mdzs-fics

[mdzs-fics]

Three short stories about a young Wei Ying

These stories involve fusions with other danmei works.

A Water King's Boy by Cafe_Smut

Archive warning: Major Character Death

Módào Zǔshī | Tiān Guān Cì Fú fusion 2k words

In this unexpected short story, a god is prayed to and an answer is given. Well, perhaps not a god …

“Hi, i’m- not sure if im doin’ this right.” freezing mid chew, he blinks. ‘My A-Die says in his home they pray to the Water Master, but A-Nian says he bad. I dunno what ta do, but i don’t like how that temple feel but i find this and it had a ‘bone fishy’ like A-Nian said you had.

Author Cafe_Smut briefly shows us the life and death of Wei Wuxian through four encounters with Hè Xuán, Black Water Submerging Boats.

This is part of a series titled Danmei Soup & Salad. I found this story after reading the first story in that series.

Spirited Away by PhantomWriter

Word of Honor | Módào Zǔshī fusion 2k word

White. White as the storm of snow. Long white hair and robes billowed in the harsh wind. A ghost, Wei Ying thought immediately. He had heard of tales of a white ghost around the town, one that would eat unruly children who strayed out of their beds late at night. He used to believe that the white ghost had yet to find him, though now that he was found, oddly enough, he was not afraid.

Author PhantomWriter writes about a young Wei Ying, found during a raging snowstorm.

This is part of a series, also called Spirited Away. I found the series after reading the second story in the series, Hereafter with Wei Wuxian attending the Gusu Lectures.

Things Not Left Unsaid by Katana_Pistol

Módào Zǔshī | Tiān Guān Cì Fú fusion 2k words

Even though his legs were bleeding from the dog bites and his feet and hands were dirty, Wei Ying ran out and collided with the ugly man. “Leave him alone!” Wei Ying shouted, trying to raise his voice to sound more threatening. “Stop being mean! It’s not right!”

In which young Wei Ying comes to the assistance of a scrap seller being assaulted in Yiling and ends up with a new family.

A nice start to what could be planned as a larger work.

#mdzs fic recs #wei ying #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #tcgf #word of honor

[mdzs-fics]

Hi! Do you know any fics where wanxian meet in early childhood, like, before the jian clan took wwx in? I'm new to mdzs and a bit overwhelmed by the amount of fics 😅

Early Wangxian

There are a number of fics out there that have Wei Ying and Lan Zhan meet as children and grow up together. Time-travel of one sort or another is usually involved. Here are three of my favorites.

The Young Masters of Four Seasons Manor by gaotamao 22 chapters, 92k word, complete

I previously reviewed this story here. It is a mix of Módào Zǔshī and the Untamed, as well as Faraway Wanderers and Word of Honor (a quite different tale that was turned into a Chinese drama, well worth watching.) The story involves two Immortals acting as adoptive parents of our two heroes.

It starts with the Universe turning back time 23 years for Reasons. And Immortals taking note.

All will be well when the day is done by abCEE 8 chapter, 86k words, complete

In which Yu Ziyuan has a nightmare of her future life and arranges things so that Jiang Fengmian never finds Wei Ying. Rather than killing the child outright, she dumps Wei Ying's fevered body in Caiyi instead …

I just reread the last chapter. The ending produces tears every time.

The Dreams of Youth by sami 25 chapters, 85k words, complete

Another story in The Same Moon Shines universe, this one starts with a five-year old Lan Zhan aiding his mother's escape from Gusu. From there they go to Yiling to rescue a very young Wei Ying, and eventually end up traveling through Meishan Yu territory, where they meet a matriarch known as "Popo".

Canon and non-canon events ensue.

#mdzs fic recs #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #the untamed #word of honor #wei wuxian #lan wangji #lan quiren #wen kexing #zhou zishu #lan yuan #most characters from mdzs

[mdzs-fics]

A Night Light for the Elder Gods by nerdzeword

lighthouse au, modern setting 6 chapters, complete 28k words

There was nothing strange about the lighthouse. Anyone on the island would tell you so. If the building let out soft groans of pain every so often, that was just the old wood and the salty air taking its toll. If the light would flicker nervously in the early morning hours, it was nothing but the electric acting up again - you know how it is with these newfangled technologies. Similar logical explanations could be found for the visions of apparitions that would sometimes appear on the cliffs just after dawn, and the voices they could hear on the wind. There was nothing strange about the lighthouse.

Except for, of course, its keepers.

This was the information that Lan Wangji was given when he was assigned his new post. It was meant to be a punishment. In a way it was fitting, he doesn't think an entire clan of witches deserve to be killed off simply because their leader was an asshole, so therefore he must spend six months living with the few of them that are left. He was well aware that his own clan liked to think of him as an example to his peers. He was the light of the clan while he was doing as he was told, and an impressionable little boy, prone to being led astray, when he spoke against them. It did not seem to matter that he was twenty four, and had been venerated and bestowed with a title that spoke of his great deeds during the war. All that seemed to matter was that he would not obey.

A part of him wondered if he would ever be able to go back to seeing his clan as a peaceful place that upheld justice. It did not seem likely at the rate things were going.

“What is so strange about the keepers?” he asked his brother, who was dutifully reading a history of the lighthouse to him.

