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 Twenty Four
Once the meal is complete, the rest of the Wei family trickling out, including Popo and a reluctant A-Yuan, Lan Wangji presses the talisman book into Wei Ying's hands so he can present it to Xiongzhang. His husband smiles in gratitude.
"Lan Zhan helped with this because his calligraphy is a lot better than mine," Wei Ying says. "These are talismans I developed to help deal with different forms of resentful energy, in terms of how to remove it safely."
Xiongzhang is already flipping through the book, Nie Mingjue beside him and also reading over his shoulder. Jiang Wanyin stands for a better look.
"Different forms?" Nie Huaisang asks. "Isn't it all just resentful energy?"
Wei Ying shakes his head, adopting something of the air of a scholar, but he's clearly a little restrained, perhaps still reluctant to discuss his cultivation, fearing judgment.
"It's dependent on a variety of factors, including the emotion powering the resentment and what 'vessel' the resentment inhabits, if any—like you have to handle yao, mo, gui, and guai differently, but it's even more complex than that basic categorization because of the different factors."
He's referring to the differences between resentful creatures, and it reminds Lan Wangji of the disastrous conversion between his husband and his uncle during the lectures at the Cloud Recesses. Wei Ying has been exploring the different ways such creatures should be classified, and has started to identify factors that complicate that classification.
The research is groundbreaking, as few have ever studied resentment for reasons other than gaining power, Wei Ying trying to make the best of his situation by improving cultivation knowledge. Lan Wangji has had the opportunity to read his notes as he transcribed them, and he is endlessly amazed by his brilliance.
"You can pull resentment from objects?" Nie Mingjue asks, his expression inscrutable.
The attention makes Wei Ying shrink a little in his seat, and Lan Wangji takes his hand, squeezing it to reassure him. His hesitance to discuss his cultivation is palpable, and partly his fault for having judged him without listening, even if it was out of concern.
"Often each case requires a slightly different solution, but I can generally figure it out, given time. Some objects can be intrinsically connected to the resentment, while others are simply inhabited by it at random."
Nie Mingjue considers that and nods, keeping whatever thoughts he has to himself and going back to perusing the book as the next page is turned.
"Truly, Wuxian, these are revolutionary, almost too much for a dowry," Xiongzhang says finally.
"It's dowry for Lan Zhan, so if anything it's far too little," Wei Ying replies with a laugh.
Lan Wangji's ears heat at his husband's regard for him, but he also worries Wei Ying is too self-effacing and doesn't credit his own brilliance enough—Xiongzhang's assessment of them isn't overblown; these talismans are truly priceless in their genius and usefulness.
"Wei Ying's worth cannot be quantified," he tells him seriously.
He is gratified when Wei Ying blushes deeply and hides his face, overly dramatic as he tends to be when complimented sincerely, something that he never finds boring.
"Hanguang-Jun, spare your poor husband. Your sincerity is too much," he murmurs.
"Since when have you been shy at compliments?" Jiang Wanyin asks, amused.
Wei Ying only responds by sticking out his tongue, and his brother rolls his eyes good-naturedly.
"I have made a separate copy of the book for Wei Ying to keep, which may eventually be placed in the library at Lotus Pier," Lan Wangji tells Jiang Wanyin, ignoring their antics.
He receives a nod of thanks, the Jiang sect leader's attention already caught when Xiongzhang turns another page, the talismans drawing attention.
"Wei-xiong, we finished the rest of the yuefu," Nie Huaisang comments, not as riveted by the book of talismans as the others. "Your baihua is better than mine and Wei Ning's, so you should go over it to make sure it's right."
Wei Ning ducks his head at the acknowledgment of his help, shy, and Wei Qing nods her thanks to Nie Huaisang for including her brother. There was concern that he would not be accepted by their visitors, which would cause issues with any swearing of siblinghood, but it's clear by how Nie Huaisang treats him, giving him back some dignity through not only including him, but also cleaning up his appearance so he once again looks like a young master, that their worries were needless.
Nie Huaisang pulls out the sheaf of parchment containing the poem and sets it in front of Wei Ying with a flourish, clearly proud of his work, and Wei Ying shifts through them until he finds the spot he read last. Wei Ning helpfully brings out an inkstone and brush for him to use if he needs to make changes.
While the respective sect leaders pore over the book of talismans, the rest of them peruse the draft, Wei Ying correcting the baihua as he goes, and once rewriting an entire line in a way that makes it fit the yuefu more organically.
