan Wangji," he shot back. "Why are you at odds with me? Who do you and the Lan Clan think they are?"

Jiang Cheng stepped in then, using his authority as Wei Wuxian's sect leader to assert his control over the situation. It was laughable really, given everything he knew, and they did not. But his brother had his back, and he couldn't help but feel grateful.

They didn't know what he'd gone through.

But they never could know. It would be a secret he took to the grave


Wei Wuxian was tired. He stumbled out of the banquet dinner, unable to stomach any of the food there. How could he, when the smell of meat made him feel sick to his stomach?

Maybe there was some benefits to the Gusu Lan Sect's culinary style after all. Vegetables were safe. They didn't make him feel nauseous, and they were probably the only thing he could really eat these days.

He knew his shidi thought he was drunk. Most people did with how weak he was, and it was easier to let them think he had a drinking problem than know the real reason for the lack of strength he possessed.

He didn't know how the others did it. How did they move on from the war and celebrate like they lost nothing? There had been so much pain and suffering through it all, and all he wanted was to forget like the rest of them.

But he couldn't. He still heard the screams of the soldiers dying around him day after day every time he shut his eyes. He remembered his time in Burial Mounds, and all he had done trying to survive there. And Uncle Jiang and Madam Yu's bodies, lying there lifeless. He remembered Nightless City and the feeling of despair in the air as they thought they were all going to die in that battle.

He closed his eyes, and all the ghosts of the last few years came back to haunt him. He remembered it all.

And he wanted nothing more than to forget it all.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said, looking at him. Wei Wuxian stumbled, and Lan Zhan moved quickly to catch him.

"Ah Lan Zhan," he greeted, "Why aren't you enjoying the party? Isn't it so lively in there?"

"Noisy," Lan Zhan said simply, as he looked over at him. "Wei Ying."

His voice softened as he looked at him, holding him carefully in his arms.

"Aiyah, don't give me that look," he said simply, trying to brush off his concern, "I just had too much to drink."

Lan Zhan gave him a pointed look then, and he couldn't help but feel himself shrink. The man looked like he saw through all his lies in a way that made him feel uncomfortable. How did he always know the truth?

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said gently, "Come with me to Gusu."

"Again with the Gusu," he said with a sigh, as Lan Zhan frowned. "Do you want to take me to get disciplined so badly? I know I'm breaking all your sect's rules but I'm not a member of the Lan Sect so does it really matter? Jiang Cheng hasn't made me stop so what can Lan Qiren do about it anyways?"

"Wei Ying that's not-" Lan Zhan started again.

"I know, I know, these dirty tricks will harm my mind and my soul," Wei Wuxian brushed him off. "I've heard it all before anyways. But I've been fine so far, haven't I? It's fine, Lan Zhan. I'm fine."

"Hmm," Lan Zhan said, and it was clear the man didn't believe him. "Let me play for you. To clear your mind. Please."

How could he tell the man that it wouldn't make a difference anyways? He was without a core, and nothing could change that. He was too damaged for anything to fix it.

He didn't regret it. He couldn't. Not when it meant his brother would be fine. Not when Madam Yu and Uncle Jiang told him to take care of their children before they'd passed. And he'd tried his best to do it. They'd made it out of the war. They'd survived. He'd kept his promise to them.

It would never be enough to repay the debt he owed them for taking him off the street. They'd given him a home when he'd had none. Given him shelter and he'd never known hunger under their roof. Giving Jiang Cheng his core was the least he could do to repay that.

"Maybe one day," he offered the man a tentative smile. It wasn't a yes. But it would hopefully be enough to stave off the attention. Once he might have loved standing out, but these days every time the attention was on him, it was out of anger or of fear.

He wondered if Lan Zhan feared him as much as he hated him.

The man really was too beautiful, and he couldn't help but feel the pain in his chest knowing that there was no way he'd be allowed to be on the same level as him.

For as light bearing as the man before him was, Wei Wuxian was the darkness. He cultivated the demonic path and he'd never be allowed to even look at Lan Zhan the way he'd once wanted.

They were on two different levels.

"You should go," Wei Wuxian said, gesturing to the party inside. Just because he didn't belong there didn't mean Lan Zhan didn't.

"Wei Ying-" Lan Zhan tried, but Wei Wuxian had already turned around to leave and started walking away.

He didn't know that would be one of the last times he saw Lan Zhan.

The next time he came face to face with the man, it would be when Lan Zhan stood in his way as Wei Wuxian led the Wen remnants out of the camps that they had been held in.

And as Lan Zhan stepped out of their way, Wei Wuxian knew that nothing between them could ever be the same again.


He looked around the makeshift camp with a bit of despair. He didn't even know how they got to that point; he'd been mostly running off adrenaline since they'd left the Lanling Jin Sect behind.

He didn't think he'd ever forget the sadness in Lan Zhan's face as they left him behind. Probably furious that Wei Wuxian was straying so far from the righteous path. But he couldn't think about that now.

He had to think about how to survive.

Just because he'd saved the Wen remnants doesn't mean they were safe. They had no food, no shelter, and no assurances that the outside world wouldn't just come barging in, demanding his head.

He had put up talismans, but would they be enough if the cultivation world decided to show up and demanded vengeance?

He didn't know what he was doing.

He wished Jiang Cheng was here. He was the one meant to lead a sect; the one who knew everything about it. Even Shijie knew better than him. He'd never dared attend to those lessons, nor did he dare pay attention to how Uncle Jiang taught Jiang Cheng. It wasn't his place to know how to do those things.

But he couldn't drag Jiang Cheng into this. The Jiang sect had suffered greatly during the war, burnt to the ground in an attack that was his fault. And they'd barely begun to recover. There was no way his martial brother could be tied to him anymore. Not after what he'd done. And Lan Zhan, well. The man already hated him, so it wasn't as if he could hate him more.

His chest hurt, where his core once was.

Lan Zhan was right, resentful energy took its toll on him, but it wasn't as if he could stop. During the war it the only way he could contribute. And now it was the only thing keeping them safe.

Other than Wen Qing, there were no adult cultivators amongst them. Wen Ning didn't count. He was still unconscious, and well, even if he was able to get the boy's consciousness back, he was still a corpse.

"How is he doing?" he asked Wen Qing as he ducked into the makeshift cave that had been set up to house her brother while he recovered.

"His vitals are as steady as they can be," she said, swallowing. "I- Wei Wuxian. I don't know how to thank you. Even though he's not the same, you still brought me my brother. They would have destroyed him if it weren't for you. I don't think I'll ever be able to properly thank you for that."

"You don't need to thank me," he said, uncomfortably, "You saved Jiang Cheng. This is the least I could do to replay that debt."

"It shouldn't have been him," she said after a moment, a bit frustrated. "You knew him. You knew how gentle he was. He used to cry when he found wounded animals back on Dafan mountain and would beg me to save them. He could barely shoot. He wasn't a threat. But they hunted him down and treated him like he was an animal. Worse than one even. Like he was as bad as Wen Xu or Wen Chao, when he was just my sweet gentle baby brother."

"I know," he said, closing his eyes. It was on him. He should have paid better attention to what happened to the Wen remnants after the war. Shouldn't have trusted that those such as Wen Qing and her family would be kept safe. He was neglectful, and they had suffered. Innocent lives had been lost. It was on him.

"I'll bring him back," he promised after a moment, "It's not going to be easy, but I'll bring his consciousness back, I promise. You won't lose your brother."

She took a deep breath, and he knew she didn't want to believe him fully. Couldn't bear to get her hopes up only for them to be cut down later if he was unable to deliver on his promise. He wasn't going to let her down. He owed her that much after everything she'd done for him. Even if it took everything he had, he'd repay his debt.

"Wei Wuxian," she said softly, "Thank you. I mean it. I didn't get to thank you properly for everything. Not just saving my brother but saving the rest of my family. They wouldn't be alive right now if you didn't intervene. I know what it cost you and I'm sorry you had to pay that price."

"I would do it again if I had to," he said honestly, knowing that he would take the same actions every time. Maybe he would have spared a moment to apologise to his brother. To ask Lan Zhan not to hate him too much. To tell Shijie that he loved her. But what was done was done. There was no going back from it, and he wouldn't take it back.

He wondered how badly Lan Zhan wanted to punish him for all the rules he'd broken. Sequester him in Gusu and punish him for the rest of his life for every one of those three thousand rules that he'd broken without as much as a second thought.

He couldn't control the ache in his chest as he thought of Lan Zhan.


It had been a few weeks since they made the Burial Mounds their new home, and Wei Wuxian was exhausted.

Wen Ning had woken up a few days back, consciousness returned, and while it had been a rough go to get his mind back, it had been worth it to see his friend again. Even if he was a corpse, he was Wen Ning.

Wen Qing had cried, and he'd pretended he didn't see or that tears didn't fall down his own face after he'd given them some time alone.

It was more work than he'd anticipated, to create their new home. It took up most of their trying to make the place livable, and they'd taken to eating nothing but radishes day after day.

What he wouldn't give for a jar of Emperor's Smile now. Or his Shijie's soup. Her soup always made everything better, even when everything else was falling apart around him.

He smiled at the thought of it as he heard a giggle below him, and he looked down to where he had been digging a hole to plant a radish.

And instead, there sat Wen Yuan, clapping his hands.

"Ah looks like my radish has planted himself," he smiled at the small child, "Now I just need to bury it so it can grow into a nice big radish."

"I grow big!" A-Yuan giggled again, as Wei Wuxian pretended to cover him with dirt. He didn't want the boy to get too messy because he knew Wen Qing wouldn't be too pleased with him if she had to take him to get cleaned up in addition to all the other responsibilities they currently had, but well, he looked too cute sitting there and the sight melted his heart a little.

"You'll be the biggest radish," Wei Wuxian promised the boy, "And then we can eat you. You'll be the sweetest radish."

He smiled at the last part, knowing his teasing would prompt a reaction from the boy in front of him. And sure enough, Wen Yuan screamed with delight.

"No, no, you can't eat me! Baba, you can't eat me! I'm not a radish, I'm A-Yuan!" A-Yuan said quickly as he grabbed Wei Wuxian.

He froze slightly at that, not wanting to say anything in response. He'd grown close with the child over the last few weeks, but he hadn't known the boy thought of him like that.

Instead, he looked over at Wen Qing feeling slightly guilty. He didn't want to replace the boy's parents. They'd died alongside his younger sister, and it felt wrong for him to take their place. It was his fault that they were gone. He wasn't strong enough to save them, and they had perished due to his negligence.

"It's okay, Wei Wuxian," Wen Qing told him gently, "A-Ning and I talked to Granny about it. It's clear you love him just as much as he loves you. You're probably the only parental figure he has memories of. So, if you want to be his Baba that's okay."

He swallowed. The guilt didn't subsidize, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't care about the boy. He also knew the feeling of having no parents from a young age. He knew what it was like have people act as parental figures but no one to call parents. And he didn't want that for A-Yuan.

So he made a decision.

"Oh A-Yuan," he said simply with a grin, "Here I thought you were a radish! But really you were my son all along! How did that happen? Are all the radishes going to turn into A-Yuans? Or are you just a special radish?"

"I'm special," A-Yuan laughed, "Baba, I'm special."

"The most special," Wei Wuxian pulled him into a hug, "A-Yuan, Baba promises to keep you safe, okay? Baba will always keep you safe."

"Mm," A-Yuan said, as he hugged Wei Wuxian back. "A-Yuan will keep Baba safe too!"

"Of course, my Radish. You'll protect Baba against everything right? Even Auntie Qing?" he asked, as the woman in question rolled her eyes.

"Will protect Baba," Wen Yuan confirmed, and Wei Wuxian put him back into the soil.

"Okay, then you must grow up and be nice and tall," Wei Wuxian said, as he gently buried Wen Yuan.

His son laughed once more, and he ignored Wen Qing shaking her head at him as he recruited Wen Ning to help him bury the boy in the soil.


It didn't take long for Lan Zhan to show up at the base of the mountains, and Wei Wuxian supposed he couldn't be too surprised about that. They'd been left alone since they took up residence over a month ago in the mounds, but it was only a matter of time before someone showed up and demanded an audience.

He wasn't sure if he should be grateful that it was Lan Zhan who came instead of some other cultivator.

"Lan Zhan," he said with a grin, masking the weary he felt at the sight of the man. They hadn't parted on good terms, and he couldn't be sure if the man wanted to kill him.

He wouldn't be surprised; the rumours he'd heard about himself when he left Burial Mounds to go to Yiling were far from flattering. It seemed as if every single thing that had gone wrong since his departure had been blamed on him, regardless of if he was even involved or not. Half the stories about him were ridiculous, but people believed them, and he knew that was dangerous.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said with a tilt of his head.

"Do you want to come in?" he asked hesitantly. If the man truly wanted to hurt him, he hoped that he'd do it outside, so the Wens would not be in danger.

"Mm," Lan Zhan agreed, "I have not come to harm Wei Ying."

"And the Wens?" he asked, pushing. Just because Lan Zhan may not have bad intentions towards him didn't mean the rest of them were safe.

"I have come to see the state of things," he said simply, "Brother has asked."

An official visit then, under the guise of a request from the Lan Sect leader so no one could say Lan Zhan had come of his own personal interest.

"Very well," he said, lowering enough wards for the man to enter. "Are you alone? Did you bring anyone with you?"

"No," Lan Zhan said.

"You trust me that much?" he asked, a bit surprised. To come unarmed into the Burial Mounds, where Wei Wuxian was allegedly raising an army to take on the sects and end the world.

"Yes," Lan Zhan looked at him, "You would not hurt me."

"How can you be so sure?" he whispered, a bit overwhelmed, as he led Lan Zhan up the path towards their shelter.

"I know Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said, as he looked around. They'd come up on the shelters now, and he wondered if Lan Zhan would judge how unsightly everything was. It was a long way off from the beauty of Cloud Recesses. Their huts were falling apart, the roofs had holes, and it was clear that they were all working themselves ragged, trying to survive.

"Hanguang-Jun," Wen Qing greeted, a bit wary of his presence. Her brother was doing better, but that didn't mean any of them wanted him in danger once more.

"Lady Wen," Lan Zhan greeted, "Are these all the people here?"

He gestured towards whom he could see, and Wei Ying nodded. Most were doing some chore or the other, from tending fields to hanging up their laundry. It wasn't as if they had a lot of land to live on.

"Yes," Wei Wuxian said, "Why? Surprised there aren't more evil Wen dogs?"

"No," Lan Zhan said, "I was there when you escaped. But there were rumours of recruitment."

He had heard those as well. That he was teaching more young cultivators his wicked ways and between that and their army, he was rumoured to be quite the threat.

"When have you ever listened to what others have say?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Brother asked me to verify," Lan Zhan commented. "This is-"

His voice broke off, and Wei Wuxian couldn't help but laugh.

"Rather glamourous, isn't it?" he said, "Look at how well we're living. Clearly, we're ready to go to war with the other sects at any given moment."

"Do not joke," Lan Zhan frowned.

He wanted to bite back, but a giggle cut him off.

"Baba! Baba!" A-Yuan shouted as he ran towards him. The young boy grabbed onto his leg, and he tried not to look at Lan Zhan.

"A-Yuan, Baba's busy talking to this Gege," Wei Wuxian said, trying to pry his son off his legs.

A-Yuan pouted prettily, and he couldn't help but soften, missing the way Lan Zhan froze at the interaction entirely.

"Baba," A-Yuan said sadly, as he held on tightly, not wanting to be left out.

To his surprise, Lan Zhan leaned down and picked up A-Yuan, causing the boy to laugh and cling on tightly to Lan Zhan.

"So quick to take charge, Lan Zhan," he laughed, as A-Yuan settled in his arms.

"Please show me around the camp," Lan Zhan changed the subject.

He nodded in agreement as he led Lan Zhan over to the field where Granny and Uncle Four were gardening, "Here's where we're growing food. It's only radishes for now because Wen Qing is boring and won't let us grow potatoes," he commented, and the woman huffed in response. "We're hoping that they get big enough and that there's enough crops for us to be able to sell the excess and use the money for other things. We're going to need some blankets and stuff come winter so it would be good for extra money."

Lan Zhan said nothing, as he looked around the field.

"Here's where Wen Qing set up her office. Thankfully we haven't had any major medical emergencies yet, but it will be good to have in case we need it," he pointed out the hut that Wen Qing lived and worked out of, "She's also been researching there in her free time."

They walked past the house and towards a line of trees.

"There's a river a little behind there that we use to gather water and wash our clothes in. It's within our boundary so we've been able to ensure the water is mostly clean from resentful energy and other stuff," he said gesturing in the direction of the river.

"This cave is where I'm staying with A-Yuan," he said, as they approached the cave, "Wen Ning was staying here too while I was trying to recover his consciousness, but now he's moved in with his sister so it's just the two of us. I've been experimenting with talismans, trying to see if I can come up with new inventions. It would be good to have some extra ones for added protection, you know? I have all these ideas I want to implement, and I finally have time to try."

Lan Zhan said nothing at that, and he hadn't really expected him to.

"I know it's not much," he said, as he finished off by showing the rest of the houses, "But we're making it work. I think we have a real chance of building a home here."

Lan Zhan looked at him blankly, and he hated that he couldn't read the man's expressions. What was the thinking about any of this? Did he hate him? Did he want to punish him?

"Baba, apple?" A-Yuan said, pointing to one Wen Qing had, and perhaps it was because Lan Zhan was holding him that he was able to see the man freeze when A-Yuan called him that.

A smile came to his face, "Oh Lan Zhan, are you surprised that I'm his Baba? Where did you think I was those three months when I was missing? I was off giving birth to A-Yuan here. Our son who I carried for months and delivered myself. What, did you think you could just utter all those 'shameless' and 'get lost's without anything coming of it? He is the fruit of our union."

He could have sworn Lan Zhan rolled his eyes.

"Do not joke, Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said, a hint of a smile on his lips, as he handed the boy an apple.

"His name is Wen Yuan," Wei Wuxian said honestly after a moment, "His parents were killed alongside his sister. And he decided for some reason to call me Baba, and well Wen Qing said it was okay. And he's too cute to reject. So now I'm his Baba."

"A-Die?" A-Yuan said confused, as he looked at Lan Zhan, and Wei Wuxian remembered his words claiming Lan Zhan was his father.

"Oh, A-Yuan," he said gently, "You can't call him that."

"Why?" A-Yuan pouted again. "Baba and A-Die."

