My Last Breath

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/16236767.

Rating: Mature
Archive Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Underage
Category: M/M
Fandom: 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù
Relationships: Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji/Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Lan Huan | Lan
Xichen/Meng Yao | Jin Guangyao, Song Lan | Song Zichen/Xiao
Xingchen, Nie Mingjue/Wen Qing, Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyí/Wēn Níng
| Wēn Qiónglín, Jiang Yanli/Jin Zixuan
Characters: Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji, Jiang Cheng | Jiang
Wanyin, Wen Ning | Wen Qionglin, Wēn Qíng, Nie Mingjue, Meng Yao |
Jin Guangyao, Lan Huan | Lan Xichen, Jiang Yanli, Jin Zixuan, Nie
Huaisang, Xiao Xingchen, Song Lan | Song Zichen, Xue Yang | Xue
Chengmei, Ā-Qìng, Qingheng-jun, Lan Qiren, Jiang Fengmian, Yu
Ziyuan, Wen Ruohan, Jin Guangshan, Jin Ling | Jin Rulan, Lan Yuan |
Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, Mo Xuanyu, OC - Si Xiang
Additional Tags: Spoilers
Language: English
Series: Part 3 of Fallen
Collections: Time Travel and World Travel, AsianDramas
Stats: Published: 2018-10-10 Completed: 2018-12-18 Words: 52,306 Chapters:
24/24
 My Last Breath
by Jaywalker_Holmes

Summary

Third part of the "Fallen" trilogy. Our heroes have almost grown up, and are still trouble-
magnets. Continues from "My Immortal" and "Bring Me to Life".

Story title and chapter titles from Evanescence's "My Last Breath" from their album "Fallen".

Notes

My good folks, thank you for waiting! I'm currently on a holiday, which is turning out to be
more of an excursion than a holiday, so my apologies for the delay! I'll try and post whenever
I can, I promise.

See the end of the work for more notes

 Hold on to me love...

"Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan," Wei WuXian moaned piteously, bouncing around his
impassive partner like a puppy. "Please, Lan Zhan..."

Stupid Mama, stop making a spectacle of yourself! Lan Qinyang scolded from her Papa's
shoulder.

Papa should just give Mama what he wants. Wei KanghuiNing said.

Mama’s boy. Lan Mei accused. What Mama wants isn’t reasonable.

Shut up, you daft bird. Wei KanghuiNing spat. You don’t understand anything!

Papa! Big brother Hui is calling me names! Lan Mei complained.

What Mama wants isn’t particularly unreasonable, either. Wei AoJiang said calmly. A-Hui is
right.

Wei Syaoran growled menacingly. It could be dangerous for Mama to have him close, but it
might be worse to leave him at Koi Tower.

That rat bastard is definitely planning something nefarious. Wei KanghuiNing hissed. The
three of you were there for a week, couldn’t you find out anything?

We were protecting our Uncles. Lan Mei said angrily. We didn’t go there to spy.

We found out enough. Lan Qinyang said.

All you found out was that the boy who had killed himself to resurrect Mama in an alternate
reality has been brought to Koi Tower. Wei AoJiang said. How does that help us?

We know that one of Mama’s cores may be affected. Lan Mei said.

Did his core react when he saw the boy? Wei KanghuiNing demanded. In any case, even if it
does react, is it not safer to have the boy at hand rather than in that rat bastard’s clutches? If
his presence does affect Mama, and the rat bastard finds out, wouldn’t that be far worse?

The boy showed more of an effect than Mama did. Lan Mei said. The boy ran to Mama when
he saw him, clung to his robes and then fell in a dead faint. It took Uncle Yao and Uncle
Huan sometime to revive him.

Can’t we send him to Great Uncle Chen? Lan Qinyang asked. A-Yang and A-Qing will keep
him safe, I think, and it’s safer than leaving him at Koi Tower.

He’s not very talented, so he’s likely to be thrown out soon. Wei Syaoran said.
Wei KanghuiNing laughed. Of course he would be. The rat bastard brought him in to replace
Uncle Yao, but now that he’s realised that he isn’t even half as talented, do you think he’d not
throw him out?

And his family in Mo village hates him. Wei Syaoran said thoughtfully. So sending him back
there would warp his core.

Wei WuXian smiled happily. “Look, Lan Zhan, our children agree with me! It’s better to
remove the boy from Koi Tower, and we can’t send him back to Mo village. So we either
bring him with us, or we send him to Uncle Chen. What do you think? I still think it’s better
for us to keep him.”

Your core might react. Lan Mei insisted.

“You think so, A-Mei?” Wei WuXian asked her.

The beautiful bird nodded her flame-coloured head. I can sense the dissonance of your core
and his, Mama. Until the boy develops his own core properly, it wouldn’t be good to keep you
two together for long periods. I will help you suppress that core when you two are together,
but even I can’t keep it up all the time.

Wei WuXian stroked her soft feathers. “Thank you, my lovely daughter,” he said fondly, and
she preened under his fingers.

Lan WangJi’s frown did not dissipate.

“What’s wrong, Lan Zhan?” Wei WuXian asked, reaching out to take his hand. If Lan WangJi
wasn’t willing to speak, at least he could sense his thoughts through their bond if he took his
hand.

Lan WangJi stepped back quickly, avoiding his hand. Wei WuXian’s face fell. “Lan Zhan…?”

Troubled golden eyes regarded him.

“Did you see something, Lan Zhan?”

“Mmm.”

“Tell me.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Cannot.”

“Why can’t you?”

“Cannot say.”
“Why?”

Lan WangJi remained stubbornly silent.

“That’s really unfair of you, Lan Zhan,” Wei WuXian said quietly. “How am I supposed to fix
things if you won’t even tell me what’s wrong?”

“Cannot,” Lan WangJi said softly.

“All right,” Wei WuXian said, smiling brightly. Then he turned around and strode off, leaving
Lan WangJi and the babies.

Don’t follow me. He told the divine beasts, his voice unusually firm.

But Mama…Wei KanghuiNing began.

Please.

And then Wei WuXian shut down his mind so completely that not even Lan Qinyang was
able to get through.

Since when can he do that? Lan Qinyang wondered. I can’t sense him at all! Papa, what
should we do?

Lan WangJi looked so worried that all five of them cuddled up to him.

I think you should tell him, Papa. Wei Syaoran said softly.

Lan WangJi closed his eyes and leaned against a tree tiredly. “He would worry too much.”

He wouldn’t if you explained things to him properly, Papa. Wei Syaoran told him.

Mama gets more worried when you don’t speak to him, Papa. Wei AoJiang said.

And he does stupid things when he is worried and upset. Wei KanghuiNIng pointed out.

I still can’t believe he managed to block me from his mind. Lan Qinyang grumbled. How are
we supposed to locate him now if there is trouble?

I’ll try and track Mama’s core. Lan Mei said. Her eyes flashed blue, but nothing happened.
Papa, I can’t find Mama at all! I can always sense his cores mildly even when he suppresses
them…but now, there’s nothing. Do you know what he did?

At this, all the children looked worried, and Lan WangJi went pale. He reached out with his
mind desperately, his soul-mark glowing fiercely.

There was no response. It was as if Wei WuXian had vanished from the earth.

Lan WangJi immediately uncovered his zither. He played and played and played until his
fingers bled and his soul-mark burnt so fiercely that the pale skin around it became red and
inflamed. And still, there was no response.
Anxious, all five divine beasts reached out to their uncles. However, no one had seen Wei
WuXian.

---

Three days later, there was still no sign of Wei WuXian. Lan WangJi wouldn’t stop playing
Inquiry, and by now, even QingHeng-Jun, Jiang FengMian, Lan QiRen, Madame Yu,
Madame Jin and the Nie Sect Leader were looking for him. Wen Ning and Wen Qing had a
discussion with Jiang FengMian and QingHeng-Jun, and Wen RuoHan was roped in for the
search as well. Jin GuangYao and Lan XiChen went over to Xiao XingChen and Song Lan to
ask for their help as well.

They were shocked to see Mo XuanYu playing with Xue Yang and A-Qing.

“A-Xian dropped the boy here three days ago,” Xiao XingChen said, anticipating their
question.

“Did he say where he was going?” Lan XiChen asked, while Jin GuangYao went to speak to
Mo XuanYu.

“No,” Song Lan said laconically.

Xiao XingChen shook his head as well. “Is something wrong?” he asked softly.

“A-Xian has disappeared. Even Lan Qinyang and Lan Mei are unable to track him, and my
brother has been unable to contact him, too,” Lan XiChen told them.

Xiao XingChen and Song Lan frowned and exchanged a glance.

“He did ask us about strengthening one’s core,” Xiao XingChen said. “I don’t know if it
helps, but I taught him a meditation technique I learnt from my master. Shijie would have
taught him that if she had lived, so I…”

Jin GuangYao, who had finished speaking to – and extracting information out of – Mo
XuanYu, had joined them by then.

“What was this meditation technique?” he asked sharply. “Did it involve seclusion or
isolation?”

Xiao XingChen nodded. “It is best practiced in isolation on high grounds, preferably on a
mountain peak. It can take anywhere between a month to a decade to achieve. A-Xian only
laughed and said that it sounded a bit too difficult for him.”

“It’s probably the most important clue we have so far,” Lan XiChen said. “Thank you very
much.”

“We will search for him, too,” Song Lan promised. “We will send word as soon as we find
something.”

“Thank you,” Lan XiChen said, and the two boys took their leave.
---

“YiLing Burial Mounds,” Wen RuoHan said immediately upon hearing the tale. “Where else
would the YiLing Patriarch go?”

“That is possible. He’s not at our place in YiLing or within the perimeters of any of our sects’
lands,” Lan QiRen said, stroking his beard.

Lan WangJi flew off immediately, and everyone else followed.

They found Wei WuXian within a ball of red energy, seemingly dead to the world. The
energy was so intense that everyone’s skin tingled, even from a distance.

“Wei Ying…” Lan WangJi cried softly and fell off his sword, unconscious. Wei AoJiang slid
under him smoothly and caught him on his back. Wei KanghuiNing immediately rushed to
them, transferring healing energy to his Papa.

“We shouldn’t interrupt,” QingHeng-Jun said. “A-Huan, A-Yao – take A-Bao and get Xiao
XingChen here immediately.”

Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao nodded as Lan Qinyang caught them on her back and they
left.

The energy had grown much more intense by the time Xiao XingChen and Song Lan arrived.

Xiao XingChen’s eyes widened as he stared open-mouthed at his nephew in all but blood.
“Amazing,” he said reverently. “To think A-Xian could achieve this much in merely three
days…”

“Should we be worried?” Madame Yu asked.

Xiao XingChen smiled reassuringly at her. “Not at all.”

Just then, the red glow faded and a golden core emerged from Wei WuXian’s body. It hovered
in front of his face until he opened his eyes. Almost as if was in a trance, Wei WuXian
snatched the core and sealed it in a small pouch.

It was only then that he noticed the presence of everyone else. His eyes widened.

“What are you all doing here?” Wei WuXian asked.

Stupid Mama, do you know how worried we were? Lan Qinyang asked. Why on earth did you
disappear without a word?

“Well, Lan Zhan was worried, so I thought I’d remove the source of his troubles,” Wei
WuXian said, giggling nervously. He spotted Lan WangJi sitting up dazedly on Wei
AoJiang’s back and threw the pouch at him.

Lan WangJi caught it deftly, his face impossibly pale. “What have you done, Wei Ying?” he
whispered, aghast.
The others were equally horrified.

“You took out your golden core,” Jiang Cheng cried. “Why on earth would you do that?”

Wei WuXian shrugged. “I can live without it. But I’d rather not live with Lan Zhan’s worry.”
He smiled sadly. “Would you hold me now, Lan Zhan?”

Lan WangJi gathered his partner in his arms and hugged him close. His entire body trembled.

“Hey, calm down, Lan Zhan,” Wei WuXian whispered in his ear. “You know that core is not
essential for my survival.”

“Hide you away,” Lan WangJi muttered.

“What?”

“Want to hide you away.”

Wei WuXian smiled tiredly. "Then do that, Lan Zhan. I'm ok with anything, as long as you
hold on to me."

And then he went limp.

"Wei Ying? Wei Ying!"

 You know I can't stay long...
Chapter Notes

This is typed on my phone (I'm in a rather remote place and the wifi isn't working
properly on my laptop), so apologies in advance for more than usual typos and errors.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Wei WuXian woke up several hours later, with Wei KanghuiNing and Lan Mei poring over
him anxiously. Both were in their human forms and looked like they were about to cry.

"A-Hui? A-Mei? What's wrong?" he asked, sitting up quickly.

Lan Mei bit her lip so hard that a spot of red appeared.

Wei KanghuiNing's chin wobbled. He said shakily, "Papa went to the discipline hall."

Wei WuXian's eyes flashed red. "When?"

"About ten minutes ago," Lan Mei said, tears finally spilling down her face. "Papa said not to
tell you, but..."

Wei WuXian jumped out of the bed. He staggered, still a little dizzy, but Wei Syaoran, who
had been waiting quietly on the side in his tiger form, steadied him with his large body.

"Thank you, kids," Wei WuXian said. "I'll go ahead and get your stupid Papa now."

"I'll take you," Lan Mei said immediately. "Just hold on to my tail feathers."

"A-Ao and Big sister went with him. We tried talking him out of it, but he wouldn't listen,"
Wei KanghuiNing told him.

"Tell them to delay until I get there."

"Already done, Mama," Wei KanghuiNing said proudly. "I did that as soon as you opened
your eyes."

"Brilliant," Wei WuXian said. "Thank you, son."

Wei KanghuiNing gave him a tremulous smile. Wei Syaoran transformed.

Lan Mei transported the four of them to the discipline hall.

Lan WangJi knelt on the floor, his head bowed. An elder stood over him with the discipline
whip.
Lan Qinyang and Wei AoJiang flanked their Papa, blocking the leering elder's access to him.

"Move," Lan WangJi told his son and daughter.

"No," Lan Qinyang said. "We're not letting you do this, Papa."

"Mama will be furious if we didn't stop you," Wei AoJiang said.

"I forbid you to tell him."

The elder cracked the whip and Wei WuXian caught it, hissing in pain when it touched the
skin of his arm.

"And why exactly do you think you deserve to be punished, Lan Zhan?" Wei WuXian asked,
his voice cold enough to freeze water.

Lan WangJi turned around, shocked. He didn't say anything, but he looked miserable and his
fingers were bandaged.

The Lan elder laughed snidely. "He made his partner lose his golden core. It's a sin of the
highest order. Even the ten strokes I prescribed are not adequate for such a terrible act."

"So he wronged his partner. Has his partner made any accusations or demanded any
punishment for him?" Wei WuXian asked, his eyes glowing red.

The elder stepped back nervously. "Master Wei, we only seek to avenge a wrong done to
you."

"Did I ask for it?" Wei WuXian shouted suddenly. "What gives you the right to punish my
Lan Zhan without my consent?"

"Second Young Master agreed to it," the elder said. He had turned a little pale, shocked at
Wei WuXian's intense rage.

"Get out," Wei WuXian hissed. "And if see you near my Lan Zhan with that whip again, I'll
make that whip turn on you."

"But..."

"If Mama is the wronged party, he has the right to punish Papa as he pleases. We don't need
you to interfere. Get out," Wei Syaoran growled.

The elder fled.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Wei WuXian yelled.

"Wei Ying..." Lan WangJi whispered. "I am sorry..."

"Why?"

"I hurt you and...you suffered so much."

"So did you, from what I can see," Wei WuXian hissed, glaring at his bandaged fingers.
"Why haven't you let the twins heal your hands?"

"I hurt you."

"And did you think I'd like to see you in pain?"

"Quid pro quo, Wei Ying."

"Doesn't that mean I should take your golden core?"

Lan WangJi bowed his head in submission, clearly allowing him to do as he pleased.

Wei WuXian's fury drained in an instant. "What am I supposed to do with you, Lan Zhan?"
he cried and fell to his knees, sapped of all his strength.

"What am I supposed to do with you, Wei Ying?" Lan WangJi asked him in response. "Why
did you extract your core?"

"You were worried about it's dissonance. You clearly foresaw something bad about it, enough
to spook you. You wouldn't say what it was, so I removed it. What else was I supposed to do
to reassure you?"

"You could have just sealed it, stupid Mama," Lan Qinyang scolded.

"Oh," Wei WuXian said sheepishly. "I didn't think of that."

"Both of you are morons," Wei AoJiang said. "You could have spoken to us instead of
running off to harm yourself at the first instance!"

"Absolutely!" Lan Mei agreed.

"Mama, you need to understand that that Papa can't always tell you everything he sees," Wei
Syaoran said softly. He turned to Lan WangJi. "And Papa, you need to understand that Mama
will worry even more if you distance yourself from him."

Wei KanghuiNing sighed unhappily. "Don't you guys ever think about what will happen to us
without you?"

"Quiet!" Lan Mei said. "They don't need to know!"

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi exchanged a worried glance.

"Tell us," Lan WangJi said.

"We're going to be dormant again, of course," Wei AoJiang said. "What did you expect? Our
lives are tagged with yours because you hatched us."

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi were horrified.

"Can't we change it to let you be free?" Wei WuXian asked.

"Of course not," Lan Qinyang said haughtily. "We only hatch for specific people at a certain
time in each lifetime. When you die, we'll go dormant and be reincarnated when someone
suitable comes along. But that won't be us, really. Everything we have here remains in the
current lifetime."

"So we actually need you more than you know," Lan Mei said softly.

Before the two young men could reply, however, the door burst open and the five uncles of
the divine beasts rushed in, panting.

"What the hell did you do now?" Jiang Cheng cried as soon as he saw them. He ran to Wei
WuXian and clipped him on the head.

To everyone's shock, Lan XiChen did the same thing to Lan WangJi. Even Lan WangJi
looked surprised.

"The babies were in such distress, we thought something bad had happened," Jin GuangYao
explained.

Lan Qinyang and Wei AoJiang explained.

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi earned another smack from their brothers.

"We're taking the babies away for now," Nie MingJue boomed.

"The two of you should go to YiLing and stay there to sort out everything," Wen Ning said
firmly.

"No," came a voice from the doorway. QingHeng-Jun walked in, a storm brewing on his face.
"You will be separated for two months. All communication is barred. You are not allowed to
meet your partner or the babies. A-Xian is going to Xiao XingChen, and A-Zhan is going to
study with a specialist from another country. If I see you doing well, you can be together after
that. If you don't, I'll extend it by another two months."

"No, please, Father-in-law!" Wei WuXian begged. "Anything but that!"

"Father, please." Lan WangJi pleaded.

But QingHeng-Jun wouldn't relent. He had the twins heal both of them, and Lan Mei put the
extracted core back into WuXian's body.

Wei WuXian fainted after that, and when he woke up, he was already with Xiao XingChen.

---

Over the next two months, Wei WuXian listlessly performed whatever tasks Xiao XingChen
and Song Lan assigned him, played perfunctorily with Xue Yang, A-Qing and Mo XuanYu,
and went about everything with a mechanical smile on his face. Since none of the people he
was with knew him well, no one realised something was wrong. No one realised that his
appetite was gone, and whatever little he ate was soon thrown up, or that he couldn't sleep at
all, or that his head hurt all the time and later, his body, too. He grew paler and thinner by the
day, and by the time the two month punishment period ended, he was reduced to a ghost of
his former self.

Lan WangJi had fared better. His new teacher was extraordinarily perceptive, and his
withdrawal symptoms were immediately diagnosed and cured. At the end of the period, he
had acquired mastery of his new skills, and his new teacher brought him back to his father,
grinning proudly.

Lan WangJi greeted his father politely but without the warmth he usually held.

QingHeng-Jun sighed, but he knew that harsh measures were required for the two. Their
codependency was alarming.

Xiao XingChen came over with Wei WuXian soon after. He told QingHeng-Jun about the
skills his shijie's son had acquired and of his flawless execution of tasks.

"A-Xian has matured well," Xiao XingChen said proudly.

Wei WuXian, who had done nothing except murmur a polite greeting to QingHeng-Jun, stood
with his head bowed, not sure if he was allowed to look at or speak to Lan WangJi yet. In a
similar dilemma, Lan WangJi stood quietly with his head down.

Once Xiao XingChen took his leave, QingHeng-Jun sighed.

"A-Xian, A-Zhan, you've done well," he said softly. "My apologies for keeping you apart, but
I hope this experience steadies your relationship."

Lan WangJi looked at Wei WuXian, who remained motionless.

"Wei Ying?" he called quietly, his voice soft and tender.

There was no response. Worried, Lan WangJi strode over to his partner and hugged him.

Wei WuXian went limp in his arms.

"Wei Ying! What is wrong?" Lan WangJi cried, sinking on to the floor. He brushed the hair
away from Wei WuXian's face and gasped in horror.

"Father!" Lan WangJi cried helplessly. "Help!"

QingHeng-Jun rushed over and examined the boy quickly. Had he always been so colourless
and skinny? And why were there dark circles under his eyes as if he had not slept a wink in
two months?

Wei WuXian stirred. "Lan Zhan?" he asked weakly.

"Wei Ying!"

Finally, a real smile appeared on Wei WuXian's tired face.

 "Kiss me, Lan Zhan."

Lan WangJi complied immediately, ignoring his father completely.

Chapter End Notes

Bit of angst, but happier days soon! Bear with me, kind readers!
 All I wanted to say was...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

It took Wei WuXian three days to recover enough to be able to move around properly.
Perhaps it was the relief of finally being reunited with his beloved Lan Zhan that gave him
the impetus. Lan WangJi had immediately brought him to their place in YiLing, and the five
divine beasts had turned up almost immediately. The twins had cried out in anger when they
had seen Wei WuXian’s condition, and had immediately gotten to work. Lan WangJi had
made lotus root pork rib soup using Jiang YanLi’s recipe that Wei WuXian loved so much.

As the days progressed, Wei WuXian remained rather subdued. He did whatever he was
asked to without protest, smiled at Lan WangJi and the babies, and didn’t speak much.

Naturally, this worried Lan WangJi and the babies. They were all used to Wei WuXian
talking non-stop and moving restlessly everywhere, and to find him sitting quietly in a corner
made them anxious. The twins had healed him, so physically, he was fine now. He could eat
normally, and he slept well each night, gathered protectively in Lan WangJi’s arms.

Finally, after a week, when Wei WuXian showed no signs of returning to his bubbly self, Lan
WangJi asked him what was wrong.

Wei WuXian’s smile froze on his face, and his eyes went wide with fear. “Why do you think
so, Lan Zhan? Have I not been behaving properly? Did Father-in-law or Uncle Chen say
something?”

“You are behaving too properly, Wei Ying,” Lan WangJi said, sighing. “It is not like you.”

Much to Lan WangJi’s dismay, Wei WuXian’s eyes flooded with tears.

“Wei Ying?”

“Nothing, it’s nothing, Lan Zhan,” Wei WuXian muttered, his head bowed, hiding his face.
His shoulders shook.

Lan WangJi threw his arms around Wei WuXian and pulled him into an embrace. He stroked
his back gently and hummed softly until he calmed down.

“Sorry,” Wei WuXian said, scrubbing at his face. “Sorry, Lan Zhan. I’m all right. Don’t tell
anyone.”

Lan WangJi frowned. “Not all right,” he said.

“I’m sorry!” Wei WuXian cried, trembling again. “I’ll be good, I promise, Lan Zhan!”

“There is no need to be sorry, Wei Ying,” Lan WangJi told him.

But Wei WuXian was already hysterical. “I promise I’ll be good. I’ll be obedient and quiet. I
won’t create any trouble. I’ll always smile and never get angry. Just don’t let them separate us
again…please, Lan Zhan. I’ll do anything.”

“I promise,” Lan WangJi said seriously. “As long as I live, Wei Ying, I will not let anyone
take you from me again. Not even Father.”

“Really?”

“Mmm.”

“You won’t let me go?”

“Mmm.”

“No matter what?”

“Mmm.”

“Even if I misbehave?”

“Mmm.”

“Even if I’m not good?”

“Mmm.”

“Even if everyone hates me?”

“Mmm.”

Wei WuXian’s tired face split into a relieved smile. “Thank you, Lan Zhan.”

“No need.”

Wei WuXian shook his head in response.

Lan WangJi embraced him again and kissed his brow. “Be yourself, Wei Ying. You bring me
joy as you are. I don’t want you to be obedient and quiet. I just want you to be you, because it
is you that I love.”

Wei WuXian buried his face in Lan WangJi’s shoulder. “Lan Zhan, let’s do it,” he murmured.

Lan WangJi’s ears turned red. “We will,” he said. “Once you have recovered.”

“You don’t like me like this?”

“I like you in every way, Wei Ying. Your body is weak now.”

“I have strength enough for this. For us,” Wei WuXian insisted. There was a strange fear in
his eyes. “Am I not attractive anymore, Lan Zhan? Did you realise that while we were
separated?”

“Wei Ying,” Lan WangJi said firmly. “In my eyes, there is no one more beautiful than you.
You are all I want for the rest of my life. Everyday. We will start as soon as you are healthy
again.”

Wei WuXian said nervously, “Let’s start right now, Lan Zhan. Please. I need you.”

Lan WangJi kissed him fiercely, pouring all his love into the act. When he finally came up for
air, Wei WuXian felt boneless.

“Lan Zhan…” he breathed. He looked dazed, and his lips were enticingly swollen.

Lan WangJi smiled, looking thoroughly self-satisfied.

“Let’s do it, Lan Zhan. I don’t care if it hurts or if my body is weak. Take me. Take me as you
please.”

Lan WangJi kissed him again. And again. And again, until Wei WuXian had forgotten
everything except his partner’s name.

“You’ve gotten too good at shutting me up, Lan Zhan…”

Lan WangJi chuckled softly and drew him close.

---

QingHeng-Jun turned up two weeks later. Wei WuXian hid behind Lan WangJi as soon as he
spotted his Father-in-law.

Lan WangJi glared at his father as he greeted him coldly.

The Lan Sect Leader sighed sadly. He had certainly not expected the young man to be so
traumatised at being separated from his son. All his good intentions had backfired. Now his
cheerful son-in-law appeared broken and his own son detested him.

“A-Xian,” he called softly. “I am not here to punish you or separate you from A-Zhan. I am
merely here to enquire after your health.”

Wei WuXian peered at him, still half-hidden behind his partner. “I’ve been good,” he said in a
small voice.

“I know, child, I know,” QingHeng-Jun said gently. “I cannot apologise enough for the
suffering I caused you.” He bowed his head. “I am going to abdicate and go into total
seclusion. I just wanted to meet the two of you before I left. You will never have to see me
again.”

Both Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi were shocked.

“Why?” Wei WuXian asked.

“A person who cannot even gauge what would cause trauma to his own children cannot
possibly look after the interests of an entire sect.”

“No,” Wei WuXian said. He looked at Lan WangJi. “We can’t let Father-in-law do this, Lan
Zhan.”

Lan WangJi remained silent.

Wei WuXian’s temper overcame his fear of separation. “What the hell is wrong with you Lan
people?” he shouted angrily. “Why are you so eager to take all the blame when you haven’t
even done anything wrong?”

At his anger, the divine beasts appeared immediately, gathering protectively around their
Papa and Mama.

“What happened?” Wei KanghuiNing asked sharply.

“Father-in-law is trying to abdicate and go into total seclusion. Naturally, I object. A-Bao, A-
Mei, get Uncle Lan and Big brother and Brother Yao here as soon as possible,” Wei WuXian
said.

Lan Qinyang and Lan Mei nodded and went off.

“A-Xian…”

“No,” Wei WuXian said furiously. “This time you listen to me. Why are you trying to break
our family apart? Don’t you know that we need you?”

“But I…”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Wei WuXian said, his eyes glowing red. “I’m not going to let
you! I am never losing a father again!”

“Mama is right, Grandfather,” Wei AoJiang said. “Papa and Mama rely on you more than you
know. We need you.”

“But A-Xian…”

“You couldn’t possibly have known Mama would have a nervous breakdown, Grandfather.
He’s better than Papa at hiding his true feelings when he chooses to, so it’s not really
anyone’s fault that they didn’t realise that he was about to break. Your punishment was a
reasonable one; their co-dependency is alarming, and their miscommunications are epic,”
Wei Syaoran said reasonably. “Everyone acknowledges that you’re an excellent leader, and
you’ve helped out Papa and Mama and Uncle Huan and Uncle Yao loads of times.”

“And if you think you’ve wronged me, the right to punish you is mine, isn’t it, Father-in-
law?” Wei WuXian demanded.

“Yes, A-Xian.”
“Then I demand that you retain your position as our father as well as the Lan Sect Leader,”
Wei WuXian said triumphantly.

Lan WangJi smiled slightly, recalling how the same argument had been used against him a
few months ago. “Wei Ying is right, Father.”

QingHeng-Jun shook his head. “You are too kind, my children.”

“What is this nonsense I hear, Brother?” Lan QiRen demanded.

Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao flanked him, both white with anger. Lan Qinyang and Lan
Mei returned to their parents immediately.

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi watched with smiles on their faces as QingHeng-Jun received
the scolding of his life from his brother, older son and older son-in-law.

Finally, Wei WuXian added the last feather by making the saddest puppy-eyes he could and
saying, “Father-in-law, it seems that I am the root of everyone’s troubles. I should be the one
going into total seclusion.”

“I shall go with you,” Lan WangJi said immediately.

“Us, too,” Lan Qinyang said. “We go where our parents go.”

“There you have it, Father-in-law,” Wei WuXian said. “With the primary troublemakers gone,
all will be well!”

QingHeng-Jun looked so horrified that Wei WuXian nearly giggled. Really, he thought
fondly, these Lan people were a little too serious. He shared an amused glance with Jin
GuangYao.

QingHeng-Jun, of course, buckled under the pressure.

Lan QiRen pulled Wei WuXian aside. “Thank you,” he said gratefully. “You’ve done well,
child.”

Wei WuXian smiled at him.

“How do you feel now?”

“Surprisingly normal. I think Father-in-law’s stupidity cured me.”

Lan QiRen chuckled, a sound so rare that everyone else stopped their conversation and turned
to stare at them.

“But really, Uncle Lan,” Wei WuXian said. “We must do something about this inherent
weakness of you Lan people to blame yourself for everything. I mean, being righteous and all
is fine, but when it’s not your fault, why the hell should you take the blame? And even when
it is your fault, extenuating circumstances must be exempted.”
Jin GuangYao came up to them. “A-Xian is absolutely right. From a neutral perspective, this
is fundamentally wrong. And it is painful for us to see the people we love rushing to punish
themselves for no proper reason.”

“I’m not saying all of you should turn into troublemakers like me,” Wei WuXian said quickly.
“But a healthy disregard for the rules when situations call for it should be encouraged.”

Lan QiRen stroked his beard thoughtfully.

---

Jiang Cheng and Wen Ning dropped in a few days later. Both of them hugged Wei WuXian as
soon as they saw him.

“How are you now?” Wen Ning asked worriedly. “A-Hui says you’re much better, but you
still look so thin…”

“That’s because everyday Lan Zhan…” Wei WuXian’s mouth was sealed off abruptly by Lan
WangJi’s silencing spell.

“Are you eating properly?” Jiang Cheng asked. “Should I make you Sister’s soup?”

Lan WangJi released the spell as he smoothly said, “I have been making that soup for him.”

Wei WuXian shot Lan WangJi an aggrieved look, which went completely ignored.

Jiang Cheng beamed at Lan WangJi, clearly happy with his brother-in-law. Then he turned
back to Wei WuXian and asked, “So, you’re completely fine now?”

“Yes!”

Without any further warning, Jiang Cheng landed a smart smack on Wei WuXian’s bum.

“Ow!” Wei WuXian howled. “What the hell was that for?”

“What was that for?” Jiang Cheng thundered. “That was for worrying us all to death, you
moron! Why won’t you ever tell anyone when you’re not feeling well?”

“I couldn’t!” Wei WuXian yelled.

“Why the hell not?”

“If I did anything, I’d have been kept away from Lan Zhan and the babies for two more
months!”

“You could have at least met us! We visited you every week and that grumpy Song Lan
turned us away saying you’d specifically said you didn’t want to meet anyone! And then you
came back and collapsed and none of us were allowed to see you…” Jiang Cheng’s anger
drained away. “We care for you, you idiot. We worry.”
 “Sorry,” Wei WuXian said, still rubbing his arse and wincing.

Jiang Cheng stared at him. “What are you doing? I didn’t smack you that hard.”

Wei WuXian made a face. “You didn’t. But Lan Zhan, he…” His lips were sealed shut again.

Jiang Cheng rounded upon Lan WangJi. “What did you do to him?” he demanded. “He’s
actually more delicate that he pretends to be. I know he can be aggravating at times, but…”

“Mmm,” was all Lan WangJi said, but his ears were red.

Wen Ning understood immediately, unlike Jiang Cheng.

“It is good to see you back to normal,” Wen Ning said quickly. “When are you planning to go
to Lotus Pier for the wedding preparations?”

The distraction worked perfectly.

“Sister misses you,” Jiang Cheng said softly. “Come home.”

Wei WuXian looked at Lan WangJi, who nodded his assent and released the silencing spell.

“We can go right away, can’t we, Lan Zhan?” Wei WuXian asked.

“Mmm.”

Chapter End Notes

Thank you for putting up with the angst so far!

 I love you and I'm not afraid...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Lotus Pier was bustling with the wedding preparations. Wei WuXian, Lan WangJi and the
divine beasts were put to work as soon as they appeared. Over the course of the next few
days, all their friends turned up to work, except Jin GuangYao and Lan XiChen, who went to
Koi Tower to help out Madame Jin and Jin ZiXuan. Xiao XingChen and his group were also
roped in to work.

Jiang YanLi seemed closer and closer to a nervous breakdown as her wedding day
approached, until Wen Qing sat her down and spoke to her for three hours. After that, she
was a bit more stable, much to everyone’s relief. Having never seen their gentle sister in such
a state before, Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian had been the most worried.

On the day of the wedding, everything went perfectly, Wei WuXian thought. Everyone of
significance and many not-so-significant in the cultivation world had turned up with
extravagant and/or heartfelt gifts. Lotus Pier had never looked so resplendent, and his shijie
had never looked more radiantly beautiful. In fact, she looked so gorgeous in her red robes
and light make-up that Jin ZiXuan’s jaw dropped to the floor and he stared at her in a daze as
he caught sight of her.

Jin GuangShan eyed his daughter-in-law appreciatively. “What a lovely bride my son has,”
he said, giving her a leering smile.

All four of the other major Sect Leaders (including Wen RuoHan) and their heirs glared at
him. Jin ZiXuan looked murderous and Jin GuangYao caught his arm, whispering in his ear
that patricide at his own wedding would not be a very good idea. Madame Jin kicked her
husband surreptitiously and he let out a yelp. Purple electricity crackled around Madame Yu
and Jiang Cheng.

Wei WuXian’s eyes flashed red and the LanlingJin Sect Leader tripped on the hem of his own
robes and fell flat on his face. Guests at the wedding joked for years after about how Jin
GuangShan had been clumsier than a donkey slipping on ice on the day of his son’s wedding,
since he kept tripping, falling, spilling things on himself and, at one point, even slipped and
fell into the lake. The LanlingJin disciples had a hard time fishing him out with all the heavy
gold jewellery he wore.

Madame Yu was the first to realise Wei WuXian’s doing. She walked up to him and pulled
him into a half hug, whispering, “Well done,” in his ear.

Wei WuXian grinned at her.

The curse followed Jin GuangShan for the rest of his life. Every time he would harbour a
remotely impure thought about his daughter-in-law, he would meet with an accident. And the
one time he had touched her shoulder, his hands had gotten burnt so bad that he could not use
them for three months. He had not dared to lay a finger on her after that, terrified of the fierce
layer of protection magic around her.

It took Jin ZiXuan, Jiang YanLi and Madame Jin several months to figure out what was
happening with Jin GuangShan. Jiang YanLi had offered to speak to Wei WuXian to lift the
curse, but mother and son had been adamant that the lecherous man deserved it. In fact, the
next time they met after that, Jin ZiXuan had pulled Wei WuXian into a hug and thanked him.

---

Jin GuangShan was immensely displeased with his legitimate son and heir. He had expected
to be able to control the boy through his gentle wife, but the damned girl had some fierce
protectors and he couldn’t even think of her without getting hurt. He decided that he would
try to influence the bastard boy instead, and make him his heir if he turned out obedient. At
least that one’s mother still adored him, and he could easily use her to get to the boy.

Thus, a few months after the wedding, Jin GuangShan invited Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao
on the pretext of discussing some important matters - conveniently at a time when Jin
ZiXuan, Jiang YanLi and Madame Jin were all at Lotus Pier. He dared not call the bastard
son alone, for that would immediately raise suspicions. But he knew how to deal with the
abstinent Lan boy. He had prepared a special drink for Lan XiChen, spiked with drugs that
would put him to sleep for half a day. Then he would introduce a girl called Qin Su to Jin
GuangYao, hoping the pretty girl would be able to snatch his illegitimate son from the Lan
heir’s clutches. He mixed potions in all their food and drinks, certain that a night of intimacy
would allow him to force a marriage.

However, instead of Jin GuangYao, Lan XiChen was the one who ended up drugged, for the
servant responsible for the drinks switched them by mistake. So Jin GuangYao ended up
sleeping for half a day, and Lan XiChen ended up in bed with Qin Su – and even worse, when
they woke up in the morning, they could sense that Qin Su was already impregnated because
of Jin GuangShan’s drugs. Lan XiChen was so miserable and guilty that he nearly impaled
himself upon his Shuoyue – it was only thanks to the interference of Lan Qinyang and Lan
Mei that Jin GuangYao was able to stop him in time.

“What happened, Lan Huan?” Jin GuangYao asked quietly, pulling the sword away from his
partner.

Haltingly, Lan XiChen and Qin Su told him what they could from their fragmented
memories. Jin GuangYao immediately discerned his father’s machinations. But the heart is
not reasonable, he thought bitterly to himself, as his anger rose.

“A-Yao…I have betrayed you in the worst way possible. I…I do not deserve to live after
this,” Lan XiChen said, kneeling before Jian GuangYao with his head bowed.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Jian GuangYao said through clenched teeth.
“But it was,” Lan XiChen murmured. “I should have realised there was something wrong
with the food and drinks.” His head remained bowed and his shoulders shook. “And even if I
were drugged, to be intimate with someone other than the one I love…it is unpardonable, A-
Yao.”

