Securing Sect Leader Jin

by Aurora077

When Wei Wuxian decides to take Wen Ning's place as temporary Jin Ling Night Hunt Protector he runs into Jiang Cheng. They manage to have a civil conversation, but how did things turn out this way? They'd agreed Jin Ling's position as Sect Leader needed to be solidified asap. But what kind of situation was this? How could this be happening? Wei Wuxian did not sign up for this!

7. First secure a second-in-command

Chapter 7 - Before securing Sect Leader Jin, you must first secure a second-in-command.

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

Luo Qingyang had listened to their plan to get Wei Wuxian to take over as acting sect leader (though she noticed he cringed whenever they said the title.. Interesting… Why did he seem so reluctant? She might have thought that Jiang Wanyin was coercing him if not for the fact that the Wei Wuxian she thought she knew would never do something he truly didn't wish to and really Wei Wuxian had never seemed the type to want to be a sect leader… but he could be doing it for Jiang Yanli's son's sake which, now that she thought about it, made a lot of sense. He had very clearly loved Jiang Yanli and she had thought of him like a brother. He wouldn't let her son be mistreated if he could help it).

She had her questions of course and she did make Wei Wuxian explain certain things to her before she made her decision. She wasn't discounting what Wei Wuxian did. She knew he was responsible for Jin Zixuan's death. When she had defended him, it wasn't that she thought he did nothing wrong. She simply thought it was wrong of those men to say he was killing indiscriminately when it implied that he was simply going on a rampage as opposed to him killing to save people who were being mistreated. The old hypocrites would rather look down on him now that it was their sins he was speaking out against and not just the Wens.

She didn't know him very well but she thought she knew the kind of person he was. He was reckless that much was true, but his heart was in the right place. He helped her and others even at severe cost to himself.

So as much as she knew Wei Wuxian had screwed up, she knew that it was exactly that. A screw up. A terrible one sure, but it wasn't a malicious plan to take over and gain power. It was him trying to help people again, but going about it as recklessly as usual.

She had never gotten a chance to truly thank him for what he did for her personally either, so if she could help him out she would.

It was a bonus that she'd also be helping Jin Zixuan's son in the process.

And she couldn't deny that the fact that they believed in her integrity was a bit gratifying. She had tried to live her life as honestly as possible so to be considered trustworthy and upstanding by these two people was a sign that she succeeded.

However…

"If I'm honest I don't particularly want to go back to that world," she said.

She'd made a life away from the politics and drama of the cultivation world and she'd never been happier. You couldn't be honest and open when you had to deal with sect politics. As a rogue cultivator it was much simpler to live by your own ideals. She also loved her simple life with her family and though she was thankful to Wei Wuxian, she would always put them first.

"I would like to help you Wei-gongzi but what about my family? If we do get Jin Rulan to accept me back into the sect and if we manage to place you as acting sect leader in the interim, all eyes will be on us. The Jins know I stood up for you. And though we're claiming you're Mo Xuanyu, they won't forget that you inhabit his body, even if they can't do anything about it. Me being reinstated there at the same time as you taking over leading the sect will put a target on my back. My family are not cultivators and the Jin are a nasty bunch, I wouldn't put it past them to harm them to get to me. And I will not put them at risk."

Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng shared a glance. They thought as much honestly.

"Lady Luo, there is truly only one solution I have to that, but I am not sure that you will accept it," said Jiang Cheng slowly. Lady Luo of course had every right to be worried about her family, and she could simply say no, after all this really had nothing to do with her. They were the ones who needed her.

She looked at him expectantly.

"I can offer your family a home at Lotus Pier for however long it needs to be. It doesn't even have to be for the entirety of your stay at the Jin sect. Since we've planned for you to be there at least until Jin Ling is older and takes back leadership, we could have them stay at Lotus Pier while Wei Wuxian is newly in the position so the most vicious Jins can be weeded out and then they can come to stay with you. They are welcome to stay for the entirety of your stint with the Jins but of course I don't anticipate you wanting to be separated from them for so long. You can rest assured that they will be safe at Lotus Pier. In fact it's not a boast when I say that Lotus Pier is probably the safest place I can think of. I've ensured that it is."

Looking at his expression, Luo Qingyang remembered what happened at Lotus Pier, and she didn't doubt him.

"You're right, I would not particularly like to be separated from them. But it is a possible solution. In about six years time Jin Rulan will be 20 so until then I can persevere. If we manage to root out the most underhanded Jins, it would be sooner than that too. Though I will want to see MianMian regularly. I will not miss out on so much of my daughter's life."
"That is not a problem, Jin Ling often came to Lotus Pier before being sect leader, I don't see why you can't come along with him when he visits, though he would not visit as much as before. Wei Wuxian is after all more of a figurehead. A-Ling still needs to learn how to run a sect. I will of course keep their presence at Lotus Pier as quiet as I can. We don't need the Jins to think that you're my pawn."

