the thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break

by Rose Thorne

Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with The Untamed, and make no money writing fanfiction.


Chapter Nine

The next several days are a sort of bliss to Lan Wangji . While his days had always been full, his work in Burial Mounds involves planting, cultivating the land instead of his golden core. His nights, similarly, are full, as he and Wei Ying explore each other, their unions going beyond his wildest imaginings. Having his zhiji, his husband, in his arms each night, loving him as he deserves, is everything he has dreamed of.

The uncles and aunties insist that their marital bed will be the first constructed, despite their protests that popo is more in need. Popo herself scoffs at the suggestion, and Wen Qing tells them to accept it.

The first day, he discovers that one of Wei Ying's primary jobs, beyond maintaining the wards that keep the community safe, is working to purify more land of resentful energy to make it workable. This job must be done before the plants and seeds purchased in town can be sown. Lan Wangji is able to make this work easier by playing cleansing music as Wei Ying leeches resentment from the soil, dissipating it.

Unfortunately, large-scale manipulation of resentful energy in such a direct manner also leeches his husband's energy, requiring that he retire after a few hours for a nap between sessions.

The land takes a day and a half to cleanse, and Wen Qing tells him later it would have taken Wei Ying alone over a week, and require much more recovery time.

Lan Wangji is glad his presence is already helping his zhiji, and takes it upon himself to play 'Cleansing' for him and ensure he eats and sleeps enough.

Neither of them let it interfere with their every day, though Wei Ying falls so deeply asleep immediately after he doesn't stir when Lan Wangji cleans him up.

He learns that in addition to helping with the farming, Wen Ning often explores and looks for useful plants in the area around Burial Mounds, as he does not require sleep. He has to be careful, as rogue cultivators or civilians might mistake him for a regular fierce corpse and attack, but his outings result in the gathering of beneficial supplies.

He always brings back useful herbs for cooking and use by Wen Qing in medicines. The second day, he brings back a small muntjac, which he found with its leg already broken and gave a merciful death before bringing it back for the uncles to butcher. While small, there is ample meat, and one of the uncles is given the task of curing and drying it to store as food for the winter. The hide is set aside to be sold at market.

Wen Ning also discovers a copse of privet that has ripe berries. The berries are not edible, but Meilin-yi and the other aunties are excited, telling Lan Wangji they can be used as a dye to create a lovely blue fabric with the right mordant. If one infuses the dye with urine, Meilin-yi tells him, fabric will turn out purple.

After he returns with a large basket of privet berries, Wen Ning is immediately sent back out by Wen Qing to gather the leaves and bark for use in medicine.

Lan Wangji finds it interesting how such simple events can energize the community, but they have gone through such hardship that perhaps they have learned to take joy in the simple.

The aunties decide he should help with dying the cloth for his robes, as they are working on bedding. They provide him with instructions and he spends an afternoon with Wen Ning and Wei Ying in the kitchen area simmering and straining the privet berries and adding other necessary ingredients to create a blue dye.

In a different pot, they use the gathered bamboo leaves to create a different dye batch. Though they gathered quite a bit on their way back from town, Wen Ning insists they don't have enough and asks Lan Wangji to gather more leaves with Wei Ying.

The task is simple enough, and they take a basket to fill.

"I'm not sure we're really even needed to help make the dye," Wei Ying says as they strip leaves from a stand of bamboo a couple kilometers outside Burial Mounds. "Wen Ning seems to know what he's doing."

"Acquiring new knowledge is never a waste," he replies. "The process is interesting."

"True, but the kitchen is sweltering."

Wei Ying, he knows, is still recovering from purifying the land and has not recovered the stamina he's lost through malnutrition. He's simply less likely to admit to being tired. Lan Wangji nods, and gestures to the stream running beside the bamboo stand.

"I can harvest the leaves if you would like to cool off."

The bright smile he receives is gift enough from his zhiji for the consideration.

"Maybe the stream has fish," Wei Ying comments as he strips off his outer robe, leaving him in one of Lan Wangji's soft white inner robes. "If so, I can catch something for supper."

The stream does, indeed, have fish, and once Lan Wangji fills the basket with bamboo leaves, he is able to enjoy watching as his husband nimbly captures them with his bare hands and tosses them ashore. Watching him is pure pleasure, Wei Ying in his element in the water.