"How can you have two fathers, hm?" he asked, teasing the boy, "Lan Zhan can't be your father unless he marries Baba, and he doesn't want to marry Baba."

"A-Die," A-Yuan insisted.

"Mm," Lan Zhan said in agreement, "A-Die."

"What? Lan Zhan!" he said, a bit affronted, "You can't steal my son from me!"

"You said he's our son," Lan Zhan said, and Wei Wuxian wasn't sure if he had truly died or not. Was Lan Zhan teasing him?

"Come now, A-Yuan," Wen Qing said, interrupting them, "It's time for you to have a nap, okay?"

She took the boy from Lan Zhan's arms, and he couldn't help but feel a bit grateful for it all. He loved his son, but he knew he needed to talk to Lan Zhan alone. The man would most likely need to leave for Gusu again shortly if he wanted to make it back there by a reasonable hour.

"Lan Zhan," he said softly once A-Yuan was out of sight and hearing distance, "Are you going to go back and tell Zuwu-Jun what you saw here?"

"Mm," Lan Zhan confirmed, as they walked down the path towards the entryway, "Will report all findings truthfully."

Lan Xichen was always honourable. If Lan Zhan told him they weren't gathering an army, maybe it would be enough to deter the rest of the sects as well. But the Jin were the ones who scared him. They hadn't lost that much in the war, given their late arrival, and they had the most power of the sects. Especially with Jin Guangshan as Chief Cultivator.

"Do you still hate me?" he asked, unable to hold it back, "Do you want to take me back still to Gusu for punishment?"

"No," Lan Zhan said, "Never wanted to take you back for punishment."

He felt confused. If not for punishment, then why did he want him to go back to Gusu so badly? What possible reason did he have for constantly asking Wei Wuxian to go back to Cloud Recesses otherwise?

"I will report what I saw, and I will be back," Lan Zhan said, offering him a promise, as they approached the wards.

"Okay," he said in confusion, as he lifted the wards.

"Take care, Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said to him, as he turned and walked away, leaving Wei Wuxian to question what had just happened. All he found was that he had more questions and answers.


It didn't even take three days for the wards to let him know that there was someone at the boundary once more, but this time when Wei Wuxian made his way down, he was surprised by the guests.

It wasn't just Lan Zhan who had come this time. Instead, he'd brought Shijie, Jiang Cheng, the Peacock, Lan Xichen, and Nie Mingjue.

Most of the sect leaders and the sect heir of the Jin Clan.

That couldn't be good.

"Are you here to kill me?" he asked before he could stop himself. Jiang Cheng tensed at that, and Lan Zhan gave him a look.

"Are you asking to be killed?" Nie Mingjue raised a brow, and if Wei Wuxian didn't know any better, he'd say the man almost looked amused.

Lan Xichen stepped in, "You must know of the rumours circulating about you and the Wens. Wangji has asked us to take a look at your camp before we pass any judgements. He assured us that the rumours were just that. If you would be gracious enough to host us, we would like to see for ourselves."

"Huaisang has also spoken highly of you," Nie Mingjue said gruffly, "I am here because I trust him and Lan Wangji."

"And if you don't like what you see?" he questioned, as he took in that two of the major sect leaders were here simply because their brothers asked them to trust him, "Will you kill us all then?"

"No one will harm you," Shijie said firmly, stepping forward, "We've agreed that this encounter will not escalate to violence."

"As long as you do not mean to harm us, we will not harm you," Lan Xichen said in agreement.

He looked over at Lan Zhan. While he trusted his siblings, the rest of the sects had no reason not to harm him. But if Lan Zhan trusted them, he would too.

Lan Zhan nodded, and he took a deep breath.

"I need to ask you to surrender your weapons," Wei Wuxian said, "The occupants here are elderly or too young to defend themselves, and it would be unfair if you decided to break your word."

"You are armed yourself, Wei-Gongzi," Nie Mingjue shot back, "You would have us give up our weapons and not do the same yourself? We would be unable to defend ourselves against your demonic cultivation if we surrender our weapons."

"You can trust Wei Wuxian," Lan Zhan said, "He would not harm us."

He smiled gratefully at the man, "A compromise then," Wei Wuxian agreed, knowing it would be fair. He handed his dizi to Jiang Cheng, who looked surprised, and the Stygian Tiger Amulet to Lan Zhan, knowing he could trust the pair of them. "I'm unarmed now too."

Nie Mingjue did not look as if he truly agreed, which he knew was fair, given he could always whistle and summon the resentful energy. But Nie Mingjue nodded as he handed his sword over to one of the soldiers behind him, and the others followed suit.

"I'm not letting the soldiers through," he warned.

"I did not expect you would," Nie Mingjue readily agreed, and he couldn't help but wonder what it was that Nie Huaisang said to his brother to get him here to meet Wei Wuxian.

"Okay," he swallowed, unsure of what would come of any of this.

"A-Xian," his Shijie said, as she approached him gingerly, "Are you well? You look much too thin."

"I'm fine, Shijie," he smiled, "We've been taking care of ourselves."

Jiang Cheng snorted, "I somehow doubt that very much," as he shoved Wei Wuxian lightly. He tried not to stumble backwards too much from the pressure. It seemed like these days even little pushes were enough to move him easily.

"Do you not think I'm capable of taking care of myself?" he pouted at his shidi, hoping he didn't notice.

"I know you're not," Jiang Cheng shot back, "You take care of everyone but yourself."

"Mm," Lan Zhan agreed, and Wei Wuxian looked at him in betrayal. Lan Zhan was supposed to be on his side.

He sighed, "I'm being bullied. I knew I shouldn't have let you all in. This is an unfair fight."

"Perhaps you could take us up to your camp now?" Lan Xichen said, in amusement.

"Of course," he bowed his head, getting serious once more, "Please follow me up the path. It's not too far; we wanted to set up camp a bit further up, so we had a bit of room in the boundary."

He led them up the path towards where the shelters were set up. When they approached, he could tell from their various appraising looks that they were taking in the state of their living conditions. From the look on Jin Zixuan's face, it was clear that he thought they were living in hovels.

To be fair, he was right. But this had been the best they could build at the moment. Maybe if they had more income from selling the radishes in the future, then they could look towards making some improvements around the camp.

"What's this?" Wen Qing questioned as she came out of her hut. She had a frown on her face, apprehensive at their guests, and he didn't blame her.

"Wen Qing, can you get everyone please?" he said giving her a look, "Our guests have come to see them."

Her eyes narrowed at the group, but she nodded in agreement.

"Wen Ning?" she asked him quietly.

"Him too," he murmured. It wouldn't do them any good to hide anyone, especially the alleged Ghost General. And maybe if they saw him with his consciousness, they'd have sympathy for him.

"Please give me a few minutes," she said, bowing towards the group.

"Is it warm enough here for you?" Shijie asked him carefully, drawing the attention of the group, "Winter is less than half a year off, A-Xian. Will you be okay?"

"We'll manage," he gave her a small smile, not wanting her to worry. He knew her marriage was pending, and he was grateful that she'd be well taken care of, even if with the Peacock. Her comfort would be taken care of. "Assuming we're allowed to stay here."

"Can you give us a tour in the meantime?" Lan Xichen asked, "I am curious with what you have setup here."

He nodded as he took them through a similar tour to what he'd given Lan Zhan a few days ago. He showed them his radish fields where they grew their food. The riverbed that he'd purified for them. The houses they lived in and where Wen Qing practiced medicine. And his cave where he drew up talismans.

The last area had Nie Mingjue look pensive, while Lan Xichen studied them carefully.

"I don't recognize any of these," Lan Xichen said, "Have you come up with them yourself?"

"I'm still experimenting," he admitted, "I'm trying to find more ways for us to protect ourselves if need be.

"Protect yourselves or fight against others?" Nie Mingjue questioned.

"Protect," he scowled, "You'll see when you meet the others soon. None of us are in any position to fight even if we wanted to. All we want is to be able to live."

"And you couldn't have done that back in the camps?" Jin Zixuan asked, speaking for the first time.

He laughed, "Oh Peacock, the point of those camps was to kill everyone there. You're naïve if you thought any of the people here would have lived if they had if they stayed there."

"Sect Leader Jin said that the people were safe there and working towards making reparations," Lan Xichen frowned.

"Sect Leader Jin is either a liar or ignorant, and I'm pretty sure it is the first one," he snapped, before taking a deep breath, as Shijie put her hand on his arm, "You didn't see those camps. You didn't see the Wens there being tortured and killed. Maybe I shouldn't have been so rash in my actions, but when I went there, people were being murdered in front of my eyes. I couldn't leave them there."

"Let's go see the people here," Shijie said, stopping Jin Zixuan from arguing in defense of his father. "And then we can get their account of their time in the camps and compare it with Sect Leader Jin's."

He nodded as he escorted them outside the cave where Wen Qing had gathered her family members.

"A-Die!" A-Yuan shouted happily as he spotted Lan Zhan. He threw his arms around Lan Zhan's legs, much to Lan Xichen's confusion.

"No shouting," Lan Zhan told the boy gently, and A-Yuan nodded seriously.

"Baba, A-Die came back!" A-Yuan told him, in a much quieter but still as excited voice.

"Yes, and he brought some friends with him," he nodded, looking only at his son.

"Baba?" Jiang Cheng said, looking at him in disbelief, "A-Die?"

"His parents passed, so I've taken him in," he said, as Lan Zhan picked up Wei Wuxian's son and held him closely. "I might have joked that Lan Zhan was his A-Die last time he was here, and A-Yuan decided to take it seriously."

"I see," Lan Xichen said, smiling at his younger brother, "Well then A-Yuan, that makes me your Bobo."

"Bobo?" A-Yuan said eyes widening, grinning at the new family member he'd gained. "Baba, A-Die and Bobo!"

"Hey, he's my nephew too!" Jiang Cheng complained, not one to be left out. "If anyone gets to be an uncle it's me. A-Yuan, I'm your Shufu!"

"Shufu," A-Yuan repeated.

"And I'm your Guma," Shijie said, as patted his cheek tenderly. "What a cute nephew you are, A-Yuan."

"Can we get on with it?" Nie Mingjue said a bit pointedly. "Are these all the people here?"

He nodded, "Yes, this is everyone in our camp."

"But these are all old people and kids!" Jin Zixuan said, a bit appalled. He looked around, and Wei Wuxian wondered if the Peacock thought he was hiding more people somewhere.

"That's what I told you," Wei Wuxian said wryly.

"That must be a mistake! Father said only cultivators were in those camps! That you liberated them to build an army! These people never should have been there in the first place!"

"But they were!" he snapped, "They were there, and they were being tortured and murdered. These were all the people left alive. Do you know how many of their family members, non-cultivators, were killed there?"

Nie Mingjue frowned, "It seems like a bit more than discrepancy between what we were told and what transpired."

"Lady Wen, may we interview your people?" Lan Xichen asked her politely. "We'd like to get a proper account of what happened at those camps."

"Some of them won't speak of it," Lady Wen warned him, "Especially the younger women. I haven't been able to get them to open up to me about it, but I'm sure your imaginations can let you know what must have happened to them."

Nie Mingjue's frown deepened further.

"I see," Lan Xichen said, equally disturbed, "If I may, perhaps they may be more comfortable talking to Lady Jiang? Details are not necessary, but we need a confirmation of the atrocities that happened beyond simple speculation if we are to assess the situation correctly."

"I'll ask them to try," she said, after a minute, "But I cannot promise they will want to relieve the horrors done to them. Any of them."

"I understand," Nie Mingjue said, "If it helps them to have you present through it as well, then that is acceptable."

"You're not worried I may influence them to say certain things?" she cocked a brow at him.

"If you were going to influence them, you already would have done so," he said, and Wei Wuxian knew he had a point.

"I'll talk to the women," Shijie said, as Lan Xichen took charge in organizing the discussions. He watched, unable to do anything. He'd been the one to protect them for so long, and now he had to watch as others took over.

"It will be okay," Lan Zhan reassured him gently, still holding A-Yuan. "Brother and Sect Leader Nie are fair in their judgements. They will listen to the people here and they will make sure you are given justice."

"You came back," he said in wonder, given that the two of them had a moment alone.

"I told you I would," Lan Zhan said, pulling out a paper butterfly from his robes and handing it to A-Yuan.

"Pretty," A-Yuan smiled as he played with it, and he felt his heart twinge at that. His son could melt even the stoic face of the Second Jade of Gusu.

It took the better part of a few hours to gather all the statements from the Wens. He heard bits and pieces from the interviews; things he hadn't known in detail, but had an idea of, and it sickened him. The people in the camp deserved better than what had happened to them.

Shijie was the first to come back to him, standing next to him and A-Cheng. "A-Xian, are you sure you're okay? You look so tired and sick. I know you mustn't have had a lot of good food while you've been here."

"Forget food, have you been drinking?" Jiang Cheng demanded. "You nearly fell over when I nudged you. Don't think I didn't notice."

"Can't afford alcohol," he said lightly, "It's a waste of money. I'm just tired, don't worry about me."

Jiang Cheng frowned at him and Shijie looked like she was going to protest but as the others rejoined their group, she let it slide.

"I didn't know," Jin Zixuan said, looking a bit sick, as he came back over to them. "I didn't know what was happening to them. What my cousin did. It's disgusting."

"Yes," Nie Mingjue said, disgruntled. "It seemed like Jin Guangshan was not as honest as he led us to believe about what happened in those camps."

"And we all believed what he was saying," Lan Xichen sighed.

Nie Mingjue paused as Wen Qing and Wen Ning joined them, his eyes looking over the Ghost General.

"I'd like us to be a part of this discussion," she said, keeping her head held high. "You're discussing the lives of my family after all. If you'd like to turn us all in to be executed, I'd like to know."

"We wouldn't do that to you," Lan Xichen said, looking horrified.

"Ghost General," Nie Mingjue said instead, "How much of the rumours about you are true?"

"I-uh?" Wen Ning stumbled looking over at his sister for help, "None of it?"

"He attacked people when I brought his corpse back," Wei Wuxian admitted. "But only so we could escape. I already admitted I was responsible for that attack, so his actions should be taken as my own, and I should be the one being punished. Other than that, he has been unconscious for most of the time since we were here, and recently we were able to successfully get his consciousness back."

"You brought his mind back?" Lan Xichen said in wonder. "That's unheard of."

"Attempt the impossible," Jiang Cheng said wryly.

"So, the rumours of you running amok hunting down villagers and razing villages?" Nie Mingjue asked, a bit sardonically. "Murdering people in their beds?"

"I haven't left the camp since I woke up," Wen Ning bowed his head.

"Rumours," Lan Xichen sighed. "It seems as if that's all there is to the stories surrounding you Young Master Wei. Rumours and lies. The truth, however, is harder to bear."

"Because of how wrong everyone is?" he couldn't help but say, trying to keep the bite out of his voice.

"Yes," Lan Xichen confirmed. "I believe we all owe the people here a great apology."

"Only the cultivators were supposed to be in those camps," Nie Mingjue scowled, "And even they were supposed to be treated humanely. Yet it seems that was far from what happened. And you, Young Master Wei?"

"What about me?" he asked, unsure.

"Even if we sort out the Wens, what will become of you? Will you continue to practice Demonic Cultivation even then?" Nie Mingjue asked him, "You can see why there is unrest over your unorthodox methods of cultivation."

"I've done what I needed to do to survive and keep the people I care about safe," he said, dodging the question, "It was how we won war, wasn't it?"

"But we're not at war now," Lan Xichen told him gently. "Surely you can resume cultivating normally again?"

"You haven't picked up your sword once since you came back from Burial Mounds," Jiang Cheng crossed his arms. "Why are you so against it? You used to brag about your skills and now you refuse to even hold it."

"Wei Wuxian," Wen Qing said, giving him a pointed look. He knew how she felt about keeping his secret, but it was his burden to bear.

"No," he told her firmly. They were not going down that road. Not now.

"They're here because they care about you and they want to know the truth," Wen Qing argued. "Aren't all the rumours and speculation why we got here in the first place? It's why everyone things you're some sort of monster. Because they do not know the truth."

"A-Xian," Shijie said gently, "Please tell us what happened."

"I can't," he said, not looking her or his brother in the eyes. "You won't forgive me."

"That's not for you to decide," Jiang Cheng huffed, "Who are you to know what I will or won't forgive?"

"Tell them, Wei Wuxian," Wen Qing said again, and he hated how he felt as if he were backed into a corner.

But the others were given him expecting looks, and Wen Qing was right. Secrets were what put them here in the first place. If he wanted the Wens to have any chance of survival, maybe the truth would help.

"Zuwu-Jun, will you please take my pulse," he said, offering his arm to the man.

Lan Xichen looked confused but reached out to take Wei Wuxian's arm and felt for his heartbeat. His breathing stuttered.

"That cannot be right," Zuwu-Jun frowned, and Jiang Cheng grabbed his other arm then, feeling for his pulse as well.

"Why can't I sense your core?" Jiang Cheng demanded, the blood draining from his face, "Don't tell me Wen Zhuliu got to you too."

Lan Zhan gave him a sharp look, and he looked away from the man.

"Wen Zhuliu didn't get to me," he said, and the group was confused. "A-Cheng. There was no other way. After you were caught by the Wens and we got you back, you were so weak. Having a core meant everything to you, and when you lost it, you lost yourself. We weren't sure if you would survive the loss of it. I begged Wen Qing to see if there was another way."

"She said there wasn't," Jiang Cheng frowned, "Then you remembered where your mother's teacher was and offered me a solution. That I could say I was you, and she'd help me get my core back."

"My mother never told me anything about Baoshan Sanren," he said, and Lan Xichen gasped, "You know me and my memory. I can never remember things like that, especially from before I came to Lotus Pier."

"Then how-" Jiang Cheng stumbled, as realization dawned on him, "Wei Wuxian! Tell me you didn't. Please tell me you didn't give me your core."

"Wen Qing said it would work, and I took the risk," he said, not meeting his brother's eyes.

Wen Qing in turn snorted, "I said it may work, and it most likely would not. But he wanted to do it anyways. Sect Leader Jiang, we sat on that mountain for two days and one night as I cut his core out of him and put it into you. He was awake for all of it but begged me to keep going every time I thought we should stop. It was only ever a fifty percent chance of working, but the odds were high enough for him to want to risk it."

"Fifty percent?" Jiang Cheng said in disbelief. "You risked all that for fifty percent?! Wei Wuxian, you idiot!"