A Night Light for the Elder Gods is an eerie tale. There is mystery, and intrigue, and a lightkeeper who has actually been there for a number of years. Nobody else has stayed for more than six months. This world has magic, but it is not cultivation. Lan Wangji is a witch. As is the other lightkeeper, Wei Wuxian.

There are faint echoes of the original Módào Zǔshī. There was a war. And the aftermath. The island, Haizang Dao, is sanctuary to the remaining Wen clan. We learn a bit of the backstory and a lot more about Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. There are ghosts, and a rescue at sea. And a secret or three unfold.

The story picks up speed as each chapter finishes. The final chapter feels like a full-on gallop, involving empathy with a young ghost, yet another rescue at sea, and, possibly, tentacles.

Throughout the story, Jin Guangyao is as nasty as ever.

I enjoyed the world building, the characterization of the Wen, the descriptions of the lighthouse and island, tinged with just enough of the eerie to make things interesting.

In addition, there is the final admonishment: "Care for the light".

#mdzs fic recs #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #the untamed #wei wuxian #lan wangji #wen qing #lan yuan #a qing

[mdzs-fics]

ridiculous future bullshit by sami

Future Fic 19 works 61K words

While rereading through works related to Author sami's And Time Is But A Paper Moon, reviewed here and here and here, I remembered reading the ridiculous future bullshit series. Through 19 short works of fiction, Author sami creates a reasonable facsimile of what the future looks like if six Immortals survive into the 21st century, forming the Five Nations.

Note: Author sami tells us "So this is the actual first-ish entry in the ridiculous future bullshit series, which of course means it is still the purest trash, it's bullshit and any complaints will still be met with you were warned."

Let's take a quick look at a few of the tales.

Now Showing: Hanguang-Jun And The Yiling Patriarch

Wei Wuxian rubs his nose. "Look, I'm guessing you're okay with your movie being, like… complete bullshit, right?"

"They are okay with that. They are so very fucking okay with that," Steve snaps.

"Okay." Wei Wuxian grins, and Dennis suddenly absolutely believes that he is talking to a trickster god. "You don't want to put Sandu Shengshou in this movie, trust me. And if you make this about sh- Jiang Yanli's actual marriage, then she might cry, and then Sandu Shengshou and I will have to raze this place to the fucking ground and salt the earth on which it stood, nobody wants that kind of hassle. But you can have a poor girl named Mo Fan - she has a terrible family, make it a bit like Cinderella, that was an okay movie."

Wei Wuxian has seen Cinderella.

Dennis notices that a sparkly princess crown has fallen out of Wei Wuxian's shopping bags.

"Mo Fan," he croaks. "Got it. Cinderella."

Wei Wuxian nods earnestly. "And a handsome prince named Jin Guangyao meets her and falls in love with her. He's in town to… try and help the villagers rebuild after the famine that drew the monsters there," he says. "Because he's just a really good guy. You can say it sends messages about how not all heroes are stabby fighters."

In which an animated movie Hanguang-Jun and the Yiling Patriarch is discussed with its Producer while the poor, ignored Five Nations consultant recognizes the two Immortals in the Producer's office.

Let's just say the original premise featuring "the story of Hanguang-Jun, a noble prince, who defeats the monsters terrorising the city of Yiling with the help of the grizzled old Yiling Patriarch, and in the process falls in love with a local maiden, Princess Lotus Blossom." is not appreciated.

Flick of the Wrist

Dernier is famous. He's been on television in sixteen countries. She's bound to be impressed.

He skips actually attending the afternoon session in favour of writing and then recording a long YouTube video about the Symposium. He titles it Inside the Top Secret Medical Conference You've Never Heard Of, and uploads it with a smirk. That'll show them for not actually inviting him.

In which a Famous Medical Researcher attends a Symposium held by Wen Qing. Once.

Lan Zhan's University Days (JAFFY)

Ziyuan gives him a look. "Last I checked, you weren't in charge of the computer science department, shushu, and this is what I have to do if I want to pass."

Jiang Ying scowls. "We'll see about that," he says darkly. He leaves the room briefly and comes back with a laptop of his own. It looks like it was probably sleek and expensive once, but now it's covered with glitter stickers. He sets it on the table and turns it on; when he clears away the windows he did have up, Jordan thinks she sees a browser tab open to YouTube frozen on a still frame of a Hanguang-Jun and the Yiling Patriarch fanvid.

Jiang Ying really seems to like that movie. He wears Hanguang-Jun and the Yiling Patriarch t-shirts at least once a week.

"You run Suibian?" Peter, one of the other students, sounds impressed. Jordan has heard of it - it's an open-source operating system, which is apparently important. Her sister is Very Into Computers, and talks about it a lot, apparently it's way better than other operating systems. Ava keeps trying to get Jordan to let her install it on her computer.

"I wrote Suibian," Jiang Ying says absently, typing rapidly.

"Holy shit," Peter breathes. "You're Axian?" He pronounces it Axe-ian.

"A-Xian," Jiang Ying corrects, still typing. "But you can't call me that, stick to Jiang Ying. I wrote it for my brother and sister, they needed something with actual security for their… work."

"Why does the source code say my sword is always at your service?" Peter asks eagerly. "Everyone has so many theories about that. Do you play D&D?"

"I don't. It says that because for them, it is. Hush now, do your work, I'm busy," Jiang Ying says, tossing a smile over his shoulder. Text is scrolling rapidly through several terminal windows.