Wei Ying catches enough for nearly each person at Burial Mounds to have one, though Lan Wangji is certain Wen Ning will incorporate the meat into a dish rather than hand them out grilled. With the basket full, he simply uses his outer robe as a sack to carry them. He lets the inner robes dry on him as they make their way back.

A figure in white is standing outside the entrance to Burial Mounds as they approach, and Wei Ying freezes.

"Of course, I'm half naked in your inner robes when he gets here," he mutters. "So much for good impressions."

Lan Wangji resists the urge to point out he is also wearing his forehead ribbon in his braid, knowing that will only add to his nervousness. Instead he tucks his sword in his belt in favor of taking Wei Ying's hand in his own and squeezing it gently.

"Wei Ying is impressive no matter what he wears."

That earns him a rueful look.

"You're just saying that because you prefer I wear nothing at all."

Lan Wangji simply hums his agreement, tugging Wei Ying forward.

When they approach, Wei Ying drops his hand to bow politely. Wangji follows suit and is relieved when his brother bows at them in return.

"Apologies for the, er, informal welcome, Zewu-Jun," Wei Ying says respectfully.

"I did not send word I would be arriving today, so the… informality is understandable. I only just arrived."

There is a smile playing at Xichen's lips, and he seems amused by Wei Ying's state of undress. Lan Wangji is relieved shufu didn't insist on accompanying him; he would not have taken it as lightly, would have instead used it as an excuse to be offended. Perhaps he shouldn't think so poorly of his uncle, but he has long tired of his grudge against Wei Ying.

"Xiongzhang, thank you for coming."

"If the situation is not as it was represented, as you say, I have a duty to investigate."

Lan Wangji nods, and Wei Ying gives another short bow in thanks.

"Your presence is appreciated. I just need to recalibrate the wards to allow your entrance."

Wei Ying approaches the ward and sets his makeshift sack of fish down to free his hands to work. Lan Wangji hears his brother's soft inhale and realizes he had likely seen that his forehead ribbon is woven in Wei Ying's braid, where it has been since the day he confessed.

The look Xichen gives him is complicated but tinged with hurt.

"We will explain, xiongzhang," he says softly.

Wei Ying glances back at him, expression concerned. Lan Wangji glances up as though looking at his own forehead and realization flits across his face, before disappearing under an attempt at a welcoming smile.

"Lan Zhan and I need to drop these off in the kitchen first, so if you'll just follow us. Today is dye day, and we ran out of bamboo leaves for the green dye."

Xichen is suitably distracted by the idea of making dye, blinking at Wei Ying.

"You and Wangji are assisting in this?"

"Well, 'assisting' might be a bit strong a word, since neither of us have ever made dye or dyed fabric before," Wei Ying chirped. "But we're learning, at least. The aunties insisted we participate."

Xichen glances at Wangji and mouths, "Aunties?" Lan Wangji just nods in response; his brother will see soon enough.

Wei Ying fills the air with chatter about making the privet dye for the rest of the walk, until A-Yuan runs down the path toward them.

"Xian-gege!"

Popo is lagging behind. Lan Wangji isn't surprised when Xichen freezes at the sight of a toddler and elderly woman in the Burial Mounds.

"Ah, A-Yuan, we have a guest!" Wei Ying scolds, picking the boy up to settle against his hip. "You should always check because sometimes our guests might be dangerous."

The child frowns, peering at Xichen.

"Are you dangerous?" he asks.

Xichen's mouth opens then closes soundlessly before he shakes his head.

"See! He's not!"

"Sometimes people don't tell the truth, A-Yuan. So always check with me first, okay?"

A-Yuan nods.

"I apologize, young master Wei. He's so fast now."

Popo is panting, obviously exhausted. Lan Wangji steps forward, putting his free arm under hers to support her a bit, as she looks like she might fall over.

"We will watch him for a bit, and you can rest, popo," he tells. "I am certain my brother will not object."

Xichen shakes his head, still speechless, but he offers a gentle smile to popo that the woman returns.

The rest of the walk up the path is filled with A-Yuan talking about planting squash seeds and how the kitchen smells weird.

Wen Qing sees them as they leave the tree line and immediately approaches to offer a deep bow to Xichen.

"It is a pleasure to see you again, Zewu-Jun. Welcome to our humble home."