"I have to speak to my husband about this, you understand? If he does not like it then I'm sorry in advance. I would like to help but it is a decision that has to be made by both of us. I also have one request."
"What is it?"

"If MianMian is to stay with you, I'd like her to be a disciple. She doesn't have to be an official one. I've been teaching her as much as I can for her own protection, but I will no longer be able to do that if we are separated. You don't have to take her into the sect, just have someone teach her as well. I know the Jiang and Jin styles are different but as a rogue cultivator I haven't been sticking to just the Jin style with her so she's adaptable. If she wants to stay on afterwards as a disciple and you don't mind having her, she can of course. But as it is it wouldn't be advisable if people found out my daughter was a Jiang disciple while I'm at the Jins."

"Of course. If your family agrees then we can do that, right Jiang Cheng?" said Wei Wuxian, "Don't worry MianMian, Jiang Cheng can keep a secret!"

"Yes, that would be fine," Jiang Cheng replied. It honestly helped that Luo Qingyang was a rogue cultivator. It meant that her family would not be well known to the jianghu. She herself would be remembered by those who were there the day she spoke out against them villainising Wei Wuxian, but they wouldn't know of her family. It was only a matter of keeping their identities quiet. They would be safe at Lotus Pier.

When her husband returned from the market, they discussed what to do. Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian went outside to give the family some privacy.

"Stop fidgeting!" Jiang Cheng snapped, grabbing hold of Wei Wuxian's hand to keep it still. After the third time he had to tell Wei Wuxian to stop bouncing around, he had taken to picking at his fingers instead. It was driving Jiang Cheng crazy.

"But what if she doesn't agree?" said Wei Wuxian nervously.

In his first life, he wouldn't say he usually felt nervous about anything. But now, the thought of being in that unfamiliar sect, surrounded by people who didn't like him, unsettled him. Especially now that he knew he was welcome in Lotus Pier; that he could be there instead.

If MianMian agreed he would be very grateful. She would be a familiar face, and one on his side. He'd never again overestimate himself. He was fully capable of walking on his single plank bridge; he had the strength and even the willpower. But it was the loneliness that he hadn't anticipated. He hadn't let himself acknowledge it the first time around, but he had missed home terribly. He had missed Jiang Cheng and shijie with a ferocity he hadn't expected. It had led him to lashing out at poor A-Yuan when he innocently pulled up that lotus shoot.

When going home wasn't an option he had resigned himself to his fate. Now that it was on the table again he was actually far more antsy that he had to be away from it and couldn't go immediately. He loved Jin Ling, he really did. But Jin Ling was not Jiang Cheng. Neither was MianMian, but she was there for the first part of his life. She experienced the effects of war and the hypocrisy of the cultivation world. And while everyone had moved on, he was still thirteen years in the past. He felt like he needed to have a bridge between his first life and this one if he wanted to stay sane amongst the Jins. He actually did hate paperwork and bureaucracy…all those social constraints were exhausting– so it would be a tedious job, though sniffing out the people who might act against Jin Ling, fatally in some cases, would be his priority. It would have been interesting if it wasn't his shijie's son on the line. The cost of failure was too high.

He absentmindedly started trying to fidget again, only to be stopped by the hand that was still holding onto his.

"You're actually nervous about this," Jiang Cheng commented incredulously.

"No shit," Wei Wuxian said, earning himself a glare.

After a pause he said, "Jiang Cheng, it's only six years right? Six years and then I can come home?" His voice had gone low, almost as if saying it meant it wouldn't come true. He sounded hopeful and pleading but also impatient at the same time, and a bit like he was convincing himself that six years would fly by and then he could settle down at home for good.

And oh, something in Jiang Cheng melted at that. At his statement and at his tone.

Hearing him genuinely call Lotus Pier home…

Wei Wuxian wanting to come back… Truly wanting to come back..to stay and not just visit…

It was something he'd never thought would happen. Though he'd told Wei Wuxian he was welcome and had been expecting them to go back to Lotus Pier after the nighthunt, he'd long resigned himself to always watching the back of Wei Wuxian as he left… He didn't think that Wei Wuxian would stay, even if he was going back with him for the moment.

He couldn't explain it but since they were young he'd always had the feeling that Wei Wuxian would slip out of his fingers, like the crystal waters they often played in. His existence felt ephemeral. You were the flower and he was the butterfly flitting around, settling sometimes on you and sometimes on another. You felt graced by his attention and unsettled by its loss, though somehow the loss felt inevitable. It was an anxiety he'd had before he could even put the feeling to words. Wei Wuxian was a consummate social butterfly. He did always rope Jiang Cheng in though.

Until Gusu. Until he met Second Young Master Lan. It was the first time that his attentions were snared so thoroughly. He couldn't stop bothering the boy, who seemed annoyed by him. And when they were both back at Lotus Pier, Wei Wuxian often wondered about him. I wonder what Lan Zhan would say about this? Lan Zhan would probably hate that. Lan Zhan Lan Zhan Lan Zhan. Always Lan Zhan.