In which Lan Zhan goes to veterinary school and the entire class is adopted for the semester after failing their first exam because Students Were Distracted.

Characters encountered here are met again and again in other tales. Some characters become more important than others.

And there are kittens.

The stories are not canon and are definitely not to be taken too seriously. Still … they are an exceptionally enjoyable read.

And yes, I enjoy YouTube "The Untamed" themed crack videos as well.

#mdzs fic recs #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #the untamed #Wei Wuxian #Lan Zhan #Jiang Cheng #Jiang Yanli #Lan Huan #Wen Qing #Lan Sizhui #and a large number of OCs

[mdzs-fics]

straight was a path of gold (for him), the need of a world of men (for me) by naqaashi

Very Dark Series: 4 works complete 10 k words

In canon, there has always been a deep darkness within the Lan sect. If one believes that being Righteous justifies all things, no one can do more evil than a Righteous Sect. Calamity is the result.

straight was a path of gold (for him), the need of a world of men (for me) is a set of four connected stories that begins shortly after the events at the Guanyin temple. The final acts of Lan Wangji in the sullen wind are followed by a reckoning for Lan Xichen in perfectly pure and good.

What follows in and thus we sit together now is a tale of unexpected revenge. It leads into the final story all his heart's endeavour, in which all things are tied together.

These stories are bitter. There is no sugar-coating to make things seem better than they are. Be warned that the imagery is dark, yet powerful. It is not for the faint of heart. Read the tags and consider kicking them up a notch or two when deciding whether you want to read these stories.

There is a quiet resolution though. In most every part of the multiverse it is inescapable.

#lan wangji #wei wuxian #lan xichen #jin guanyao #lan sizhui #mdzs fic recs #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #the untamed

[mdzs-fics]

More short fiction

I've been saving a few of these for a while, and hope you find something that suits your interests among this list of ten stories.

江湖 | jianghu by dragongirlG

Explicit AU - Chinese Mythology & Folklore 7 chapters (complete) 25k words

Author dragongirlG shows us how the term 江湖 | jianghu can be defined through the lives (and deaths) of Wei Wuxian through time. Different eras in Chinese history are explored through short chapters, each complete in itself. Most of these stories do not end happily (well, Wei Wuxian dies, of course …) The diaspora story was extremely interesting.

Rainbow-Faceted Heart by DrPanda99

AU - Chinese Mythology & Folklore 5 chapters (complete) 18k words

Wei Ying approached it carefully. The snake was so still that he thought it dead until it flickered one of its long whiskers. Wait, whiskers?

He held his hand out carefully, hoping it would not bite. It flicked its tail sluggishly as he reached under it, but made no further movements. Wei Ying picked it up carefully, but when his hand went to support its head, it stiffened. He shifted his hands lower down its body and the tense muscles relaxed.

“Hey, little guy,” said Wei Ying. The snake’s strangeness was even more apparent up close—the shape of its head was not quite right. Before he could examine it further, he gasped.

There was a long, jagged gash under its neck and chest. The wound wasn’t bleeding, but its edges were bright red—still fresh.

“What kind of bird got you?” asked Wei Ying.

The snake didn’t reply.

A snake is found and rescued. A martial brother arrives and discovers Wei Ying was disabled during the last war. A scholar arrives asking for shelter from the rain. And there is war in the heavens.

Step by step by apathyinreverie

Modern AU 1 chapter, complete 12K word [Must have an account with Archive of Our Own in order to read. An invitation is readily provided on the website.]

Maybe some of the people present had been hoping Lan Zhan might have misspoken or maybe that they themselves might have misheard what he said.

Either way, with the confirmation of his objection to a deal they have apparently been working on for months now, everyone seems at an impasse of how to proceed. Especially since it is no secret in their circles that, as much as Xichen might be the actual heir to their family’s medical empire, the one who makes the decisions regarding their company, his brother would never do something he knows Lan Zhan disapproves of where their family is concerned. It’s a fact.

His brother always puts family first.

This Time With Lanterns by ChaoticAndrogynous

6k words

In which there is a wedding.

"He’s reminded of a mother hen, if it was made of black smoke and the desire for vengeance. So, a mother goose, maybe."

What Do You Want To Be Now? by KayCeeBabe

2k words

In which there is a confession.

“Wei Ying, what do you want to be now?”

I Wanna be Fluent in Your Love Language by KayCeeBabe

1k words

In which Words are Spoken.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji says. “I will always love you. No matter what.”

You in me, you are mine, my everything by BriaPia

24k words

In which Hanguan-Jun is a member of the Baixue Temple sect when the events start at Mo Manor

“Do you trust him?”

“With my life,” he replied instantly, he knew Song Zichen would accept his request, but he needed to make clear the amount of trust he deposited on Wei Ying. To either his own sect leader or the rest of the world, Lan Wangji didn’t care, but he would make sure no doubt about that particular topic ever arose.

【为梦想而战】for this dream, i'll fight by paradisetrain [restricted]

27K words

In which Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian play Cultivation Arena professionally. Jin Guangyao is evil.

Lan Wangji thinks about it. He opens his mouth, then closes it. He wonders, why has no one thought of this before?

It's fear, he decides. Fear of deviating from the norm, fear of venturing into something never done before. Fear of being the first. All the current CultArena pros are too scared of failure. Of the mockery that awaits them when their leap of faith turns into freefall.