Qin Su, too, knelt on the floor and bowed her head. “I, too, did not realise it, Master Jin,
Master Lan. I am equally at fault. As my penance, if you will have it, I shall give you this
child.”

Jin GuangYao closed his eyes and took a deep breath, attempting to gather his sanity. “I
didn’t realise it either,” he said quietly. “Lan Huan, what you had was probably meant for me,
and what made me sleep so long was probably meant for you. Neither of you are at fault. I
know who is, and I will see justice done.”

If Lan XiChen or Qin Su had looked up, they would have seen the ominous flash in Jin
GuangYao’s eyes.

“However, to contain the situation at hand, the two of you must be married,” Jin GuangYao
continued. “I will not have another child suffer the indignity of illegitimacy.”

“But, Master Jin, you are Master Lan’s cultivation partner! How could he marry me?” Qin Su
cried.

Jin GuangYao said quietly, “It is the only way.” He smiled slightly. “Don’t worry, Qin Su,
Lan Huan will make a good husband. He is kind, caring and loyal. You will not want of
happiness.”

“He is supposed to marry you,” Qin Su protested. “It is you that he loves, Master Jin.”

Jin GuangYao rubbed his temples. “That is not an option anymore. I will not let an innocent
child suffer.”

“Is that your final decision, A-Yao?” Lan XiChen asked, his voice barely more than a
whisper.

“It is the only way, Lan Huan,” Jin GuangYao said.

“Very well, A-Yao.”

---

Lan XiChen and Qin Su’s wedding, though hurriedly arranged, was almost as well-celebrated
amongst the cultivators as Jin ZiXuan and Jiang YanLi’s had been. The bride and the groom,
as well as those closest to them, were far from happy, though.

Wei WuXian saw Jin GuangYao’s pale face as he watched Lan XiChen and Qin Su get
married and grabbed his hand in support. All the grown-ups had agreed with his strategy…
though furious at Jin GuangShan. Jiang FengMian had immediately taken Jin GuangYao back
to Lotus Pier, and Wei WuXian had gone with him, taking Lan Mei and the twins. Lan
WangJi had gone to the Cloud Recesses with QingHeng-Jun, Lan XiChen, Lan Qinyang and
Wei Syaoran. Lan QiRen and Madame Yu had been ready to murder the LanlingJin Sect
Leader. Jin GuangShan, on the other hand, was over the moon. Despite the servant’s mistake,
the Lan brat and his bastard son had been driven apart! He couldn’t be happier, thinking Jin
GuangYao would be rather easy control now.

“Thank you,” Jin GuangYao said. “Is Lan Huan doing well? He’s looking a bit thin.”

Wei WuXian bit his lip. Lan WangJi was spending as much time with Lan XiChen as he
could, but the situation was not good. Lan WangJi was very worried.

“What’s wrong?” Jin GuangYao asked sharply. “Is something wrong with him?”

“Qi deviation,” Wei WuXian said quietly. “Lan Zhan and the twins are trying to keep it under
control, but Big brother is too traumatised, we think. They are barely managing to keep him
afloat.”

“How can someone from the Lan sect have Qi deviation?! They are trained from birth!” Jin
GuangYao cried softly. “And for someone as calm and gentle as Lan Huan…”

Wei WuXian shook his head. “His case is different from what happens with the Nie guys. Big
brother is not going berserk; he is shutting down.”

“Is my presence affecting him adversely?”

Wei WuXian shook his head again. “He’s actually slightly better on the days he gets to see
you.”

Jin GuangYao sighed. “It would be improper of me to visit him anymore except for work.”

“I know,” Wei WuXian said. “Qin Su said she doesn’t mind you and Big brother living
together…”

Jin GuangYao sighed again. “Do you really think Lan Huan would allow that? He is nothing
if not dedicated. He will kill himself before he cheats on his lawfully wedded wife. He nearly
killed himself when he realised what had happened – you know that already. If it weren’t for
your daughters…”

Wei WuXian squeezed his hands in reassurance.

“Keep him alive, A-Xian. I will find a solution for his Qi deviation, I promise. Keep him
alive and well until then, please,” Jin GuangYao begged.

“We will search together,” Wei WuXian promised. “It’s not just Big brother. You are ours to
protect, too.”

A single tear slid down Jin GuangYao’s face. Incidentally, that was the moment Lan
XiChen’s eyes found him.

Lan XiChen couldn’t breathe anymore. He fell to the floor in a dead faint.
Uncle Huan! Lan Qinyang’s cry was terrible. Wei WuXian, Jin GuangYao and Lan WangJi
rushed to the First Jade of GusuLan.

Qin Su stood up. “This wedding cannot happen. I can’t watch two perfectly innocent men
ruin their lives to pay for someone else’s sin,” she announced, throwing off her wedding veil.
“The only reason ZeWu-Jun is marrying me instead of LianFang-Zun is because I’m
pregnant and the two of them want to save an innocent child from being labelled a bastard.”
She pointed at Jin GuangShan and glared. “The reason I’m pregnant is that man’s fault!”

Then she walked up to the LanlingJin Sect Leader and slapped him hard.

Jin GuangShan reeled in shock. “But…”

“Use the silencing spell, Lan Zhan,” Wei WuXian whispered urgently, and Lan WangJi
immediately sealed the LanlingJin Sect Leader’s mouth shut.

“It is true!” Wei WuXian declared to the audience, most of whom looked appalled now. “It is
his fault, and Big brother and Brother Yao and Qin Su are being made to sacrifice themselves
for it!”

The twins had revived Lan XiChen by then, and Lan Wangji helped his brother stand,
supporting him with an arm around his waist.

Qin Su grabbed Jin GuangYao’s hand and dragged him to Lan XiChen. Then she grabbed
Lan XiChen’s hand as well and put them together.

“These two should be getting married, not me. If it weren’t for their noble hearts, I would
have killed myself as soon as I found out what Sect Leader Jin had forced me into! These two
were only trying to save me and the child, but I can’t stand by and watch them sacrifice their
lives and souls!” she said loudly. “Since they have shown such concern and even undertaken
such a great sacrifice for the sake of the child, I hereby declare that the child in me now shall
be a Lan, and its parents shall be ZeWu-Jun and LianFang-Zun!” She bowed deeply to the
two men. “Would you grant me this honour, young masters?”

Wei WuXian was the first to clap. Thunderous applause followed.

Wen Qing and Jiang YanLi hugged Qin Su, and all the boys knelt and bowed. Then, to
everyone’s shock, QingHeng-Jun, Lan QiRen, Jiang FengMian, Madame Yu and Madame Jin
knelt and bowed to Qin Su as well. Even Wen RuoHan nodded at her, acknowledging her.

“What a magnificent lady!” the Nie Sect Leader declared, bowing to her as well. “Child, you
have courage and integrity befitting a goddess! What proud parents birthed one such as you?”

Qin Su blushed, and her parents, who had gone pale at her declaration, stepped forward
hesitantly.

“May I ask for your daughter’s hand for my second son?” he asked. “If the two of them
agree, of course.” He paused. “Perhaps they should get to know each other first…but the man
that wins the heart of this lovely child would be such a lucky fellow!”
 Nie HuaiSang stepped forward and smiled shyly at Qin Su and she gave him a small smile in
return.

“It is best if they get to know each other first,” Qin Su’s father said finally.

“A wise choice,” Jiang FenMian said mildly.

“Well, since we are here to celebrate a wedding that got cancelled, why don’t we marry off
those two miserable-looking creatures?” Wen RuoHan said, smirking and pointing at Lan
XiChen and Jin GuangYao. “It would save a lot of trouble in the future and put them out of
their misery.”

“Excellent idea, Master Wen,” Wei WuXian said, grinning at him.

Wen RuoHan smiled fondly. “Look how much you have corrupted my evil heart, young
SanRen blood.”

And thus, Lan XiChen’s previously miserable wedding day turned out to be the happiest day
of his life as he knelt before the heavens and earth with the man he loved with every fibre of
his being. Jin GuangYao shed tears again, but this time, they were happy tears.

Chapter End Notes

*gulps nervously* Concerns about the Lan bloodline were perfectly valid, so...

But boy, was it painful to write this...I've been agonising over it for days. Thankfully,
there's a happy ending. I actually wanted to make it three weddings and a funeral...the
rat bastard's!
 Can you hear me?
Chapter Notes

Fluff, to make up for the angst earlier!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Wen Qing, Jiang YanLi and Qin Su gave birth to their children within a few weeks of each
other. Celebrations in all five clans continued for several months, and YiLing became the hub
for the festivities – much to Wei WuXian’s joy. The divine beasts were especially pleased
with the situation, for they would have little cousins to mentor now. A-Qing followed Xue
Yang around like a little duckling trailing behind its mother, and the divine beasts, too,
wanted that.

---

Qin Su, who was engaged to Nie HuaiSang by now and very much in love with him, gave
birth to twins – a boy and a girl. Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao were over the moon.

“Would you like to give one of them your name?” Lan XiChen asked, expertly balancing his
infant daughter in his arms.

Jin GuangYao, who had the baby boy in his arms, shook his head. “I don’t have a name that I
value, Lan Huan. I’d rather both our children be called Lan.”

Lan XiChen reached out with his free hand and cupped his husband’s cheek. “A-Yao…”

Jin GuangYao shook his head. “You know I carry the name Jin only because I am forced to.”

Lan XiChen pulled him close and kissed his brow tenderly. “What should we call our
children?”

Jin GuangYao blinked. “Are you asking me to name both of them?”

“Of course,” Lan XiChen said with a gentle smile. “Aren’t you the cleverest of us all? I’d
certainly not let A-Xian name them.”

Jin GuangYao grimaced. “You have a point.”

“Our babies would end up being called a loquat and an apple – or something equally awful,”
Lan XiChen said.

Jin GuangYao chuckled. “A-Xian and WangJi have five of their own. Why should they name
our children anyway?”
Lan XiChen smiled, glad to see his beloved happy. “So name them, A-Yao.”

Jin GuangYao smiled. “Lan Xia,” he pointed at the baby girl, and then turned to the baby boy.
“Lan Yue.”

Just in the nick of time, apparently, for the door burst open and Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi
flew in.

“Big brother! Brother Yao! You got two!” Wei WuXian crowed. “Let me name one!”

Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao exchanged a smile that was more relief than joy.

“They have already been named, A-Xian,” Lan XiChen said gently, but he looked rather
pleased with the situation. “A-Yao gave them beautiful names.”

Wei WuXian pouted and Lan WangJi smiled slightly.

The twins immediately wanted to go to their uncle. Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao handed
them over, and Lan WangJi took them with infinite care, humming softly.

“Our daughter, Lan Xia – and our son, Lan Yue,” Lan XiChen announced proudly.

Lan WangJi smiled at his brother and brother-in-law while Wei WuXian flung himself at
them, hugging them both tightly.

“Congratulations!” he squealed. Then he jumped at Lan WangJi. “Let me see, let me see too,
Lan Zhan!”

“Behave, Wei Ying.”

“I’m behaving! I won’t pinch their cheeks or bury them in the sand and water them or feed
them spicy food or…”

Wei WuXian stopped speaking at the horrified looks on Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao’s
faces.

“Is that what you have been doing to your children?” Lan XiChen demanded.

“You’re not allowed near our babies if you do any of that!” Jin GuangYao said.

The new parents stepped up protectively, blocking Wei WuXian’s access to the twins.

“I won’t, I won’t, I promise,” Wei WuXian said quickly. He made sad puppy-eyes at them.
“Aren’t they my precious niece and nephew? Am I not allowed to care for them?”

The new parents looked troubled.

Lan WangJi sighed at his partner’s antics. “Wei Ying, stop teasing Brother and Brother Yao.”

Wei WuXian pouted again.

Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao chuckled, relieved beyond measure.

Wei WuXian peered at the twins, his face soft and gentle. Lan WangJi stared at him,
mesmerised, until Wei WuXian’s eyes flashed red.

“Wei Ying!” he hissed.

Wei WuXian smiled innocently at him. “Yes, Lan Zhan?”

“What did you just do?”

“Hmm? Gave the babies the same protection as their parents,” he replied absently, his eyes
fixed on Lan Xia as she squeezed his finger with her tiny hands. “Look Lan Zhan, look! This
one is going to have the superhuman arm-strength you and Big brother have! I can already
feel it!”

The Lan brothers and Jin GuangYao laughed.

“They’re so beautiful,” Wei WuXian said. “Upholding the Lan standard of beauty, I can see!”
He turned to his partner. “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, what will you do if they grow up to be even
more beautiful than you? Would you be jealous?”

Jin GungYao laughed. “What are you talking about, A-Xian? Lan Huan is prettier than
WangJi. Our children will grow to be even prettier than their father.”

“My Lan Zhan is the pettiest!” Wei WuXian objected.

Lan WangJi’s ears turned red. “Brother is better,” he said shyly. “A-Xia and A-Yue will be,
too.”

Wei WuXian leaned forward and kissed Lan WangJi’s nose. “There isn’t anyone prettier than
you in all of heavens and earth in my eyes, Lan Zhan!”

Lan WangJi ducked his head shyly and the other two chuckled.

Wei WuXian returned his gaze to the precious bundle in his arms and then peered at the one
in Lan WangJi’s.

Frowning slightly, he looked carefully at the babies again.

The baby girl gurgled happily at the attention. Wei WuXian’s frown deepened. “Brother
Yao,” he said softly. “She’s got your eyes…they both do.”

Jin GuangYao sighed. “I know. Qin Su is my half-sister – though, of course, her own father
doesn’t know, and her mother only suspects. I’m beginning to think that everyone in our
generation affiliated with LanlingJin has Jin GuangShan’s blood. I wonder if there is *any*
woman left in his lands he hasn’t bedded yet.”

The Lan brothers looked shocked.

“But…but Jin GuangShan tried to set you up with her!” Lan XiChen cried, aghast.

“The rat bastard,” Wei WuXian hissed. His eyes flashed red again.

Lan WangJi caught his arm. “What are you doing?”

“Intensifying the curse, of course. I’m giving Lan Xia and Lan Yue the same one as I will
give to shijie’s child, because of the blood connection. Big brother and Brother Yao’s version
wouldn’t be enough for them,” Wei WuXian replied. The tips of his fingers glowed red and
red electricity crackled around him.

“What are you talking about?” Jin GuangYao demanded. “What protection?”

“Oh,” Wei WuXian said sheepishly. “Sorry. Forgot to tell you. Remember the protective
curse I did for shijie at Jin GuangShan at her wedding? I did something similar for you two at
your wedding as well. It’s not as stringent as shijie’s but he can’t harm you two anymore.
Brother-in-law also has one, just like Brother Yao’s. I gave that to Lan Xia and Lan Yue now,
but since they are related by blood, they need a stronger one like shijie – especially since
their attacking power is nil. Shijie’s child will also get the same one.”

Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao stared at him in shock. “And you forgot this?” Jin GuangYao
snapped and clipped him on the head. “These things use up spiritual energy, you moron – you
can’t just go around doing this!”

Wei WuXian grinned cheekily. “I have plenty of energy to spare,” he declared. “And who
would I protect if not the ones I love?”

Lan XiChen smiled gently, his Qi deviation all but gone. In the months following his
marriage, he had returned to his former self, and Jin GuangYao had grown extraordinarily
protective of him. It was good to see. Jin GuangYao, at one point, even had a disagreement
with his mother – she had stayed on in Koi Tower and was perfectly happy there, and had
insisted that Jin GuangYao come and live with her, regardless of whether he was married or
not. However, the usually meek Jin GuangYao had put his foot down and said that he was
never going to be separated from his husband again. He had made it clear to his mother that
to him, Lan XiChen was more important than Jin GuangShan, and while he would do
anything for his mother, even if it harmed him personally, he would not tolerate anything that
would cause Lan XiChen hurt or pain…including her.

His passionate and fierce declaration had more or less shocked the Qi deviation out of Lan
XiChen. He took him some time to regain his strength, but his recovery had been nothing
short of miraculous. It had helped that Jin GuangShan had been silent all these months.

And now they knew why.

“Really, A-Xian, what are we going to do with you?” Lan XiChen murmured, shaking his
head. “Nonetheless, thank you very much.”

Wei WuXian grinned happily and Lan WangJi rewarded him with a small smile.
Then the five divine beasts turned up in their human forms to see the babies, dragging Xue
Yang and A-Qing with them, and all of them fawned over the new pair of twins that had
inherited the classic Lan beauty from their father.

“She’s so pretty, just like Uncle Huan,” Lan Qinyang said happily, as she cradled the child
expertly.

Wei AoJiang, who had taken up the baby boy, murmured, “He looks a bit like Papa – so
cool!”

“Both of them have Uncle Yao’s eyes,” Lan Mei said, and Wei WuXian grinned at her,
having said the same thing just moments ago.

Wei KanghuiNing and Wei Syaoran exchanged a meaningful look.

“Mama,” Wei KanghuiNing said. “Have you already given them the protection?”

Wei WuXian nodded.

Wei KanghuiNing threw his arms around Wei WuXian’s waist and poured healing energy
into him. “I told you to take me with you when you did that,” he complained.

Wei WuXian ruffled his hair affectionately. “Sorry, A-Hui.”

Wei KanghuiNing huffed.

Wei Syaoran, on the other hand, was further strengthening the protection on the babies. As
each of the divine beasts touched them, a soft glow surrounded Lan Xia and Lan Yue.

Xue Yang watched with wide eyes. “What did you do?” he asked Wei AoJiang.

“We are adding layers to the protection Mama gave the babies,” Wei AoJiang replied. “We do
that to everyone Mama loves.”

“Oh,” Xue Yang said in a small voice.

“You and A-Qing have them, too,” Wei AoJiang continued.

Xue Yang brightened immediately. “Really?” Everyone knew he worshipped the ground Wei
WuXian walked on.

“Of course,” Wei AoJiang said smugly. “You’re my best friend. You think my Mama will let
you come to harm?”

“Of course I won’t,” Wei WuXian said, patting both boys on their heads fondly. “A-Yang and
A-Qing are ours to protect, too. Though I already know how protective Uncle Chen and Song
Lan are of the two of you.”

Xue Yang flushed adorably.

Then the children promptly went back to fawning over the infants, and Wei WuXian and Lan
WangJi realised that absolutely nothing could pull their kids away until their next cousin was
born.

---

Jiang YanLi and Jin ZiXuan had a baby boy, whom Wei WuXian promptly named ‘Rulan’
before anyone could object. Mercifully, it was actually a good name, so Jiang YanLi and Jin
ZiXuan accepted it happily. Besides, Jin ZiXuan wanted Wei WuXian to love the child as
much as he loved his shijie.

“He’s adorable,” Lan Mei said. “And he looks a little like Uncle Cheng.”

Jiang Cheng chuckled proudly at that and Jin ZiXuan grumbled, “I think he looks plenty like
me.”

“Yes, dear,” Jiang YanLi said fondly, patting her husband’s arm.

Cradling his precious nephew in his arms, Wei WuXian decided that this time Jin Ling would
grow up with both parents, no matter what. He placed the same protection against Jin
GuangShan on the child as he had done for his shijie. The moment Jin GuangShan would
think of harming or using his grandson, he would attract a lot of pain and misfortune. The
divine beasts followed up with their own protection.

Jin Rulan gurgled at Wei WuXian, grinning toothlessly.

“Jiang Cheng, Lan Zhan, look! He likes me!” Wei WuXian said eagerly.

“Of course he likes you,” Jiang Cheng said. “Aren’t you his uncle?”

Happy tears slid down Wei WuXian’s face. “I am, I am!”

Lan WangJi patted his partner’s back affectionately. Jiang Cheng, Jiang YanLi and Jin
ZiXuan watched with fond smiles as Wei WuXian fawned over his new nephew. The five
divine beasts surrounded them, equally smitten.

“Our cousin really is beautiful,” Wei AoJiang praised. “Like a true prince.”

“And he’ll grow up like one,” Jin ZiXuan promised his wife, who laughed softly.

“Yes, dear.”

---

Soon after, Wen Qing gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Nie MingJue was so smitten with his
daughter that he refused to let anyone except Wei Syaoran touch her until Wen Qing scolded
him soundly.

They named her Nie ZhiRuo, and the proud uncles Wen Ning and Nie HuaiSang had come up
with it.
 Wei WuXian and the divine beasts laid out their powerful protection for Nie ZhiRuo as well.

What amused everyone greatly was that as soon as Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao arrived
with their twins and approached the newborn, Lan Yue – now a few months old – reached out
towards Nie ZhiRuo immediately – and to everyone’s surprise, the baby girl responded.

This led to Nie MingJue’s bellow of, “Your son is trying to flirt with my daughter, A-Huan,
A-Yao!”

Everyone giggled and Wen Qing rubbed her forehead tiredly.

“Behave, Husband,” she warned.

Nie MingJue nodded meekly and returned to his wife’s side.

Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao immediately sympathised with their eldest sworn brother.

“We have a beautiful daughter, too,” Jin GuangYao told him. “We understand.”

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi nodded sagely.

“The prettier A-Bao and A-Mei get, the more we worry,” Wei WuXian said.

“You don’t worry about us, Mama? Are we not pretty?” Wei KanghuiNing wailed.

Wei WuXian quickly hugged the child. “Of course we do, A-Hui,” he said quickly. “It’s just
that girls are more delicate.”

“Who are you calling delicate, stupid Mama?” Lan Qinyang growled, looking ready to spit
fire.

“Uh-“

Lan WangJi shook his head and put his hand around Wei WuXian’s mouth before he could
utter something to make their daughters really angry.

Chapter End Notes

My apologies for the delay! I'm holidaying in Egypt at the moment, and the internet isn't
totally reliable all the time. Also been a little sick for a couple of days and the itinerary
is really, really packed...but I'm hoping I'll be able to roll out another chapter in a day or
two.
 Can you feel me in your arms?
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

“Lan Zhan…”

“Mmm?”

“I want A-Yuan. And Lan JingYi, too.”

Lan WangJi turned to look at Wei WuXian. “Are you unhappy, Wei Ying?”

Wei WuXian smiled slightly. “Not at all.”

“…”

Wei WuXian pointed at the children playing in the fields. Everyone was visiting YiLing, so it
was quite full.

Wei AoJiang and Wei KanghuiNing were discussing something passionately with Xue Yang.
Mo XuanYu sat with Lan Mei and Wei Syaoran, on babysitting duty looking after A-Qing,
Jin Ling and Nie ZhiRuo. Lan Qinyang was playing with Lan Xia and Lan Yue, with the
twins gurgling happily.

Lan XiChen, Jin GuangYao, Qin Su, Nie HuaiSang, Nie MingJue, Wen Qing, Wen Ning,
Jiang Chen, Jin ZiXuan and Jiang YanLi watched over the babies surreptitiously. QingHeng-
Jun, Lan QiRen, Jiang FengMian, Madame Yu, the Nie Sect Leader and Madame Jin watched
over their children and grandchildren fondly. Xiao XingChen, Song Lan and Wen RuoHan
chatted quietly. Jin GuangShan had refused to attend, saying he had some urgent work to
attend to – his refusal had only made everyone else heave a sigh of relief.

“If we had those two, the set would be complete, wouldn’t it?” Wei WuXian asked softly.
“Now that Jin Ling is here…I especially miss Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi. Those three…
remember the adventures we had, Lan Zhan?”

Lan WangJi’s dark thoughts showed on his face and Wei WuXian felt a painful twinge in his
soul-mark.

“Oh,” Wei WuXian said, realising the direction his partner’s thoughts had taken. He grabbed
Lan WangJi’s shoulders and pulled him into a hug. “I’m sorry, Lan Zhan. I was just thinking
of the happier times we had.”

Lan WangJi nodded and rested his forehead on Wei WuXian’s shoulder. Wei WuXian stroked
his back gently and inhaled the gentle scent of sandalwood.

“All right,” Lan WangJi finally said.

Wei WuXian stared at him. “Really?”

“Mmm.”

“Do you know how to find them?”

“Mmm.”

“Let’s go tomorrow.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Not time yet.”

“But…”

“Wei Ying. Trust me.”

“Of course, Lan Zhan,” Wei WuXian said softly, kissing his partner’s’ brow. “I leave it in
your capable hands.”

Lan WangJi rewarded him with a small smile.

Wei WuXian beamed. “You’re so beautiful when you smile, Lan Zhan. I could look at your
smiling face forever and never get bored. It’s like you light up the room.”

Lan WangJi’s ears turned red and their joined hands glowed with a pink light. His thoughts
reached Wei WuXian’s and he blushed, too.

“You think too highly of me, my beautiful Lan Zhan,” he said quietly. “I am always afraid
that I will disappoint you.”

Lan WangJi shook his head.

“Oi, you two lovebirds!” Nie MingJue boomed. “Get over here!”

Wei WuXian laughed and jumped up, pulling Lan WangJi with him. The two of them joined
the others.

The Venerated Triad looked unusually sombre.

“What’s wrong?” Wei WuXian asked immediately.

“It’s my father,” Jin ZiXuan said unhappily. “I got a report this morning that he is planning
something nefarious.”

“He wants to be the Chief Cultivator, and he is gathering up the smaller clans – the ones that
defected from QishanWen earlier as well the ones affiliated with YunmengJiang, QingheNie
and GusuLan. He’s buying some outright, and he’s promising great favours to others,” Jin
GuangYao told them.

“We believe YiLing might be targeted, especially since we all gather here quite often. If he
manages to lock us in here for some time, he will have unfettered access to the rest of the
cultivation world,” Jin ZiXuan said. “Perhaps we should remove the charms and talismans
which came from LanlingJin from here.”

“No need,” Lan WangJi said.

Wei WuXian smirked. “Lan Zhan and I have modified everything installed here with our own
hands. YiLing is the safest place on earth.”

“Then we should leave the babies here,” Wen Ning said.

“Sure,” Wei WuXian said happily.

“And you need to stay in here as well,” Jiang Cheng told him.

Wei WuXian frowned. “Why?”

“We believe you’re his primary target, A-Xian,” Lan XiChen said gently.

Qin Su spoke up. “Because of your protection, all of us have been safe. Jin GuangShan
knows that.”

“It is not too much of a stretch to imagine that he realises that the best way to undo the
protection is to capture you,” Nie HuaiSang said. “Or worse.”

Wei WuXian’s eyes flashed red. “I’d like to see him try.”

Jin GuangYao rubbed his forehead. “He’s already been maligning you. Brother ZiXuan and I
have been trying to control it, but there’s been a considerable damage to your reputation. It is
best for you to stay here, safely out of everyone’s way.”

“But…”

“He’s trying to make it look like you’re not on their side to all these people, A-Xian,” Jiang
YanLi said softly.

Wei WuXian shrugged. “Does it matter? As long as I have you guys, I’m fine.”

“Don’t you understand? When you’re standing on their side, you’re the bizarre genius, the
miraculous hero, the force of the rebellion, the flower that blooms alone. But the second your
voice differs from theirs, you’ve lost your mind, you’ve ignored morality, you’ve walked the
crooked path,” Jiang Cheng cried.

Wei WuXian’s mind immediately flew back to his first life, where Jiang Cheng had uttered
the very same words. Wen Ning had already been killed by then, and soon after, he and Jiang
Cheng had parted ways…and then his shijie…and Wen Qing…and Jin ZiXuan…
Wei WuXian’s eyes flashed red and he staggered weakly, caught up in his memories. Lan
WangJi immediately threw a strong arm around his waist and dragged him close.

“No, no, no…I won’t let him hurt anyone again,” Wei WuXian moaned against Lan WangJi’s
chest, trembling violently.

“Wei Ying, Wei Ying! Calm down. It won’t happen! We already changed that!” Lan WangJi
said, cupping his chin with both hands. “Look at me. Look at me, Wei Ying.”

Wei WuXian reluctantly looked up into the golden eyes he loved so dearly.

“Everyone is here. That won’t happen. We’ve changed it, remember? Look – Wen Ning is
here, Jiang Cheng is here, shijie is here – everyone is here. Everyone is safe.”

Jiang YanLi and Jiang Cheng and Wen Ning immediately ran to Wei WuXian, and so did the
divine beasts.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Cheng asked. “Was there a future you two saw where we all died?”

“Uncle Ning and Aunt YanLi died and you hated Mama and wanted to kill him and finally
did,” Wei KanghuiNing told Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng was horrified. “Wei WuXian! What nonsense are you thinking! I will never hate
you even if I die! Aren’t you the brother of my heart? And we’ll protect Wen Ning and Sister
together!”

“Did Father have something to do with it?” Jin ZiXuan asked quietly.

Wei AoJiang nodded and then said quickly, “But that won’t happen anymore. Papa and
Mama have changed things. That outcome is now gone, thankfully.”

“You’re putting too much pressure on your spiritual energy, Mama,” Lan Mei said. “Let us
keep up the protection net from now.”

Wei WuXian shook his head stubbornly.

Jiang Cheng sighed. “Wei WuXian, do you have a saviour complex? Is it that you’ll die if
you don’t stand up for someone and stir up some trouble?”

Wei WuXian went even paler than before. “Jiang Cheng…don’t say that. Don’t say that,
please. I won’t bring any trouble to YunmengJiang. I promise I’ll stay away from Lotus Pier
if you want.”

Jiang Cheng grabbed Wei WuXian’s shoulders. “What rubbish are you speaking again, you
idiot? You are our brother. Our BROTHER. Lotus Pier is your home and I’ll drag you home
if you say you’ll stay away!”

“You won’t hate me, Jiang Cheng?” Wei WuXian asked in a small voice.
“Never,” Jiang Cheng promised. “Never, my brother.” He hugged Wei WuXian fiercely. “You
fool, it’s not always you who needs to be protecting other people. You are ours to protect, too.
So let us protect you this time, all right?”

Jin GuangYao, meanwhile, had pulled Lan Mei aside.

“A-Mei, what is this about A-Xian straining his spiritual energy?” he asked quietly.

Lan Mei looked immensely guilty. “I’m not supposed to tell even Papa.”

“But it’ll help A-Xian if we knew, won’t it?”

Lan Mei nodded miserably. “Mama put up individual protection shields for everyone here
like he told you before. It was originally only towards the rat bastard – sorry, Uncle Yao –
towards Jin GuangShan. But then he’s been extending it to cover third parties as well. The net
he’s cast extends well beyond the borders of this empire and into foreign nations, too. It
requires a lot of energy to maintain such a thing, and he keeps expanding it. He has become
paranoid about the safety of everyone he loves. Keeping up the protection net puts too much
pressure on his spiritual energy, and it is making him a little unstable. The net basically
catches any negative or resentful energy aimed at those under its aegis, and reflects it back at
the person himself. It is an excellent short-term measure, but keeping it for months and
months is crazy. If Mama wasn’t so powerful, he’d have collapsed. I don’t think even really
skilled cultivators can keep up such a thing for more than a day or two. Papa doesn’t know
that Mama keeps expanding it.”

Jin GuangYao rubbed his forehead tiredly. “What are we to do with you, A-Xian?” he sighed.

Lan Mei was in tears by now and Jin GuangYao hugged his lovely niece.

“We keep transferring energy to Mama when he isn’t looking,” she said softly. “If one of us
went semi-dormant, we could cover the entire planet and keep up the net indefinitely, but
Mama got really angry when we said that.”

Jin GuangYao’s headache worsened. “Of course he would be angry. What parent wants to
sacrifice their child?” he snapped.

“But…”

“I’ll take care of it, A-Mei,” Jin GuangYao said solemnly. “I promise. I won’t let A-Xian
sacrifice himself for our sake.”

“But Uncle Yao, what will you do?”

Jin GuangYao’s eyes flashed gold. “I’ll think of something, my lovely niece.”

“I’ll help, Uncle Yao!”

Jin GuangYao smiled fondly at the pretty little red-haired girl and patted her on the head.
“Thank you, my dear. Would you help my Lan Huan look after the twins? I may need to visit
Koi Tower for a couple of days.”
“I will, Uncle Yao!”

“Good girl.”

---

Jin GuangYao returned two days later, looking pale and haggard.

“A-Yao!” Lan XiChen cried, alarmed. He caught his spouse in his strong arms. “What’s
wrong?”

“My beautiful, perfect Lan Huan,” Jin GuangYao said softly. “Would you love me even if I
did something bad? Or would you throw me away?”

“What happened?” Lan XiChen asked.

“Tell me you love me, Lan Huan. Even if it is only for this moment, right here, right now.
Please.”

Lan XiChen kissed his brow. “Of course I love you, now and forever, A-Yao. I always will.”

“Thank you,” Jin GuangYao said.

Lan XiChen picked him up and headed towards their room. They passed Wei WuXian and
Lan WangJi on the way, and both of them cast them an anxious glance.

“Don’t worry, A-Xian, WangJi. I’m just tired. Koi Tower somehow sucks the life out of me,”
Jin GuangYao said with a weak smile.

“I’ll heal him,” Lan XiChen said.

“We’ll help you, Uncle Huan,” Wei AoJiang said, coming up from behind his parents along
with Wei KanghuiNing.

“The rat bastard must’ve done something again,” Wei KanghuiNing hissed.

“Language, little one,” Lan XiChen said mildly.

“Oh, let him be, Lan Huan. A-Hui is just calling a spade a spade,” Jin GuangYao said,
giggling. “The rat bastard spawned the bastard me, after all.” He giggled again.

Lan XiChen frowned, and so did the twins.

“This is poison,” Wei AoJiang said. “We need to get it out of Uncle Yao immediately!”

Wei KanghuiNing turned into a snake and bit Jin GuangYao’s neck. Wei WuXian and Lan
WangJi rushed forward, pouring their spiritual energy into their twin sons, and Lan XiChen
did the same to his husband.

Jin GuangYao babbled incoherently until he lost consciousness. He woke up two hours later,
perfectly healthy again.
 Lan XiChen, Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian peered at him anxiously. Wei AoJiang and Wei
KanghuiNing sat on their parents’ shoulders in their miniature forms.

“How do you feel?” Lan XiChen asked.

“Never been better,” Jin GuangYao said, smiling broadly. “Thanks, boys.”

“What happened?” Lan XiChen asked.

“The protection net should have detected the poison,” Wei WuXian said, frowning.

“It’s only directed at Jin GuangShan, isn’t it?” Lan XIChen asked. “If someone else tried to
poison A-Yao…or if he took someone’s poisoned glass by mistake, the protection wouldn’t
activate, would it?”

Wei WuXian shook his head. “I expanded it to detect third parties. And I’ve extended it
halfway across the planet…” he bit his lip, realising his faux pas.

“And that’s why you’ve been so pale and tired lately, haven’t you?” Jin GuangYao asked
pleasantly.

The Lan brothers’ faces were dark as thunder.

“Stop putting yourself in danger, A-Xian,” Lan XiChen said. “Please don’t do stupid things
like this again. Dismantle the net now.”

“But…”

Lan WangJi turned on his heel and strode out of the room.

Lan XiChen sighed. “Go after him, A-Xian. My brother may look strong, but he’s actually
quite delicate and he needs you more than you know.”

Wei WuXian ran.

Chapter End Notes

Drama!

I couldn't help but pinch JC's lines from the translated chapter 73. They were just too
cool. Three cheers for Exiled Rebels!
 Holding my last breath...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Wei WuXian finally caught up with Lan WangJi in their library. He should have known, he
thought ruefully – it was Lan WangJi’s favourite place, after all. Lan WangJi had not only
helped with the construction of the library at YiLing, he had also painstakingly collected the
books housed here. Thanks to the generosity of their friends in prominent sects, their library
boasted of a collection unmatched by others, and Lan WangJi was inordinately proud of it.
They even had copies of several secret tomes of all five major sects which were otherwise
jealously guarded. However, since access to their YiLing home was rather restricted and Lan
WangJi’s love of books was well known within their circle of friends and family, no one had
any qualms gifting copies of precious books to the couple. There was even a section on
erotica, much to Wei WuXian’s delight and Lan WangJi’s apparent consternation – but the
latter had never stopped Wei WuXian from expanding this particular part of their collection.

Lan WangJi was searching manically through the section on curses. There was already a pile
of books at his feet, and that alone told Wei WuXian how upset Lan WangJi was to treat his
precious books so roughly.

“Lan Zhan,” he called, still gasping for breath after running all the way here.

Lan WangJi nodded in acknowledgement but didn’t say a word or look up at him.

Wei WuXian’s heart constricted. He made his way to his beloved partner.

“I’m sorry, Lan Zhan,” he said softly. “Please don’t be angry. I didn’t want to worry you, and
I had it under control. I just wanted to protect everyone. The babies helped out, so there was
no real risk.”

Lan WangJi nodded, but still didn’t look up.

Wei WuXian moved closer, and Lan WangJi stepped back quickly. The rejection made Wei
WuXian’s heart sink.

“Lan Zhan, please,” he begged desperately. “Please, Lan Zhan – punish me as you like, but
please, please don’t be so angry…” His voice broke.

“Not angry,” Lan WangJi whispered.

“Then why won’t you look at me, Lan Zhan?” Wei WuXian cried.

Lan WangJi finally looked at him. The golden eyes were red-rimmed and infinitely sad.

Wei WuXian flung himself at Lan WangJi. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I’m sorry, Lan Zhan. I
made you sad. I’ll take any punishment that you wish, Lan Zhan. Anything at all. Would you
forgive me then? Would you smile for me again?”
Lan WangJi didn’t reply. Instead, to Wei WuXian’s horror, a solitary tear made its way down
his pale, beautiful cheek.

Wei WuXian wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Why had he not told Lan WangJi? Why,
why, why did he always end up hurting the one person in the world he never wanted to hurt?
Cursing himself, Wei WuXian cupped Lan WangJi’s cheek tenderly and wiped away the
teardrop.

“Don’t cry, Lan Zhan. Don’t be sad. It was my fault, not telling you everything. I’ll take my
punishment for my mistake…but please, please don’t cry,” he pleaded.

Lan WangJi nodded, closed his eyes and bit his lip so hard that a drop of scarlet appeared on
his perfect lips. He was clearly struggling to resume his impassive façade.

It broke Wei WuXian’s heart. A sad Lan WangJi was even worse than an angry one.

“Punch me, Lan Zhan,” he said. “Beat me, whip me, hang me, lock me up – do whatever you
want to me – but please, please don’t be so sad. Punish me instead so that I never do
something so stupid again.”