Jiang Cheng felt the sense of impending loss acutely. The last straw was when Wei Wuxian was seriously going to try and give Lan Wangji an invite to visit. He'd put his foot down and told Wei Wuxian not to invite him. He couldn't exactly explain why, though he did mention the only thing that came to mind at the moment and that was that he was another guy who was better than him that his mother would compare him to. Once again he'd be found lacking. And it was true that he didn't want that. But he also couldn't explain the feeling in his gut when he imagined Wei Wuxian taking Lan Wangji around Lotus Pier, showing him all the spots they played in and liked the most. Besides, Lan Wangji didn't even seem to like Wei Wuxian very much anyway. Why bring him to Lotus Pier?

Then all the rest of crap in their lives happened and Lan Wangji was only a footnote. Wei Wuxian left to protect the Wens. And then he died. He'd promised to stay by Jiang Cheng's side, but he didn't. And then he was brought back… and promptly ran away again. Away from him but into the arms of Lan Wangji. At first he thought that Lan Wangji would push him away. Surely Lan Wangji was just interfering because he hated Jiang Cheng, (and wasn't that a mystery? Jiang Cheng didn't remember doing anything to offend the Lan clan's second young master, but the man went out of his way to disrespect Jiang Cheng in every instance they met, and given that he had such a close relationship with his brother…given that politically Jiang Cheng could not stand up to them, he had to swallow his dignity and accept the unwarranted hostility) but he would eventually get tired of Wei Wuxian and send him away.

It wasn't until he saw them playing around by their tree and bowing together in his ancestral hall that he realised what was going on. It was only then he realised why Lan Wangji acted the way he did. Only for Wei Wuxian to turn around and say Lan Wangji was just a good friend. It was honestly unbelievable. Lan Wangji even showed an expression at the statement! Wonder of wonders.

But when they'd left after that, he had no doubt that Wei Wuxian was totally lost to him. When he found out what he'd done, when in the temple Wei Wuxian told him to forget it. When he watched him walk away again, Jiang Cheng felt certain that that was it.

He couldn't believe that Wei Wuxian hadn't gone to Gusu with Lan Wangji. When Wei Wuxian told him he was travelling around with only that donkey for company he didn't know how to feel, but he couldn't deny there was a degree of disbelief and sadness there. Because Wei Wuxian thrived around people. He always needed to be with someone, doing something. Wei Wuxian by himself wasn't a sentence that computed. The image was all wrong.

Picturing him now in Lanling by himself among the sneaky Jin also felt wrong. Wei Wuxian truly did embody the free spirited nature that his father had cultivated in the Jiang. He may have left but Wei Wuxian was Jiang through and through (far more carefree than Jiang Cheng ever was.) Jiang Cheng's Jiang Sect was vastly less so, but it was to be expected. He would never let them be caught unawares like that again. He was not being prideful when he told Luo Qingyang that his sect was the safest place he knew.

He wondered if Wei Wuxian was also picturing himself among the Jin and dreading it.

Somehow, he also felt eager for those years to go by. Blast it, now the impatience had infected him, and their plan hadn't even gotten off the ground yet…

"Yes. Only six years. Less if we're lucky. Then you can come home," Jiang Cheng said. His throat was feeling thick all of a sudden.

But what was six years, knowing that Wei Wuxian was alive and well and willing to come home, compared to the last decade and more of him being gone, out of reach forever?

Wei Wuxian shot him a smile then. A thin, brittle thing. He'd never seen that smile before, and on an unfamiliar face it seemed all the more new. It felt as fragile as the moment seemed, but it looked like a real smile. It wasn't forced or strained. It wasn't exaggerated to fool you. It just was.

It felt like Wei Wuxian was finally trusting him.

All those years they spent together before, he was always playing catch up. Wei Wuxian saw him as someone to coddle. Wei Wuxian was always laughing off his hurts. He'd never let Jiang Cheng see them. He hid many things from Jiang Cheng those last few years. Hid his pains and sorrows and worries. Drowned in drink and avoided Jiang Cheng's questions. And Jiang Cheng was so so busy with reestablishing his fallen sect and exhausted, dealing with matters that seemed never ending, that he hadn't gotten a chance to look closer and question more.

And though he thought he was doing it to protect Jiang Cheng… in the end all it felt like was that Wei Wuxian didn't trust him.

During his nightmare-induced breakdown, Jiang Cheng had told him that if he was sad then just cry. He'd wanted Wei Wuxian to stop laughing it off as usual. And though he had in fact taken his advice that one time, Jiang Cheng had written it off as a consequence of him being just that upset.

He hadn't truly expected Wei Wuxian to listen to him. Wei Wuxian had never in his entire life listened to Jiang Cheng or taken his opinion into consideration. He always did what he wanted to do.

So when faced with that honest smile, a smile that hid nothing, he didn't quite know what to do.

