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Chapter Text

“Because the executioner died in such a way, it is only natural that he turned into a ferocious corpse. Since he executed more than one hundred people before he died, why not dig up the graves of these people, arouse their energy of resentment, collect the heads of those hundred people, and use them to fight with the ferocious corpse…” 

Before anyone could speak, a powerful wave of energy swept over the room, bringing everyone to their knees. Wei Wuxian turned towards the doors, a hand on Suibian, ready to fight whatever was attacking. 

Two thumps from behind him made the teen turn around - then immediately run across the aisle to where Lan Wangji had crumpled, his head slumped against his desk. One quick press to his wrist and a finger under his nose paused any panic - Lan Wangji was still breathing, his core was strong but was slightly fluttering in strength. 

Wei Wuxian turned towards the head of the room, preparing to call out to Lan Qiren - only to see the Lan in the exact same state his nephew was in. 

“Jiang Cheng! Healers! Now!” he spoke, eyes stern as the Jiang nodded and ran out of the room. Wei Wuxian wrapped an arm under Lan Wangji’s knees, pulling the Lan into his arms. 

“Jin Zixuan! Get Lan Qiren and follow me!” 

The Jin was already at the head of the room checking on Lan Qiren before Wei Wuxian could even stand. 

Tucking Lan Wangji’s face into his neck, Wei Wuxian ran out of the room - hearing another person following him - as he quickly scanned his surroundings, eyes widened as he spotted Jiang Cheng and a group of Lans following him. A quick glance behind him assured that Jin Zixuan was behind him, then he dashed across the grounds of Cloud Recesses. 

Wei Wuxian ran into the Healer’s Pavilion, being directed to put Lan Wangji on the closest cot before a group of Lans surrounded him - hearing Jin Zixuan’s arrival and Lan Qiren being placed on the cot across the corridor from his nephew. 

“What happened?” 

Wei Wuxian’s attention snapped away from Lan Wangji - Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan standing next to him. He looked up at the Lan who had spoken.

“I’m not sure what exactly it was, but a massive wave of energy came through the Lanshi. I don’t know how it felt for everyone else - it didn’t feel oppressive or as if it was directed towards anything. I fell to my knees and heard two thumps come from behind me and turned to see both Lan-Laoshi and Lan Zhan slumped, seemingly unconscious.” Wei Wuxian turned to the other two. “How did the energy feel to you both?” 

“It didn’t feel malicious, but I would disagree with you Wei-Gongzi, it felt entirely focused on Lan-Er-Gongzi and Lan-Laoshi.” Jin Zixuan started, “It came from the back of the room to the front, seeming to rush towards the two Lans at the head of the room.” Wei Wuxian hummed, his eyes drifting towards Lan Wangji. 

“If it was targeted, it wasn’t going after Lans, but rather Lan Zhan and Lan-Laoshi specifically then. There were other Lan disciples in the room with us, and they’re all unharmed.” The Lan healer held up her hand. 

“Thank you for your insight, young masters. We simply then must wait for Wangji and Qiren to wake up, perhaps they themselves will be able to provide insight.” Lan Lihua spoke, clearly a dismissal to the three guest disciples. Wei Wuxian remained in the room as Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan bowed and walked out - Jiang Cheng attempted to pull him out of the room, ultimately giving up on the second tug. 

“Lan-Daifu,” Wei Wuxian started, dipping into a bow before the Lan Healer, “I would like to remain with Lan Zhan and Lan-Laoshi. I will not interfere with any of the healers and their treatments, but Lan Zhan is my friend, and I would not like to leave him alone when we don’t know what happened. If something truly was targeting him and Lan-Laoshi, I would like to remain by their sides until they are able to give their own accounts.” 

The Lan Healer put a hand on his shoulder, pulling him up from his bow - a small smile on her face. 

“Wei Wuxian, I will grant you your request. It is truly a pleasure to see that Wangji has made such a loyal friend.” Lan Lihua turned around, beckoning Wei Wuxian to follow her deeper into the Healer’s Pavilion - unknowing of the full face blush that crossed the young man’s face, before he collected himself and followed after her. 

It took two weeks for Lan Wangji and Lan Qiren to wake, both of them regaining consciousness in the middle of the night. 

When Lan Qiren woke, finding himself lying in the Healer’s Pavilion, his primary goal in that moment was to find his nephew - not having to look far, as a simple turn of his head revealed Lan Wangji, who had tears in his eyes. 

Lying on his arms, kneeling on the floor next to his nephew’s cot, was Wei Wuxian. It had been so long since either Lan had seen Wei Wuxian in his original body, but Lan Qiren could easily see the relief, grief, and absolute happiness in his nephew’s eyes as he hesitantly raised a hand towards the sleeping boy, running a hand softly through his hair. 

The room was dark, being only lit by the light of the moon and a single candle residing on a nearby table. Lan Qiren sighed, moving to swing his legs over the side of the cot, pulling himself up. 

They both knew when they activated the array, when they performed the ritual, that Wei Wuxian would not have gone back with them - only those present would return. 

It was an extreme, a desperate decision fueled by anger towards the entire cultivation world, a grief deeper than the deepest trenches in the ocean. The realization that Lan Wangji would now have to continue on living a second time without his beloved, where Wei Wuxian had died once again. Where, once more, his love had been taken from him by cruel, unrighteous men who thought they knew better, that they were doing the world a justice . 

Lan Qiren had seen the state that his nephew had been in after Wei Wuxian’s first death, what Lan Wangji had done in his grief then, and he feared what Lan Wangji would do to himself if he was left alone with this repeated grief. There was no A-Yuan for Lan Wangji to cling on to, there was no thread of Wei Wuxian’s existence that Lan Wangji was able to use to motivate himself to recover and stay alive. Lan Sizhui was a grown man, he had his own residence inside Cloud Recesses, he had recently spent his thirtieth birthday with both his fathers. His cultivation partner was expecting their second child, but Lan Qiren knew that none of this would have been enough to prevent Wangji from following his husband, his zhiji, if given the chance. 

It had been a miracle, despite the horrific moment, that Wei Wuxian was able to convey the location of a time manipulation ritual he had been drafting before his heart beat his last. They hadn’t known at the time that it was a time travel ritual, just that they “would know what to do with it once they saw it.” 

The array required an extreme amount of power to fuel it, but between the golden cores that Lan Qiren and his nephew had cultivated in their lives, they had the proper energy level to activate it - in addition to the power supplied by the Burial Mounds, where the array was required to be drawn and activated in. 

They both had known that the merger with their younger bodies would likely cause a disruption - hoping that they would end in a time where they weren’t amongst a crowd - but the array would not allow for a specific moment to be returned to. They were able to choose how far back they could go, and it was dependent on their combined strength to get them that far, but they had no control over when they arrived. 

“Wangji.” 

Lan Zhan sniffled, wiping away the tears that had fallen. 

“Shufu.” 

“I’m glad you’re okay.” 

For all the problems Lan Qiren had with his youngest nephew, it truly was Wei Wuxian who bridged the gap between them and allowed them to be able to talk once more. Of course, there were things that neither were able to completely forget nor forgive, but they were in agreement about who was in the wrong. 

Lan Qiren had destroyed all the Lan Clan’s discipline weapons - a peace offering - as well as implementing new rules that made all infractions require physical labor as punishment or copying the sect rules. Never again would someone be punished the way his nephew had been, especially without rightful investigation - which he strongly ignored their first time. 

In the years since Wei Wuxian’s resurrection, and subsequent marriage to Lan Wangji, slowly Lan Qiren had grown to appreciate his nephew’s husband - finally being able to see the brilliant mind that the man possessed. In addition to his grief and anger, Lan Qiren’s inability to see any reasoning towards “demonic cultivation,” it had taken a simple demonstration and three shichen conversation for his entire view to change. He and Wei Wuxian had often engaged in scholastic debates, with Lan Qiren often anticipating what position or potential unexplored avenue or explanation the Wei would give. 

He might not have looked as impacted as Lan Wangji had been at Wei Wuxian’s death, but he truly felt a loss he hadn’t felt since his brother’s death. The reason he strongly supported, and chose to go with, Wangji’s time travel plans was primarily due to the want to prevent the brilliant mind of Wei Wuxain from being further diminished and pushed aside while he was living in Lotus Pier. Wei Wuxian had once confided in Lan Qiren the true depths that he was being hindered and abused under the hands of Yu Ziyuan, Jiang Fengmian, and at times Jiang Wanyin. He often thought that if the Jiangs had listened to him, let him experiment more with warding, let him look at the wards and barriers that surrounded Lotus Pier, that when the Wens attacked they would have had a stronger chance of survival - the second he was allowed to examine the wards surrounding Cloud Recesses, he was able to point out weaknesses that had never been noticed even by their most senior of experts. 

So when Wei Wuxian had been killed, when he and his husband had been lured with a group of Lan juniors to a nighthunt that was supposed to be simple, a learning experience for a new generation of Lans, when Wei Wuxian had chose to protect the junior disciples at the cost of his own life - there was no alternative route Lan Qiren and Wangji could have gone down. 

They both would have done anything in their power for him, and that they had. 

Lan Qiren rose to his feet, crossing the small distance between his and Wangji’s cot, carefully reaching up and wiping the tears off of his nephew’s face. 

“We will do better by him, A-Zhan, I won’t let my mistakes be repeated.” Wangji nodded, leaning into his hand as they both watched Wei Wuxian nuzzle his head into the fabric of Lan Zhan’s sleeve, still within a deep sleep. 

The next two months passed without incident, Lan Wangji and Lan Qiren able to explain the attack as residual from taming and liberating a spirit earlier that day inside the Mingshi - a fraction of the original resentment had managed to escape and attacked them when they were weakened and were not expecting it. 

For both time traveling Lans, being able to stick to how they remembered the lectures going was easy - if not beneficial for Lan Wangji as he was able to more freely express himself around Wei Ying. While Wei Wuxian did spend time in the library copying lines as punishment, often he was there simply to spend time with Lan Wangji. 

With the upcoming Waterborne Abyss in Biling Lake growing closer and closer, Lan Wangji had been spending more and more time looking at suppression arrays - adding in his husband’s adjustments he had made decades ago that would make the arrays capable of suppressing such a high amount of resentment and preventing civilians from being severely impacted. 

It was with the Waterborne Abyss that the first major change to the timeline happened. 

Lan Wangji was panicking, so much so that those around him were able to pick up on it, as he ran into Cloud Recesses with an unconscious Wei Wuxian in his arms. 

Wangji didn’t know what had gone wrong. He had prevented Su She from going along with them so Wei Ying wouldn’t have to save him - he had wanted to banish the traitor from the sect to begin with, but Lan Qiren vouched that they could not punish people for actions they had not yet committed, and they could only attempt to help guide them onto better paths. 

There should have been no reason for Wei Ying to have fallen into the water like he had. All of those who had gone along were accounted for, they were all on their swords hovering over the lake, waiting for Lan Xichen’s next instruction. Lan Zhan didn’t remember the Waterborne Abyss being as rowdy as it had been, he certainly didn’t remember a tentacle of resentment targeting Wei Ying, pulling his sword out from under him, and practically dragging him into the lake. 

He couldn’t have been under the water for more than 30 seconds, so why was he unconscious?

What had gone wrong? 

Everything should have been fine , no one should have been harmed. They were supposed to discover the Waterborne Abyss and then flee for safety before recuperating and implementing a solution. 

So why was Wei Ying harmed? Why was he unconscious? Why wasn’t he waking up ?

Lan Wangji ran into the Healer’s Pavilion, Jiang Wanyin and Lan Xichen surely following quickly behind him, then handing over Wei Ying to Lan Lihua. 

It took only a few minutes for Lan Qiren to rush into the room - he had been able to avoid going to the Discussion Conference in Qinghe, citing that there had been strange sightings in and around Caiyi that required his immediate attention. The rest in the room were shocked when Lan Qiren pulled his youngest nephew into a hug, allowing Lan Wangji to hide his face in his neck as his body slightly shook. 