“No need,” Lan WangJi whispered.

“But…”

Lan WangJi’s golden gaze, dulled with sorrow, turned to Wei WuXian. “You were just
protecting our friends and family. There is nothing for me to be angry about and there is no
need for any punishment. You have not done anything wrong,” he said softly.

“Then why are you so sad, Lan Zhan?”

“Because I am inadequate as your partner, Wei Ying.”

Wei WuXian was too shocked to form words.

“I have failed you as your partner if you found yourself unable to share your plans for
protection of our family and friends with me,” Lan WangJi continued. “But even though I am
inadequate and useless, I promise I will do my best to support you, Wei Ying. Never again
will I try to stop you from doing what you want to. No matter what you do, I will be by your
side, aiding you in every way I can. I will obey every word you say. I will never raise any
objections…so please…would you let me stay by your side? Even if I don’t deserve it, even
if I am a burden to you, would you promise not to leave me behind? Everything else I can
bear, Wei Ying.”

Wei WuXian finally gathered his wits enough to be capable of speech again. “What the hell
are you talking about? When have I ever considered you inadequate? You are the great,
prodigious HanGuang-Jun! What idiot would ever call you useless? I’d rip their tongues
out!”

A self-deprecating smile – the likes of which Wei WuXian had never seen before – appeared
on Lan WangJi’s face. “If I am not inadequate and burdensome, why would you hide things
from me, Wei Ying? You didn’t tell me because you thought I’d try to stop you. Am I
wrong?”

“I just didn’t want to worry you!”

“You just said that there was no real risk.”

Wei WuXian was taken aback. He did just say that, didn’t he? “You tend to worry too much,
so I thought…” he said half-heartedly.

Lan WangJi nodded. “I do not inspire confidence in you. You do not believe that I would help
you protect our friends and family.”

Wei WuXian shook his head. “That’s not true at all, Lan Zhan! You know that! There’s no
one I trust more than you, and there’s no one I’d rather have by my side in a fight. You’re the
best and most skilled amongst us all! Who would I trust with protecting those we love if not
you?”

“Your actions betray your words, Wei Ying,” Lan WangJi said tiredly.

“No, Lan Zhan. The only time I see you losing it is when there’s a risk to me – I don’t blame
you for that, look how I go berserk when you’re at risk. And this time, I knew there was a
risk. Our children interfered and minimised the risk, but I was afraid you would forbid me
from casting the protection net because it would be dangerous. You were already concerned
about the individual protection I was casting.”

Lan Zhan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, struggling to control himself. “My
apologies, Wei Ying. Going forward, I promise you that I will never object to anything you
say or do, regardless of danger or reason. I will obey your every command.” He dropped to
his knees and bowed his head. “In return, please promise me that you will always include me
in your plans. You will let me be by your side, no matter what.”

“No.” Wei WuXian’s voice was firm. “You are not my slave, Lan Zhan, and I refuse to make
you one. You are perfect just the way you are, and I love you for that. There is no need for
you to blame yourself for this, or to say such stupid, terrible things. This time, it is entirely
my fault for keeping you in the dark. Can you even imagine the trouble I’d get us into if you
didn’t stop me from doing stupid things?”

“But I…”

Wei WuXian knelt before Lan WangJi and gently cupped his face, forcing him to look at him.
He gazed at Lan WangJi steadily and said, “I knew I went overboard and I didn’t want to
show you my bad side, so I hid it from you. That’s the real truth, and it’s so embarrassing that
I want to dig a hole in the ground and crawl in.”

Lan WangJi stared at him.

“I need you to stop blaming yourself for things that are not your fault, Lan Zhan,” Wei
WuXian said softly. “I am a lunatic, and I will do stupid things at some point or another. But
you…you are the anchor that holds me to the right path, my love. You are my voice of
reason, my conscience, my moral compass. Without you, I would be causing bloodbaths
again.” He kissed the tip of Lan WangJi’s nose and took his hand. “So please, please just be
who you are, Lan Zhan. There is nothing in this world that could make me happier. And
please don’t ever say terrible things like you’d obey me. If anything, I should be the one to
obey you. In fact, let me promise you one thing today – I will try my best not to hide things
from you. There may be times I need to, but in such cases, I will tell you that I can’t. But for
stupid things like this, I won’t conceal them anymore. Not from you.”

Their soul-marks glowed brightly, and their joined hands shone with a pink light.

“All right,” Lan WangJi said. “Mark your words, Wei Ying.”

Wei WuXian smiled, immensely relieved. “And next time I do something stupid, Lan Zhan –
instead of blaming yourself, why don’t you just put me over your knee and spank me? I’m
sure both of us will enjoy it,” he said with a wink.

Lan WangJi’s ears turned red. “Shameless,” he murmured.

Wei WuXian pulled him into a hug. “Would you forgive me this time, Lan Zhan?” he asked
softly.

“Mmm.”

---

Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao were in the middle of a fight by the time Lan WangJi and Wei
WuXian returned to them. Lan XiChen’s face was dark and angry, and Jin GuangYao was
paler than death.

Wei WuXian immediately went to Jin GuangYao and Lan WangJi went to his brother.

“What the hell happened here?” Wei WuXian demanded.

“I did something unforgivable, A-Xian,” Jin GuangYao said softly. “But I had no other
choice.”

Wei WuXian narrowed his eyes. “You poisoned yourself,” he said flatly. “It’s the only way
the protection net wouldn’t activate.”

Jin GuangYao nodded.

“Why?” Wei WuXian cried. “That’s not like you, Brother Yao.” He stopped short. “Unless…
did you poison Jin GuangShan? Is that why you had to take it, too?”

Jin GuangYao smiled slightly. “Clever boy.”

Wei WuXian grabbed the older boy’s shoulders. “We can stop it, can’t we?”

Jin GuangYao shook his head. “Do you think I would be so careless, A-Xian?”
“Indeed. A-Yao has been very thorough. Jin GuangShan has but a few months to live,” Lan
XiChen said in a dead voice.

“I’d say good riddance, but this is clearly distressing for you, Brother Yao,” Wei WuXian
said. “You’re a scholar and a strategist, not a killer. You should leave dirty things like this to
the likes of me.”

“I was the only one with the means and the ability in this case,” Jin GuangYao said softly.
“My father will die as he has lived – in a prostitute’s bed.”

“But there is an antidote, right? You’re too smart not to have one,” Wei WuXian said.

Jin GuangYao shook his head. “Of course there isn’t.”

“You poisoned yourself knowing there’s no antidote?!” Wei WuXian cried. “What sort of a
moron does that, Brother Yao?”

“One that is desperate to remove a malignant danger from his loved ones’ lives,” Jin
GuangYao said quietly. “I know that killing my own father is a despicable act, and that you
will all hate me for it. But I had no choice. He has already hurt us enough, and now because
neither Brother Xuan nor I are under his thumb, he is plotting to use Jin Rulan, Lan Xia and
Lan Yue as bargaining chips. I’d rather die and take him with me than permit that.” He smiled
slightly. “Besides, I knew that there was a seventy percent chance that Wei AoJiang and Wei
KanghuiNIng would be able to save me.” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Even if I
survived, I knew you would all hate me and throw me out – so it didn’t really matter if I lived
or died.”

SLAP!

Jin GuangYao reeled with the force of the slap. Lan XiChen, face dark as thunder, breathed
heavily as he raised his hand again.

Lan WangJi caught his brother’s arm. “Brother,” he said quietly. “Stop. Explain.”

Jin GuangYao burst out laughing. His laughter was tinged with hysteria. “I understand, Lan
Huan,” he said, amidst giggles. “I understand. You won’t ever have to see me again. I won’t
taint you or the twins with my presence again.” He turned to leave but Lan XiChen was much
faster and grabbed him.

“For such a smart person, you sure are stupid, Brother Yao,” Wei WuXian said loudly. “Even
I can see why Big brother is angry. I am, too.”

Jin GuangYao slumped. “I know I’ve committed a sin,” he said in a small voice. “But I have
no regrets. Jin GuangShan is a threat to everything I hold dear, and I will not let him cause
any more harm.”

“You idiot,” Wei WuXian cried. “Do you think we care a fig about the rat bastard?! Good
riddance, I’d say – but not when it’s causing you such distress! You’re the one beating
yourself up about it!”
Jin GuangYao’s eyes regained a spark of life. “You don’t hate me, A-Xian?”

“Of course I don’t! You’re just a parent protecting his children. Why would I hate you?
You’re the one hating yourself, Brother Yao.”

“But Lan Huan hates me now,” Jin GuangYao whispered. “I’m not righteous anymore.”

Lan XiChen pulled the smaller man to himself and crushed him against his own chest. “How
could I ever hate you, dear heart?” he cried softly. “When did I ever say that?”

“You’re a moron, Brother Yao. We are all angry with you for putting yourself in such danger
without a safety net. Why didn’t you tell one of us what you were planning?” Wei WuXian
asked.

“You’d have stopped me,” Jin GuangYao said.

“For good reason,” Lan XiChen retorted. “You are not a killer by nature, A-Yao. This weighs
heavily on you, and that man is not worth your suffering.”

“We’d have found another way to dispose of him,” Wei WuXian added. “It was idiotic of you
to risk yourself, and that’s what Big brother’s pissed off about.”

Jin GuangYao stared at his husband’s beautiful face. “Is that true, Lan Huan? You don’t hate
me?”

“Of course I don’t hate you, A-Yao,” Lan XiChen said tiredly. “How could I possibly hate
you? I hate that you put yourself in such danger. I hate that you could’ve died. I hate your
distress. And most of all, I hate myself for not realising that you’d been pushed into such a
corner that you needed to take such a drastic step. I’ve been useless, dear heart. Worse than
useless.”

Wei WuXian rolled his eyes. “Big brother, I just spent all of my patience explaining to Lan
Zhan why that’s the worst possible attitude to take in such situations. Why are you Lan
people so eager to take on the blame for everything? Are you so conceited that you think
everything in the universe is your fault?!” He shouted the last part, losing his temper. He
turned to Jin GuangYao and shouted, “And you! Why the hell would you do something
moronic like poisoning yourself! At least you could have told us and we would have been
prepared to save you promptly!”

Lan WangJi caught his arm and pulled him into a hug. “Calm down, Wei Ying.”

“How can I calm down, Lan Zhan, when our brothers are being so stupid?”

“Mmm,” Lan WangJi agreed. He turned to his brother and brother-in-law. “Brother, Brother
Yao, both of you are idiots. Go to your bedroom and sort it out in bed. Wei Ying and I will
look after the twins until morning.”

Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao stared at Lan WangJi in shock. Wei WuXian looked
extremely proud.
 ---

As expected, Jin GuangShan died in a prostitute’s bed a few months later. It was a testament
to his life of debauchery and indecency that no one was the least bit surprised at this
occurrence. No one even imagined that there was foul play.

Lan XiChen, Lan WangJi, Wei WuXian and Jin GuangYao had decided to keep silent about
Jin GuangYao’s role in his father’s death. Jin GuangYao was fine with that. As long as his
beloved Lan Huan accepted him, he was all right.

Jin ZiXuan became the new Sect Leader. He had offered the position to Jin GuangYao again,
but Jin GuangYao had declined, claiming he was already split three ways among LanlingJin,
GusuLan and YunmengJiang and would be unable to prioritise LanlingJin as a Sect Leader
should.

---

With Jin GuangShan gone, the malicious rumours about Wei WuXian also started to fade
away. Even before, Jin ZiXuan and Jin GuangYao had been working very hard to dispel
these, but their efforts were much more effective after the death of their father. Wei WuXian
was just happy to be able to move freely again.

Also, with the primary threat removed, Wei WuXian was made to deactivate the protection
net. He left tendrils, which would activate if any danger was sensed, but that didn’t require
much energy. Lan WangJi and Jin GuangYao were researching the topic thoroughly and
helped Wei WuXian refine the technique more and more as they studied.

---

In the months following Jin GuangShan’s demise, QingHeng-Jun, Jiang FengMian, Wen
RuoHan and the Nie Sect Leader decided to retire and take up seats on the Elders’ Council
instead. Lan XiChen, Jiang Cheng, Wen Qing and Nie MingJue succeeded them as Sect
Leaders of GusuLan, YunmengJiang, QishanWen and QingheNie respectively.

“We’ve done well, haven’t we, Lan Zhan?” Wei WuXian said to Lan WangJi one night.
“There is peace and our friends have grown into such magnificent cultivators.”

“Yes, Wei Ying,” Lan WangJi agreed, and proceeded to kiss him thoroughly.

Chapter End Notes

So, I wrote a different version of this chapter and then my computer decided to upgrade
its software while i was sleeping and the whole thing was lost (well, auto-recovery
generously saved a 100 words out of the 2000 I'd written. So i had to do it all over again,
and things changed...well, the overall plot didn't, but smaller things did.
And now it's almost time for me to return to the drudgery of routine existence and the
vicious cycle of work-eat-sleep. Ugh. I want to die.
 Safe inside myself...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Wei WuXian woke up with a start. Next to him, Lan WangJi shifted slightly in his sleep, his
brow furrowed. Then he let out a soft cry and sat up, his face drained of colour and his
breathing shallow. Eyes brimming with unshed tears, Lan WangJi turned to Wei WuXian.

Alarmed, Wei WuXian gathered his partner in his arms and asked softly. "What's wrong, Lan
Zhan? I could only sense your distress when I woke up, but don't know what's causing it."

Wordlessly, Lan WangJi brought his right hand to cup Wei WuXian's cheek. His hand glowed
pink and images assailed Wei WuXian's mind. he gasped, shocked.

"This isn't supposed to happen, not anymore!" he cried.

Lan WangJi nodded. "We have to go," he said.

Wei WuXian stood up, and immediately doubled over in agony, clutching his chest.

"Wei Ying!" Lan WangJi cried, throwing his arms around the other boy to steady him. "What
happened?"

"Three of the protection strands activated. Xue Yang, Mo XuanYu and A-Qing are in danger,"
Wei WuXian gasped.

"Where are they?" Lan WangJi asked. An image appeared in his mind.

"Should we split up?" Wei WuXian asked.

"No need," Lan WangJi said, smiling slightly.

The divine beasts burst into the room - all in their miniature forms except Lan Mei.

Grab my tail, Lan Mei said, her vermillion feathers glowing in the dark.

---

Xue Yang and Mo XuanYu stood protectively over A-Qing and two more babies. An old
woman and an old man lay dead in front of them – they had clearly shielded the two infants
with their bodies from the assailants that stood before them. The infants had been wailing,
and perhaps drawn by the noise, A-Qing had trotted over to them at an unbelievable pace.
Xue Yang and Mo XuanYu had run after her and found themselves surrounded by enemies.
They even recognised some of them.

Though terrified, Xue Yang stepped up. He was the oldest here, and he had to protect the
young ones. Hopefully, the residual protection string the Wei twins had told him about would
actually work and alert Uncle Wei about their predicament.

“Still bullying the weak, I see, Master Chang,” Xue Yang said loudly. “You are despicable.”

The man in question glared at Xue Yang. “Who the hell are you?”

Xue Yang smirked. “Ah, I’m heartbroken that you forgot me, Master Chang. Don’t you
remember crushing my fingers under your cart’s wheels? Or is it that you have crushed so
many children that you are unable to recall just one?”

A scary-looking woman spoke before Chang CiAn could reply. “Get out of the way, brat!”
she spat. “We need those two babies.”

“And why exactly do you need them, Auntie?” Mo XuanYu asked pleasantly.

The woman – Madame Mo – glared at Mo XuanYu. “You!” she screeched. “Why are you
here?!”

Her husband grabbed her shoulder. “Never mind the bastard boy,” he said urgently. “We need
those two babies!”

Madame Mo swallowed her anger visibly.

Some of Chang CiAn’s minions had recognised Xue Yang by now.

“You’re that delinquent Xue Yang!” one of them cried. “Why are you here? We heard the
YiLing Patriarch took you away!”

Xue Yang smirked. “He did.”

“He saved me, too,” Mo XuanYu said proudly. “And he protects us, so be careful of what you
plan to do.”

“We have no quarrel with you, Young Masters,” a calmer-looking man, apparently the leader,
said pleasantly. “We merely wish to acquire those two babies. They are monsters with tainted
blood and must be erased from existence.”

“They don’t look like monsters to me,” Mo XuanYu said.

“We don’t owe you any explanations, you bastard,” Madame Mo yelled. “Get out of the
way!”

“No,” Xue Yang said.

“What, you think you can fight us just because you learnt a little cultivation?” Chang CiAn
spat. “There are over a hundred of us here, of which at least half are full-grown cultivators.
What can two children do?”

He darted forward and grabbed Xue Yang’s wrist. “This time, I will make sure that you really
do lose your fingers!” he cackled.
Xue Yang struggled, but he was still a child in terms of sheer brute strength.

Chang CiAn laughed evilly. “Useless bastard,” he crowed.

And then Chang CiAn was flung away and Xue Yang was gathered protectively against a
solid chest in black robes. Chang CiAn howled as the bones in both his hands were crushed
by tendrils of black smoke.

“I wouldn’t underestimate these children if I were you, Master Chang,” a pleasant voice said
softly, but it echoed around the forest, sending shivers down every adult’s spine.

“Uncle Wei!” Mo XuanYu exclaimed happily.

Wei WuXian cupped Xue Yang’s face gently. “Are you all right, A-Yang?” he asked gently.

Xue Yang nodded, hardly daring to believe his eyes.

“Your hand doesn’t hurt?”

Xue Yang shook his head. “You saved me, Uncle Wei,” he said softly. He glanced at Chang
CiAn, who was still sobbing over his broken hands.

Wei WuXian followed his gaze. “He won’t ever dare to lay a finger on you again, A-Yang.”
His eyes flashed red as he glared at the fallen man. “Would you, Master Chang?”

“No, no, never!” Chang CiAn cried.

“This child is very precious to me, you see.”

“I’ll never lay a hand on any child ever again! I’ll go and cultivate in seclusion!” Chang CiAn
whimpered.

“Excellent,” Wei WuXian said. “Off you go, then.”

Chang CiAn fled, his minions running behind him.

Xue Yang ducked his head. “Thank you,” he said shyly.

Wei WuXian smiled and ruffled his hair. “You did well, son, protecting innocent babies. Very
well indeed.” He bent down and pressed a parental kiss on the young boy’s brow.

Xue Yang flushed. Wei WuXian smiled and released him. He turned to Mo XuanYu.

“All right, A-Yu?” he asked, pulling the child into a hug as well.

“Yes, Uncle Wei!” Mo XuanYu said happily.

Wei WuXian eyed the Mo family.

Madame Mo and her entourage paled.

“Mo XuanYu is my dear sister’s child,” Madame Mo said hastily. “Our clan would never
harm him.”

Wei WuXian raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?” he asked.

“Yes, yes, of course. The Mo clan will always protect him, Master Wei!”

“Excellent,” Wei WuXian said. “This child, too, is precious to me, you see.”

Madame Mo nodded fearfully, promising that no harm would come to Mo XuanYu and asked
for permission to leave. Wei WuXian waved his hand casually, and the Mo entourage fled.

Mo XuanYu turned his adoring eyes up at Wei WuXian. “Thank you, Uncle Wei!”

“Good boy,” Wei WuXian said fondly. He kissed his brow, too. “Well done, child.” He
released the boy.

“Get back, my boys,” Wei WuXian said cheerfully. “Your Uncle Wei will take care of
everything now.”

Relief and a strange emotion surged through Xue Yang as he saw Wei WuXian hovering in
the air in front of him, dark tendrils of negative energy wafting around him – a testament to
his fury, contrasting with the beautiful smile on his face. His eyes glowed red.

Wei AoJiang and Wei KanghuiNing ran to Xue Yang. Wei Syaoran and Lan Mei rushed to
Mo XuanYu. Lan WangJi and Lan Qinyang were already with the three babies in the centre.
Lan Qinyang picked up A-Qing.

“He actually came to protect us,” Xue Yang whispered.

Wei KanghuiNing clipped his friend on the head. “Of course he did. You’re one of us.”

The leader glared at Wei WuXian. “Still protecting bastards and demon-spawn, Wei
WuXian!” he snarled.

Wei WuXian frowned at him. “You look familiar,” he muttered. “Why does he look familiar,
Lan Zhan?”

Before Lan WangJi could reply, however, one of the babies clung to his leg and wailed,
“Papa!”

With a tender smile, Lan WangJi picked up the two baby boys.

Wei WuXian burst out laughing. Really, he thought to himself, some things never change –
A-Yuan and his propensity to latch on to people’s legs, for example.

Whispers broke out amidst the gathered crowd.

“One of those baby boys was the Immortal HanGuang-Jun’s child?” a man whispered
fearfully.
“Both,” Lan WangJi said.

Half the crowd went pale. Several of them turned to their leader and said, “Are you an idiot?
Why did you want us to sacrifice the Immortal HanGuang-Jun’s sons?!”

“Use your heads, you fools,” the leader spat. “How can HanGuang-Jun have children? He’s a
cut-sleeve! Unless…” A wide smile spread across his face and he glanced at Wei WuXian.
“He cheated on you, didn’t he, Wei WuXian? Even the pristine HanGuang-Jun is a man after
all!” The man roared with laughter.

Lan WangJi’s eyes flashed blue. “Su She,” he said quietly, his voice deep as thunder.

“Su She, Su She,” Wei WuXian muttered. “Ah, you’re the one that defected from GusuLan
and went to Jin GuangShan, aren’t you? Ungrateful bastard, I should never have saved your
life back then.”

Su She barely listened to him; he was delighted with his assumption that Lan WangJi had
been with more than one woman, for he knew for sure that the two boys were born to
different mothers.

“How does it feel, Wei WuXian? To learn that you’re such a bad partner that even the pure
HanGuang-Jun had to get away from you to sleep with women?” Su She crowed.

Wei WuXian burst out laughing.

Blue electricity crackled around Lan WangJi and frost burst from him, throwing Su She back.
Wei KanghuiNing and Wei Syaoran quickly took the two babies from their Papa. Lan
Qinyang gestured at her siblings, and immediately, Wei KanghuiNing and Wei Syaoran ran to
her, holding the babies close. Wei AoJiang grabbed Xue Yang and pulled him away towards
his big sister. Lan Mei took Mo XuanYu’s hand and dragged him away as well.

Wei WuXian beamed at the children. Then he walked to Lan WangJi and slipped an arm
around his furious partner’s waist.

“Calm down, Lan Zhan,” he said softly. “This moron isn’t worth your anger.” He kissed Lan
WangJi’s cheek and the frost receded.

Su She stared at them in shock.

Wei WuXian sighed. “You utter fool,” he said sadly, shaking his head.

“But, but…” Su She spluttered.

“They are my sons, too, you know,” Wei WuXian declared.

Half the remaining crowd turned around and fled, too terrified of the YiLing Patriarch. If
stupid Su She had made even the pure HanGuang-Jun angry, it would only be a matter of
moments before the YiLing Patriarch went berserk, they thought.

Su She was left with barely twenty cultivators backing him.

Wei WuXian chuckled. “Twenty people aren’t worth fighting,” he said. “Just go home,
folks.”

Su She was so angry that his veins looked ready to pop.

“Forgive us, Master Wei,” one of the men said. “We can’t do that. We need to sacrifice those
two babies. Thousands of lives depend on it.”

“Too bad,” Wei WuXian said cheerfully.

The man swallowed nervously. “Please, Master Wei. We don’t have a choice. The Qiong Qi
has demanded that we sacrifice these two babies or he will destroy all our villages.” He
shuddered. “If we don’t, thousands of people will die.”

Wei WuXian frowned. “Qiong Qi? As in the one from the Sì Xiong?”

Wei Syaoran walked up to his parents. “I do feel a distant presence,” he said softly.

Lan WangJi’s brow furrowed. “If you feed it Gu insects, it will leave you alone and even
grant you protection,” he said.

“We tried, respected HanGuang-Jun,” the man said. “But the fiend seems to be fixated on
those two children.”

“Why?”

“We don’t know, HanGuang-Jun.”

“Is it even the real Qiong Qi?” Wei WuXian asked. “How did it even awaken?”

“The late Sect Leader Jin GuangShan was gathering the Sì Xiong,” the man said quietly. “He
was of the impression that the balance of power was too heavily tilted in your favour, Master
Wei, with your demonic cultivation and your powerful friends and the Sì Xiàng.” He bowed
his head. “We agreed with him. A lot of us still do. We needed a safety net if you ever went
berserk, so…”

“And to arm yourselves against this imaginary threat from me, you awakened the Four
Evils?” Wei WuXian asked, looking thoroughly amused.

The man remained silent.

“Did you think you could control the fiends?” Lan WangJi asked.

“Master Jin confined them in a hidden holy temple at Dafan Mountain,” Su She snapped.
“There was no risk until now.”

“However, three days ago, that old man and that old woman took refuge in the temple and
broke one of the talismans,” another man said. “The Unholy Fiends got loose. The Qiong Qi
asked us to bring back the two babies as sacrifice or it would destroy our villages.”
Wei WuXian sighed, and Lan WangJi muttered, “Imbeciles.”

“If those two old fools hadn’t interfered with the talismans…” one man began.

“You fools,” Wei WuXian hissed. “Don’t you know these talismans need to be reinforced
periodically? It could range anywhere between a few days to a few years, depending on the
strength of the casters! How long ago was it that you reinforced it? There’s no way an old
man and an old woman would be able to find a hidden holy temple by themselves, let alone
deliberately destroy a powerful talisman. It was because your talismans failed that they were
led to the temple, not the other way around.” He glared at Su She. “Uncle Lan taught all this
in class so many times that even I remember! What the hell were you doing, you fool?”

Su She flushed. “Not all of us are natural-born geniuses,” he mumbled. He turned to Lan
WangJi and bowed. “Please, HanGuang-Jun, help us subdue the Qiong Qi.”

“What about the other three fiends?” Lan WangJi asked.

“We don’t know, HanGuang-Jun,” Su She said, looking down. They were gone by the time
we reached the temple. Only the Qiong Qi remained.”

Wei WuXian sighed dramatically. “So we have to track down the other three as well now?”
he moaned. “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, let’s just leave these stupid people to their own devices!”

“Wei Ying…”

“Don’t give me that look, Lan Zhan! You know I’ll do anything when you look at me like
that,’ Wei WuXian whined. “But this is really infuriating! These morons! And they wanted to
use the fiends against me, Lan Zhan! What if they harmed our children?”

Lan WangJi’s face hardened immediately.

The men sensed the change in him. Gone was the kind righteousness on Lan WangJi’s
beautiful face.

“Master Wei! HanGuang-Jun! We would never use the fiends to harm the divine beasts!”

Lan WangJi’s glare was cold enough to freeze an entire lake. “But you would seek to harm
my Wei Ying?”

The men looked away. “Only if he went berserk and sought to harm us, HanGuang-Jun. We
have nothing against Master Wei personally,” one man said fearfully.

“Shameless,” Lan WangJi said.

Wei Syaoran growled menacingly.

“Thousands of lives are at stake, Master Wei,” a man pleaded. “Please forgive us. Most of the
villagers are innocent civilians.”

Lan WangJi looked conflicted.

 “You idiots need to stop messing with things you don’t understand,” Wei WuXian said,
sighing tiredly. “I am tempted to let you reap the consequences of your idiocy, but my
beautiful Lan Zhan wants to save your villages, so I’ll have to help.”

Lan WangJi smiled at Wei WuXian.

Most of the men before them bowed respectfully. “We would be very grateful for your
assistance, Master Wei.”

“Yes, yes,” Wei WuXian said, waving away their gratitude. “Just don’t do stupid things like
this in the future.”

Chapter End Notes

And now they have all the kids! :)

Four evils: https://archive.shine.cn/sunday/now-and-then/The-four-evils-are-still-out-

there/shdaily.shtml and http://koei.wikia.com/wiki/Four_Fiends
 Are all my thoughts of you...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Wei Syaoran roared in fury at the bloody sight before him. Wei WuXian stood next to him
and stroked his fur.

The Qiong Qi looked at him lazily. “Ah, Bai Hu,” he said. “Did you come here to fight me?”

Su She and his men cried out in terror and anguish. The monster had killed all the cultivators
they had stationed around the temple, even though the time period for bringing back the
babies was not over yet!

“You said you’d give us a week to bring the children to you!” Su She shouted. “Why did you
kill my men?”

Qiong Qi laughed. “I was bored.” He narrowed his eyes at the men. “I see you brought back
my mortal enemy instead of the babies I sent you to fetch.”

“Why did you want those babies anyway?” Wei WuXian asked loudly. “They are ordinary
cultivator infants – a Wen orphan and a Lan orphan. They have nothing to do with you.”

“They looked tasty,” Qiong Qi said carelessly. “I like the tender flesh of chubby little babies.”
He glanced the group of children behind Wei WuXian – all the divine beasts except Wei
Syaoran were in their human form, and Lan WangJi gathered them behind him quickly. “I see
you have quite a few here. Did you bring me a treat, little human?”

Wei WuXian laughed. “Of course not.”

“Then why have you brought a bunch of children here? Ah, I see the two babies from earlier,
too!” Qiong Qi licked his lips. “I’m hungry, little human. Feed me those kids.”

Wei WuXian’s eyes flashed red. “No,” he said.

Wei Syaoran growled dangerously. Wei WuXian patted him affectionately and muttered,
“Calm down, A-Syao.”

Qiong Qi transformed into an odd-looking human male and stalked towards Wei WuXian.
“Who are you? How can you act so familiar with Bai Hu?”

Wei WuXian grinned cheekily. “He’s my precious little son,” he declared proudly.

Wei Syaoran transformed into his human form and Wei WuXian pulled him close, his gesture
both affectionate and protective at once. “See? He even looks like me!” he boasted.

Qiong Qi stared at them, the expression of shock almost comical on his strange face. “Bai
Hu, you allowed this ridiculous human to birth you?”
“Don’t insult my Mama,” Wei Syaoran growled. “Only Papa is allowed to call him
ridiculous.”

“Well said, son,” Lan WangJi said, a small smile on his face.

Wei WuXian giggled and kissed Wei Syaoran’s cheek. “Look at you, A-Syao! How dashing!
My little boy is all grown up!”

Qiong Qi glared at them. “It’s not fair, Bai Hu,” he complained. “Why do you get to have
humans that love you as their child while I’m dragged from my slumber by hatred?”

“You reap what you sow, you bloodthirsty monster!” one of Su She’s men shouted. “You dare
compare yourself to a divine beast?! You’re nothing but a vile scourge!”

Wei WuXian rolled his eyes. “Who was it that woke him up again?” he asked pleasantly.

“But…YiLing Patriarch, he…!”

“Oh, just shut up!” Wei WuXian snapped.

Qiong Qi stared at him. “You are the YiLing Patriarch?”

Wei WuXian smirked. “I’m flattered that you’ve heard of me,” he said.

“The ones that awakened us wanted us to annihilate you,” Qiong Qi said. “We thought you
were like us, on the dark side. But if so, why does Bai Hu call you his parent?”

“Dark side?” Wei WuXian frowned. “Oh, you mean demonic cultivation and harnessing
negative energy? Yes, I do that. Why should that make me evil?”

“If you use the dark arts, you should have taken me as your son, not Bai Hu!”

Wei WuXian stepped forward and laid a gentle hand on the strange boy’s shoulder. “Is that
what you wanted? A family that loves you?”

“Who wants to be hated as soon as they are born?!”

Wei WuXian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “This is surprising. So, the Four Evils are not
inherently evil?”

“I didn’t choose to be like this!” Qiong Qi shouted.

“Mama,” Wei Syaoran growled. “Don’t be deceived. You can’t save everyone you meet.”

Wei WuXian ignored him. He looked straight at Qiong Qi. “So, what do you actually want
now?”

“I want to go back to my slumber,” Qiong Qi said. “It was peaceful.”

“Go ahead, then,” Wei WuXian said cheerfully.

Qiong Qi sighed. “I can’t,” he grumbled. “The one that woke me laid a condition that I
destroy the YiLing Patriarch and his family. Until the condition is fulfilled, I can’t do
anything. None of us can.”

“Is the same condition applicable to the other three as well?” Wei WuXian asked.

“Yes.”

Wei WuXian frowned. “That doesn’t make sense. You can’t kill me and my family four
times, can you? If the condition is impossible to fulfil, doesn’t that mean you’re stuck here
forever?”

Qiong Qi roared angrily. “That rat bastard!”

Wei Syaoran’s whiskers twitched in amusement.

“What are the alternatives?” Wei WuXian asked. “The one that awakened you is dead. Can
his heir rescind the condition?”

Qiong Qi deflated. “I don’t know,” he said helplessly.

Wei WuXian swore. “We need Brother Yao. He’s the only one clever enough to sort it out,”
he muttered. He turned to the Qiong Qi. “We’ll help you find a solution. Will you come with
me and promise not to harm any more humans until we find one? If we still haven’t solved
the problem in six months, you can do whatever you want.”

“Sure.”

Wei Syaoran huffed. “Not so fast, Mama,” he said. He glared at Qiong Qi. “You need to make
a sacred oath before I let you anywhere near my family.”

Qiong Qi glared at him.

“We’ll make a reciprocal oath not to harm you, either,” Wei WuXian said quickly.

“Only until you refrain from harming one of us,” Wei Syaoran snapped.

“All right,” Qiong Qi said reluctantly. “I’ll make a sacred oath.”

“Excellent,” Wei WuXian replied.

---

Wei WuXian, Lan WangJi, the children and Qiong Qi were soon at YiLing. Su She and his
minions had wanted to come, but Lan WangJi had refused, much to Wei WuXian’s relief. He
really didn’t want the slimeball and his traitorous followers in his home.

Jin GuangYao, Lan XiChen, Jiang Cheng, Wen Ning and Nie MingJue were waiting for
them, as expected. They must have spoken to the divine beasts. Much to Wei WuXian’s
surprise, Xiao XingChen and Song Lan were also present.
As soon as Xiao XingChen caught sight of them, he rushed forward and gathered Xue Yang,
Mo XuanYu and A-Qing in his arms.

“Thank heavens,” he whispered. “Thank heavens you’re all right!”

“Daozhang?” Xue Yang asked softly, clearly shocked. “What’s wrong?”

Song Lan stepped forward and glared at him. “You were supposed to stay home until we
returned,” he scolded. “Why did you go out? I specifically told you not to step outside the
perimeters of our forest.”

“Sorry,” Xue Yang said timidly.

“It wasn’t Brother Yang’s fault,” Mo XuanYu said. “We were walking within the boundaries
when A-Qing ran out. We followed her to bring her back.”

Song Lan frowned.

“A-Qing is sensitive to her surroundings,” Wei WuXian cut in. “She probably sensed that the
babies were in danger and went to help them.” He smiled broadly at Song Lan. “In any case,
we have Xue Yang and Mo XuanYu to thank for protecting two innocent babies on their own.
They stood off against a hundred men by themselves.” He glanced at Xiao XingChen.
“Aren’t you proud of them, Uncle Chen?”

Xiao XingChen stared at his disciples with wide eyes. Then he hugged them again and said,
“I’m so, so proud of you, A-Yang, A-Yu. You were in a difficult situation and you did your
best. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.”

“Daozhang, Uncle Wei saved us!” Mo XuanYu said happily. “And Brother Yang was really,
really cool!”

“Who are these babies?” Song Lan demanded.

“Our youngest sons,” Lan WangJi said quietly. “Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi.”

Jiang Cheng stared at Wei WuXian. “You’re letting him name them both?”

Wei WuXian shrugged. “I named three of our sons. I can let Lan Zhan have those two,” he
said happily.

“But who are they?” Song Lan insisted. “You can’t just pick up other people’s children
randomly and call them your own!”

“Orphans,” Lan WangJi said. “Both had one remaining grandparent who died protecting
them.”

The rest of the story had already been relayed by the divine beasts to their uncles, and Lan
XiChen had updated Xiao XingChen and Song Lan when they had turned up looking
panicked since their kids had gone missing.
 “Stop being so grumpy, Uncle Song,” Wei WuXian teased. “Even I know better than to pick
up random children. Besides, these two are predestined to be our little buns.”

Song Lan huffed. Then his eyes fell on Qiong Qi. “And who’s this?”

“Ah, sorry, everyone – this is Qiong Qi,” Wei WuXian declared.

The Venerated Triad, Jiang Cheng and Wen Ning already knew, but Lan XiChen had wisely
not told Xiao XingChen and Song Lan about it, knowing the latter would freak out.

Song Lan had pulled out his sword before Wei WuXian finished his sentence and would have
slashed the strange-looking boy if not for Suibian and Meiyou blocking him expertly.

“He is my guest,” Wei WuXian said dangerously. “As such, he is to be accorded every
courtesy.”

“You would shelter one of the Si Xiong?!” Song Lan thundered, raising his sword to attack
again.

“He was unwillingly dragged into our world from his peaceful slumber by Jin GuangShan
and bound with an impossible contract,” Wei WuXian said, defending expertly. “If anyone
deserves your ire, it is Jin GuangShan and his minions!”

“Song Lan! Stop!” Xiao XingChen shouted.

Song Lan stopped attacking Wei WuXian, but still glared at him.

Qiong Qi burst out laughing. “You’re hilarious, YiLing Patriarch,” he said, laughing so hard
that he was clutching his stomach. “We were told that you were evil personified and if we
destroyed you, we would be able to absorb all your evil aura and grow even more powerful –
but you, you’re the worst possible dark lord I’ve seen in my life! You, with your hero-
complex and propensity to jump in to save other people whether they deserve it or not –
you’d be an absolute failure as an evil master! Even if I killed you, I wouldn’t get an ounce of
evil aura. You’re completely useless and I really can’t understand why the rat bastard thought
otherwise. You’re just another stupid hero…no, you’re even worse!”

“You certainly got that right,” Wei Syaoran grumbled.

Wei WuXian pouted and everyone laughed.

Chapter End Notes

I was going to write an epic battle scene of the Qiong Qi and Bai Hu...and then this
comedy happened instead. I don't know what I'm doing anymore. These people just do
as they please!
Hopefully the other great fiends are actually fiendish...or perhaps Qiong Qi is just
playing with our heroes.
 Sweet raptured light...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

YiLing Patriarch, wake up. We need to talk.