Xichen returns her bow, and Lan Wangji watches as he glances around the open space that serves as a sort of courtyard.

An uncle is weeding the radishes nearby. One of the aunties is cutting cloth on the porch of the building. Both are clearly not cultivators.

"Maiden Wen," he finally says. "I wish of course we were meeting again under different circumstances. But I am starting to see Wangji was correct, that your situation has been… misrepresented."

Wen Qing's mouth twitches minutely, but she only bows again.

"Let's get these things to the kitchen, and we can put on a pot of tea," Wei Ying says, diffusing the tension.

Lan Wangji passes popo off to Wen Qing as they pass. She frowns at him, but he recognizes she's simply worried about the entire situation.

He belatedly realizes that this is going to be the first his brother has seen of Wen Ning since his death, and he braces himself for it. He trusts Wei Ying to handle it as well as possible.

The kitchen has gained two new large vats, and Wen Ning is also working on making lunch with other pots and pans.

"We're making more dyes?" Wei Ying asked, peering in the nearest vat.

"Dock root for dark gray to black, and we split the privet berry dye to make one a purple. They're for your robes, young master Wei," Wen Ning replies without turning, busy chopping leafy greens.

Wei Ying frowns, glancing at Lan Wangji. He looks distinctly uncomfortable. At first, he wonders if he had been told how the dye was altered to become purple, but he quickly learns his zhiji has a different concern.

"I don't think I'm supposed to wear purple anymore. I defected from the Jiang sect."

"It's not the same hue, I don't think," Wen Ning says.

"Ah. I guess we'll see, then. I caught some fish if you think that would work for lunch or dinner."

"The dock leaves I'm working on now will be good for lunch and dinner, and I think they'll go well with fish."

When he turns to take the robe-sack full of fish from Wei Ying, it instead falls to the floor as he hastens to bow.

"I apologize, Z-Zewu-Jun. I d-didn't know you had arrived."

Xichen returns the bow automatically, unable to take his eyes off Wen Ning. The timid Wen looks flustered, his face smeared with coal.

"Coal-gege!" A-Yuan shouts, giggling.

That breaks the tension. Wen Ning smiles as widely as he's able to now at the boy's laughter and wipes ineffectively at his face.

"I apologize for my rudeness in staring," Xichen says softly. "I had heard of young master Wei's achievement but… I am glad you are yourself, young master Wen."

Wen Ning seems beyond words, so Lan Wangji hands him the basket of bamboo leaves, giving him both time and an object to distract him from the situation.

"Thank you, Zewu-J-Jun," the fierce corpse finally manages. "I am happy to b-be with my family."

Wei Ying breaks in, picking up the sack of fish for him and patting his shoulder.

"Wen Ning, would you mind brewing some tea and bringing it to the Demon-Slaughtering Cave? Zewu-Jun has some things to discuss with Lan Zhan and me."

Wen Ning nods, and looks relieved when they leave him to it.

When they enter the cave, they find that it's been somewhat transformed. One of the larger alcoves is sectioned off, old blankets transformed into curtains for privacy. The blankets are parted now, and jifu is arranging the bedding. A-Yuan squirms to get down from Wei Ying's hip and runs to give the older man a hug.

Lan Wangji realizes this was why they had been sent on the errand to gather bamboo leaves; to give the aunties and uncles time to set up their marriage bed as a surprise.

Jifu grins when he sees them, then sobers to see Xichen, offering a bow.

"You must be Sect Leader Lan," he says. "This one is jifu."

Xichen returns the bow, glancing at Lan Wangji as though for clarification.

"Jifu?" he asks, when he receives none. "Master Wen, you would just like me to address you as jifu?"

Jifu rubs the back of his head, looking uncertain.

"Ah, well, we… Those of us here, we were of the Dafan Wen, not the Qishan Wen, just a branch family focused on healing. Ultimately that didn't mean much, after the war. All Wens were Wen-dogs. We'd just rather not be Wens at all. And my parents named me Wen, as in 'literate,' so..."

Lan Wangji has never heard jifu's name before, Wēn Wén, 温文. Different characters, different inflections, together meaning 'genteel.' To be sure, it is a strange naming decision on the part of his parents, perhaps an inside family joke. But the man has been frightened away from both his surname and birth name, those connections with his ancestors. He isn't a cultivator, so he doesn't have a family-chosen courtesy name to fall back on, either.