Much like when Lan Qiren and Lan Wangji had fallen unconscious a few months prior, Lan Lihua calmly explained that there was no resentment within Wei Wuxian’s meridians nor his body, there was no water in his lungs, and from her examination, the only thing wrong with the boy were the criss crossing whip scars on his back - varying in levels of healing from faded scars to recently healed wounds. She told them they would have to wait for him to wake up, nothing was wrong with Wei Wuxian, but they just needed to wait for his body to wake up. 

It had been the most stressful week of Lan Wangji’s life as he remained within the Healer’s Pavilion, playing as many healing Lan songs as he knew in an attempt to wake Wei Ying. He had been told of Wei Ying’s reluctance to leave him and Lan Qiren when they had been unconscious, it was exactly something he expected his beloved to do, but the waiting was torture . 

The ninth night was when Wei Ying stirred for the first time. 

Lan Qiren had come in to check on him - and Lan Wangji - and was in the middle of providing spiritual energy to Wei Wuxian. Lan Zhan tightly held Wei Ying’s right hand while Lan Qiren held his left, both slowly sending a trickle of their energy into the boy, hoping that it would help him wake up sooner. 

Their attention was taken by a small grunt, followed by both of their hands being squeezed. Lan Wangji’s head quickly turned, meeting the sleepy gaze of Wei Ying, a soft smile crossing his face as he looked up at the Lan with his eyes half opened. 

“I’m sorry I made you wait for me again.” Wei Ying whispered before his eyes shut once more, a soft snore following as he fell into a deep sleep rather than falling unconscious once more - the pair had discovered almost immediately after their confession that Wei Wuxian snores when he falls asleep in an environment his brain deemed “safe.” 

Lan Wangji froze, his eyes wide. 

Again, Wei Ying apologized for making him wait again . 

Slowly, he looked across the cot at his uncle, the possible meaning of Wei Ying’s words refusing to even leave his thoughts. Lan Qiren, however, was able to see the heartbreaking potential in his eyes. 

“A-Zhan, we fell into similar conditions when we arrived. Perhaps it took A-Ying a while to follow us.” he whispered, reaching across and tucking a fallen strand of hair behind his nephew’s ear. 

“But he said-” 

“A-Ying also said it was entirely experimental, that the array would only take back those who were present. Maybe…maybe he was with us, just unable to return exactly when we did.” Lan Qiren’s eyes drifted towards Wei Wuxian’s face. “Perhaps he didn’t know what would happen. I know he was unreachable with inquiry, but that doesn’t mean he left you A-Zhan.” He grasped his nephew’s hand, watching the tears silently roll down his face. 

“Regardless, Wei Ying is Wei Ying, and I will always support any decision you two make. If this is your A-Ying, we will just have to expedite our plans, get him out of the hands of the Jiangs and back where he belongs - in yours.” 

Lan Wangji finally let out the sob he had been holding. 

Wei Ying finally woke up the following morning to the sound of Wangxian , played with such a desperate tone and sad inflection that he couldn’t help the tear that escaped. Of course, his beloved husband noticed he was awake almost immediately, the playing stopping as Lan Zhan practically ran across the room to him, cupping his face with both hands. 

“I thought I told you, A-Zhan, you don’t need to hold back when you’re with me.” Wei Ying softly spoke, watching as Lan Zhan’s face fell before he tucked his face into Wei Ying’s chest, gathering as much of his husband in his arms as he sobbed into the white fabric of Wei Ying’s robes. 

That was the sight Lan Qiren and Lan Lihua discovered when they entered into the Healer’s Pavilion minutes later - the Lan healer having been told of Lan Wangji and Lan Qiren’s time travel, as the healer refused to believe the two knew nothing about their own conditions and the circumstances as to how they fell unconscious for two weeks. When Wei Wuxian seemingly fell into the same situation, the woman practically cornered Lan Qiren and demanded an explanation. 

Wei Ying looked up at the pair, a hand still calmly combing through his husband’s hair. 

“Good morning Shufu, Lan-Daifu. I apologize for worrying everyone,” He paused, his eyes drifting to Lihua - eyes widening as she nodded, “and for making you two wait for me once again.” 

Lan Qiren simply walked across the room and pulled Wei Wuxian into a hug, being careful of his nephew still tucked into Wei Ying’s robes. 

“Did you know you would come back with us?” Wei Ying let out a small laugh. 

“I was there when you activated the array. You didn’t really think I would let death take me away from Lan Zhan a second time, did you?” 

Chapter Text

It was both extremely easy and painfully difficult to figure out how to continue on the next day as if nothing had changed. 

Around each other, the three had long figured out how to cohabitate, Wei Ying was the bridge that brought Lan Zhan and Lan Qiren back together. Their relationships with their peers as adults was entirely professional. Wei Ying had never gone back to Lotus Pier, he avoided Jiang Wanyin when they happened to be in the same room, Nie Huaisang had holed himself up in Qinghe and rarely left. 

The two Lans knew how Wei Ying felt about the Jiangs - particularly about Jiang Wanyin. He didn’t keep anything from them - how his upbringing truly was in Lotus Pier, the brutality of Madam Yu and Zidian, his place within the Jiang family household, the fall of Lotus Pier, the core transfer, the siege, and everything else. There were a lot of hard truths and realizations Wei Ying had to come to and was helped through while living in Cloud Recesses, and both his husband and uncle came to his aid. 

There were things he regretted, choices he made that if he had been brave enough to accept the truths he knew now he would have never made. If he had been able to see how he had been manipulated, placed into a position amongst the Jiang siblings that wasn’t meant to be a third sibling but rather as a shield, how Madam Yu’s poisonous words had engrained themselves into his mind that he had to protect Jiang Wanyin at all costs, that he should throw his life down for the Jiang. 

He was a sibling when times were good, a servant at the slightest grievance. 

Wei Wuxian looked at Jiang Wanyin truly with pity, with the knowledge that things could have been different between them if Jiang Wanyin had only realized he was his own person and capable of making his own decisions. 

Wei Ying didn’t know if he could face a young Jiang Wanyin who hasn’t had to see his clan slaughtered, lose his core, lead men in war. 

What Wei Ying did know, as he ran a hair through Lan Zhan’s hair, his head still tucked into his neck, was that he was surrounded by two people who would do anything for him. He looked up to see Lan Qiren talking to Lan Lihua, and he knew that things would be okay. They may suck for a while, both Lans have expressed how if they knew about what Wei Ying had gone through at Lotus Pier that they would never have allowed him to return, to have Jiang Fengmian decide to take Wei Ying back after his altercation with Jin Zixuan. 

The initial pull away from those who wished to control him would be the hardest part. Wei Ying knew how tightly Madam Yu held onto things that were hers . She would not take lightly the idea of losing Wei Wuxian in any way except for death, especially to the Lans, to lose Wei Wuxian likely without any “rightful compensation.” If Wei Ying were to leave the Jiangs to the Lans via marriage, Wei Ying could only see Madam Yu either vehemently refusing to marry off her head disciple or she would bleed the Lans dry, demand things from them that would be obvious attempts to get the Lans to back down, that no way would they go to extremes for one boy, for the son of a servant. 

Lan Zhan lifted his head up, assumingly feeling how Wei Ying’s mind had taken a downward turn. 

His eyes were red, tears slowly falling down his face as he reached a hand up towards Wei Ying’s face. 

Wei Ying leaned into the hand that cupped his face, into the warmth of his husband’s hand. 

Warmth.

Wei Ying gasped, eyes widening - unintentionally drawing the attention of the two Lans that were quietly speaking with one another. He could feel tears falling down his face, Lan Zhan’s sleeve immediately catching them as he sat up, using both hands to pull Wei Ying’s face closer. 

“Wei Ying, what’s wrong?” he hoarsely spoke, Lan Zhan’s eyes darting between his eyes and the tears. 

“My core.” he spoke before falling onto Lan Zhan’s chest, sobs wracking his body. 

Wei Ying felt the exact moment Lan Zhan realized the true, heartbreaking realization that Wei Ying had come to. He felt Lan Zhan’s arms wrap around him, almost like he was attempting to pull their bodies together as to never part again, to become a single being, to never have to endure a painful existence without the other ever again. 

To feel Lan Zhan’s spiritual energy seeking his, to be able to send his back, it brought on another wave of tears. 

Within the time Wei Ying had spend in Mo Xuanyu’s body, the time the had bothe dedicated to growing a core within Wei Ying’s new body, they had only been able to get to the point where Wei Ying was able to spar for half a shichen, fly for a shichen and a half. They had gone through every single book on cultivation within the Lan library, even going as far as looking within the Jin and Nie libraries. They had consulted with Wen Ning, picked his brain for anything he could’ve thought. 

Ultimately they just had to resign themselves to the fact that due to the age of Mo Xuanyu’s body when they had started developing a core, the sustained abuse his body had endured at the hands of the Mos, that there was a limit to the strength that a core would be able to develop. It was extremely difficult to generate a core outside of prime developmental stages. Wei Ying would never be able to develop a core even comparably as strong as he once had, and it was simply something that they would have to accept. Over the years, sure, Wei Ying would be able to slowly grow and cultivate his core, but at the stage he was at before his death, at the advice of every Lan healer they spoke to, he would never be able to reach another breakthrough milestone in his cultivation. 

But in this moment, with his head tucked into Lan Zhan’s chest, with his husband’s arms wrapped around him, with Lan Qiren and Lan Lihua’s voices in the background asking what was wrong, what was going on, a long lost hope for being able to grow and live with Lan Zhan, to not have to live through nights of nightmares of leaving his beloved once more, of hitting a point where he had lived so long yet nowhere near as long as Lan Zhan’s cultivation would allow him to. 

Wei Ying hoped again. 

He would be able to live with Lan Zhan, spar with him as they once had. Lan Zhan wouldn’t have to carry Wei Ying when he tired, he wouldn’t have to keep a careful eye on Wei Ying during nighthunts. It wasn’t that his husband didn’t think he wasn’t capable of protecting himself, but in the years that they had been together, in the thousands of shared nights in the Jingshi they had, they were both aware of one another’s worst fears, their greatest nightmares. 

Wei Ying, while it had gotten better through exposure to Fairy, would always be terrified of dogs. He would always be haunted by the ghosts of people who he felt he had let down, those who had died for him or in his stead, those he had failed to protect. He had nightmares of his death, of being thrown into the Burial Mounds, of Lotus Pier. 

Lan Zhan, whose nightmares were not as frequent as Wei Ying’s, always had consistent recurring nightmares. While they oftentimes were about specific events - being whipped, finding out Wei Ying was dead, his lowest points during the thirteen years Wei Ying was gone - they often encompassed hypotheticals, events they had gone through but turned into the absolute worst case scenario. The worst of these nightmares surrounded Guanyin Temple, of Lan Zhan complying with Jin Guangyao’s demands but him still killing Wei Ying anyway, of Lan Zhan not being able to stop his death, to watch him die right in front of him. Lan Zhan always woke with a gasp when these nightmares occurred, his arms tightly pulling Wei Ying to him until he could feel his heart beating. 

They both had demons that haunted them, things in their pasts that would never be able to let them go, but they had each other, they had strength in one another that allowed them to be vulnerable for that moment, but to then immediately recognize that that didn’t happen, that they were alive, they were together - that they could face anything together. 

And oh, what a task facing Madam Yu would be. 

Maybe they could find a way to avoid it, Wei Ying certainly had one promising idea in his mind - and the certainty that it would work. 

Wei Ying felt Lan Qiren as he sat down next to them, and simply just extended his arm out. He heard Lan Qiren gasp as his spiritual energy probed Wei Ying’s strong, grown, developed core. As much as he and Lan Zhan had been worried about Mo Xuanyu’s core growth, no one showed as much drive and determination to find a solution than Lan Qiren - well, after they had started to get along better, once they got past Lan Qiren threatening qi deviation at the sight of them holding hands. 

Truly, for Lan Zhan and Lan Qiren, the knowledge that Wei Ying was once again with his own core, that he now had the strength to live a long life, it was something that they had thought would never happen - something they hadn’t even thought about when realizing they would be time traveling. 