"Anyway," he said, trying to ignore the weird feeling in his stomach, "If she doesn't agree to go back to the sect I'll send someone with you."
Wei Wuxian was surprised, "What? No. You can't. I'm sure they would know your disciples by now. If they suddenly decide to come to the Jin sect instead it would look suspicious, like you're trying to spy on them or take over."

"While that's true, I do have a few disciples who have not been in the public eye much. I will send one of them to help you, A-Ling knows them all so he will understand."

xxxxxxxxx

Fan Huiqing was glad to see that everything was fine when he came back home. The cultivators gave them space to talk and he already knew what that meant. His wife wanted to help them with whatever plan they'd been talking about. If she hadn't there would be nothing to discuss.

He was a bit nervous about what she would say because if there was something she dearly wanted to do he didn't want to stand in her way, but he was worried about what it might mean for them.

"What's going on my love?" he questioned, while MianMian looked confusedly between them.

"Sect Leader Jiang and Wei-gongzi have requested my help. It would require me to return to the Jin sect, for at least six years."

Me, she said, not us.

"Six years?" he was stunned, "Six years is a long time to be separated, A-Qing."

"I know it is," she sighed and took his hand in hers. She explained what they had discussed without going into the finer details, and that he would go with MianMian to the Jiang sect, if he agreed with the plan of course, also mentioning the possibility that they could be reunited sooner than six years.

He sighed. It would be a risk that his wife would be taking going back to the Jin sect for this. He knew she didn't tell him every detail for their own safety and that if he didn't agree she wouldn't be angry. He wanted to say that it wasn't worth the risk to their family and he didn't like the idea of being separated for so long from her…but Sect Leader Jiang's offer gave him pause. They had been discussing what to do with MianMian for a while now. They both agreed that she needed to learn cultivation because despite not being a cultivator himself, he accompanied his wife on her hunts. MianMian needed to learn to protect herself but her mother couldn't teach her everything. They'd discussed her joining a sect and time was slowly running out to decide what to do because you had to start cultivating at a young age in order to develop a golden core. She was at the optimal age to start training and Qingyang had already done some basics with her but she'd eventually need a proper master. But they didn't want her to be too caught up in sect politics which would be inevitable if she were to be a part of one. And they couldn't deny that neither of them particularly wanted to be separated from her. If she joined a sect she would be joining alone after all.

"What are you thinking?" Qingyang asked him, after he'd been quiet for some time.

"I don't like it," he said finally, "But I'm considering it anyway."

He ruffled his daughter's head and looked at her fondly, "MianMian can benefit a lot if the Jiang sect will teach her. And it's even better that she doesn't have to be an official sect member. It sounds almost too good to be true that it's almost a perfect solution to the problems we discussed. I'll get to be with her and she'll get taught by a sect without having to be a part of it, a major sect at that. It would be better if we were both there obviously but it's good that she can have one of us at the very least. But…"

"But what?"

He looked at MianMian, not wanting her to hear their conversation for fear of making her scared when there might not be a reason to be, even if she couldn't quite understand what he meant.

"Sweetheart, how about you go outside and keep the esteemed cultivators company? You liked Wei-gongzi the last time didn't you? You kept the money he gave you safe. Why don't you go and thank him again?"

MianMian had thought of the cultivator as silly but he was also kind of funny so she reluctantly went outside to give her parents their privacy. The one in purple had a pretty ring, maybe if she asked nicely she would get to see it.

"Can we trust that Sect Leader Jiang will keep his word? Sandu Shengshou is said to be ruthless, will it even be a good place for us to be, safety notwithstanding. Also, I thought he killed the Yiling Patriarch, isn't it strange that they're working together now?"

Luo Qingyang sighed. Well that was probably far more complicated than anyone knew. She was well aware of Sandu Shengshou's reputation. But Luo Qingyang was also more observant than most.

"I told you that Wei-gongzi saved me from Wen Chao's mistress who wanted to brand me… but I didn't tell you the entire ordeal did I? It's not a part of my life I particularly like to think about."
"I know, you don't have to talk about it again," he said softly, "I believe you when you said he's not a bad person. I trust your judgement."

"Well whatever mistakes he went on to make, he clearly suffered the consequences. I don't think Jiang-zongzhu working with him is suspicious. You might not remember since you really only know rumours about back then, but Wei-gongzi was a Jiang disciple. He and Jiang-zongzhu were close friends once upon a time. After Wei-gongzi jumped in front of that iron and took the hit for me… it was Jiang-zongzhu who went after that nasty woman. And it was also Jiang-zongzhu who got us all out of the cave when he could have left by himself. Whatever he's done after that, what is true or not, I can't say. Right now at the very least, they seem to have overcome their problems with one another, in fact when they arrived I felt like I was transported back to that time. They behave the same way they did then. But I have never gotten to thank them for their help so even if they said that they understand if I can't help, I would like to. And it won't just be repaying them for their help, it will also be repaying Zixuan for the kindness that he had shown me. As for whether Jiang-zongzhu will keep his word, I believe that he will. Remember, they are the ones who need me. I don't think he will forget that. He will not treat you poorly. Don't be fooled by Jiang-zongzhu's gruff manner. He wants to help his sister's son and I believe he will do whatever it takes. Both Jiang-zongzhu and Wei-gongzi loved Jiang Yanli very much. Whatever reputation they both gained, that fact would not have changed. And you know I don't put a lot of stock in rumours anyway. I have firsthand experience of how the jianghu exaggerates and sometimes outright fabricates things."

