Nie Huaisang tapped his fingers on his knee, "Wen Qing, when does Wen Ning wake up?"
"When Hanguang-Jun visited," Wen Qing answered.
"He visited?" Da-ge asked.
Of course he did, and of course Wen Ning woke up at that visit. While Wei Wuxian was capable of many impossible things alone, there was the element of destiny when he was with Hanguang-Jun.
Nie Huaisang couldn't wait for this to be over, but something was making him anxious. Something he couldn't quite place. It was like he was missing something.
Lan Wangji sat in a teahouse.
"The Yiling Patriarch is a scourge," An old man lectured to a crowd of listeners, "Who wouldn't say so?"
"Tell you what. The ancestral grave of the family of my next door neighbor's big aunt was dug up recently," Another man spoke up.
That was what, third-hand information? Fourth-hand?
If it were anyone else, it would be unreliable. If it were anyone else, it would have been dismissed.
Especially amongst cultivators. They should be able to differentiate between civilian hearsay and fact. What need did Wei Wuxian have of other corpses when he was living in a place with an untold amount of them? Why would he venture out of his safe place when he knew he would only find enemies?
They'd just been so certain that they were right. That certainty didn't last through the weeks of nothing. There was no news, which was good news for Wei Wuxian.
So people started making up bad news to justify their view of him. It didn't feel wrong to blame random misfortunes on him. For all they knew at the time, he could have been involved in them. Then again, they were just declaring him guilty without investigation, allowing an unknown amount of crimes to not even be looked at.
Maybe those graves were really robbed. It was far too late to begin an investigation.
Lan Wangji poured his tea, trying to ignore them.
"It must have been him!"
"Listen to him!"
Lan Wangji drank.
"I have to say that I heard he is making puppets using corpses."
Lan Wangji froze.
"How horrifying!"
"At Qiongqi Pass, he even turned a living person into a puppet which led to a dozen deaths. That puppet was a survivor of the Wen Sect. Since then, people call him the Ghost General." People whispered to each other, "But after Qiongqi, his whereabouts are unknown."
"Where else could he be? He must be doing evil along with the Yiling Patriarch."
How had anyone ever believed this?
How had Lan Qiren believed this?
It was all nonsensical fear mongering. He could recognize that now. Certain powers wanted the world to fear Wei Wuxian. They wanted to keep everyone against the Wen Sect.
He shook his head. That was no longer his greatest concern. Wangji's trip to Yiling and his resulting punishment for it would be on display soon. It would be his nephew's way of showing his dedication to Wei Wuxian, while also explaining why he didn't go to Yiling again. It would once again raise questions about the Lan Sect.
Lady Jiang's ire was what he was worried about. She was kind, unfathomably kind in the same way Xichen was. She wouldn't cast judgment, but seek to understand. Perhaps her kindness would last long enough for them to give her an explanation in private.
Lan Qiren wasn't going to depend on that. With all they've seen, no one would fault Lady Jiang for less than charitable behavior.
What explanation could he give her? He had come to realize he didn't know anything about his brother's marriage. There must be a reason his sister-in-law killed their teacher. One she didn't think would grant her freedom, so she was imprisoned without trying to defend herself.
Did his brother know the reason? Or was he like Wangji, certain there must be a reason even if they never figured it out?
The storyteller waved his fan around, "You people just know the half of it. The Yiling Patriarch's terrifying abilities are more than making puppets. His dirty tricks were nothing but horror. I'm telling you. He dug those bodies for cracking bones and sucking marrow to help enhance his wicked tricks."
"If the YunmengJiang hadn't adopted and cultivated him, Wei Wuxian would be a mediocre wandering the streets," The old man continued, "He defected and injured the young Jiang-zongzhu. Traitors like him should be killed if anyone would catch him."
"That's right!"
"Yeah!"
"That kind of person should be killed!"
"He deserves death!"
Lan Wangji slammed his tea cup onto the table, spilling the drink. He glared back at the crowd who had all turned to him. He put down his payment and quickly left.
They would have killed him.
Jin Guangyao was certain of that. With the massive success of their plot to turn the world against him, Wei Wuxian would have been dead in a matter of months. They'd have killed him in a battle, and whatever was left of his belongings would have been divided as spoils of war.
It was all the more telling that the people of Yiling, the ones just outside of the Burial Mounds, were still so wrong about the Yiling Patriarch.
Still, deserved or not, death was death.
It was often those deserving of an early end that lived the longest.
Before he got too far away from the teahouse, a child latched onto his leg. He looked down and found the smiling face of A-Yuan.
"What?" Wen Qing frowned.
"Did…" Jiang Wanyin trailed off, "Did Wei Wuxian lose him?"
Wen Qing narrowed her eyes.
"Don't you know what this means?" Nie Huaisang asked, "This must be destiny!"
Jiang Wanyin sighed. Wen Qing just rubbed her head. It wasn't that bad. No one in Yiling ever recognized the Yiling Patriarch. They certainly didn't expect that the child running around on their own was part of the evil Wen Army hiding in the Burial Mounds. It was as safe for him in town as any other child, and if there was trouble…
Well, if there was any trouble Wei Wuxian would find his way to it in an instant.
She wasn't happy that he lost A-Yuan, but if this was what led him to Hanguang-Jun?
"They're soulmates," Zewu-Jun added, "And this child…"
Was it meant to be? Was that why Zewu-Jun was invested in A-Yuan's wellbeing? Did he think Wei Wuxian, and therefore Hanguang-Jun, was going to adopt him? Raise him in the Lan Sect?
It was something to bring up with Wei Wuxian later.
Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian had realized he had lost the child. He ran through the streets, yelling, "A-Yuan!"
Soon enough, his attention was drawn to the small crowd surrounding Lan Wangji and a now crying A-Yuan. Wei Wuxian stared at him for a moment, listening.