Painfully, Wei Ying pulled away from his husband and wiped the tears off of both their faces, before looking at the other two in the room, determination on his face. 

“It should be much easier to change things now,” he looked at Lan Qiren, “and I think the first place to start is severing my ties with the Jiangs.” 

It was a simple plan, truly. Wei Ying had spent so much time as head disciple looking at how the Jiang Sect operated, what qualifications one needed to become a disciple, what merits were tested upon new disciples, but most importantly Jiang Fengmian had trusted him with the knowledge of what it takes to defect from the Jiang Sect. Likely, the man never suspected Wei Ying would leave his family. Wei Ying was a token of constant reminder of his parents, he was a trophy for Jiang Fengmian of Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze’s existence within the world. Ever since the moment he was taken in, made part of Jiang Fengmian’s family, made a member of the Jiang Clan, there was a clear expectation that Wei Wuxian was to spend the rest of his life in service to the Jiang Clan or to Jiang Wanyin. 

It was an easy realization once Wei Ying became aware of the subtle ways all the Jiangs had been treating him. He was expected to be a servant, he was not to have his own goals and ambitions, he was to act in the ways his masters wished.

So, when Jiang Fengmian allowed Wei Ying to read the Jiang Clan’s requirement for release of servitude, for defection from the Jiang Sect, there was a near zero chance that Wei Ying himself would ever have use for such information. 

“And how would you like to go about that A-Ying?” Lan Qiren questioned, filling Wei Ying’s bowl with the few parts of the Lan Clan diet he knew Wei Ying liked. 

They had relocated to the Jingshi shortly after Wei Ying had woken up, after the cry fest over his core. Lan Lihua had sworn herself to secrecy before excusing herself back to her duties. 

Wei Ying looked up at Lan Qiren, feeling Lan Zhan’s knee pressed against his as they sat at the table.

“The most common way for someone to leave a sect usually involves either expulsion or completing or buying out a contract. In the Jiang Sect, typically a fight is involved for defection - not to the death, but as a show of power. I’ve always interpreted it as a moment where the one defecting usually loses the fight and is humiliated by the sect they just left. However, the Jiang Clan specifically has a method for those living or working within Lotus Pier itself, particularly among the main family, to leave when they choose.” He took a bite of his food, pausing for a moment, and reaching for Lan Zhan’s hand. 

“I don’t know if it’s a method that just isn’t known or if it seems so untouchable to servants that they would never attempt it. If one challenges the Sect Heir to a duel, a public duel, where members of at least two other sects are present, the initiator of the duel is able to set the winning prize - in this case, complete dissociation with the Jiang Clan.” Wei Ying felt Lan Zhan’s hand squeeze his, Lan Qiren nodding for him to continue. 

“If I challenged Jiang Wanyin to a duel, had Lan Zhan and Nie Huaisang or Jin Zixuan as witnesses, when I win he would have to concede to my demands.” 

“ When you win?” Lan Qiren spoke, a slight quirk in his voice. Wei Ying let out a small laugh. 

“Oh Jiang Wanyin absolutely thinks he can beat my ass easily in a duel. I’ve been dumbing myself down so much around him I wouldn’t be surprised if he thought he could beat me with his eyes closed. He thinks that I’m just cocky with my skills, that I show off as a means of compensating for the fact that ‘I’m not as good of a swordsman as everyone thinks.’ It’s honestly pretty pathetic.” Lan Qiren hummed, looking at him with a pointed gaze. 

“What Shufu? Speak when you have something to say,” Wei Ying’s eyes darted to Lan Zhan, “You Lans, never speaking what you really think.” Lan Zhan’s lips quirked up in a small smile. 

“Would you say Jiang Wanyin has an inferiority complex when it comes to comparing his achievements and yours?” Wei Ying groaned as he nodded, an exaggerated nod. 

“Madam Yu constantly compared our progress when I first arrived at Lotus Pier, you both know this. Jiang Wanyin already had a developed core, I had barely anything, but still I seemed to get better every single day. I don’t know if he ever considered us even friends, but I do know that a lot of our interactions could have gone better if he wasn’t comparing what I was doing to what he had done.” Wei Ying let out a dry laugh, almost a scoff. 

“I honestly believe he was so angry with me, so distant, so antagonistic with me during the Sunshot Campaign was the simple fact that I seemed to have gotten away unscathed from an altercation with Wen Chao and Wen Zhuliu. He got caught and had his core melted, but then he likely thought I was just fucking around for three months and then found me cornering both of them - he was even the one that killed both of them, I never got another hit on Wen Chao after you showed up. I almost didn’t want to be the one to kill him. Anyway, no one knew where I had been, just the rumors Wen Chao had spread, not that Jiang Wanyin believed them.” He finished, watching as a scowl formed on his beloved’s face. 

“It should be easy, then, to get him to agree to the conditions of the duel even if he isn’t aware of the methods of defection. The moment he agrees, with the witnesses present, he has entered into a contract.” Lan Qiren spoke, running a hand through his beard. 

“Jiang Wanyin has always been easy to anger. The mere thought that Wei Ying wishes to challenge him to a duel will be seen as a chance to show Wei Ying which of them is superior.” Wei Ying let out a laugh, leaning against Lan Zhan’s shoulder. 

“Especially with the conditions of ‘if I win, I no longer have any ties to the Jiang Clan and have my freedom from them, vs if he wins I will devote my life to their servitude,’” he held up his hands towards the two Lans, “Don’t you worry about me losing. On strength alone I am miles ahead of him. We may just have to wait a while to actually make the declaration.” Lan Zhan nodded, wrapping an arm around him. 

“Mn. Wei Ying has not wielded Suibian with full power in a long time. We will practice whenever you wish.” 

Lan Qiren let out a sigh, rising to his feet before the two, gathering the tray of now empty bowls in his arms. 

“I will excuse you both from classes tomorrow, but you are expected to attend as diligent students from then on. A-Ying, you may stay in the Jingshi, I will report to Jiang Wanyin that you have been relocated to a dormitory for those recovering from illness, with no definite time of returning. I will also let everyone know you have woken up and bring you your belongings from your room.” He paused just before the door, his back to the pair. 

“It will pain me, A-Ying, A-Zhan, for us to have to act differently than we are used to. However, once A-Ying is free from the Jiangs, I have every intention of immediately initiating a betrothal contract between the two of you.” He took in a small breath. “I may have not been present for your bows nor initially approved of your marriage the first time, but my nephews will receive the wedding their stations require.” Lan Qiren turned his head over his shoulder. 

“No matter what those damn elders think.”

Chapter Text

The feeling of Suibian clashing with Bichen, with full strength, feeling Wei Ying’s spiritual energy flare with a cry with every connection - it almost brought him to tears. Lan Wangji couldn’t decide whether or not he wanted to push Wei Ying more or wrap his arms around him in tears. 

The pair were sparring in the clearing behind the Jingshi, where the rabbits Wei Ying had yet to gift him would reside. Lan Qiren supervised from a safe distance away, closer to the Jingshi. He would often shout corrections to Wei Ying or himself, telling them to reset their positions and try once more with a small correction. 

It was only when the sun fell beyond the horizon that they paused, the sound of someone calling for Lan Wangji at the Jingshi’s entrance made the three pause. 

“Um, I was told I could find Wei-xiong here?” 

It was an interesting experience for Wei Ying, to see Nie Huaisang as young as he was as he stood at the base of the Jingshi’s steps, fan closed but clutched tightly in his hands. 

The last time he had spoken to Nie-Zongzhu had been at a discussion conference in Qinghe a few months before his death - and even then, they shared few words. 

Nie Huaisang had become a bit of a recluse following Guanyin Temple. He had been deemed the new Chief Cultivator, sure, but he performed all his duties from the comfort of the Unclean Realm, rarely ever did he leave Qinghe unless his presence was required out of formality. There was a part of his retreat from society that Wei Ying understood all too well. 

Both he and Lan Zhan had wanted to do the exact same thing, and they had for the first two years after Wei Ying’s resurrection. They wandered the cultivation world, visiting small villages, night hunting wherever they could, providing relief and support to as many people as they could - all while having as minimal of contact with anyone they knew among the Great Sects as possible. 

Their first return back to cultivation society had been after Wen Ning urgently wrote to them, using a talisman Wei Ying had given him to only use in emergencies. 

Sizhui had been badly injured during a night hunt. 

He was entirely expected to live, but he would spend months recovering and desperately begged Wen Ning to find his fathers - saying that they should know he had been injured, that if they wanted to come see him, he would be overjoyed, but he also understood if they didn’t want to see those who held animosity towards them. 

They teleported to Cloud Recesses the second Wen Ning’s message got to them. 

To say the Lan Sect was surprised to see them was an understatement. People were scrambling, calling for someone to get Lan Qiren as if an urgent message or army had arrived at the gates. His husband simply grabbed his hand and pulled him in the direction of the Healers Pavilion. 

Sizhui had been asleep when they arrived, but the Lan Healers were quick to update the fathers on his condition - he had one leg broken in two places, multiple fingers broken, internal bleeding that had been stopped but the massive bruise that covered his side had yet to turn from its deep purple coloring, seven broke ribs, and out of sheer luck Sizhui had avoided any kind of head injury. 

Wei Ying had asked about the state of Cloud Recesses while Lan Zhan fed their son energy, watching as the bruise start to lose some of its coloring, turning green and yellow in some places. 

Lan Xichen had entered into seclusion the moment he returned from Guanyin Temple, taking up residency in Qingheng-jun’s residence - the house having sustained minimal damages during the Wen’s invasion. Once again, forcing Lan Qiren back into maintaining the position of Sect Leader in both his nephews’s absences. All attempts to convince Lan Xichen to leave seclusion were failures, met with only further extension of his seclusion. 

Wei Ying couldn’t hold back his scoff. 

“It would be just like someone like Lan Xichen using seclusion as a means of escaping the consequences of his actions.” He told Lan Zhan in the comfort of the Jingshi’s bed that night. 

Lan Zhan simply held him as they slept, unable to avoid the comparisons between both his and Lan Xichen’s seclusions and their mother and father’s seclusions - simply opting to hold his husband and sleep rather than state what they both knew was an obvious conclusion. 

Lan Xichen had fallen into seclusion the same way Qingheng-jun had, and they were using it the same way. For them both, seclusion was a conscious and voluntary decision. Both using seclusion as a means of avoiding the ramifications of their actions - Qingheng-jun ultimately using it as a means of avoiding his position as Sect Leader and father, forcing not only Sect Leadership onto his younger brother but also fatherhood, whereas Lan Xichen was using seclusion as a means of a physical barrier towards the position he held. He clearly had been fooled by Jin Guangyao’s words and actions and felt his pride and judgment was in question, his objectivity as a Sect Leader, according to him, could no longer be trusted. So, he locked himself up - but he did so voluntarily . 

Lan Wangji and his mother did not have the same choice. 

Their mother was forced into the Gentian House as a means of punishment. She was forced into marrying Qingheng-jun as a means of saving her life, whether or not she had actually done such actions with motive behind them to warrant a death sentence. She had been confined, never allowed to leave, forced into a schedule in which she was only allowed one day a month to see her sons - Lan Wangji often avoided the topic of his mother’s willingness in procreating heirs, he knew she loved him, but withheld himself from pondering whether or not she was forced into becoming pregnant. 

Lan Wangji had been confined inside the Jingshi. It was never truly called seclusion, but to those outside of those who knew of the true reason he was inside the Jingshi, he had been in secluded meditation. It had been the only option Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren had given him, outside of healing within the Gentian House. He too had been forced into seclusion, injured beyond belief by the same people who had raised him, who were supposed to uphold the same values he did. Lan Wangji felt no loss in the years spent outside of Cloud Recesses with Wei Ying - he was with his beloved, they had eloped, as long as they were together they could face anything. 

So when Lan Qiren requested to speak with Wei Ying and himself three days after their arrival in Cloud Recesses, he walked into the Hanshi with his head high, an indifferent look on his face as he met his uncle’s gaze. 