Wei Wuxian had never hesitated to take that leap.

Seasons of Falling Flowers by merakily

40K words

In which Lan Qiren changes his opinion of Wei Wuxian. It is not a simple thing. [Post-Guanyin Temple.]

“Will you rejoin your sect?” As soon as the words leave his mouth, Lan Qiren regrets his wording.

He is not surprised when Wangji’s eyes narrow, flashing with offence. “There is no need to rejoin what one has never left. I did not turn my back on my sect. My sect turned their backs on me.”

into the dark by xxshigurexx (Shunou)

Alternate AU 32k words

This is a series of 9 short tales, each continuing along the same theme: Wen Ying grows up as the Third Young Master of the Wen.

Each story may be read separately. Highly recommended for another view of life among the Wen and the other cultivation sects. The stories cover the time from Wen Ying's discovery in Yiling through the aftermath of the burning of Lotus Pier.

It starts with what haunts the dark

The furrow in Wen Ruohan’s brow grows deeper, until the tiny thing speaks with its unmistakably childish, pitiful voice, “You should not be here, Mister. It is not safe.”

Wen Ruohan laughs, confusing the rest of his entourage who are standing stiff with dread. “Who told you that, boy?”

The boy, his robes tattered and caked with a thick layer of dirt, walks closer and stops in front of Wen Ruohan. Such bravery, or perhaps it is born out of fearlessness, out of having nothing more to lose. “The shadows,” the boy answers dutifully.

#mdzs fic recs #lan zhan #wei ying #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #the untamed

[mdzs-fics]

The Shade of Old Trees by Kryal

Action/Adventure Alternate … just Lots of Alternate, with a Modern Setting 9 of 25 chapters WIP 128k words

In his defense, Wen Yuan hadn’t planned to jump in front of a bunch of twitchy guys holding guns.

Except that his head had been full of a horrible jumble of he’s alive, he’s alive, he’s alive and they’re going to kill him…!, and the security guys had left the door open, and he hadn’t known what he was going to do beyond something but he had to do it!

“Don’t get in the way, kid!” the guy in front snapped, and oh great, Wen Yuan actually recognized him, this was the same guard who always kept trying to kick him out because high school students didn’t belong running around the university, even though no one else cared and he even had official permission to come. “He’s dangerous, he attacked Doctor Lan, move!”

“Of course he did!” Wen Yuan snapped back impatiently, not budging. “What would you do if you suddenly woke up and you’d been kidnapped by aliens?! That’s got to be how he feels right now!”

One of the other guards made a strangled noise, and the third’s lips twitched slightly. The guy in the front just spluttered – and spluttering was fine, it was even good, Wen Yuan would take it, especially when spluttering meant the guy had lowered his gun a little bit…

“…pfft…”

He blinked and looked over his shoulder. Because Yiling Laozu had just laughed. Okay, not laugh-laughing, but he knew a snicker when he heard one, and the man’s silvery-grey eyes were… he’d always thought the expression about eyes dancing was a bit of poetic license, but this time Wen Yuan was pretty sure that no other phrase would fit.

Blinking again, Wen Yuan smiled tentatively, and felt his heart squeeze a little when he got an amused grin in return. Because that wasn’t I’m in over my head and don’t know what to do, Wen Yuan knew what that looked like from Mo Xuanyu. That was this whole situation is unexpectedly hilarious.

Sputtering became a snarl. “You think this is funny, huh?!”

The next second got… confusing.

There was a pow sort of noise. Suddenly Wen Yuan wasn’t standing where he’d been, because he’d been pushed off to the side and Yiling Laozu was there instead, eyes narrowed and face hard, one arm raised with a closed fist in front of him, watching the security guard like he was one second from taking the man down hard, and Wen Yuan had a feeling he could do it…

“Su Minshan, what the hell are you doing?!”

The prologue of The Shade of Old Trees begins with the discovery of a body trapped in ice on a mountainous glacier near Yiling. Nicknamed Yiling Laozu, it soon became apparent that the body could not stay where it was. There were too many people coming to look, a whole lot more after someone released a photo. Eventually, the body is cut away from the glacier and sent to Cloud Recesses University as part of a multi-disciplinary study. The Yiling Laozu was, after all, dressed in the manner of someone from fifth or sixth century China.

As part of the team, Lan Wangji didn't expect there'd be much to do, being the "Historical Culture and Language Expert". The dead do not speak. His secondary degree in folklore … well, the Yiling Laozu did have a sword.

The Shade of Old Trees has a lot going for it. Literal time travel (via glacier). Historical mysteries. Academics and cultivation. And a small group of researchers attempting to acclimate the Yiling Laozu (ok, Wei Wuxian) to the 21st century.

Mysteries abound. Where was Wei Wuxian in historical context? Why is there no mention of the Sunshot war? Who attempted to steal the body from the lab after Wei Wuxian was secretly moved? When did cultivators go away?

This makes for both a great read and a fresh approach to the life and times of Wei Wuxian as we see him reminisce about his own past.

Names will be familiar. Wen Yuan, teenager, is on the project as Lan Wangji's assistant. Wen Qing is the medical lead. Nie Mingjue is head of security. There are other Lans involved, several Jin and at least one Yao on the project.

Wen Yuan is still in high school, and has a number of friends his age who are disappointed that his summer is going to be taken up working with a 1500-year-old body. Just wait until he finally gets to tell them about "What I did this summer".