Luo Qingyang's husband felt his heart beat even more for her. He knew his wife was strong and cool but apparently she also had insight about some powerful people. She was so amazing! He couldn't help but feel like one lucky man. And since she had interacted with both before he would choose to trust her judgement over the words of people who never even met them. She left her sect precisely because they were exaggerating the truth about the Yiling Patriarch and outright lying about her feelings about him, looking down on her just because she was a woman who dared to call them out on their unfairness. She was right that rumours couldn't always be trusted. The two people outside their house both had fearsome reputations, but they had been polite to him, a non-cultivator, and Wei-gongzi had been nice to MianMian. They had both helped his wife before as well. So despite his reservations he would give it a chance. His wife wanted to do this and it would also be beneficial for MianMian. He would just have to hope that Jiang-zongzhu could indeed protect them.

"Alright, I understand. If you trust them then I will choose to trust them too."

They went outside to deliver their decision and Fan Huiqing almost had a heart attack.

"A-die look!" said MianMian, smiling brightly at their approach, waving her hand to show them her new bracelet.

It was Zidian. His daughter was playing with Zidian! His heart skipped a beat at the sight, and he didn't know how to feel until he realised that the whip wasn't hurting her. She was happy and excited to show it off.

The whip was uncoiled and was emitting its famed purple glow, but it had somehow shrunk in size and wrapped around her wrist like a bracelet made of lightning.

Wei Wuxian was sulking in the corner and muttering about 'bribes' and 'unfair'.

Xxxxxxx

Wei Wuxian appreciated that Jiang Cheng was willing to take the risk of sending a Jiang disciple, even a lesser known one, into the Jin sect with him simply because he wanted to have someone he could trust other than Jin Ling, who was a child.

But he left the Jiang sect all those years ago specifically so that he would not put them in danger when they were in such a precarious position. Right now the jianghu was once again experiencing upheaval and if the Jiang sect were to be accused of infiltrating and spying on other sects, it would do a lot of damage. People already muttered about Jiang Cheng influencing Jin Ling so Jin Ling had steeled himself and told his uncle not to interfere, which Wei Wuxian had scolded him for because his intentions were kind but his actions were hurtful. Jiang Cheng had in fact let Jin Ling do his own thing but he would not stand aside now that they were trying to usurp him.

Suffice to say, he didn't let Jiang Cheng take that risk then and he wasn't about to start now. Even though the Jiang sect was in a much better position right now, the other major sects weren't and people might accuse him of wanting too much power which could cause him a lot of trouble.

"I'm happy that you'd spare one of your disciples for me, but if MianMian doesn't agree I'll make do," he said, "We both know the kind of trouble that could come from a disciple of yours being discovered within the Jin. It's an unnecessary risk. Not when it's just for my comfort anyway. I think I've caused the Jiang sect enough trouble, don't you?"

Jiang Cheng scowled and flicked him on the forehead, "Who even said it was for your comfort huh? I was the one who said that we need to get you a second-in-command who is trusted in the first place! If Lady Luo can't help we'll have to find someone else. Someone who we can still trust! How many people like that do we have, Wei Wuxian? It's easier if it's one of our Jiang disciples, we'll just have to be very careful."

"Jiang Cheng…" Wei Wuxian said, his face taking on an odd expression.

"What?"

Wei Wuxian knew that despite the fact that they were getting along well enough again, that it could not be exactly the way it was before. Too much had happened between them and too much time had passed. Jiang Cheng was now a seasoned sect leader while Wei Wuxian was still a deeply conflicted youth in comparison. Jiang Cheng knew his place in the world, while Wei Wuxian was still trying to find himself. Before, Wei Wuxian would be the one ahead while Jiang Cheng followed closely behind him. Now it was Wei Wuxian playing catch up. Jiang Cheng was assertive and no-nonsense and even though Wei Wuxian was joking around with him again and he was indulging him, it was clear that their dynamic had shifted. Now Wei Wuxian was following Jiang Cheng's lead. It had left him feeling slightly off kilter. He knew that Jiang Cheng did not truly need him anymore which left a stone in his gut. He had been gone and Jiang Cheng was left to do everything by himself and he'd done it admirably. The Jiang sect was thriving, even better than before.

But Jiang Cheng was now talking as if…

He'd said our Jiang disciples.

Our.