Lan Qiren looked tired, bags under his eyes as he gestured towards a table further into the room. Lan Wangji couldn’t remember his uncle looking as haggard as he looked now even at the height of the Sunshot Campaign. 

The three sat in silence for almost half a shichen before Lan Qiren sighed, raising his gaze towards the couple. 

It had been an awkward conversation, at first. His uncle had spoken about Sizhui’s injuries, how the creature that had caused them had been dealt with, how Lan Xichen had refused to come out of seclusion, refused to take up the mantle of Sect Leader once more. At some point, Wei Ying had reached under the table for his hand, a gesture that his uncle caught and glared at - immediately moving then towards insulting his husband and his cultivation. 

Lan Wangji had tried to walk out of the room, tried pulling Wei Ying out with him, but his husband stood firm, never backing down from Lan Qiren’s gaze as he calmly leveled question after question towards him. Slowly, Lan Wangji saw the scowl fall of his uncle’s face as Wei Ying fell into how exactly he had started cultivating the ghost path - making specific emphasis on calling it as such, ultimately demonstrating how what he was doing was nowhere near demonic in nature. 

By the end of their hours long conversation inside the Hanshi, Lan Qiren had kowtowed before Wei Ying and himself, practically begging the pair to forgive his past, ignorant transgressions, his unwillingness to look beyond his own grudges and prejudices. Wei Ying had told him, 

“What you are asking, Lan-Laoshi, is not something that can be easily given. Sizhui and Wen Ning will never have their family back, Jin Ling will never know his parents outside of stories, Lan Zhan will forever wear the mark of the Lan Clan’s ignorance and unwillingness to investigate a matter themselves, rather choosing to believe rumors that the Jin Clan perpetuated as a means of power grabbing. I would rather leave the past to itself. Why bother bringing up things that cannot be changed or undone? But you are the only remaining member of Lan Zhan’s family, and I can tell that for once in your life you are honest in your intentions, but it is up to Lan Zhan whether or not you are forgiven for your transgressions towards him. For what happened to the Dafan Wen, for the Lan Clan’s willing ignorance that ultimately led to the deaths of Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli, those matters will have to be brought up with those impacted - Sizhui, Wen Ning, and Jin Ling. Only from them can you attempt to gain penance for your inaction, forgiveness is theirs to be given, I cannot forgive them for you.” 

It seemed that his uncle had taken every word Wei Ying spoke to heart. Within the week he had arranged a residence inside Cloud Recesses for Wen Ning, commissioned an entry token for him to wear. No longer would Wen Ning be forced to remain at the foot of Cloud Recesses, waiting for someone to come to him and give him updates of Sizhui’s condition.

Lan Qiren had also spoken to both Sizhui and Wen Ning about the siege, about his ignorance towards Wei Wuxian and the Dafan Wen, how he had only wished to see the worst in Wei Wuxian and therefore had believed what the Jins were saying about him and the Wens he was harboring. He offered to build an ancestral shrine for the Dafan Wen, a place where Sizhui and Wen Ning could offer offerings and respect those in their families. 

It had also been that week that the Lan Elders woke the entire sect with their screams toward Lan Qiren as he strode out of the room containing the disciplining devices - the Lan Clan’s discipline whip in his hands. 

Wei Ying spotted the man as he walked across a courtyard towards them, immediately moving to stand in front of Lan Zhan, a hand on Chenqing as she was tucked into his belt. 

Lan Qiren stopped in front of them, raising the whip before flooding it with his spiritual energy. The whip turned a deep blue before disintegrating, falling to the floor in shreds, pieces of bound and wound together string flowing away with the next gust of wind. The man then bowed to the couple, before turning around and leaving without saying a single word - the elders who had followed him stood shocked as he walked past, not offering them a single gaze. 

It didn’t take long after that, for Lan Qiren to request meals be taken within the Hanshi, inviting Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian. Disregarding the “no talking while eating” rule and speaking freely with his nephew and his husband - every time ending with Lan Zhan contently watching as his uncle and husband argued over the semantics of a particular array or curse, debating on what ways the Lan Clan could improve their education of the littlest Lans, Wei Ying in tears as his uncle spoke in length about Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze after realizing that Jiang Fengmian had told Wei Ying absolutely nothing about his parents. His uncle, after recognizing his faults and initial dismissal of their union, had commissioned tablets for Wei Ying’s parents to be placed in the Lan Ancestral hall, beside Lan Wangji’s own parents, so that the couple could properly offer their respects to their families. 

It truly had been Wei Ying who allowed for Lan Qiren to have a relationship with his nephew, to be able to grow as a person - even if the brutal realization of his rigidness had come decades into his life and at the expense of dozens of innocent people. 

So when Lan Wangji walked into Cloud Recesses, a group of young Lan disciples behind him, Wei Wuxian’s limp, dead body in his arms, he was able to see the tears that had fallen down his uncle’s face as he ran towards them.

When they had laid Wei Ying’s body to rest, when Sizhui shared his former room inside the Jingshi with Jingyi, Jin Ling, and Zizhen, when the Sect Leaders had all come and offered their respects. When Lan Wangji looked at his grandson and couldn’t tell him where his grandmother had gone, why people were offering him their condolences. When he couldn’t bring himself to step inside the Jingshi at all, staying with his uncle in the Hanshi, laying in his uncle’s bed, curled up in the blankets, staring towards the ceiling or the nearest wall.

When Lan Qiren told him he couldn’t bear to see his nephew in this state, when he laid in bed with his nephew, holding him close as he sobbed into his chest, when Lan Wangji remembered what Wei Ying had told him before the life left his eyes, before he felt his heart stop, when Lan Wangji’s life lost all meaning. 

When they found the array Wei Ying had spoke of, when they realized just exactly what the array would do. 

When they told Sizhui and his cultivation partner that they would be taking a break from sect duties, that they would be taking time to wander the cultivation world. When Sizhui hugged his father and granduncle, saying he understood, that he would take over for them until they arrived back. 

When they stood inside the Burial Mounds, ruined remains of the Wen settlement surrounding them as they drew the array on the ground, both offering their blood as means to activate the array, tears streaming down their faces as the array activated, their clasped hands glowing as the array sucked them away, hopefully pulling them back into a time where Wei Ying was alive, where they would be able to save him from the destruction and abuse the Jiangs had put him through. 

Neither man had noticed Wei Ying standing next to them as the array activated, his hands resting on top of theirs. 

Lan Wangji took a deep breath as he grasped Wei Ying’s hand, walking them both around the Jingshi to where Nie Huaisang was waiting for them - shufu following behind them. 

“Nie-xiong! What a pleasant surprise, what can we do for you?” Wei Ying spoke, a wide smile on his face as he leaned his head on Lan Zhan’s shoulder. The Nie almost jumped when Lan Qiren walked around Wei Ying. 

“Ah! Lan-Laoshi, Lan-er-gongzi, apologies if I was interrupting something.” He fumbled, “I wished to speak about something with Wei-xiong, as well as let him know Jiang Wanyin has been looking for him.” 

Wei Ying felt Lan Zhan freeze next to him, the hand wrapped around his waist tightening. 

He smiled at Huaisang. 

“Me and Lan Zhan were just sparring, Lan-Laoshi was offering tips and ways we could improve,” He leaned in, a wide smile on his face, “Lan Zhan’s quite the formidable opponent, you know. I’d bet even Chifeng-zun would struggle against him. Anyway, if what you wished to speak about involves any literature or a certain drink, I’m afraid I’ll have to decline for tonight, Nie-xiong. Lan-Laoshi has me under strict supervision after what happened with the Waterborne Abyss.” He directed a gaze towards Lan Qiren, who hummed. 

“Wei Wuxian has yet to be cleared by Lan Lihua. She has him under strict instructions. I am certain anything Jiang Wanyin wishes to speak with him about can be written into a letter and delivered to the Jingshi. If Jiang Wanyin cannot express his thoughts into words, he will simply have to try harder to express his thoughts.” Wei Ying hid his head in Lan Zhan’s shoulder as he attempted to muffle the laughter that tried to escape. 

“I…I will let him know. I believe he spoke of wanting to tell Wei-xiong of the impression he is making on the Lan Sect with his antics, how he is supposedly strong and questions how some time in the water could have incapacitated him as it had.” Nie Huaisang hid his face behind his fan. “I do believe I heard him speak of writing to his mother about the event, saying that surely Wei-xiong would be ‘thoroughly punished once they arrived home’ .” 

“If Jiang Wanyin wishes to speak with Wei Ying, tell him to come to the training ground tomorrow at shen shi and to bring his sword. Attend as well, you do not need to bring your saber.” Lan Wangji spoke, watching as Huaisang’s eyes widened as he nodded before quickly turning around and practically running away from the three. 

“You think it’s time to challenge him, A-Zhan?” Shufu spoke, walking around and standing in front of his nephews. 

“Wei Ying has regained his strength and familiarity with Suibian. Any further delay would only agitate Jiang Wanyin more, potentially leading to Yu Ziyuan hearing more about Wei Ying’s supposed disgracing of the Jiang Clan. Getting ahead of his anger will be our strength.” He pulled Wei Ying as close as he could, their sides flushing together. 

“Better start working on that betrothal contract, shufu. My duel with Jiang Wanyin will be over before anyone can count to three.” Wei Wuxian said, a smirk crossing his face as Lan Qiren only sighed. 

“Do not expose your cultivation.” He spoke, before turning around and walking the way Huaisang had gone, Wei Wuxian’s laughter echoing around him. 

“And risk properly marrying Lan Zhan? Shufu I would never!”

Chapter Text

The air around the training grounds was tense as Lan disciples and visiting disciples glanced at Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji - who had been altering between full strength sparring and light, glancing hits. Lan Wangji rarely ever came to the training grounds when disciples were scheduled to use it, typically opting to use the grounds before curfew to get in solo practice. Thus, not many had ever seen Lan Wangji’s true skills - and this also applied to Wei Wuxian as well. 

A few of the guest disciples stood shocked as Wei Wuxian appeared to be equal in strength to Lan Wangji, matching him blow for blow, flowing seamlessly through form after form, practically dancing around Lan Wangji. 

They had heard, from Jiang Wanyin and a few Jiang disciples, that Wei Wuxian was someone who tended to be lax when it came to sword practice, that he always spoke highly of his skills but actually didn’t have the skills to back up his words. That he was a lazy, overconfident swordsman and cultivator, to whom Jiang Wanyin had been more than confident to say he could beat without even taking Sandu out of his sheath. 

Jin Zixuan watched as Wei Wuxian jumped over Lan Wangji’s sword, swinging his towards the Lan, stopping inches away from his throat - a killing blow. Both stopped, taking heavy breaths as they stared at each other, before Wei Wuxian laughed, stepping away from Lan Wangji and sheathing his sword. 

“I got you that time Lan Zhan!” 

“You were distracted for half that spar. At multiple points, there were massive gaps in your guard I could have taken advantage of.” Wei Wuxian leaned closer to the Lan, his arms clasped behind his back as he smiled. 

“But you would never take advantage of my weaknesses, would you, Lan-er-gege?” he spoke, a false innocence in his voice that made Jin Zixuan almost worry for his safety - stopping his arms in the air around his bow as he watched, hoping Lan Wangji wouldn’t cut Wei Wuxian down right where he stood. 

Before Lan Wangji had a moment to respond, Nie Huaisang came barreling onto the training grounds - straight towards Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. 

“Wei-xiong! Wangji-xiong! There you are!” Nie Huaisang panted out, taking a moment to catch his breath. 

“Nie-xiong, what can we do for you?” 

When the Nie stood back up, there was an edge to him that Jin Zixuan hadn’t ever seen before - he was serious about something.

“I needed to speak with you before Jiang-xiong came.” He had lowered his voice, but Jin Zixuan’s close position to the trio allowed him to hear them if he strained his focus.

“I have suspicions as to your summons, suspicions I hope I am correct about.” Nie Huaisang sent a pointed look towards Wei Wuxian. “And about how much you have thought about the aftermath, what will happen when you get what you want.” 