Wei WuXian rubbed his eyes sleepily and looked outside his window. Qiong Qi stood there, a
somber expression on his young face. From the colour of the sky, it seemed to be about
midnight.

“Can’t we talk in the morning?” Wei WuXian asked. “I don’t want to wake up Lan Zhan.
He’s been tired lately.”

“I could say the same of you,” Qiong Qi said.

Wei WuXian chuckled. “I’m all right, young one. But thank you for your concern.”

“I need to speak to you, not to your partner, Master Wei. It is urgent.”

Wei WuXian frowned at the urgent note in his voice. “All right,” he said, and crept out of
bed, careful not to awaken Lan WangJi.

“I’m sorry to disturb you at this hour, Master Wei,” the strange boy said as soon as Wei
WuXian stepped outside.

Wei WuXian smiled slightly and ruffled his hair. “Look at you, so polite. You don’t have to
call me Master Wei, young one. It sounds rather stuffy, don’t you think?”

Qiong Qi looked away for a moment and then asked softly, without looking up, “Can I call
you ‘Uncle Wei’ like those human children?”

“Of course,” Wei WuXian said immediately.

Qiong Qi smiled shyly.

“And you, young one, what is your name?” Wei WuXian asked.

“I don’t have one,” the boy said glumly. “Why bother naming the Four Fiends?”

Wei WuXian pulled the boy into a hug. “Wei Liang,” he said softly. “I’ll call you Wei Liang,
young one.”

Qiong Qi looked up at him, his eyes wide. “You…you’re too kind, Master Wei.”

Wei WuXian ruffled his hair again. “Weren’t you going to call me Uncle, A-Liang?”

Wei Liang smiled shyly. “Yes, Uncle Wei. Thank you for my name. I love it.”
Wei WuXian grinned at him. “Good boy. Now, why did you pull me out of bed in the middle
of the night?”

Wei Liang sobered immediately. “I spoke to my siblings. I told them about the impossibility
of the contract and the lack of your evil aura. They want to come here. They are angry, too,
that the rat bastard deceived us. They, too, will make a sacred oath like me if you promise to
help out all of us. Would you return us to our slumber?”

“We will certainly try our best,” Wei WuXian promised. “Brother Yao is looking into it, A-
Liang. He’s the cleverest of us all.”

“So, Tao Tie, Tao Wu and Hun Dun can come here?”

“Certainly.”

Wei Liang beamed, his strange face oddly cute. Wei WuXian could resist patting his hair.

“Thank you, Uncle Wei!”

“So, when do they want to come over?”

“They are already outside. They are waiting for your permission to enter.”

Wei WuXian laughed heartily. “No wonder you were in such a hurry, A-Liang.” He slung an
arm around the boy’s shoulder. “Let’s get your siblings.”

Three young, strange-looking boys huddled together outside the massive gate Jiang
FengMian had erected for Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi.

“Brother?” one of the boys called nervously as soon as they spotted Wei Liang.

“Are these your brothers, A-Liang?” Wei WuXian asked pleasantly.

“Yes, Uncle Wei,” Wei Liang said.

“You got a name? You’re calling him ‘uncle’?” Tao Wu asked enviously.

Wei Liang grinned. “Uncle Wei named me Wei Liang,” he said happily.

Wei WuXian laughed and ruffled his hair.

Tao Tie stared at them. “The human is very powerful, Qiong Qi. Are you sure we can’t
consume his aura?”

“He’s not evil, unfortunately,” Wei Liang said. “He’s no use to us. Uncle Wei is really nice
and kind and he’s promised to help us go back to our slumber.”

“But this power…” Hun Dun said hungrily. He took a step forward, but the moment he tried
to step in, the gate crackled with purple lightning and he was thrown back.

Instantly, the divine beasts appeared. They were in their human forms.
“What the hell are you doing, stupid Mama?” Lan Qinyang scolded.

“I told you not to trust blindly,” Wei Syaoran growled. “Why won’t you ever listen to us?”

Wei WuXian rolled his eyes. “I’m not in any danger, my children.”

“Your children?” Tao Wu asked, flabbergasted. “You birthed the Si Xiang, YiLing Patriarch?
It doesn’t make sense!”

“I told you,” Wei Liang said crossly. “Uncle Wei is a pure human. His heart is noble and his
soul is good.”

“But he uses negative energy,” Tao Tie said.

“So?” Wei AoJiang challenged.

“How can he not be evil?” Hun Dun protested.

“You idiots,” Wei KanghuiNing laughed. “Do you think we’d have hatched for Mama if he
was evil?”

“Mama is good,” Lan Mei said sternly. “In any case, you are not welcome here if you want to
harm Mama. Go away!”

“No!” Wei Liang cried. “Uncle Wei, please – you promised!”

Wei WuXian sighed. “Don’t worry, A-Liang,” he said gently. “We’ll definitely help you. But
your brothers…”

“No one that seeks to harm Mama or Papa or any of our loved ones can step past this gate,”
Lan Qinyang said.

“Make a sacred oath like me, brothers,” Wei Liang begged. “Uncle Wei will help you.”

Tao Wu nodded. “I want to,” he declared. “I don’t want to be caught in this unpleasant
contract if we can’t even have an evil aura to consume afterwards.”

Tao Tie rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Alright,” he said. “If you promise not to harm us in
return.”

“What about you?” Wei Liang asked Hun Dun.

The chubby boy nodded reluctantly.

“Stay back, Mama,” Wei Syaoran warned. “Big sister and I are going to step out to sanction
the sacred oath.”

“No way,” Wei WuXian said cheerfully, and clipped Wei Syaoran on the head. “What parent
stands by and watches their children step out to face danger?”
“We’re not letting you cross Grandfather Jiang’s gate until those three have made the sacred
oath,” Lan Mei said firmly. “And obviously those three can’t come in with ill-intentions.”

“I’m stepping out,” Wei WuXian said. “A-Liang, come with me. Babies, stay back. Get your
Papa and your Uncles if something goes wrong.”

“Absolutely not,” Wei KanghuiNing said. He turned into a snake and wrapped himself
around Wei WuXian, immobilising him.

“Oh, come on, A-Hui,” Wei WuXian whined. “Isn’t this a little extreme?”

“I’ll go with Big sister and A-Syao,” Wei AoJiang said. “Don’t worry, Mama.”

“I’ll go, too,” Lan Mei said. She turned to Wei Liang. “You’re one of us now, aren’t you, A-
Liang? Come on, then. The sooner we can get your brothers in, the better.”

Lan Qinyang, Wei AoJiang, Lan Mei, Wei Syaoran and Wei Liang stepped out of the
perimeter.

“A-Hui,” Wei WuXian said seriously. “Let me go.”

“I’m sorry, Mama,” Wei KanghuiNing said tearfully. “I have to keep you safe.”

Wei WuXian’s eyes flashed red.

Outside the gate, Tao Tie and Tao Wu were making the oath when Hun Dun suddenly attacked
Lan Mei.

In a flash of bright red, Wei WuXian stepped in between Lan Mei and Hun Dun. His eyes
glowed red and his aura glowed menacingly. Black, smoky tendrils curled themselves around
Hun Dun as he struggled uselessly.

“You dare harm my daughter?” Wei WuXian thundered. The grounds shook with his rage.

Hun Dun trembled in fear. Wei Liang, Tao Tie and Tao Wu stared at him with wide, shocked
eyes.

“Such power…” Tao Tie muttered, his eyes glinting greedily. “Even if it isn’t evil, to
consume such power…”

“He actually jumped in to protect a beast!” Tao Wu said admiringly. “He really loves them as
his own children!”

“I told you he was kind and pure,” Wei Liang said. “Stupid Hun Dun…”

“I wish he’d awakened us instead,” Tao Wu said sadly.

“I know. I felt the same,” Wei Liang said.

“Shut up, you fools,” Tao Tie said. “Look at this power! Don’t you want to eat him?”
“Don’t harm Uncle Wei,” Wei Liang warned.

The divine beasts gathered around Wei WuXian, who was still radiating fury as Hun Dun
struggled weakly against his restraints.

“Get behind me, my children,” Wei WuXian commanded.

“Stupid Mama,” Lan Qinyang began, but Wei WuXian was far too angry to entertain any
debates.

“Get back NOW,” he hissed, and the five divine beasts were flung back into the perimeter,
inside the protective gate. There was another flash of red, and when Wei Syaoran tried to step
out, he was blocked.

“Mama!” he roared. “Let us out!”

Wei WuXian ignored him.

“A-Liang,” he said dangerously. “Are you with me or against me?”

Qiong Qi shivered at the cold red eyes of the YiLing Patriarch. “I’m with you, Uncle Wei,”
he said meekly and walked up to him, taking up a protective stance.

“Can I come, too?” Tao Wu asked softly. “Would you let me call you ‘Uncle Wei’ and give
me a name and protect me, too? I am ready to make the sacred oath.”

Wei WuXian’s smirk was frightening as he said, “Make the oath. A-Liang, ensure that he
does it properly.”

Tao Wu finished the oath properly.

Wei WuXian smiled, but his eyes still glowed eerily red. “Go to your brother, Wei Shuang.”

The newly named Tao Wu smiled brightly and obeyed with an eager, “Yes, Uncle Wei!”

Wei WuXian turned to Tao Tie, who was eyeing him hungrily.

“I’m sorry, YiLing Patriarch,” Tao Tie said. “I can’t hold back anymore. I need to consume
your power!” He transformed into his true form and let out a ferocious roar.

Wei WuXian grinned and shot a globe of red light towards Hun Dun, who was engulfed in a
ball of red light and sealed. He floated harmlessly in the air, confined in a cage of red light
and black smoke, his expression frozen with fear.

A flash of fear flew across Tao Tie’s face. Then a hungry look replaced it and he charged at
Wei WuXian.

“Mama! Get back!” Wei AoJiang cried, desperately trying to get out of the protective barrier.

Wei WuXian laughed manically and jumped back nimbly, easily evading Tao Tie.
 “A-Liang, A-Shuang, step aside. I don’t want you two getting hurt,” Wei WuXian ordered.

The two boys obeyed silently.

Even without his swords and his flute, Wei WuXian was a powerful warrior. Tao Tie kept
charging at him, and he kept giggling and evading his attacks. The great fiend grew angry
and frustrated, and his attacks became more and more random, while Wei WuXian’s aura
grew redder and blacker.

“You’ve been sleeping too long, young one,” Wei WuXian cackled, looking like a real dark
lord for once.

Tao Tie’s face was incredibly avaricious as he attacked again. This time, though, his attack
was aimed at his own brothers who had taken refuge with Wei WuXian.

Predictably, Wei WuXian jumped in front of them protectively.

There was a blinding flash of light as great powers collided.

“MAMA! NO!!” Lan Qinyang’s cry was terrible. All the divine beasts threw themselves at
the barrier desperately, trying to get to their beloved Mama. The barrier flashed blue and held
strong, as if reinforced.

“Uncle Wei!” Wei Liang and Wei Shuang cried and rushed forward. They were thrown back
in a flash of blue.

Blue frost crept up as the light faded. Wei WuXian laughed merrily and looked up. Lan
WangJi floated above them on Bichen, his long hair flying unrestrained behind him. His eyes
glowed blue and blue electricity crackled menacingly around him.

Tao Tie took a step back, terrified. “Who’s that?” he squeaked.

Wei WuXian grinned. “That, young one, is the love of my life.”

Chapter End Notes

The fiends are refusing to be as fiendish as I want them to be, and Wei WuXian refuses
to let the babies into battle. *sigh*
 It ends here tonight...

Lan WangJi shot a ball of blue light at Tao Tie, and the fiend was engulfed in frost and blue
light and sealed, just as the Hun Dun had been.

Wei Liang and Wei Shuang stared at the slim black-robed figure in front of them in disbelief.
The YiLing Patriarch – their new Uncle Wei – had actually gone so far as to take a direct hit
to save them…to save two of the despicable Si Xiong!

Wei WuXian smiled and looked up at Lan WangJi, who was still up in the air, and waved.
“Thanks, Lan Zhan! You saved me again!”

Lan WangJi’s crackling aura didn’t calm down, nor did his eyes return to their usual gold.

Wei WuXian’s red eyes faded to silver. “Lan Zhan?”

Frost crept towards him. He jumped back hastily and rammed into the blue barrier Lan
WangJi had placed around him. He grit his teeth as electricity jolted his body.

“Lan Zhan! Calm down! It’s fine now!” he called loudly.

A small frown marred Lan WangJi’s smooth brow as electricity continued to cackle around
him. Frost wound its way around Wei WuXian’s feet and crept up his leg. He shivered and
tried to move back, only to hit the wall and receive another electric shock.

“Papa!” Wei Syaoran shouted. “Stop! Calm down! You’re hurting Mama!”

Lan WangJi blinked slowly, his gaze returning to gold. He spotted his partner below, rubbing
his arms, trying to stave off the cold. The frost receded immediately, and so did the blue
barrier around Wei WuXian.

Wei WuXian fell to his knees, clutching his side, where he’d been hit when he had jumped in
to protect Lan Mei. He had forgotten all about the injury in his rage back then. He hadn’t
even felt it, really.

With a terrible roar, Wei Syaoran burst out of the protective barrier his parents had created
and ran to his Mama. His body glowed bright as he threw his arms around Wei WuXian,
sobbing.

Wei WuXian rubbed his back gently. “A-Syao, A-Syao. Calm down, son. I’m all right. We’re
all right.”

Lan WangJi flew down and landed in front of them.

“What the hell is going on here?” Jiang Cheng’s irritated voice cut through the darkness. Wen
Ning was with him, holding his hand.
“Why are the babies in such distress?” Lan XiChen demanded. Jin GuangYao and Nie
MingJue flanked him.

Wei Syaoran released Wei WuXian and ran to Nie MingJue.

Lan Qinyang and Wei AoJiang explained the situation haltingly, trembling violently.

Lan WangJi stepped forward and picked up Wei WuXian in his arms. He turned cold eyes
towards the four fiends.

“A-Liang and A-Shuang are all right, they can come in with us. The two that we sealed away,
just hang them on a tree or something for now,” Wei WuXian said tiredly. “We’ll deal with
them later.”

Lan WangJi nodded and did as told. Then he walked through the gate, still carrying his
partner. He gestured and Wei Liang and Wei Shuang entered as well.

“There’s got to be a limit to your idiocy,” Jiang Cheng yelled at Wei WuXian.

“And you, too, WangJi,” Lan XiChen said quietly. “Do you two have any idea how much the
two of you hurt the babies when you sealed them away and forced them to watch you fight
without being able to come to your rescue? You could have at least let them out of A-Xian’s
barrier, WangJi.”

“Our children must be kept safe,” Lan WangJi said softly. He put Wei WuXian down, and
both of them bowed apologetically.

“We’re sorry, kids,” Wei WuXian said, his voice gentle but firm. “We’re sorry you had to see
that, but there’s no way Lan Zhan or I would let you enter such a dangerous fight. What if
something happened to you?” He bowed again. “I’m sorry I lost my temper and was a bit too
heavy-handed in sealing you away, but I couldn’t risk any of my children coming to harm.
Please forgive me.”

No one said anything for a while.

“Thank you for reminding us how useless and burdensome we are, Mama,” Wei Syaoran
whispered.

“No!” Wei WuXian cried. “No, A-Syao! That’s not true!” He stepped forward towards his
son, but staggered and fell to his knees. Lan WangJi was by his side immediately and picked
him up again.

“Take him to Sister,” Wen Ning said to Lan WangJi.

Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian stared at him.

“Wei AoJiang and Wei KanghuiNing can’t heal an injury caused by the Si Xiong.” Jin
GuangYao’s usually gentle voice was tight with anger. “Really, A-Xian, would it kill you to
listen to others for once? The children were trying to help you, but no – you have to go and
risk yourself. Is it that you can’t digest your food without causing worry to those that love
you?”

“It’s not Uncle Wei’s fault,” Wei Liang said in a small voice. “I dragged him out to my
brothers. I thought…”

“It’s all right, A-Liang,” Wei WuXian said kindly. He looked at his children and their uncles.
“Brother Yao is right. I have been reckless and I’ve caused my own children misery.”

Wei KanghuiNing and Lan Mei shook their heads.

“Mama lost his temper because I let my guard down and got attacked,” Lan Mei cried, fat
tears dripping down her pretty face. “I’m sorry, Mama.”

“No, my child, no – it is most definitely not your fault,” Wei WuXian assured her, but she
only cried harder.

“I was supposed to hold Mama back from danger and I couldn’t,” Wei KanghuiNing sobbed.
“I’m useless. I’m sorry, Mama.”

Horrified, Wei WuXian cried, “No, A-Hui, don’t say that, please! You did well, son. You did
very well.”

But the two children only cried harder.

Wei WuXian looked up helplessly at Lan WangJi, who looked equally lost at their children’s
distress.

Jiang Cheng, Wen Ning, Lan XiChen, Jin GuangYao and Nie MingJue had already gathered
their favourite divine beasts by now and were cradling them gently against their chest, trying
to assuage their trauma. Wei KanghuiNing and Lan Mei sobbed hysterically, muttering it was
their fault as Wen Ning and Jin GuangYao frantically tried to console them. Lan Qinyang and
Wei AoJiang had gone eerily silent after finishing their narrative, and Lan XiChen and Jiang
Cheng held them close, rubbing their backs with gentle fingers. Wei Syaoran had buried his
face into the broad chest of his uncle as soon as Nie MingJue had picked him up.

“A-Bao, A-Ao,” Wei WuXian begged. “Say something, my babies. Call me stupid again.
Please, don’t be so quiet.”

But the two of them remained pale and silent.

“Mama, Papa,” Wei Syaoran said finally, raising his head from Nie MingJue’s chest. “It is
best if we, too, go to sleep when you return the Si Xiong to their slumber. You don’t need us
anymore.”

“NO!” Wei WuXian bellowed. He jumped out of Lan WangJi’s arms and ran to Wei Syaoran.
He grabbed the boy’s hand. “No, A-Syao,” he pleaded desperately. “Don’t say that, A-Syao.
Please don’t say that, A-Syao. How can I live if my babies are gone?”
“You will have Papa and A-Yuan and A-Yi, Mama,” Wei Syaoran whispered tiredly. “The Si
Xiang have become burdensome now, haven’t we? Without us, those nasty humans from
earlier won’t accuse you of being too powerful. They’d leave you alone in peace.”

Wei WuXian’s eyes flashed red and Lan WangJi’s eyes flashed blue. Blue electricity sparked
around Lan WangJi again.

“And why do you think,” Lan WangJi whispered, his voice deep with quiet fury, “that Wei
Ying and I would abandon our own children to appease such human trash?”

“Lan Zhan is absolutely right,” Wei WuXian said. “How could you possibly imagine that we
would prioritise anything over our own babies?!” His voice rose to a shout.

“M’Sorry,” Wei Syaoran mumbled. Then his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

“A-SYAO!”

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi ran to him immediately, and Nie MingJue knelt on the ground,
holding the boy protectively.

“A-Ao, A-Hui, what’s wrong with him?” Jiang Cheng asked.

The divine Xuanwu shrugged.

“Mama, Papa,” Wei AoJiang said seriously. “A-Syao is right. We should go to sleep.”

“Over my dead body,” Wei WuXian snapped.

“And mine,” Lan WangJi added.

“Stop spouting nonsense, all of you!” Nie MingJue boomed angrily. “Take care of A-Syao
first!” He held his palm over the boy’s head and transferred spiritual energy into him.

Lan WangJi looked at him gratefully. “Thank you,” he said quietly. “We will take it from
here.” He picked up the youngest divine beast and pulled Wei WuXian to himself. The couple
nodded at each other, instinctively knowing what to do.

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi grabbed Wei Syaoran’s hands and poured spiritual energy into
him. Their soul-marks lit up so bright that they shone even through their clothes, and the
three of them were engulfed in a soft, pink light.

When the light faded, Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi were breathing heavily, and Wei Syaoran
blinked slowly and opened his eyes.

Wei WuXian threw his arms around the boy’s neck and cried softly, “Don’t ever say terrible
things like that, A-Syao.”

Lan WangJi’s cupped the boy’s cheek tenderly and nodded, agreeing with his partner. He held
out his arm, and Lan Qinyang, Lan Mei, Wei AoJiang and Wei KanghuiNing jumped from
their uncles’ arms and ran to their parents.
Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi swept them into their arms protectively and held fast.

“Don’t even think of leaving us behind,” Lan WangJi whispered, tears dripping down his
beautiful face.

“What Lan Zhan said,” Wei WuXian mumbled. “We’re not letting our babies go.” He
shuddered, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, they were
a glowing red. “I will watch the world burn before I let any of you come to harm, my
children,” he promised.

“You need to listen to us, too, Mama,” Lan Qinyang said quietly. “It’s not only you that loves
us. We love you, too. And there are times when we are better suited to a task than you. If you
won’t let us help at the time…”

“I will,” Wei WuXian said immediately, cutting her off. “I’m sorry I was so stupid today, A-
Bao. I promise I’ll listen to you – to all of you – in the future.”

“Don’t lock us out like that again,” Wei AoJiang said.

“We won’t,” Lan WangJi said. “Except in an emergency.”

“And please don’t try to restrain us like that, either,” Wei WuXian said. “I thought my heart
would stop when that Hun Dun attacked A-Mei and A-Hui had me pinned.”

“But you broke out anyway,” Wei KanghuiNing muttered.

“Only barely,” Wei WuXian said. “If it weren’t for my baby being in danger, there’s no way I
could’ve managed to get out.”

“And you were hurt trying to protect me, Mama,” Lan Mei said, fresh tears trickling down
her face.

“This? This is nothing, my lovely daughter. I can fight with half my intestines hanging out
and then I can stuff them back in and buy dinner on my way back home!” Wei WuXian
boasted.

“Don’t joke about that,” Lan WangJi warned.

“We should get you to Aunt Qing,” Wei Syaoran said. “It’s a minor injury, but still, since Big
brothers can’t heal it, it’ll take time.”

“Er…Uncle Wei,” a diffident voice called. “We can heal it.”

“A-Liang?” Wei WuXian asked, surprised. He had all but forgotten about the two fiends that
were on his side.

“I mean, if you will allow us to,” Wei Liang added quietly, not daring to look up.

“Sure, why not,” Wei WuXian said, beckoning them over.

Wei Liang and Wei Shuang approached him hesitantly and knelt by his side. They held their
palms over his injury and a greenish smoke emanated from their palms. It connected with
Wei WuXian’s side and his injury disappeared in a flash of green.

“Ooh, that was cool,” Wei WuXian praised. “Thank you, A-Liang, A-Shuang.”

The two strange-looking boys blushed.

“What will happen to our brothers?” Wei Shuang asked fearfully. “You won’t erase their
existence, would you?”

“We will let them remain sealed for now,” Jin GuangYao said. “When we have found a way
to return the four of you to your slumber, we will release them and the four of you can go
together.”

Lan XiChen frowned and looked up at the tree where Lan WangJi had hung the two balls of
light. “We can’t leave them hanging there. Su She and his minions might turn up.”

“We can’t bring them in, either,” Jiang Cheng said. “Father’s gate won’t allow anyone with
malicious intent to pass, sealed or not.” He glared at Wei WuXian. “Fortunately.”

Wei WuXian winced.

“They are only visible from inside the gate,” Lan WangJi said. “Outsiders cannot see them. It
is safe to leave them here.”

Wei WuXian stared at his partner with wide eyes. “I didn’t know you could do that, Lan
Zhan!”

“I learnt some things when we were separated,” Lan WangJi said softly.

Wei WuXian threw himself at Lan WangJi and kissed him thoroughly. “You’re too cool, my
beautiful Lan Zhan!”
 I'll miss the winter...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

The Lan brothers, Jin GuangYao and the Wen siblings devoted themselves to research on the
Si Xiong and dissolution of the contract, taking Wei Liang and Wei Shuang with them. Jiang
YanLi, Jin ZiXuan, Nie HuaiSang and Qin Su were on babysitting duty for the infants and
toddlers – Jin Ling, Lan Xia, Lan Yue, Nie ZhiRuo, Lan Yuan, Lan JingYi and A-Qing. Nie
MingJue and Song Lan took up patrolling duty. Wei WuXian refused to be parted from the
divine beasts, so Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian watched over Xiao XingChen training Xue
Yang and Mo XuanYu, while Lan Qinyang, Wei AoJiang, Wei KanghuiNing, Lan Mei and
Wei Syaoran settled around their Mama.

“I want to learn sword-fighting too,” Wei AoJiang said suddenly.

“Me too,” Lan Qinyang said.

“And me,” Wei KanghuiNing added.

Wei WuXian grinned. “A-Mei, would you fetch Bichen from your Papa?”

“Yes, Mama!” Lan Mei said immediately and disappeared in a flash of vermillion. She
returned with the sword instantly.

“Alright, then, kids – Uncle Cheng is going to teach you swordsmanship,” he declared. He
threw Bichen at Lan Qinyang, Suibian at Wei AoJiang and Meiyou at Wei KanghuiNing. “Go
on, then.”

Jiang Cheng frowned. “Don’t you want to teach them yourself?”

Wei WuXian shook his head. “You’re a better teacher. You taught me way more than the
senior disciple, remember?”

Jiang Cheng grinned and led the three kids on to the training grounds. Xue Yang watched
them enviously.

“DaoZhang, can I learn, too?” Xue Yang asked.

Xiao XingChen laughed and handed his Shuanghua to the boy. “Go ahead, child.” He smiled
at Jiang Cheng and asked, “Would you take in my boy as well?”

Jiang Cheng smiled back. “Of course. Come along, A-Yang.”

Xiao XingChen and Mo XuanYu joined Wei WuXian, Wei Syaoran and Lan Mei. Mo
XuanYu sat down next to Lan Mei shyly, and she smiled at him, her ears turning red like her
Papa.
Wei WuXian cocked an eyebrow. “You’re too young,” he said flatly.

Both children looked at him fearfully and Wei Syaoran, who was in his tiger form, swatted
his Mama with his tail.

You were six when you and Papa got together. Don’t be a hypocrite, Mama.

Wei WuXian frowned. “That was different, A-Syao.”

Hmph. The tiger stuck out his tongue.

Wei WuXian stuck out his own in response.

Lan Mei and Mo XuanYu giggled.

Xiao XingChen regarded them fondly. Shijie would have been really proud of this young
man, he thought.

“Mama, can we go and play with the babies?” Lan Mei asked.

Wei WuXian pouted. “What’s this, A-Mei? You don’t want to spend time with your old
Mama anymore?” He wiped off an imaginary tear. “How fast they grow!” He sighed
dramatically.

Lan Mei’s chin wobbled.

Don’t tease Sister; she’ll start crying, and if she cries, you'll cry and then Papa will get mad,
Wei Syaoran warned. He swatted Wei WuXian with his tail again.

“All right, all right,” Wei WuXian said, throwing up his hands. Then he pulled Lan Mei into a
hug. “Don’t cry, my lovely daughter. Mama was only joking.”

“I just wanted to visit my new brothers,” Lan Mei said in a small voice.

“Of course you can visit them, sweetheart,” Wei WuXian cooed. “What a wonderful sister
you are!”

Lan Mei winked at Wei Syaoran when Wei WuXian wasn’t looking. The tiger chuckled.

Wei WuXian kissed Lan Mei’s brow and sent her off with Mo XuanYu.

You’re stupidly besotted, Mama. Wei Syaoran said, shaking with laughter.

Wei WuXian pouted until Wei Syaoran nuzzled him with his head and demanded to be petted.

Xiao XingChen laughed heartily at his nephew’s antics.

Jiang Cheng, meanwhile, was enjoying himself very much. The four children were naturally
talented and fast learners. And he didn’t mind the adoring admiration in their eyes as they
followed every movement of his carefully.
“Will I ever be as good as you, Uncle Cheng?” Wei AoJiang asked, wide-eyed.

“Of course, nephew mine. In fact, I suspect you’ll be even better!” Jiang Cheng told him. He
eyed Lan Qinyang. “You, I think, will surpass even your Papa, and he’s the best I’ve ever
seen.”

Lan Qinyang preened.

“You two as well,” Jiang Cheng told Wei KanghuiNing and Xue Yang. “I’m amazed at the
four of you. I’ve never had a chance to teach such brilliant kids since I was one and Wei
WuXian insisted I teach him.”

“I can be as good as Mama?” Wei KanghuiNing asked.

“Of course. Maybe even better!” Jiang Cheng told him.

The three divine beasts looked immensely relieved.

“Why the sudden desire to learn swordsmanship, though?” Jiang Cheng asked curiously.
“You kids don’t really need skills like these, do you? You’re far more powerful.”

The twins and Lan Qinyang exchanged a look. Finally, Wei AoJiang said, “It’s to assure
Mama and Papa that we can fight as well as any cultivator even if we’re not using our
powers. So…they don’t have to jump in to protect us all the time.”

“It should reassure them, right? That we’ve grown up enough to be able to fight like they
do?” Wei KanghuiNing asked.

Jiang Cheng’s eyes turned soft. “What wonderful children you are…Wei WuXian is a lucky
bastard to have you.”

“What about A-Mei and A-Syao?” Xue Yang asked. “Do they want to be combat-trained,
too?”

Wei KanghuiNing nodded. “A-Mei is going to learn archery. I think she’s roped in A-Yu and
gone to Uncle Ning for lessons.”

“A-Qing is growing up quite fast, too. She can also learn archery,” Xue Yang said
thoughtfully. “I’d like to learn a bit, too. What about A-Syao?”

“He’ll speak to Uncle Nie as soon as Mama stops clinging to him,” Wei AoJiang said,
giggling. “I don’t think anyone else is capable of teaching him anything.”

“Mama has become clingy again…but then he usually does after something happens, doesn’t
he?” Lan Qinyang said with a small smile.

Jiang Cheng laughed. “He does,” he agreed. He sheathed Sandu. “All right, that’s enough for
today, we’ll learn more tomorrow, all right?”
The kids looked so comically disappointed that Jiang Cheng chuckled. “Didn’t you guys
want to try archery?” he asked.

Four young faces brightened immediately.

“Let’s go find Wen Ning,” Jiang Cheng said.

---

Wen Ning had already been dragged out from the library by Lan Mei and Mo XuanYu. It
appeared that Mo XuanYu had the same thought as Xue Yang, for he had picked up A-Qing,
too.

Wen Ning was surprised to see Jiang Cheng and four kids trailing him. He raised an eyebrow
and Jiang Cheng explained.

Wen Ning patted all the children on their heads and the contingent returned to the training
grounds, picking up bows and arrows on the way. Xiao XingChen waved at them and put a
finger on his lips.

Wei WuXian had fallen asleep, curled up against Wei Syaoran’s soft, furry belly. The tiger
purred contentedly, spread out protectively around the smaller figure of his Mama, fast asleep
as well.

“So cute!” Wen Ning squealed. “Lan WangJi needs to see this! A-Mei, can you get him?”

Lan Mei nodded, turned into a bird, disappeared in a flash of vermillion and reappeared an
instant later with her beloved Papa.

Jiang Cheng pointed at the sleeping figures and Lan WangJi’s gaze followed.

Lan WangJi’s golden eyes turned impossibly soft and the look on his face was so tender that
everyone felt their breath hitch. Soulmates really were something else, they thought.

“Why don’t you join them?” Jiang Cheng suggested quietly. “You’ve been pretty stretched
recently, too.”

Lan WangJi frowned.

“Go on, Papa,” Lan Qinyang said. “The rest of us will be training here with Uncle Cheng and
Uncle Ning. Uncle Huan says he doesn’t need you for a while, either.”

The twins pushed their Papa towards the sleeping figures.

With a small smile, Lan WangJi sat down gingerly next to his partner and their son.
Instinctively, Wei WuXian and Wei Syaoran pulled him close, and a few minutes later, Lan
WangJi was cuddled up and fast asleep as well.

Jiang Cheng and Wen Ning exchanged a glance and giggled quietly.
“Get Nie HuaiSang to draw them,” Wen Ning told his partner. “You can help with training
the kids after that.”

Jiang Cheng grinned and took off.

---

When Wei Syaoran, Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi woke up three hours later, they were
greeted by a sea of amused faces.

“You guys are so cute!” Jiang YanLi squealed delightedly, waving Nie HuaiSang’s drawing at
them.

“Truly adorable,” Lan XiChen said, smiling broadly. He had another copy of the drawing
tucked neatly in his pocket.

Lan WangJi’s ears turned red, and Wei WuXian spluttered indignantly. “I am the evil YiLing
Patriarch! I’m not cute or adorable!”

“Not evil,” Lan WangJi said firmly, his voice sleep-roughened.

Wei Syaoran stretched like a lazy cat and turned into his human form. “That was a good
sleep,” he muttered, yawning. He grinned at Lan WangJi. “How was your first siesta, Papa?
Did you have good dreams?”

“Mmm.” Lan WangJi’s eyelids drooped.

Wei WuXian giggled and slid an arm around his sleepy partner’s waist. “Come on, Lan Zhan.
Let’s get you to bed for a proper sleep.”

Lan WangJi was half-asleep and pliant in Wei WuXian’s hands. Wei WuXian laughed merrily
and picked up Lan WangJi in his arms. He winked at Nie HuaiSang and said, “Draw this, too,
would you?” He struck a heroic pose, holding Lan WangJi princess-style.

Nie HuaiSang giggled and nodded.

---

The drawings were a huge hit and everyone wanted a copy, including Jiang FengMian,
QingHeng-Jun, Xiao XingChen and Wen RuoHan.

“The next time someone says you’re evil and too powerful for the cultivation world to
handle, I’m going to show them this picture,” Jin ZiXuan teased Wei WuXian, waving the
first picture at him. “They’re going to be like, ‘Aww, so cute, who’s that?’ and I’ll say, ‘It’s
the YiLing Patriarch and the Immortal HanGuang-Jun’ and they’ll never accuse you of being
evil again!”

Jiang Cheng, Lan XiChen, Nie MingJue and Wen Qing rubbed their chins thoughtfully.

“Not a bad idea,” Nie MingJue said.

 “At the next discussion conference, we’ll display this picture,” Wen Qing said.

“I’m putting it up in my workroom at the Cloud Recesses,” Lan XiChen said. “My adorable
little brother and his cute little partner and my fluffy, fluffy nephew!” His voice turned
dreamy.

“I’m doing the same at Lotus Pier,” Jiang Cheng said, smirking. “The pride of YunmengJiang
and his partner with their fifth child!”

“If all the sect leaders put it up in their workrooms for the world to see…” Jin GuangYao
muttered. He grinned at Jin ZiXuan. “It’s an excellent idea, brother.”

“No way!” Wei WuXian howled. “You’ll ruin my image! No one will ever fear me again! If
you have to put up one, put up the other one where I’m carrying my beautiful Lan Zhan like a
real hero!”

“No,” Lan WangJi said firmly, his ears turning red.

“But Lan Zhan…” Wei WuXian whined. “Don’t I look dashing?”

"Mmm."

“Who cares if you look dashing,” Jiang Cheng cut in. “It’s not half as cute as the other one!”

“Conspiracy!” Wei WuXian complained. “It’s a conspiracy against us, Lan Zhan!”

“But you look so good together,” Jin GuangYao said sadly. “Is it wrong of us to want to show
off to the world what a beautiful couple our little brothers make?”

“What he said,” Lan XiChen said, looking at Lan WangJi. “You look so beautiful together.”

“Besides, isn’t it better for the world to know that you belong with each other?” Nie
HuaiSang asked.

“Mmm,” Lan WangJi said.

“Lan Zhan! Don’t listen to them! We’re being played!”

Chapter End Notes

Fluffity fluff, before the plot moves again.

 A world of fragile things...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

“You want us to attend the Discussion Conference?” Wei WuXian asked Jiang Cheng. “What
for?”

“To show good faith,” Jin ZiXuan said.

“Why?”

“We’ve been flooded with requests, actually,” Lan XiChen said apologetically.

“Something’s fishy,” Wei WuXian said.

“We think so, too,” Wen Qing agreed.

“And that’s why we have a plan,” Jian GuangYao said.

“I still don’t understand why we’ve to have it in that idiot Su She’s lands,” Nie MingJue
grumbled. “Haven’t we always had it at one of our places?”

“Appeasement for the smaller clans, Eldest brother,” Jin GuangYao told him, rubbing his
temples.

Lan XiChen was immediately solicitous. “Does your head hurt again?”

Jin GuangYao smiled softly at his husband. “Don’t worry,” he said. He turned to Wei
WuXian. “We are trying to promote your image as a friendly protector.”

“Father left behind a colossal mess,” Jin ZiXuan said, sighing. “We’re still clearing it up. It is
only thanks to Brother that we’ve been able to get as far as we have.”

“Why don’t we restart the discussion about this Chief Cultivator post and make Brother Yao
the Chief Cultivator? Everyone likes him anyway, and that gives him power to control me,
doesn’t it? That should appease and reassure everyone,” Wei WuXian suggested.

Jiang Cheng rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I like the idea,” he said. He frowned at Wei
WuXian. “I doubt anyone can control you.”

“Well, I meant theoretically,” Wei WuXian retorted, laughing.

“The Chief Cultivator would be a really powerful figure,” Wen Qing observed. “And A-Yao
is indeed well-suited. I like the idea, too.”

“I don’t think anyone other than A-Yao can manage to pull it off,” Nie MingJue boomed.
“Do you want to?” Lan XiChen asked Jin GuangYao.

Jin GuangYao sighed. “I don’t know,” he said.

“I don’t think your role will change too much, Brother,” Jin ZiXuan said, smirking. “All of us
more or less report to you and seek your advice anyway; we’ll just make it official!”

“What do you think, Lan Zhan?” Wei WuXian nudged his partner. “Don’t you think Brother
Yao would make an excellent Chief Cultivator? We saw it, right? He did great things.”

“Mmm.”

Jin GuangYao’s eyes went wide. “You saw it?” he asked Lan WangJi.

“Mmm.”

Jin GuangYao looked at Lan XiChen.

Lan XiChen frowned and looped a protective arm around the smaller man’s shoulders. “You
don’t have to if you don’t want to,” he said firmly. “I know you’d be a brilliant Chief
Cultivator, but if it’s going to make you unhappy, I won’t let anyone force you into the role.”

“I’m afraid I might be a failure,” Jin GuangYao said in a small voice.