"Such a little boy cries so loudly. Was he scolded by his dad?"
"How can the father-"
"I'm not," Lan Wangji protested, obviously uncomfortable.
Jin Zixuan snickered. He couldn't help himself. After everything they faced, this was the only time Hanguang-Jun looked this scared without Wei Wuxian being in immediate danger.
A part of him sympathized. It was terrifying when his own child would cry and he didn't know what it was he wanted. Jin Zixuan couldn't feed him if he were hungry. He was grateful for the assistance of those around him, otherwise he'd probably do the same thing of standing around with a crying child clinging to him.
At least Hanguang-Jun didn't kick him away. There were many who wouldn't have stood there, especially once the situation called the attention of a crowd.
Embarrassment could easily lead to anger. Watching his own past mistakes made that very obvious. If this had happened to him, before his marriage, before he'd realized that he wasn't as good as his Sect always told him he was, he might have pushed away the crying child. He would have left him before anyone could whisper about him having a bastard.
"Listen everyone! You see? You must be his dad. Must be. Your noses look exactly the same. Don't you agree? Everyone?"
"Right."
"This man is so cold."
Wei Wuxian coughed to hide his laughter.
"Look how the child is crying. Was he scolded by his dad?"
"He doesn't even know to hug and comfort the child. Just leave him crying on the ground. How are you a father?"
"So young," Another defended, "It must be your first time as a father, yes? I didn't know anything like you back then. But I know everything now that my wife gave birth to a few more. Raising a child is a learning process."
MianMian didn't bother trying to disguise her laughter.
She wasn't sure what was funniest to her. The idea that Hanguang-Jun, who was intensely in love with Wei Wuxian, produced a child or that his distaste in talking to strangers only led to one token protest with all these assumptions. He didn't even react when they started giving him advice.
Or maybe it was the absurdity of the child picking Hanguang-Jun out of a crowd and then proceeding to cry on him.
Hanguang-Jun was an exceptionally competent man, but there he stood, defeated by something as non-threatening as an upset child. Would it be Wei Wuxian doing the bulk of the child care if they decided to adopt? Or was it a reflection of how Hanguang-Jun was treated as a child.
Her laughter trailed off at the thought. She doubted Zewu-Jun would just let his brother cry without being comforted, but Zewu-Jun couldn't always be there, and she couldn't imagine Lan Qiren being affectionate. There was the lingering mystery of what happened to their parents, but this gave her a little more insight.
A person fell back on what they knew in uncertain times. If she had an upset child, she would try singing to them the way her mother had sung to her. That Hanguang-Jun did nothing was…telling.
Wei Wuxian laughed openly as the crowd gave up on talking to Lan Wangji and bent down to ask A-Yuan, "Boy. Where is your mother?"
"Don't cry now. Where is his mother?"
Wei Wuxian considered intervening, then raised his voice, "Lan Zhan!"
Their gazes locked as Wei Wuxian hurried up to him.
"Who is this guy?"
"I don't know."
The people of Yiling couldn't even recognize the Yiling Patriarch.
Of course they couldn't recognize a persona that didn't exist.
Wei Wuxian's smile slipped as he remembered the crowd. He turned to them, "Please leave. Nothing to see now. Do what you were going to do."
Wei Wuxian put his hands on his hips as the crowd dispersed, leaving the three of them in the middle of the street, "Lan Zhan. What a coincidence. Why did you come to Yiling?"
"Night hunt," Lan Wangji answered, "Passing by."
Wei Wuxian nodded.
Lan Wangji looked down at the child still clinging to him, then back up, "This child…"
"Oh," Wei Wuxian knelt, then carefully removed A-Yuan from Lan Wangji's leg. He took his hand in his own, "This child…I gave birth to him."
Lan Wangji's eyes widened, but Wei Wuxian's laughter gave away his teasing.
Jiang Cheng slapped his own forehead.
Why couldn't Wei Wuxian just say things like a normal person? No. Of course not. He heard everyone ask about the mother and decided that was the role he fit. He couldn't say he was helping raise the kid, or informally adopted him, or he was the father. He had to say something outrageous just to see Hanguang-Jun's reaction.
It was only moderately comforting to see that this long in the Burial Mounds hadn't changed that about him. It was hard to tell how Wei Wuxian was during his own visit, since he was so upset that A-Jie was getting married and he wouldn't be able to go.
"Do you think he could make a baby with demonic cultivation?" Nie Huaisang asked.
Jiang Cheng just hit him.
But a few things did make more sense now. If Wei Wuxian claimed A-Yuan in front of Hanguang-Jun, and they were…whatever they were by Lan standards, was that why Zewu-Jun was looking at the kid like that?
"If Wei Wuxian and Hanguang-Jun get married, would you let them keep the kid?" Jiang Cheng asked.
It was ultimately up to the Wen. The thought of Wei Wuxian having kids never occurred to him before. How could it when Wei Wuxian was such a child himself? It wasn't a bad idea. Wei Wuxian was great with kids. He adored them, and children loved him right back.
Wen Qing considered his question, "Do you think it would be better for him?"
Better than with them at Lotus Pier?
"I can't imagine Hanguang-Jun being paternal," He answered, "But I also didn't consider him a romantic."
She hummed.
"A child raised by Hanguang-Jun and the Yiling Patriarch would have very little to fear," Nie Huaisang mused.
"And a lot to live up to," Jiang Cheng added.
But they weren't the same as their parents. They wouldn't leave their children to deal with their problems. They would always protect them. Their children wouldn't have the opportunity to earn titles as they did. There would be no war, and no centuries old monsters preying on them at their weakest.
"What did you do?" Wei Wuxian decided to ask, "Why is he crying?"
"I didn't do anything," Lan Wangji answered.