"Nie-xiong, I can't adopt all the street kids in Yiling," he says emphatically, though his tone betrays him. "I mean, we can feed them now, at least, but what about when it comes time to move to Lotus Pier?"
"The sect needs people," Jiang Wanyin cuts in before Nie Huaisang can speak, barely looking up from the book. "You don't have to adopt them as your kids, just as Wei if they want your name. The ones who have the aptitude can become cultivators, and the others we'll find a place for. There's room here now for them, and you and Lan Wangji can start their education."
Wei Ying stares at him, clearly flummoxed, but Lan Wangji knows this is something his husband would love to do—to give children like himself a home so they won't have to live in the streets and fight dogs for food.
Nie Huaisang clears his throat pointedly.
"Wei-xiong, it will help with your image. No one will believe the Jin rumors, especially with a gaggle of kids hanging off you."
"Unless they say we eat them or that I use them in some sort of dark rituals," Wei Ying mutters darkly. "I've heard worse said about the Yiling Patriarch."
Lan Wangji hates that those rumors exist. They are such an anathema to everything that is Wei Ying, beyond insulting almost to the point of blasphemy against his soul.
"You well know no one will notice the disappearance of street children, so there will be time. By the time it's noticed enough, I'll be able to take care of any rumors," Nie Huaisang says, a determined twist to his lips. "A war without fighting is something I can handle, particularly if it subdues our enemies with less turmoil."
Nie Mingjue drags his attention from the book to study his younger brother, clearly reassessing him, something Nie Huaisang doesn't even notice, instead leaning over the table, absorbed in reading the changes Wei Ying has made to the yuefu so far.
"Now that we have enough supplies, I can start a clinic," Wei Qing adds. "That should sow more goodwill, and we can bring meals for the street children."
"That'll work better than anything else—they'll be wary, so it'll take time," Wei Ying says distantly, his gaze unfocused.
Lan Wangji can only assume he is thinking about his own childhood, surviving alone for years, and he remembers the scars from dog bites on Wei Ying's legs. He offers what comfort he can, placing a comforting hand on his back, and is pleased when his husband relaxes at his touch.
Eventually Xiongzhang and Nie Mingjue wander off with Wei Qing to visit some of the warded areas and discuss future night hunts in the Burial Mounds, and Jiang Wanyin tags along—likely he will also send juniors to night hunt, but he's really accompanying Wei Qing.
Nie Zonghui stays with Nie Huaisang, but generally stays out of the yuefu discussion except when it involves cultivation; at one point he and Wei Ying have a theoretical conversation about yin energy that ultimately adds nothing to the manuscript. Lan Wangji readily admits it is beyond his understanding, and Nie Huaisang spends the entire conversation looking as lost as Lan Wangji feels, though he is pleased the Nie first disciple isn't balking at such a discussion or treating Wei Ying with the disdain he's seen far too many of the gentry levy toward him.
The review and discussion of the yuefu comes to an end less than a ke before the others rejoin them, at which point Nie Huaisang dramatically announces the more interesting changes, largely to gloat over the debates he won.
Xiongzhang at least feigns interest, while Nie Mingjue shakes his head at his didi's antics, but it's rather a relief when Wei Ying and Wei Ning both jolt slightly. Not only does he prefer not to have the last few hours rehashed, but he is anxious for the swearing ceremony, if only for the sense that, with that complete, they will be that much closer to bringing Wei Ying home.
Jiang Wanyin seems to understand a moment later, asking "Jie?"
Wei Ying smiles, almost too bright, as though he too is feeling the weight of it all, and Lan Wangji takes his arm to urge him to his feet, letting the gesture remind his husband that he faces nothing alone now.
The Nies and Xiongzhang decide against accompanying them to the base of the Burial Mounds, allowing Wei Ying time to collect himself while accompanied by those he has learned to trust to help him.
Jin Zixuan, surprisingly, is not dressed in gold, but a robe of soft purple with embroidered pink peonies on the hems of the collar and sleeves, a nod to his Jin heritage in the peonies and their color, but also to the Jiang in the color of the robe. Jiang Yanli is wearing a pink robe in the Jin hue embroidered with purple lotuses, an interesting counterbalance to her husband. It is perhaps a nod to visiting the bride's home and the joining of family, but also one that allows them to stand out a bit less, perhaps looking like late-leaving Jiang wedding guests. They are accompanied by a contingent of Jiang cultivators, as well as a carriage drawn by a duo of nervous-looking horses, which will need to be hidden near the base of the Burial Mounds from any prying eyes.