Xichen frowns at the idea of giving up one's name.

"What surname will you take on, then?"

Jifu glances toward Wei Ying, and Lan Wangji has an uneasy feeling he knows what the Wens have been considering. He isn't certain how his husband will react when they ask. He's relieved when jifu deflects and it can be put off until later—the coming conversation will be stressful enough for Wei Ying.

"Ah, we're still discussing it. It doesn't really matter, living on Burial Mounds as we do."

"If your birth name makes you uncomfortable, jifu, we could start calling you jiǔ-jiù (酒舅)," Wei Ying jokes.

'Uncle Liquor.' It's a terrible joke, but one that makes jifu laugh. Xichen looks confused, so he takes pity on him and whispers, "Jifu brews fruit wine." He is amused to see his brother's lips contort as he tries not to laugh.

"I might take you up on that," jifu says. "Ah, would the sect leader like to try my wine?"

Xichen politely declines. Wei Ying reminds him that Lans don't drink, and the older man bows politely again to take his leave.

With jifu gone, A-Yuan gravitates to Xichen and latches onto his leg, looking up at him like he had Lan Wangji in the market in Yiling, as though waiting for a reaction. His brother smiles down at the boy, and the child smiles back. Clearly Xichen has passed a test, where Wangji had failed it.

Wei Ying scoops the boy up.

"Come on, little radish. No clinging to legs right now. Do you want my lap or Lan Zhan's?"

"Xian-gege's," A-Yuan says after a moment of thought. "Who's the pretty gege?"

"My older brother," Lan Wangji volunteers.

A-Yuan looks at him with big eyes, looking amazed by this information.

"You have an older brother like how Xian-gege has an older sister? Like I had an older sister?"

Lan Wangji nods, frowning slightly and glancing at Wei Ying. He's never heard before now that A-Yuan had a sister.

"Had?" Xichen asks.

Wen Ning enters the cave, carrying a tray with a teapot and cups, along with Wen Qing.

"She died in the labor camp," Wen Qing says. "As did every child except A-Yuan."

Xichen goes pale, his eyes closing as he works to take in and process that information, to understand just how much the Jins misled the other sects on the fate of the Wen civilians. Lan Wangji himself feels ill at the idea that children had been killed, and he had seen it happen himself, had played 'Rest' for murdered civilians with Wei Ying.

Wen Qing gives Wei Ying a disdainful look, pulling A-Yuan from his arms. The boy watches them quietly, as though he senses the tension.

"Are you still prancing around in Hanguang-Jun's inner robes like some sort of nudist? We have a guest. Go put on some clean outer robes, you shameless idiot."

Wei Ying wisely obeys. By the time he returns, Wen Ning has carefully placed the cups and teapot on the table. Lan Wangji reaches for the teapot, only for his zhiji to beat him to it.

"I'll pour the tea," he says with a little smile.

Lan Wangji feels his ears heat, realizing Wei Ying's intention has to do with marriage ceremonies. Theirs has obviously happened out of order, but the intent is the same.

"We will leave you to your conversation," Wen Qing says. "I apologize for my brusque manner before."

"You grieve those lost," Xichen says before she can leave. "You need not apologize for your grief at the death of innocents."

Wen Qing nods, then bows as best she can with A-Yuan on her hip, Wen Ning bowing beside her.

Once they leave, Wei Ying pours the tea solemnly, then takes a seat. He glances at Lan Wangji, as though uncertain how to begin, and he takes pity on his zhiji.

"Xiongzhang, I handfasted Wei Ying in the Cold Spring cave when we encountered Lan Yi. We bowed before her while bound by my forehead ribbon. I could not tell you of it until I told him."

Xichen's mouth hangs open for a moment, the closest Lan Wangji has ever seen him to outright gaping.

"He told me a few days ago," Wei Ying picks up, "and I told him that it could be annulled, if he wanted that."

"I did not. Wei Ying tried to convince me it would be in my best interest, but none of his reasoning included a lack of desire for the union."

"Trust you to notice a small detail like that," Wei Ying murmurs, blushing.

"Not small," he says and takes Wei Ying's hand in his.

Xichen picks up his cup of tea and sips from it, then smiles at them.