"Ah," Wei Wuxian nodded, then pointed at him, "I got it. Lan Zhan, pretty as you look, you always look angry. This child is still young. He can't tell beauty and ugliness, so once he saw your unfriendly face, he definitely would cry."
A-Yuan burrowed into Wei Wuxian's thigh. The older man patted his head, "Lan Zhan. Watch." Then he knelt down, cupping the child's face, "A-Yuan. Look, isn't it pretty?" He pointed to a nearby toy vendor, who held up a grass butterfly.
Distraction.
Jiang Yanli shook her head. She could have guessed that was his method of calming A-Yuan.
If something was upsetting him, just look away. Look at something pretty, something enjoyable, and just forget about the upset. Put more spice on food so that what's underneath is palatable. Even if it was trash beneath the spice, all he would taste was the spice.
Until he didn't have a sense of taste anymore.
If only desire was so easy to get rid of.
A-Yuan nodded, so Wei Wuxian stood up, "Come." And brought him closer.
They looked at the toys on display, "You like them? You really do?"
A-Yuan laughed.
"Mister, here," Wei Wuxian handed it back, "Come on."
A-Yuan's smile fell.
Lan Wangji, who had been watching, stopped him, "Wei Ying. Why didn't you buy it for him?"
"Why should I?" Wei Wuxian asked back.
"You asked if he wanted it," Lan Wangji argued, "Doesn't that mean you're going to buy it?"
"Asking is asking, buying is buying," Wei Wuxian countered, "Who said you have to buy once you ask?"
Lan Wangji gave up, looking at A-Yuan, "Which one do you want?" He looked back to the stand, "Among these, which do you want?"
A-Yuan pointed. Lan Wangji met Wei Wuxian's gaze again, before obligingly buying multiple toys for the child.
Who would have thought Hanguang-Jun would be the indulgent parent?
It was another piece of information that only made sense after watching this entire story.
Wei Wuxian grew up on the streets. He likely spent just as much time staring longingly at vendors. Looking was free after all. He'd never be able to purchase them himself. So he settled for just looking, and then going about his day as though he didn't want those things.
Just like he lived his life as an adult. Wanting something, but never willing to admit it because it was something unattainable.
Hanguang-Jun was also raised with restrictions, but it was different. He never lacked the means. He was restrained by the rules of his Sect. Those restraints were only as strong as his regard for them. As he got older and saw the flaws in those rules, he gained more and more freedom.
Still, as much as Hanguang-Jun wanted to give Wei Wuxian whatever he wanted, he didn't know what Wei Wuxian wanted.
So he indulged the child, knowing that Wei Wuxian cared for him.
Wei Wuxian took A-Yuan to the side to play with the toy swords as Lan Wangji settled paying for them. Wei Wuxian glanced away to catch Lan Wangji smiling at them. A-Yuan followed his gaze, and ran up to hug Lan Wangji's legs again.
Wei Wuxian lounged against the steps, "Lan Zhan. Congratulations! He's fond of you now. He'll hug the thighs of those he likes and never let go." Wei Wuxian paused, then got up, "So how about you quit your night hunt and we can have a meal together."
"A meal?" Lan Wangji echoed.
Wei Wuxian nodded, "Don't be cold. You've never come to Yiling and I ran into you. Let's talk about our old days." Lan Wangji just looked down, so Wei Wuxian grabbed his arm, "Come on. Let's go."
Just like before the war.
Would Wei Wuxian drag Hanguang-Jun around everywhere?
It wasn't like Hanguang-Jun would ever protest.
Many things in life were complicated, but for all its complications there were still simple truths.
Madam Jin was surprised she was still allowed to sit in this room. She thought, with the bastard now advising her son, that she would be considered a participant in her husband's crimes. But Jin Guangyao hadn't so much as pretended to interrogate her. There were no attempts at revenge for her humiliation of him.
Nothing. He hadn't so much as looked at her since Guangshan was confined.
Then again, without Guangshan they were nothing to each other. He didn't have to pretend to be nice to her so Guangshan would have the pleasure of seeing her put him in his place. She didn't have to attack him with Jin Zixuan now the Sect Leader, her son's own heir nestled in the arms of his wife.
A-Xuan was also now fully aware of what happened in the shadows of Koi Tower. He no longer needed her protection.
She still hated the bastard, but without Guangshan there…things were different.
A-Yuan played with his new toys as the two men sat on opposite sides of the table. The child kept getting closer and closer to Lan Wangji.
"A-Yuan. A-Yuan," Wei Wuxian scolded, "Come here. Come."
"No," A-Yuan sat down on Lan Wangji's lap, "No. I won't."
"A-Yuan," Wei Wuxian sighed, "You are in his way."
"It's fine," Lan Wangji assured him, "Let him sit."
Wei Wuxian smiled, "Well. A-Yuan. You've changed. Ready to turn to anyone for material benefit, huh?"
Lan Wangji hid his smile by drinking tea.
Nie Mingjue smiled at Xichen's smile.
Ah, so this was all it took for Wangji to fall in love again. A fight on the rooftop for Wei Wuxian. A hug in the streets for Wen Yuan.
"It almost makes me want children," Nie Mingjue muttered.
"You don't want children?" Lady Luo inquired.
He snorted, "Do I seem like the type?"
The young woman considered him, "Didn't you raise Nie Huaisang?"
"That isn't the same," Nie Mingjue dismissed.
There wasn't a choice for him. Their mother died when Huaisang was young. Their father died not much longer after that. It was him or leave Huaisang at the mercy of the elders. Even back then, Huaisang had been obviously…soft. He wanted to protect that as long as he could. He thought he succeeded.
If Nie Mingjue had a kid, who would he take after? Himself? Huaisang? Maybe he'd get lucky and the kid would take after their mother, or choose to emulate Xichen.
He almost laughed at himself for imagining a future where he had a child. He never would a few days ago.