Lan Zhan looked tense, as if he wanted to intervene, but Lan Xichen put an arm on his, wanting to let Jiang Cheng talk.

"I didn't go back to Lotus Pier, you idiot!" Jiang Cheng said, voice rising, "You were buying us food that day. And you didn't see them, but the Wen soldiers saw you. They would have killed you. So, I distracted them. I distracted them and they caught me. That's why I lost my core. And you just went and threw that sacrifice away!"

"Why would you let yourself get caught for me?" Wei Wuxian asked, his throat tightening, "It was my job to keep you both safe! That's what your mother asked of me! It was what I owed you. Jiang Cheng how could you go and risk your life like that!"

"Because you're my brother!" Jiang Cheng shouted back at him, "You were in danger, and I didn't want you to get hurt. Of course I saved you!"

Shijie stepped in then, tears running down her face, "A-Cheng, A-Xian," she said, gathering them both into her arms, "My brave little brothers. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect either of you. Both of you sacrificed so much."

"Yet he's the one paying the price," Jiang Cheng grumbled, as he didn't resist her hug, "Why is it always you who has to pay the price?"

"So demonic cultivation?" Nie Mingjue asked, looking at Wei Wuxian directly, bringing the conversation back to him.

"Wen Chao caught me after I came down the mountain. We separated so I could distract the Wen soldiers and Wen Qing could get Jiang Cheng to safety so he could recover. He caught me, and well, I was defenseless without my core," Wei Wuxian said uncomfortably, "He threw me in Burial Mounds."

Shijie gasped at that; he'd always brushed off the rumours of where he'd spent his missing months, not wanting them to know the truth.

"It was hard trying to survive there," he admitted, "Finally I learned I could keep the corpses at bay and survive if I channelled the resentment back at them. And when I finally got out, it was the only way I could keep cultivating. We were at war, and I was useless otherwise. And with Wen Ruohan using resentful energy himself, I knew it was the only way we would win."

"You had no other choice," Lan Zhan said, a look of understanding.

"I'll give it up," he swallowed, "If you promise to leave us alone and that the Wens here will be safe and unharmed, I'll give it up. I'll even face punishment for the crimes I committed. But while they're in danger, I cannot sit back and let them face more harm. It's our only means of protection."

The others were silent, and he wanted nothing more than to fill the void. He hated the lack of sounds as he knew they all were thinking over what he just said. He hated silences as a kid, and he hated it more than anything right now.

"Here's what's going to happen," Jiang Cheng said after a moment, taking charge. "You're going to take down the protective barrier you have here. And the Jiang cultivators I have with me are going to come into the camp. You're coming back to the Jiang Sect with me, Wei Wuxian."

"What?" he asked in disbelief, "I can't leave here, Jiang Cheng-"

"Don't interrupt your sect leader when he's talking," Jiang Cheng silenced him. "You are still my Head Disciple, of course you're coming back with me. My men are going to take the Wens here and their belongings and they're going to take them back to Yunmeng with us. We'll settle them down in Lotus Pier in the time being, and slowly move them into their own village near Lotus Pier so they can have some independence. Your branch specializes in medicine, correct? Everyone here has some training?"

The last question was directed at Wen Qing, and she quickly nodded, "Yes, though they all have different specialities, and not all the young have been properly trained yet."

"Good," he said satisfied, "Jiang Clan has suffered the loss of many of our medics during the attack on Lotus Pier. In exchange for housing and other necessities, you will provide us with medical care and anything else you would like to offer."

"I-what?" Wei Wuxian said, confused by what had just happened.

"Did you think I was going to let you stay here?" Jiang Cheng snapped, "You have barely any food, your housing is all falling apart, and my poor nephew will grow up in this mess if we leave him here. You're not going to survive the winter here, Wei Ying! You are the Head Disciple of Jiang Clan, and your place is with us. Especially after what you said about your core, it seems the Jiang Clan owes the Dafan Wen branch a great debt and we will repay it as such. You are not staying here."

"Shidi," he tried, and Jiang Cheng cut him off.

"Didi," he rebutted. "But given we are in the presence of others, you should call me Sect Leader."

"Of course," he said, bowing before his brother. He swallowed to stop the tears that were threatening to fall down his face. "I cannot be your Head Disciple anymore, however. How can I train the recruits like this?"

"You can still teach them," Jiang Cheng waved him off, "You do not need to cultivate to show them the movements. Even you could not have forgotten that. A-Jie, you still have few months before your marriage. Will you help me get them settled in before you go?"

"Of course," she smiled. "A-Xian, will you please call me A-Jie instead?"

"I-ok," he said, never one to deny her anything, as she placed a gentle hand on his arm.

Every part of him wanted to scream at how wrong it felt. Madam Yu and Uncle Jiang had always been clear about what his place in the family was. And here his brother and sister were, tearing down all those rules and offering him a family and a home.

How he wished he were the one holding A-Yuan so he could hide his emotions behind his son.

"Good," Nie Mingjue nodded, "Now that that matter is resolved, we will need to deal with Jin Guangshan."

"Yes," Lan Xichen said grimly, "And I believe we will need to talk to our sworn brother as well, Da-Ge. A-Yao either lied to us or was uninformed as well. I am hoping it was the latter."

"We will need to ask him and find out," Nie Mingjue grunted, "Either way, it is clear the Jin should not be in custody of any remaining Wens. We will divide up any cultivators amongst the other clans and see to it that they are punished fairly for their part in the war. If they had no part in it, then they will face lesser punishments, and perhaps be allowed to live normal lives under supervision."

"It is clear we need to restructure quite a bit," Jin Zixuan said, "If my father truly did know about all of this, then it is inexcusable. He will need to face judgement himself. Perhaps it's time he stepped down from being a Sect Leader, if this is what he believed to be acceptable."

"We can discuss those details afterwards," Nie Mingjue said, "Let's get the Wens here sorted out."

"Wen Qing?" Wei Wuxian said, looking at her, "Can you please take responsibility for getting everyone packed up and ready to leave?"

"Of course," she nodded swiftly as she jumped to action.

"In the meantime, I will take my nephew," A-Jie said, as she took his son from Lan Zhan, "Lan Er- Gongzi, you've had him for long enough." Before Wei Wuxian could protest, A-Yuan was taken by his aunt. She gave him a pointed look as she left, and he felt himself grow a bit tense once more.

The boy giggled as he reached towards Jiang Cheng and pulled a hairpin out of his hair, grinning widely. If he thought his brother would be upset, he was sorely mistaken. Instead, Jiang Cheng smiled back at the boy, letting him play with it as if it were a toy.

The other sect leaders hustled around the camp, leaving him alone with Lan Zhan. And perhaps he should be helping the others pack up, but he couldn't help but stare at the man in front of him.

"Lan Zhan," he said looking up at him, "Why?"

Lan Zhan glanced at him but did not say a word.

"Don't you hate me? Why did you arrange for all of this to help me?" Wei Wuxian pushed further. "I thought you would demand I go back with you to Gusu to get punished for everything. I've harmed people, even if I had good intentions, I still hurt and killed people. How can you be okay with that? Yet instead, in the span of a few hours, because of you the heads of the major sects went from being against me to on my side. Why would you help me?"

"Never hated Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said, looking at him seriously, and he felt all the air leave his lungs. "Never wanted to take you back to Gusu for punishment."

"Then why?" he prodded, needing to know the truth. They were airing all their secrets, so may as well air this one as well.

"To keep you safe," Lan Zhan said, looking at him, "To play Cleansing for you and help purify you of the resentment. I thought it was corrupting your core. I didn't know."

He laughed bitterly, "Even if the resentful energy all left me, it wouldn't make me how I was before. I'm not the same Lan Zhan. I've changed."

"Hm," Lan Zhan disagreed, "Still the same."

"Do you still want me to go back to Gusu with you?" he shot back. After everything would there even be a point anymore?

"Wanted Wei Ying to come back with me for years," Lan Zhan looked at him pointedly.

"Yes, since I returned from the Burial Mounds," he recalled, but Lan Zhan shook his head.

"Longer," Lan Zhan said, and Wei Ying frowned. "Think."

Wasn't that the first time he asked him to come back with him? Had there been a moment before that?

A fuzzy memory floated in his head of a moment long ago when he still lived in the streets. Of a cute boy with a white forehead ribbon, lost on the streets, and that he'd helped find his way back to his family.

"Was that you?" he asked with a laugh of disbelief, "Lan Zhan, were you that cute boy?"

Lan Zhan's lips twitched, "Mm. Wanted you to come to Gusu with me then too. Always wanted you to come home with me."

"Why?" he pondered, needing to know. It couldn't be mere gratitude for helping Lan Zhan out when he was lost all those years ago. "Why Lan Zhan?"

"Because of Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said, his face conveying all the emotions that his words did not.

For once in his life, he didn't know what to say. Wei Wuxian knew, looking at Lan Zhan's face, why it was that the man had saved him. Why he had made all the major Sect Leaders come to his camp and learn the truth. He knew.

He bit his lip, feeling a bit shy for the first time ever. He took a step forward before he lost the nerve to do what he'd wanted to all those times in Cloud Recesses. What he'd lamented about to Nie Huaisang and A-Cheng about day after day until his brother lost his patience and threatened to write to Madam Yu about his behaviour.

He pressed his lips to Lan Zhan's without a word, as the man froze, caught off guard by the action. But he did not push Wei Wuxian away, and he took that to be a good sign. He moved his arms to wrap them around Lan Zhan's neck, kissing him deeper as the man reacted then. Lan Zhan's own lips moved against Wei Wuxian's and the man wrapped his arms around Wei Wuxian's waist, pulling him in tighter, as if he were afraid Wei Wuxian would disappear again if he ever let him go.

When he finally broke away from Lan Zhan to take a breath of air, he couldn't help the smile that crossed his face.

"Who knew Hanguang-Jun was good at kissing too?" he teased, "Ever the skilled disciple. Is there anything you are not good at?"

He was stunned silent then as Lan Zhan swiftly reached up and untied his forehead ribbon, and instead tied it around Wei Wuxian's wrist, much to his confusion.

He'd made such a big deal of it the last time Wei Wuxian touched the ribbon, and now he was readily tying it around his wrist.

He heard Jiang Cheng sigh, and he looked over at his brother. Jiang Cheng turned to Lan Xichen.

"It seems as if we're going to have to also add a marriage negotiation to the list of items to discuss once we leave here," Jiang Cheng said, and Wei Wuxian froze. "But I'll be clear with this upfront. Wei Wuxian is not marrying out of the Jiang Sect. After everything I've just done to get him back, I will not have that all undone easily by a marriage agreement. I'm assuming it is the same for you that you don't want Lan Wangji marrying out of your clan? Perhaps we can work out an agreement for them to marry into each other's clan but not leave their own? We'll have to work out all the details for it, so the terms are clear."

Lan Xichen looked surprised at that, as he looked over at Lan Zhan, studying him carefully, which Jiang Cheng obviously took as a sign of disagreement.

"Look, if you don't want my brother marrying into the Lan Clan because you think he'll tarnish your Sect's reputation then that's your prerogative," Jiang Cheng said, immediately getting defensive. "But in that case, Lan Wangji's marrying into the Jiang Clan. Just because you won't accept my brother doesn't mean he'll be without a home. I refuse to have my brother disrespected like that."

Lan Xichen regained his composure then, smiling brightly, "Do not worry, Sect Leader Jiang," he said smoothly, "I'm sure we'll be able to work out an agreement that satisfies both sects properly, including them marrying into each other's sects. However, Wangji is currently my heir, and as such, children and their sect loyalties will need to be discussed as well, given they've seemingly already adopted a child"

Jiang Cheng look satisfied at that, while Wei Wuxian continued to watch on with confusion. What had just happened? How had they already jumped to marriage discussions after a kiss with Lan Zhan?

A-Jie thankfully took pity on him, "A-Xian, the ribbon on your wrist means that Lan Wangji has declared his intention to marry you. You're engaged to him now."

"What?" he said loudly in surprise, before protesting, "Lan Zhan that's not fair!"

The man in question froze, looking unsure of what to do, but Wei Wuxian quickly ripped his own red ribbon out of his hair, tying it around Lan Zhan's wrist in turn. When he was done, he looked down at his handiwork feeling proud of it.

"There," he said with a grin, "Now everyone will know you belong to me as well."

The tip of his fiancé's ears turned red at that.

Lan Xichen seemed to be trying hard not to smile at both of them, and Nie Mingjue seemed unimpressed with the entire display. Jiang Cheng, meanwhile, huffed out in annoyance, and A-Jie giggled as she held onto her own fiancé's arm.

"You two are too cute," she told him with a smile.

"We are cute," Wei Wuxian agreed readily, "Aren't we Lan Zhan?"

"Mm," Lan Zhan said, looking directly at Wei Wuxian.

"Aiyah, you can't agree with me so easily," he felt his heart pound, "I can't take it if you flirt with me like that Lan Er-Ge."

Lan Zhan looked at him deeply, and this time it was Wei Wuxian's turn to turn red.

"Okay that's enough of that. It's time to go," Jiang Cheng said, as Wen Qing came up to them, followed by the Wens. They had gathered what little they had, and in total it only amounted to three bags worth of items. Jiang Cheng frowned at the amount, but he did not comment on it.

The group walked towards the boundary, and Wei Wuxian lifted the protective wards he'd placed around their temporary home. He'd placed them somewhat hastily the first time, adding to it with layer after layer afterwards, trying to ensure they'd be safe from the outside world. And now, thanks to Lan Zhan, he'd be able to leave Burial Mounds behind, hopefully for good.

He'd most likely return after the Wens were settled to keep his word and destroy the Stygian Tiger Amulet. He had a feeling he wouldn't be needing it here on out.

"We will help you escort the Wens back to Lotus Pier," Nie Mingjue said, as they approached where the soldiers were waiting. He took Baxia back from his men. "It would take you four days to make the journey back by foot. However, if we fly, we can do it in a few hours."

"Do you have enough people for that?" Wei Wuxian asked, "No one here can fly by themselves; they'd need someone to take them."

"We should have enough," Lan Xichen said in agreement as he looked over their numbers, "Young Master Wei, I'm assuming you'll ride with Wangji?"

"Mm," Lan Zhan confirmed, as he drew his sword out for them to ride back.

"I'm taking my nephew," Jiang Cheng was quick to claim, and A-Yuan grinned as Jiang Cheng took him from A-Jie. "Peacock, you better not let my sister fall."

Jin Zixuan's face twitched. "I will not," and A-Jie giggled at that.

"A-Xuan, I trust you to keep me safe," she assured her fiancé, "Especially given that you're protecting the three of us."

"Three?" Wei Wuxian's ears perked up. "A-Jie?"

"I'm pregnant," she grinned, "I was going to ask you and A-Cheng to help pick out a name for me later. So please think of it and let me know once you've found one for your nephew or niece."

He grinned brightly at the thought of nephews and nieces, ideas already running through his head. "Since Ru is the character for the next generation, I think Jin Rulan sounds rather nice."

"They're my niece or nephew, why are you naming them after your fiancé?" Jiang Cheng complained.

"Lan as in orchid," he said smugly, "Besides, I think it's a nice name. Very beautiful."

He looked at Lan Zhan at that, and his fiancé shave him a soft look.

He watched as the others got on the sword, and he knew that there would be lots of time to flirt later. For now, there was other matters to focus on. Particularly their flight home.

"Are you going to hold me tightly Lan Zhan?" he whispered to his own fiancé as the others made the arrangement for who would fly with whom.

"Mm," Lan Zhan looked at him carefully, "Will always protect Wei Ying."

He felt himself grow warm, as he got on the sword with his fiancé, Lan Zhan's arms wrapping around him tightly. He leaned back in delight, loving how it felt to have Lan Zhan's arms around him, and he knew that he would enjoy the next few hours immensely.


By time they'd returned to Lotus Pier, it was late. A-Yuan had fallen asleep during the flight, and Wei Wuxian wanted to tease Jiang Cheng with how reluctant he'd been to hand the boy back to Wei Wuxian while he started making arrangements.

"The sleeping arrangements are most likely going to be cramped," he warned the Wens, however none of them seemed to mind. Anything they were offered would be an improvement from their previous living arrangements.

"Your room is still the same," Jiang Cheng told him, and he froze. He hadn't been back to Lotus Pier for long after the war, but he was sure that Jiang Cheng would have been furious with him for leaving and would have done away with all his stuff.

It seemed as if a lot had been left unsaid between the two of them, and perhaps that needed to change going forward.

If the two of them had talked to the other a bit more, maybe things wouldn't have gotten to where they did.

"We will arrange rooms for the two of you as well, Sect Leaders," A-Jie bowed to Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen. "Please forgive our lack of preparation for you both."

"Do not trouble yourself too much, Lady Jiang," Lan Xichen bowed back to her, "We will be most grateful for anything you are able to offer."

"We will get you both, Lan Er-Gongzi, and A-Xuan rooms of your own. Your disciples may need to share accommodations, if that is acceptable," she said, and Jiang Cheng gave Wei Wuxian a look.

"I don't want to hear anything about you and Lan Wangji sneaking around in the middle of the night," he glared, "Just because the two of you are engaged now doesn't mean you can act improper before you're wed. Or after you're wed!" he added quickly, knowing his brother too well.

Wei Wuxian felt himself grow red. He'd be lying if he said he didn't like how he felt in Lan Zhan's arms on the way back to Lotus Pier.

And coupled with thoughts of the books Nie Huaisang had shown him long ago at Cloud Recesses, he was definitely starting to get some wicked thoughts about his fiancé.

"We will conduct ourselves properly," Lan Zhan said, the tips of his own ears turning a bit red. He wondered if the man also was thinking of the same things he was.

"If we must," Wei Wuxian sighed dramatically. "We'll make sure that whatever we do you won't hear about."

Jiang Cheng simply groaned.

"Baba," A-Yuan said tiredly as he woke up, "Bed."

"I know, my Radish," Wei Wuxian soothed him, "We'll get you set up in my room shortly, okay? Then you can get some rest. We just need to get the rest of your family settled in as well."

"We'll handle getting everyone settled," A-Jie told him with a smile, "You can get the little one settled down."

"If you're sure," he said, a bit hesitant. He trusted his family, but he didn't want to make them work unnecessarily, especially on his behalf. They'd already done so much, with agreeing to let them stay in Lotus Pier and making plans to give them a more permanent home of their own.

"I'm sure," she said firmly, "Get your son to bed."