Wei Wuxian let out a small laugh. 

“Nie-xiong, don’t you worry. Lan Zhan and Lan-Laoshi have everything already planned out.” 

Huaisang’s eyes widened so fast Jin Zixuan almost found himself laughing. 

“After you win, you plan on-” 

“Wei Wuxian! What shame have you brought onto the Jiang Clan this time?” Jiang Wanyin suddenly spoke as he stormed towards the group, focus entirely on Wei Wuxian. 

The change in Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji was instant, both of them turning towards the Jiang with unreadable expressions on their faces. Lan Wangji had shifted a hand, holding onto the hilt of his sword, his eyes tracking every movement the Jiang made. His eyes watched as Wei Wuxian took a step towards Jiang Wanyin. 

“Jiang Wanyin, I have asked you to come here because I wish to arrange a duel with you.”

The Jiang bristled at Wei Wuxian addressing him so formally. 

“The conditions are quite simple: the first to be disarmed and unable to defend themselves or the first to become incapacitated loses. If I win, I will be granted complete absolution and secession from the Jiang Clan with no further expectation of communication or debts between us. If you win, I will devote myself to your servitude for the rest of my life - my undying loyalty to yourself and the Jiang Clan - as well as any use you have for me, will entirely be in your hands.” 

Those standing around the training grounds froze in their movements, all of them turning towards the stand off between Wei Wuxian and Jiang Wanyin - all of them thinking about how insane of a proposition Wei Wuxian had just made. No one would ever think about putting their loyalty and the rest of their life on the line for a single spar - neither had anyone ever heard Wei Wuxian speak with such a serious tone. 

Jin Zixuan met Wei Wuxian’s gaze. 

“With Heirs to the Nie, Jin, and Lan Clans present, you can be assured that my word stands true and will be honored - whatever the outcome is - as well as you will be held to the same honor.” 

“Clan Heirs present… challenging a Clan Heir to a duel…” he heard a Jiang disciple mumbling, his eyes darting between the pair before they widened - his head turning so fast Jin Zixuan worried for his neck. He watched as the Jiang disciple silently communicated with the other Jiang disciples on the field, all of their eyes widening as they turned towards their Clan Heir and Head Disciple. 

Whatever the Jiang disciples had realized, Jiang Wanyin had not, and Jin Zixuan knew that what was about to happen would be something remembered for decades. 

“You? Challenging me to a duel?” Jiang Wanyin let out a laugh as he pulled Sandu from his sheath. “I accept your challenge, and concede to your demands. It’s a lot to wager your life when everyone knows you’ll lose . I look forward to your devotion and servitude to the Jiang Clan. Your first demand will be to drop your family name and all association with anyone who is not a Jiang.” 

It was Jiang Wanyin who made the first lunge, almost knocking into Nie Huaisang if the Nie hadn’t moved out of the way in time. The disciples on the training grounds immediately scattered, moving to the edges as Jiang Wanyin advanced - pushing Wei Wuxian towards the very center of the grounds. 

Jin Zixuan found it quite interesting, the technique Wei Wuxian was currently implementing. His sword had yet to leave her sheath, he dodged and weaved around every movement Jiang Wanyin made. Sandu never getting close enough to even land the smallest of hits - the Jin and all the disciples around him could see the anger intensifying in Jiang Wanyin. 

A flash of white caught the Jin’s attention, his eyes glancing towards the entrance, spotting Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen as they stood and watched the duel. A wide smile crossed Wei Wuxian’s face as he looked in their direction as he finally unsheathed his sword. 

Jin Zixuan felt like he blinked and Jiang Wanyin was laying on his back, Sandu in pieces above his head, Wei Wuxian’s foot on his chest, sword leveled at his neck, the darkest look on his face as he practically glared down at the Jiang. Jiang Wanyin was struggling to get himself back onto his feet, the foot on his chest clearly exerting much more force than Jin Zixuan thought. 

The Jiang kept reaching his hands around his person, clearly attempting to feel for his sword - not knowing that it lay in pieces above his head. 

“Do you yield, Clan Heir Jiang?” Wei Wuxian spoke, glaring down at the man under his foot - watching as Jiang Wanyin grabbed at his ankle, trying to shove him off out of what appeared to be entirely spite. 

The pair remained within their position for what felt like an extreme amount of time, to Jin Zixuan anyway. It was clear in his eyes that there was no way for Jiang Wanyin to turn the fight into his direction, to manage to free himself and overpower Wei Wuxian. It would have been far less embarrassing to simply admit defeat when one had lost. The damage to his pride would heal, but the longer Jiang Wanyin laid restrained on the ground by a single foot, the longer and stronger his pride would be impacted. 

Up until this point, no one had dared to interrupt the duel, but Lan Qiren made his way deeper into the training grounds. 

Standing next to Wei Wuxian, his eyes trailing down the sword pointed at Jiang Wanyin’s neck, mere centimeters away from making contact, Lan Qiren spoke. 

“Do you concede your loss Jiang Wanyin?” He spoke in a level voice, eyes glancing to the ground above the Jiang. “Your sword lies in shards above your head. Will you admit an honorable defeat, concede to Wei Wuxian’s request, and take yourself back to your rooms?” 

Jiang Wanyin’s eyes widened as he tried moving his head up to look at where he was told his sword lied - having to stop halfway through the motion as the tip of Wei Wuxian’s sword made contact with the skin on his neck. 

“I concede my loss.” Jiang Wanyin grit out. “Wei Wuxian’s demands will be met. I will write to mother and-” 

“Jiang-xiong, with something like this, the effect is immediate.” Nie Huaisang spoke from behind his fan, his head appearing from behind Lan Wangji. 

“Clan Heir,” A Jiang disciple spoke, slowly stepping towards Jiang Wanyin as he laid on the ground, “Da-Shixiong’s request was a… method for someone residing within Lotus Pier to secede from the Jiang Clan. It requires a duel offer to be made and witnessed by a minimum of two other clan heirs - Jin Zixuan, Nie Huaisang, and Lan Wangji make three witnesses.” He coughed, eyes meeting Jiang Wanyin’s. 

“There is no need to inform Jiang-Zongzhu or Yu-Furen, as all procedures have taken place. Wei Wuxian’s demands are to be immediately met,” He glanced up towards Wei Wuxian as he stood next to Lan Wangji, “He is to be allowed to retrieve his belongings from Lotus Pier with no interference. The duel’s contract was signed the moment you unsheathed your sword.” 

The field was quiet as the severity of the duel and its stipulations were taken in. Those who knew Jiang Wanyin’s volatile temper were watching him carefully, waiting for the moment he blew up into full anger - screaming, trying to fight everyone around him, taking yet another attempt on Wei Wuxian’s life (it was never out of the realm of possibility for the Jiang Heir to direct his sword at Wei Wuxian with a killing intent). 

Jin Zixuan watched Jiang Wanyin’s eyes widen, a scowl forming on his face as he turned and looked up at Wei Wuxian, finally rising from lying prone on the floor. His eyes turned towards his shattered sword, hands fisting in the dirt below him. 

“Wei…Wei Wuxian! What on earth have you do-”

A flick of Lan Wangji’s wrist silenced the Jiang, his red face turning towards the Lan - Jin Zixuan was almost convinced he may try to fist fight Lan Wangji. 

“Please do notify Jiang-Zongzhu and Yu-Furen about the events of today’s duel, of the stipulations and conditions that have been set.” Lan Wangji started, a hand resting on Wei Wuxian’s back - Jin Zixuan’s eyes widen as he quickly looked away. 

“Also inform your parents that if any of Wei Wuxian’s belongings are damaged or missing, the Jiang Clan will be forced to pay reparations for anything that has been damaged.” Lan Qiren finished, turning and giving his nephew a nod, before Lan Wangji led Wei Wuxian away from the training grounds - Nie Huaisang running after the pair. 

The Jiang disciples present all ran to Jiang Wanyin - and were immediately shoved away when one reached a hand out to help the Jiang stand. The group left the training grounds in the opposite direction Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian had gone in, likely heading straight for the guest disciple dorms. 

Lan Xichen let out a small cough, gathering the attention of those still there. 

“Continue with your training. The evening meal will be served in half a shichen.”

Chapter Text

Lan Zhan pulled Wei Ying in the direction of the Jingshi, steadfast in his desire to immediately have his beloved pinned against the nearest wall, to celebrate his newfound freedom from the Jiang Clan - or it was simply the effect of seeing Wei Ying fight at his full strength, the ease in which Jiang Wanyin was defeated. 

“Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan, slow down!” Wei Ying spoke in mock-protest, a wide smile spreading across his face. 

He could see Huaisang trailing after them and well, with the direction Lan Zhan likely intended to go, the Nie didn’t need to see that much of their private lives. Wei Ying locked eyes with Huaisang as he brought his free hand to shoo the Nie away, letting out a laugh as he immediately froze in his step, eyes wide as Lan Wangji continued to drag Wei Wuxian away. 

The two quickly came upon the Jingshi, Lan Wangji throwing the door open and pulling Wei Ying in before slamming it behind him - gesturing a symbol in the air that was all too familiar to the pair before pouncing. 

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying squeaked as his back hit one of the bookshelves, his hands above his head.

Lan Wangji was only able to slightly mark up Wei Ying’s neck before someone knocked on the Jingshi’s doors. With a sigh and a fire in his eyes stating that this would definitely continue later, Lan Wangji stepped back and adjusted Wei Ying’s robes back into a more appropriate state. 

A swipe of his hand banished the silencing talisman he had cast around the Jingshi before he opened the door. 

“Shufu, Xiongzhang.” he spoke, gesturing for the two to come in. 

Lan Qiren let out a sigh as his eyes landed on the slowly blooming red marks littering Wei Ying’s neck - those unable to be hidden under the collar of his robes. He had long adjusted to their relationship and, much to his dismay, he knew too much about his nephews’ sex lives. Long ago they had promised to not maul the other in public, they didn’t need another repeat of that one Lanling Discussion Conference , as the incident forever became to be referred to among the junior disciples.   

Wei Ying turned away from his gaze, a blush crossing his face. 

“Shufu, what brings you here?” he spoke, coughing as he searched for the teapot and teacups that Lan Zhan had in the Jingshi - finding them on the bottom shelf of a cupboard - and bringing them back to the table where the three Lans were sitting. 

“I simply wanted to make sure that you both would not disappear and forget that the world does, in fact, continue on and operate with or without your presence.” Lan Qiren’s eyes darted towards Lan Xichen, the Lan sitting with a small smile on his face as Wei Ying plopped down on the mat next to Lan Zhan. 

“We wanted to tell Xiongzhang.” 

Wei Ying’s eyes almost comically widened as his gaze flickered between Lan Zhan and Lan Qiren. He swallowed 

“Everything? Or just parts?” Lan Qiren scoffed. 

“Xichen doesn’t need to know things that would hurt him, things that have not and will not happen. Major events, however, he should know as Clan Leader.” 

The three Lans watched as Wei YIng sighed, his head falling onto the table for a moment before he lifted it back up and turned towards Lan Xichen, his eyes seeming to size up the Clan Leader. The image of Lan Xichen the last time Wei Ying saw him almost overlapped with the Lan Xichen before him - and he immediately agreed that they should tell him. 

Wei Ying’s decision wasn’t based on how the knowledge would impact Lan Xichen. He had decided that the Lan should know simply due to the fact that he was someone in a position of authority, someone capable of making decisions and influencing the other clans. Not an ounce of Wei Ying’s decision to tell Lan Xichen of their time travel and knowledge of the future was based on a need to help the Clan Leader from the future that he had. 

Lan Xichen was someone who blindly believed others, was swayed by those around him, who allowed the opinions of others he trusted guide his own rather than forming his own opinions and listening to those he should’ve trusted. 

Wei Ying could admit when he held a grudge, when he was doing things because he didn’t care about the other person’s feelings - and Lan Xichen was someone he held a continuous grudge against. 