The story is currently ongoing and started releasing chapters in December of 2023. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to reading them as they come out.

#mdzs fic recs #lan zhan #wei ying #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #lan xichen #Wen Yuan #lan qiren #nie mingjue #nie huaisang #wen qing

[mdzs-fics]

Time travel talisman VS clumsy young man = Chaos by BurningBlueDiamond

a series of shorter stories

AU - Time-Travel and … 7 parts, complete

A series based on a common theme is a reality across the Módào Zǔshī fandom. Characters and situations that move from one story to the next can be a fun read.

For their series Time travel talisman VS clumsy young man = Chaos, Author Burning BlueDiamond begins with a one-chapter tale titled A Room Full of Dead People and continues with three more stories. A few years later, they wrote three more stories that included the multi-chapter The Consequences of Accidental Time Travel.

The final story in the series serves as an epilogue of sorts that describes the changes that occur in a new timeline.

A Room Full of Dead People

“Ehm, Sizhui” his voice was hesitant but smooth and easily audible even at the very back of the room. His companion made a non verbal sound that Jiang Cheng was sure he heard somewhere else. The one who spoke continued:

“We aren't dead, are we?” at the words the one named Sizhui took his wrist and touched his own neck, probably searching for a heartbeat or spiritual energy. (Which was pretty useless in Jiang Cheng's future opinion, formulated that night as he rethought of this very event).

“No, we are very much alive, Jingyi” Sizhui answered, his voice had a musical tone to it, like he grew up listening to music, which, Jiang Cheng thought, was most likely the case since he was from the only music orientated sect. After hearing them speak most people had unconsciously relaxed a little, even the warriors like Nie Mingjue: it was clear that whoever they were they were as confused as they felt. But then Jingyi continued.

“Then why are we staring at a room full of dead people?” that caused said room full of dead people to freeze in their seats.

In which two Good Lan Boys accidentally travel back in time and, when two Fathers arrive to rescue them, the Sects get an earful from Future Wei Wuxian.

If at first you don't successed (hope that your son and his best friend aren't in the middle of a war)

The rigor payed off. Few hours after the horrifying discovery that their son and his best friend used a highly dangerous and untested talisman, Wei Ying draw the last line on their stack of equally dangerous and still untested talismans.

In which the search for two Wayward Lan Boys commences.

The Day Wen Ruohan Became a Psychic

In which a Sect Leader who ditched the latest Discussion Conference has a very bad day. And nightmares.

How Nie Huaisang Learned to Never Skip a Conference

Skipping an afternoon of the Discussion Conference means someone doesn't get all of the dirt first-hand. And boy is he ticked off.

The Consequences of Accidental Time Travel

And then it rained fire. Jiang Cheng was caught so off guard that the thought to yell profanities at Wei Wuxian, which was exactly the reason he was even there in first place, didn't cross his mind until he went to sleep that night.

In which we get five chapters of reactions from those involved in A Room Full of Dead People, both Future and Past. The last chapter is titled "The actual chaotic conference in which Things are Discussed and Shit Hits the Fan in a rather spectacular way, mostly off-screen" … and it aims to please.

A Room Full of Dead People - Nie Huaisang Edition (an AU of an AU?)

“That is a big bold lie, Lan Sizhui. You resent way more people that both you and others think”

“Oh, really, who?” the question was posed in challenge, like he was daring Jingyi to actually answer. The other levelled him with a look that screamed defiance and did just that:

“The entire Jin Clan, save for Jin Ling, even if I'm not entirely sure you've 100% forgiven him for stabbing Xian-gege; Xue Yang, the Wen Main Clan and their followers, Yu Ziyuan. Oh, and Nie Huaisang” he quickly listed off a, quite frankly, long number of people for one who was supposed to not resent at all. Wait… Nie Huaisang?!

In which Nie Huaisang does not miss the afternoon session previously described.

All in All, Life is Good

In which … spoilers. The title is actually a line in this story, which author BurningBlueDiamond describes as "a glorified point list". All-in-all a satisfying end for a time-travel AU series.

#mdzs fic recs #lan zhan #wei ying #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #lan xichen #jiang wanyin #Lan Sizhui #Lan Jingyi #lan qiren #nie mingjue #nie huaisang #the untamed #the usual mdzs discussion conference attendees

[mdzs-fics]

no step had trodden black by Stratisphyre

Canon divergence 4 chapters 32k words

Wei Wuxian tried to prepare himself, but the blow landed lower this time, hammering directly into his surgery site, and he buckled over. This time, they let him go and he hit the floor with a groan. Wen Chao planted his boot on Wei Wuxian’s shoulder and rolled him over with a deeply unpleasant smirk.

“A warm up only,” he stated. “Though I’m surprised. I remember you being quite a bit tougher when you were my guest before. Or maybe you only made it seem so.” He waved Wang Lingjio forward. “Here you are, Jiaojiao, a gift just for you. Make him scream all you want.”

“Pardon me,” a low voice said from behind them.