His heart felt like it had been cracked right open.

He threw himself at Jiang Cheng and clutched him tightly, even though Jiang Cheng was taller than him now and it was a bit of an awkward position.

"What the–" Jiang Cheng sputtered, slightly breathy from having the wind knocked out of him. "Wei Wuxian, what the heck?" Jiang Cheng said, confused, though he shifted to a more comfortable stance and didn't push him away.

He'd talked as if they were still a team.

As if it was still them against the odds. Even though Wei Wuxian had nothing to offer him anymore (except more trouble). He had said it so naturally, like it was routine. Like he didn't even have to think about it. Like it was just a fact of life.

Wei Wuxian was the one who'd said they'd be the Two Prides of Yunmeng. But all this time…

All this time it really was just Jiang Cheng who'd been thinking of them as such, wasn't it? For the first time it truly hit him that Jiang Cheng had valued him. Still valued him. Even after everything. That Jiang Cheng had taken his words and held them in his heart and expected that it was a given to have Wei Wuxian next to him, always.

And suddenly something Lan Zhan had said to him once came back unbidden.

"If you do not have those intentions, then do not flirt with others. You are doing as you please, yet others will be in turmoil."

He'd thought him a ridiculous fuddy-duddy. Why was Lan Zhan upset about it if it wasn't Lan Zhan he was flirting with?

But now he understood what Lan Zhan had been saying. He'd been telling him to take care with his words. The words that spilled so carelessly from his mouth might mean nothing to him, but they could cause misunderstandings and bring pain to others. His frivolous words might be taken seriously by others and hurt them.

When he told Jiang Cheng that Yunmeng would have its Two Prides, he wasn't exactly lying. At the time he just expected his life to go along a certain path. It was simply a given that Jiang Cheng would be the sect leader and he would be his right hand man. So his words weren't a lie but he hadn't thought about them seriously either. He'd meant to cheer up Jiang Cheng who had been upset once again because of his father's words. He'd said it thoughtlessly.

But Jiang Cheng was not him. Jiang Cheng had been drilled since young about his role and his duties. Jiang Cheng had been thinking about his future seriously the entire time, while for Wei Wuxian, the future was a nebulous concept and he just had vague ideas of what it would look like for him. He preferred to live in the here and now anyway. The conversation he'd had with Jiang Cheng wasn't entirely frivolous. He had meant it when he said that Jiang Cheng could lead the sect his own way, the same way Lan Yi did with the Lan. And when Jiang Cheng had seemed to calm down at that, he reacted the way he always did when dealing with tense situations; he tried to lighten the mood. The Lan had their Two Jades and the Jiang would have their Two Prides!

His carefree words, meant to simply cheer up his shidi and take his mind off of his worries of not being good enough, had been taken as an assurance that he'd be there by his side. That his future would be okay because Wei Wuxian would be there with him. Because he thought that Wei Wuxian's words meant that he saw their bond as important, the same way Jiang Fengmian and Wei Changze had valued each other as more than simply master/disciple.

For the first time he understood why Jiang Cheng had taken everything the way he did.

Because he, Wei Wuxian, had been important to Jiang Cheng.

Because his shijie's heart wasn't the only one he'd broken.**

He felt stupid now for not realising sooner.

But he'd never thought…

Why did he never think that Jiang Cheng viewed him as important? Jiang Cheng, who would scold him but would always get him out of trouble anyway. Jiang Cheng, who wanted him to come home so that he could protect him. Jiang Cheng, who suggested that he be the one to name shijie's first precious babe and brought her to Yiling despite the risks so that he could see her in her wedding gown. He knew Jiang Cheng cared in his own way but he'd never truly acknowledged it.

At the temple, he hadn't wanted to see Jiang Cheng cry and he hadn't wanted to deal with any of the issues that had already gone by, he'd just wanted to move on. He knew why he did what he did and he didn't feel the need to rehash anything or explain. He wished Jiang Cheng would put it out of his mind. He had heard what Jiang Cheng was saying… he had heard but he hadn't been listening. He'd been… god what had he been doing? He'd been thinking of how when he gave away that core he'd tried everything to justify to himself why it was okay that he could never cultivate again. He'd given it away because he couldn't bear to see Jiang Cheng the way he was. Because Jiang Cheng was supposed to be a sect leader. Because he made promises to protect Jiang Cheng. Because Jiang Cheng was important.

Jiang Cheng was important and he didn't regret what he did but now at least he could admit that his loss had ached and he had fooled himself into thinking it didn't. He was thinking of some of the most painful moments in his life. And he didn't want to think about it anymore. He was tired.

He thought he knew all the ways he'd caused Jiang Cheng pain. He'd even apologised just the night before.

But Jiang Cheng had been so upset in the temple that he'd cried in a way he would never do in front of others and asked him why he didn't tell him? He brought up Wei Wuxian's promise to stay by his side. And then when Wei Wuxian said to take it as repayment he asked repayment to who? But of all the people he mentioned, he hadn't mentioned himself.