Wei WuXian burst out laughing. “When have you ever failed at anything, Brother Yao?”

“Ridiculous,” Lan WangJi agreed.

“Indeed,” Jiang Cheng added.

“I have to agree with A-Xian,” Jin ZiXuan said.

“Absolutely,” Wen Qing said.

“Don’t be absurd, A-Yao,” Nie MingJue said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. “All of us
here agree that you are the only one we would consider for such a role. If you don’t want to,
of course we won’t force you, as A-Huan says. But if you’re refusing because of a rubbish
reason like that, have more faith in your family and friends’ ability to gauge your merit.
Don’t put yourself down.”

Everyone stared at Nie MingJue, shocked speechless.

Then Lan XiChen clapped. “Well said, Eldest brother! Well said!”

The room burst into applause.

Wen Qing elbowed her husband. “Never knew you were such a wordsmith,” she whispered.
“Your appeal just went up by three times, Husband.” She kissed his cheek and the large man
flushed.

“So, then, A-Yao,” Lan XiChen said, smiling at his spouse. “What do you want to do?”
“I’ll do it,” Jin GuangYao replied, his chin determined. He bowed. “I’ll be relying on your
support – all of you.”

“And you shall always have it, Brother,” Jin ZiXuan said.

“Excellent,” Wei WuXian said. “Now, what’s this great plan for the Discussion Conference
concocted by our resident genius?”

Jin GuangYao, blushing slightly, said, “We should activate the device barriers for all five of
our sects before we leave for the conference. I don’t think anyone will attack, but it would be
a prudent precautionary measure. Additionally, we should keep all the children in YiLing.
Jiang YanLi, Nie HuaiSang and Qin Su have volunteered to look after them. The Si Xiang
will help.”

“What about the Si Xiong?” Jiang Cheng asked. “The two hanging on the tree outside are
fine, but what about the other two that are still inside?”

“They’re harmless,” Wei WuXian said. “They’ll be flung out of our perimeter if they harbour
malicious intent anyway, right?”

“I think it’s better to be careful,” Jin ZiXuan said. “Your children have extraordinary powers;
and these creatures are their counterparts. Why don’t you ask them?”

“No need,” Lan WangJi said.

Wei WuXian stared at him. “Lan Zhan…?”

“They will come with us,” Lan WangJi declared.

“Er…that kind of defeats the purpose of projecting A-Xian as harmless, doesn’t it?” Jiang
Cheng asked.

“Yes,” Jin GuangYao said, rubbing his temples again.

“How about we leave them in Qishan?” Wen Qing suggested. “The old man said he doesn’t
want to attend the conference; he can look after them. All four, if you’d like.”

“That sounds good!” Wei WuXian agreed. He eyed his partner. “Let’s spare Brother Yao the
additional headache, Lan Zhan!”

“Wei Ying…”

“Oh, come on, Lan Zhan. You know how powerful Wen RuoHan is. He’ll keep them in line.”
He winked. “I’ll promise him some extra SanRen nugget.”

Jin GuangYao shot Wen Qing a grateful look.

Lan XiChen, however, frowned. “WangJi, was there a particular reason why you wanted to
take the two boys with you?”
Lan WangJi nodded.

Wei WuXian rolled his eyes. “Then tell us, Lan Zhan.”

“Battle.”

Everyone stared at him.

“What do you mean?” Nie MingJue demanded. “Is Su She planning to fight with us at the
conference?”

Lan WangJi nodded.

Jiang Cheng frowned. “He’s not powerful enough…has he got allies?”

Lan WangJi nodded again. “Rogue cultivators. Mercenaries. Traitors in LanlingJin.”

Wei WuXian’s eyes widened. “Jin ZiXun again?” he asked.

Lan WangJi nodded.

Jin ZiXuan rounded upon them. “Again?!” he cried. “Has he betrayed us before?”

“He would have, but we changed it,” Wei WuXian said. He looked at Lan WangJi. “Lan
Zhan, is it the same again?”

Lan WangJi nodded. “Hundred Holes.”

Wei WuXian groaned. “Who cursed him?”

Lan WangJi shook his head.

Wei WuXian groaned louder. “He’s blaming me again, isn’t he?”

Jin GuangYao rubbed his temples again. “This is worse than I thought,” he said. “Perhaps it
is better if you stay in YiLing, A-Xian.”

“But won’t his absence raise even more questions?” Jiang Cheng pointed out.

Jin ZiXuan frowned. “Cousin ZiXun has a lot of men, and he is a powerful cultivator himself.
He can cause a lot of trouble for A-Xian.”

“All of us are going to be there to protect him,” Wen Qing said.

“Harm A-Xian?” Nie MingJue boomed angrily. “Not on my watch!”

“Don’t run off by yourself,” Jiang Cheng told him.

“WangJi, don’t leave A-Xian alone for even a moment,” Lan XiChen told his brother.

Lan WangJi nodded seriously.

“Not fair,” Wei WuXian complained. “I’m almost an adult now!”

“Nothing doing,” Jin GuangYao said firmly. “Unless you promise to be accompanied by one
or more of us the entire time, you are staying in YiLing with the babies. We’ll just take A-
Zhan.”

“All right, all right,” Wei WuXian conceded.

“So we’re taking two of the fiends to Qishan, sending the sealed ones to Song Lan and
keeping A-Xian in our line of sight?” Wen Qing summarised.

“Yes,” Jin GuangYao said. He looked at her thoughtfully. “You know, you could be Chief
Cultivator. You’d be perfect.”

Wen Qing laughed. “No way. I’m stretched to my limits already between QishanWen and
QingheNie. And let’s not even talk of A-Ruo; she’s louder than her father!”

Nie MingJue beamed. “My little one’s got a healthy pair of lungs,” he boasted.

“I wish the next one would be quiet like one of our little brothers,” Wen Qing grumbled.

Everyone laughed.

---

A week before the conference, Wen Qing, Wen Ning, Wei WuXian and Wei KanghuiNing
went to the Nightless City with Wei Liang and Wei Shuang. Lan WangJi and Lan Qinyang
took the sealed Tao Tie and Hun Dun to Xiao XingChen and Song Lan. Xiao XingChen and
Xue Yang were going to attend the conference, Mo XuanYu and A-Qing were sent to YiLing,
and Song Lan was going to stay back with the rest of their sect. chances of them being
attacked were minimal, but Jin GuangYao didn’t want to take a chance. After all, a lot of
people knew that Xiao XingChen was Wei WuXian’s mother’s shidi.

Wen RuoHan was waiting eagerly for Wei WuXian.

“It is good to see you, young SanRen blood!” he exclaimed as soon as they landed.

Wei WuXian laughed and greeted the former Sect Leader. He threw a small pouch at him.

“New chillies,” Wei WuXian said. “Found them in a small village Lan Zhan and I visited
recently.”

Wen RuoHan was delighted. “Thank you, young one,” he said, his eyes soft and his voice
fond. “I don’t think I’ve seen these before.”

“They’re not as spicy as the ones you grew, but they taste pretty good. I enjoyed them, so I
thought you’d like them, too,” Wei WuXian told him.

Wen RuoHan smiled.

“And the revered Elder forgets his Sect Leader as soon as the favourite kid appears,” Wen
Qing grumbled. “I’m telling you, Uncle, if you melt your intestines, I’m not going to treat
you!”

Wen RuoHan and Wei WuXian laughed. Wen RuoHan greeted Wen Qing and Wen Ning and
Wei KanghuiNing with exaggerated formality, causing everyone to laugh. Then he spotted
the two strange-looking boys and greeted them politely as well.

“It is my pleasure to host the two of you as my guests for a few days,” he told them. “Anyone
dear to young SanRen blood here is always welcome in QishanWen.”

“Then I leave A-Liang and A-Shuang in your capable hands,” Wei WuXian said.

Wen RuoHan smiled at him.

Wei Liang and Wei Shuang were shown to a nice set of rooms and assigned personal
attendants.

“You will be safe here,” Wei WuXian told them. “Relax and have fun – and don’t give Master
Wen too much trouble, all right?”

The two boys nodded, wide-eyed.

Once the boys had settled in and everyone had been fed, Wen RuoHan pulled Wei WuXian
aside.

“I heard there are threats to you at the conference, young SanRen blood. Are you sure you
wish to attend?” Wen RuoHan asked seriously.

Wei WuXian smirked.

Wen RuoHan sighed. “I know you’re being taken to the conference to clear your image and
dispel any lingering rumours, but…be careful, child. Those who plot against you are vicious
in their fear.”

Wei WuXian nodded.

Wen RuoHan held out an intricate token with the Wen clan’s motif. “Take this,” he said. “It
will offer you some measure of protection. If nothing else, it will warn those that seek to
harm you that you have powerful protectors. Wear it on your belt, along with your
YunmengJiang bell and GusuLan jade.”

Wei WuXian examined the object gingerly. Wen RuoHan was right; it was a powerful token.
He looked at the former Wen Clan Leader gratefully. “Thank you,” he told him. “This is very
kind of you. I will treasure it.”

Wen RuoHan ruffled the young man’s hair affectionately. “I wouldn’t want to lose my chilly-
appreciation partner and SanRen research object now, would I?”

Wei WuXian laughed.

---

Jin ZiXuan and Nie MingJue were waiting for Wei WuXian when he returned to YiLing.

Jin ZiXuan held out a LanlingJin charm. “For you,” he said. “For protection and influence.”

Wei WuXian stared at him.

Jin ZiXuan flushed. “What? You’re my wife’s little brother and my son’s uncle. What kind of
a husband and father would I be if I didn’t grant you my protection?”

“But this…”

“I am the Sect Leader of LanlingJin, and I want everyone – especially those of LanglingJin
that seek to harm you – to know that you are my family, and to harm you would be an act of
betrayal against the Sect Leader,” Jin ZiXuan told him.

“Thank you, Brother-in-law,” Wei WuXian said quietly.

Jin ZiXuan ruffled his hair. “You’re welcome, brat.” He eyes fell on Wei WuXian’s belt and
widened in shock. “Is that…is that the personal token of Wen RuoHan?!”

Wei WuXian grinned and nodded.

“Well, then, it’s time for me to add the last one to your belt, kid!” Nie MingJue boomed and
handed him a QingheNie charm.

Wei WuXian thanked him and Nie MingJue patted (more like thumped) his back.

“You are now visibly recognised and protected by the five major sects, kid,” he declared. “I’d
like to see who dares to attack you now!”

“If you don’t mind, A-Xian, I’d like to add my sect’s charm to your belt as well. Our sect is
not very powerful, but I crafted this especially for you, and I would like you to be able to rely
on my protection as well,” came Xiao XingChen’s soft voice. Lan WangJi and Lan Qinyang
accompanied him.

“Thank you, Uncle Chen,” Wei WuXian said, hugging the man.

“Are you sure you can fit all of those around your thin waist?” Jiang Cheng mocked, coming
up behind Wei WuXian. He turned to Lan WangJi. “Fatten up this skinny troublemaker,
would you?”

Lan WangJi nodded seriously.

Wei WuXian pouted at Lan WangJi and smacked Jiang Cheng playfully. “You just want me to
get fat so you can overtake me on the Young Masters’ List!”

Jiang Cheng stuck out his tongue at him. “Lan WangJi is already pretty enough for the both
of you, why do you need to be on that list, too?” he teased.
 “My beautiful Lan Zhan will get bored of me if I get ugly,” Wei WuXian shot back. “I have
to maintain my good looks, too!”

“Would not,” Lan WangJi promised, his voice deep and serious. A frown marred his brow, as
if offended that Wei WuXian would think so lowly of him. “Would you not like me anymore
if I lost my looks, Wei Ying?”

Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng froze.

Then Wei WuXian flung himself at Lan WangJi. “Of course not, Lan Zhan! I will always love
you the most! Even when we are old and wrinkly and shrivelled up and have no teeth!” he
declared, cupping Lan WangJi’s cheek tenderly. “Only you, always.”

“What self-respecting cultivator gets wrinkly and loses their teeth?!” Jin ZiXuan objected.

Nie MingJue and Jiang Cheng burst out laughing.

Chapter End Notes

Just realised that we're now in the second half of this fic...
 Look for me in the white forest...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Wei WuXian swaggered into the hall, fashionably late. Lan WangJi followed him, leisurely
and gracefully, looking as though he floated on air instead of walking on the floor.

Su She’s eyes widened and whispers broke out amongst the cultivators in the large hall, for
each of Wei WuXian’s charms stood out prominently against the deep black of his robes.

“I thought he belonged to YunmengJiang?” someone whispered.

“He’s also HanGuang-Jun’s soulmate, so I’d expect GusuLan, too, but why the others…?”
another replied.

“That’s the Jin Sect Leader’s protection charm only granted to family members!” a middle-
aged cultivator from LanlingJin cried, aghast. “What on earth is Jin ZiXun thinking, planning
to challenge his own Sect Leader?!”

A younger man elbowed him and hissed, “Shh!”

An elderly man sucked in a sharp breath and cried fearfully, “I recognise that! That’s Wen
RuoHan’s personal crest!”

Alarmed murmurs broke out around him.

Another one exclaimed, “There’s QingheNie, too!”

“You’re right! Heaven’s, he’s got all five major sects supporting him…?!”

“There’s a sixth! What’s that?”

“Oh, I know that one! Isn’t it from Xiao XingChen’s new sect? You know, the disciple of
BaoShan SanRen who descended and founded his own sect?”

“Why would he…?”

“Oh, you don’t know? The YiLing Patriarch’s mother was his shijie – so it’s natural for him
to care for the boy.”

“I’ve heard he calls him Uncle.”

“So he’s even got the protection of BaoShan SanRen?!”

“And he’s got the Divine Beasts as well, right?” The speaker frowned. “I don’t understand Su
She’s concern, honestly. The Divine Beasts would never ally themselves with someone that
seeks to harm others.”
“But he cultivates the demonic path! That’s evil!”

“If he’s so evil, why do all these powerful people support him – and so publicly, at that?” the
earlier man challenged.

“And remember, he’s HanGuang-Jun’s soulmate. Even if he turns into a demon, HanGuang-
Jun will keep him under control!”

“Yes, GusuLan is horribly strict and righteous! If the YiLing Patriarch deviates, they will be
the first to put him down! There’s no reason for us to worry!”

“But what if he’s forcing them all to comply with his wishes?”

“That…”

“I heard he’s even acquired the Four Fiends now…”

“What?! Is that true?!”

“What chance do we have to stand against such a mighty force?”

“He’ll annihilate us all!”

“We must be careful not to anger him!”

“I heard that the only time the YiLing Patriarch really loses his temper is when someone
attacks HanGuang-Jun,” someone muttered.

“Oh,” a young girl said, sighing dreamily. “How romantic.”

“So if we ally ourselves with HanGuang-Jun, we’ll be safe?”

“I suppose so. I heard that he’s merciless to traitors, but he fiercely protects his family and
friends – so I think allying ourselves with any of the six clans that support him should be
good enough!”

“Fools! There would be no balance of power like that!”

“But all of the five major clans stand for peace, and the YiLing Patriarch supports them, so
what’s the problem?”

“What if he controls them all?”

Someone snorted. “I say if he’s controlling them to maintain this peaceful era he’s brought
about with their support, let him be.”

“That’s right, we’re peaceful and prosperous now. I don’t want a war again!”

---
Wei WuXian smirked, paying attention to the chatter for once. He greeted Su She formally,
and then greeted all the gathered Sect Leaders politely as well, together with Lan WangJi.
Greetings completed, the two of them were led to seats at the end of the dignitaries’ lines,
just before the commoners.

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi shared an amused glance. If Su She intended for them to feel
insulted and raise a ruckus, he was barking up the wrong tree.

Wei WuXian waved at the general public with a cheerful smile, and there were whistles and
catcalls and flowers flung at the two of them.

“Kiss HanGuang-Jun!” someone shouted.

“Yes!” the public roared.

“As you wish, my good folks!” Wei WuXian called loudly. He took Lan WangJi’s hand and
kissed his palm, and then he kissed his cheek.

The crowd went wild.

“When’s the wedding?” several people shouted.

“Whenever my beautiful Lan Zhan wants!” Wei WuXian replied cheerfully.

No one dared ask the great HanGuang-Jun such an indecent question. Wei WuXian, however,
elbowed his partner and asked loudly, “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, tell me when you’ll
ask me to marry you!”

There were many whispers of “shameless”.

With red ears, Lan WangJi replied, “After you turn twenty, Wei Ying.”

“But what if I die before that, Lan Zhan?” Wei WuXian whined. “I want to die as your wife!”

Lan WangJi’s face darkened immediately. “You will not die, Wei Ying,” he said firmly.

“But Jin GuangShan awakened the Si Xiong to kill me and then Su She threw them at us, Lan
Zhan! Someone or the other is always after my life even when all I want is to live with you in
peace!”

Many people were immediately sympathetic, and a lot of rumours were laid to rest.

A little distance away, Jiang Cheng grumbled under his breath, “He’s overdoing it.”

Next to him, Wen Qing hushed him, “Let him be. The public loves him.”

On his other side, Jin ZiXuan barely repressed a sigh. “That brat really loves to be dramatic.”

Lan XiChen said mildly, “A-Yao’s plan seems to be working perfectly. The public loves A-
Xian.”
“He’s got this spunk that makes it impossible to hate him,” Nie MingJue said, laughing.

Jin GuangYao rubbed his temples. So far, it was all going well, but he had spotted some
disturbing elements in the congregation. It was an immense benefit that the general public
adored Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi, but their leaders were often too greedy and power-
hungry. He could, even now, see many minor leaders eye Wei WuXian longingly.

A portly man, leader of a mid-sized clan in the west, visibly gathered up his courage and
asked, “If Master Wei wishes, I would offer one of my daughters as your concubine.”

Wei WuXian gaped at him.

Encouraged, several other smaller sect leaders did the same. One even went so far as to say,
“HanGuang-Jun is so cold, perhaps Master Wei would benefit from the warmth of women.”

Wei WuXian, who had been tolerating the offers and laughing them off so far, froze. Eyes
blazing red, he glared at the man who had just spoken.

“What did you say about my Lan Zhan?” Wei WuXian asked in a dangerous voice.

The man shuddered. “Master Wei, I just…”

Lan WangJi put a gentle hand on his partner’s shoulder. “Calm down, Wei Ying.”

“But he insulted you, Lan Zhan!” Wei WuXian protested.

“He stated a fact.”

“No!” Wei WuXian cried, throwing his arms around Lan WangJi. “I would never even look
anyone except you, Lan Zhan! You are my sunshine, my moonlight, my air, my water, my
everything! You are the light that keeps me warm, the joy that spurs my smile!”

Lan WangJi’s ears went red and the crowd went wild again. Several romantics mooned over
the couple so much that they fainted.

Still clinging to Lan WangJi, Wei WuXian turned to face the minor leaders. “You lot – you
are all important people, and your daughters must be precious! You must treasure them!
Don’t recklessly go about offering your daughters as concubines to someone who’s already
committed! Wouldn’t that make your daughters unhappy? Shouldn’t they be paired with
someone that will love them whole-heartedly? My heart belongs solely to my Lan Zhan, and
I can’t offer my love to anyone else.”

And with that grand speech, Wei WuXian won the support of almost all the women in the
cultivation world for the rest of his life.

Wen Qing sprang from her seat and clapped. Nie MingJue stood up and boomed, “Well said,
A-Xian, well said! Daughters are indeed precious!”

Xiao XingChen, Lan XiChen, Jiang Cheng, Jin ZiXuan and Jin GuangYao, too, stood up and
applauded.
Seeing them, many cultivators hastened to rise and clap. The applause from the public was
already deafening by then.

Wei WuXian caught Jin GuangYao’s eye and winked. It went unnoticed by everyone except
the Lan brothers.

And finally, Jin GuangYao smiled, some of his tension melting away.

---

When the applause died down, Wei WuXian turned to Su She and said loudly, “Master Su,
about the Four Fiends that you let loose – Lan Zhan and I have sealed two of them, and the
other two have been rendered harmless. There is no need to worry anymore.”

“Hand them over,” Su She demanded. “I want to check for myself.”

Wei WuXian shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t have them anymore. We handed them over to
our elders with more sense and wisdom. They are in safe hands.”

“What if we need to use them?” Su She cried and then paled, realising his mistake.

Murmurs broke out again, and many people, who had been swayed by Jin GuangShan and his
minions, began to doubt their logic. After all, they had been falsely told that the YiLing
Patriarch was power-hungry and had acquired the fiends, but it appeared now that it was Jin
GuangShan who had awakened them and Su She who let them loose. The YiLing Patriarch
and HanGuang-Jun had actually sealed them to protect lives! And if the YiLing Patriarch was
so power-hungry, why had he handed over the fiends to other people?

Wei WuXian, meanwhile, asked with an innocent face, “But Master Su, why would you need
to use them? We are not at war.”

Su She was saved from replying by the arrival of Jin ZiXun, who rushed in with two dozen
men, waving his sword manically.

“YiLing Patriarch!” he roared. “You scum! Release me from your curse this instant!”

Wei WuXian stared at him, the very picture of wide-eyed innocence. “Who are you?”

Jin ZiXun let out a cry of rage.

Wei WuXian frowned exaggeratedly. “I don’t even know you, why would I curse you? Did
you harm my Lan Zhan?” He turned to Lan WangJi. “Lan Zhan, did he harm you?”

Lan WangJi shook his head.

Wei WuXian turned back to Jin ZiXun. “Did you harm my children?” he asked.

“Of course not! What coward harms children?” Jin ZiXun cried angrily.
Wei WuXian shrugged. “Then why would I curse you?” He frowned again. “Wait, you’re
related to Brother-in-law – did you harm Brother-in-law or my shijie?” He turned to look at
Jin ZiXuan, who had risen from his seat and was making his way towards them. “Brother-in-
law, do you know this man? Did he harm you?”

“He’s my cousin, A-Xian,” Jin ZiXuan replied. He looked at Jin ZiXun pointedly. “What is
the meaning of this, cousin? Why are you accusing A-Xian of cursing you? He won’t harm
people unless they hurt someone he cares about – did you do something like that?”

Jin ZiXun glared at his cousin and Sect Leader malevolently. “You would side with this
monster instead of your own blood relative?” he cried.

Jin ZiXuan’s temper rose. “I am not siding with anyone. I am merely making an attempt to
uncover the truth,” he said coldly. “And I would thank you to mind your language when you
speak of A-Xian. He is my wife’s younger brother.”

Wei WuXian sensed the cursed spear cloaked with shadow energy and the malicious intent
directed at Jin ZiXuan a little too late. The large spear came straight at Jin ZiXuan from the
back, and for an instant, Wei WuXian was transported back to his first life, on Qiong Qi path
where Wen Ning had accidentally killed his Brother-in-law.

Not again, he thought desperately. Jin Ling cannot be orphaned again!

“It’s all right, Wei Ying – I won’t let that happen again,” Lan WangJi’s calm voice broke
through his terror, and he blinked, drawn back into the present.

Jin ZiXuan stumbled and fell to his knees, the middle of his back stained with blood. Lan
WangJi stood behind him, the cursed spear having pierced him through.

“LAN ZHAN!!” Wei WuXian’s cry was no longer human as he rushed to catch his beloved in
his arms.

Jin ZiXuan stared at them in horror, realising the narrow escape he’d had. Lan WangJi had
taken the deadly spear for him, and he had escaped with merely a small nick on his back!

Wei WuXian’s eyes were burning red as he put his hand upon the cursed spear, which
disintegrated as tendrils of black and red flowed from his hands.

“Wei Ying,” Lan WangJi said weakly, raising his arm to cup Wei WuXian’s cheek tenderly.
“It’s all right. I won’t die.” Then he closed his eyes and went limp, and Wei WuXian’s aura
became redder and blacker as he stood up, cradling his partner gently in his arms.

Mama! Lan Qinyang’s voice was frantic in Wei WuXian’s head. What’s happening? Papa
said not to come, but he’s gone silent…the twins say he’s alive and A-Mei says his core is
undamaged and A-Syao says we need to gather some materials and wait for you here at
home, but…what should we do, Mama?

Mama, Wei Syaoran said, his voice calm. Trust me. Trust Papa. A-Mei will pick you up from
there when the time is right. We will wait for you at home. Have faith, Mama, and be strong.
Wei WuXian’s mind was too blank to form a response. His own face was pale as death and to
the onlookers, it appeared that he was standing out of sheer willpower and would be gone as
soon as his beloved HanGuang-Jun breathed his last. Many found themselves weeping at the
tragic image.

Unknown to Wei WuXian, the tide had turned in his favour completely.

Jin ZiXuan’s aura flared gold and white as he stood up. “Who threw that spear?” he asked
dangerously.

Lan XiChen, Jin GuangYao, Jiang Cheng, Wen Qing and Nie MingJue were by their side in
an instant, each of their auras burning brilliantly.

Nie MingJue, his aura crackling green and brown grabbed Jin ZiXun by the collar and held
him up. “You would dare to make an assassination attempt upon your own Sect Leader?” he
growled.

“It wasn’t me!” Jin ZiXun squeaked.

Lan XiChen, burning white and blue – almost blindingly bright – stepped next to Wei
WuXian and raised his unsmiling face and glowing eyes to Su She. “Master Su, what is the
meaning of this?” he asked softly, but his voice echoed around the now-silent hall, and a
shudder rippled through the masses.

Everyone knew ZeWu-Jun adored his little brother.

Wen Qing, glowing white and red, was before Wei WuXian, examining Lan WangJi with
gentle fingers.

“He’s alive, A-Xian,” she assured him, her voice gentle. “He has put himself in suspended
animation to counter the wound, the curse and the poison. We will administer the antidote
and dispel the curse once we return to YiLing. I will cast a healing net on him to deal with the
wound now.” She reached out and patted his hair, just like Jiang YanLi did. “Your precious
Lan Zhan will be fine, A-Xian.”

The fury in Wei WuXian’s red eyes abated a little and his relief was palpable. He told her
what Lan Qinyang and Wei Syaoran had told him. She nodded and remarked, “Excellent.
Then there is nothing to worry about. Ask A-Hui to get A-Ning there. He’ll help them with
the preparations.”

Wei WuXian nodded and relayed the information.

Wen Qing’s aura flared brighter and a red and white casket of light appeared around Lan
WangJi’s prone form. Her healing energy was blanketed by Wei WuXian’s red and black
protective barrier.

Jiang Cheng, surrounded by purple sparks and Zidian hissing dangerously in his hand, stood
on the other side of Wei WuXian protectively, as if daring anyone to approach his brother.
His eyes glowed eerily purple.
 Wen Qing finished her healing net and walked to Jiang Cheng’s side, her aura still glowing
bright. Jin ZiXuan walked to her side, his aura flaring as well.

On Wei WuXian’s other side, Lan XiChen still burned blindingly bright. Jin GuangYao stood
next to him, gold flames burning around his smaller form. Nie MingJue, dropped Jin ZiXun
and took his place by Jin GuangYao’s side, his green-brown aura still crackling menacingly.

Su She swallowed nervously as he looked upon the terrifying scene in front of him. The
YiLing Patriarch cradling the fallen HanGuang-Jun was bad enough by himself, but here he
was flanked by ZeWu-Jun, LianFang-Jun and ChiFeng-Zun on one side and Sandu Senshou,
LanlingJin Sect Leader and QishanWen Sect Leader on the other side. Any one of them alone
would be enough to raze this entire place to the ground…and all of them together, furious at
him…he trembled. Their intent had not been to hurt HanGuang-Jun. They had simply wanted
to remove the brainwashed and love-addled Jin ZiXuan as the Jin Sect Leader and replace
him with Jin ZiXun, who was more receptive to Jin GuangShan’s idea. To think that
HanGuang-Jun would sacrifice himself to save him…!

“Please explain, Master Su,” Jin GuangYao said pleasantly, but his aura was terrifying. How
had this weakling grown so powerful, Su She wondered.

Before he could reply, Xiao XingChen stepped forward with Xue Yang, two of Su She’s
minions and two of Jin ZiXun’s minions floating in a transparent bubble behind him.

“These are the culprits who launched the cursed spear,” Xiao XingChen said mildly, but his
usually twinkling eyes were dark with anger and his aura flashed silver. “They were clearly
following orders.”

“Now, what do you have to say for yourself, Master Su She and Master Jin ZiXun?” Xue
Yang asked and let out a laugh, but his young eyes were furious and silver and black sparks
crackled around him.

Chapter End Notes

I've been rather lazy...but I have a valid excuse - there are so many AMAZING fics in
this fandom that I got hooked on to, and I was too lost in reading those (rather
obsessively, I might add, whenever I caught a break from real life) to write my own. I'm
astounded by the creativity and brilliant plotting of so many fics and the sheer talent of
the writers! What a privilege it is, to be a part of this fandom...!
 Hiding in a hollow tree (come find me)
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

“Wei WuXian cursed me with Hundred Holes!” Jin ZiXun wailed.

“He didn’t,” Jin ZiXuan and Jiang Cheng snapped immediately.

“Why do you think A-Xian would do something like that?” Jin GuangYao asked pleasantly.

Jin ZiXun, thinking he had found a sympathetic ear amongst these scarily powerful people,
turned to him and said pitifully, “I don’t know, but he’s the only one capable of such villainy!
Save me, LianFang-Jun!”

“So, you are accusing A-Xian of cursing you without any inkling about the truth or any
proof?” Jin GuangYao asked, his voice still mild.

Jin ZiXun tore open his robes, exposing his chest. “Look at this! The caster also suffers some
backlash, doesn’t he? Wei WuXian will have them!”

“A-Xian?” Jin GuangYao turned to Wei WuXian with a raised eyebrow.

Wei WuXian’s eyes flashed and his robes flew open, exposing his unblemished chest. The
only mark was the ornate ‘Lan Zhan’, which glowed softly.

Murmurs broke out in the hall again.

“That’s the soul-mark!” a female cultivator cried. “How beautiful!”

Jin ZiXun had gone pale. “He’s the YiLing Patriarch! He’s probably found a way to prevent
the backlash!”

Six Sect Leaders glared at him.

“Shameless,” Nie MingJue boomed. “You’re still trying to implicate A-Xian when everyone
with eyes can see that he is innocent?”

Jin ZiXun glanced at Su She, whose face was the colour of sour milk by now.

Jin GuangYao narrowed his eyes as he observed the two of them. “It’s Su She,” he whispered
to his husband. “Lan Huan, can you make him trip so that his robes tear open?”

Lan XiChen nodded.

Su She, who had risen from his seat and was walking towards them, suddenly slipped and
fell. He stood up quickly, cheeks flaming with embarrassment, but his robes were torn and
there were gasps of horror at the sight of his bare chest, which showed the backlash from
Hundred Holes!

Su She glanced down and attempted to cover himself quickly, but the damage was already
done.

Jin ZiXun gaped at Su She. Then he let out a wild roar and launched himself at his co-
conspirator, brandishing his sword. All the men in Jin ZiXun’s faction, too, turned on Su
She’s minions, enraged at the betrayal.

As Su She and Jin ZiXun fought, Su She cried out to Lan XiChen for help. The GusuLan
Sect Leader, however, remained where he was.

“I didn’t want to!” Su She cried. “Former Sect Leader Jin made me! He said both Jin ZiXuan
and Jin GuangYao were useless and he would make you the Sect Leader, but you had to
prove yourself by taking out the YiLing Patriarch and getting rid of Jin ZiXuan!”

“I will dispel the curse by beheading you!” Jin ZiXun growled, attacking savagely. “You
made me betray my cousin!”

“You were eager enough to usurp the Sect Leader’s throne!” Su She shouted. “It’s not like I
had to force you to do anything!”

“We were supposed to be allies! Why did you curse me?!” Jin ZiXun yelled.

“Ask your dear dead uncle that! He made me cast the curse and then went and died in some
whore’s bed without teaching me how to dispel it! What was I supposed to do? I don’t want
this curse any more than you do!”

“As if I’d believe you now!” Jin ZiXun roared. “You wanted to make me do all the hard work
and then take over LanlingJin when I died from the curse!”

Su She’s eyes widened; he hadn’t expected the brawn-brained Jin ZiXun to figure it out!

Pandemonium had broken loose in the hall as Su She’s men and Jin ZiXun’s men fought
furiously, and many cultivators ran helter-skelter, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire.

“Stop them!” several minor leaders begged the powerful group that stood unmoving in the
middle of the hall, auras still blazing.

None of the six Sect Leaders moved, remaining protectively gathered around Wei WuXian
and Lan WangJi, and their disciples remained still as well, only moving to avoid debris or
weapons or energy. Only Jiang Cheng moved his wrist, using Zidian to destroy anything
which came near their group.

“Save us!” some more people pleaded. “We had nothing to do with this! We’re innocent
bystanders!”

“Weren’t you all too eager to gossip and spread rumours about my brother?” Jiang Cheng
thundered, his eyes crackling with purple sparks.
“We were wrong,” someone said quietly. “We never should have listened to the rumours. We
know the YiLing Patriarch has helped us in the past.”

“Damn right he did,” Jiang Cheng said, shattering a broken statue falling towards the
speaker’s head.

“A-Xian,” Lan XiChen asked quietly. “What do you want to do?”

Wei WuXian looked down at Lan WangJi’s prone form in his arms. “I don’t know, Big
brother,” he whispered brokenly.

Both Lan XiChen and Jiang Cheng lay a gentle hand on his shoulders from either side.

One of the men who had offered his daughter to Wei WuXian fell to his feet before them.
“Master Wei,” he begged. “Please, Master Wei, save us. We merely came to attend the
Discussion Conference, Master Wei. HanGuang-Jun would have helped us.”

Wei WuXian’s eyes flashed red and his soul-mark glowed.

The man trembled pitifully, and Jiang Cheng and Lan XiChen’s hands tightened on Wei
WuXian’s shoulders.

Wei WuXian turned at Jin GuangYao. “Brother Yao, what should we do?”

“Let us evacuate the unrelated parties,” Jin GuangYao told him. “Jiang Cheng, Wen Qing,
Xiao XingChen, please take your men and help with the evacuation. Everyone can go home,
we do not need to retain unrelated parties. If anyone has any useful information, let them
speak to Xiao XingChen and Xue Yang and write it down along with their name and sect
affiliation before they leave. Lan Huan, Eldest Brother, secure Su She and Jin ZiXun and let
GusuLan and QingheNie capture everyone that’s fighting. Brother ZiXuan, stay here with us.
Keep your men around you; we don’t want your LanlingJin group to get missed up with Jin
ZiXun’s. We will talk once the dust settles.”

Wei WuXian and the others nodded.

Jin GuangYao stepped forward and ruffled Wei WuXian’s hair affectionately. “Once you are
outside the barricade, take your man home. Lan Mei should be there in a few minutes. We
will take care of the mess here.”

“Barricade?” Wei WuXian asked, his eyes glowing red again.

“It appears that some sort of barrier has been put up around this area to prevent the Divine
Beasts from entering,” Lan XiChen said quietly. “It does not affect us humans.”

Jin GuangYao nodded. “Lan Mei tried to come right away when WangJi was injured, but she
was blocked.”

“But A-Syao…he said we have to wait for the right time…” Wei WuXian muttered.
“The kids were trying to figure out what the barrier was, and you were already out of it,”
Jiang Cheng said quietly. “Come, let’s go.”

Wei WuXian’s aura flickered alarmingly. Before he could lash out, though, the doors flew
open and everyone froze at the sight.

The divine beasts entered in their mid-level forms (about ten times of human size), each
glowing brightly, and immediately rushed to their parents. Behind them, Wen RuoHan and
Song Lan, glowing red and silver respectively, led the Four Fiends, who were also in a size
similar to the Divine Beasts.

“You said you had sealed them! Liar!” Su She cried.

The Four Fiends snarled at him and he stepped back, terrified.

“Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi did seal two of them,” Song Lan said, his voice monotonous,
but echoing through the silent hall. “Elder Wen and I released them to break the barricade
around this area.”

Wen RuoHan smiled at Wei WuXian. “The barricade was laid down using blood of the Four
Fiends,” he explained. “It could only be broken by them.” He turned to Su She. “Now why
would Master Su wish to prevent the Divine Beasts from entering this area?” he asked
pleasantly, but his eyes were cold.

Su She swallowed nervously. “We didn’t want the YiLing Patriarch to harm us using the
Divine Beasts.”

“Lies!” Wei Shuang yelled. “You and that rat bastard bled us half to death as soon as we had
hatched so you could use our blood against the Si Xiang!”

Wei WuXian’s aura crackled and his eyes flashed. He bit his finger and drew the ‘truth’
character in the air with his blood and shoved it at Su She. The character caught fire as it
embedded itself in Su She’s robes.

Xiao XingChen watched the process with wide eyes. “Shijie…” he murmured helplessly as
murmurs about BaoShan SanRen’s truth spell broke out.

“Speak,” Wei WuXian commanded, his voice cold as ice.

Su She opened his mouth to speak and began his confessions. As soon as he stopped, Jin
ZiXun began his own admissions voluntarily, terrified of being hit by the infamous truth
spell.

Wei Liang hurried to Wei WuXian. “Uncle Wei,” he said urgently. “Our remaining brothers
have also taken the oath not to harm humans unless attacked. Would you name them, too?”

Go on, Mama. Wei Syaoran told him. Big brothers are already healing Papa, and Big sisters
are dispelling the curse. We witnessed the sacred oath; they are fine.
Wei Liang and Wei Shuang looked so hopeful, even in their fiend forms, that Wei WuXian
felt his lips tug into a smile. He touched the Tao Tie’s head. “Wei Xiang,” he said. Then he
reached out to the Hun Dun and said, “Wei Huang.”

The Si Xiong bowed respectfully. “Uncle Wei,” they said together.

“Why can you guys speak to everyone even in this form?” Jiang Cheng asked curiously.

The newly named Wei Xiang smirked. “Because everyone possesses the negative qualities
we represent. The Si Xiang’s voices are limited to one pure person, which may very rarely
extend to two pure persons that resonate with their characteristics.”

Wei WuXian frowned.

Stupid Mama, you and Papa are bonded, so we treat you as one unit. Our uncles are the
second. Lan Qinyang told him before he could open his mouth.

Wei WuXian’s exposed soul-mark glowed warmly, and many eyes were drawn to his chest.
Several sighs were heard, too.

Lan XiChen cleared his throat delicately. “A-Xian, perhaps you should fix your robes?”