Almost as one, the Wen all turned and Wei Wuxian had to crane his neck to get a look at the speaker. Through the sweat and pain stinging his eyes, he could still say the man was probably the handsomest he'd ever seen. Despite being simply dressed in grey robes, he carried himself with more dignity and grace than the Second Young Master of Wen, currently staring at him with the same cold envy that Wei Wuxian had become accustomed to seeing directed his way. He stood tall with one hand behind his back and the other clutching a sword styled as simply as his robes. A cultivator, then, but not one Wei Wuxian would ever associate with one of the established sects. Even the lesser sect leaders wouldn’t let one of their disciples walk out in the open dressed like a peasant.

"You are disturbing my mother," he said. Well past him, a woman in similar robes wearing a heavily-veiled weimao sat at one of the smaller tables in the teahouse.

Meeting with Wen Chao after the Golden Core transfer runs differently. in no step had trodden black begins with Wei Wuxian being rescued by a rogue cultivator who brings him home to try to heal his wounds, which include several direct hits by the Core Melting Hand. What follows is a very different, yet still eerily similar, Sunshot Campaign. The main difference? Wei Wuxian is not thrown into the Burial Mounds.

Instead, he recovers in the home of Li Linxia and her sons, learning another way to cultivate. Three months pass, and after an altercation upon the return of Wen Chao to Yiling, Wei Wuxian arrives at the main encampment of the Sunshot Campaign at the border of Qinghe and Qishan with a head in a bag, and some, but not all, truths to be told.

There is an encounter that began earlier, within the cave of the Xuanwu of Slaughter, that leads Wei Wuxian to an idea on how to overcome Wen Ruohan's use of the Yin Iron using his new cultivation method.

Too much more in detail would spoil this wonderful canon divergent story.

#mdzs fic recs #lan zhan #wei ying #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #lan xichen #jiang wanyin #lan qiren

[mdzs-fics]

Seasons of Falling Flowers by merakily

Seasons of Falling Flowers

by merakily

G, 40k, wangxian, lan qiren & wei wuxian

[PODFIC] by Spinifex

Summary: Like a parasite, Wei Wuxian has this way of growing on people when you least expect it.

Over the seasons, Lan Qiren slowly pieces back together his relationship with Wangji and learns to like Wei Wuxian in the process.

(“Will you rejoin your sect?” As soon as the words leave his mouth, Lan Qiren regrets his wording.

He is not surprised when Wangji’s eyes narrow, flashing with offence. “There is no need to rejoin what one has never left. I did not turn my back on my sect. My sect turned their backs on me.”)

My comments: This was a really interesting study of Lan Qiren, thoughtfully probing into his ideals and character, with all his strengths and flaws.

The story is from Lan Qiren’s POV and if he and wwx had been a ship you’d call it a veeerrry slowww burn enemies to friends. Seriously, it’s halfway through the story before Lan Qiren starts to understand that the people who like wwx and defend his choices and morality are anything other than besotted and mislead. He ponders a lot on the innate contradictions of Gusu Lan rules and how to internalize the spirit of them rather than the letter. At the midpoint, while begrudgingly tending to wwx’s cold (more out of fear of what would become of lwj if anything bad happened to wwx), lqr realizes that he has no golden core which explains SO MUCH and also sends him into a kind of crisis of faith while he tries to reconcile a bunch of mismatched, and often validly horrific, parts into something whole and honorable.

[There is a short sequel, Inconceivable, linked at the end, that shows a Conference where lqr defends wwx, and is very satisfying.]

Excerpt: Impressed, Lan Qiren slowly nods his assent as his mind churns with contradictory knowledge. You don’t know him, Xichen’s voice rings in his mind. Wei Ying is good, Wangji’s voice chimes in. And with everything he just heard, Lan Qiren wonders if he has misjudged Wei Wuxian’s heart.

From the start, he has seen Wei Wuxian as a trouble making, immoral cultivator unable to see past his own arrogance. For so long he has blamed Wei Wuxian for his demonic cultivation and for ruining Wangji that he had forgotten that Wei Wuxian is also a scholar and a very capable human being — when he wants to be.

post canon, POV lan qiren, character study, introspection, enemies to friends, in-laws, golden core reveal, prejudice, family feels, family issues, family bonding, lan qiren is good, and also bad, he’s an onion, and so is wei wuxian, good parent lan qiren, lan qiren has feelings, emotional baggage, protective lan wangji, protective lan xichen, grudges, forgiveness, slow burn, happy ending, podfic available, @merakilyy​

(You may wish to REBLOG as a signal boost for this author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

[mdzs-fics]

Just as the Snow Melts by draechaeli

Canon Divergence 4 chapters 66k words

There was a sudden shout of, “Rich-die!” and then a weight slammed into Lan WangJi’s leg.

There was a laugh—not Wei WuXian’s laugh—from the door, Lan WangJi turned and saw that there were a couple elderly people standing in the door as children filed into the room. Lan WangJi bowed to the elderly people in the door and then one little old lady said, “Is that why you call Xian-gege, Xian-die? Because you have two fathers?”

Lan WangJi’s ears turned red and the elderly people laughed. At the end of the line of children Wei WuXian entered the building. “Lan Zhan what are you doing here?”

“So we finally know little A-Yuan’s honourable surname, Lan Yuan is a good name,” said one of the Grannies.

It took Wei WuXian a moment to realise that it was A-Yuan’s grandmother; she smiled and winked at Wei WuXian. But no one else seemed to realise which of the grannies had spoken so they all tittered about how handsome Xian-gege’s husband was. Wei WuXian looked worried at A-Yuan, wondering how he would react, but the boy seemed to only have eyes for his Rich-gege.