"Shall we go get you settled in then, A-Yuan?" he asked his son with a grin. "Say goodnight to A-Die and we can see him tomorrow."

"No!" A-Yuan said loudly, looking sadly at Lan Zhan, "No bye!"

"A-Yuan," he admonished, a bit surprised. Normally his son was very well behaved, but it seemed like the exhaustion made him act up more than usual."

"No bye!" A-Yuan said adamantly. "A-Die stay?"

"Mm," Lan Zhan agreed, looking over at Jiang Cheng, and his Didi threw his arms up in frustration.

"Fine! The two of you can share a room. But don't blame me when people continue to gossip about you and spread lies! I tried my best."

"A-Die," A-Yuan said, reaching over for Lan Zhan. And if the sight of his son and Lan Zhan together wasn't utterly endearing, he'd be upset by his son liking someone else more than him.

"Sleep well, Nephew," Lan Xichen said, patting A-Yuan lightly on the head.

"Night Bobo!" A-Yuan said, rubbing his eyes, "Night Guma, night Shufu!"

"Good night, A-Yuan," Jiang Cheng smiled at his nephew before scowling at Wei Wuxian.

"I know, I know, no funny business," he raised his arms, "Besides, we have A-Yuan with us, so it'll be fine, right?"

"Nothing is ever just fine with you," Jiang Cheng sighed.

He beamed back at his brother before turning to Lan Zhan, "Come on, I'll show you my room."

They walked down the reconstructed halls of Lotus Pier, as he had a slight bounce in his step. The last time Lan Zhan had been here, it was when Wei Wuxian been unconscious after they returned from killing the Tortoise of Slaughter. It was so unfair! He didn't even get to show Lan Zhan his home then. But this time was different, he'd take the man everywhere and show him all his favourite spots.

He stopped outside the door to his room, hesitating slightly, before turning opening the door. To his slight surprise, it was largely untouched, just as Jiang Cheng said it would be.

"Well, this is it," he said, a bit embarrassed. It wasn't anything impressive, but Lan Zhan gave him a gently smile before placing A-Yuan on the bed.

"A-Die, Baba, sleep," A-Yuan said in a sleepy voice.

"We will join you shortly A-Yuan," Wei Wuxian told the boy as he patted his head. "I can take the floor, and you can sleep in the bed with him."

"Hm," Lan Zhan disagreed, "You sleep with A-Yuan, I'll take the floor."

"Want A-Die and Baba," A-Yuan protested.

He looked sheepishly at Lan Zhan, "It seems as if our son has spoken," he said, a bit embarrassed. It wasn't as if they would be doing anything improper if A-Yuan was with them.

"Mm," Lan Zhan agreed. He was the first one in bed, lying on one side of their son, and Wei Wuxian settled down on the other. His son cuddled up against him, and he felt Lan Zhan wrap an arm over the two of them, bringing them in close.

"Sleep," Lan Zhan said simply, and his son closed his eyes, dozing off instantly. "Sleep, Wei Ying. We can talk more in the morning."

"Good night, Lan Zhan," he yawned, as his eyes closed as well. Maybe it was the comfort of his childhood bed, or Lan Zhan's arms around him, or the fact that he felt safer than he had in days, but before he knew it, he had fallen asleep as well, lulled to sleep by the gentle sounds of his son and fiancé near him.


When he woke up, the first thing Wei Wuxian noticed was that he was warm.

It was strange for him, given how cold he'd been the last few months. Especially since losing his golden core, he had issues regulating his internal temperature the way he once had been able to.

The second thing he noticed was an arm around him, holding him tightly.

He blinked his eyes awake and noticed that he was cradled into Lan Zhan's side. Somehow in the night their son had moved from being on top of them to lying directly on Lan Zhan's chest. And Wei Wuxian was now hugging his intended.

"You're awake," Lan Zhan said gently, and Wei Wuxian had to struggle not to sit up quickly, not wanting their son to wake up just yet. Most of the Wens hadn't slept properly in months, if not years, because of the war, then the aftermath.

"You stayed in bed, even though its past five in the morning," he said, a smile creeping up on his face.

"Mm," Lan Zhan confirmed, "Did not want to wake Wei Ying or A-Yuan."

"What a noble man," he teased with a grin. He carefully propped himself up onto his side so he could stare at his future husband, studying his face carefully as he ran his fingers over Lan Zhan's cheek. "What a beautiful husband I'm going to have."

The tips of Lan Zhan's ears turned red, and he moved his attention to lightly brushing his thumb over them.

"Wei Ying, do not tease," Lan Zhan said, eyes darkening as his hands continued to touch Lan Zhan's face.

"You're my fiancé now," he pouted, "Am I not allowed to touch Hanguang-Jun's face? I've wanted to touch you for years. Wanted to caress every part of you."

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan warned him as A-Yuan started to stir on top of him.

"You're so easy to tease," he grinned, "Ah Er-Ge, I can't wait to be your husband."

"Soon," Lan Zhan promised him, "As soon as the Wens are settled, and our brothers have finished negotiating our marriage agreement."

He beamed at that. While he was eager to marry Lan Zhan, he knew it would have to wait until after the dust had settled. After everything that had happened, he wouldn't feel comfortable if the marriage agreement worked out so that he'd be leaving Lotus Pier behind. He didn't want to leave his home, but he wanted to be with Lan Zhan, and he was aware that it would come with certain concessions.

"Baba," A-Yuan rubbed his eyes, as he woke up, before realizing where he was. "A-Die?"

"Good morning, Radish," Wei Wuxian grinned, "I see the bed was not comfortable for you last night, so you went and found a better one. I don't blame you, A-Die is very comfortable, isn't he?"

"Mm," A-Yuan nodded, and Wei Wuxian laughed.

"Ah look at your son, Lan Zhan. He's already copying your mannerisms," Wei Wuxian teased, as he settled back into Lan Zhan's side.

"Mm," Lan Zhan said, and Wei Wuxian swore his future husband looked pleasantly pleased by the declaration.

He stayed like that against his fiancé, soaking in pleasure from the warmth of being in his arms. His son didn't seem eager to move either and it was only when his tummy rumbled that they bothered getting out of bed to get ready.

When they'd finally made their way into the main hall, he wasn't surprised to see the Sect Leaders gathered.

"Good of you to finally join us," Jiang Cheng said sarcastically in lieu of a greeting. "Did you sleep well, Wei Wuxian?"

"Very well," he beamed, "In fact, Lan Zhan kept A-Yuan and I warm all night. We were lucky to have him with us."

"Mm," A-Yuan agreed quickly, causing A-Jie to raise a sleeve to hide her laugh behind. Jiang Cheng looked like he was trying very hard not to make a remark, and Wei Wuxian suspected the only thing stopping him was A-Yuan's presence.

"Sit," Lan Zhan instructed him, and Wei Wuxian obediently followed the man to sit near the Lan Sect while they continued discussions. A-Jie placed a bowl of food in front of the three of them, and he began eating as he listened to the others talk.

"We will need to talk to the Jin sect," Lan Xichen said once they'd begun, "It is unacceptable to think of the Wens we found in Burial Mounds being in those camps. And given the stories they told, it is clear Sect Leader Jin was aware of the conditions, and most likely condoned them as well. Several high-ranking Jin cultivators have also been implicated as having played a part in what transpired. That cannot be ignored."

"It is clear that Jin Guangshan is not suited to remain Chief Cultivator," Nie Mingjue grumbled. "If this is what he believes to be righteous behaviour."

"You were offered the position first," Lan Xichen reminded him gently, "You were the one who turned it down Da-Ge."

"Because I wanted no part in the politics," Nie Mingjue heavily sighed, "He offered, and it seemed prudent to let him."

"Especially given the minimal losses suffered by the Jin Clan during the war," Jiang Cheng said, making a face.

"It's easy not to suffer losses when he did not contribute as much as the rest of us," Nie Mingjue said bitterly.

It had often been a point of contention for Wei Wuxian; any time he'd heard the Jin sect bragging about what they'd achieved and how well they'd done in the war or taking credit for the difficulties of others. But he'd held his tongue time and time again. It seemed as if he wasn't the only one facing those thoughts.

"I can only apologise for my actions of neglect," Jin Zixuan stood up and bowed before them, "As sect heir it is my responsibility to be aware of what is happening in my clan. However, these crimes have happened under my own nose. I am ashamed of the actions of the members of my clan, including my father. I only ask that if you wish to seek retribution, only the guilty are punished."

"We're not going to punish the innocent," Nie Mingjue scoffed, "That's what got us here in the first place: grouping together everyone who shared a surname. It was wrong to do, especially given very few of the Wens in Burial Mounds had anything to even do with the war."

"I suspect several changes will need to occur in the Jin Clan," Lan Xichen said diplomatically, "Potentially also involving a change in Sect Leader."

"It is something I have considered and also believe to be the best course of action," Jin Zixuan agreed readily, "I do not wish to come into a power that I obtained from usurpation, however I cannot in good consciousness allow my father to continue, given what he has done. He was aware of who was in these camps. Yet he spread rumours slandering Wei-Gongzi, knowing fully well that the truth was far from that."

"And if he does not step down?" Nie Mingjue scrutinized him, "Your father has always cherished the power his position afforded him. I do not believe he will readily give it up. If he decides to go to war against the rest of us?"

"I do not believe he will be eager to give it up," Peacock said, "But I do not believe we will go to war either. I believe once the evidence is presented out in the open, the support system he's built will begin to fall away. And those who remain in support with not outweigh the support I will hopefully have from yourselves to take the position from him."

"You have our support," Jiang Cheng nodded, "My sister, for some reason, loves you. And you are clearly not the same man as your father. However, that support and my sister can be taken away from you if I even have a sliver of suspicion towards you being anything less than honourable."

"Understood," Jin Zixuan nodded gruffly.

"The Nie clan will also stand by you," Nie Mingjue agreed.

"As will the Lans," Lan Xichen said pleasantly, "While we dislike intervening in political maneuvers, we dislike being deceived and having unjust behaviour brought down on the innocent."

"Thank you," Jin Zixuan bowed once more before them, "I will not allow the Jin Clan to fall further than it already has."

The discussions continued for what actions to take, and Wei Wuxian was reminded of how much he really hated politics. He trusted Jiang Cheng to handle what would need to happen with the Jin clan, and he allowed his mind to wander, as he stared towards his fiancé.

Lan Zhan, of course, was paying dutiful attention to the discussions. While Lan Xichen was handling the logistics as Sect Leader, as his current heir, Lan Zhan was offering contributions when requested.

If he noticed Wei Wuxian staring at him, he did not comment.

His future fiancé was undefinably beautiful, as he'd taken note of that morning.

He couldn't help but feel awe for everything Lan Zhan had done for him. He'd come to the camps for him. He'd seen the conditions of the Wens and he'd brought justice to their door to help them. He'd proposed to him and brought him home. He loved him.

And that last thought was enough to make his heart skip a beat.

Lan Zhan loved him.

Lan Zhan wanted to marry him.

Lan Zhan wanted to have a family with him.

He worked hard to stop himself from smiling. He didn't want Jiang Cheng to call him out for openly fantasizing about the life he'd have one day soon with his fiancé. Even if he was as shameless as Lan Zhan had called him, he did want to pretend to save face amongst the others in the room. Especially after they'd changed everything for him and the Wens in a matter of a few hours.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said after a moment. "It is rude to stare."

"Are you going to tell me to stop?" he laughed softly at the man.

"No," Lan Zhan said after a moment, and Wei Wuxian's smile only grew.


There was a bit of a debate as to whether they should bring Wei Wuxian with them to Koi Tower when they went. Especially with what had happened the last time he was there. The next argument was whether they should bring the Stygian Tiger Amulet.

In the end, while the sect leaders still weren't certain it was the best choice, they knew he needed to be there to properly rebuff any statements that were made in direct offense of him.

He was also allowed to carry his dizi, however it was noted that he was told directly several times that he couldn't use it unless absolutely necessary, as they did not want to provoke further altercations. However, without a golden core, if he did not have the Stygian Tiger Amulet, he'd be defenseless in a viper pit.

It was decided that it was better to resolve the matter as soon as possible. A-Jie would be staying behind with the Wens, alongside disciples from each clan as protection, while the rest of them made their way to Lanling to deal with Jin Guangshan.

He couldn't say he was looking forward to the visit. All he wanted was for everything to be over, especially now that his brother had promised him a home for himself and the Wens. But if they didn't deal with the Wens then a threat would always loom over their heads. And he knew Jin Guangshan staying in power was dangerous, especially as he held the title of Chief Cultivator.

He hoped that whoever held the title next was better than he had been. But given the most likely choices, he did not think they would be at risk of further persecution.

"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian said, a bit anxious as they stood at the bottom of the stairs to Koi Tower.

"I'm here," Lan Zhan reassured him gently, "It will be alright, Wei Ying."

"I'm worrying for nothing," he said, plastering a smile on his face. "What harm can come to me with Lan Zhan protecting me?"

Lan Zhan gave him a look, "Wei Ying." Wei Wuxian looked up at him. He knew the disciples of the Jin Sect were watching their ascent in concern, but given Jin Zixuan was with them, they did not interfere.

"You do not have to hide your feelings," Lan Zhan spoke, as they made their way up the stairs. "You may tell me when things are bothering you."

He wanted to laugh it off with a quick-witted comeback, but he found himself unable to find the words.

Instead, he swallowed before nodding in agreement.

"Jin Gongzi, Da-Ge, Er-Ge," Jin Guangyao bowed as he met them at the top of the stairs, "Sect Leader Jiang. May I ask what brings your esteemed selves here suddenly?"

"A-Yao, we have an urgent matter to speak to Sect Leader Jin about," Lan Xichen said kindly, though the smile did not reach his eyes. "Can you please summon him for us?"

"I will do my best," he bowed again, and Wei Wuxian eyed the man. There was always something about him that rubbed him the wrong way, "However please take into consideration that he may be otherwise occupied and unable to greet you right away, given your sudden visit."

Wei Wuxian snorted.

While he did not say it, it was plenty clear to him why Jin Guangshan would be unable to greet him. It was no secret that the man was often with women other than his wife.

It was no secret either that while his son was valiantly fighting in the Sunshot campaign, one of the reasons the Jins did not contribute much was because Sect Leader Jin was often preoccupied with women and did not concern himself with the war efforts.

"Understood," Nie Mingjue said gruffly, looking at him suspiciously. How much of a role did Jin Guangyao play in the treatment of the Wens at Qiongqi Path?

He showed them inside, and offered the group tea, while Jin Zixuan took his leave to make some arrangements. He couldn't be sure just what his future brother-in-law was up to, but he imagined it had to do with the turn of power that he'd promised them against his father.

If he'd be able to manage such a feat, Wei Wuxian would be impressed.

It took almost an hour for Jin Guangshan to make his way into the hall they were in. In that time Lan Zhan and his brother patiently sipped tea, while Nie Mingjue and Jiang Cheng looked agitated as they waited.

Wei Wuxian daydreamed again.

He knew it wasn't the wisest thing to do, given where they were, but he couldn't help it. Thoughts of Lan Zhan and A-Yuan together flooded his mind. Every time he saw the two of them interact, he couldn't help but feel the butterflies in his stomach fluttering.

By now the hall had filled up with several disciples. He noted that Jin Zixuan and Madam Jin had returned as well and noted that quite a few other sect leaders also were around, including Sect Leaders Yao, Qin and Ouyang.

Interesting. Just what were the other leaders been doing in Koi Tower at that time? Could their presence here be in relation to him?

"Have we decided to throw a discussion conference that I was unaware of?" Jin Guangshan had a fake smile plastered on his face. "Sect Leaders, what brings you to my home so suddenly?"

His eyes landed on Wei Wuxian.

"Have you brought that criminal here for punishment for what he did to my men?" his eyes narrowed, and Wei Wuxian nearly shivered.

Lan Zhan stepped directly in front of him, blocking him from Jin Guangshan's sight.

"Wei Wuxian is not here to be punished, Sect Leader Jin," Lan Xichen said pleasantly, "In fact, we have come to speak to you about certain inconsistencies in the events surrounding the work camp you set up for the Wen remnants."

"Inconsistencies?" Jin Zixun scoffed, "Are you seriously believing that demonic servant and his Wen dogs' words about what happened at those camps over ours? We told you, there were cultivators in those camps, and we were putting them to work. A few may have died but it was because of their own actions. But that heretic killed our men and deserves to be punished."

"Is that so?" Nie Mingjue glowered at him. "Because Hanguang-Jun asked for a meeting with myself, Zuwu-Jun, Sandu Shengshou, and your cousin. He had been to the Burial Mounds to visit the so-called Wen army you and Sect Leader Jin said he had holed up there. And do you know what we found?"

He paused briefly, while Jin Zixun crossed his arms.

"I found a child there, no more than three years old. I found civilians who were injured but doing their best to make the area livable. I found elderly men and women, who were not cultivators, but were still pulling their weight in their makeshift home. What I did not find was an army. There were no corpse soldiers. There were no Wen Cultivators. So tell me, Jin Zixun, were you aware of who was in the camp?"

Jin Zixun glowered at him. "Do you honestly believe Wei Wuxian would have showed you his army just because you went there and asked him politely? He was probably hiding them deep in the mounds."

"I saw the food they were growing," Nie Mingjue laughed coldly. "Radishes. They were eating radishes. And there was nowhere near enough harvest for an army. I saw the fields they were growing it in. You may not remember since your role in the Sunshot campaign was not as significant as the rest of us in the room, but I am more than aware of the rations needed to feed an army. Especially one that your uncle vehemently claimed that they were building. I'll ask you again, did you know who was in that camp?"

Wei Wuxian knew it was a trick question.

Jin Zixun shifted uncomfortably, "How would I know who was there? Just because I was overseeing the larger details doesn't mean I ever stepped foot in those camps."

"So you never saw what men or women were there?" Nie Mingjue pressed him.

"Of course not," Jin Zixun snapped.

"That's interesting, because your cousin, Zuwu-Jun, and I took witness statements from the inhabitants. And they very much seemed to know who you were. Especially the women. They remembered you very well," Nie Mingjue gave him a deadly smile.

Jin Zixun paled a little bit, "They're lying! I never knew who was in those camps! And even if I did, so what? They were Wen dogs!"

"Surely you of all people do not have qualms with how the Chief Cultivator treated the Wen remnants," Sect Leader Qin cut in. "Given everything that happened in the war, is it that big of a crime to eradicate the Wens? Especially with what they did to your father, I did not think you would be the one objecting, Sect Leader Nie."