"I do not contest your marriage, though I am sorry there was no ceremony to attend. I cannot guarantee shufu will be of the same mind, but ultimately I am sect leader. Hopefully he will not find the need to come yell at you personally."

Lan Wangji realizes his brother's action was a formal sort of finalizing of the marriage, with Wei Ying without a family to whom to serve tea. He tries not to be concerned over the possibility of shufu coming to visit; he would be a terrible guest. No one is likely to be willing to deliver mail to Burial Mounds, so that would be the only way he would get to express his opinion on the matter to either Lan Wangji or Wei Ying.

"If you could keep it quiet until after my shijie marries, I would appreciate it, Zewu-Jun," Wei Ying says softly. "Her day should be about her."

Xichen immediately agrees, and Wei Ying sighs in relief, holding up his own teacup as a sort of toast before drinking. Lan Wangji does the same, and is glad to find the tea has a lovely flavor that is in line with his brother's preferences.

"Thank you," Wei Ying says. "I already ruined her engagement once, and I'd rather not ruin the wedding, too."

Lan Wangji frowns at that, and is glad to see his brother frown as well.

"Young master Wei… Ah, if I am your brother-in-law, that sounds a bit odd. May I call you Wuxian?"

Wei Ying nods, and Xichen takes another sip of tea before continuing.

"Wuxian, young master Jin ruined the engagement by speaking poorly of your sister. As you have no doubt noticed, the cultivation world in general and some particular cultivators in specific tend to gossip. Punching him as you did only hastened the inevitable."

"Oh," is all Wei Ying can manage. He sets down his teacup, tracing the lip with a finger.

Lan Wangji recognizes it as a nervous habit, the need to do something with his hands. He knows Wei Ying is well aware of how the cultivation world gossiped, the rumors regarding his parentage overshadowing his childhood as they did, and now the vicious slander that paints him as a demon.

"Furthermore, I have little doubt your siblings would be happy to hear the news. Please tell me you have at least sent notice?"

Wei Ying winces and shakes his head.

"Anything I send would garner too much attention and, as you say, gossip. I broke from the Jiang sect pretty publicly."

Xichen hums thoughtfully.

"Any missive sent by you, or perhaps from Yiling to Jiang Wanyin at all, could be interpreted as a connection, fueling rumors."

Wei Ying just nods; he just looks tired, and Lan Wangji knows the emotional turmoil that exhausts him, and how much he hates sect politics.

"Missives between sect leaders don't garner suspicion. I can send him a message to come in secret to meet with the two of you, of course," Xichen offers.

"I would appreciate that, Zewu-Jun."

"Xichen. You are family now."

Wei Ying manages a smile, but it's wan. He glances again at Lan Wangji, and he realizes the significance immediately.

"There's something else you should know, then, if you're family," he says softly. "But I have to ask you to tell no one. Not even your sworn brothers."

Xichen's brow furrows, and he glances at Lan Wangji.

"Please," he says, adding to his husband's request without hesitation; he knows Wei Ying's decision to tell Xichen is not easy, and he isn't asking much in return. "It is known by few."

"Then I promise I will share it with no one, as requested."

Wei Ying holds out his wrist silently, offering Xichen his pulse-point, through which diagnoses of qi issues are often made. His brother glances at him one last time, his expression shifting slightly as though he fears he already knows what he will find, then reaches forward.

Xichen's lips purse and his eyes shut as apparently his concern is confirmed. Lan Wangji wonders how long he has suspected but said nothing.

"The rumors. That you were captured by Wen Chao, thrown… here."

"True," Wei Ying says. "I can no longer wield Suibian."

Lan Wangji realizes Wei Ying does not intend to share the circumstances of its loss, and he rubs his thumb against the side of his hand, to give comfort and remind him the decision is his alone. Xichen has likely assumed Wen Zhuliu melted Wei Ying's core, as he would have been where Wen Chao was.

"I'm pretty sure they were just going to beat me to death until I told Wen Chao if he killed me, I'd haunt him. I never had the soul settling ceremony, you see. He figured if I died here, I'd be trapped by the wards the Wens put up to seal this place. They pushed me in from their swords, right into the center."

His voice has gone a bit hoarse, and Lan Wangji passes him his cup of tea, now cold. Wei Ying drinks it anyway. He steels himself; these are things he has not yet heard, and his husband has chosen now to share them.