Lan Zhan had told him, after Guanyin Temple, after they had finally found a place to rest and just be together without any drama, of all the things he had done prior to the siege, of the thirteen years Wei Ying was dead. 

He had told Lan Xichen about the state of the Burial Mounds, about those inhabiting it, about the lack of a corpse army, that the Wens that were there were incapable of fighting in the Sunshot Campaign. Lan Zhan had told Lan Xichen that what the clans were saying, what the rumors the Jin Clan was spreading, were simply false. And then after Jin Zixuan’s death, Lan Zhan pleaded to his brother to not believe what the clans were saying, to not fall into their immediate calls for death, without even hearing Wei Wuxian’s side of the story. 

His pleads had fallen on deaf ears. 

Lan Xichen had simply looked at him with a sad, pity filled look on his face. 

“Oh didi, sometimes the people we care for aren’t who we think they are.” 

And then he proceeded to allow the other clans to continue spreading their vile rumors, their words filled with falsities and exaggerations of what had happened, making assumptions about Wei Ying. 

And Lan Xichen - and Jiang Wanyin - had let them, never once stopping them or trying to correct their words. 

Not to mention how Lan Xichen had allowed such a punishment to take place against Lan Wangji. Wei Wing understood the political and social ramifications within the Lan Clan if he had not allowed a punishment to take place, but he couldn’t accept how Lan Xichen had almost allowed his brother to die - particularly when no one in the Lan Clan had ever attempted to verify the Jin Clan’s words, to investigate the rumors, to listen to someone who had actually been inside the Burial Mounds. 

Lan Qiren had long apologized to both Lan Zhan and Wei Ying, but Lan Xichen had immediately locked himself inside Qingheng-jun’s former residence and never exited the home for the twelve years Wei Ying spent married to Lan Zhan, for the ten they resided within Cloud Recesses. 

Wei Wuxian didn’t owe Lan Xichen anything. He held a grudge, and knew it was unfair to let that impact this Lan Xichen. 

But when you know someone is capable of great violence, of taking deliberate action or inaction that results in the deaths of those you care greatly for? It’s hard to remove that version of Lan Xichen from the one sitting across the table from Wei Ying. 

He would tell the Clan Leader only out of a sense of justice, of wanting to prevent tragedy, of a need to see his Wen family live, to not see Cloud Recesses burn once again, to not see his former shidi dead and their bodies piled up. 

Wei Ying didn’t care about what happened to the Jiang Clan, to the Jiang family. He still loved and cared for Jiang Yanli, but even he knew that she had made decisions that had hurt him - regardless of the sheer amount of care and love she held towards him. Whether she showed it through her actions - defending him during the Phoenix Mountain hunt, sacrificing herself for him during the Pledge Conference - Wei Ying knew that she tried to wield the little power she held the best she could. Though, he couldn’t say the same for Jiang Wanyin - concerning Wei Ying himself or Jiang Yanli’s marriage. 

Wei Ying grieved his shijie. He had sat in the Jin Ancestral Hall with Jin Ling dozens of times, telling his nephew as much as he could about his mother, and it was through these interactions that he and Jin Ling truly bonded. 

It was also when Wei Ying started to become more critical of his memories of Lotus Pier and the ways in which he was treated while growing up. While it was nice to share all the kind, good memories with his husband, the ones he tried not to remember, the times where it would be impossible for him to forget how he had been treated, unearthing those memories almost felt like a smack in the face, a break in the mirage of the nice, happy life he had had in Lotus Pier. 

The content, decent years he spent in Lotus Pier. 

It was hard to look back at his upbringing in Lotus Pier after his years in Cloud Recesses, thinking about all the small ways he had been dismissed and set aside, how it hadn’t necessarily felt like it had been a deliberate decision, but had continued on nonetheless without even acknowledging it had happened. 

Wei Ying sighed, leaning his head on Lan Zhan’s shoulder as he nodded, allowing the Lan Zhan and Lan Qiren to start explaining their time travel to Lan Xichen. 

At some point Wei Ying woke up with his head in Lan Zhan’s lap, his beloved running a hand through his hair as he softly spoke with the pair across the table. While he knew Lan Zhan knew immediately that he was awake, the other two did not, and for just a moment he wanted to feign sleep and listen. 

“Shufu…you truly lived through all this?” Lan Xichen softly spoke, “I can believe a war with the Wen Clan, but time travel? How did you and Wangji manage that?” 

Lan Qiren huffed out a small laugh, “A-Ying is quite a genius, Xichen. There isn’t much that he can’t figure out.” 

“In my defense,” Wei Ying groaned, tucking his head deeper into Lan Zhan’s hip, “I didn’t know if it would actually work.” His voice muffled, but still able to be understood. 

“When has anything you’ve created not worked?” 

Wei Ying sat up, leaning his weight onto Lan Zhan as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. 

“How long was I asleep?” 

“Half a shichen, long enough for us to tell Xichen all we could without your input.” Lan Qiren said as he pushed a full teacup towards him. Wei Ying hummed as he picked it up and downed it. 

“You know, Shufu, you’re not supposed to know when I’m awake.” Wei Ying grumbled out as he looked across the table. “That’s a skill only for Lan Zhan, and sometimes A-Yuan and A-Yi and occasionally A-Ling, to know.” 

Lan Zhan hummed, his hand wrapping around Wei Ying’s waist. 

“Sizhui had been getting better, Jingyi and Jin Ling still had more to learn.” he spoke, a small smile on his face as Wei Ying laughed, leaning even more on him. 

Wei Ying eyed Lan Xichen as he stared across the table at them. 

“You did tell Zewu-jun about this, right?” He gestured between himself and Lan Zhan. “You are aware Shufu, that while Qingheng-jun may still be alive right now, he isn’t Clan Leader, and wouldn’t be the one whose approval you would need.” 

“Ah,” Lan Xichen started, hesitantly glancing at his younger brother and Wei Wuxian, “Shufu and Wangji did mention your relationship. However, they did not speak much about it.” 

“Waiting for Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan mumbled. 

“Waiting once more for little ole me? Hanguang-jun is too good for this lowly one.” Wei Ying smiled, tilting his head up to meet Lan Zhan’s gaze. 

“Wei Ying.” 

“Fine, fine.” Wei Ying spoke, pulling away from Lan Zhan and sitting correctly - their knees still touching and Lan Zhan’s hand still wrapped around his waist. He focused his gaze on Lan Xichen - Lan Zhan and Lan Qiren’s eyes widening as a serious look crossed his face. 

“Then, Zewu-jun, you should know that neither Lan Zhan nor myself are above leaving the clans we are part of for reasons we believe in. While I will not allow the deaths I have seen to repeat themselves, I am not above disassociating from those who are not supportive and who continue down the path I have already seen them go down.” He nodded towards Lan Qiren. 

“Shufu is well aware of his faults, and had already started to amend his mistakes and atone for his actions. You, however, shut yourself up, locked yourself within your father’s residence and left the rest of the world and the Lan Clan to make up for your absence. The last time I saw you was when Lan Zhan and I departed from Guanyin Temple. The decade we spent living in Cloud Recesses, not once did you ever leave your seclusion.” Lan Xichen slightly jumped when Wei Ying’s eyes briefly flashed red. 

“I will not deny that I cannot separate the you I know from the one sitting across from me. I cannot forget the words you have spoken to me, the actions you have permitted the Clans to commit against me, against my husband, against those I love, but I will allow you to correct your mistakes. Just know, that one wrong step could be the difference between my full support and watching you fall off a cliff when I could’ve helped.” 

Wei Ying watched Lan Xichen swallow, eyes wide as he slowly nodded, before deflating his anger and falling back onto the floor. He smiled as Lan Zhan turned to look at him, a hand reaching down and brushing the hair off of his forehead. 

Before anyone could speak, the doors to the Jingshi slowly opened, Nie Huaisang peeking his head into the room. He opened the door to reveal a Lan, Jin, and Jiang disciple standing behind him. 

“Um, sorry to interrupt, but Jiang Wanyin has just been pulled off of Jin Zixuan after physically attacking him on the way to the disciple dorms.” The four in the room’s eyes widened. “They have been separated and are being watched. It appears that Jiang Wanyin overheard a group of Jin disciples - Jin Zixuan among them but he claims to have never spoken - speaking about the Jiang Clan and how Wei-xiong’s abrupt departure may be a sign that something is rotten within the main family.” 

The Jiang disciple practically pushed past Nie Huaisang, bowing to the four of them before speaking. 

“Clan Heir Jiang thought the Jin disciples were speaking badly of his family, and they were, but decided that since Clan Heir Jin was among them, that he must’ve been speaking about Jiang Yanli and, without warning, broke away from us and tackled Jin Zixuan to the ground, throwing a few punches before Jin Zixuan was able to throw him off.” The Jiang disciple’s eyes met Wei Ying’s. “Jin Zixuan did not touch Jiang Wanyin, but our Clan Heir has left him with a black eye and a potentially broken nose - Lan healers had been called when we rushed here.” 

Lan Xichen rose to his feet. 

“I will follow you.” He looked towards Lan Qiren. “Shufu, please do write to both Jiang-Zongzhu and Jin-Zongzhu regarding this incident. Do not mention Wei Wuxian’s departure from the Jiang Clan, Jiang Fengmian can either figure it out when he arrives or he can ask.” Lan Xichen met Wei Ying’s gaze. 

“Wuxian, Wangji, I will let you know if I need your assistance. Please, let me handle this.” A small smile crossed his face. “I will only hope to make a better impression in your mind, Wei Wuxian, than I seem to have. Let this incident be the first of many towards my repentance.”

Chapter Text

The arrival of Jin Guangshan and Jiang Fengmian was met with a tense Cloud Recesses. Everyone knew that Jiang Wanyin had attacked Jin Zixuan seemingly unprovoked and it appeared that no one truly knew what to expect with the arrival of the Sect Leaders. 

Particularly when-

“What’s this about Jiang Cheng attacking Jin Zixuan!?” Yu Ziyuan shouted, Zidian flickering as she started across the room at Lan Xichen. 

“If anyone would physically assault another member of a clan, it would be Wei Wuxian! Where is he? I demand to know why that brat isn’t here or why he isn’t the one in trouble right now!” She slammed her hands on the table in front of her. 

Madam Yu had unexpectedly arrived with Jiang Fengmian, claiming that matters involving her son meant her presence was required. 

No one was expecting her to arrive. Lan Qiren was barely able to tell Wei Ying to avoid the Hanshi as she stormed inside - knowing that his nephew would likely be attacked the second Madam Yu saw him, regardless of his actual fault. 

“Madam Yu, Wei Wuxian is not present because the matter at hand does not involve him.” Lan Qiren started, remembering the reason he hated interacting with the woman before her death. “He was not present when Jiang Wanyin physically assaulted Jin Zixuan. He did not view the interaction, therefore, his presence would add little to nothing to our conversation.” 

“Where was he? Why was A-Xian not with A-Cheng?” Jiang Fengmian spoke, confused as he looked at Lan Qiren before darting his eyes towards his son. 

“Matters concerning Wei Wuxian can be discussed after our primary topic has been dealt with.” Lan Xichen spoke, almost startling both Jiang Fengmian and Lan Qiren with the intensity and strength of command in his voice. 

“Ah yes, of course.” 

It was only due to Madam Yu’s insistence that what had happened between Jin Zixuan and Jiang Wanyin had been a one off situation, a moment of high emotion, a moment of weakness of her son, that Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli remained betrothed. Jin Guangshan seemed indifferent towards the betrothal, over and over again stating to Jiang Fengmian that it was their wives that had formed the contract initially, that they were within all rights to dissolve it regardless of their wishes. Ultimately, Jiang Fengmian conceded to the demands of Yu Ziyuan, keeping the pair betrothed. 

“Now,” Madam Yu started, practically glaring at the Lans in the room, “Where is Wei Wuxian? Why was he not present during this meeting? Why did he not intervene and prevent this from happening in the first place?” She demanded - being met with Lan Qiren simply sighing. 