Nie Mingjue turned his gaze to the man speaking. "Can you tell me that you would blame a three-year-old boy for the sins of the clan he was born into? Sect Leader Qin, your wife gave birth to a son a few years back did she not? If you and your clan's cultivators were to commit a grave crime, would you believe your son should suffer the same fate as you?"

That shut the man up quickly.

"Even if we did have civilians in the camp, does it justify the murder of my men?" Jin Guangshan stared down at him, "Where is your sense of justice, Sect Leader Nie?"

"Where is yours, Father?" Jin Zixuan spoke up for the first time. "You spread lies and slander about Wei Wuxian so you could gain the upper hand and have men march on the Burial Mounds to bring him down. That's why the other sect leaders are here, isn't it? Because you're trying to win their support. Do you know what I saw when I went to that camp? I didn't see a threat to the rest of the cultivation world. I saw innocent people just trying to live. To survive. They are not a threat to us. They can't even pick up a sword. Yet you wanted to raise an army to hunt them all down."

"How unfilial!" Jin Guangshan raised his voice, but Jin Zixuan did not flinch, "Even if the Wens are not a threat, Wei Wuxian is! He practices his wicked tricks! We have seen time and time again what he is capable of, and yet he does not return to the righteous path. He cultivates using wicked methods! How can any of us be safe with him having the power he does?"

"He cultivates the only way he is able to," Jiang Cheng spoke up, raising his own voice, "He does not have a core. He willingly gave it to me after Wen Zhuliu melted mine, and he was tossed into Burial Mounds afterwards."

Wei Wuxian froze. He did not think his secret needed to remain hidden, especially given the ones he was hiding it from now knew the truth. But he saw all eyes land on him in surprise. It was unheard of for someone to give up their core, and he knew it was not a sacrifice others would be as quick to make.

Jiang Cheng continued, "He did what he had to do to survive. He did what was needed to win the war. How quick you are to shame his contribution when you sat here safely in your tower while the rest of us fought for our freedom. Tell me, how much did you bribe Wen Ruohan to stay away from your sect?"

"How dare you?" Jin Guangshan roared, colouring red.

But the seed of doubt remained planted in everyone's head. Why was it that the Jins were relatively untouched by the war? Even without as many contributions, they had lost far less than the other sects. The Wens had barely even glanced in their direction.

"A lack of core does not mean he needs to continue such practices," Sect Leader Yao frowned, "As helpful as his actions might have been, why does he need to continue? How can any of us feel safe while he has the power he does? What's to stop him from killing us all?"

"What's to stop you from ramming your sword through me the first chance you get?" Wei Wuxian shot back, "It's my only form of protection against corrupt leaders like you."

"Wei Wuxian," Jiang Cheng whispered angrily at him. "Keep quiet."

"Sorry," he said, unapologetically.

"Who are you to call me corrupt?" Sect Leader Yao glowered at him, "You are nothing more than the son of a ser-"

"Do not speak to him that way," Jiang Cheng said. "His father was my father's sworn brother. He was his brother even after leaving the sect. Wei Wuxian is my brother and will be my sworn brother one day. You may be a sect leader, but that does not give you the right to belittle others."

Jiang Cheng wanted to be his sworn brother? His eyes shone at that, as Jiang Cheng shot him a soft look.

"Why does it seem as if we are the ones at trial when the real criminal is beside you?" Jin Zixun complained.

"Sect Leader Jin," Lan Xichen said addressing him, "The Lan sect is asking you step down as Chief Cultivator as we do not have confidence in your ability."

"The Nie sect agrees," Nie Mingjue added.

"As does the Jiang sect," Jiang Cheng agreed.

"Preposterous!" Jin Guangshan roared. "You do not have the right-"

"I believe we do," Lan Xichen cut him off with a gently voice, "After all, the role is awarded to the major sect leader given a majority vote. And given that the other three major sects agree, it does not matter if you have the support of smaller sects. The role does not belong to you hereafter."

"On behalf of the Jin Sect, I agree with your ruling," Jin Zixuan bowed before them.

"Jin Zixuan! You dare?" Jin Guangshan stood up quickly. "I gave you life! I made you my heir! I can take that away from you as well. I have other sons. I have your cousin. I do not need you."

"You will not give away the position to someone you consider a bastard," Jin Zixuan said confidently. "You have too much pride for that. However, Father, as current heir of the Jin sect, I believe you should step down as your role of Sect Leader. There is going to be an inquiry into what occurred at those camps. From the stories I heard, you played an active role in both their set up and knew what was occurring. You also were willing to lead the cultivation world into another war because you fear someone else having more power than you. None of which is in the best interests of the Jins. You will step down."

"You don't have the right," Jin Guangshan shot back.

"He has our backing," Jiang Cheng said, as he stood in defence of their future brother-in-law.

"And he has mine," Madam Jin stepped forward then, a few metres away from her husband. "Your crimes have caught up to you, Husband. It was only a matter of time before it did. You have disgraced our sect and our marriage, and your time as leader has come to an end."

"Your power means nothing," Jin Guangshan scoffed, "You have no role in the matters of the Jin. You are just the woman who birthed our son. Nothing more."

"And yet I have the power to destroy you," she smiled. "How many other crimes will be revealed at your trial, I wonder? Madam Qin?"

The sect leader who had been throwing accusations at them earlier stared in surprise as his wife stepped forward, shaking. Madam Jin placed an arm on hers tenderly.

She looked over at her husband, then looked down.

"Several years ago, just after my wedding day, I was walking alone after meeting with Madam Jin. I wanted some privacy and as such there was no one around when Sect Leader Jin accosted me. He was drunk, and he forced himself on me."

Her voice wavered, "He is the father of my daughter."

"Do you think I did not know what you did to my friend all those years ago?" His wife shot him a sharp smile, "She asked me not to say anything. She did not want her husband to find out and desert her. So, I kept my silence. Why do you think I never laid with you after our son was born? But the time for keeping secrets has come to an end, as will your reign."

Sect Leader Qin's face turned red then, as he absorbed the accusations made, and Madam Qin flinched.

"How dare you!" he screamed, stepping forward towards where Madam Qin was, raising his hand. But instead of striking her, his fist collided with Jin Guangshan's face. "You were my friend! How could you take my wife?"

"I did no such thing," Jin Guangshan argued weakly, but it was clear that no one believed him.

Sect leaders Yao and Ouyang looked disturbed by the notion. If Sect Leader Qin's wife was not safe from his illustrious ways, were their own? Had he taken their wives against their wills too?

"I'm sure we'll find many, many more cases of women you have wronged," Madam Jin glared at her husband. "I will move to dissolve our marriage. However, first, I believe it prudent that you step down, Husband."

"Take him away," Jin Zixuan said, looking at his men. And while they hesitated, unsure of how the shifting power affected them and who they should listen to, they ultimately agreed. Men surrounded Jin Guangshan on either side of him and dragged him out of the room.

"Cousin," Jin Zixuan looked at Jin Zixun, and the man froze.

"I was just following orders," Jin Zixun backtracked quickly, sensing that he would not be safe otherwise.

"And yet there were several reports that you enjoyed hurting the prisoners. That you raped some of them yourself," Jin Zixuan said coldly.

"You're my family," Jin Zixun cried out, "We used to play together as kids!"

"And you've changed since then," Jin Zixuan said, not looking sympathetic. "A trial will reveal just how involved you were with the crimes that took place here."

He gestured to the guards to take his cousin away as well, all the while Jin Zixun screamed out in fear and anger.

Good, Wei Wuxian thought furiously. The men and women he'd hurt were terrified for their lives too. It was only fair he felt even the slightest amount of fear for his future.

"Brother," Jin Zixuan turned to Jin Guangyao. While none of the Wens had implicated the man, it didn't necessarily mean that Lianfang-Zun was free of any wrongdoings.

Jin Guangyao smiled weakly at him, then back at his sworn brothers, "I did not hurt the people in that camp," he said quickly, "I admit to knowing that there was more occurring than what father revealed, but I did not question it. You have to believe me. Da-Ge, Er-Ge, please believe me."

"I wish I did," Lan Xichen looked at him gently. "But you admitted to knowing there was more occurring than you let on. You even encouraged the further slander against Wei Wuxian, knowing it could push us to war once more."

"You lied," Nie Mingjue said bluntly. "Just as you always do. What's to say you're not lying now?"

"I have some talismans that make people tell the truth," Wei Wuxian offered quietly, "I know you may not be inclined to trust my inventions, but it works. And it would let you know how honest he's being."

"I will submit to questioning," Jin Guangyao bowed on his knees, knowing it may be his only way out, "Thank you, Yiling Patriarch."

"It's not just for your sake," he said, looking at the man, "I want the guilty to pay for their crimes. But I do not want the innocent punished because of their name. If you are guilty, the talisman will reveal it."

Lan Xichen nodded, "Acceptable."

"We will accept whatever verdict you decide," Sect Leader Yao bowed towards, followed by Sect Leader Ouyang, knowing that their support system had quickly vanished.

"Why are you bowing to me?" Jin Zixuan asked them, uncomfortably. "Sect Leader Nie is the new chief cultivator."

"I am?" Nie Mingjue raised a brow.

"Did you not say you should have taken the role?" Lan Xichen smiled at him. "The Lan sect agrees with this decision."

"As does the Jiang," Jiang Cheng added quickly.

"What about the Stygian Tiger Amulet?" Sect Leader Ouyang asked weakly. "Will it remain in the possession of Wei Wuxian?"

"It remains in the custody of the Jiang," Jiang Cheng glared at the man, "It is clear that Sect Leader Jin most likely had other uses for the weapon. It is an artifact of one of our disciples, so it will stay in our clan. Do you have a problem with that?"

"I'm going to destroy it," Wei Wuxian threw in nonchalantly, as everyone turned to look at him. "What? It's dangerous! I'm aware of that too. But I had no other way of keeping the people I cared about safe. I needed it to keep my family safe, then I needed it to keep the Wens safe. Now my family is safe, and they've offered the Wens a home. So, I will destroy it. But it will mean I'll be ordinary. Can you live with that?"

He asked Jiang Cheng the last part.

"You've never been ordinary a day in your life," Jiang Cheng scoffed. "Trust me, I'm sure you'll come up with some new way of fighting soon enough. I assume you would have too before, if we were not fighting in a war and pressed for time."

"Maybe," he shrugged. "Or maybe I'll get a nice cottage somewhere with A-Yuan and Lan Zhan. Would you like that, Er-Ge?"

"Whatever Wei Ying wants," Lan Zhan agreed readily.

"Can the two of you please just wait to flirt until all of this has been resolved?" Jiang Cheng groaned. "We still have so much to work out."

"Am I needed here for it?" Wei Wuxian asked, bouncing suddenly, and Jiang Cheng gave him a suspicious look.

"Not necessarily. But will you get up to more mischief if I agree to let you go?" he asked him carefully.

"Of course not!" he grinned, "Lan Zhan will make sure of it, right, Lan Zhan?"

"Mm," Lan Zhan nodded.

"Very well," Jiang Cheng sighed. "We will handle all the hard work here, helping the new Sect Leader Jin sort out his sect, while you go gallivanting off who knows where."

Jin Zixuan looked a bit surprised by the new address, despite the fact that he was the one who had kicked out his father, however he quickly rid his face of the expression. It was going to be a lot of work for the man to weed out who in his sect had truly supported and aided his father's actions, and who had no part in it. But at least he would have help from the other Sect Leaders.

Wei Wuxian grinned, grateful for the dismissal. After all, given the turn of events, there was no longer a price on his head, and he was a free man. Even if the word was still spreading about what had just happened at Koi Tower, he knew it was only a matter of time before everyone found out the truth.

"Where do you want to go?" Wei Wuxian asked Lan Zhan as he all but bounced down the stairs, Lan Zhan following close behind him.

"Wherever Wei Wuxian wants," Lan Zan said, as Wei Wuxian threaded his fingers through his fiancé's.

"To A-Yuan?" he suggested, feeling a slight ache in his heart as he missed his son. They had only been gone for a few hours, but he felt saddened to leave the boy behind, even if it were for his own good. "Then I can take you around Lotus Pier finally! I have so much I want to show you Lam Zhan!"

"To A-Yuan," Lan Zhan agreed, and as they made their way far enough from Koi Tower, Lan Zhan pulled his sword out to fly them home.


When it all came down to it, everything was resolved far quicker than he would have thought, given how much he'd suffered in the events leading up to him being at Burial Mounds.

Jin Zixun had been expelled from the Jin Sect, stripped of his titles and his wealth.

While Jiang Cheng had raised concerns about him being free to still do as he wanted, Jin Zixuan had only tiredly said that this was the harshest punishment for the man. While he had been acting in accord of Jin Guangshan's wishes, he had still done horrible things.

And Jin Zixun valued nothing more than the comfort of his position and lording it over others. In a prison, he would be trapped, but he wouldn't have to live with the fact that he was powerless. But out in the world, without the safety of his title, he was just as powerless as those he often sought fights with, if not more. He did not have the skills to back his actions, especially without the power of his name to assist him.

Jin Guangshan was another story.

He had been found guilty of everything they'd accused him of, and more. Jin Zixuan had found himself leaving that trial with more siblings than he would have ever imagined, and to right his father's wrong doings, he'd invited them all to Koi Tower to stay and be taken care of.

The Second Lady Mo, whose son was one of those bastards, had been shocked to learn of her former lover's crimes but had taken up Jin Zixuan's offer to stay in Koi Tower. The rumour surrounding her and her son, was that the First Lady Mo was not kind to either of them, and the Second Lady Mo was eager to leave.

Meanwhile, Jin Guangshan had officially decided to step down as Sect Leader. Unofficially, he had been placed on house arrest, and was confined to his room. The only servants allowed to bring him food were male, so he would not be able to seduce any women further. Madam Jin had been able to successfully end her marriage to her husband, stating his actions to be vile and him to be in breach of their martial agreement, and no one argued in Jin Guangshan's defence.

Jin Guangyao had been another matter. While Lan Xichen could only speak so much for his character during the war, the man had admitted to knowing there were untoward actions occurring at the camp. However, under the truth talisman it had been confirmed that he played no part in what had occurred there. It seemed he was simply a bastard following his father's actions, trying to win the man's approval.

It did not exempt him from the crime of staying silent, however.

As it meant he had murky loyalties, Jin Zixuan had mentioned to them privately that Madam Jin unofficially had asked him to prove his loyalty to Jin Zixuan over his father. If he was still a bastard who wanted his father's love, then he would be quick to show his colours, and could be dealt with appropriately.

If he was loyal to Jin Zixuan, then that could be used in the Jins favour, and most likely meant that he wouldn't face any punishment.

Officially, Jin Guangshan had died of a heart attack shortly after his afternoon tea. There had been no further investigation into the matter.

With the change in the political atmosphere, Wei Wuxian was now being mentioned as a war hero who still fought for the weak and ensured that everyone, regardless of power or money would be entitled to justice.

Nie Mingjue had grumbled in a letter to Lan Xichen that Nie Huaisang had been fanning the flames of Wei Wuxian's good deeds, and Wei Wuxian had been touched by the action. The two of them had always been close, and it meant a lot that his friend was still trying to help him out in whatever ways he could.

The Wens had been settled into a town near Yunmeng, with Jiang Cheng and Wen Qing ensuring that everyone was comfortable. The Wens who had medical training however, remained at Lotus Pier to help provide care for anyone who needed it, and Jiang Cheng gave Wen Qing free rein to set up her medical office as she liked.

Personally, Wei Wuxian was convinced his little brother was in love, but Jiang Cheng had threatened to hit him with Zidan for implying as such, so he instead implied it every chance he got, without outright saying it.

His own love life, however, was how he found himself to be in Gusu at the moment, kneeling before Lan Qiren beside Lan Zhan, as Lan Xichen sat beside the old man sipping tea.

"You wish to marry my nephew," Lan Qiren frowned as he repeated Wei Wuxian's request.

"I do," Wei Wuxian bowed politely before him.

"Why?" Lan Qiren asked with a firm remark.

Wei Wuxian looked helplessly at Lan Zhan, unsure of how to proceed.

"Why do you wish to marry my nephew?" Lan Qiren pressed, "Is it because of the security being with him affords you? The titles he holds? To repay him for his kindness towards you?"

"What?" Wei Wuxian frowned, whipping his head up to look at the man in surprise. How could he think Wei Wuxian cared about any of that? "Of course not! Lan Zhan is Lan Zhan! He's amazing and brilliant, and kind beyond words. He doesn't need to say much, but his heart conveys all his emotions. He's compassionate and caring, and always does the right thing, no matter what it means for him. He fights for the innocent, and he'd never let an injustice happen. But more than that because I love him. Because he's generous and loving towards me and makes me feel safe. He does not belittle my feelings and does not want me to be anyone other than who I am. He doesn't look at me and see who he wants me to be. He sees who I am. I want to marry him because I love him, and he loves me."

Lan Qiren sighed, "Good," he said simply, before sipping his tea.

"Good?" Wei Wuxian asked, a bit confused, as Lan Xichen smiled at him.

"You would not be my first choice for my nephew," Lan Qiren started, "You are unruly and do not follow rules. You have a penchant for causing chaos wherever you go. In fact, you have more often than not turned the entire cultivation world on its head and made it rethink what is acceptable and what is not. The Lan sect likes to adhere to its structure and rules, whereas you would rather challenge them. And your methods are unorthodox."

Lan Qiren looked pointedly at the dizi in his hand.

"But Lans love only once. It has been a blessing and a curse to our sect at times. Wangji is no exception to this, it seems," Lan Qiren sighed. "If I disapproved of your marriage, I am certain that he would never marry another and live out the rest of his days in solitude. That is not what I want for my nephew."

Lan Qiren paused for a bit before continuing, "Had I not known the truth about your golden core, I would have condemned you for your actions and demanded you face punishment for straying from the righteous path. However, in wartime, certain leniencies must be made. And you have sought to protect the weak when they could not themselves. You mentioned you will be destroying your weapon shortly?"

Wei Wuxian nodded, "I'm still trying to figure out how to minimize the backlash from it. I don't want the resentful energy being released to level the nearby area and harm everyone in its path. Once I do, I will go to Burial Mounds and destroy it. Then perhaps I can find another way to cultivate, even without a core."