As soon as they come into view, Jiang Yanli rushes through the ward to her siblings, fussing over Wei Ying's health, though he has to disentangle himself to key Jin Zixuan through the wards. The latter bows in greeting, and he returns the gesture a bit awkwardly. Some of the Jiang disciples also need to be keyed in.
Once inside, Jin Zixuan only takes notice of Wei Qing and Wei Ning when Wei Ying introduces them, all eyes for his wife, and he bows to them to greet them as well as Lan Wangji and Jiang Wanyin.
Jiang Wanyin passes orders to his men, and Wei Ying tells them where the horses can be tethered.
"It's where we kept the horses from the labor camp before we sold them," he says, glancing at Jin Zixuan to gauge his reaction as the Jiang disciples handle unhitching the animals and unloading a number of qiankun pouches from the carriage.
Jin Zixuan simply nods, clearly unconcerned with the matter. Likely the fate of the horses was an afterthought, given the situation.
While they make the trek up to the settlement, Jin Zixuan thanks the siblings for rescuing and protecting Jiang Yanli and her brothers, outright acknowledging the debt, and even apologizing for his sect's role in Wei Ning's death.
"There is quite a bit I have been kept in the dark about," Jin Zixuan says. "A-Li has asked me to discard my preconceptions and see the truth for myself. The rumors about Wei Wuxian have seemed a stretch at best, anyway."
Wei Ying glances at him, clearly nonplussed since his main interactions with Jin Zixuan have involved physical violence.
"You've hit me, but I deserved it both times, and what any of us did during the Sunshot Campaign shouldn't count against us," Jin Zixuan explains when he sees the expression. "Except the noble acts of We— er, Wei Qing and Wei Qionglin, of course, but the things we had to do in wartime, to defeat Wen Ruohan…"
He breaks off with a shake of his head.
"We all did what we had to do," Jiang Wanyin says, taking over. "And we'll be discussing more about the why at the settlement."
Lan Wangji catches Wei Ying's shoulder when he stumbles over a root, keeping him from falling, and Wei Qing elbows Jiang Wanyin none too gently.
"You lot can handle that—Wei Wuxian needs his treatment, and we can reconvene at dinner."
Blessedly, while Jin Zixuan looks curious, he seems to know better than to pry, and the rest of the trek is spent in an awkward silence.
As soon as they are within view of the settlement, A-Yuan breaks away from Popo and runs to greet his guma, but when he catches sight of their new visitor he skids to a halt so quickly he falls down, wailing and calling "Diedie, Baba!"
While the others freeze, clearly taken aback by A-Yuan's reaction, Lan Wangji springs forward with Wei Ying to pick up their son before his husband can hurt himself. The child clings to them, sobbing and babbling about the "bad forehead man," and he realizes he must be referring to the zhushazhi that identifies Jin Zixuan as a member of the Jin clan.
When Jin Zixuan tries to move closer and speak, clearly hoping to calm A-Yuan, the wails turn to terrified shrieks, so full of deep-seated terror that it hurts Lan Wangji to witness. He can see Wei Ying is similarly affected.
Wei Qing joins them while they try to calm him, Wei Ying trying to remind him that this is the good Jin that Jiang Yanli married, her lips pursed as she assesses the situation. A-Yuan is too beyond comfort for the words to reach him, in near-hysterics, and seeing him so distressed makes it clear how badly he was traumatized by what the survivors experienced in the labor camp.
Ultimately, she turns to Jiang Yanli and mimes wiping the vermillion mark away, and blessedly she does so after consulting with Jin Zixuan, her horrified-looking husband completely cooperative. Unfortunately, it does nothing to calm A-Yuan, and Jiang Wanyin quickly organizes the Jiang contingent to block Jin Zixuan from view.
By this time, Xiongzhang and the Nies have arrived, drawn by A-Yuan, along with Popo. Several of the refugees also gather, their expressions sad but devoid of surprise.
"Jiang Wanyin, can you handle updating Jin-gongzi while we handle this?" Wei Qing asks over A-Yuan's crying, her exhaustion bleeding through into her tone. "Popo and our other guests will be able to help you, particularly Nie Huaisang with the yuefu. I doubt Wei Wuxian wants to be present for most of it, anyway."