"Burial Mounds at that time was not what you see now," he says, his tone turning a little academic. "It was not night yet, but the resentful energy was so thick it was hard to see further than a meter ahead. As you can imagine, it got worse after nightfall. It was like being in the center of a storm focused on the only living thing around."

He can see horror on Xichen's face, knows his brother is aware that even high-ranking cultivators would not dare go into Burial Mounds, but Wei Ying had been dumped in with no power.

"To escape, I had to learn to harness resentful energy. Getting out took three months, and I'd rather not talk about that time. Probably it would have been more honorable to let the resentful energy destroy me, to die here."

"Wei Ying, no," he whispers, his voice breaking.

Lan Wangji had searched all those three months for Wei Ying, devastated at the idea that he could be gone. Learning the rumor of his fate had been like a physical blow. He understands abruptly that Wei Ying had pushed him away afterward because he didn't want him to have to choose between him and the Lan principles, or maybe because he didn't want to know which was more important to him.

He lets go of propriety and pulls his husband close. Wei Ying leans into the contact. For a moment, he lets his focus narrow only to his husband, the soft hitches in his breath that betray the emotion he is hiding, the slight tremble in his frame, but also the fact that he is letting Lan Wangji lend him strength.

Wei Ying is no longer alone, and he breathes as much softly into his hair.

"I spoke of rules to you once in Yunmeng and made them seem absolute, but are exceptions to all rules, Wuxian," XiChen says eventually, after giving them time. "Had you not joined the war effort, I am ashamed to say we would likely have lost. Even had we won, it would certainly have been at the cost of many more lives."

He pauses, pouring himself a new cup of tea and taking a sip before continuing.

"You were single-handedly responsible for clearing out the Yiling Indoctrination Bureau, and you did so without a golden core. You could no longer walk the sword path, but you still sought to aid the Sunshot Campaign anyway, at great cost to yourself."

His zhiji looks uncomfortable at Xichen's acknowledgment of his efforts and sacrifices during the Sunshot campaign.

"I just changed a few talismans, summoned a few spirits," he murmurs. "I couldn't do any real fighting."

"You saved lives through your actions and ingenuity, regardless," Xichen insists. "And you were nearly killed at Nightless City."

"Wei Ying has received only judgment and abuse, no gratitude for his contribution, xiongzhang," Lan Wangji says softly. "I failed him as well."

"You didn't," Wei Ying protests. "I didn't really let you help, and it's not like I was acting stable. I didn't tell you. I didn't tell anyone."

"You shouldn't have had to," Lan Wangji argues.

Xichen clears his throat, which is likely a good thing as they are merely rehashing an argument they've already had.

"Wuxian, what you endured was traumatizing, and we failed to consider your behavior could be attributed to anything other than resentful energy. The war left many cultivators suffering, even if they were not physically injured. The loss of a golden core alone would be enough to destroy many cultivators."

Wei Ying flinches, and Lan Wangji knows he is thinking of Jiang Cheng, how it had destroyed him. In some ways, his husband is less traumatized by the loss of his own because he chose to lose it, and it still exists within his brother. But Xichen is right to point out Wei Ying's trauma, something he knows his zhiji prefers not to acknowledge.

"Wangji wished to help you after the war ended and was prohibited from leaving Cloud Recesses, was prevented from researching ways to help you, and while I could have overruled those decisions, I did not. He hoped to bring you to Gusu for healing."

"I thought he wanted to punish me," Wei Ying murmurs, "for walking the crooked path."

"I did not communicate my intentions clearly enough," Lan Wangji acknowledges.

"What I mean is you were failed by many people, myself included," Xichen clarifies. "When we met in Yunmeng, I assumed you wished to practice demonic cultivation and simply refused to return to the sword path; I did not even consider that you could not, and my suggestion was unnecessarily hurtful. I implied it was a condition to coming to Gusu."

Wei Ying's face reddened slightly. Lan Wangji remembers discussing his disposition with Xichen after that meeting, how it had only worried him more, his zhiji's brazen disregard of all warnings.

"I was very rude to you, and I deliberately let you think that. I let everyone think that. It's not that I don't know the effect the resentful energy and Stygian Tiger Amulet are having… Honestly, I spent most of my time drunk back then anyway. I really wasn't any help rebuilding the sect."