Wei WuXian blushed slightly and fixed his robes quickly. Lan Zhan could be a bit of a
vinegar jug when other people saw his bare skin, he thought fondly…not that he could blame
him. He wouldn’t want other people to see Lan Zhan’s pearly beauty glowing in the
moonlight, either; just his face was beautiful enough to draw so much attention, if others saw
the rest of him, they would eat him up!

Mama! Lan Mei’s panicked voice rang out suddenly. Papa’s core is getting corrupted!

All colour left Wei WuXian’s face.

This should not have happened, Wei Syaoran said. The shocked look on the tiger’s face made
Wei WuXian’s blood freeze.

We need to go home. Right now. Wei KanghuiNing said.

Wei AoJiang and Lan Qinyang quickly spoke to Jiang Cheng and Lan XiChen,

“Go,” Jiang Cheng said immediately. “We’ll handle it here. We have the Venerated Triad and
all the Sect Leaders, brother. Go and save your heart.”

Lan XiChen nodded and gave him a light push. “Take of my little brother, A-Xian.”

Wen RuoHan glanced at Wei WuXian’s pale visage and terrifying aura and more or less
guessed what happened. The boy only had this face when his soulmate was in danger.

“Song Lan and I will take care of the Si Xiong as long as you wish, young SanRen blood,” he
said gently.
 Song Lan and Xiao XingChen nodded immediately.

Wei WuXian nodded absently and whirled upon Su She and Jin ZiXun.

“If something happens to my Lan Zhan, I swear the two of you will spend every day of the
rest of your life wishing you were dead,” he snarled, his eyes flashing.

The two men fell over, trembling in fear, nearly wetting themselves.

Lan Mei flapped her magnificent wings and the Divine Beasts, Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi
were gone in a flash of vermillion.

“Now, then,” Jin ZiXuan said, as he advanced towards them menacingly. “I think A-Xian is
just too kind, letting you off with a mere warning.” He turned to Jin GuangYao. “Brother,
what would you have us do?”

Jin GuangYao’s eyes flashed and the two men felt their hearts stop. Su She looked at Lan
XiChen for help, hoping the gentle First Jade could mitigate the danger to him somehow, bue
squeaked at the bleak look in ZeWu-Jun’s eyes. Even the YiLing Patriarch had never felt so
dangerous! Jin ZiXun looked up at Nie MingJue, hoping to gain some respite since the man
was neither related to Wei WuXian nor Lan WangJi directly, but the fire in ChiFeng-Jun’s
eyes burnt the words in his throat before he could utter them.

Jiang Cheng and Wen Qing moved quickly, gathering Wen RuoHan, Xiao XingChen, Song
Lan and Xue Yang’s help, and evacuated the hall. When the last of the cultivators flew away,
Wen RuoHan took Wei Liang and Wei Shuang back to the Nightless City and Song Lan left
with Wei Xiang and Wei Huang.

“I shall inform Jiang FengMian and QingHeng-Jun and accompany them to YiLing,” Xiao
XingChen offered. “Xue Yang can take charge of our sect members and help you here.”

Jiang Cheng and Wen Qing nodded gratefully and made their way back to the hall.

Chapter End Notes

So, I went and opened a Tumblr

account...https://www.tumblr.com/blog/jaywalkerholmes

I have no idea how to use the thing, but I did type in "Mo Dao Zu Shi" and saw some
incredible artwork. I'd be very grateful for any help!
 I know you hear me...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

"Give him my original core, A-Ao," Wei WuXian said. "That'll boost his and expel the
corruption, right?"

Wei AoJiang shook his head. "The corruption isn't from today's injuries, Mama."

“Between Aunt Qing and us, we have already reversed all the damage from today,” Wei
KanghuiNing said.

Lan Mei said pitifully, "I couldn't sense it earlier...Papa must have hidden it. But this is not
recent, Mama. It has been there for at least a few months...maybe even years. Papa must have
been able to suppress it for a while. He may not have realised it himself for some time. But
for it to be like this...he must have known for at least some weeks and hidden it."

Wei WuXian resisted his urge to bang his head against the walls. How could he not have
noticed it? How long had his Lan Zhan been suffering by himself?

“How do we fix it?” he whispered. He fell to the floor and curled up miserably.

The Divine Beasts, all of whom were in their human forms, exchanged a look.

“I can do it,” Wei KanghuiNing said quietly. “I am the only one who can without breaking
the Si Xiang.”

“No,” all his siblings cried.

Wei KanghuiNing ignored them. “Mama,” he said softly, kneeling next to Wei WuXian and
putting an arm around his shoulders. “I will do it, Mama.”

“No! We won’t let you sacrifice yourself, A-Hui!” Lan Qinyang cried.

Wei WuXian looked at his children. “What do you mean?”

“I am an extra to the Xuanwu, Mama,” Wei KanghuiNing explained. “I don’t always need to
be there for the Si Xiang. So, I can transfer the Xuanwu energy to A-Ao, pull out Papa’s
corruption, infuse it with my soul and scatter it. That way, the power of the Si Xiang will not
be affected, and Papa’s core will be pure again.”

Wei WuXian stared at him blankly for a long moment, and then he burst out laughing. Tears
poured down his face as he giggled manically.

“He’s hysterical,” Wei AoJiang observed. “Congratulations, brother. You broke Mama,” he
spat at Wei KanghuiNing.
Wei KanghuiNing was paler than ever as he grabbed Wei WuXian’s shoulders and shook
him. “Mama! Get a grip!”

His words fell on deaf ears. Wei WuXian laughed hysterically for a full minute and then
keeled over.

---

Wei WuXian woke up to the twins poring anxiously over him. Wei Syaoran thrust a cup of
water at him.

“Thanks, A-Syao,” Wei WuXian said, drinking it all in a gulp. Then he grabbed Wei
KanghuiNing’s collar, pulled him across his lap and landed two hard smacks on the boy’s
bum.

“Ow! It hurts! Mama! What’s that for?! You can’t do that to a Divine Beast!” Wei
KanghuiNing cried.

“You’re my son before you’re a Divine Beast!” Wei WuXian thundered. “Be glad I’m the one
punishing you! If it was your Papa, you’d be grounded for years!”

Wei KanghuiNing stared at him dolefully.

Wei WuXian hugged him tightly. “Don’t ever say such terrible things again, A-Hui,” he
whispered. “I can’t bear to lose any of my babies.”

“Yes, Mama.”

Parent and child sniffled for a moment and then wiped their faces on their sleeves.

Wei WuXian sat up straighter and eyed the five children. “So, the corruption can be
extracted?” he asked.

“Yes,” Wei AoJiang said.

“But not by cultivators. It’d corrupt the core of the one that pulled it out,” Lan Mei said.

“What is this corruption?” Wei WuXian asked. “Is it negative energy?”

Lan Qinyang pursed her lips. “Calling it negative energy would be like calling a volcano a
little hot.”

“If it’s that bad, how did Lan Zhan manage to suppress and hide it for so long?”

“Probably because he’s such a pure soul…and perhaps your soul-bond helped,” Wei Syaoran
mused. “Papa is more or less incorruptible, I guess, to have put up with it. A normal
cultivator would suffer a Qi deviation within an hour. To suppress it…and to hide it away…
Papa is truly exceptional.”
“Of course,” Wei WuXian said with a smile. “What happens if I extract it and merge it with
my red core?”

“It would ruin both your golden cores the moment it touches you, Mama,” Wei AoJiang said.

Wei WuXian rubbed his chin. “But it’ll merge with my red core?”

“It will,” Lan Mei said. “It will merge and make your red core insanely powerful. But it will
destroy your golden cores before it gets to your red core, Mama, and you won’t be able to
control it without your golden cores. In fact, you’ll have to unseal your second golden core
and use the power of both if you have to have any hope of controlling it.”

“The soul-bond will help with the control, especially since Papa managed to control it for so
long,” Wei Syaoran said thoughtfully.

“So, if I extracted both my golden cores, pulled out the corruption from Lan Zhan and
merged it with my red core and then Lan Mei put the golden cores back, it will work?”

The Divine Beasts fell silent.

“It should,” Lan Qinyang said finally.

“But you’ll need Papa to be awake and helping you to regain control,” Wei KanghuiNing
said.

“We’ll help you, of course,” Lan Mei said. “That will help you stabilise a bit.”

“But we definitely need Papa to be awakened first,” Wei AoJiang said.

“Let me help with that,” a gentle voice spoke from the doorway.

Wei WuXian looked up. “Father-in-law? How long have you been there?”

QingHeng-Jun walked in and hugged everyone. “Long enough, child,” he told Wei WuXian.
“I take it that my foolish son has been hiding a corruption strand in his core?”

“You knew?!” Wei WuXian cried.

QingHeng-Jun nodded. “He was able to successfully suppress it earlier,” he said. “And he
begged me not to tell you, since he had already overcome the issue. I did not expect it to
return…”

“Is that why you gave him all those lessons and even called in a foreign master for him?” Wei
WuXian asked. “It wasn’t just to separate us to cool our heads, was it?”

QingHeng-Jun smiled slightly. “What a perceptive child you are. A-Zhan had successfully
suppressed it by the time my lessons ended. The foreign master was just a precaution; even
A-Zhan does not know about that.”
“Grandfather,” Lan Qinyang said seriously. “You guys really need to talk properly with each
other.”

QingHeng-Jun chuckled. “Yes, my dear.” He looked away. “I wish my son had not inherited
his mother’s ability…”

Wei WuXian sighed tiredly. “Is his foresight the source of the corruption?” he asked.

“Yes and no,” QingHeng-Jun said. “I would not deem it to be the source, but the foresight
makes him susceptible enough to allow the corruption to fester. If he did not have this ability,
he would be completely incorruptible.”

“What is the source, then?”

“More trauma than his heart could bear.”

Wei WuXian’s eyes widened in shock. “Do you mean to say that Lan Zhan was infected from
when we transmigrated to this reality?!”

QingHeng-Jun nodded unhappily. “He was able to suppress it most of the time, thanks to
your affection and support, A-Xian. I do not believe he knew it himself, or that anyone even
imagined it could be something like a corruption until that incident. I suspected it then, and
on speaking further with A-Zhan, I was sure of it. So, we worked to suppress it permanently.”

“Why has it returned now?!” Wei WuXian cried.

QingHeng-Jun shrugged. “I do not know, child.”

“So, every time Papa has acted out of character or seemed unstable…it was the corruption?”
Lan Qinyang asked.

“Has he been unstable? For how long?” QingHeng-Jun asked urgently.

“Only a few isolated incidents, but he always recovered immediately,” Wei AoJiang said.

“So, that time with the barrier…” Wei Syaoran mulled. “We should have noticed it
immediately. Papa would never hurt Mama.”

QingHeng-Jun went pale. “A-Zhan hurt A-Xian?” he asked fearfully.

“Not really,” Wei WuXian said, thinking back to the night they gathered the Si Xiong. “He
put up a barrier to save me. But he did lose control for a moment.”

“Have there been similar incidents? Even small, barely noticeable ones?” QingHeng-Jun
demanded.

Wei WuXian and the Divine Beasts thought hard about their recent life.

“Yes,” Wei WuXian said finally in a small voice. “I’m sorry, Father-in-law. I’ve failed Lan
Zhan. I should have noticed.”
 “Mama is only human, but I should definitely have seen through it!” Wei Syaoran snapped,
frustrated. “How did Papa manage to hide it from me?!” he roared.

QingHeng-Jun held up a hand. “Stop blaming yourselves,” he said firmly. “None of you are
at fault.” He sighed, his brow troubled. “If A-Zhan is acting out of character, we need to
extract the corruption immediately.” He looked at the Divine Beasts. “Are you confident A-
Xian’s plan will work?”

“We will help Mama every step of the way, Grandfather,” Lan Qingyang promised. “We will
protect them both.”

“Thank you, my dear,” QingHeng-Jun. His eyes returned to Wei WuXian. “Shall I awaken
my son now?”

Wei WuXian nodded.

QingHeng-Jun touched Lan WangJi’s forehead and a silver-blue glow enveloped them both.
Lan WangJi opened his eyes blearily.

“Father?” he murmured, confused.

QingHeng-Jun stroked his hair with gentle fingers. “How do you feel, A-Zhan?”

“Fine.”

Wei WuXian made a choked sound. Two sets of golden eyes turned to him.

“You played me for a fool for so long, Lan Zhan,” Wei WuXian accused, his voice soft.

Lan WangJi frowned.

“Listen to the babies and help me, Lan Zhan,” Wei WuXian said, his eyes glowing red.

“Wei Ying, what…?”

“If you want me back, if you want to marry me and have me spend my life with you, Lan
Zhan, you have to help me,” Wei WuXian hissed and a red bubble enveloped him.

“Wei Ying!”

Chapter End Notes

More of an explanatory chapter than anything...but some of you already figured out
what was happening many chapters ago...
And there's beautiful, BEAUTIFUL artwork by the amazing Treef (it's actually a scene
from "My Immortal") here: https://aelireen.tumblr.com/image/180286792758
 I can taste it in your tears...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Wei WuXian's plan worked rather smoothly under QingHeng-Jun's supervision and with a lot
of help from the Divine Beasts. Lan WangJi was quickly briefed, with Wei AoJiang raining
sedative-laced bubbles upon his Papa to calm him down.

"It won't work if you don't cooperate, Papa," Wei Syaoran warned. "Clear your head and help
Mama and us to fix this."

"You can't afford to deal with it alone anymore," Lan Qinyang warned.

Lan WangJi nodded wordlessly as he watched his partner.

Sealing himself in his red bubble, Wei WuXian extracted his two golden cores and Lan Mei
took custody of them immediately. She unsealed the second core as well. Then Wei WuXian
dissolved the bubble and reached out to Lan WangJi, putting his hand over the other boy's
heart. Slowly, carefully, he pulled out a rather volatile-looking strand of the writhing black
corruption from Lan WangJi's core. Lan Qinyang and Wei Syaoran helped with the
extraction. As soon as the strand was out, Wei WuXian sealed himself in the red bubble again
and infused the black strand with his own red core. There was a blinding flash of red light
and Wei WuXian fell to the floor semi-conscious, the red bubble dissipating. Lan
WangJi stepped forward and took Wei WuXian into his arms, their soul-marks glowing
brightly as he desperately poured his energy into his partner. Lan Mei quickly returned the
two golden cores to Wei WuXian's body, both glowing brighter than usual with her additional
power. Wei AoJiang and Wei KanghuiNing helped Wei WuXian stabilise his cores until the
merger was complete and the black strand dissolved slowly into the red. There was another
flash of red light tinged with black, and Lan WangJi furrowed his brow and pulled Wei
WuXian closer, pouring more energy into him. Their bodies were enveloped in a soft pink
light and their soul-marks shone brighter than ever before. The Divine Beasts gathered
around their parents, adding their own energy as well.

The pink light grew brighter and brighter until it exploded. Wei WuXian went limp in Lan
WangJi's arms, and a moment later, Lan WangJi keeled over as well.

---

“Wei Ying!” Lan WangJi cried frantically.

He was met with silence.

Lan WangJi looked around and found himself in a desolate, deserted place. The sun beat
down mercilessly upon his fair countenance, and as far as his eyes could see, he was
surrounded by dark rocks and fine sand. The barren lands had a sort of bleak beauty to it,
though.
Is this Wei Ying’s psyche? He wondered.

He eyed his surroundings again and spotted a large water body near the horizon. Wondering
if it was a real lake or just a mirage, he decided he would check it out. There was nothing
else to do anyway. Absently, he reached for Bichen and found nothing. It was then that he
realised that his robes were a flowing black. Alarmed, and in the absence of any reflective
surface, he felt his face with his fingers, relieved to find his own familiar features. He lifted
his collar and nearly cried in relief as he saw the familiar, ornate ‘Wei Ying’, glowing softly.
He closed his eyes and checked his spiritual energy…it was normal. Enhanced, even. But he
had neither his sword nor his zither.

Resigning himself to a long, long walk, he trudged through the sand at a steady pace.
However, no matter how much he walked, the water remained at the horizon, as if mocking
him. He sighed…it was a mirage after all.

A small sound caught his attention. He turned in its direction and saw a small figure
crouching, half-hidden by a large rock. He quickly made his way towards the boy.

The child appeared to be around four or five years of age. His clothes were dirty, tattered and
torn, revealing bruises and scratches on his skin. His thin shoulders shook as he sobbed, and
his face was hidden in his arms, his knees pulled to his chest.

Lan WangJi’s heart clenched. He didn’t need to see the face of the boy to know who he was.
He would recognise him anywhere.

“Wei Ying,” he called softly, not wanting to startle the upset child.

The boy looked up, his face bruised and battered. He let out a terrified squeak and scrambled
to get away from Lan WangJi.

Lan WangJi felt his heart break. He knelt in the sand and held out his hand. “I’m not here to
harm you, Wei Ying,” he said gently.

The child stared at him with haunted eyes. “Who are you?”

“You know who I am, my love. Do you not recognise me? I am your Lan Zhan,” Lan WangJi
said softly.

The child scooted closer, curious. “My Lan Zhan? You belong to me?”

“Yes.”

The child touched his hand gingerly, as if fearing he was not real. Lan WangJi remained still
and let him explore as the boy’s fingers crept up his arm.

Satisfied that the arm was solid, the child pouted. “Take me away from his horrible place, my
beautiful Lan Zhan!” he commanded, holding out his arms.

With a small smile, Lan WangJi picked up the child and settled him at his waist, cradling him
as if he was the most precious thing in the world. The child burrowed his head on his
shoulder.

Lan WangJi’s robes faded into a shade of grey and the scenery changed.

Lan WangJi found himself in a dungeon, his arms empty. He shivered. It was horribly cold
and dark, and there was only the sound of rattling chains to lead him. He followed the eerie
sound and came upon a prison-like space. A battered figure of a teenaged boy hung from a
wall, rattling his chains. His face was hidden by his long hair.

“Wei Ying…” Lan WangJi cried softly, rushing to the boy. He pulled at the chains
desperately, trying to free his beloved.

The figure lifted his head and red eyes bored into his. “Who are you? Why are you here?” he
spat, even as blood trickled from his lips.

“I am your Lan Zhan, my love. Do you not know me? I am here to help you,” Lan WangJi
told him, finally managing to pull off the chains. He caught the boy as he fell and stroked his
hair tenderly. “Wei Ying…” he whispered.

The boy peered at his face, the red glow fading from his eyes. “You’re too beautiful to be
true,” he said, reaching a hand and touching Lan WangJi’s face with nimble fingers. “Are
you my guardian angel?”

“I am whatever you want me to be, Wei Ying,” Lan WangJi said, and kissed the boy’s
forehead.

The boy smiled and the scene changed again and Lan WangJi’s robes faded further.

This time, Lan WangJi was underwater. Wei WuXian of current age floated in front of him, as
if lifeless. Without pausing to think about it, Lan WangJi grabbed him and swam up with
powerful strokes. When they broke through the surface of the water, Wei WuXian opened his
eyes and frowned at him.

“Lan Zhan? Why are you here?” His eyes widened in horror. “No, no, Lan Zhan, you mustn’t
be here! This is not a place for you! It is cursed! You must escape!”

Lan WangJi pulled his hysterical partner into a hug until he fell silent. Then he kissed him
thoroughly and said, “Wei Ying. We will escape together.”

The young man’s lifeless eyes regained some fire. “My beautiful Lan Zhan, my knight in
shining armour…you’re always rescuing me, aren’t you?”

“You’re always rescuing me, too, my love,” Lan WangJi replied and kissed him again.
“You’re coming with me, aren’t you?”

Wei WuXian smiled at him and nodded.

Lan WangJi’s robes flashed white and his surroundings fell away.

---
Lan WangJi opened his eyes, blinking slowly as the real world came into focus again.

"We did it, Papa," Lan Mei chirped happily. She quickly examined Lan WangJi and Wei
WuXian. "Your golden core is completely purified! The corruption is gone and Mama's red
core is now several times more powerful than before."

"And perfectly under control, too," Wei AoJiang said. "Impressive."

"You two are amazing," Wei KanghuiNing said. "And us, of course. We help you be even
more amazing than you are!"

"Seriously," Lan Qinyang said. "I've never seen humans capable of such miraculous
achievements before. We chose our parents really well."

But Lan WangJi barely listened to them, all his attention focused on the unmoving figure of
Wei WuXian. He took the prone form in his arms and whispered, “Wake up, Wei Ying. It’s all
right now. Wake up.”

There was no response.

“Why won’t he wake up?” Lan WangJi cried softly as tears dripped down his face. “He said
he was coming with me…”

Wei KanghuiNing transformed and wrapped himself around Wei WuXian’s arm as he
checked his vitals.

“Mama is fine,” he said.

“His cores are fine, too. All stable. The corruption is destroyed,” Lan Mei said.

Lan Qinyang and Wei AoJiang examined him, too.

“His energy is fine – a bit stronger than before. No taints,” Lan Qinyang declared.

“He’s just sleeping, Papa,” Wei AoJiang said.

Wei Syaoran transformed and nudged Lan WangJi with his massive, furry head. “Mama will
wake up soon. Don’t worry. Everything is fine now.”

Lan WangJi finally raised his tear-stained face. “He will?”

“Yes,” the five Divine Beasts said firmly.

QingHeng-Jun silently handed his son a wet towel to wipe his face.

Everyone waited patiently until Lan WangJi regained his composure.

“Thank you,” he said softly.

“Idiot Papa,” Lan Qinyang scolded immediately. “What the bloody hell were you thinking?”
“Language, my dear,” QingHeng-Jun said mildly. He turned strict eyes upon his son.
“Though, I too, would like an answer to that.”

Lan WangJi bowed his head and refused to look up.

“He was probably not thinking at all,” Wei AoJiang said. “So much so for being Mama’s
voice of reason.”

“Why did you hide it, Papa?” Lan Mei asked plaintively.

“You even hid it from me…from me!” Wei Syaoran growled.

“Did you think you could suppress it forever?” Wei KanghuiNing asked. “I mean, I know it’s
super-impressive that you suppressed it completely once before and managed to keep it under
wraps…”

“Even if you wished to keep it from A-Xian, why did you hide it from me, A-Zhan? I helped
you suppress it before, I would have gladly done so again! So, why, A-Zhan?” QingHeng-Jun
demanded.

“I did not want to be separated from Wei Ying,” Lan WangJi said in a small voice.

QingHeng-Jun reeled, feeling as though he had been punched in the gut. Then he knelt next
to his younger son and grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to look at him.

“A-Zhan,” he said solemnly. “I will never separate you from A-Xian again, no matter what. I
promise you that. Do you understand?”

Lan WangJi nodded slowly.

Then QingHeng-Jun slapped him hard. Lan WangJi closed his eyes stoically, expecting
another slap. When none came, he opened his eyes and found his father staring furiously at
him.

“You idiot child, do you even know the consequences of corruption? Do you know it destroys
your golden core? What did you think would happen when your golden core was gone? Your
lifespan would have been reduced to less than thirty! Did you imagine your untimely death
would not separate you and Wei Ying, you fool?” QingHeng-Jun scolded, his voice rising.

Lan WangJi remained silent. He had known all of this. He had been trying his best to control
the corruption, and he was successful most of the time, but he couldn’t deny the risks. How
ironic, he thought, thinking back to his partner’s first life, when he had constantly warned
Wei WuXian about dangers of demonic cultivation and loss of control. And here he was,
trying to do the same thing himself.

QingHeng-Jun sighed, his exhaustion bone-deep. “Do you know what caused the relapse?”

Lan WangJi shook his head.

“Idiot Papa,” Lan Qinyang said again. “We know you are capable of disintegrating heart-
shadows and soul-shadows by yourself. But when they start to coalesce into a corruption, you
have to seek help. I can’t believe you hid it from us. You’re worse than Mama.”

Lan WangJi merely nodded, offering no excuse.

“You are not alone, Papa, and you won’t go alone, either. You do remember that, don’t you?”
Wei Syaoran asked.

Silent tears dripped down Lan WangJi’s face and he pulled Wei WuXian closer.

Sighing, Wei Syaoran curled his furry form around his parents protectively and purred. Lan
Mei transformed as well and rubbed her head against Lan WangJi’s uninjured cheek. The
other bloomed with QingHeng-Jun’s handprint.

Wei KanghuiNing, who hadn’t moved from Wei WuXian’s arm, unravelled himself a little
and rubbed his tail gently on his Papa’s hand.

Lan Qinyang and Wei AoJiang transformed as well and cuddled up.

QingHeng-Jun stroked his son’s hair until his tears stopped and produced a wet towel again.

After some time, Lan Qinyang and Wei AoJiang detached themselves and changed into their
human forms.

“Uncles are here,” Lan Qinyang said. She tugged at Lan WangJi’s arm. “Come on, we should
find out what happened.”

“Don’t worry about Mama, he’ll be fine,” Wei AoJiang said.

“I’ll stay with Mama,” Wei KanghuiNing volunteered. “You guys go ahead. I’ll let you know
immediately if he stirs.”

Reluctantly, Lan WangJi allowed himself to be pulled away.

---

The Venerated Triad, Jiang Cheng, Jin ZiXuan and Wen Qing had arrived. Nie HuaiSang, Qin
Su and Jiang YanLi had already served them tea. All the babies were napping nearby.

Lan WangJi was brought up to speed on everything that happened after he fell.

“Father took the captured men to Yunmeng,” Jiang Cheng said. “The contingents from
YunmengJiang, QishanWen and Qinghe Nie accompanied them to help out.” He looked at
QingHeng-Jun and inclined his head. “That was a very good idea.”

When Xiao XingChen had picked up Jiang FengMian and gone to QingHeng-Jun, the latter
had suggested that the two of them head to the Discussion Conference and arrange for
transportation of the prisoners. Jin ZiXun and Su She may have lingering sympathisers in
LanlingJin and GusuLan, and QishanWen and Xiao XingChen’s sect was already looking
after the Si Xiong. So the prisoners could only be housed at either YunmengJiang or
QingheNie.

It made a lot of sense, so Xiao XingChen and Jiang FengMian had done just that. Xiao
XingChen and Xue Yang returned with their men to see if Song Lan needed help. Having two
of the Four Fiends must be difficult for the uptight man.

Nie MingJue had boomed with laughter and told Jiang FengMian that the captured men were
all his, for there was no one scarier than the Violet Spider when she was really angry, not
even him.

Jiang Cheng had smirked proudly, and Jin ZiXun, Wen Qing and Jin GuangYao had agreed
wholeheartedly.

Hearing this, most of the restrained men who were still conscious, had fainted promptly.

Hence, Su She, Jin ZiXun and their minions were now languishing in the deepest, darkest
dungeons of YunmengJiang under the stern eyes of Madame Yu, quaking with terror, and
praying their punishment would be determined soon so that they could get away from her!

---

Mama is stirring, he should wake up in a few minutes. Wei KanghuiNing spoke in Lan
WangJi’s head.

The Second Jade of GusuLan stood up, bowed to his guests and hurried away. Wei Syaoran
and Lan Mei accompanied him, while Lan Qinyang and Wei AoJiang remained behind to
update their aunts and uncles about what had happened. They could not speak about Wei
WuXian having three cores, so they glossed over that (with some help in misdirection from
QingHeng-Jun since the Si Xiang could not lie outright), but more or less relayed the event.
What had happened in Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi’s minds while they were unconscious
was anyone’s guess, for they knew that it was highly unlikely the soulmates would every
reveal that.

---

Wei Syaoran and Lan Mei had updated their Papa on what had happened with Wei
KanghuiNing as they walked back to Wei WuXian’s room. As a result, Lan WangJi was
visibly angry when the three of them entered the room.

Wei KanghuiNing looked up at them with a smile but froze when he saw Lan WangJi’s
expression.

“You told him,” he accused his younger siblings.

“Of course,” Lan Mei said.

Wei Syaoran added smarmily, “We can’t have Mama and Papa’s stupidity affecting you as
well.”
“They did well,” Lan WangJi said, patting their heads. He fixed a stern gaze at Wei
KanghuiNing and the boy fidgeted uncomfortably.

“Mama already punished me, though,” he said in a small voice.

“And in light of that, I will only ground you for a week and restrict your favourite snacks for
a fortnight,” Lan WangJi said flatly.

Wei KanghuiNing looked ready to cry. “But Papa…”

Lan WangJi grabbed the boy and crushed him to his chest, just like Wei WuXian had done
earlier that day. “Do not ever speak of yourself as expendable, son,” he said quietly. “You are
irreplaceable to us. Nothing in this world is worth sacrificing our child.”

Wei KanghuiNing closed his eyes and rested his head on his Papa’s broad chest. “Yes, Papa,”
he said softly. He turned to his younger siblings and dragged them away, saying, “Come on,
then. Mama and Papa need to sort things out privately, I’m sure.”

Lan WangJi took a deep breath and knelt on the floor by the bed. He leaned over and pressed
his lips to Wei WuXian’s brow in a tender kiss.

“Wake up, Wei Ying,” he begged, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Wei WuXian’s eyes snapped open. “Lan Zhan…?”

“I’m here,” Lan WangJi said.

Wei WuXian smiled up at the beloved face looming over him before recalling the events of
the day. He sat up abruptly, his eyes burning with fury, accidentally knocking Lan WangJi’s
right on the nose.

Lan WangJi retreated silently and knelt, not even bothering to tend to his bleeding nose.

Wei WuXian eyed his partner, a twinge of guilt assailing his heart. He hadn’t meant to hurt
Lan WangJi. His eyes narrowed at the handprint-shaped bruise on Lan WangJi’s cheek.

“Who slapped you?” he asked.

“Father,” Lan WangJi replied, his head bowed.

Wei WuXian’s eyebrows went comically high. “What else?” he asked immediately, knowing
how the Lans were about punishments. If QingHeng-Jun had seriously injured Lan WangJi…
his eyes glowed red.

“He shouted at me. The babies scolded me, too,” Lan WangJi said meekly, without looking
up.

The red glow faded from Wei WuXian’s eyes. So, even Father-in-law can shout, huh, he
thought to himself with a slight smile.
Lan WangJi remained kneeling submissively, his head bowed.

Wei WuXian felt his heart clench at the sight. It was so wrong. Lan WangJi should be soaring
the skies, looking down on mere mortals…he shook his head and hardened his heart. He
really needed to knock some sense into his soulmate.

“I am sorry, Wei Ying,” Lan WangJi said quietly. “It was wrong of me to hide things from
you.”

Wei WuXian felt his anger deflate. “Why, Lan Zhan? Am I still so unreliable for you?”

“No!” Lan WangJi’ head snapped up.

The sight of the bruised face made Wei WuXian feel worse than ever. “Then why?” he cried
softly.

Lan WangJi bowed his head again and remained silent.

Wei WuXian sighed tiredly. “I swear, Lan Zhan, you make me want to throw you over my
knee and smack your bottom like I did with A-Hui earlier today.”

Wordlessly, obediently, Lan WangJi stood up and lay himself on his stomach on Wei
WuXian’s lap, clearly offering his bottom for punishment.

Wei WuXian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. After a long, long moment of indecision,
he pulled up Lan WangJi and made him sit on the bed. Then he sprang from the bed and
paced on the floor, yelling at his partner until he lost his voice.

Lan WangJi listened to him silently, his head bowed and his shoulders drooping.

“I am sorry,” he whispered again, when Wei WuXian had shouted himself hoarse.

“No ‘everyday’ for a month,” Wei WuXian declared hoarsely. “That’s your punishment.”

Lan WangJi’s head snapped up at that and the look on his face was so tragic that Wei WuXian
sighed.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Wei WuXian said. “It’s not that bad of a punishment. If I could
bear to be parted from you, I’d have refused to see your beautiful face for a month instead.”

Golden eyes brimmed and Wei WuXian’s stomach churned with guilt, as if he had kicked a
small, defenceless animal. He sighed again.

“Look, Lan Zhan, it’s as difficult for me as it is for you, all right? Put up with it this time, so
that you’ll think a million times before you do something this idiotic again.”

Lan WangJi bowed his head again, “Mmm.” He rose from the bed and knelt before Wei
WuXian again, taking his hand and pressing a gentle kiss upon his palm.

“Kissing is forbidden,” Wei WuXian said in a monotone. “No touching.”

 Tears dripped down Lan WangJi’s bruised face as he stared at Wei WuXian with wounded
eyes.

Wei WuXian sighed and relented. “All right, hugs and touches are fine – but no kissing and
no heated contact, all right?” He shook his head. “Look at us now…it was always you saying
these things. See, Lan-er-gege, this is how I used to feel when you’d say things like ‘Alcohol
is forbidden’ and ‘No swearing’ and all those stupid rules back in the Cloud Recesses.”

Lan WangJi bit his lip and nodded.

Wei WuXian knelt, too, and cupped his partner’s uninjured cheek tenderly. A pink glow
surrounded them and Lan WangJi’s face healed as their soul-marks glowed.

“There’s my beautiful Lan Zhan,” Wei WuXian said softly and wiped away the tears from his
beloved’s face with infinitely gentle fingers.

“Don’t scare me like that again, Lan Zhan. I thought my heart would stop beating…but you
said you won’t die, and I believed you.”

“Thank you,” Lan WangJi said quietly. “And thank you for saving me, too.”

Wei WuXian laughed brokenly. “You’re my life, Lan Zhan. I just saved my own.” He looked
up, and mercurial eyes met gold. “But promise me, Lan Zhan. Promise me you won’t hide
things like this ever again. Even if you can’t share your troubles with me for some reason, at
least seek help from others who can help out. Please, my love. Promise me this much.”

“I promise,” Lan WangJi said, his voice soft but sincere. He untied his forehead ribbon and
tied it around Wei WuXian’s left wrist. “When you deem I have been adequately punished,
you may return it to its place,” he said. “Until then, I shall do as you say.”

Wei WuXian took a deep breath, knowing he would cave in before the month was over.
“You’re so unfair, Lan Zhan,” he complained without any real heat. “If you look at me like
that and if you say such words…are you trying to seduce me into forgetting your
punishment?”

Lan WangJi’s eyes brightened. To Wei WuXian, it looked awfully like his partner was silently
saying ‘Am I succeeding?’

Wei WuXian sighed and rested his forehead on Lan WangJi’s shoulder. “I can be stubborn,
too,” he muttered petulantly. “I won’t let you off so easily.”

Lan WangJi merely held him silently for a long, long time.

Chapter End Notes

Long chapter, the size of two, actually...but I didn't want to leave it off in the middle.
 Closing your eyes to disappear...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Wei KanghuiNing was so extraordinarily and uncharacteristically well-behaved the next day
that Wei WuXian released his punishment in the evening. Lan WangJi didn't protest. After all,
if the son's punishment was forgiven in a day, perhaps the father would be granted clemency
soon as well, he thought.

However, five days later, Wei WuXian showed no signs of relenting, and Lan WangJi was so
miserable that Jiang Cheng and Lan XiChen pulled Wei WuXian aside, unable to stand it
anymore.

Lan XiChen pointed at his little brother’s forehead ribbon around Wei WuXian’s wrist and
raised an eyebrow.

Wei WuXian, who was rather unhappy with the situation himself, broke down and told both
of them what had happened.

“You’re too cruel,” Jiang Cheng said immediately when he’d learnt what Wei WuXian had
inflicted upon his partner. “I mean, I understand that it was stupid of him to hide something
like that, but…a month!”

Wei WuXian chewed on his lips. “Really?”

Lan XiChen nodded. “WangJi may fall ill. He is already running a fever. It is unhealthy to
build up so much pressure…”

Wei WuXian stared at his brother-in-law.

“It’s not easy for you, either, is it?” Jiang Cheng asked shrewdly.

Wei WuXian nodded unhappily.

“Then forgive him already,” Jiang Cheng told him. “Look, if Lan WangJi gets any more
miserable, this entire mountain will be submerged in a wave of tears.”

Wei WuXian’s eyes widened in alarm. “Lan Zhan was crying?!”

Jiang Cheng and Lan XiChen nodded.

“He hid himself well, but I happened to see him,” Lan XiChen said. Big brother sighed
heavily. “A-Xian…I hate to interfere, but would it be possible for you to determine a
different punishment for my brother? You can even use a discipline whip if you wish; WangJi
would be much happier with that.”

“No!” Wei WuXian cried.

Lan XiChen’s face fell. “I didn’t want to say this…but what about a branding iron?” He bit
his lip nervously and his eyes brimmed. “Would you consider that adequate, A-Xian?”

Wei WuXian gaped at him, his face drained of colour and his eyes turning red. Memories
from his second life assaulted him – the Wen brand on his Lan Zhan’s chest, his Lan Zhan’s
tattered back…all caused by him, his actions. Why was Lan Zhan always the one that had to
take the damage for his messes? His soul-mark burned.

Summoned by his soulmate’s distress, Lan WangJi appeared immediately. “Wei Ying!”

Red eyes turned to him and glowed brighter. “Lan Zhan, would you rather take a discipline
whip or a branding iron instead of a month of celibacy?”

Lan WangJi was taken aback and shot an aggrieved look at Lan XiChen and Jiang Cheng.

Wei WuXian grabbed his chin and turned his face back to himself. “Tell me, Lan Zhan!”

Lan WangJi looked away.

The silence was eloquent enough.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Wei WuXian cried.

Lan WangJi sighed. “It is not in my place to determine my punishment – it is your right, and I
will abide by your word. I promised you, didn’t I?”

Wei WuXian fell to his knees as if struck with a sword, trembling violently.

Lan WangJi knelt by his side anxiously, reaching out as if to gather his partner in his arms,
but stopping midway, unsure if he was allowed.

“Wei Ying,” he called softly. “Calm down. It’s all right.”

Wei WuXian looked up at him and let out a choked sound at his partner’s awkward position.
Then he unwrapped the ribbon from his wrist and held it out.

Lan WangJi didn’t take it. He merely bowed his head.

Wei WuXian laughed brokenly and leaned forward, tying the white forehead ribbon around
his soulmate’s head. His hands shook, and the ribbon was askew, but he did it anyway.

As soon as the knot was done, Lan WangJi grabbed Wei WuXian and crushed him against his
chest, stroking his back gently.

“I’m sorry, Lan Zhan,” Wei WuXian whispered tiredly against his shoulder.

“No need.”

“I didn’t even realise I was being so cruel to you, Lan Zhan.”