He was too much of a mess himself to think any deeper about the situation especially since it was one he wanted to avoid.

But why would Jiang Cheng, notoriously prideful Jiang Cheng, have cried in that situation in front of all the major sect leaders and Lan Zhan who he disliked?

Now, the only answer he could think of is that it's possible that finding out all of that broke Jiang Cheng's heart even more than he already did.

He had only been thinking of how Jiang Cheng would be upset about having someone else's core because he was competitive. He had never thought that Jiang Cheng might be upset that he didn't confide in him. He didn't think of himself in that equation. But Jiang Cheng had always been thinking about him. Had always been imagining them side by side. Had sounded so broken when he talked about that unfulfilled promise, almost like he was pleading with Wei Wuxian to give him something that Wei Wuxian couldn't recognise at the time.

He had hurt because he'd valued Wei Wuxian.

And Wei Wuxian had never seen it.

The very same way that it took Zewu-Jun to tell him what Lan Zhan did to protect him for him to see that Lan Zhan also valued him. Lan Zhan had wanted to help him and he hadn't realised it at all.

Jiang Cheng had also asked him several times what was wrong. And in his denial of his own grief he had lied and pushed him away. He had bottled everything up and lied to himself as much as everyone else.

And he hadn't realised it at all how much this was hurting not only him, but also the people he cared for.

Because Wei Wuxian had never once thought of his own feelings, his own pain, as important when there were so many other things that were far more important to consider than that.

He'd never considered that they would hurt for him. That his presence or absence, that his well-being, would be that important to them.

He'd always looked at Jiang Cheng as the one that needed protecting. As the one he had to help. The one who needed his help. In a way he hadn't really seen Jiang Cheng as being on the same footing as him. He'd taken Jiang Cheng's anger as him being upset that Wei Wuxian was no longer there to help him. He'd viewed it as Jiang Cheng thinking about himself. But Jiang Cheng did many things himself. He hadn't needed Wei Wuxian to succeed. He hadn't needed him… but he'd wanted him. He had wanted Wei Wuxian there beside him.

All of this he realised standing in MianMian's front yard just because despite everything that happened, Jiang Cheng had talked as if no time had passed. As if Wei Wuxian were naturally still by his side, even though Wei Wuxian had been distancing himself from him ever since...well, technically since a very very long time ago. And all Wei Wuxian could do was squeeze him and curse his own stupidity for not understanding things sooner. What an arrogant lad he'd been. He could cringe at his past self for so many reasons.

On his end Jiang Cheng was confused by Wei Wuxian's behaviour but upon feeling Wei Wuxian trembling, thought that Wei Wuxian was really more worried about the plan than he let on. Maybe he really didn't want to do this?

"Look if you're really that concerned about it we can try and find another way to help A-Ling. Even if he's already put you in the Jin family records by now that by itself doesn't have to be a big deal. And if we fail, I'll just take A-Ling officially into the Jiang instead and make him my heir, I need one anyway. I won't leave him to deal with a corrupt sect as a deposed leader, he can renounce the whole sorry lot of them and come with us to Lotus Pier."

'We'

Wei Wuxian made a weird whimpering sound. Jiang Cheng had told him that he'd always be welcome at Lotus Pier, but he hadn't demanded that he come back anymore.

But Jiang Cheng had been talking like he was a member of the Jiang sect once more. He hadn't realised that Jiang Cheng had meant that he accepted him again but was giving him his freedom. Jiang Cheng didn't expect him to stay this time, but he still wanted him around.

Even though he thought Wei Wuxian was backing down from their plan to help A-Ling he still…

"Jiang Cheng, I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"Well it can't be helped, we can tell Lady Luo we don't need her to go to Lanling anymore."
"No. Not for that. The plan is fine. Just…"

"Just what?"

"Just sorry…"

For having been so foolish all this time. For not seeing him clearly.

His shijie would be disappointed in him. She was the one who told him so long ago not to mind Jiang Cheng's words, that he was really happy to have somebody with him. And he had been. All along he had simply been happy to have Wei Wuxian with him. But Wei Wuxian still didn't take it to heart that he was Jiang Cheng's friend. That Jiang Cheng had been happy for him to be there (even if he'd been upset by the loss of the dogs.) Things that had been so simple as children had become more complicated the older they became, and he'd forgotten that simple joy of being together. It didn't help that after the massacre and living in the burial mounds that he had tried to bury all those happy times with his sect that he thought he'd never get back again.

"I miss Lotus Pier, that's all," he said, hiding his face in Jiang Cheng's robes.

I missed you, he didn't say. He didn't even realise how much until Jiang Cheng started talking of them as a unit again.

"Oh."

Jiang Cheng didn't really know how to respond, and upon remembering how badly the last visit Wei Wuxian had to Lotus Pier went, he just stayed silent and let Wei Wuxian hug him. Why did he feel so strange all of a sudden?