“Wei Wuxian was with myself, Xichen, and Wangji. We were all notified of what happened at the same time.” Lan Qiren watched Jiang Fengmian’s eyes widen. “There is also the simple fact that Wei Wuxian no longer belongs to the Jiang Clan, and that, Jiang-Zongzhu, is something you can speak with him yourself about.” 

Lan Qiren looked towards the Lan disciple standing in front of the door, nodding as they opened the door - letting in Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian. 

“What on earth are you speaking about? Wei Wuxian not belonging to the Jiang Clan? That brat will forever-” 

“Madam Yu, I will suggest you refrain from speaking words that will only make you look idiotic.” Wei Ying spoke, meeting Madam Yu’s gaze - his face stern, not a single hint of emotion other than anger, perhaps a hint of annoyance, crossing his face. 

“A-Xian?” Jiang Fengmian stood, eyes on Wei Ying. “What’s going on? Why weren’t you with A-Cheng? What’s this about leaving the Jiang Clan that Qiren is speaking of?” 

“It’s quite simple, Jiang-Zonghzu. For one to leave the Jiang Clan, they are required to challenge the Clan Heir to a duel with at least two other Clan Heirs present.” Wei Ying gestured towards Lan Wangji and nodded towards Jin Zixuan. “Both Lan-Er-Gongzi and Jin-Gongzi can confirm as they were witnesses to not only the initial declaration, but also my demands upon winning or losing as well as the duel itself - which Lan Qiren, Lan-Zongzhu, and dozens of disciples of the clans attending the lectures were also witnesses to.” 

A slight smirk crossed Wei Wuxian’s face as he met Madam Yu’s glare. 

“Er-Shidi also confirmed that the rites had all been met, that the challenge was legitimate, that my demands upon winning were to be allowed to happen without further interference.” 

“And…and what would those demands be?” Jiang Fengmian slowly spoke, his face paling as Wei Ying turned towards him, seeming to look at him with indifference, unlike how Wei Ying had ever looked at him before. Almost looking at him like…

“Complete dissociation from the Jiang Clan. Allowances to collect my belongings from Lotus Pier without interference. No further connection or sense of debt between parties.” Wei Ying let out a small scoff. “Jiang Wanyin agreed to the duel almost immediately, seeming firm in his ability to best me. And, well, clearly he lost. Quite embarrassingly, I might add.” 

Wei Wuxian glanced at Jiang Wanyin, watching as the Jiang’s face grew more and more red. Whether he was holding himself back from causing a scene (unlikely) or Lan Zhan had silenced him (highly probable), there was a part of Wei Ying that felt a sick joy in watching the Jiang Heir finally facing the consequences of his actions. Wei Ying finally no longer being the scapegoat, the one to take the fall, to take all the blame, the guilt, the punishment, to be blamed for Jiang Wanyin’s failures as a person. 

“As the duel and specifics regarding wins and loses is entirely within the Jiang Clan parameters for someone residing within Lotus Pier proper to leave, cut ties, no longer hold association with the Jiang Clan, with Jiang Wanyin accepting the terms and participating in the duel, all requirements have been filled.” Wei Ying leveled his gaze at Jiang Fengmian. 

“I was not with Clan Heir Jiang as I am no longer required to. I have abdicated my position as Head Disciple as well as any connection with the Jiang Clan, effective as of three days ago.” 

Zidian unfurled and was darting towards Wei Wuxian - only to be caught by Lan Wangji. He pulled the whip taut, seemingly unaffected by Zidian’s energy, by Yu Ziyuan’s attempts to pull the whip back towards herself. 

Lan Wangji flooded Zidian with his spiritual energy, the purple whip momentarily turning blue before Madam Yu slumped to the floor, her eyes wide as she stared in shock at the Lan. Her hands shook as she looked down at the ring on her finger, eyes widening as it no longer responded to her calls. The once purple hue of her ring, now a cerulean blue. 

No longer under her command. 

Yu Ziyuan swallowed, nodding as she arranged herself to sit properly in her seat. 

She wasn’t stupid. She knew when she was faced with a strong opponent. Yu Ziyuan knew that she wouldn’t last a moment against Lan Wangji, for reasons she didn’t quite understand, but she wouldn’t dare further challenge someone able to so easily take control of Zidian, of changing the very color of the heirloom, the very foundation of its spiritual energy’s focus.

“What…what have you done?” Jiang Fengmian whispered, his eyes wide as he looked at Wei Ying. 

“A-Xian? What would cause you to go such lengths? Have we not cared enough for you? Are you not happy enough in Lotus Pier? Why…why would you part from A-Cheng, from us, without speaking with me first?” The Jiang pleaded, trying to understand why Wei Wuxian would make such a decision, where such thoughts would have come from. 

In an apparent epiphany, his eyes focused on Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren, taking notice of Lan Wangji and how he remained by Wei Wuxian’s side from the moment he stepped inside the room. 

“Wei Ying, I do not know what the Lan Clan has promised you, if they have persuaded you to leave the Jiang Clan in order to join the Lan Clan, but they will never follow through with their embellished words.” Jiang Fengmian spit out, practically glaring at the Lans - seemingly having put the pieces together. 

Wei Wuxian would have never thought about leaving the Jiang Clan before his departure for the Lan Clan lectures. Therefore, the Lans must have played a hand in his decision. Jiang Fengmian knew Wei Ying was happy in Lotus Pier, he was content with his position, knew his future, had goals and priorities, those he cared for and taught. The Wei Ying he knew would never drop all association with the Jiang Clan. 

No, something else must’ve been promised to him, an offer he had to take. 

Perhaps, an offer he was forced to take. 

“A-Xian!” Jiang Fengmian rose to his feet, quickly darting around the table and running towards Wei Ying, being met with Lan Wangji moving to stand in front of Wei Wuxian, his sword drawn and pointed towards the Jiang. 

Jin Zixuan looked at his father, wishing he could sneak out of the room - and also ashamed at how intrigued and invested in the drama playing out in front of them Jin Guangshan seemed to be. 

“A-Xian! If they’re keeping you here, if they’ve forced you into a situation or into making a decision that you didn’t want-” 

“Jiang-Zongzhu, please do not villainize the Lan Clan.” Wei Wuxian spoke, a venom in his voice as he stepped out from behind Lan Wangji. 

“Nothing Lan Qiren or Zewu-jun have done has had any influence on my decision.” Wei Wuxian held his head high as he spoke. “If you want an honest answer, being within the Lan Clan and among other disciples and other clans has shown me that the way I am being treated within Lotus Pier is unacceptable. Will I be among the Lan Clan now that I am no longer tied to the Jiang? Yes, but that has nothing to do with anything the Lan Clan, according to your assumptions, has pressured me into doing.” 

Jiang Fengmian stared at him, his eyes wide as he tried to figure out a way to keep him, to not lose Wei Wuxian. 

“What are they offering you? The Jiang Clan can match whatever the Lan Clan is paying or giving you in order to have done this.” He turned around, eyes seeking his wife, knowing that she would know how to threaten Wei Wuxian into doing what he wanted. 

Only to take a staggered step back as Yu Ziyuan sat with perfect posture, her eyes trained on the table before her, Zidian resting on a handkerchief. The previously purple ring that she never took off was now a vibrant blue. Realizing that such a change must’ve happened when his wife had tried to whip Wei Wuxian, only for the whip to be grabbed by Lan Wangji, Jiang Fengmian turned his attention towards the Second Jade. 

“What have you done to my wife? To Zidian?” 

“Zidian has been neutralized and will never recognize a Jiang as their master.” Lan Wangji stated, Bichen still unsheathed in his hand. “As for Yu Ziyuan, I suspect she knows when she is facing a losing battle, and has chosen her role in this scenario.” 

“Bullshit!” Jiang Wanyin spit out - along with blood from breaking the silencing spell. 

The Jiang pointed at Wei Ying. 

“Ever since shortly after we arrived, Wei Wuxian has had the attention of both Lan Qiren and Lan Wangji! There’s no way the Lans haven’t promised him something with the way they’ve been treating him!” Jiang Wanyin took in a large breath. “Then, ever since the Waterborne Abyss, he’s stuck himself to Lan Wangji’s side!” His eyes darted towards his mother, scoffing as she continued to stare at Zidian on the table before her. 

“A-Die, I think rather than ask what the Lan Clan has done to Wei Wuxian, you should be questioning what Wei Wuxian has done to the Lan Clan.” He spat out. 

Wei Ying met his gaze head on, an indifferent look crossing his face. 

“I think, Jiang-Zongzhu, Jiang-Gongzi, that what possible scenario you think has happened, is no longer anything you should be concerned with. I am no longer part of the Jiang Clan, your words do not hold any influence on me anymore. I will be allowed to gather my things, to say goodbyes to those in Lotus Pier. From that moment on, I am no longer someone you should be concerned with.” 

Wei Ying watched Jiang Fengmian’s eyes widen at the address, undoubtedly trying to find a way to get around this, to nullify the duel, to say Jiang Cheng didn’t know what he was agreeing to, that he didn’t know what he was agreeing to. 

Any way he could to get Wei Wuxian back in Lotus Pier, where he would never let him go. 

“Of course.” 

All heads turned towards Madam Yu’s voice, watching as she rose to her feet, Zidian remaining on the table as she turned towards Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. 

“Wei Wuxian will be allowed to gather his belongings without interference. Anything within the Jiang Clan’s possession that should rightfully be his will also be handed over without contest.” She took a deep breath, her eyes meeting Wei Ying’s. “I am aware of a few items belonging to Wei Changze that reside within the Jiang Vaults, perhaps something of Cangse Sanren’s is with them. These items will be surrendered in addition to the money owed to Wei Wuxian due to his position of Head Disciple, that…” Yu Ziyuan’s gaze dropped, briefly flickering towards Lan Wangji - who had not yet sheathed Bichen nor tore his gaze away from her. 

She coughed, looking up once more and meeting Wei Wuxian’s gaze. 

“The funds due to Wei Wuxian as his position of Head Disciple demands. Funds that, previously, were kept from him, as were many of the benefits he was to have as Head Disciple.” 

Much to the room’s shock, Yu Ziyuan dropped into a bow.

“I will not ask for my grievances towards you to be forgiven, Wei Wuxian. I will not beg for forgiveness as I do not deserve it-” 

“A-Niang!” 

“San-Niang!” 

Madam Yu continued, her son and husband standing in shock. 

“I will leave Zidian within the hands of the Lan Clan, surrender myself to seclusion.” She rose, head held high as she looked at Jiang Fengmian and Jiang Wanyin. “This was a long time coming, Fengmian, Wanyin. It is only with Wei Wuxian finally taking the steps to leave us that I have come to such a conclusion. With the Lan Clan behind him, there is no point in objecting to what has happened.” She eyed Jin Guangshan, who had remained silent the whole time - likely on purpose, enjoying the drama laid out before him as well as in an attempt to get those in the room to forget he and Jin Zixuan were even in the room. 

“I trust that the Jin Clan will also keep what has been discussed today under secrecy.” She stated, not giving Jin Guangshan the room to flounder on some excuse about how he could only try to keep everything hush hush. 

“Madam Yu, with such a change in the Jiang Clan, surely news has already spread,” he spoke, a wide smile on his face. “If Wei Wuxian is to remain with the Lans after leaving the Jiangs, people will come to their own conclusions, no need for anyone to interfere except to set the story straight.” 

“Then let’s set the story right now, before it has a chance to change.” Lan Xichen spoke as he rose to his feet. 

He nodded towards Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian. 

“Wei Wuxian has abdicated his position of Head Disciple as well as association with the Jiang Clan - no need to speak badly of any party. Upon his departure from the Jiang Clan, he will take up residence within the Lan Clan for the rest of the duration of the lectures, as is his right.” A small smile crossed Lan Xichen’s face. “Following the end of Gusu Lan’s lectures, where Wei Wuxian chooses to reside will be entirely his choice.” 

Lan Xichen turned to Lan Qiren, watching as he nodded. 