Fortunately, this is readily agreed to by all parties, aside from A-Yuan, who has broken into a coughing fit. By the time the others have left, he's lost part of his lunch in the dirt and is a whimpering limpet in Lan Wangji's arms.
"Diedie and Baba won't let anything bad happen," Wei Ying tells the boy, even though he's beyond hearing, having cried himself most of the way to sleep, "and Qing-gugu and Ning-shushu won't either. You're safe, baobei."
Wei Ying starts to use a sleeve to wipe A-Yuan's face, paying no mind to the high quality of the clothing, but Wei Qing stops him, handing him a clean cloth from a pocket to use instead. He speaks gently and soothingly, just repeating that he's safe, until the child's eyes close, his breath hitching occasionally as though he's still crying even asleep.
Wei Qing gestures toward the cave and Lan Wangji leads Wei Ying, rearranging A-Yuan in his arms so he can guide him by a sleeve, recognizing that this has shaken his husband. They didn't know how deeply A-Yuan had been scarred in his time at the Jin labor camp, but this has made it very clear in a horrifying and unexpected way to all present. Though they spoke to the boy beforehand to make him aware of Jin Zixuan's visit, all the warning in the world could do nothing to prevent his terror at just the sight of the zhushazhi, so deeply had he been traumatized.
"None of us could have known," Wei Qing says as they enter the cave, "so don't blame yourselves—I can practically hear you doing that, both of you."
Lan Wangji knows full well that won't prevent Wei Ying from doing so, and it will be a struggle not to blame himself, especially as he saw the wreckage of the labor camp. They both know what the rescued people here went through, but neither of them considered A-Yuan, with the boy so bubbly and bright.
They remove A-Yuan's soiled and dirty outer robes, and Wei Ying helps him arrange A-Yuan on the bed, nestled in blankets, his touches gentle as though the boy is made of glass, and then arranges himself nearby after stripping to his zhong yi trousers, making sure he can hold one of A-Yuan's hands as though to remind him he's not alone even in his sleep.
Wei Qing's treatment focuses on his hips, and by the end of it Wei Ying is asleep, as per usual, needing only for the blankets to be drawn up around him, something Lan Wangji does as soon as the last acupuncture needle has been removed. He shifts A-Yuan to be closer to Wei Ying, who instinctively puts an arm around the boy in his sleep.
"I'll go handle our guests, and come collect you for supper—I expect we'll do the swearing ceremony afterward," Wei Qing says brusquely, running a gentle hand through A-Yuan's hair in a way that belies her tone. "I'll bring fresh robes for A-Yuan."
She isn't the type to offer potentially empty reassurances, and so Lan Wangji isn't surprised when she simply gathers her supplies and slides the curtain shut behind her without another word.
Lan Wangji is left to the quiet of Wei Ying and A-Yuan's soft breathing. He can't help but feel off-balance, A-Yuan's heartbreaking reaction unsettling. The worry is unavoidable, with one goal so close to being met and yet the relief tempered now with the revelation of the scars on their son's psyche.
As difficult as it is, he must trust in the others, and so he sets up an inkwell so he can transcribe more of Wei Ying's notes to put the next half-shichen or so to good use, as his place is beside his husband and son.
So all the Auspicious Eight are at the Burial Mounds ready to swear siblinghood. And yet a wrench in the works: A-Yuan's trauma triggered by seeing Jin Zixuan's zhushazhi, the vermillion dot. I did research to figure out how it would be referred to—meta on Tumblr is amazing.
This was a necessary stopping point for this chapter, as it would've gone on another 3000 words and taken much longer to get out otherwise. I promise this fic isn't abandoned, just slow to update as a result of having multiple in-progress multichapter fics and my health issues.
Unsurprisingly, comorbidities popped up in the health area. As expected, treating the primary ones revealed more that need to be treated. It's a frustrating journey, but I have a wonderful team of doctors that I've put together and we're slowly getting on track to recovery. Good news: I don't have any markers in tests of other autoimmune diseases. Just the one.
baba - dad
baihua - commoner writing
baobei - baby
diedie - dad
jie - older sister
shichen - two hour period
xiong - brother
xiongzhang - older brother
yao, mo, gui, and guai - types of resentful beings, see Lan Qiren's quiz of Wei Wuxian during the lectures
yuefu - type of poetry, see previous chapter
zhong yi - undergarments consisting of trousers and a shirt that tends to tie closed in front
zhushazhi - zhusha is cinnabar, and with zhi it becomes cinnabar mole