“I deserved it.”
Wei WuXian’s giggle was tinged with hysteria. “Cruel, that’s me. If I’m not causing
bloodbaths, I’m hurting my partner. What a scourge!”

“No,” Lan WangJi said firmly.

Wei WuXian didn’t even hear him.

“You’re cursed with misfortune, Lan-er-gege, to be stuck with a partner like me.” Wei
WuXian closed his eyes and rested his forehead on Lan WangJi’s shoulder.

Lan WangJi glared at Lan XiChen and Jiang Cheng, both of whom looked rather
uncomfortable.

“That’s not what I meant, A-Xian,” Lan XiChen said mildly. “No one can ever doubt and you
and WangJi are perfect for each other.”

“Damn right,” Jiang Cheng agreed. “It makes us nervous when you two aren’t together,
actually. We just wanted you two to be back to your happy, horny, disgustingly-lovey-dovey
selves.”

Lan WangJi’s glare softened, but Wei WuXian didn’t look up.

“It was wrong of me to suggest a discipline whip or a branding iron as replacements,” Lan
XiChen said, bowing his head. “You have my sincere apologies, A-Xian. It’s just that I…” he
trailed off, biting his lip at his brother’s dark expression.

“Don’t blame Lan Huan. He just lost his head when he saw his little brother in such pain,” Jin
GuangYao said, appearing behind them. He looped an arm around his husband’s waist.

Wen Ning, who had come with him, slipped his hand into Jiang Cheng’s and frowned at Lan
WangJi. “You still haven’t taken the medicine?” he asked.

Wei WuXian’s head whipped up at that. “What medicine?” he demanded, looking between
Lan WangJi and Wen Ning.

Lan WangJi glared at Wen Ning and remained stubbornly silent.

Wen Ning sighed exasperatedly. “He’s been running a fever for two days now, and this
morning he got lightheaded during sword-training and dropped Bichen. If Jiang Cheng
wasn’t so skilled with Sandu, your partner would have suffered a grievous injury,” he told
Wei WuXian.

“And I saw you vomiting last evening, WangJi,” Lan XiChen added.

Wei WuXian stared at Lan WangJi, aghast. “Lan Zhan,” he said seriously. “You will let Wen
Ning check you right away.”

Lan WangJi blinked.

“Five days of abstinence wouldn’t cause you to get sick. Is this a side effect of the
corruption?”

Lan WangJi shook his head. “I’m fine. There is no need to worry.”

Wei WuXian pushed him down on the floor and straddled him. “Wen Ning,” he called loudly.
“Come and check my stupid love.”

Wen Ning hurried to their side. “It’s probably psychosomatic,” he told Wei WuXian. “I’ll
check properly, but some tender loving care may be all he needs from you.”

Wei WuXian nodded and slid off, letting Wen Ning take over. Lan WangJi stared balefully at
him.

Wen Ning checked Lan WangJi’s vitals and meridians quickly and declared, “He’s all right.
I’ll give you some vitamins – just ensure he takes them every day for a week or so.”

“So all he needs is love?” Jiang Cheng asked, smirking.

“Yes,” Wen Ning said. “Lots of love from a certain person.”

Lan WangJi flushed and everyone laughed except Wei WuXian.

Wen Ning handed a pouch to Wei WuXian and instructed him about the dosage.

Wei WuXian opened the pouch immediately, placed a day’s dose in his mouth and kissed Lan
WangJi until the latter swallowed the medicine.

The other two couples cheered loudly.

“Go to your room and don’t come out until you’ve made up for five days’ worth of missing
activities,” Jin GuangYao said.

Lan WangJi, suddenly rejuvenated, swept up Wei WuXian in his arms and ran off.

Jin GuangYao, Lan XiChen, Jiang Cheng and Wen Ning burst out laughing.

“It worked,” Wen Ning said finally. “I can hardly believe it.”

“A-Yao’s plans always work,” Lan XiChen said proudly.

Jin GuangYao blushed and peered at his husband. “Are you all right, Lan Huan?” he asked
softly. “It must have been difficult for you to play the villain here…”

“He was brilliant,” Jiang Cheng said. He threw an arm around Wen Ning and pulled him
close. “You, too.”

“Indeed,” Lan XiChen said. “Without A-Ning’s medicines to make WangJi appear sick, it
wouldn’t have worked.”
Wen Ning smiled gently. “It is better to fake his sickness now than let him get actually sick
later on. It was a clever idea, Brother Yao.”

“It wouldn’t have worked without all of you,” Jin GuangYao said shyly. “A-Cheng, I saw you
on the training ground this morning. That sword move was brilliantly executed. You blew the
medicinal smoke in A-Zhan’s face just at the right time and followed it up very cleverly!”

Jiang Cheng’s cheeks turned rosy.

Silence reigned for a few moments.

“I hope A-Xian and WangJi won’t hate me now,” Lan XiChen said, sighing. He bowed. “I
have to thank all of you for helping out. When I saw WangJi crying, I just…”

Jin GuangYao rubbed his back comfortingly. “Of course you’d panic if you saw your stoic
little brother crying, Lan Huan.”

“And there’s no need to thank us. We’re family,” Jiang Cheng said.

“And any of us would be concerned if we saw Lan WangJi crying, actually. It is so

uncharacteristic of him,” Wen Ning said. “I’m really glad it all worked out. You’re a genius,
Brother Yao.”

Jin GuangYao smirked. “Well, planning and plotting is my forte, after all. I wonder if A-Xian
will figure it out later.”

Jiang Cheng laughed. “He probably will, once his brain regains the capacity to think.”

---

A week passed by before Wei WuXian figured it out.

However, he was thankful to the perpetrators, so he didn’t confront them. After all, they had
done it to help him and his Lan Zhan.

Wei WuXian glanced at the sleeping figure next to him and his heart swelled. It was unusual
for him to wake up before Lan WangJi, and he used the opportunity to moon over the perfect
beauty that lay by his side. Face softened by sleep and without the trademark impassiveness,
Lan WangJi looked like a statue carved from flawless white jade, with dark hair woven from
night itself.

Wei WuXian stifled a giggle and thought, I’ve got it bad. He couldn’t resist pressing a soft
kiss on those rosebud lips. Sighing contentedly, he snuggled closer and murmured sleepily,
“Love you so much, my beautiful Lan Zhan.”

One golden eye opened cautiously and regarded the dark head cuddling into his shoulder.
Taking a chance, Lan WangJi wrapped his arms around Wei WuXian and pulled him closer.
Wei WuXian, half asleep by now, mewled contentedly and pressed himself against his
partner.
Lan WangJi smiled slightly and closed his eyes again.

---

Three weeks later, Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi went to Lotus Pier to witness the trial of Su
She and Jin ZiXun. Jin GuangYao had repeatedly told them that they need not visit if it
caused them the slightest discomfort, but they decided to go anyway.

The prisoners appeared well-fed but terrified, and kept stealing glances at Madame Yu, who
watched them with her sizzling purple eyes with a predator’s raptor gaze.

The audience comprised of many, many more people than the numbers at the disastrous
discussion conference. A vast majority of the audience clamoured for lingchi. Word of Su
She and Jin ZiXun’s betrayal had spread over the lands in the past few weeks, and Wei
WuXian could see the expert hands of the Venerated Triad behind it.

Nie MingJue stood up and boomed, “Silence!”

The murmurs died down immediately. Nie MingJue resumed his seat, and Jin GuangYao
stood up.

“While we understand that most of you want to punish these men with lingchi, we are here to
set a precedent for the future. We will hold a fair and impartial trial, examine the evidence
and lay down punishments accordingly. For this, we wish to establish a committee which
shall have representatives from all sects, so that the process is neutral and determined by
majority vote. This will be followed in the future as well. We believe this would lead us into
an era of peaceful coexistence,” he declared.

His words were met with thunderous applause.

“Excellent,” Jin GuangYao said, when the applause died down. “May I request the
representatives from each sect to come up and take their seats, please?”

Lan XiChen, Nie MingJue, Jin ZiXuan, Jiang Cheng, Wen Qing and Xiao XingChen helped
guide the others to their seats. Awed by this show of courtesy from the prominent and
powerful sect leaders, favourable murmurs broke out amongst the crowd.

Jin GuangYao was unanimously voted as the Chief Cultivator immediately and chosen to
preside over the trial.

Wei WuXian smiled to himself and nudged Lan WangJi with his elbow.

“Our friends get more and more impressive by the day, don’t they, Lan Zhan?”

“Mmm.”

---

By majority vote, Su She and Jin ZiXun were sentenced to lingchi and their men were given
reformative imprisonment for five decades under Madame Yu’s supervision.
 Quite a few of these men felt that lingchi would have been kinder, but no one dared say a
word.

Five decades later, these men went on to become the most loyal and dedicated fighters under
the YunmengJiang banner, thanks to Madame Yu.

Chapter End Notes

Ah, I've been AWOL for a few days...and I just might have to disappear again soon. But
there's only six more chapters after this one, so I'll try and finish ASAP...but it is likely
to drag on for a bit, especially since I haven't yet figured out how/where to end it.
 You pray your dreams will leave you here...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Lan WangJi bit his lip and shot Wei WuXian a helpless look. Two little white bundles had
been attached to his legs for the past half an hour, and two pairs of round eyes had been
staring balefully at him, brimming with tears but perhaps too scared to cry, from the moment
he had said, “No.”

Wei WuXian, who was laughing so hard that there were tears running down his face, finally
stood up and wiped his face.

“Ah, my beautiful Lan Zhan, don’t look so distressed,” he quipped, touching his partner’s
cheek.

Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi attempted to climb up Lan WangJi’s legs yet again and slid down.

Wei WuXian chuckled.

“Papa!” Lan JingYi wailed. “Wanna go!”

Seeing his brother cry, Lan SiZhui wasn’t far behind. Fat tears dripped down his chubby
cheeks.

“Oh dear,” Wei WuXian muttered and glanced at Lan WangJi. Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi
wanted to play with Jin Ling and the other infants. Unfortunately for them, everyone had
returned home, and even their five older siblings were currently visiting their uncles, leaving
Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi alone with the two babies.

Lan WangJi looked ready to cry himself. Wei WuXian felt a wave of tenderness wash over
him.

Lan JingYi let go of Lan WangJi’s leg and grabbed Wei WuXian’s instead.

“Mama!” he complained loudly, his face red and splotchy. “Papa bad!”

Lan SiZhui clung harder to Lan WangJi’s leg and stared at his brother unhappily. “Papa not
bad,” he protested softly.

“You’re absolutely right, A-Yuan,” Wei WuXian said, scooping up the child and kissing his
brow. “Papa is very, very good. Not bad at all.”

Lan SiZhui grinned shyly. Wei WuXian quickly wiped his face and handed the baby to Lan
WangJi.

“What a cute little defender you’ve got yourself, Lan Zhan!” Wei WuXian teased.
Lan Wangji smiled. Immediately, Lan JingYi stopped crying and stared at him, his mouth
hanging open.

“Papa pretty!” the baby cried. He stretched out his arms, demanding to be picked up.

“You’ve certainly got a good eye, little one,” Wei WuXian laughed and picked up Lan JingYi,
quickly cleaning him up as he squirmed. “You don’t want to dirty your pretty Papa’s pretty
robes, do you, A-Yi?” he asked.

Lan JingYi stopped struggling immediately and grinned as Wei WuXian handed him to Lan
WangJi. Then he stepped back and stared, openly admiring the man he loved.

With a baby in each arm, a small smile on his face, golden eyes softened with affection and a
blush creeping up his cheeks at Wei WuXian’s scrutiny, Lan WangJi was a vision too lovely
for human eyes, Wei WuXian decided. He burned the image into his memory, planning to
paint it later.

“You take my breath away, my beautiful Lan Zhan,” Wei WuXian said.

“Why are you two making googly eyes at each other when you’re supposed to be minding
our little brothers?” came a disgruntled voice and Lan Qinyang flew in.

Lan JingYi immediately tried to grab the miniature golden dragon’s tail.

“This one is troublesome,” Lan Qinyang complained, transforming into her human form and
poking his cheek.

Lan JingYi gurgled happily.

Wei WuXian slung an arm around his eldest child. She was almost as tall as him now.

“What can I do, A-Bao? I am hopelessly in love with your Papa!” he whined.

Lan Qinyang rolled her eyes.

Wei AoJiang and Wei KanghuiNing walked in next, followed by Lan Mei and Wei Syaoran.
All of them were in their human forms, thus avoiding Lan JingYi’s propensity to pull at their
tails.

“All of you look fine,” Wei AoJiang said, frowning slightly. “Why was Papa in distress?”

Wei WuXian burst out laughing.

“Mama!” Lan Mei scolded. “What did you do?”

Wei WuXian pinched his younger daughter’s cheeks. “O ye of little faith,” he whined. “I
didn’t do anything. Isn’t that right, Lan Zhan?”

“Mmm.”
“Then why was Papa upset?” Wei KanghuiNing asked.

“Did A-Yuan and A-Yi do something?” Wei Syaoran asked.

Chuckling, Wei WuXian told them what had happened.

Lan Qinyang smirked. “Weren’t we admirably well-behaved?”

“Yes, A-Bao,” Wei WuXian replied dutifully.

“Why don’t we all have a picnic?” Lan Mei suggested. “The weather is nice.”

Wei WuXian opened his mouth to speak but Lan WangJi quickly intercepted, declaring, “I
shall cook.”

Wei WuXian pouted.

“Mama, let’s set up everything outside. Do you think we should go to the west gardens? The
hydrangeas are in bloom now. It’s pretty,” Wei AoJiang said, expertly diverting Wei
WuXian’s attention.

The girls and Wei Syaoran went off with Lan WangJi to help with cooking, and the twins and
the infants went with Wei WuXian.

Lan SiZhui observed his older brothers carefully before crawling rapidly towards them to
help out. The twins fawned over their baby brother and made him a flower crown.

Lan JingYi rolled around happily in the grass. As soon as he saw Lan SiZhui getting a flower
crown, however, he went over to his brothers and demanded one as well. Laughing, the twins
obliged.

Wei WuXian watched them with a smile. “My beautiful boys,” he muttered.

“Mama!” Wei KanghuiNing shouted. “Come and help us!”

By the time they finished setting up, Lan WangJi, Lan Qinyang, Lan Mei and Wei Syaoran
appeared, holding large baskets.

Wei WuXian, who was sprawled out on the grass, tugged at the hem of his partner’s pristine
robes.

“I wonder what you’d look like in my dark robes, Lan Zhan,” he muttered, his imagination
running wild.

Lan WangJi sat down on the grass next to him, his ears flushed. “Do you want me to?” he
asked softly.

Wei WuXian stared at him. “You would dress up? For me?”

Lan WangJi nodded shyly.

The children rolled their eyes as they settled around their parents.

“Seriously, Mama, do you think there’s anything Papa won’t do for you?” Wei Syaoran
asked, sighing.

“He’s evading marriage,” Wei WuXian complained. He looked up at Lan WangJi with puppy-
eyes. “When will you make an honest man out of me, my beautiful Lan Zhan?”

“You family said we can only marry after you turn twenty, Wei Ying,” Lan WangJi said in a
long-suffering voice.

“But we’ve been together forever and we’ve already got seven beautiful babies, Lan Zhan!
How long should we continue living in sin?” Wei WuXian said dramatically, waving his
arms.

“Shameless,” Lan WangJi said.

Wei WuXian gasped theatrically. “Could it be that you don’t want to marry me, HanGuang-
Jun? Is this poor YiLing Patriarch not good enough for you?”

Lan WangJi sighed. “Wei Ying…”

Wei WuXian put a hand to his face melodramatically. “Ah, you break my fragile heart, Lan-
er-gege! You stole my virtue, you made me the mother of your children and now you won’t
marry me…!”

“Mama, don’t tease Papa,” Lan Mei scolded.

Lan WangJi smiled at her.

“Papa good,” Lan SiZhui said, attempting to climb up Lan WangJi’s lap.

“Papa pretty,” Lan JingYi said, copying his brother.

Lan WangJi picked up the two babies and settled them on his lap.

“Come to think of it,” Wei KanghuiNing observed. “We’re all illegitimate children, aren’t
we?”

“Probably,” Wei AoJiang said.

Lan Qinyang huffed. “They’re soulmates. Regular rules don’t apply.”

“And we have been acknowledged as their children,” Wei Syaoran said.

“Babies,” Wei WuXian said, sitting up. “Are you on my side or not? Don’t you want to see
your old Mama getting married to your pretty Papa?”

“Marry,” Lan SiZhui said seriously, his round head bobbing up and down.

“It’ll be nice,” Wei KanghuiNing said.

“Nice,” Lan JingYi agreed, tugging at Lan WangJi’s sleeve. Wei KanghuiNing was his
favourite sibling, and Wei WuXian could easily imagine the mischief these two would get
into a few years down the line.

“We’ll do gold patterns on your red robes,” Lan Mei said dreamily.

“Should we have it here? It’ll be a pain to dismantle the protective barriers, though,” Wei
Syaoran mused.

“Uncle Cheng and Grandfather Jiang will throw a fit if it’s not at Lotus Pier,” Wei AoJiang
said.

“And Grandfather and Great-Uncle and Uncle Huan will want a reception at the Cloud
Recesses as well,” Lan Qinyang said.

“We’ll have to send out thousands of invitations,” Wei Syaoran said. “It’ll take months to
organise properly.”

“Party!” Lan JingYi said, clapping his hands.

“Marry,” Lan SiZhui said again, beaming. “Papa marry Mama!”

“Listen to our children, Lan Zhan,” Wei WuXian cajoled. “Marry me.”

Lan WangJi sighed. “After you are twenty, Wei Ying.”

“I’ll be twenty in a few months,” Wei WuXian retorted. “Why not speed it up?”

“We will do it properly,” Lan WangJi said seriously, his golden eyes full of determination.

Wei WuXian felt his heart skip a beat. “Lan Zhan,” he whispered. “Does that mean you’ll
propose to me properly and ask for my hand in marriage?”

“Mmm.”

“Ah, you make me swoon, Lan Zhan.”

“Good.”

“But I have to wait until after my birthday?”

“Mmm.”

Wei WuXian pouted. “And how will you appease me for the long wait?”

Lan WangJi handed Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi to Wei WuXian and stood up. “Wait here,” he
said, and went off.

A heartbeat later, Wei KanghuiNing and Lan Mei went off as well.

“What kind of wedding do you want, Mama?” Wei AoJiang asked curiously.
 Wei WuXian smiled softly. “Honestly, anything is fine as long as I can marry my Lan Zhan
surrounded by all of you. And our family and friends.”

“That’s rather modest of you,” Lan Qinyang said. “Don’t you want a super-lavish party or
something?”

Wei WuXian chuckled. “Lan Zhan can have whatever party he wants. I just want Lan Zhan.”

“You already have him,” Wei Syaoran said.

“Well, I want him to be lawfully mine as well,” Wei WuXian said.

“Papa!” Lan SiZhui cried, leaping out of Wei WuXian’s lap.

Wei WuXian looked up and stopped breathing. Lan WangJi was striding towards him,
dressed in Wei WuXian’s black robes, which somehow fit him perfectly. From Wei
KanghuiNing and Lan Mei’s grins, it seemed to be their handiwork. The black highlighted
Lan WangJi’s pale, flawless skin and made his eyes glow. His hair hung loose and a corner of
his lips were curled up in a small smile.

“Isn’t Papa gorgeous?” Wei KanghuiNing asked proudly. “A-Mei and I fixed the robes to fit.”

Lan Qinyang, Wei AoJiang, Wei Syaoran, Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi all stared at their Papa,
open-mouthed. They nodded slowly.

“Cool!” Lan JingYi declared finally. “Papa cool!”

Wei WuXian, who had been gaping silently as his partner, toppled over.

“Papa, I think you made Mama swoon,” Lan Mei said, grinning.

Wei WuXian sat up abruptly. “Lan Zhan,” he said, his voice low and sombre. “You’re so
gorgeous that it’s deadly. Your beauty needs to be classified as a weapon of mass
destruction.”

Lan WangJi blinked slowly.

Wei WuXian jumped up, grabbed his partner and kissed him thoroughly, amidst whistles and
catcalls from their children.

Chapter End Notes

Just some fluff. The proposal is already there in "Whisper" (as WWX's twentieth
birthday).

But LWJ in dark robes...*swoon*

 But still you wake and know the truth...
Chapter Notes

So this is the proposal (copied and pasted from "Whisper", #4 of "Fallen" series - it's
basically a one-shot of Wei WuXian's birthdays over the years):

---

Age 20, YiLing Home

---

This truth drives me

Into madness

---

At the stroke of midnight, Wei WuXian was nudged awake by Lan WangJi.

“Lemme sleep, Lan Zhan,” he mumbled crossly. “M’tired. You can do me in the
morning again if you want.”

Lan WangJi nudged him again.

Wei WuXian flopped over with a groan. “You’re really insatiable, aren’t you my Lan
Zhan?” he grumbled.

Lan WangJi, however, sat in lotus position on the bed, his face serious.

Wei WuXian sat up at the look on his beloved’s face. “What’s wrong, Lan Zhan?”

“Happy birthday, Wei Ying,” Lan WangJi said gravely. “You are finally twenty.”

Wei WuXian smiled slightly. “Thanks, Lan Zhan…but did you really have to wake me
up in the middle of the night to wish me?”

“I could not wait any longer,” Lan WangJi muttered, looking oddly nervous.

Wei WuXian peered at him curiously. “Lan Zhan?”

Lan WangJi took a deep breath and held out a large jewellery box. “Proposal gift,” he
said laconically.

Wei WuXian raised an eyebrow. “Are you asking me to marry you, Lan Zhan?”

“Mmm.”
 Wei WuXian laughed. “That’s got to be the worst and most unromantic proposal ever.
You have to ask me properly if you want me to say yes, Lan Zhan,” he teased.

Lan WangJi looked like a deer frozen in fear at the sight of an approaching tiger. Then
he nodded seriously and slid off the bed. He knelt on the floor, his head bowed. He
raised his eyes and fixed his golden gaze upon Wei WuXian.

“Wei Ying,” he began, his voice slightly hoarse. “Wei WuXian, YiLing Patriarch, my
beloved soulmate…you hold my heart, my life and my soul in your hands. I love you
with every fibre of my being, and I will love you every day for the rest of my life and
beyond, for all of eternity. I pledge myself to you. I am yours to do with as you please. I
would like to spend all my days with you, forever more. I would like us to cultivate
together and raise our children and grandchildren together. Would you do me the honour
of marrying me?”

Tears poured down Wei WuXian’s face and Lan WangJi swallowed nervously. Then Wei
WuXian flung himself at his partner, laughing and crying at the same time, and said,
“Yes, yes, yes! A thousand, a million times yes! Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan – oh, my beautiful
Lan Zhan! I am yours, too! Now and forever and always!”

Lan WangJi’s relief was palpable as he kissed his firebrand partner.

“This is the best birthday gift ever, Lan Zhan,” Wei WuXian whispered in his ear.

---

See the end of the chapter for more notes

After Lan WangJi's midnight proposal, Lan WangJi looked so smug and Wei WuXian glowed
so much on his twentieth birthday that no one could resist teasing the couple.

Jiang Cheng and Wen Ning, who had been the first to arrive, had nearly fallen off their
swords as they caught sight of Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi.

Wei WuXian grinned up at them, showing off Lan WangJi's forehead ribbon around his wrist,
the ring on his finger and the elaborate charm on his waist. He was dressed in white robes
that were more protective than the best armour, a gift especially made for him by his children.
It was adorned with GusuLan clouds and YunmengJiang lotuses and motifs from each of their
children - even Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi had added their handprints. The kids had dragged
away their beloved Mama in the morning and made him dress up. Between Wei KanghuiNing
and Lan Mei, they had even managed to tame his wild hair. When Wei WuXian had finally
been deemed ready by his children, he had emerged from the room to find Lan WangJi
waiting for him.
Lan WangJi had stared at him with his mouth slightly open and his golden eyes dazed. And
then suddenly, there was red dripping down the front of his immaculate white robes. Wei
WuXian had roared with laughter and Lan WangJi had been so flustered that his hands
trembled as he tied his forehead ribbon to Wei WuXian's wrist, slid the ring on his finger and
tied the charm to his belt.

"Do I look so stunning that I gave you a nosebleed, Lan Zhan?" Wei WuXian teased.

"Mmm."

Lan Qinyang, who had been laughing along with her younger siblings, suggested, "Why don't
you wear dark robes today, Papa? Mama loves how you look in them, and if you're going to
get a nosebleed every time you look at Mama today, it's better."

"Black Papa cool," Lan JingYi declared solemnly. "White Mama pretty."

Both Papa and Mama flushed.

"Wei Ying," Lan WangJi said finally. "Would you like me to wear your robes today?"

Wei WuXian nodded shyly.

Lan WangJi went off with Wei KanghuiNing and Lan Mei immediately. A few minutes later,
he was back and Wei WuXian found himself swooning again. Luckily, Lan Qinyang and Wei
AoJiang held him up.

"Lan Zhan," Wei WuXian breathed. "You are the most beautiful thing in the universe."

Lan WangJi blushed and held out his wrist expectantly.

Wei WuXian raised an eyebrow enquiringly. Thankfully, Wei Syaoran came to his rescue and
slipped his red hair ribbon into his palm.

Smiling softly, Wei WuXian tied the red ribbon around Lan WangJi's wrist. "I can't believe
I'm allowed to call you mine. I'm afraid one day I'll wake up and find that it was all a dream,"
he murmured.

Lan WangJi pulled him to his chest and kissed him thoroughly.

"Awake yet, Wei Ying?" he asked seriously, but his eyes were filled with mirth.

Wei WuXian laughed. "Ah, my perfect Lan Zhan, you've learnt to tease me!"

Their soul-marks glowed brightly and they were engulfed in a flash of pink light. When it
faded, Bichen, Meiyou and Suibian vibrated in their sheaths.

Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian frowned and pulled out their swords. The swords were warm
and trembling in their hands.

"Oh," Wei Syaoran said. "I think your swords want to recognise your partner."
Lan WangJi immediately held out Bichen to Wei WuXian. Wei WuXian handed Suibian to
Lan WangJi and took Bichen, but hesitated over Meiyou. After all, it was a dark sword. But
Meiyou moved impatiently in his hand, as if wanting to leap to Lan WangJi. Lan WangJi
smiled and held out his hand. Wei WuXian reluctantly handed the black sword to him.

The three swords glowed, and Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian stared at each other with wide
eyes, feeling the swords of their partner recognise them at par with their owner.

"Lan Zhan," Wei WuXian said seriously. "If I die in this world as well, how on earth will you
fight with three swords?"

Lan WangJi's eyes flashed momentarily before his usual calm settled on his face. "You will
have the same problem if I die, Wei Ying," he retorted.

Wei WuXian grinned. "One more reason for us not to die, then!" he said.

"Mmm."

Sword glares from the sky caught their attention.

"Oh, Jiang Cheng and Wen NIng are here!" Wei WuXian cried excitedly and ran out, Lan
WangJi following at a leisurely pace.

"Why on earth are you wearing GusuLan robes?!" Jiang Cheng demanded as soon as he
landed, rounding upon Wei WuXian.

"He proposed, didn't he?" Wen Ning asked excitedly. "Ooh, tell me all about it!"

Wei WuXian grinned. Before he could reply, though, Lan XiChen, Jin GuangYao, Jiang
YanLi and Jin ZiXuan arrived as well, babies in tow. Each of them were as flabbergasted at
the attires of Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi.

"A-Xian," Lan XiChen said seriously. "You look resplendent in white. You do GusuLan
proud." He frowned slightly at Lan WangJi. "Why are you wearing black, brother?"

"Wei Ying likes it," Lan WangJi replied, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Papa cool!" Lan JingYi said.

"Papa sexy!" Lan SiZhui added.

Lan WangJi frowned at his partner. Wen Ning picked up Lan SiZhui and asked, "Did Mama
say that, A-Yuan?"

Lan SiZhui nodded happily.

Lan WangJi glared and Wei WuXian shrugged helplessly and whined, "But you are, Lan
Zhan!"

Everyone tittered.
"A-Zhan looks amazing in dark robes," Jiang YanLi said finally, trying to restore peace. "A-
Xian, your man is so handsome!"

Wei WuXian grinned and slipped an arm around Lan WangJi's waist. "He is, isn't he?"

"Don't let him out looking like that, you moron," Jiang Cheng told Wei WuXian. "He's too
attractive like this, people will be all over him. At least the mourning robes make him look
cold. The dark robes are just too...dashing."

"As if I'd let anyone touch my beautiful Lan Zhan," Wei WuXian said dangerously. His hand
went to Bichen on his belt.

"Why do you have Bichen?" Jin ZiXuan asked. "It's not just an accessory to match your
outfit!"

Wei WuXian laughed. "Bichen recognised me," he boasted. "And Suibian and Meiyou
recognised Lan Zhan!"

All eyes were drawn to the two swords worn by Lan WangJi.

"That's so romantic," Wen Ning said dreamily.

Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao frowned. "Even Meiyou?" Lan XiChen asked.

Lan WangJi unsheathed the sword in reply and swung it. Meiyou glowed with a white light,
making it look grey.

"The sword glare changed?" Jin GuangYao asked, his eyes wide with shock.

Lan WangJi handed the sword to Wei WuXian and Meiyou gleamed its usual black.

"Ah, it depends on the user," Jin GuangYao said.

"Fascinating," Lan XiChen murmured.

"You're not allowed into the library to research this until my party is over, Big Brother,
Brother Yao!" Wei WuXian ordered, pouting.

Everyone laughed.

Nie MingJue, Wen Qing, Nie ZhiRuo, Nie HuaiSang and Qin Su arrived soon after, followed
by Xiao XingChen, Song Lan, Xue Yang, Mo XuanYu, A-Qing, Jiang FengMian, Madame
Yu, QingHeng-Jun, Lan QiRen, Madame Jin, the former QingheNie Sect Leader and Wen
RuoHan.

Wei WuXian narrated Lan WangJi's midnight proposal with great relish to the entire
gathering before he was dragged away by his Jiang Cheng and Jiang YanLi.

Lan WangJi's red ears were fortunately hidden by his loose hair.
Lan XiChen patted his brother's shoulder comfortingly. "Finally, you have your wish,
WangJi," he said in a gentle voice. "You have endured well all these years."

"We have to start making a list," Jin GuangYao fretted. "Where do you want to get married?
YiLing or Yunmeng or Gusu?"

Lan WangJi gazed at Wei WuXian, who was being hugged by Jiang YanLi and Jiang Cheng
at the moment. "Anywhere Wei Ying wishes," he said, not bothering to hide the affection in
his voice.

Wei WuXian caught his eye and smiled at his partner.

Jin GuangYao rubbed his temples and Lan XiChen slipped an arm around his spouse. They
glanced at the older generation. Jiang FengMian, Madame Yu, QingHeng-Jun, Lan QiRen
and Wen RuoHan seemed to be arguing over the rights to host the wedding.

"It's my son's wedding," QingHeng-Jun said, his voice gentle but his eyes stubborn. "Of
course we will hold it in the Cloud Recesses."

"A-Xian is as good as my son," Jiang FengMian said mildly, his eyes glittering. "Lotus Pier is
the obvious choice."

"The young SanRen blood is practically my godchild and one of his sons has Wen blood,"
Wen RuoHan interrupted. "And my Nightless City is far prettier and more luxurious than
either of your places. Doesn't the little one deserve the grandest wedding of all?"

"We brought up the brat," Madame Yu said. "All our children will get married at Lotus Pier.
You can have a reception later anywhere you want."

"We brought up both of them," Lan QiRen said. "The Cloud Recesses should host the
wedding, and we can have the receptions elsewhere."

Madame Jin and the former QingheNie Sect Leader hid their smiles and watched their
contemporaries squabble.

"Why don't we settle for a neutral place?" Xiao XingChen asked, walking up to them. Song
Lan followed him wordlessly.

"What neutral place?" Wen RuoHan asked. "You can't mean yours? It's too small! Do you
have any idea how many people we need to invite?!"

"But he's my shijie's son..." Xiao XingChen said. "I'm the closest thing to a blood relative A-
Xian has, am I not?"

They squabbled some more until Madame Jin snapped, "Why don't you simply ask them
where they want to get married?"

All of the respected elders flushed and the former QingheNie Sect Leader burst out laughing,
unable to control his mirth any longer.
Song Lan stepped away silently, grabbed Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi by their collars and
dragged them to the group. Naturally, the current Sect Leaders and the others followed.

"Where do you want to get married?" six voices asked at once.

Wei WuXian turned dreamy eyes at Lan WangJi. "Anywhere Lan Zhan wants is fine for me. I
just want my beautiful Lan Zhan," he declared.

Lan WangJi regarded his soulmate with glowing golden eyes. "Mmm."

The squabbling resumed, getting worse as the younger generation joined in. Wei WuXian and
Lan WangJi remained oblivious, eyes glued to each other.

---

Ultimately, the matter was settled by the Venerated Triad (as usual). Lan XiChen, Jin
GuangYao, Nie MingJue, Lan Qinyang, Lan Mei and Wei Syaoran went looking for a
suitable venue and found a nice uninhabited island of suitable size. Preparations were divided
amongst YunmengJiang, GusuLan, QishanWen and Xiao XingChen's sect, with generous
assistance from LanlingJin and QingheNie.

A few months later, Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi were finally married. A quiet wedding
took place in YiLing with only close family and friends in attendance. After that, they visited
each of their sects and paid their respects to the ancestors. And finally, they had a grand
reception at the island found by the Venerated Triad, attended by thousands of cultivators
from all over.

The Divine Beasts and the Unholy Fiends stood behind the couple in their true forms. The six
most powerful sect leaders stood with them, as did the elders.

Jiang FengMian, QingHeng-Jun and Xiao XingChen's eyes were suspiciously bright as they
watched the couple.

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi, in red robes of the finest silk with the most exquisite gold
embroidery, however, only had eyes for each other. Their soul-marks shone through their
robes and their joined hands glowed with a pinkish radiance. Once the necessary rituals were
over, Lan WangJi raised Wei WuXian's hand to his lips.

The crowd cheered so loudly that the native fauna of the island were startled out of their
wits.

Blushing, Wei WuXian grabbed Lan WangJi's collar and pulled him close, stealing his lips
passionately.

The noise nearly brought the heavens down and Lan QiRen mumured, "Shameless."

"Come on, Brother, they are married now," QingHeng-Jun said, chuckling.

The party went on for a long, long time. It was such a grand affair that people would speak of
it in awe for decades to come.
Chapter End Notes

They're finally married! Phew!

 No one's there...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Lan WangJi was in the middle of a discussion with Lan XiChen, Jin GuangYao, QingHeng-
Jun and Lan QiRen at the Cloud Recesses when a crippling pain shot through his soul-mark,
bringing him to his knees.

Lan Qinyang, Lan Mei and Wei Syaoran, who had accompanied their Papa to Gusu, went
impossibly pale. Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi were in the toddlers' classroom with other babies
their age, including Lan Xia and Lan Yue. The newly married couple had decided that while
all their children would learn from all their friends, the main education for their children with
'Lan' surname would be in GusuLan, and for the ones with 'Wei' it would be in
YunmengJiang. Thus, Lan Qinyang, Lan Mei, Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi were being
indoctrinated at the Cloud Recesses, while Wei AoJiang, Wei KanghuiNing and Wei Syaoran
were attending lessons at Lotus Pier. Today was a day off at Lotus Pier, so Wei Syaoran had
gone over with Lan WangJi to the Cloud Recesses, and the twins, Wei AoJiang and Wei
KanghuiNing, had gone to YiLing with Wei WuXian.

That had been merely a few hours ago. What could possibly have gone wrong?

Lan XiChen knelt by his little brother's side and supported his shoulder. Lan WangJi leaned
against his brother weakly. "It's gone..." he whispered, tears pouring down his face.

Lan XiChen frowned.

"Check Papa's soul-mark, Uncle Huan," Lan Qinyang said urgently.

Lan XiChen immediately pulled down his brother's collar. The ornate blue 'Wei Ying' had
turned a dead-looking, faded shade of grey and a tuft of smoke wafted from it. Horrified, the
young GusuLan Sect Leader looked up. "What could possibly have happened...? Is A-
Xian...?"

"Mama is alive," Wei Syaoran said quickly before Lan XiChen could finish his question.

"But we lost contact with Big brothers," Lan Mei said tearfully.

Lan XiChen picked up his little brother in his arms and stood up. "Let's go," he said
decisively. "A-Syao, tell Eldest brother to get Wen Qing, and if possible, Wen Ning and Jiang
Cheng as well."

Wei Syaoran nodded. Nie MingJue told him that he was already on his way with his wife,
having felt his divine nephew's distress.

Lan XiChen turned to QingHeng-Jun and Lan QiRen. "Father, Uncle, would you look after
the children and handle sect matters until we are able to return?"
QingHeng-Jun and Lan QiRen nodded, worry etched on their faces as well.

Lan WangJi clung to his brother like a small child, sobbing quietly. Lan XiChen kissed his
brow. "Hold on, little brother," he said softly. "We will be with A-Xian soon."

Lan WangJi nodded weakly and buried his face in his brother's shoulder. Lan XiChen
tightened his arms protectively, worried at the uncharacteristic behaviour. This had not
happened since their mother passed away.

Lan Mei transformed and spread her wings, ready to transport them to YiLing. However,
before she could do so, broken fragments of Wei WuXian's hoarse voice echoed in the minds
of not only Lan WangJi and the three divine beasts, but Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao as
well.

Lan Zhan...I'm sorry...I...tried...couldn't...hold them off...I...Lan Zhan...sorry...I'm...going...

And then there was silence, his voice cut-off abruptly.

Lan WangJi let out a heart-rending cry that echoed in the hall and went limp.

"MAMA!" Lan Qinyang howled.

Lan Mei would have dropped to the ground if Jin GuangYao hadn't caught her in his arms.
She shook violently, unable to utter a word.

"He's alive," Wei Syaoran muttered fervently. "He has to be. Even if we were cut-off, we're
still here. He has to be alive..."

Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao exchanged an anxious glance.

"A-Mei," Jin GuangYao said softly, stroking the vermillion bird's trembling feathers in a
soothing gesture. "Could you get us there quickly? I'll stabilise you with my spiritual energy."

Lan Mei nodded, calming down thanks to her Uncle Yao. They were transported in a flash.