Before he could say anything A-Yuan yelled, “To see us Xian-die! Right Rich-die?”

“Yes,” said Lan WangJi and he scooped the boy up in his arms and then added, “I have a message for your Xian-die as well. Perhaps we could go for a meal?”

Just as the Snow Melts begins on a warm almost spring day when Wen Qing orders a depressed Wei Wuxian to Yiling to spend time with A-Yuan by the river. It turns into so much more, as the Wen and Wei WuXian slowly merge into life in Yiling, leaving the Burial Mounds to the dead.

This is a sweet story of Xian-gege, teacher of children by the river, and the people who know and love him.

An accidental free school is founded in Yiling. Because of his new responsibilities with the dispersed Wen and the many young children he teaches, Xian-gege decides he cannot attend the 30 day celebration of his nephew, Jin Ling. The events beginning with the ambush at Qiongqi Pass do not occur, at least not in the well worn paths of canon.

The story unfolds differently, and includes the destruction of the Stygian Tiger Seal and its aftermath - the sun over Yiling is blotted out by hundreds of cultivators dressed in gold, the Yiling Laozu is declared dead, defeated by the Jin.

Life goes on, with Lan Wangji and Wen Yuan (now Lan Yuan) and a host of other canon characters making appearances now and then.

The story continues through the years leading past a sacrificial array meant to bring back the Yiling Laozu and into a final Discussion Conference in Yungmeng.

To my mind, this is an entirely satisfying canon divergence, complete with relative happiness throughout the story, not just at the end.

#mdzs fic recs #lan zhan #wei ying #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #lan xichen #jiang wanyin #Lan Yuan #Lan Jinyi #Jin Ling #mo xuanyu #the untamed

[mdzs-fics]

By Any Other Name by ShanaStoryteller

Canon Divergence 4 chapters 32k words

He breaks out of the miserable little room with ease and runs without thinking of the direction, all his emotions too close to the surface, like they wouldn’t have been if this Mo Xuanyu had just waited a little longer.

This is how he finds himself sneaking into Lotus Pier, stumbling to the main hall, freezing and dirty and not totally sure how he made the journey, and not coming back to his body until there are fingers around his wrist and his brother’s furious eyes are glaring at him. “Who are you? What the hell are you doing here?”

They’re alone, almost, a teenager in Jin colors standing to the side with his sword drawn, but Wei Wuxian can’t focus on that now. “Jiang Cheng,” he says, voice cracking. “I don’t understand what’s happened. I don’t know why I’m here, I,” he wilts, pressing his head to Jiang Cheng’s shoulder, and for some reason he lets him. “I wasn’t supposed to come back and everything hurts.” Not physically, although he’s not doing great there either, but deeper, in his bones and his chest.

There’s a moment of silence, then, “Wei Wuxian?”

“Don’t pull your blow this time,” he begs. “It hurts so much, didi, just make it stop.”

“Wei Wuxian,” he says again, and there’s the anger, but it’s not alone, mixed with grief and outrage and a tenderness that he never thought he’d hear again, “you came home.”

He really can’t be blamed for passing out then.

At the start of By Any Other Name, a ritual cast too soon finds Wei Wuxian waking up in Mo Xuanyu's body with a golden core that phases in and out of reality. As both Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling come to terms learning about past secrets, Wei Wuxian is hidden in plain site as Wu Yingtai, dressed as a woman in Jiang Yanli's old clothing.

In order to counteract the disastrous effects of the partially failed ritual, the Jiang travel to GusuLan in order to make use of the library for research to counteract the condition. While the Jiang are busy creating an array, the junior Lan disciples go on a strange Night Hunt involving both Mo Village and a Dancing Fairy statue. The array works, and three of four curse marks disappear.

From here, things are both canon and … not, from a sword in the Mingshi to Yi City to a very long Night in Jinlintai.

All-in-all, this is a satisfying tale of family ties, mixed messages and new bonds.

#wei ying #lan zhan #jiang cheng #mdzs fic reqs #mdzs #mdzs cast #the untamed

[mdzs-fics]

Candy & Conspiracies by Reverie (cl410)

Wei Wuxian as a Jin AU 16k words 12 chapters (complete)

[Must have an account with Archive of Our Own in order to read. An invitation is readily provided on the website.]

"what if someone hears?”

“No one can hear a thing we’re saying over A-Xian’s disgusting noises. Are they starving you in Gusu or something?” she demanded.

Wei Wuxian sighed deeply. “Everything tastes terrible in the Cloud Recesses, Madam Jin. There’s no flavor in any of the dishes, except disappointment and suffering.”

Imagine, for a minute, that Wei Wuxian is brought to Koi Tower after the death of his parents on a night hunt (as a favor to a "friend"). What follows in Candy & Conspiracies is a fun romp overwriting much of what happens in Canon.

Koi Tower is still a pit of vipers, but the vipers are terrified when they draw the attention of Wei Wuxian, encouraged by Madam Jin.

Wei Wuxian and Mianmian assist Jin Zixuan in not being as much of an ass with Jiang Yanli. Cloud Recesses becomes much more interesting when those two find the loves of their lives. Madam Jin is pleased to learn of several alliances through marriage.

As problems arise, they are resolved by two of Jin Zixuan's closest allies ... now all they need is an alibi during Sect Leader Jin's birthday party.