"You'd make a good father, if that's what you're concerned about," Lady Qin murmured.
"If I ever meet the right woman," He murmured back, "Or one that meets Huaisang's standards."
Lady Luo snorted.
Their food was served soon after that, the child going back to his seat to enjoy his soup. He ate a few mouthfuls before holding some out, "Xian-gege."
Wei Wuxian ate it, "Good. It's good." He pinched A-Yuan's cheek, "You do know what filial piety means, huh?"
A-Yuan giggled.
"Eat without speech," Lan Wangji said, and when the child just stared at him blankly, repeated, "Don't talk when eating." A-Yuan nodded, then went back to eating silently.
"Outrageous!" Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Wangji, "I have to repeat myself several times before he obeys. Yet you just need to say it once. Outrageous."
Lan Wangji looked at the child, then back, "Eat without speech. You too."
Lan Xichen smiled.
This was the family Wangji deserved. This was the family waiting for him in the Burial Mounds as soon as they cleared Wei Wuxian's name of his final crime.
"I imagined he would misbehave," Uncle commented quietly.
"He would not have survived if he did not know how to listen," Wangji replied.
Lan Xichen closed his eyes. It wasn't that he was trying to ignore that A-Yuan would come with trauma. He was just confident Wangji and Wei Wuxian could give him the right home to thrive in. Maybe A-Yuan would listen better than other small children, maybe he would overcompensate and become a little hellion.
There was never a way of knowing.
Wei Wuxian laughed, "You didn't change a bit after all this time." He raised his alcohol, "Why did you come to Yiling? I'm familiar with things here. Do you want me to be your guide?"
Lan Wangji looked down and picked up his tea.
"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian shook his head, "You really are an awful liar. You're not coming for me, are you?"
Lan Wangji looked down again.
"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian lowered his drink, "I was going to ask you to come by my place, but if you want to talk about Qi, meditation and mind tranquility, then forget it. I can control myself. I need no one to save me."
Again with the misunderstandings.
Qin Su had never met Wei Wuxian in person before, but she was very tempted to hit him over the head with something when she did. If a man went against the orders of his family to visit her in exile, she wouldn't think he was there to lecture her on her choices.
Though that was the danger of being as quiet as Hanguang-Jun was. Wei Wuxian could guess some of his thoughts, but not all of them.
"Wei Ying-"
"Alright. Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian interrupted, "I finally met someone I knew from before who doesn't try to avoid me. It's been several very stuffy months. Why don't you tell me something about what big events happened out there?"
"Big events mean?" Lan Wangji clarified.
"Like if a new Sect appeared somewhere, whether a Sect expanded its residence, and which Sects allied, and so on," Wei Wuxian elaborated, "Chatting, you know? Anything is fine."
Lan Wangji considered this, then answered, "A marriage."
"A marriage?" Wei Wuxian beamed, "Which Sects?"
"The LanlingJin and the YunmengJiang," Lan Wangji said.
"Oh," A-Li whispered, "That's how he knew."
Jin Zixuan didn't ask, just patted her hand. Of course he knew about her and Jiang Wanyin's visit to Yiling. He hadn't been happy that she was taking such a risk so close to the wedding, but he understood how important Wei Wuxian was to her. If he couldn't come to their wedding, he could let him have a glimpse of what he'd truly care about.
A-Li, looking beautiful.
She grabbed his hand and held on tightly.
Perhaps it was a blessing that Hanguang-Jun was the one to deliver the news. Then Wei Wuxian could get the worst of his reaction out of the way.
Wei Wuxian froze, his expression going through a myriad of emotions, "You mean my Shi-" He cut himself off, "Jiang-guniang and Jin Zixuan?" Lan Wangji nodded, "When will it be? When's the ceremony?"
"Half a month," Lan Wangji answered.
Wei Wuxian looked devastated, then forced a smile, "Such a big event. Jiang Cheng didn't even try to find a way to tell me." He sighed, "However, even if he told me, what could I do then? Officially, Jiang Cheng announced to the world that I defected and I have nothing to do with the YunmengJiang anymore. What could I do even if he'd told me?"
He took another long drink, his breathing coming harder and tears coming to his eyes, "It's just that Jin Zixuan got what he desired," He cleared his expression again, "Lan Zhan, what do you think of this marriage?" Lan Wangji averted his gaze, "Oh, that's right. Why did I ask you? It's not like you ever cared about these things."
"I know that many say that Shijie doesn't deserve Jin Zixuan behind her back. In my eyes though, the peacock is the one who doesn't deserve my Shijie," Wei Wuxian's voice started to raise, and he slammed the alcohol on the table.
A-Yuan stuck his hand out to grab his wrist, calming him.
Wen Qing looked down.
It tore at her to see Wei Wuxian so upset. It was terrible to know she had her family at the price of his.
Sometimes, she wondered how it could possibly be enough. How could he sit there and smile with A-Yuan and not miss the youngest disciples of the Jiang Sect? How could he look at her and Wen Ning and not think of his own brother and sister?
Earlier, Wei Wuxian had been angry. Now, he was just resigned and depressed.
"It's not your fault," Jiang Wanyin whispered, "You can blame whoever you like, but don't blame yourself."
"This will be over soon," Nie Huaisang promised.
But did that make it better? He still missed the wedding, and the birth of his nephew.
"Lan Zhan, do you know? My Shijie, she deserves the best man in the world," Wei Wuxian insisted, "Jiang Cheng and I once said that we'll make Shijie's wedding one that everyone praises for a hundred years. None would be equal to it. I'll watch my Shijie get married with absolute splendor." The tears were back.
"Mn," Lan Wangji replied.
Wei Wuxian pouted, "What did you mn for? I won't be able to watch it anyway." He took another long drink, then brushed back A-Yuan's hair.