Wei AoJiang and Wei KanghuiNing lay motionless on the floor. There was no sign of Wei
WuXian. The only thing that proved he had been here was a large pool of blood and torn
fragments of his robes.

What force could possibly knock out the divine Xuanwu?! And it should have been
impossible to take the YiLing Patriarch from YiLing, which had protective barriers so strong
that anyone harbouring malicious feelings towards any of the residents would be
automatically ejected.

Lan Qinyang immediately went to revive the twins. A few minutes later, both Wei AoJiang
and Wei KanghuiNing woke up.

"What happened?" Wei Syaoran asked. "Where is Mama? Who knocked you out?"

Wei AoJiang and Wei KanghuiNIng exchanged a glance.

"We don't know," Wei AoJiang said finally. "Mama suddenly cried out and fell, and we tried
to go to him, but some dark force lashed out at us and..."

"We don't know what happened after that," Wei KanghuiNing said. "All we saw was this dark
force converging on Mama."

"What did it look like?" Lan Qinyang asked.

"Just black smoke, vaguely human-shaped. There were two," Wei AoJiang said.

"Where did they come from?" Lan Mei asked.

"We don't know," Wei KanghuiNing replied. "They just appeared. Their energy felt similar to
Mama and Papa, so that's probably why the barriers didn't throw them out."

Jin GuangYao frowned. "Was it negative energy?"

"Not exactly," Wei AoJiang said.

"Mama must have gone to the Burial Mounds," Wei Syaoran said. "That's where he goes
when he loses control, doesn't he?"

"Let's go there, then," Wei KanghuiNing said. "We'll wake up Papa."

The twins caught Lan WangJi's limp hands and transferred healing energy into him. Lan
WangJi's eyelashes fluttered and he opened his eyes slowly.

"Wei Ying...?" he called softly.

"We're going to Mama now," Lan Qinyang told him. "Can you feel anything, Papa?"

Lan WangJi shook his head.

Lan XiChen quickly explained the faded soul-mark to the twins, both of whom frowned.

"The bond is still there and Mama is still alive," Wei AoJiang said firmly.

"If that wasn't the case, we would have turned back into eggs," Wei KanghuiNing added. "I'm
telling Uncle Cheng that we're going to the Burial Mounds. He is on his way with Uncle
Ning."

Everyone nodded. Lan XiChen kept a steadying arm around Lan WangJi's waist.

Lan WangJi frowned suddenly.

"What's wrong?" Jin GuangYao asked.

Wordlessly, Lan WangJi broke away from his brother and headed to the corner where his
spouse's torn robes and blood littered the floor. Then he jumped out of the open window.
Everyone rushed to follow.
They found Lan WangJi standing in the grass, holding up Suibian and Meiyou. His face was
whiter than ever before.

"Look for Chenqing," he said hoarsely.

Lan XiChen, Jin GuangYao and the five divine beasts quickly searched the area, but there
was no sign of the black flute.

“It’s not here,” Jin GuangYao said finally. “A-Xian must have taken it with him.”

Lan WangJi looked relieved.

“Let’s go, Papa,” Wei Syaoran said. “Mama must be at the Burial Mounds.”

Lan WangJi nodded, and Lan Mei immediately transported all of them to the Burial Mounds.

Jiang Cheng and Wen Ning were waiting for them just outside the Burial Mounds, their faces
drawn with anxiety.

“Sister went to the Cloud Recesses to help with A-Yuan and A-Yi,” he told Lan WangJi. “She
said that at least one of the godparents needed to be with the babies, and we thought Wen
Qing would be coming here with Nie MingJue, so…”

Lan WangJi nodded gratefully. Wei WuXian had said that since the divine beasts had their
uncles, their human babies should have godparents as well, and he had insisted on Jiang
YanLi and Wen Qing being godmothers to Lan JingYi and Lan SiZhui respectively, and Lan
WangJi had happily agreed.

The divine beasts were staring at the Burial Mounds in horror.

“What’s wrong?” Wen Ning asked.

“Mama…” Wei KanghuiNing whispered. “What are you doing, Mama?”

Wei Syaoran nuzzled Lan WangJi with his head. “Let’s go, Papa. Mama needs us.”

Nie MingJue and Wen Qing landed as they spoke.

“Mama needs all of us,” Wei AoJiang said. “Our youngest brothers as well.”

Wen Qing jumped upon her sword again. “I’ll get them,” she said. “You guys go ahead.”

“It’ll be faster with me,” Lan Mei said. She turned to Lan Qinyang and Wei Syaoran. “Both
of you take Papa inside with Uncle Huan and Uncle Nie.”

“A-Mei is right,” Lan Qinyang said. “A-Ao and A-Hui will wait outside with Uncle Cheng,
Uncle Ning and Uncle Yao while she and Aunt Qing get Aunt Li and A-Yuan and A-Yi. Then
all of you come in. We’ll try to help Mama until then.”

Lan WangJi looked at his brother for guidance.

Lan XiChen nodded, and Wei Syaoran said seriously, “Papa, trust us. We’ll get Mama back.”

Lan WangJi nodded wordlessly, his fingers caressing Suibian and Meiyou absently.

Lan Mei and Wen Qing disappeared in a flash and Lan Qinyang led Lan WangJi, Lan
XiChen, Nie MingJue and Wei Syaoran inside.

Jiang Cheng and Lan XiChen exchanged a meaningful glance. As brothers to the troublesome
duo, they had developed an empathy over the years.

They had to search for a while before they heard the melodious notes of Chenqing and rushed
towards the sound.

“Impossible,” Lan WangJi murmured as they spotted Wei WuXian kneeling on the ground
and two vaguely human-shaped black figures around him. One of the black mist-figures was
playing Chenqing. More importantly, it was playing the melody Lan WangJi had composed
for Wei WuXian – a tune that no one other that the couple and their children knew.

Wei WuXian was in a deplorable state. His robes were torn and tattered, his pale skin was
riddled with injuries and his mouth dripped blood. Even so, his red eyes flashed defiantly.

“You have no right to play my Lan Zhan’s song,” he spat, coughing up blood.

A frighteningly inhuman voice replied, “Is it your Lan Zhan that composed it or is it mine?”

The two mist-shapes floated close to each other, as if hugging.

“We gave you enough time, Wei Ying,” the terrible voice continued. “It is the end now. You
and your Lan Zhan have had enough happiness…more than enough.”

Wei WuXian smiled, his eyes soft. “That’s true. My Lan Zhan has made me very happy.” His
eyes hardened and he glared at the mist-figures. “And that is why I won’t let you tear us
apart. My Lan Zhan and our babies…I won’t let you harm them.”

“We mean them no harm, Wei Ying. All you need to do is sacrifice your soul and your
precious Lan Zhan and your children can live happily ever after,” the horrible voice cajoled.

Wei WuXian laughed, coughing up more blood. “No, thank you,” he said finally, gasping for
breath. “My Lan Zhan needs his Wei Ying, and our babies need their Mama as well as their
Papa.”

“We will take your place,” the inhuman voice said. “We will even take your Lan Zhan’s place
if he wishes to go with you. We will look after the babies. Give in, Wei Ying. It is for the
best. You owe us for all these years.”

“I do owe you,” Wei WuXian said. “But I won’t let you take my family from me. If there is
anything else I can do for you, I will.”

Thousands of corpses stirred as Chenqing was played again.

“Do you remember how you died the first time, Wei Ying?” the mist-shape hissed. “Do you
want it to happen again?”

Wei WuXian smiled and stood up, supporting himself against a rock. “It won’t happen,” he
said softly. He glanced at Lan WangJi, who had almost reached him by now. Lan Qinyang
and Wei Syaoran were not too far behind with Lan XiChen and Nie MingJue. “My life is
here.” He threw himself at his husband.

Lan WangJi caught Wei WuXian in his arms and kissed his brow. His chest glowed warmly
and he looked down to see his soul-mark flaring back to life. He pulled Wei WuXian closer.

“Sorry, Lan Zhan,” Wei WuXian whispered, burying his face in his husband’s shoulder. “I
couldn’t hold them off and the soul-mark was damaged and I couldn’t talk to the babies and I
tried to send you a message that I was coming here but I wasn’t sure if it worked and I…” he
babbled.

“Hush, Wei Ying,” Lan WangJi said, stroking his hair gently. “I am here.”

Wei WuXian gazed at the ethereal HanGuang-Jun with adoring eyes. “Yes,” he said dazedly.
“You are, aren’t you, my beautiful Lan Zhan…? How did I get so lucky?”

And before Lan WangJi could reply, he pressed his lips to his husband’s and kissed him
passionately.

Red and blue lights shot out of their soul-marks and lit up the sky.

“Disgustingly lovey-dovey, as always,” Jiang Cheng’s disgruntled voice came as Lan Mei
appeared with the rest of them.

Wei WuXian smiled at his second daughter. “Did you get stronger again, A-Mei?”

Lan Mei preened. “A little, Mama.”

“You’re brilliant, my lovely daughter!” he praised.

“Well done,” Lan WangJi said, stroking her feathers as she landed on his shoulder. Then she
flew back to Jin GuangYao.

The godparents and the babies spread out behind Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi, taking up
defensive stances. Wei WuXian’s eyes widened when he spotted Wen Qing and Jiang YanLi
holding Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi.

“We won’t let you take Mama or Papa,” Lan Qinyang said.

A horrifying laughter echoed around them.

“But we are your Mama and Papa, A-Bao,” the inhuman voice said, and the two black figures
coalesced into older versions of Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi.
Chapter End Notes

Umm...what can I say...Newton's third law of motion...?

 Say goodnight, don't be afraid...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

“What the hell is going on here?” Jiang Cheng demanded, glaring at their opponents. “Who
the hell are you supposed to be?”

The older Wei WuXian before them (Wei WuXian #2) smirked. “I suppose you could say we
are Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi from an alternate reality.”

“Then go back to your own reality; why are you here?” Nie MingJue boomed.

“Cannot,” the older Lan WangJi facing them (Lan WangJi #2) said.

“We can’t,” Wei WuXian #2 replied easily. “We died there. I died twice, in fact. That’s why
my Lan Zhan ended up so much older than me.”

“What does that have to do with our A-Xian and A-Zhan?” Jin GuangYao asked. “Certainly,
it is tragic that you died in your reality, but…”

“Ah, the big villain! You really are a silver-tongued devil in all realities, aren’t you?” Wei
WuXian #2 mocked.

Lan XiChen spoke up. “As A-Yao and Eldest brother rightly pointed out, please tell us why
you are here.”

“Brother…” Lan WangJi #2 muttered, his golden eyes gleaming with emotion. “We…”

Wei WuXian #2 clapped his hand over the mouth of Lan WangJi #2 before he could say
more.

“We want to live, too,” Wei WuXian #2 said. “Is that so wrong? We helped these two over the
years, pouring our energy into them, letting them grow powerful and happy. They have had
so many years. Don’t we deserve to be happy now?”

“You do, certainly,” Wen Ning said mildly. “But not at the expense of ours.”

“What would you have us to, Ghost General?” Wei WuXian #2 asked. “You know, in my
reality, you were a fierce corpse – the most powerful of them all. I made you.” His face
softened. “It is so much better to see you alive, though.”

Wen Ning went pale and turned to Wei WuXian. “Don’t make me into a fierce corpse if I
die,” he said seriously.

Wei WuXian chuckled. “I won’t let my best friend die so easily.”

“You have done well, both of you,” Wei WuXian #2 said. “Much better than we did.”
“Mmm,” Lan WangJi #2 agreed.

“If A-Xian and A-Zhan have done well, why would you want to rip them from us?” Jiang
YanLi asked quietly.

Wei WuXian #2 looked at her longingly. “Shijie…”

Jiang YanLi gave him a small smile. “Young Master Wei, please don’t take our A-Xian and
A-Zhan away from us. If you require a life force, you can take m–”

“NO!” Both Wei WuXians roared at the same time before she could finish.

“Never again,” Wei WuXian #2 said, breathing heavily. “I won’t lose you again, Shijie. I
won’t let you shield me.”

Jiang YanLi looked taken aback.

Wei WuXian looked at Jiang Cheng pointedly, silently imploring him to pull their sister back
if she tried anything foolhardy. Jiang Cheng nodded.

Wei WuXian #2 caught their exchange and smiled softly. He turned to Lan WangJi #2 and
nodded.

Smoky black hands reached out to grab Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi. Immediately, bursts of
light flew from the divine beasts and formed a barrier in front of their Mama and Papa. The
smoke collided with the barrier again and again until both dissipated.

“We won’t let you take our Mama and Papa,” Wei Syaoran declared, stepping forward. “We
don’t want to annihilate you, but if you won’t let us be, we will have to.”

“Ah, the divine Si Xiang,” Wei WuXian #2 said. “You were an unexpected development…but
we will love you as our own children, won’t we, Lan Zhan?”

Lan WangJi #2 nodded, eyeing Wei Syaoran as if he wanted to reach out and pet him. Wei
Syaoran growled.

"If you want to fight, I'll give you a fight," Wei WuXian said seriously. "But I won't let go of
those I love so easily."

“You owe us,” Wei WuXian #2 told Wei WuXian.

“How?” Wen Qing asked, speaking up for the first time. “Even if you did die in your
timeline, how would our A-Xian and WangJi owe you?”

Wei WuXian #2 laughed. “We infused our energy into them. How else would the soul-bond
have worked?”

“Oh,” Jin GuangYao said. “So the soul-marks, the foresight…”

Wei WuXian #2 nodded. “They are all the result of us imbuing them with our energy. How
else would little children be that powerful, otherwise? No matter how prodigious they are,
they were still little kids back then.”

“Where did you go after you transferred the energy?” Jin GungYao asked.

“We fell dormant. All the energy we had was given to these two…we have just woken up
now, after all these years. But we could see what was happening,” Wei WuXian #2 replied.

“So, everything that A-Xian and A-Zhan have done over the years has been their own effort?
Other than the initial infusion of energy, you have done nothing?” Jin GuangYao insisted.

Wei WuXian #2 laughed heartily. “Ah, it pleases me to see you defending my alter ego, you
silver-tongued devil. You caused us no end of trouble in our reality. You were the biggest
villain of all.”

“Don’t badmouth Brother Yao,” Wei WuXian hissed. “He’s not the one you knew.”

Wei WuXian #2 laughed.

“If you want to take our place here,” Lan WangJi said quietly. “You must love our friends and
family as we do. If you cannot, return.”

“We would return if we had a place to return to,” Lan WangJi #2 said.

Wei WuXian #2 stared at him. “Is that what you want, Lan Zhan? You want to go back to our
reality?”

Lan WangJi #2 nodded.

“But…but you suffered so much…! Isn’t this an easier, happier life?” Wei WuXian #2
protested.

Lan WangJi #2 regarded him with soft eyes. “It was ours,” he said tenderly. “Yours and
mine.”

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi exchanged a glance.

“In that case, is there any way we can help you return to your reality?” Wei WuXian asked
eagerly. “If we can return you to a point just before your death, it should be fine, right? You
can go back to your own life!”

Wei WuXian #2 looked lost. “I don’t know,” he said. “If I knew of a way, wouldn’t I have
done it by now?!”

Lan WangJi turned to Wei Syaoran and raised an eyebrow.

Wei Syaoran shook his head. “The Si Xiang, by themselves, can’t, but…”
“…the Si Xiang and the Si Xiong together, can,” came a new voice, and everyone looked up
to see Wei Liang and his siblings flying towards them, accompanied by Xiao XingChen,
Song Lan and Xue Yang.

“It takes a humongous amount of power, though,” Wei Liang said, landing next to Wei
WuXian. “Hello, Uncle Wei.”

Wei WuXian smiled at him and patted him on the head. “Hello, A-Liang. Why are you here?”

“We sensed a disturbance, so we thought we’d come and help you,” the Qiong Qi replied.

“You did well, child,” Wei WuXian said fondly.

“So, you can send us back?” Wei WuXian #2 asked eagerly.

The Divine Beasts and the Four Fiends looked at each other.

“We can,” Wei AoJiang said finally. “But we need some time and preparation, and lots of
energy. We don’t have enough energy now. If we could find an amplifier…”

“You do, don’t you, A-Ao? I’ll give you two amplifiers,” Wei WuXIan said softly. “Or do
you need three?”

“Mama, no,” Wei KanghuiNing cried.

“You can have mine, too,” Lan WangJi said quietly. “A core is a small price to pay for a
lifetime with Wei Ying.”

Wei WuXian smiled. “We can be civilians, Lan Zhan! I’ll go out and work in the farms and
hunt, and you can weave at home and cook us delicious meals!”

“Mmm,” Lan WangJi said.

“You can use mine as well,” Jiang YanLi said. “I’m not much of a cultivator anyway.”

“No,” Wei WuXian said cheerfully.

“Shut up, all of you,” Lan Qinyang hissed angrily. “Mama, we will use your core – you don’t
have to extract it. Remember how you dealt with Papa’s corruption? This will be similar. I’ll
be the conduit.” She looked around and commanded, “A-Ao, A-Hui, A-Mei, A-Syao, A-
Yang, A-Liang, A-Shuang, A-Xiang and A-Huang, take up positions.” She indicated each of
their spots as she spoke. They took their place, alternating a Divine Beast and an Unholy
Fiend, with Xue Yang between Lan Qinyang and Wei AoJiang. The ten of them formed a
closed circle.

“You two get in the centre of the circle,” Lan Qinyang snapped at Wei WuXian #2 and Lan
WangJi #2. The two of them obeyed silently.

“Mama, stand before me,” she instructed. “Uncle Huan, get behind me. Great-Uncle Chen,
behind A-Liang. Uncle Ning, behind A-Hui. Aunt Qing, hand A-Yuan to Papa and get behind
A-Shuang. Uncle Yao, behind A-Mei. Great-Uncle Song Lan, behind A-Xiang. Uncle Nie,
behind A-Syao. Aunt Li, hand A-Yi to Papa and get behind A-Huang. Papa, you’re behind A-
Yang, and you’ll have to pass some energy through A-Yuan and A-Yi as well, all right?”

Everyone nodded.

Wei WuXian smiled indulgently, and then turned around and kissed her brow. “Look at you,
my little A-Bao,” he said. “How magnificently you’ve grown up!”

Lan Qinyang huffed. “I am a proud dragon-child,” she said, but her ears were red, in true Lan
style.

“Of course you are,” Wei WuXian said. “And you make me so proud, too, my beloved
daughter.”

Lan Qinyang bit her lip. “Mama…this will be painful, as bad as when you extracted your
core. Are you sure you want to do this?”

Wei WuXian chuckled. “My dear child, what is a little pain in exchange for my entire world?
If I can keep my Lan Zhan and my children, I would gladly give away half my limbs and
organs. A little pain is nothing.” His face turned serious. “Besides, I have full faith in you.
All of you.”

Lan Qinyang blinked rapidly and nodded. Then she raised her chin and announced, “Beasts,
Fiends, transform!”

All nine of them did so instantly.

Lan Qinyang’s eyes flashed blue, and the red and blue markings on her gold scales glowed
brightly.

“Mama, get ready. I will channel the energy through you.”

We WuXian nodded and his eyes flashed red. His form was engulfed in a burst of red and he
floated up, in front of Lan Qinyang, in a bubble of red light.

Bright streams of golden light emerged from Lan Qinyang, passed through Wei WuXian and
a red-gold cage formed around the couple at the centre of the circle. Wei WuXian #2 and Lan
WangJi #2 smiled hopefully.

“Everyone, focus your energy on the cage!” Lan Qinyang called.

They did. Various bursts of coloured light hit the cage and it glowed brighter and brighter
until Lan Qinyang and Wei Liang spoke something in a tongue no human could understand.
The cage exploded in a flash of blinding light, and when everyone regained their sight, Wei
WuXian #2 and Lan WangJi #2 had disappeared with a soft "Thank you" and "Be happy"
hanging in the air. Everyone dropped to their knees, and Wei WuXian fell to the ground in a
dead faint. Lan WangJi quickly handed the two babies in his arms to Xue Yang and ran to his
spouse.
 “Wei Ying,” Lan WangJi whispered, dropping to the ground next to Wei WuXian and pulling
him into his arms. “Wake up, Wei Ying.”

Their soul-marks glowed brightly and a pink light engulfed them.

“…Lan Zhan…?”

“Wei Ying.”

“It’s…over?”

“Mmm.”

“Those two…they went back safely?”

“Mmm,” Lan WangJi said, looking to Lan Qinyang for confirmation. She nodded tiredly and
Lan WangJi heaved a sigh of relief. “They did, Wei Ying. Their reality will continue
normally, and so will ours.”

“We’re free?”

“Mmm.”

A lop-sided grin that Lan WangJi loved so much appeared on Wei WuXian’s face. Unable to
resist, Lan WangJi dipped his head and kissed the man he loved above all.

Wei WuXian responded eagerly until they had to break apart for air.

Chapter End Notes

Just a little more to go...

 Calling me, calling me, as you fade to black...
Chapter Notes

I've been (repeatedly) told by great, erudite people that the first (and most important)
rule of writing a pastiche is to end it such that the original canon remains unaffected.
(Basically - take your favourite characters, have fun with them, but return them to their
original place once you're done.) Hence, I had to send back the original couple to their
original timeline where they could continue their shenanigans...though my initial plans
were a little (ok, a lot) more tragic. That would have involved the couple in the Fallen-
verse dying and returning to the original timeline to continue with their lives as usual
according to the novel. But...well, somewhere along the way, that changed. I couldn't
bear to end it like that by the time I wrote 'Whisper'...so, here we are. It wasn't the grand
climax I'd intended, and it was probably largely disappointing, but I just couldn't bear to
kill them off or rip them away from their happy world after they'd worked so hard to
make it so.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Wei WuXian went limp in Lan WangJi’s arms while they were kissing.

“Wei Ying!” Lan WangJi cried, shaking him.

“Did you literally smooch him to death?” Wen Qing teased.

Lan WangJi’s eyes brimmed and Wen Qing immediately threw up her hands and said, “I’m
joking, I’m joking – he’s perfectly fine, A-Zhan.”

“All of us used up a lot of energy, Mama most of all,” Lan Qinyang told him. “Don’t fret,
Papa.”

“Let’s go home,” Wei Syaoran said.

---

Wei WuXian was floating. His body felt weightless as he hovered in the air. He glanced down
at his hands, alarmed to find them translucent.

“Did I die?” he wondered aloud.

There was no response.

He looked around and found Lan WangJi and himself in Mo XuanYu’s body – this was Wei
WuXian #2 and Lan WangJi #2! Were they hack in their original timeline? If so, why was he
still here? He flew down to the couple on the ground.
Lan WangJi #2 cradled Wei WuXian #2 in his arms, the expression on his face so heartbroken
that Wei WuXian couldn’t stop his own tears.

“You promised, Wei Ying,” Lan WangJi #2 cried softly. “Wei Ying…you promised you would
not leave me behind again…”

Wei WuXian #2 appeared to be heavily injured, as if he had just been caught in an explosion.
Wei WuXian frowned. Had they failed? Shouldn’t both of them be safe and alive? Or…did his
presence here mean that he was supposed to replace Wei WuXian #2? But what would happen
to his Lan Zhan, then?

“No,” Wei WuXian cried, horrified. “I can’t leave my Lan Zhan like this. I have to go back!”

Just then, Wei WuXian #2 opened his eyes. “Lan Zhan…?” he asked blearily.

Lan WangJi #2 hugged him, his body trembling with relief.

Wei WuXian #2 stroked his partner’s back. “What happened, Lan Zhan? Why are you…?” He
pulled back and stared at the tear-stained face of Lan WangJi #2. “You’re crying?! What’s
wrong, Lan Zhan?”

Lan WangJi #2 shook his head and hugged him tighter.

Wei WuXian #2 looked furious. “Who dares upset my HanGuang-Jun so? Tell me, Lan Zhan!
I’ll make them rue the day they were born!”

A strangled laugh from Lan WangJi #2 made Wei WuXian #2 pause.

“You don’t remember,” Lan WangJi #2 said finally.

Wei WuXian #2 frowned. “Remember what?”

“The explosion.”

“What explosion?” Wei WuXian #2 looked confused. “I was just out with the little buns,
planning an experiment and then…oh!” He looked away sheepishly. “Sorry, Lan Zhan. I
made you worry.”

“You cannot leave me behind again,” Lan WangJi #2 said seriously. “Please, Wei Ying.”

Wei WuXian #2 kissed his partner’s nose. “I promise.” He smiled at Lan WangJi #2. “Let’s
go home, my beautiful Lan Zhan, and you can do with me as you please.”

Lan WangJi #2 stood up with Wei WuXian #2 in his arms and walked away.

Wei WuXian heaved a sigh of relief. The ritual had worked perfectly. Looked like these two
didn’t remember anything about the other timeline.

“Perfect,” he said, smiling to himself. “Now I just need to figure out how to go back home.”
It was easier said than done. He wandered around for several days, invisible and inaudible to
all, watching the other couple and the GusuLan disciples and Li’l Apple and the rabbits.

“We never did raise bunnies,” he muttered to himself. “I should remind Lan Zhan once I’m
back.” He clutched his hair. “Arrgh! I want to go back! Lan Zhan! I want to see your
beautiful face so much it feels like I’m dying!”

Pain shot through his body and everything went dark. Vaguely, he heard the sound of Lan
WangJi’s guqin.

---

“Why won’t he wake up? It’s been two days!” Jiang Cheng raged.

Wen Ning patted his hand. “We don’t know. He’s perfectly fine.”

“There’s no damage to his body or his spiritual energy,” Wei AoJiang said.

“His core?” Jian GuangYao asked.

“Back to brimming with power,” Lan Mei said.

“I’m more worried about that one,” Jiang YanLi said, glancing at Lan Wangji, who sat by
Wei WuXian’s bedside, playing his guqin. “He hasn’t rested at all.”

Lan XiChen nodded anxiously. “I hope A-Xian wakes up soon. For my brother’s sake, if
nothing else.”

“He will, don’t worry,” Wen Qing said.

“That brat is tenacious,” Nie MingJue said.

There was a simultaneous flash of red and blue, and the music stopped as Lan WangJi keeled
over.

Jiang Cheng and Lan XiChen looked at each other.

“Wasn’t that just like…” Jiang Cheng began.

“…the first time they met…?” Lan XiChen finished.

All of them rushed towards Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi’s prone forms. Sure enough, their
soul-marks were glowing brightly.

Wei WuXian stirred and opened his eyes. “Lan Zhan…?”

Lan WangJi woke up slowly, and sat up abruptly as soon as he saw Wei WuXian was awake.
“Wei Ying,” he breathed. He threw his arms around his spouse. “Wei Ying!”

Wei WuXian rubbed his back. “I’m here, Lan Zhan. I’m here. I’m sorry I worried you.”
“Where did you go?”

“I was somehow transported to the other reality. Our other selves got back safely and are
living happily now, by the way.”

“You must not leave me behind, Wei Ying.”

“I won’t, Lan Zhan. If I ever try to, you have my permission to drag me back, kicking and
screaming.”

Lan WangJi nodded seriously.

“Besides, it was the sound of your guqin that pulled me back, I think. I was just so desperate
to see you…”

Lan WangJi kissed him fiercely.

When they finally broke apart for air, Jiang Cheng cleared his throat loudly.

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi blushed, but didn’t draw away from each other.

“So…what happened?” Wen Ning asked.

Wei WuXian explained briefly.

Jiang Cheng clapped him on the shoulder. “Good to have you back, brother.”

Wei WuXian winced.

Lan XiChen smiled as well. “We will let you two rest, then.”

Lan WangJi nodded.

“Remember you’re supposed to come to Nightless City in two weeks. The old coot had bred
another deadly chilly especially for you,” Wen Qing said.

Wei WuXian grinned at her. “We’ll be there.”

Hugs were exchanged all around.

---

“I don’t really understand,” Wei AoJiang said once everyone else had gone home, leaving
Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi with their children.

“Mmm?” Lan WangJi asked.

“I thought the two of you had transmigrated from the future,” Wei AoJiang said.

Wei WuXian nodded. “We thought so, too, A-Ao. I only learnt it was not so when those two
turned up and wanted to take our place.”
“So how did you have their memories and everything?” Wei KanghuiNing asked.

“They probably transferred their memories inadvertently to Mama and Papa when they were
infusing their energy,” Lan Mei said.

“That would make sense,” Wei WuXian said. He looked at Lan WangJi. “So…that means we
are not from another time or another reality…we simply got the memories and energy of our
other selves.”

Lan WangJi nodded.

“So…if I hadn’t forced it, we would not have been soulmates…and all these things that we
have been desperately trying to prevent all our lives…none of them might have happened
anyway? Everything we did was…unnecessary?”

“Stupid Mama,” Lan Qinyang scolded. “How could you say that? Do you think we are
unnecessary?”

Wei WuXian averted his eyes. “But Lan Zhan could have had a perfect, peaceful life if I
hadn’t barged my way into his…”

“Are you an idiot?” Wei Syaoran growled. “You and Papa are meant to be. I don’t think there
is any reality or any timeline or any lifetime where you and Papa would not meet and fall in
love.”

“Mmm,” Lan WangJi agreed, his face dark. “Do not deride yourself, Wei Ying.”

Wei WuXian laughed softly. “Always my knight in shining white robes, my beautiful Lan
Zhan,” he said. “I’m not complaining. I’m happier than ever thought possible being by your
side…but you…”

“Happy,” Lan WangJi interrupted.

“Speak properly, Papa,” Lan Qinyang said. “Stupid Mama won’t understand unless you tell
him repeatedly how happy you are to be married to him and having us awesome babies.”

“Papa proper,” Lan SiZhui protested.

“Mama stupid,” Lan JingYi said, drawing a pout from Wei WuXian and a chuckle from Lan
WangJi.

Wei WuXin looked at Lan WangJi reproachfully. “You’d let our children insult me, Lan
Zhan? Some husband you are!”

Lan WangJi pulled him into his arms. “Wei Ying,” he whispered in his ear. “You are the
cleverest, the most beautiful, the most talented, the sexiest and the best person I know of, and
you make me the happiest husband in the world. Our wonderful children are privileged to
have you as their mother, and I am honoured to be their father because you are the mother.
Shall I tell you so every day?”
Wei WuXian flushed. “Lan Zhan…you are a natural lady-killer.”

Lan WangJi frowned. “I have no desire to kill ladies.”

Wei WuXian and the Divine Beasts burst out laughing. Lan WangJi eyed them impassively
until Wei WuXian was rolling on the floor, clutching his belly, laughing so hard that tears
streamed down his face.

It was only when Lan WangJi grabbed Wei WuXian’s collar, picked him up and settled him
on his lap that Wei WuXian stopped laughing and buried his face in his husband’s shoulder.

“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, my dearest Lan Zhan,” he mumbled. “How can you possibly be so
innocent after spending most of your life with me?”

“Is that…not good?” Lan WangJi asked hesitantly.

Wei WuXian looked up and kissed the tip of his nose. “No, my beautiful Lan Zhan…it is not
good.”

Lan WangJi’s eyes dimmed.

“It is very good, my Lan Zhan. You make me fall in love with you over and over,” Wei
WuXian continued.

Lan WangJi’s ears turned red.

“Shameless,” Lan Qinyang said. “Get a room, Mama.”

Wei WuXian pouted. “How come you never scold your Papa, A-Bao?”

“Papa is my favourite.”

“Unfair! Blatant partiality!” Wei WuXian cried dramatically.

“Don’t worry, Mama, you’re my favourite,” Wei KanghuiNing assured him.

“Ah, thank you, A-Hui!” Wei WuXian cried, leaping out of Lan WangJi’s arms and hugging
Wei KanghuiNing. “You’re the best son ever!”

“And what are the rest of us? Cannon fodder?” Wei Syaoran grumbled.

“No, no, you’re all my precious children and I’ll love you forever and ever!” Wei WuXian
declared, placing a hand upon his heart.

Lan WangJi slipped his arms around him and agreed with his customary, “Mmm.”

“Have you figured out what you’re going to do now?” Lan Mei asked.

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi looked at each other and then smiled at their seven children.

“Yes.”
Chapter End Notes

So, this is more or less the end. There'll be a short epilogue to round up, and that's it. A
big thank you to everyone who has stuck around for this series - I'm really, really, really
grateful to all of you for reading and supporting this series! Thank you so very much!
 Epilogue: My Last Breath
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

A few years later...

---

The Cloud Recesses, GusuLan

---

"You mean we can actually participate in the competition this year, Uncle Yao?!" Lan Mei
asked excitedly.

Jin GuangYao nodded, smiling at his niece.

"But you've never allowed us to do so before," Lan Qinyang said, pouting. "Uncle Huan,
didn't you say last time that we were too powerful and it would be unfair to the others?"

Lan XiChen smiled. "You will be competing in your human forms. Besides, you will have
plenty of competition now. Xiao XingChen is letting all of them compete, so we need proper
representatives from GusuLan, too."

"All of them...?" Lan Mei asked.

"Wei Liang, Wei Shuang, Wei Xiang and Wei Huang. And Xue Yang and Mo XuanYu, of
course," Jin GuangYao informed them.

Lan Qinyang laughed. "So A-Ao, A-Hui and A-Syao will represent YunmengJiang, I guess?"

"Yes," Lan XiChen said.

"I'm amazed you got Papa and Mama to agree," Lan Mei said.

"WangJi was the one that suggested it, actually," Lan XiChen said. "A-Xian was a
little...anxious."

"Brother Xuan had to let him personally inspect the safety measures at the Phoenix Mountain
before A-Xian agreed to let you participate," Jin GuangYao said. "If it works out well this
time, all of you can continue to participate in the future competitions as well."

"I look forward to the time when A-Yue, A-Xia, A-Yuan and A-Yi will be able to join you..."
Lan XiChen said dreamily. "All the prizes will come to GusuLan, then!"

"Uncle Huan is surprisingly competitive," Lan Qinyang observed.

Lan Mei nodded and Jin GuangYao shook his head fondly.

"Go home, my lovely nieces," Lan XiChen said generously. "You are excused from lessons
until the competition is over. Practice well!"

"Are Grandfather and Grand-Uncle all right with that?" Lan Mei asked anxiously.

Jin GuangYao rolled his eyes. "They've been...convinced...adequately." He shook his head
again and rubbed his temples. "Take A-Yuan and A-Yi as well. A-Xian also said to tell you to
pick up your siblings from Lotus Pier."

"You guys treat me like a transportation service," Lan Mei grumbled.

"But you're the best, A-Mei," Lan Qinyang flattered.

Lan Mei flushed. "You think so, Big sister?"

Lan Qinyang smirked. "I know so, my dear little sister. Come now, let's fetch our stupid
brothers."

---

Lotus Pier, YunmengJiang

---

"Really? We can compete?" Wei AoJiang asked excitedly.

Jiang Cheng nodded indulgently. "Make sure you bring home a few prizes, eh?"

Wei AoJiang, Wei KanghuiNing and Wei Syaoran nodded eagerly.

"I wonder how you convinced Mama and Papa," Wei Syaoran said.

Wen Ning's explanation was more or less the same as Lan XiChen's.

As if on cue, Lan Mei appeared with Lan Qinyang, Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi.

"Uncle Huan gave us time off from lessons until the competition," Lan Qinyang said smugly.

Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow. "You do need to practice," he murmured. "All right,
nephews! You're excused from classes until the competition as well! Go home and practice
well, you hear me?"

"No pressure," Wen Ning said gently. "Just do your best."

The wide-eyed teenagers nodded silently.

---

YiLing
---

"My babies!" Wei WuXian cried eagerly as soon as they appeared, throwing himself at them.
"Welcome home!"

Lan WangJi's subtly exasperated expression made everyone chuckle.

Over a scrumptious meal, Lan Qinyang and Wei AoJiang told their parents the details.

"Big brother and Jiang Cheng are taking this really seriously, hmm?" Wei WuXian said. He
smiled brightly. "Don't worry about all of that, kids. Just go out there and have fun!"

"Mmm," Lan WangJi said. "I will hold practice sessions for all of you from tomorrow
morning."

Wei WuXian stared at his husband as if he had grown a second head. "Lan Zhan, what...?!"

The Divine Beasts nodded eagerly. After all, their Papa was the best!

"The children need to practice," Lan WangJi said calmly. "I will teach."

"I want to learn from Papa, too!" Little Lan SiZhui said. "I want to be as good as big brothers
and big sisters!"

"Me too!" Lan JingYi said immediately.

Lan WangJi nodded his approval at his children.

Wei WuXian pouted. "What's this? None of you want to have fun with me?"

"Mama," Wei Syaoran said patiently. "We want to practice and win!"

"We have to give it our best effort," Wei KanghuiNing said.

Wei WuXian looked horrified. "Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan...all our babies are turning into you!"

"Good," Lan WangJi said, a proud smile on his face.

Wei WuXian gaped at him. "Not fair, my beautiful Lan Zhan," he complained. "If you smile
like that, you know I'll do anything..."

"Then help with practice, Wei Ying," Lan WangJi said softly. "Do you not want to see our
children excel?"

"Yes, of course!" Wei WuXian said immediately. "Our babies are the best!" He grinned. "Just
you wait, babies - your old Mama will teach you all the tricks you need to win!"

"Papa's gotten really good at handling Mama, hasn't he?" Lan Mei whispered to Wei
Syaoran.
 Wei Syaoran laughed, his infectious mirth spreading all around until everyone was laughing
happily.

Lan WangJi drew Wei WuXian close. "Are you happy, Wei Ying?"

Wei WuXian smiled softly, his eyes content. "More than I ever thought possible, Husband.
Are you?"

"Mmm."

---

Fin

---

Chapter End Notes

And that's that. Thank you, my kind and generous readers. I'm honoured and grateful
that you read "Fallen". I couldn't have done it without your support and encouragement.
Thank you for reading this series, thank you for being there, thank you for your
comments, thank you for your ideas, thank you for your support...thank you for
*everything*!!

Shameless self-promotion: Thanks to discussions with the wonderful Treef, we've

stumbled upon an idea for another fic (most of the brilliant idea comes from Treef).
Would anyone like to read a fic about Wen RuoHan taking in Wei WuXian...? Pairing
will remain WangXian, of course.
End Notes

If nothing makes sense, reading of "My Immortal" and "Bring Me to Life" is probably
required...

Please drop by the Archive and comment to let the creator know if you enjoyed their work!