“No bad blood exists between clans. It was a simple, clean break, a disagreement upon further clan responsibilities.” Lan Qiren met Jiang Fengmian’s gaze. “It would not be too far-fetched to say Wei Wuxian simply wanted to follow in the footsteps of his parents.” 

Jiang Fengmian looked around the room in shock, as if there had been a whole separate conversation he had not been part of. He swallowed, gritting his teeth as he nodded. 

“Good,” Lan Qiren rose, walking across the room towards Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, “As the situation with Jiang Wanyin and Jin Zixuan has been resolved, I will be taking my leave. The Jiang disciples here are welcomed to remain for the duration of the lectures, whether Jiang Wanyin remains will depend on what Xichen decides as well as Jiang Wanyin’s behavior from here on.” 

He bowed to the clan leaders, before ushering his nephews out of the room.

Chapter Text

Lan Wangji was not willing to let Wei Wuxian return back to Lotus Pier for his belongings alone - and neither did Wei Wuxian want to go without him. While Madam Yu had seemed to fully grasp that she (and the Jiang Clan) were not in a position to protest, Jiang Fengmian seemed to think that there was a chance to change Wei Wuxian’s mind, to prevent him from leaving Lotus Pier. 

Wei Ying stared at the man as he blocked the entryway. 

Whether or not Wei Ying himself thought Jiang Fengmian had thought through just what he was doing, well, he’d bet it was a last ditch effort. Claim that there were items belonging to Wei Changze within the Jiang vaults, that the wards only let through someone of Jiang blood and one additional person at a time - Wei Ying knew immediately that it was bullshit, no such ward exists. But still, they allowed Jiang Fengmian to believe he had some form of an upper hand - he seemed desperate, and Wei Wuxian wasn’t defenseless even without Suibian at his side. 

There were items that belonged to his father within the Jiang vaults, that much Jiang Fengmian did not lie about. 

Wei Changze had surrendered his Jiang clarity bell before leaving with Cangse Sanren. He had also left behind almost everything that remained within his room, Jiang Fengmian stored them in the vaults in the event that Changze came back. 

It was surreal to own books and journals, writings and letters, belongings and possessions, things that Wei Ying’s father once held with his own hands. Letters he had received from Cangse Sanren filled with her handwriting, a trace of spiritual energy that Wei Ying couldn’t wait to tear apart and dig into, determine if it was a result of a preservation talisman’s effects, a transportation talisman. 

It was an energy that felt oh so familiar to Wei Ying. 

So, his father’s belongings and the revelation that there had been so much just within the Jiang vaults, so much that likely had been destroyed the first time around - either by Wen Chao or by Jiang Wanyin when he cleared out the Jiang Clan of anything that was even remotely connected to Wei Wuxian. 

Well, Wei Ying couldn’t be blamed for forgetting that Jiang Fengmian had essentially led him into the vaults alone, likely to corner him, force him to remain with the Jiangs. 

“A-Xian,” Jiang Fengmian started, his body taking up the space of the room’s entryway, blocking Wei Wuxian from leaving the room without force. 

There was a glint in Jiang Fengmian’s eyes, a desperation that Wei Ying had recognized from those last battles of the Sunshot Campaign where everyone was exhausted, trying to find that last ditch effort to continue fighting, when it seemed like they were to fail, that Wen Ruohan would win. He had never seen the look in the Jiang’s eyes before, he had never seen Jiang Fengmian seem so desperate . 

“A-Xian, A-Ying, what’s going on? Why are you leaving? What have the Lans told you?” He remained firm in his positing in the room, not willing to move a single inch outside of the doorframe. “I know you don’t want this A-Xian, you’ve always remained loyal to us. What have they said to you? What kind of manipulation have they done to get you to think you want to leave?” 

“If you are asking me, Sect Leader Jiang, if I am being influenced into this decision, then I would have to disappoint you.” Wei Ying held his head high, a qiankun pouch of his father’s belongings in his hand. “Nothing and no one has pushed or persuaded my decision to leave, and if you can’t see reasons as to why I would want to, then I fear for the duration and survival of the Jiang Clan if their leader is so blind to the mistreatment around him.” 

“A-Xian, they aren’t around to listen, to make sure you stick to what they’ve told you. You can be honest, no longer fearful of any punishment from them. I saw the way Lan Qiren and Lan Wangji surrounded you, guiding your every step, they aren’t here A-Xian, you can speak freely with me.” 

There was a smile on Jiang Fengmian’s face, one that seemed to scream that he thought he had won, that he had gotten Wei Wuxian alone, away from outside influence, and now the truth was going to come out, that he was going to be able to help Wei Ying get away from the Lans. 

Ah, but it goes both ways. 

“Are you suggesting, Jiang-Zongzhu, that you intentionally led me here alone in order to be free from outside listeners? That no one but us will know what happened in this room?” 

Jiang Fengmian sighed, “I will admit that it is more underhanded than I am used to, but there was no other way to get you alone A-Xian.” 

“You do realize that it’s my word against yours, correct?” Wei Ying spoke, a frown crossing his face as he took a step closer. 

“Am I to understand that you are trapping me in this room until I tell you what you want to hear?” Jiang Fengmian’s eyes widened as he shook his head. 

“I never meant to trap you, this was the only way I could think of to get you by yourself so I could-” 

“So you could manipulate the story, lock me in this room and say that I confessed to being forced, that somehow the Lans have backed me into a corner or have fed me lies about a better life.” He took a step closer. “Has it not crossed your idiotic mind that maybe I wanted to leave? That being among another clan has shown me that I am being massively mistreated here? Perhaps it isn’t what the Lans have told me they could provide, but rather the gaps that are being filled, that they treat me like a person , that I do not have to fear being yelled at, whipped, punished for every small infraction.” Wei Ying let out a small laugh, looking down at his feet. 

“For you, Jiang Fengmian, that change in my behavior may have been sudden, but for Lan Zhan and Lan Qiren? They’ve long waited for the moment I finally stood up to you and your family.” 

Jiang Fengmian took a staggered step back as Wei Ying looked up, his eyes blood red. 

There was a wicked sense of pleasure Wei Ying took in seeing the scared expression that crossed Jiang Fengmian’s face as it paled. 

“Did you know, Jiang-Zongzhu, that there isn’t anything you could do or say to me that would scare me? Even Zidian has lost its appeal.” Wei Ying scoffed, the room around him darkening as resentment pooled at their feet. “When you’ve died twice, when you get the additional chances I’ve been given, when you’ve seen death, war, destruction in the ways that I have, well, being this age once more I can’t help but make immediate changes that will only be for my own selfish benefit.” 

A rope of resentment wrapped around Jiang Fengmian’s neck, giving a squeeze that let the Clan Leader know that Wei Wuxian could kill him without even lifting a finger. 

“The truth? Jiang Fengmian, while I never thought you would cling to the image of my father so tightly in your mind, that you likely only brought me back to Lotus Pier to recreate the image of yourself and my father with myself and Jiang Wanyin, the truth is you never stood a chance.” The resentment pulled Jiang Fengmian closer. “I lived in Cloud Recesses for over a decade, Dianxia knows I would have spent more time if not for the greed and hatred spewed and spread by Jin Guangshan.” 

Wei Ying gestured his finger, bringing the resentment wrapped around Jiang Fengmian’s neck - and Jiang Fengmian himself - right in front of him, replacing the resentment with his hand. 

“I have seen more men to death than you can imagine. However, I will not be the one to end you, I will leave that up to your incompetency, your inability to control your wife, and lead your sect. There will come a day, Jiang Fengmian, that the Jiang Clan will fall.” Wei Ying held onto the Clan Leader’s neck before throwing him to the ground. “And I will celebrate that day as it will have been many lifetimes worth of karma finally seeking justice.” 

Wei Wuxian stepped through the door frame, glancing at Jiang Fengmian as he finally managed to pull himself back into a sitting position, a hand lightly touching his neck - knowing that there would be no marks, nothing to prove what had conspired within that room. 

“And, just so you know Jiang-Zongzhu, the reason you think the Lans are so involved in this, well, Shufu intends on Lan Zhan and I having a proper wedding this time around.” He turns towards the Jiang, a hard look in his red eyes. “Do not expect an invitation for anyone except Jiang Yanli.” 

Lan Zhan was waiting for him as he exited the entrance to the Jiang vaults, pacing and fidgeting with his wide sleeves that Wei Ying had long learned was a method Lan Zhan had developed as a child. He had seen the same motions repeated when Sizhui and any Lan juniors were late for their expected arrivals back to Cloud Recesses after night hunts. 

Lan Qiren had once confided in him that the habit had presented following Madam Lan’s death, that the years following her death Lan Zhan had become anxious when Lan Xichen or Lan Qiren had not arrived or been seen when they were supposed to. It was an anxiety that Lan Zhan had learned to accept, to let go of the notion of being able to control other people. 

It tended to crop up in moments where Lan Zhan felt unable to predict the outcome, so Wei Ying knew that the longer he spent in the vaults with Jiang Fengmian, the deeper Lan Zhan’s pacing would work away the wooden planks of Lotus Pier’s pathways. He remembered when Sizhui and Jingyi had arrived back to Cloud Recesses a day later than they had said they would - Wei Ying had to physically stop Lan Zhan from descending the mountain to search for them. 

“Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan spoke, relief in his voice as his eyes roamed Wei Ying’s form for injuries, opening his arms after being assured that his beloved was not injured. 

“I’ll show you what Jiang-Zongzhu gave me later, cmon,” Wei Ying grabbed Lan Zhan’s hand and dragged him away from the vaults. “I promised you a tour when we were kids, right?” 

It was later that evening that Jiang Fengmian emerged from the Jiang vaults, silent and unwilling to talk to anyone, choosing to retire to his rooms and announce a temporary seclusion, leaving Madam Yu in charge of the Clan until he returned. 

Wei Ying had dragged Lan Zhan into a boat, telling him that when the sun was setting was the perfect time to try and steal lotus pods from one of the lakes. It also helped that a large number of the lotus flowers were in bloom, creating a beautiful sight overlooking the sunset. 

Jiang Yanli had spent the whole day wondering what had changed when her parents arrived back from Cloud Recesses, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji in tow. Her mother had spent the day kneeling in the Ancestral Hall and her father had taken A-Xian into the Jiang vaults. Lan Wangji had been spending time with the younger disciples, those who Wei Wuxian had been in charge of instructing, before returning to the entrance to the vaults, waiting for Wei Wuxian and her father to emerge. 

Yanli had waited, sitting almost hidden from sight as Wei Wuxian exited the vaults, immediately spotting Lan Wangji and rushing over to him, grabbing his hands and dragging him away with a wide smile on his face. 

She then spent the rest of the day keeping an eye out for the pair, wondering when Wei Wuxian was going to seek her out, when he was going to see her. Yanli knew she should be happy A-Xian had made such a friend, that he was showing Lan Wangji around Lotus Pier, but she still wished for a moment where she could speak with him, ask him how Cloud Recesses was, how A-Cheng was doing. 

Yanli had managed to find out that A-Xian had taken a boat out with Lan Wangji on one of the larger lotus lakes, a few of the younger shidis were able to point her in their direction. 

She easily spotted the pair - they were in the only boat floating in the lake - and was going to shout out to them when she watched Wei Wuxian pluck a small lotus flower and tuck it behind Lan Wangji’s ear, a soft smile on his face. It was then that she realized maybe it had been intentional that A-Xian hadn’t sought her out, that he didn’t search for her because he was showing someone precious around Lotus Pier. 

She watched as Lan Wangji ducked his head, loud laughter ringing out across the lake as Wei Wuxian leaned forward, cupping Lan Wangji’s face in his hand as he pulled his face back up. Lan Wangji pulled his head away, causing Wei Wuxian to only laugh more as he leaned over, placing his head on Lan Wangji’s shoulder. 

They were too far away to hear what was being said, but Yanli could clearly see a deep red blush crossing A-Xian’s face. 

She smiled as she stepped away, turning around and heading back towards her room. Wei Wuxian would seek her out when he wished, and she would wait. There were other important things A-Xian needed to focus on.