"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji started.
Wei Wuxian froze, his hand reaching into his robes. He pulled out a talisman that started burning. His eyes widened, "Oh no, something happened on the Burial Mounds. Lan Zhan, we have to go!"
"Were you going to invite him to the wedding?" Nie Huaisang asked.
Lan Wangji didn't know. He might have. He just knew that he couldn't sit there in silence while Wei Ying broke down. He wasn't good at comforting, that much had been made obvious to him. He couldn't make him feel better about missing the wedding unless he ensured he wouldn't miss the wedding.
"That would have made things interesting," Chifeng-Zun commented.
If Uncle hadn't killed him for it.
Jiang Yanli wouldn't have protested. Therefore, Jin Zixuan wouldn't have either.
Coming to Koi Tower would have been a death sentence for Wei Ying and the Wen Remnants. Lan Wangji wasn't enough to protect them from the Jin Sect's schemes. Then again, given enough preparation, they could have snuck Wei Ying into Lanling. Or they could have disguised him.
There were ways, and in the face of Wei Ying's despair, Lan Wangji would have offered anything.
But they were interrupted.
They were always interrupted.
Wei Wuxian scooped up A-Yuan and ran out.
Lan Wangji threw some money on the table, gathered up the boy's toys, and ran after, quickly catching up and stopping him.
"Lan Zhan? Why are you following us?" Wei Wuxian demanded.
"Why not fly on your sword?" Lan Wangji asked.
"Forgot it," Wei Wuxian answered.
Lan Wangji just took A-Yuan and started running again.
Wei Wuxian led the way, Chenqing held out at the ready. They found the beginning of the Wen Remant's residence being ransacked by resentment, the people being tossed around.
The calm of the domestic scene dissipated at the reminder of the dangers.
It was no longer Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji having a nice lunch in town with a small child.
It was the Yiling Patriarch and Hanguang-Jun going into battle again.
Wei Wuxian sent out a talisman to release one, then rose into the air. A burst of his own resentment drove back the attacking energy.
Though they should have guessed there wouldn't be much of a battle.
The Burial Mounds were Wei Wuxian's domain.
Hanguang-Jun didn't even need to pull his blade.
Lan Wangji handed A-Yuan over to Popo.
"Fourth Uncle?" Wei Wuxian assisted the older man, "What happened?"
"It's the Demon Subduing Cave," Fourth Uncle said, "Something happened there."
"Didn't I set a restriction there before I left?" Wei Wuxian asked, "Who changed it?"
"Nobody! It was…"
"A-Ning!" They heard Wen Qing scream.
Finally!
Nie Huaisang couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen, but his shoulders relaxed. Wei Wuxian wasn't even in the Burial Mounds when Wen Ning woke up. Sure, he set up the talismans that made it possible, but it wasn't in some sadistic ritual.
It was Wen Ning's resilience that brought him back.
Following her cries, they found a few more of the Wen Remnants battling an awakened Wen Ning.
"Wen Ning!" Wei Wuxian shouted.
Lan Wangji sent forward some of his spiritual energy to protect another Wen Remnant.
That got Wen Ning's attention, though his eyes were milky white. Wei Wuxian temporarily stopped him with another talisman, "I've been using the Amulet to cure Wen Ning, hoping it can help him regain his consciousness. This is the last step. I didn't expect that…"
"A-Ning!" Wen Qing caught up.
"Didn't I say do not touch the talismans on him?" Wei Wuxian asked.
"Nobody touched them!" Wen Qing shouted, "Not a single person went into the cave! He suddenly went on a rampage himself and ruined all the restrictions. The resentful energy in the blood pool all got released."
Those were some concerning words.
Jin Guangyao almost didn't want to know what the Demon Subduing Cave and the Blood Pool were. With Wei Wuxian's dramatics and terrible sense of humor, the name could come from some weirdly shaped rock or that he cut himself once in a memorable way.
There were some murmurs at the mention of the Amulet.
They really needed to find a solution to that. As long as the power existed, there would be those who sought it for themselves. He could guess that Huaisang planned to market Wei Wuxian's other creations, make him something irreplaceable in order to give him some measure of safety, but nothing he could invent would ever match the raw power of the Amulet.
Could it be destroyed? Would destroying it kill whoever performed the act?
Not that there were many who could perform such an act. Jin Guangyao had been studying demonic cultivation, but he'd never be as powerful as Wei Wuxian. His gaze fell to where Su Minshan still sat, rather smug since Jin Zixun's arrest. Even the two of them would not be enough, though it would be a fitting end.
There was still the piece of the Yin Iron in Xue Yang's possession to consider. What would destroying the Amulet accomplish if Xue Yang just managed to reforge it?
Wen Ning let out another burst of resentment.
"Wen Qing," Wei Wuxian stopped her from helping, "You take them away first."
She retreated with the other Wens.
Wei Wuxian darted forwards, testing the energy around Wen Ning. He was thrown back, but Lan Wangji caught him. Then Wen Ning hopped over the nearby ridge.
"The talisman wall was destroyed," Wei Wuxian said, "No one can stop him now. We can't let him go down the hill!"
They pursued.
Lan Wangji pulled out his guqin and began to play, immobilizing Wen Ning again.
Wei Wuxian started placing talismans over his body and manipulating the resentment within him. Eventually he traced a symbol over his chest, spinning back as soon as he finished.
"A-Ning!" Wen Qing shouted, "Hanguang-Jun, please go easy on him!"
Lan Wangji sent a gentle burst of energy that finally stopped Wen Ning's animalistic shouting. He dismissed his guqin and came to stand next to Wei Wuxian.
The next time Wen Ning opened his eyes, they were normal.
Jiang Yanli was amazed.
She knew that Wen Ning was unlike any other fierce corpse, but it was still amazing to see just how much A-Xian was able to bring back.