Lan Qiren nodded in agreement, "You will take Wangji with you when you go. He will play Cleansing for you afterwards. You will need someone to help purify your mind of any backlash that occurs, regardless of the strength."

"Uncle?" Lan Zhan asked, a bit surprised, and Wei Wuxian sat up straighter as the Lan teacher spoke.

"I will give you both my blessing. I imagine Sect Leader Jiang and Xichen will be able to work out the finer details. I do ask however, while you stay in Gusu that you attempt to follow our rules," Lan Qiren looked at him pointedly, "It would not be a good look for our Sect Heir's husband to be seen breaking every rule he chooses to."

"I will do my best," Wei Wuxian bowed, grinning widely.

"And my grand-nephew," Lan Qiren continued. "In the Jiang sect it may not be necessary for all disciples to carry the Jiang name. However, in the Lan sect, it is seen as customary. As you are adopting Wen Yuan, I request you name him Lan Yuan, so he may carry our traditions, regardless of which sect he chooses to join when he is older."

"We will discuss the matter," Lan Zhan nodded, without agreeing outright. It would be something that needed further discussion, with the Wens as well. While they were adopting him, neither he nor Lan Zhan wanted A-Yuan to forget his birth parents.

"That is all I ask," Lan Qiren nodded. "Wangji, I am happy that you found someone who brings you joy. I am also pleased you both were able to clear up any misconceptions about Wei Wuxian so that he does not have to live with the lies that had been told in his absence. I must admit, I am more than relieved to find that they are nothing but fiction. At least for the most part."

"I am happy too," Lan Zhan said, looking at Wei Wuxian, and he felt himself flush slightly.

"It is good to see you both happy," Lan Xichen said, with a twinkle in his eye. "I will escort you back tomorrow to Lotus Pier and continue the negotiations with Sect Leader Jiang regarding your marriage. I am hopeful we will not keep you waiting for much longer."

"I would wait for a thousand years to be with him," Lan Zhan said with a thick face, and Wei Wuxian felt himself grow unsteady. "But if given the choice, I would much rather marry him today and have him by my side for the rest of my life."

"Aiyah, Lan Zhan, you can't say things like that in front of your uncle and older brother," Wei Wuxian said quickly, the red quickly creeping up his face. Lan Xichen was holding back a laugh, as Lan Qiren was pointedly drinking his tea and avoiding looking at either of them.

"Am not lying," Lan Zhan recited the rules. "I am telling the truth."

"That doesn't mean you need to admit it out loud!" Wei Wuxian protested quickly, "How am I going to survive long enough to get married to you if you keep saying things like that to me? I might die first from happiness from how you make me feel! Do you want me to die, Lan Zhan?"

"You will not die," Lan Zhan frowned at him, "I will marry Wei Ying."

Lan Zhan reached over and placed the hand tied with Wei Wuxian's red ribbon over Wei Wuxian's hand, and he couldn't help but intertwine their fingers, pulling Lan Zhan's hand closer, so the two ribbons touched.

He couldn't help but smile as he saw the reminder on his wrist that he belonged to Lan Zhan, just as Lan Zhan belonged to him.

"Perhaps you would like to show Wei Wuxian the gardens?" Lan Xichen suggested lightly, sensing that his uncle most likely was getting tired of seeing their blatant flirting.

Lan Zhan was quick to agree as he stood up instantly, dragging Wei Wuxian to his feet, and all but pulled him out of the room.

"Lan Zhan slow down," Wei Wuxian complained, but did not untangle his fingers from his fiancé's. Instead, he pulled the man backwards, so they could walk together at a comfortable pace. "Are you so eager to leave your family behind?"

"Eager to spend time with Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said, without cracking a smile, and he felt his heart warm at that. How could he protest to spending time with his Lan Zhan?

"I missed you too," Wei Wuxian confessed. They hadn't been alone for the last two weeks, since it had taken a lot of work to get the Wens properly settled in. And whatever free time they'd had, Jiang Cheng insisted on the two of them not spending time together privately as it was improper. Even though they'd still been sharing a room together every night.

They approached a small cottage, and he looked over at Lan Zhan questioningly, wondering where it was that they were.

"This is Jingshi," Lan Zhan told him, as he led Wei Wuxian to the side of the building. He spotted A-Yuan quickly. Their son was giggling, sitting in the grass next to Wen Ning who had been watching him, with several bunnies on his lap.

"Lan Zhan, do you have pet bunnies?" Wei Wuxian asked his fiancé, with a wide smile filling his face at the sight.

"No pets allowed at Cloud Recesses," Lan Zhan retorted quickly.

"Are these perhaps the bunnies I gave you? How did they multiply so quicky? There were two male ones. Don't tell me one got pregnant!"

Lan Zhan gave him a look, "Brother thought they were lonely and brought two females. They have had many children since then."

"I guess you really did like bunnies then, didn't you, Lan Zhan," he teased, "To keep them all this time. Is this what you wanted to show me?"

"Mm," Lan Zhan nodded, as they sat down next to their son.

"Baba, bunny?" A-Yuan asked him, as he offered him one of the rabbits that were on him.

Wei Wuxian's heart melted as he graciously accepted the offering, and his son offered one to Lan Zhan too.

"Cute bunny," A-Yuan giggled again, as another one hopped over to fill the now vacant spot on his lap. "Lots of bunnies, A-Die! Can we stay with the bunnies?"

"Mm," Lan Zhan agreed, "Jingshi will be our home when we are in Cloud Recesses. You can play with the bunnies while you are here, as long as you are gentle with them."

"Will be gentle," A-Yuan promised.

"This is your house?" Wei Wuxian asked in wonder, as he looked back at the cottage behind him.

"Our house," Lan Zhan corrected him. "It belongs to you and A-Yuan now too."

He leaned into his fiancé, as Lan Zhan wrapped an arm around him, taking in the warmth of his embrace. The bunny in his arms was relaxed, and he couldn't help but feel truly unburdened for the first time since perhaps Lotus Pier had been burned down.

Here with his son and future husband, he felt at peace.

"Will the rest of our lives be like this, Lan Zhan?" he asked the man, as his head rested in the crook of his neck. "Just happiness without any fear or hardships? You and I together forever?"

"And A-Yuan!" his son protested quickly, and Wei Ying quickly amended his statement.

"You, I, and A-Yuan together forever?" he asked again.

"Mm," Lan Zhan confirmed, "There is no life without hardships. But I will stand by your side through it all, no matter what may happen, Wei Ying. We will be together."

"That sounds really nice," he smiled.

The bunny in A-Yuan's lap began hopping away then, and his son scrambled after his feet to try and catching, as playful shrieks filled the air. He couldn't help but laugh at the sight of his son, as he leaned further into his fiancé's chest.

"A-Yuan, come, Your Bobo wants to take you to visit Caiyi town to get some new toys," Wen Ning called out for him, and their son was quick to hop towards his uncle, ready to pick up new toys. Wen Ning nodded at them and got up to go inside so the three of them could have some time alone, and Wei Wuxian was grateful.

It seemed that Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen had decided they were going to compete to see who could be the better paternal uncle to A-Yuan, trying to subtly top the other's attempts to buy his son lavish gifts. And while part of him wanted to dissuade the attempts, he couldn't help but let it happen. His and Lan Zhan's son had suffered so much in his life; he deserved to be spoiled a little.

Instead, he decided to take advantage of the newfound privacy the two of them finally had.

"Will you play for me?" Wei Wuxian asked his fiancé, as he nestled himself deeper into Lan Zhan's chest.

"What would you like me to play?" Lan Zhan asked. He pulled out his guqin but did not make any motion to move Wei Wuxian out of his way, simply readjusting himself to still be able to hold Wei Wuxian and his instrument at the same time.

"That song from the cave," he said, "I can't remember it exactly, but it was beautiful, and I would like to hear you play it again."

"Will play it for you," Lan Zhan agreed, as he began strumming the notes.

Wei Wuxian closed his eyes as he took in the melodic tune, filling up with joy as each note sounded.

"What song is this, Lan Zhan?" he asked after the music ended, "I don't think I've ever heard anyone else play it before."

"They would not have," Lan Zhan said, without looking at him, "I wrote it myself."

"Wow, Er-Ge, you wrote such a wonderful song," he praised his fiancé. "Will you please tell me the name?"

Lan Zhan avoided his gaze further, and he moved in Lan Zhan's arms to look at his face better.

"Lan Zhan?" he prodded.

"WangXian," Lan Zhan confessed after a moment, and Wei Wuxian registered the meaning behind the characters.

"You wrote a love song," he said, in wonder, "Lan Zhan, you wrote this for me?"

"Mm," Lan Zhan said, gazing at him tenderly.

"You loved me even back then?" he said, a bit surprised. Lan Zhan had confessed he never hated him; but he had just admitted that he loved Wei Wuxian for all those years.

"Mm," Lan Zhan commented, "Always loved Wei Ying. I never thought I'd be able to confess, so I wrote a song. Notes come easier to me than words, and it was easier."

"I love you," Wei Wuxian said, leaning up to press a kiss into his fiancé's mouth, his lips gently crushing Lan Zhan's with every movement. "I love you, Lan Zhan. I may not be able to write a song as beautiful to show it to you, but I promise I'll show you every day just how much I love you."

"Every day?" Lan Zhan's smile turned up, catching what Wei Wuxian was leaning towards.

He gasped in mock outrage, "Er-ge, here I was thinking all you Lans were so prim and proper. But you're just as bad as the rest of us, aren't you?"

"Mm," Lan Zhan readily agreed, "Mark your words. Every day."

He had a feeling he would come to regret that.

"Love Wei Ying too," Lan Zhan added after a moment, "I want to say it to you as well."

He grinned brightly as he moved again to kiss his husband.

He moved quickly, turning himself around to straddle Lan Zhan, as the man's arms still circled him and held him close.

"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian murmured as he held his lips close to the other man's. "Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan."

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said, looking up at him with darkened eyes.

"I love you, Lan Zhan," he said, pressing a kiss to the man's lips tenderly. "I love you so much and cannot wait to marry you. I want to have you every day. Want to kiss you every day. Want to touch you every day. Want you every day."

Lan Zhan captured Wei Wuxian's lips in his own, pulling him in closer so there was no space between the two of them. His chest was close Lan Zhan's, and he took a minute to run his hands over Lan Zhan's chest.

"Look at how big your muscles are Er-Ge," Wei Ying said in a husky voice. "So strong. You could probably carry me with how strong you are."

"Mm," Lan Zhan confirmed, his hands holding Wei Wuxian's hips tightly, pressing them together.

"How did you get such big muscles, Er-Ge?" he teased, "You would give Nie Mingjue some serious competition."

"Handstands," Lan Zhan told him darkly at the mention of the other man. "Wei Ying."

"Lan Zhan," he murmured in agreement, "Do we really need to wait until we get married? I don't think I can wait that long, Er-Ge. Between Jiang Cheng and Xichen-Ge, it's going to take them forever to work out an agreement that lets us get married."

"Hm," Lan Zhan said, clearly displeased by how long it was taking for the two of them to be able to get married.

If it were up to Wei Wuxian, he'd just elope and get it over with. What did he care about ceremonies? All he wanted was to be able to call the man his husband.

But Lan Zhan was proper and liked to follow the rules. Lan Qiren had barely given his approval for the marriage, and he did not want to do anything to risk the wrath of that man, lest he end up copying lines again.

And it would probably make his A-Jie sad.

While she was planning her own wedding at the same time, she had decided to take charge of preparations over his as well, working closely with Lan Xichen. And she had said several times that she wanted to give him a good wedding.

The last thing he'd ever do was hurt her by eloping due to his own impatience.

So instead, he'd have to wait.

"Perhaps we could have practice for wedding night," Wei Wuxian said, looking intently at Lan Zhan. "What if I were to make a mistake during the actual day? Isn't it better to rehearse what happens so it'll go perfectly and according to plan?"

"Wei Ying would be perfect," Lan Zhan commented back seriously before adding, "Rehearsal is however, the only safe way to ensure perfection. I agree that it is important."

"Lan Zhan," he said darkly, as the man quickly flipped him over, so his back was pressing into the grass. He was grateful his dark robes would not stain from the marks.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said darkly, before his body covered Wei Wuxian's.

After they had practiced several times, Wei Wuxian had no doubts that they would be prepared for their wedding night. However, it wouldn't hurt to be more certain of that fact just to be safe.


Wei Wuxian nervously fiddled with his dizi as he stood at base of Burial Mounds. They'd trekked there after their visit to Cloud Recesses, only stopping shortly at Lotus Pier to leave A-Yuan there safely, before setting out again. Lan Xichen had wrapped up the marriage negotiations with Jiang Cheng before they'd left, and Wei Wuxian had never been more grateful for it to be over.

He hadn't been back to the Mounds since Lan Zhan had brought the Sect Leaders to visit, insisting they see for themselves what kind of army Wei Wuxian was truly building there and judge him on that alone.

"I can't wait to destroy the amulet," he said, sounding all too cheerful, hoping to disguise his nerves. "Then I can finally marry my Lan Zhan."

"You need not hide your worries," Lan Zhan said, gazing at him gently.

"You always see right through me, Lan Zhan," he sighed playfully, "My future husband is so good at knowing what I am feeling."

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan prodded him gently.

"I'm worried," he admitted, as he pushed his way through the barrier. It was weaker than it had been when they'd left, but he'd left up some wards to keep most of the resentment out to give him a clear place to work so that he could destroy the amulet in peace in the future. Which was now. "I didn't have a clear plan when I made it for how to destroy it. Up until a few weeks ago I always thought I would most likely lose my life when I eventually decided to destroy it."

Lan Zhan took in a sharp breath, "Do you still think you will?" he pushed Wei Wuxian.

"I don't know," he said after a moment, not wanting to lie to Lan Zhan. There was a danger in removing the resentful energy from the amulet and trying to purify it. Because all that resentful energy would need to find somewhere new to go. And without a vessel to hold it, it would most likely look for whatever would be close by.

Or whomever.

And given he already didn't have a core, he wasn't sure his body would be able to handle it if the resentful energy decided to attack him.

"You will not die," Lan Zhan told him determinedly. "I will play Cleansing while you work to dispel the energy. It will not touch you."

He squeezed the man's hand, "Then if Er-Ge is playing for me, I'll have no reason to fear."

Lan Zhan looked at him steadily, trying to determine if Wei Wuxian was placating him. In all honesty, he still didn't know if it would be enough to stop the resentful energy from attacking him, but he hoped that it wouldn't be able to cause as much damage.

"Let's get this over with, Lan Zhan," he said with a carefree smile, slipping his hand through Lan Zhan's, as they moved towards the cave that had once been his home.

He looked around the walls of the cave; it had long since been stripped of all the papers filled with his ramblings, and it was strange to see the place so empty.

It looked a lot colder now that he knew what life could be like without the anger of the Great Sects.

He placed the amulet on the rock that had once served as a makeshift table to him back when he'd used it for experimenting and stared at it in apprehension.

He turned around quickly, wrapping his arms around Lan Zhan and pulling him in for a deep kiss. He moved against Lan Zhan, taking comfort in his warmth, as his fiancé obliged him without protest, and instead, wrapped his hands in Wei Wuxian's hair to pull him closer.

When he finally broke away, he touched his head to Lan Zhan's.

"I love you," he murmured. "I want you to know that. Regardless of what happens, I love you, Lan Zhan."

"Nothing will happen to Wei Ying," Lan Zhan insisted firmly, as he caressed Wei Wuxian's face.

"I know," he said, not fully convinced, "I just want to make sure you know how much you mean to me, Lan Zhan. You're one of the best things to ever happen to me, and I love you."

"Love Wei Ying too," Lan Zhan told him, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "We will destroy the amulet, then go home. Together."

He gave Wei Wuxian a pointed look at the last statement, as if it were more of a demand than a request, and he could only nod.

He took his dizi out, "I need to channel all the resentful energy out of it to be able to clean it from it powers. It's going to want to resist so it'll take a lot out of me. But once it's out it'll look for somewhere to go."

"Mm," Lan Zhan agreed as he drew his guqin, ready to play.

He raised his dizi to his lips and began to play. He could feel the resentful energy being drawn from the Stygian Tiger Amulet like how it usually did when he'd drawn power from it during fights.

But this was different. He wasn't trying to channel its power to use. He was trying to channel it to destroy it.

Lan Zhan had begun playing Cleansing next to him, his notes clashing with Wei Wuxian's in dissonance.

"Fight," the amulet hissed at him, "Kill. Punish those who have wronged us. Use us to seek your revenge."

The voices tried to stir the resentment in him, tried to convince him to use it to get ahead.

"No," he thought, "I don't need you anymore. Thank you for everything you helped me do, but resentment isn't healthy to hold onto. It breeds anger and hatred. It harms people. You helped me when I needed that anger to help me keep the people I love safe. But I don't need to keep using you to do that. It's time to be put to rest.

"No," it screamed back at him, as the resentment began flooding the air. He could see it raise out slowly from the amulet, as he drew out all the power from it, "NO!"

The screams grew louder, as smoke began to rise from the amulet.

He saw the black cloud of resentment grow in front of him, demanding a new host, as Lan Zhan began to play louder, and Wei Wuxian joined him in playing Cleansing.

The last thing he remembered was seeing the darkness flood his body before everything went dark.


He felt the sun on his skin before anything else.

Slowly, he blinked his eyes open, taking in his surroundings.

"You're awake, good," Wen Qing said, as she looked over at him. "A-Ning can you go tell Sect Leader Jiang and Lady Jiang that their brother is awake?"

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said, and Wei Wuxian turned his head over to see his fiancé sitting beside him on the bed. He stroked Wei Wuxian's hair and Wei Wuxian leaned into his touch.

"What happened?" he questioned, "Did we destroy the amulet?"

"Mm," Lan Zhan confirmed, "The resentment left it successfully and it no longer has any powers."

"But a fair amount of it went into you instead," Wen Qing told him sternly, "Lan Zhan had been able to dispel most of it, but given your lack of core, it still had quite the effect on you. He carried you back here in his arms on his sword. You've been unconscious for three days."

"Thank you," he told the man softly. He tried to sit up, and Lan Zhan was quick to help him to do so, before threading their fingers together.

"There is no need for 'thank you's or 'sorry's between us," Lan Zhan told him gently, as Wei Ying leaned into him.

"You idiot," Jiang Cheng burst through the doors, followed by A-Jie. "Do you have any idea how much you scared us? Lan Wangji carried you back here, and you looked like you were half dead. He was playing the guqin for you the entire time you've been asleep, and he hasn't left your side in days, working with Lady Wen to remove the resentment from you."