He didn't know how long they would have stood like that if it wasn't for a tiny voice startling them out of it.

"What are you doing?"

They jerked apart and Wei Wuxian laughed sheepishly, "Mini MianMian! What are you doing out here? Did your parents send you to call us in?"

The child looked at him judgmentally and shook her head.

As it turned out she had been sent outside to let the adults talk so Wei Wuxian tried to keep her entertained but she remained very unimpressed until Jiang Cheng, having noticed her glancing at Zidian, asked her if she wanted to see and, wide-eyed, she enthusiastically nodded.

They had kept her occupied playing with Zidian (Wei Wuxian thought it was unfair that Jiang Cheng's flashy ring was more entertaining to the child than his talisman tricks).

Xxxxxxxxx

"A-Die look," said MianMian, showing off Zidian, that had turned into a bracelet on her wrist, to her father who had stepped outside with his wife to deliver their decision.

"Yes, very nice sweetheart, but you have to give it back to Sect Leader Jiang now, okay?" said Luo Qingyang after they had both been shown her new jewellery.

She pouted but acquiesced.

"Ah Lady Luo, Fan-xiansheng have you come to a decision then?" asked Jiang Cheng.

Fan Huiqing, who was suddenly feeling much better about their decision after seeing MianMian playing with Sandu Shengshou's first class spiritual weapon like it was a toy and being perfectly unharmed by it, nodded.

"We would be glad to accept your offer to stay at Lotus Pier Jiang-zongzhu. Qingyang will go to Lanling to assist Wei-gongzi."

"That's great! Glad to have you on board MianMian," said Wei Wuxian, with a relieved grin.

As time was of the essence since A-Ling needed to reinstate her himself, they had decided that MianMian would leave for Lanling that same day. It wouldn't do for Mo Xuanyu to be the one to do it even if he would be able to if they made him acting sect leader. Jiang Cheng had received a butterfly message from Ouyang Zizhen, who was starting to worry at the length of time they were taking to get to Lanling, telling them that Jin Ling had agreed to do what they said and had entered Mo Xuanyu as the newly legitimised Jin Xuanyu in their family records. He sent one back telling them of the addition to the plan, and requested that Jin Ling quietly reinstate Luo Qingyang who would be arriving sometime that evening.

Fan Huiquing had decided that since his wife was going to Lanling already that he would also pack up with MianMian and leave for Lotus Pier that very day. Since they couldn't travel by sword it would take some time to get there. Luckily they didn't need to take many things because Jiang-zongzhu said they would be provided for.

Everyone knew their parts now so Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian left them to finish up their packing and took off once again, pressed together on Sandu.

Xxxxxxx

"Uh Jiang Cheng, I don't think this is the right direction," Wei Wuxian pointed out.

"Hm? No it is."
"But Lanling is that way," he gestured.

"Yes. But we're not going to Lanling. Once I show up there they will be on the alert. It would be better for Lady Luo if we let her arrive quietly and get settled. We can afford to stay at Lotus Pier tonight and go there in the morning. I'm sure they've already voted to replace him with an 'acting' sect leader but they won't choose a replacement so quickly because they'll all be fighting amongst themselves as to who the replacement will be."

"So it doesn't have anything to do with the fact that I said I missed Lotus Pier?" said Wei Wuxian, teasingly.

"Don't be silly! Who said anything about you?" he barked.

Wei Wuxian smiled fondly. He could almost see the scowl on Jiang Cheng's face.

When they set out that morning to ensure that Jin Ling had gotten back to Lanling safely, neither of them had expected this turn of events. Now instead of enjoying his time at Lotus Pier, he'd only have one night before he had to go to Jinlintai and try to take over the sect to secure Jin Ling's position.

When he decided to watch over the juniors in Wen Ning's place, Wei Wuxian could not have anticipated any of this at all. He certainly hadn't expected to be on Sandu clutching at Jiang Cheng, who hadn't forgotten that Wei Wuxian had wanted to take in the view from the sword and had been flying slowly enough so he could enjoy it before they got to Lotus Pier.

He was going back to Lotus Pier.

He was welcome in Lotus Pier.

As they flew over lakes filled with an abundance of Lotus flowers, landing in the courtyard of a sect that was at once strange as it was familiar, Wei Wuxian couldn't identify the feeling in his chest as he realised that, even for a short time, he had gotten the chance to come home.

oooooooooooooooooooooo

** When I say this I do not mean it to refer to romance. The author did not write a romance between them, but there was so much love there nonetheless. This line is from my interpretation of MDZS because despite the issues they all had, the relationship between jc and wwx was one of the most important ones in the novel. They both sacrificed for the other and never intended for them to find out about it because it would cause the other pain and if that is not love then I don't know what is. I don't think love has to fit into a specific label. Jc and wwx loved each other, and whatever kind of love you want to ascribe to it otherwise doesn't really matter as much as the fact that that love was there.