"I don't think that is replicable," Her husband said.
She hummed. She hoped no one would try to copy that. To begin with, no one had A-Xian's mastery of demonic cultivation. Nor did anyone possess the same skill as Hanguang-Jun. Not just his power or restraint, but his ability to work with and around A-Xian.
This only cemented that A-Xian and Hanguang-Jun could do anything.
Lan Wangji went to move forward, but Wei Wuxian stopped him, "Lan Zhan. Wait a second."
"G-gongzi," Wen Ning stammered.
Wei Wuxian ran forward, placing a hand on his shoulder, "Wen Ning."
"Wei-gongzi," Wen Ning rasped.
"A-Ning," Wen Qing touched his other shoulder.
Wen Ning turned to her, "JieJie."
"It's done! A-Ning woke up!" The other Wen cheered, "Let's go back and tell everyone!"
"It's me," Wen Qing cried, "It's your sister." She pulled him in for a hug.
How could anyone deny him a second chance at life?
No one could bring themselves to say Wen Ning should be destroyed. It was obvious that he was no longer a danger, not if he could recognize his loved ones. His eyes were clear, and they made him appear far more human than the rumors claimed.
After all he'd unfairly suffered, he deserved to continue existing.
Wei Wuxian turned back to Lan Wangji, offering a small smile.
The rest of the Wen Remnants came quickly, watching as Wen Wuxian performed an assessment, "How do you feel now?"
"I…I want to cry," Wen Ning answered, "But I can't."
"You just had a nightmare," Wei Wuxian assured him, "It's alright now."
"You did it," Lan Wangji praised.
Wei Wuxian walked up to him, "Of course. I am a man of my word."
They both watched the Wen siblings cling to each other.
Wei Wuxian did it.
Jiang Cheng knew that. He'd seen Wen Ning with his own eyes. But he hadn't seen Wen Ning and Wen Qing. It didn't fully strike him the enormity of what Wei Wuxian had done.
Of how well he fulfilled their debt to the siblings.
It was because of Wen Ning and Wen Qing that Jiang Cheng had been able to embrace his siblings again.
They were all lucky to still be able to do that.
"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian broke the silence, "Since you're here, why not pay a visit?"
Wei Wuxian brought Lan Wangji into his cave, which now held more candles and experiments.
"Demon-subduing cave?" Lan Wangji looked around.
"That's right," Wei Wuxian replied, "I came up with the name. How is it?"
Lan Wangji looked away.
"Terrible," Nie Huaisang declared.
MianMian agreed. The place didn't deserve such an intimidating name. Not when Wei Wuxian had settled in so well. There was actually a bed, and all the candles gave it enough light that she could almost forget it was in the Burial Mounds. What was the point of such a name anyways?
The Wen Remnants knew he was no demon.
Everyone else was too scared to approach the Burial Mounds, much less sneak into where he was sleeping.
It would be impossible to kill Wei Wuxian like that.
Or most means. He was like a cockroach that way. That wasn't to say that he couldn't die, but no one would kill him unless he let himself be killed.
Wei Wuxian was self-sacrificial enough to let that happen.
"I know," Wei Wuxian said, "In your heart, you must be saying 'not good'. Actually I picked up some comments out there, saying that I'm a person who studies demonic cultivation and how could I be so shameless as to call my den the Demon-subduing cave?"
Wei Wuxian continued to walk around him, "But they're all wrong. What I really meant with the name is not at all what they interpreted it as and its meaning is also different from what the Demon-subduing Palace Xue Chonghai built means."
"How?" Lan Wangji turned around to face him.
"Simple," Wei Wuxian said, "Just because I sleep here often. A cave with a demonic man lying. Shouldn't it be the Demon-subduing cave?" He grinned at the pun, "Come on. Let me show you around."
It was an unnecessary reminder that Wei Wuxian wasn't who they said he was.
It was also an unnecessary reminder that they very easily could have forced him to become the very monster they feared.
Further back in the former palace was a pool of blood, guarded by talismans.
"The energy is dense," Lan Wangji observed.
"That's right," Wei Wuxian replied, "The Yin energy is dense but fit for cultivation. This is my healing land, just like your Sect's cold spring. Wen Ning used to be here for healing, but since the Amulet drew Wen Ning's original resentment out of his body, the water in the pool started smelling more and more like blood. So it's called the Blood Pool."
"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji turned to him.
"What?" Wei Wuxian asked.
"Can you really control it?" Lan Wangji asked.
And they were back to this.
Qin Su sighed. Even when Hanguang-Jun used his words, he used the wrong ones. It was like Jiang Wanyin's visit all over again. Neither seemed able to voice their true concerns.
Jiang Wanyin focused on the opinions of the cultivation world, when he was truly worried about losing his brother.
Hanguang-Jun was once again focused on control, on the potential effects of demonic cultivation, when he was also just worried about Wei Wuxian. No wonder Wei Wuxian struggled to see that others care about him when they hid their worry behind other concerns.
Though she would be a little concerned if the love of her life showed her a pool of blood he had in his back rooms. Even if it wasn't threatening.
"Control what?" Wei Wuxian evaded, "You mean Wen Ning? Of course I can." He started walking away, "Look, he's already returned to consciousness."
"What if he lost consciousness again?" Lan Wangji wondered.
Wei Wuxian paused, "I've been the expert on dealing with his rampages. Now he is controlled by the Amulet. As long as I can control the Amulet, nothing will happen to him."
Lan Wangji paused, then continued, "But what if something does happen to you or the Amulet?"
"It wont," Wei Wuxian assured him.
"How could you be sure?"
"It won't," Wei Wuxian repeated, more serious, "And it can't."
"Wangji," Lan Xichen sighed.
All he had to do was clarify that his concern was not about Wei Wuxian losing control and what it would mean to others, but for Wei Wuxian himself.