"Was it that bad?" he asked, looking at his A-Jie for confirmation.

"Yes," she said gently, sitting next to him on the bed, "A-Xian, you really scared us. If it weren't for Lady Wen, I'm not sure you would have made it."

"I'm sorry for making all of you worry," he said earnestly, "Thank you for playing for me, Lan Zhan. And for healing me, Qing-Jie!"

"Sometimes I wish you'd come to me with common ailments," she grumbled, "Like a cough or a scrape. Why do you always come to me with the complex life-threatening cases?"

"Got to keep things interesting," he grinned at her. "Don't want you to get bored. You'll have enough cases of people bothering you with simple things. How else will you get to work on all the fun stuff if not for me?"

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan reprimanded him, and he sighed after a moment, knowing the man was right.

"You're right, Lan Zhan. Sorry Qing-Jie! I'll try and stay healthy for a while, I promise!" he told her, fully hoping he was able to keep his promise. It wasn't his fault that more often than not, trouble was the one that found him!

"Whatever you say," she rolled her eyes, "Let me give you a throughout exam. I had some questions I wanted to ask you once you were awake, but I want to test my suspicions first."

He looked at her confused, as she took his wrist and examined his pulse. She shot a stream of energy through him, then grabbed a few needles that she gently poked into his skin.

"Is he alright?" A-Jie asked, a bit anxious.

"Wei Wuxian, have you been dual cultivating with Lan Wangji?" she asked him after a moment, and he spluttered as he felt his face go red, given his A-Jie was in the room.

"You!" Jiang Cheng pointed at him furiously, "I've had a chaperone on you the entire time you've been here! Wei Wuxian, are you trying to ensure people keep talking about you? Have some shame!"

Lan Zhan wrapped a protective arm around him.

"Is that a problem, Lady Wen?" Lan Zhan asked with a straight face, as if they weren't discussing his sex life in front of his family.

"You know, I had many theories about the golden core removal surgery," she started, "It's dissimilar to the Core Melting Hand's techniques. What he did was destroy the core and all the meridians that connected to it. But what I did was extract your core and leave all your meridians intact."

"Yes, that's why it took so long," he said, confused, "Because you had to carefully remove each one from my core."

"Yes," she nodded, "The problem with people who lost their cores to Wen Zhuliu is that the loss of their meridians meant that they'd never be able to develop another core again. But with you, your meridians are still intact, Wei Wuxian."

Understanding slowly dawned upon him.

"For a lesser cultivator, I wouldn't think it would be possible. But you've always been exceptional at cultivating," she told him.

"Attempt the impossible," Jiang Cheng said, seeming to catch on.

"Are you saying I could grow another core if I started the basics of cultivating over again?" he asked cautiously, not wanting to get his hopes up. He'd long since stopped dreaming about being able to cultivate after deciding to give his core to Jiang Cheng. He'd never regret doing so, but it meant the loss of everything he'd known before.

"The reason I asked about dual cultivating is that you already have one, Wei Wuxian," she said gently, placing his fingers on one hand on the wrist of the other. He froze, letting her guide him as he concentrated on his pulse.

And there it was, faint to the touch.

A golden core.

"I have a core?" he asked, a bit dazed.

"It's a small one," she warned him, "The reason I believe you passed out is because the resentful energy started attacking your core. Before you were able to channel the energy as you didn't have a core for it to harm. But now you do. Thankfully, Lan Wangji and I were able to stop the energy from corrupting and harming your core."

"I have a core," he said again, still processing the information.

"Congratulations," Wen Qing said drily, "You continue to be a medical miracle. My theory is that your body already was attuned to having a core, so during your dual cultivation, it accepted the energy and began to use it to form a new core. Have you been playing the dizi as well, not pertaining to the amulet?"

"I was playing with Lan Zhan a bit," he nodded, looking at his fiancé.

"Musical cultivation can also be used to help core building. I believe some of the Lan Sect's methods involve musical cultivation in order to form a golden core," Wen Qing said. "You will need to be careful going forward; your core doesn't have the same strength that your old one once had, so do not overdo it. You will need to slowly build up the strength of your core. For now, focus on non-straining methods. Meditation, musical cultivation-"

"Dual Cultivation?" he said cheekily, and Jiang Cheng threw a pillow at him.

She gave him a pointed look, "Do. Not. Overdo. It."

"Okay," he agreed quickly, "Lan Zhan, I have a golden core again!"

"Mm," Lan Zhan said, a wide smile on his face as he pressed a kiss into Wei Wuxian's hair.

"Try not to give it away so easily this time," Jiang Cheng grumbled.

"No promises," he said, only half joking. He couldn't say he wouldn't do it again if he were ever placed in a similar situation.

"A-Xian," A-Jie said chidingly, "I know why you did it before, but please value your life more than you did before. You are mine and A-Cheng's brother. We love you and care about you. Lan Wangji cares about you. A-Yuan cares about you. It would make all of us very sad not to not have you around."

"Okay," he said, knowing she was right, "But if something were to happen, Lan Zhan will make a new one for me, right?"

"Mm," Lan Zhan smirked, and Jiang Cheng threw his hands up.

"Glad to see you're doing better. Now you have a core, I expect no slacking off from your Head Disciple duties. And I expect you to carry Subian again, and train with it when you are able to do so," Jiang Cheng shot at him before stalking out of the room.

"I will leave you to rest as well. I'll bring you some soup to help you regain your energy," A-Jie stroked his head gently before following after him.

"Rest," Wen Qing glared at him one last time before she too left them alone.

"I have a golden core again," he said in wonder, looking at Lan Zhan. He was cuddled into his fiancé's chest now, grateful that he'd stayed behind with Wei Wuxian. After everything that had happened, he wanted to stay with the man for as long as possible.

"Mm. Remarkable," Lan Zhan said boldly, burning a hole into Wei Wuxian with his darkened gaze.

He buried his head into Lan Zhan's chest, before starting to laugh, as he processed everything that had just happened. It was unbelievable really, given everything that had happened for him to have been given a second chance like this so easily.

"Wei Ying?" Lan Zhan prodded him, wanting to know what was on his mind.

"I'm just really happy," he said as Lan Zhan tilted Wei Wuxian's head upward. "I still get to belong to the Jiang Sect. My brother and sister don't hate me. The Wens are safe. My son is safe. The amulet is destroyed, and my reputation isn't in utter shambles. And all of that is because of you."

He pushed upwards against Lan Zhan so he could look him directly in the eyes. "Because you came after me in the Mounds to see how I was. Because you convinced your brother and the other sect leaders to hear me out. Because you loved me enough to want me safe and happy."

"For Wei Ying," Lan Zhan agreed, pulling him closer. He could see all the beautiful colours in Lan Zhan's eyes nearly getting lost in them.

"I love you," Wei Wuxian said, looking at him with wonder. "I love you so much, Lan Zhan. Not just for everything that you've given me, which has been so much, but also because of how amazing you are. How kind and gentle you are. I meant it when I told your Uncle that I have so many reasons to love you. You have been a constant source of happiness in my life from the moment we first met all those years ago. I love you so much, and I can't wait to be married to you."

"I love you too," Lan Zhan said, "Even if I cannot express it with the same eloquence as you."

"You express it plenty," Wei Wuxian argued, "Maybe not with your words, but with your actions. And the words you do use carry so much more weight and meaning. You're incredible, Lan Zhan."

He tugged on Lan Zhan's robes, pulling his face towards him then, as he brought Lan Zhan in for a deep kiss. He captured Lan Zhan's lips in his own, and every clash of their skin made him burn in earnest for the man in his bed.

"Lan Zhan," he groaned, as Lan Zhan pushed him gently onto the bed. He ran his fingers down the man's well-defined chest, tugging at Lan Zhan's robes enthusiastically as he pulled them off, "Lan Zhan, please."

"Lady Wen said you must not exert yourself," Lan Zhan pressed kisses onto his neck without mercy.

"Lan Zhan," he said, needing to feel the man, "Please. She said we can dual cultivate. Please, Lan Zhan. I need you."

"Lie back, Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said, pulling the sash that held Wei Wuxian's robes closed. "Rest. I will take good care of you. We must build up your spiritual energy after all."

He laughed, "Oh Lan Er-Ge. I love you so, so very much." He'd corrupted the man. Lan Qiren would spit up blood if happened to see the two of them now.

"And I you, Wei Ying," Lan Zhan bent in front of him. He pulled the robes off Wei Wuxian, exposing his stomach and pressed kisses down the front of his body, taking time with each one, ensuring every kiss left their mark.

"Ah," Wei Wuxian moaned, and Lan Zhan's hands moved lower, tugging Wei Wuxian's pants off him in one swift movement. He felt the cold air hit his nether regions as he shivered in anticipation.

Lan Zhan gingerly wrapped his hand around the width of Wei Wuxian's cock, giving it a gentle tug a few times, as Wei Wuxian moaned in pleasure. He bent down, tugging it one last time before licking the weeping head without remorse.

"Lan Zhan, please," he cried out, as Lan Zhan took Wei Wuxian down his throat, sucking it eagerly, before moving quickly. He bobbed his head up and down, hallowing his cheeks as he applied pressure with every movement. He wrapped his hand around the base of Wei Wuxian's shaft, using it to take Wei Wuxian deeper.

"Lan Zhan," he groaned, hands threading through Lan Zhan's hair eagerly, needing more. He didn't think he'd last long if Lan Zhan kept this up, but he wasn't ready for it to end just yet. Not without having Lan Zhan take him, "Please, Er-Ge. I need to feel you in me. Please, Lan Zhan. Please take me."

Lan Zhan popped his mouth off Wei Wuxian's cock quickly before he pulled a vial of oil from his robes.

He poured the lubricant on his fingers, and rubbed it generously on his own cock, followed by Wei Wuxian's willing hole.

He was careful in his preparation of Wei Wuxian, thrusting his fingers inside him a few times carefully, as Wei Wuxian stretched to accommodate the intrusion. He closed his eyes as he bucked his hips into Lan Zhan's hand, trying to urge him to go deeper into him. His fiancé obliged, curling his fingers as he thrust into Wei Wuxian's hole without hesitation, opening him up widely so he'd be able to take Lan Zhan's full girth.

"Please," he begged again, desperate to be able to feel Lan Zhan in him, and his fiancé pulled his fingers out of Wei Wuxian's ass. He shifted on the bed before him, as Lan Zhan lined up his length against Wei Wuxian's entrance, rubbing his hole with his cock teasingly.

Wei Wuxian was about to protest the emptiness he felt, but it seemed Lan Zhan was done teasing him for now.

He pushed in with one quick, swift motion, and Wei Wuxian's eyes rolled back at that, feeling overwhelmed as he took Lan Zhan deep into his body. He felt every inch of Lan Zhan's length penetrate him, and he nearly came then from the feeling. He arched his back as Lan Zhan began to move in him, thrusting with a quick fast pace, taking Wei Wuxian with every moment.

"Ah! Lan Zhan, you feel so good!" he whined out, "So good. Please, keep moving. Please, I need you! Cultivate with me, Er-Ge. Help me get nice and strong. Help me train. Want to be your cultivation partner forever. Want to do this with you every day, Fiancé. Want to feel you inside of me like this."

Despite having done this before, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by how much pleasure he was feeling. With every movement Lan Zhan made, he felt himself growing more and more undone, needing to be full of Lan Zhan.

He could feel the energy start to build up in him from his core, feeling nothing like he'd ever experienced before. He was overwhelmed for a moment, knowing that this must be what true dual cultivation felt like, and he wondered if he'd feel the qi from Lan Zhan when the man eventually spent himself inside Wei Wuxian.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan grunted out, oblivious to his thoughts, as he picked up his speed. He lifted Wei Wuxian's hips with one arm, driving into him faster, with more urgency, and he really felt the true power of the Lan strength then. He tangled his fingers through Lan Zhan's hair, needing to have more of the man, as Lan Zhan's breathing began to grow heavier with each thrust into him.

He wrapped his arms around Lan Zhan's back, digging his nails into the man, as he felt every inch of him burn, as if he'd been lit on fire. His body ached for the man every time he pulled out, as Lan Zhan thrust deeper with each movement, hitting his sweet spot every time.

Lan Zhan sucked on his neck then, and he knew he would have marks on him later. His body was probably heavily marked by now, and he couldn't help but enjoy the thought. He didn't care that Jiang Cheng would probably kill him for it. All he cared about in this moment was the extreme pleasure Lan Zhan was giving him, as he took Wei Wuxian over and over again with a sense of urgency.

Lan Zhan wrapped a hand around Wei Wuxian's cock with his free hand, tugging it desperately several times in earnest, as he continued to thrust, and Wei Wuxian sobbed at the pleasure he was feeling. He'd never be able to get over how much pleasure he felt with his hole filled and his cock pleasured by the man he'd loved.

He barely lasted a few more moments, as Wei Wuxian saw white spots fill his vision as he came all over his own stomach. He collapsed, flat on his back, as Lan Zhan continued to thrust inside him. He was unable to move, overwhelmed by the feeling of Lan Zhan continuing to fuck him earnestly as he laid back and took it.

It wasn't much longer before Lan Zhan spent himself deep inside Wei Wuxian. He collapsed onto Wei Wuxian, not pulling out just yet, and he savoured the feeling of having the man he loved cover Wei Wuxian's body with his own as his cock remained firmly embedded in his ass.

Lan Zhan gave Wei Wuxian a tender kiss, before pulling out of him carefully and rolling onto his back. To say it was unlike anything Wei Wuxian had ever experienced before was an understatement.

"Lan Zhan, this feels like the first time we've properly dual cultivated," he said with a laugh, as Lan Zhan moved off the bed to clean Wei Wuxian up.

"Mm," Lan Zhan smiled, as he tenderly cleaned Wei Wuxian up. He grabbed a rag that he'd damped with a bowl of water that was near his bedside and started wiping off the result of their lovemaking.

"It really is different when I have a core and you take me," he said, a bit in awe, as Lan Zhan wiped his hole. It was still sensitive to the touch, and he might have bucked into Lan Zhan's hand when the man touched him there again. "The way we were able to exchange qi, it was like nothing I could have ever imagined. Lan Zhan, that was magical!"

Lan Zhan nodded in agreement, as he finished cleaning Wei Wuxian up thoroughly. They didn't make any movements to redress, and instead he climbed back into the bed with him, both of them still undressed. He wrapped an arm around Wei Wuxian's body, as Wei Wuxian rested his head against the man's chest, taking in his warmth, as their skin touched.

"Love Wei Ying," Lan Zhan gave him a gentle kiss, and he sighed into it, feeling truly blissful.

"Love Lan Zhan too," he said, tiredly, and Lan Zhan stroked his back gently.

"Sleep," his fiancé told him tenderly, as Wei Wuxian shut his eyes, quickly dosing off.


It was late fall by time their wedding day finally approached. A-Jie had been married in the later months of summer, as they had moved quickly due to her pregnancy. With Jin Zixuan as the new Sect Leader of the Jin Clan, the wedding had been an extraordinary event; lavish, and without a single coin spared in its preparations.

Jin Guangyao had made it his personal mission to arrange the wedding events, wanting each one to be memorable. Despite seeming to be on his brother's side, Wei Wuxian still felt a bit wary around the man. But as long as they each stayed out of the other's way, he wouldn't have a problem with him.

He still got the occasional glare from some sect member or the other that he'd supposedly wronged, but for the most part, it seemed as if the cultivation world was largely in favour of him; something he wouldn't protest.

"You look beautiful, Didi," A-Jie said, as she helped him place the head piece in his hair. They were staying in the guest quarters before the gate-crashing ceremony on his behalf.

It had been a long-negotiated argument of which party would be the one being taken away from their family home, given that they were marrying into each other's clans. Jiang Cheng had been relentless that Lan Zhan act as the bride, while Lan Xichen had been the same.

Finally, Wei Wuxian had thrown his arms up in frustration. Neither of them were actually women, so what did it matter who did the gate-crashing! Both of them were men! So they could just do two gate crashing ceremonies right? It was slightly unorthodox, but he didn't care.

Lan Xichen had been the first to agree to it, and Jiang Cheng had been reluctant, but sighed finally as he accepted the compromise.

It was how he found himself now, waiting for Lan Zhan to come collect him for their wedding. Their brothers had agreed to have the wedding in Gusu with the stipulation that they spend the next two seasons in Lotus Pier, before returning to Cloud Recesses for the following seasons.

"Is this really necessary?" he shouted out as Jiang Cheng laughed from outside his quarters.

"Oh, trust me. If Lan Wangji wants to marry you, he's going to have to prove he'll be able to handle all your antics, Wei Wuxian!" Jiang Cheng shouted back, and Wei Wuxian buried his head in his hands.

"We won't harm him too much," A-Jie giggled, as he could hear the procession growing closer and closer. "I will see you after your groom earns the right to take you away."

She kissed his head before leaving his quarters, and he sighed as he heard Jiang Cheng shout out.

"Lan Wangji! You come here to take my brother away from his home!" Jiang Cheng said dramatically, "Our Head Disciple! He is a prized member of our sect! If you want to marry him, you'll need to prove to us that you will be an equal in his life! You will not hold him back or try to tame him. You will allow him to be the free spirit that he is."

"I will prove myself worthy of Wei Ying," he heard Lan Zhan say earnestly.

"You are already worthy of me!" Wei Wuxian couldn't help but scream from inside the quarters. "Lan Zhan don't listen to him! You're the best!"

"Wei Ying is the best," Lan Zhan countered.

"He is," Jiang Cheng said smugly, "A-Jie, I believe you wanted to go first, did you not?'"

He could basically hear his sister bow before the Lans.

"My brother is very dear to us," she said politely, "There is nothing he loves to eat more than lotus soup. It is what makes him feel better when he is ill or having a bad day. Lan Er-Gongzi, my test to you is given the ingredients before you, some right and some wrong, please attempt to make my lotus soup. I have saved you the trouble of already preparing a basic broth for you to use."

Lan Zhan, had in fact, had A-Jie's soup before. She made it several times for him while he was recuperating after destroying the amulet, and Wei Wuxian had been insistent that Lan Zhan try what he believed to be the most delicious food in the entire world.

"Of course, Madam Jin," Lan Zhan's voice said, and Wei Wuxian scowled at the reminder that his wonderful sister had married the Peacock.