Xichen closes his eyes, something he has always done when he has too much emotion to process. Lan Wangji empathizes, and knows far more than his brother about this situation. Knowing now that Wei Ying used alcohol as a way of coping, knowing his pain… He will make up for his assumptions, his failures, will take care of his husband. He wonders if Xichen is considering his own path of penance, having now recognized Wei Ying as family.

"Does Sect Leader Jiang know?" Xichen asks.

Wei Ying shakes his head, biting his lip.

"I know I need to tell him. I just… I didn't even tell Lan Zhan. He figured it out."

Xichen looks between them, a strange understanding on his face. Lan Wangji knows his brother has realized the discovery led him to stay, that he would have stayed regardless of whether Wei Ying returned his feelings.

"Then I am honored to be the first person you have revealed this to, and I will honor your trust," Xichen says earnestly. "Given what I have seen of the people here thus far, the situation has indeed been misrepresented. I would like to learn more about the people you rescued from the labor camp, but it is clear you are not building some sort of army here."

Wei Ying actually laughs, and Lan Wangji is glad for the shift in discussion, for Xichen's kindness in not asking more questions.

"An army? We're farmers, barely at subsistence level. I think maybe one or two people can cultivate, but very low-level cultivators aside from Wen Qing. Otherwise Wen Ruohan would have forced them to serve in his damnable army or turned them into puppets."

Wen Qing's voice breaks in from the mouth of the cave.

"He did do that, remember? You, your brother, Hanguang-Jun, and Nie Huaisang helped free them. You killed Wen Ruohan's owl to break his hold on them."

Lan Wangji realizes abruptly that he never had the chance to report that incident to Gusu Lan before Cloud Recesses burned and he was dragged to Indoctrination. Afterward, with war on the horizon and Wei Ying missing, the event had been lost in the shuffle. He is embarrassed at his own complicity in not making clear the Dafan Wens were innocents, held hostage against Wen Qing to force her cooperation.

Truly, he owes penance to more than just Wei Ying.

Wen Qing enters and bows to Xichen.

"A-Ning is about to serve lunch, and the others would be happy to speak with you if you indeed wish to learn more. We have a communal area where we eat. I know Lans prefer not to speak while eating, but you can observe that rule during the meal and speak after."

She smiles, and Lan Wangji is struck by how much smiling changes her, makes her look less severe.

"Our fare is simple, but I remember meals in Cloud Recesses, so I'm certain it is to your liking, Zewu-Jun."

The gentle ribbing startles laughter out of Xichen, and he rises to return her bow.

"Maiden Wen, I thank you for your gracious hospitality, and am grateful to share a meal with your family."

As they leave the cave, Wei Ying stumbles, and Lan WangJi keeps careful hold on him, exchanging a glance with Wen Qing.

"Wei Wuxian, you're sitting with popo so she can make sure you eat," she tells him. "And then you're in charge of putting A-Yuan down for a nap. Hanguang-Jun can show Zewu-Jun around."

When Wei Ying just nods in response, they exchange another look. While his zhiji usually cooperates with her orders, it's with a token protest. His silence shows just how much the conversation has taken out of him, in combination with everything else that has occurred.

Lan Wangji hopes his brother can offer solutions that will help Wei Ying.


I did way too much research on how to make natural dyes but didn't do any experimentation myself. It's possible some details are wrong. Also, there was no possible way to cut this chapter down or split it, so it is far longer than I anticipated.

I'm not entirely sure if jifu's name is realistic but decided to do it anyway. With the jiujiu joke, jiùjiu (舅舅) means uncle (specifically mother's brother) and it can be an address, like Jin Ling could call Jiang Cheng 'Cheng-jiu.' Jiǔ, with a different character (酒) and sound, means liquor. So it's not quite a pun, but is at least a joke. I also double-checked with some folks who speak Chinese to make sure it would work.

Families changing surnames apparently has historical precedent in China, but it can be considered disrespectful and unfilial to the ancestors, abandoning them. Ancestor veneration is fairly important, and apparently was one reason for adoption in ancient China. Honestly, the part in the novel where the wine shop attendant offers to change his surname over Wei Wuxian's alcohol tolerance is a pretty big deal.

Also, there's some reference in here to episode 24 of CQL, wherein Lan Xichen seeks Wei Wuxian on behalf of his brother, which replaces the scene in the novel with Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, and the ghost girls.