If only Wei Wuxian cared about himself.
"I know," Wangji said.
It went beyond that though. Wei Wuxian didn't like to admit weakness. He didn't like to admit he was helpless. He couldn't, not when admitting he was weak could potentially lead to the truth about his golden core. So he had to pretend like he was strong, that he wasn't concerned about the future.
How would he react to everyone knowing about his golden core?
Probably not well.
Lan Xichen grimaced. Definitely not well. He hoped Wangji and Jiang Wanyin's communication skills had improved seeing their past failures, but Wei Wuxian was evasive.
"You want to keep it this way from now on?" Lan Wangji asked.
Wei Wuxian smiled, "What's wrong with keeping it this way? Tell you what. Don't underestimate this land. This mountain here is even bigger than Cloud Recesses. Our food here tastes much better too."
"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji scolded, "You know what I mean."
"Lan Zhan, you…" Wei Wuxian trailed off, then turned to him, "You really are something out of this world. I've already avoided the topic and you brought it up again." He then turned to cough violently into his arm.
"Your injuries," Lan Wangji grabbed his arm.
Wei Wuxian wrenched it back, "No need. Why use spiritual energy for such a small wound? I can just sit here and it'll heal itself." He turned away.
Now he was scared.
Wei Ying was scared of him finding out the truth, so he didn't let him close.
Lan Wangji found it oddly calming. He now knew the reason behind his behaviors, and he had a tentative plan to address them. He just needed to make it extremely obvious that he didn't care what state Wei Ying was in. He loved Wei Ying, whatever his status might be, whatever his strengths were currently in, wherever he might be calling home.
He needed to be clear.
He could do that.
"It'll heal itself?" Wen Qing demanded, "Am I dead?"
Both Wen siblings smiled as they approached with a small tray.
"Wei-gongzi," Wen Ning spoke in a stronger voice, "Lan-er-gongzi."
"Why are you here?" Wei Wuxian asked, "Finished crying so soon?"
Wen Qing huffed and narrowed her eyes, "Just watch how I'll make you cry later."
Wei Wuxian scoffed and crossed his arms, "What a joke! Just by yourself?"
Wen Qing walked behind him and hit his back, forcing up the bad blood. Wei Wuxian shakily turned to her and pointed an accusing finger, "You…you are so cruel."
"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji caught him as he swooned.
Nie Mingjue snorted.
For someone trying hard to hide a secret, he couldn't resist falling into Wangji's arms.
He felt more assured they would work things out. If their last meeting had been at Qiongqi Pass, he would have worried more. But seeing this, seeing Wangji with A-Yuan and how Wei Wuxian still joked and tried to be his normal self, it settled his lingering doubt.
Maybe they would all be okay.
Not now. Maybe not for some time, but eventually.
The Wen Sect tried to destroy them. They failed. The Jin Sect tried to turn them against each other. They also failed.
What they did succeed in breaking could be fixed.
"I have crueler things," Wen Qing drawled, holding her needles up, "Do you want to see?"
Wei Wuxian's eyes crossed as he focused on the needles, and he pushed her arm away as he evaded, "Spare me please. I wouldn't want to try that."
"Wei-gongzi," Wen Ning drew closer, "I'm sorry."
"Ay," Wei Wuxian patted his shoulder, "Enough, enough. You really thought you could hurt me with a punch like that?"
They moved away from the blood pool, Lan Wangji going to sit by a table. Wen Ning set down a cup of water.
"Wait a second," Wei Wuxian interjected, "What's going on? How can you let a guest drink plain water? Where is the tea?"
"I asked and they said there was no tea," Wen Ning answered.
"That's so inappropriate, Wen Ning," Wei Wuxian scolded, "The next time a guest comes over, we must prepare…" He trailed off, "Right. We won't have more guests."
Lan Wangji just nodded.
Jiang Cheng added that to the growing list in his head.
It hadn't been discussed yet, but he was planning to take the Wen Remnant to Lotus Pier. Yunmeng was closest to Yiling. Madam Liu would recognize Wen Ning. She'd vouch for him, and by extension his family.
He should have done it from the beginning. It wouldn't be too hard to settle them in now. He had been meaning to expand the medical quarters. Maybe he could put their new residence around there. Make it clear Wen Qing was there as a doctor, and that her word was law when it came to medicine.
They would have whatever they wanted.
Everything they'd lacked during their exile.
Not long after that, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were back outside the cave, overlooking the small settlement.
"Let's go," Wei Wuxian walked forward, "I'll see you off down the hill."
Lan Wangji walked behind him. They didn't speak as they made their way to the boundary.
Then Wei Wuxian stopped, "Lan Zhan, you asked me if I intended to keep it this way from now on. To be honest, I'd also like to ask what I can do except this? Give up on demonic cultivation and surrender the Amulet? Then what about the people on this mountain?" He looked at him, "Turn them in? I can't do that."
"I believe that if you were me, you couldn't do that either," Wei Wuxian continued, "Can anybody give me a nice, favorable choice? A choice where I could protect those I want to protect without needing the demonic arts and using the Amulet?"
Lan Wangji didn't reply.
Wei Wuxian looked away, "Lan Zhan. Thank you." Lan Wangji finally looked at him, "Thanks for your company today and thanks for telling me that Shijie's going to marry." He sighed, "But, let the self judge the right and the wrong. Let others decide to praise or to blame. Let gains and losses remain uncommented on."
"What I should do…I know it," Wei Wuxian looked at him again, "I believe that I'll be able to control it well." He smiled tightly, though Lan Wangji was no longer looking at him.
Lan Wangji closed his eyes, his expression tightening.
Beautiful words once again from Wei Wuxian.
And once again they were said to Hanguang-Jun.