He assumed his husband-to-be was working diligently, and he could only sit inside the house fidgeting as he waited. Every now and then Jiang Cheng would comment, but Lan Zhan seemed to be ignoring him as he cooked the soup.

Wei Wuxian could only wait in anticipation and the smells from Lan Zhan's cooking wafted through the door, and he was a bit jealous he wouldn't be able to eat any of the soup. But well, if Lan Zhan learned to prepare his A-Jie's soup, then he'd be able to eat it whenever he wanted, so he couldn't really complain too much.

"It is done, Madam Jin," Lan Zhan said after a while, and he assumed his sister was carefully tasting the soup following his declaration.

"It's perfect!" A-Jie said in a bright voice. "Well done, Lan Er-Gongzi! You have passed my test."

"Not mine yet," Jiang Cheng said smugly, "My test is an extension of A-Jie's."

"Jiang Cheng, don't do anything that hurts my Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian yelled through the door, dread filling his body.

"As you know, my brother is notorious in his love for spicy food," Jiang Cheng continued, ignoring him. "It is likely that you will find yourself with a plate of his cooking and will have no choice but to eat it. So, my test for you is to eat this soup."

"What did you do to it?" Wei Wuxian screamed, knowing his brother most likely had done something to the soup.

"I just added a similar spice level to what you usually eat it with," Jiang Cheng said while probably grinning, and Wei Wuxian paled.

"Lan Zhan, no! Don't eat it! Lan Zhan, you don't like spicy food! It'll harm you! Please A-Jie don't make him eat it!" Wei Wuxian wailed as he pounded on the door. He'd been warded in as his brother didn't trust him not to try and escape during the ceremony, and he never hated his brother more.

"Wei Ying, it is fine," Lan Zhan said calmly, as Wei Wuxian ignored him and continued to pound on the door.

He assumed his fiancé was drinking the soup since Jiang Cheng was crackling, and he wanted to get out of this horrid room and go save his Lan Zhan.

"Congrats, Lan Er-Gongzi, you have passed my test," Jiang Cheng said after forever, and Wei Ying prayed that Lan Zhan was still alive.

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Wuxian called out, "Lan Zhan, please tell me you're not hurt! Lan Zhan, are you okay?"

"Mm, am okay, Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said with a cough.

"Here, drink this water, Lan Er-Gongzi," his sister offered him, but Lan Zhan must have refused, because the next think Wei Wuxian knew, the doors to his prison had been opened.

"Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian said happily as he saw his fiancé. He threw his arms around the man eagerly, glad that he'd passed the tests and was in one piece. He'd be very unhappy if his siblings had hurt the love of his life, but at least in A-Jie's case, after what they'd done to the Peacock, he supposed it was only fair.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan kissed him firmly, "I have come to take you to Gusu."

Wei Wuxian laughed against him as he kissed his almost husband back, "I can't wait to go back to Gusu with you, Lan Zhan."

"Have prepared a sedan," Lan Zhan said, gesturing behind him to where an extravagant one waited to carry Wei Wuxian back. He picked up Wei Wuxian then, carrying him in his arms, and Wei Wuxian threw his arms happily around his fiancé's neck, as he rested his head in Lan Zhan's chest.

"Can the two of you at least get married first before you start acting like this?" Jiang Cheng grumbled as A-Jie laughed.

As Lan Zhan carefully placed him in the sedan, his fiancé stole another kiss from his lips before the procession to Gusu began.

The next day in Gusu, when it was Wei Wuxian's turn to play the gate-crashing games, he realized what Lan Zhan must have been feeling. With Lan Zhan trapped in Jingshi, Wei Wuxian knew he'd do anything to get to his fiancé, so he'd be able to spend the rest of his life with him.

So when Lan Xichen had made him do handstands and Lan Qiren had made him recite all three thousand rules, he did both their tasks dutifully and without protest. What was a few minutes of torture to be able to spend the rest of his life with the man he loved?

Thankfully, as he'd fallen several times, Lan Qiren had been generous enough to let him pick up where he'd left off and didn't need to keep starting over.

Finally, when he was done, Lan Zhan had been released from Jingshi, and he was able to kiss his fiancé again. Lan Zhan had been separated from him from the moment they'd arrived in Gusu the day before, and despite it being less than a full day, he'd missed his Lan Zhan.

They were both wearing matching red wedding robes that A-Jie and Lan Xichen had picked out for them, their swords attached at their sides. He still was working his skill level up to where it once had been, but he was able to carry it and cultivate with it, which was more than he could have ever hoped for.

"Wei Ying, it is time to proceed with the procession towards our tea ceremony," Lan Zhan said, breaking away from him as Lan Qiren coughed. He nearly pouted as he pulled himself away from his fiancé, but the sooner they finished all the ceremonies, the sooner they would be married. And he wanted nothing more than for the two of them to be married.

They proceeded towards Lan Qiren's quarters for the tea ceremony. A-Jie had offered to step in on his behalf as an elder familial member and Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren on Lan Zhan's behalf. Neither of their parents were here to see their actual day, and while he wondered what his parents would think of Lan Zhan, he was grateful for the family he did have standing by his side.

They would need to get their family's blessing before they were able to proceed with the ceremony, and while he knew they would get it, he still felt jittery. He had never been good at following customs and traditions, and more often than not, it was what got him in trouble.

"It will be okay," Lan Zhan murmured to him, as he rubbed his hand gently.

"I have Lan Zhan standing beside me, so what could possibly go wrong?" Wei Wuxian grinned back at his fiancé.

The tea ceremony had been rather uneventful; however Wei Wuxian had been half convinced he would spill tea by accident on Lan Qiren and get kicked out of Cloud Recesses before being able to wed Lan Zhan. Thankfully though, no tea had been spilled, and instead they'd gotten the blessing of their elder family members.

They'd entered the sedan together to arrive at the site of their ceremony where their guest had already been set up, and he knew it wasn't going to be long now before they were married. Given the wedding was of the Second Jade of Gusu and the Yiling Patriarch, they had quite the audience come to witness their marriage. It helped that the other Sect Leaders were all somewhat invested in their love story, despite several of them protesting against it when Wei Wuxian had teased them about it.

"We're finally getting married," Wei Wuxian laughed, as he intertwined his fingers with Lan Zhan.

"Mm," Lan Zhan tilted his mouth upwards. It had taken far longer than he had hoped, but despite everything, he was grateful that they'd made it to this point.

They arrived at the pavilion, and he could see the other Sect Leaders waiting for them with various expressions. Jin Zixuan gave them a semi friendly nod, Nie Mingjue was looking as fierce as ever, however Nie Huaisang was grinning and waving, and the minor sect leaders kept their faces expressionless.

They had been stepping carefully since Jin Guangshan had been stripped of his power, not wanting to stir up any further controversies. Sect Leader Qin had been devastated to learn that his friend had betrayed him, and the other minor sect leaders had been rattled to see everything they'd known fall apart so quickly.

There had been four portraits set up in the place of their parents, and it had been Lan Qiren who had provided the ones of Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren as he'd known them both years ago. Wei Wuxian had teared up when Lan Qiren had presented them to him, as he had barely remembered their faces and he hadn't wanted to stir Madam Yu's wrath by asking his uncle.

"I love you," he said to Lan Zhan as they stood in front of their familial portraits, about to take their bows in front of the cultivation world.

"Shameless," Lan Qiren murmured with a sigh, but Lan Zhan did not silence Wei Wuxian. Instead, he gave his soon to be husband an adoring look.

"I love you too," Lan Zhan said, moving closer towards him.

"First bow is towards the Heavens and the Earth," Lan Qiren ignored them both, as he proceeded forward.

He placed his hands in front of himself respectfully as he bowed towards the Heavens and the Earth beside Lan Zhan.

"Second bow is towards the ancestors," Lan Qiren continued, and they faced the portraits of their parents, bowing in unison.

"Third bow is to each other," Lan Qiren finished, and he grinned brightly as he turned towards Lan Zhan, and bowed a final time.

Lan Qiren presented Wei Wuxian with a pristine white forehead ribbon, as Lan Zhan had been without one since presenting his to Wei Wuxian for their engagement.

Carefully, he stepped forward and picked up the white ribbon adorned with clouds. He moved towards Lan Zhan, until there was a fraction of a hair of space between the two of them, as he carefully wrapped his arms around Lan Zhan's head, tying the ribbon carefully in his hair.

He stepped back, looking satisfied with his work when he was done.

"You look good, Lan Zhan," he smiled widely at his husband, cupping Lan Zhan's face gently.

"Mm," Lan Zhan agreed, as one of the Elders grumbled.

Their wedding at been a point of contention with the Elders, who had been unable to accept that Wei Wuxian had apparently been redeemed, as in their eyes, he was still every bit the heretic. However, Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren had firmly stood their ground, and Lan Qiren had cited half a dozen rules that showed Wei Wuxian was justified in his actions. It was a bit of a stretch still, however they'd finally backed off when Lan Xichen finally stepped in and presented cases where the rest of them also broke the rules, asking if they would punish themselves as strictly and step down if they insisted on holding Wei Wuxian to rigid high standard.

His brother came forward then, ushering everyone towards the wedding banquet that had been set up, allowing them to have some privacy.

"My Husband," Wei Wuxian ignored their slowly decreasing audience

"Mm," Lan Zhan smiled, "My Husband."

"Lan Zhan, I love you," Wei Wuxian ran his hand along Lan Zhan's face. He kissed his husband tenderly, pulling him close. He didn't want to ever let the man go, for they finally were married. It seemed as if he'd been chasing after Lan Zhan his entire life, and when he thought he'd lost everything, Lan Zhan had chased him back. But finally, they had each other forever, and nothing would ever be able to separate them.

"Baba!" A-Yuan had said happily, not quite screaming as to not break the rules, but speaking loud enough none the less. "A-Die!"

They broke apart, as the newly named Lan Yuan threw his tiny arms around both of their legs, and Lan Zhan was the first to pick him up.

They'd spoken about it in length with Wen Ning, Wen Qing, and the other Wens. They didn't want Wen Yuan to feel ashamed of his family's name, or forget his legacy, but he also deserved the chance to carry on his new family's traditions as well. And well, in the words of Wen Qing, it was just a name after all. It wouldn't change who his family was.

"A-Yuan, Baba and A-Die got married," Wei Wuxian smiled brightly, "We're going to be a proper family, A-Yuan!"

"Mm," A-Yuan giggled, patting his face.

"A-Yuan, do you want to come with Guma? We can go to the banquet! There are lots of sweets there," A-Jie asked, as she raised her arms to offer to take him from them, to give them a bit of time alone. He knew it would be bad form for the two of them to skip their banquet, but well, he really wanted to be able to be with Lan Zhan finally.

"Yes!" A-Yuan clapped, as Lan Zhan handed their son off.

"Do you want to get out of here?" Wei Wuxian whispered once they were finally alone.

"Yes," Lan Zhan confirmed. He lifted Wei Wuxian to carry him, as he moved them swiftly towards Jingshi.

Lan Zhan opened the doors quickly, as he carried Wei Wuxian towards their marital bed, and gently placed him upon it.

"Lan Zhan, my Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian whispered, as he reached up to caressed Lan Zhan's face gently. "I love you so much, my Husband. I will love you forever. I never want to be without you. You are my everything; my soul, my heart, my life. And I will love you until my last breath."

"Love Wei Ying too," Lan Zhan kissed his fingertips. "Will protect you. Will cherish you. Will take care of you."

Lan Zhan moved to kiss his lips gently, as Wei Wuxian sat up to kiss into him. They had many layers of their wedding robes on, and one by one, they stripped them all off. The bed dipped as Lan Zhan carefully folded them separately and put them to the side, before he returned where Wei Wuxian was waiting eagerly for him.

"Love me, Husband," Wei Wuxian pleaded with him, and Lan Zhan obliged as he captured Wei Wuxian's lips in his own, as they battled for dominance. Wei Wuxian bit Lan Zhan's lips, causing his husband to emit a growl as he shoved Wei Wuxian on his back. He laughed before saying innocently, "Be gentle with me, Er-Ge. I'm but a fair, unexperienced maiden. Take my purity with care and tenderness."

"Will treat my husband with care," Lan Zhan agreed, as he kissed Wei Wuxian again. He intertwined both hands together, raising Wei Wuxian's arms above his head, leaving him defenceless against the man. But there was no fear in his eyes as he looked up at his husband. Just love.

His husband pulled out the jar of oil to help ease his way, as he applied it to Wei Wuxian's hole with a sense of familiarity. He didn't require much preparation, as he was already eager for his husband to take him for the first time as a married couple.

It didn't help that Jiang Cheng had gotten stricter as their wedding date drew nearer, not allowing them to be left unsupervised in the same room together. He'd nearly broken a few times as A-Yuan's lips wobbled when Jiang Cheng explained that the boy's fathers had to sleep separately. Wei Wuxian had taken pity on his brother, as he stepped in with his son and he and Lan Zhan took turns having sleep overs with their son, ensuring that he'd never miss either of his fathers for too long.

As Lan Zhan's fingers slid into his hole without any restraint, Wei Wuxian couldn't help but moan into him.

"Please, Husband," he cried out, as Lan Zhan spread his fingers inside him repeatedly. "Please."

"Must make sure my husband is ready for me," Lan Zhan teased him without mercy, "Do not want to take away his innocence painfully. What kind of husband would that make me?"

"Lan Zhan is the best husband," he agreed quickly, "Please, Lan Zhan. Please don't keep teasing me like this. You are a good husband who would never take me roughly."

"Unless Wei Ying asked for it," Lan Zhan said without blinking, and Wei Wuxian gave a broken laugh, feeling pain from how badly he needed the man.

"I change my mind, you're a cruel husband, Lan Zhan," he whined, as the fingers continued to move slowly inside of him, "Teasing your Wei Ying like this while he is defenseless in your arms. How could you do this to your husband?"

Lan Zhan removed his fingers without another sound, but the feeling of being entered by Lan Zhan's cock that he so desperately needed did not come.

"We do not need to do anything on our wedding night if Husband is not willing," Lan Zhan said meanly, playing the role of gentle husband who did not wish to force himself on an unready wife.

"Lan Zhan," he sobbed, unable to take it any longer, "Please, Lan Zhan, I need you. Please, your husband is begging for you to take him."

"Anything my husband asks for," Lan Zhan said, pressing a kiss into his lips. But before Wei Wuxian could protest further, his husband's cock had entered Wei Wuxian with a swift motion.

He moved inside Wei Wuxian gently, as he'd initially asked for, allowing Wei Wuxian to stretch out around him first. And each thrust was perfectly gentlemanly, without any force or pain.

It wasn't enough.

It felt good, of course anything his husband did would feel good. But it wasn't enough. He was used to earth shattering sex, where Lan Zhan would take him roughly and without concern, as he'd come to accept each movement without protest.

"Lan Zhan," he begged the man moving inside of him, "Please, Husband. I need more. Please; you can be as rough as you want. You can do whatever you want. Please, just fuck me, Lan Zhan. Take me! Use me! Fuck me, Lan Zhan! Harder!"

"Mark your words," Lan Zhan's golden eyes darkened as he picked up speed, thrusting into Wei Wuxian's ass with more and more pressure. His hands were still held above his head, with one of Lan Zhan's securing them, as he used the other one to pull Wei Wuxian closer to him.

His eyes had closed as he took in every single movement of Lan Zhan's, knowing he was moaning wantonly.

"Look at me," Lan Zhan commanded, and his eyes opened at the sound of his husband's demand. He met Lan Zhan's eyes, and his husband must have seen the desperation in them, because he increased his speed, moving in Wei Wuxian faster than he'd ever gone before.

He knew his screams were loud, and he prayed his husband had put up silencing talismans before they'd started, because he certainly had forgotten.

He felt the pressure building up in his groin, powerless to do anything about it. His cock hurt from how hard it was, and his husband must have read his mind, since he used the hand not binding Wei Wuxian's arms to palm it then.

He sobbed, as Lan Zhan jerked his cock forward in sync with every thrust into him, and he was unable to stop himself from coming undone. He saw that he'd managed to mark them both, and his husband didn't seem fazed by the action. Instead, he turned Wei Wuxian to his side, lifting one leg up as he fell behind him on the bed, fucking him from the new angle with increased urgency.

Lan Zhan groaned, as he spent himself inside Wei Wuxian, before pulling out. He didn't move to clean them up right away as he usually did, and Wei Wuxian cuddled himself into his husband's chest.

"Husband," Wei Wuxian said, still in awe that they'd finally been able to get married.

"Husband," Lan Zhan's eyes twinkled.

"Thank you for bringing me home," Wei Wuxian told him, touching his face. "I know it was a longer road than what we could have ever known, but I finally came home to Gusu with you."

"Home is wherever Wei Ying is," Lan Zhan touched their foreheads together. "Lotus Pier, Gusu, the Burial Mounds. I would go wherever you were to be with you."

"You really mean that, don't you?" Wei Wuxian asked in wonder, "If I'd stayed at the Burial Mounds, you would have stayed there with me."

"Mm," Lan Zhan confirmed. "But I am glad you are not there. I am glad you are safe."

"It's all because of you," Wei Wuxian said, knowing that without the man lying beside him, his life would most likely have taken a much darker turn.

"Consider it repayment for giving me half your bun in the market that day," Lan Zhan said, with a twinkle in his eyes, and Wei Wuxian laughed.

"All of this, for half a bun," he shook his head.

"You offered me the whole thing," Lan Zhan corrected him, "It was all you had, and you offered it to me. So, I offered you everything I had as well. And I will continue to do so for the rest of my life. I will give you everything that I have, for Wei Ying."

"You are too good to me, Husband," Wei Wuxian felt himself grow warm. "I will also give you everything I have as well. Whatever that may be."

"Rest," Lan Zhan told him, as he started moving to clean himself and Wei Wuxian up. "We have the rest of our lives to figure out what will come next."

"The rest of our lives," Wei Wuxian agreed, as Lan Zhan got back into bed with him and pulled him tight.

He liked the sound of that.


A/N: Wow, this is probably the singular largest one shot I've ever written! I've been unable to stop thinking about what would have happened if when Lan Zhan visited the Burial Mounds, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

I do feel a bit conflicted about Jin Guangyao, but at this point, he hadn't plotted the murder of his brother, cousin, or Nie Mingjue just yet, so I felt there was a bit of redemption for him.

Hopefully you guys enjoyed this, as I loved every moment while writing this fic, and please let me know your thoughts on it!