Did he hear it again? The brutal honesty, the thinly veiled yearning. The resignation he was trying to pass off as being at peace with his circumstances.
Did Wei Wuxian know how much pain his words caused the man who loved him?
Did he know how much pain his words now caused those who had come to care for him?
There was never another choice. Not one Wei Wuxian could live with.
"Gege!" A-Yuan emerged, clinging to Lan Wangji's leg again, "Gege! Stay today and eat with us?" He rocked back and forth with a hopeful smile.
"Wei-gongzi," Popo came after him, "I'm sorry. A-Yuan-"
Wei Wuxian shook his head, then dismissed her with a nod.
"A-Yuan, come here," Wei Wuxian held out his hand again, "Come on, A-Yuan," He easily swung the child up into his arms and balanced him on his hip, "This gege has food back in his own home. He won't be staying."
"But A-Yuan heard a secret," A-Yuan protested, "They said that there'll be lots of tasty food today."
"A-Yuan," Wei Wuxian scolded, then turned to Lan Wangji with a little hope in his eyes.
"I'm leaving," Lan Wangji said.
If Wei Ying had asked, he would have stayed.
If Wei Ying had given him any indication that his presence by his side wouldn't have just been another burden, he would have stayed.
Lan Wangji wished he had stayed.
Wei Wuxian nodded, staying in the clearing to watch him leave. He started back into the Burial Mounds, glancing every few steps but Lan Wangji didn't stop.
"Xian-gege," A-Yuan started, "Will Rich-gege ever come here again?"
"Who is Rich-gege?" Wei Wuxian stopped to ask?"
"The rich brother is Rich-gege," A-Yuan explained.
Wei Wuxian snatched his toy from his hand, "You really like him that much, huh?"
Lan Wangji froze while he was still in hearing distance. He turned around to watch them.
Just missing each other.
Just out of sync.
"Rich-gege?" Nie Huaisang smiled, "I hope he keeps calling Hanguang-Jun that."
It was sad that the boy would look at a Lan and consider that the height of luxury, but it was also funny. Wei Wuxian would complain daily about living in Cloud Recesses, but their son would have the time of his life.
"He does know how to use people's names," Wen Qing sighed.
"That's no fun," Nie Huaisang clicked his tongue, "I'm going to tell him to call Jiang Cheng Purple-gege."
"You better not," Jiang Cheng glowered at him.
"Angry-gege," He teased.
His friend growled.
A-Yuan hopped to get it back, "Give it back!"
"Try to get it," Wei Wuxian teased, "Try."
"Give it back! He bought it for me!"
"I won't," Wei Wuxian spun him around in circles, "Unless you say that you like Xian-gege."
"I like Xian-gege," A-Yuan repeated.
Lan Wangji watched as Wei Wuxian gave it back and pinched his cheek. Then he took the little boy's hand again and they continued up the path.
"Xian-gege, will Rich-gege come back again or not?" A-Yuan asked.
Wei Wuxian sighed, "Probably not."
A-Yuan wiped at his eye, "Why?"
"There's no why," Wei Wuxian considered the question, "In this world, everyone has their own things to do, their own paths to walk."
A-Yuan nodded in understanding.
"Who cares about the crowded, broad avenue?" Wei Wuxian raised his voice, "I'll stick to my single-log bridge until it's dark."
Lan Wangji watched him disappear into the darkness, then turned away and finally left.
It was an interesting outlook on life.
For so many, they didn't have to forge their own path in life. They simply had to follow the road laid down by their ancestors. They never looked to the side. They never wondered what possibilities were hidden just off the beaten path.
No one strayed from the path. No one dared to.
Forging one's own path was dangerous. To leave the road was to be alone. If one stumbled on their new path, there wouldn't be others nearby to help them. It would be so easy to become lost when one's direction was unclear.
Wei Wuxian had no choice but to stick to his new path, regardless of the dangers.
But who decided the most traveled road was the best one?
Wei Wuxian turned his declaration into a little song as full darkness settled in, and he bounced A-Yuan to its beat. He froze when he saw the lanterns set up outside. A-Yuan slipped from his arms and ran ahead, "Dark? Not dark at all."
The child held his hand out expectantly, and Wei Wuxian moved to his side to take it, admiring the lanterns. He went inside to see everyone eating.
Everyone rose as he made his way further in.
At least he wasn't completely alone.
Wei Wuxian may be the one testing the strength of this new path, but it was only so he could guide others to safety.
It may not be the family he imagined he'd have, or the love of his life by his side, but it was someone.
"You have hung so many lanterns today, isn't that too costly?" Wei Wuxian asked.
"We hung them for you," Wen Qing answered, "We'll make more tomorrow to hang them along the mountain path. If you rush around in the dark all the time, you'll slip and break your bones someday." A few snickered, "Why not sit?"
"Okay. Let's sit," Wei Wuxian sat, but everyone else was still crowded around him, "Why? Haven't you started yet?"
"No," Wen Qing answered, "We were waiting for you."
"Why did you wait for me?" Wei Wuxian asked.
Fourth Uncle poured him a cup of something, and Wen Qing presented it to him, "These past few days, you've worked hard."
"You're suddenly talking so nicely to me," Wei Wuxian accepted, "I'm kind of scared."
The Wen Remnants laughed.
"Actually, they all wanted to have dinner with you, so they could thank you," Wen Qing explained, "But you're either jumping up and down, running around, or shut inside the Cave and staying there for days upon end, not letting anyone disturb you. They didn't want to hold up your work and annoy you."
"They thought you didn't like interacting with others and didn't want to talk to them, so they were embarrassed to talk to you," Wen Qing continued, smiling, "Now, A-Ning has woken up, and everyone was busy celebrating. So they didn't have time to talk to you. It's fine even if you don't eat. Just sit here with everyone, and we can chat and have a few drinks."
Everyone dispersed to sit and begin.