Just remember … Wei Wuxian grew up in Koi Tower.

I appreciated the humor in this story (as can be seen in the quote at the beginning of this review). It is, as the author notes in the tags, "Fluff and Crack", both fun and to the point.

#wei wuxian #mianmian #jin zixuan #lan zhan #madame jin #jiang yanli #wen qing #other mdzs characters #mdzs fic recs #the untamed #mo dao zu shi

[mdzs-fics]

Tales from the Burial Mounds, part 1

Tales From the Burial Mounds is a collection of stories. A Collection on Archive of Our Own is a curated group of tales, mostly with similar themes or characters. The Curator has this to say about the collection:

Mostly wangxian

Includes but not limited to : Canon divergence Time travel Angst with happy ending Yunmeng siblings feels Hurt comfort Parents wangxian

This collection contains 63 works, and 73 additional Bookmarks. Readers may find works that other readers have both enjoyed and recommended through Collections. I will periodically mention other Collections as time goes on. Here is a sampling of five stories.

they who refuse to be blessed by sysrae

Canon Divergence 3 chapters 7k words

“What you would steal from me, Core-Melting Hand, I have already given away. I have undone your work, and now –” he lifts the dizi once more, “– I will undo you.”

Words not meant to be observed lead to better outcomes.

three surgeries and a mercy kill by MarbleGlove

AU-Fixit 1 chapter 11k words

It was trying to figure out how to help Wen Ning that finally created the unlooked for breakthrough for Wei Wuxian.

Wen Ning had been dying in the stone quarry turned mass grave of the Jin prison camp at Qiongqi Pass. He had been dying and no one there had the spiritual power to heal him, but Wei Wuxian had the resentful energy needed to halt everything, to preserve everything. Like a flower drowned in honey, the last flicker of Wen Ning's golden core was preserved, completely untouchable.

The attempt of Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing to figure out how to help Wen Ning become more than a Fierce Corpse led to the breakthrough for both Wen Ning and Wei Wuxian. After much theorizing in the Burial Mounds, a solution for Wen Ning is sought from the Nie Sect. Things change.

A War of Stone and Silence by kitsunealyc

Canon Divergence 1 chapter 4k words

After Lan Wangji stood up against the Lan elders to walk the single plank road alongside Wei Wuxian – or, to carry each other, since Wei Wuxian maintained you couldn’t walk abreast on a single plank road because it was a single plank road! – after he removed his forehead ribbon and jade pendant and placed them in Lan Xichen’s hands, quiet returned to the Burial Mounds.

In which there is a Wall of Argument at the base of the Burial Mounds until Wei Wuxian borrows Bichen for some commentary of his own.

Drag Me Into Your Coffin (I Will Drag Your Sins Into the Light) by the5leggedCricket

[Restricted to logged in archive users. Getting an account requires an invitation, which you can ask for at https://archiveofourown.org]

Time Travel Fixit 1 chapter 2k words

Lan XiChen was rooted to the spot. Suddenly Jin GuangYao pulled Lan XiChen towards him, just as Nie MingJue grabbed him by the throat. The last thing Lan XiChen saw, was his brother reaching, reaching, hand moving through the air. And then, darkness.

In which Lan XiChen has an epiphany after finding himself back at the banquet that led to Wei Wuxian's downfall. Or, as I like to think, "Fool me once …"

some foolish thing I've done by sysrae

Modern - College 1 chapter 4k words

Ironically, it’s only thanks to his brand new hearing aid that Wei Wuxian hears Jiang Cheng say, “Hey, what’s that thing in your ear?”

In which a new hearing aid helps reveal old wounds and new hopes.

#mdzs fic recs #mdzs #mo dao zu shi #lan zhan #wei ying #lan xichen #the untamed #jiang wanyin

[mdzs-fics]

And They Have Escaped The Weight of Darkness by cosmicmilktea

And They Have Escaped The Weight of Darkness

by cosmicmilktea

T, 10k, wangxian

Summary:  In the aftermath of everything, the scars of thirty-three lashes heavy on his back, Lan Wangji walks.

He walks through a land ravaged by war, by hunger, by death and sheer neglect, walks through a land that the Cultivation world all but forgets in their own haste to rebuild. He upholds justice, protects the weak. Lives with his regrets.

And then, in a small village South of Qishan, he finds Wei Ying - Alive, smiling, and asking Lan Wangji for his name.

Summary:  A very nice, life-affirming, life-building kind of story. Lwj finds Xu Ying, who doesn’t remember him, but who is cheefully living village life, helping everyone he can, teaching the kids and inventing useful things. Lwj comes whenever he can, and while he’s sad about the amnesia, he’s also very happy for wwx, and basks in the peace of it. 

canon divergence, post sunshot campaign, amnesia, memory loss, in which wei wuxian does not die, grief/mourning, implied/referenced sexual assault, learning to be happy, getting together, Screw the Cultivation World tbh, angst, hurt/comfort, fluff, domestic, falling in love, happy ending, 

(You may wish to REBLOG as a signal boost for this author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

[mdzs-fics]

To the Heavens and the Earth by IsilmeLasgalen

Explicit AU where WWX is a Wen. 15 chapters (complete) 77k words

He heard the snap of the whip and waited for the pain to come only to hear it hit a sword. For a second he feared one of the young ones had interfered, his sweet Jingyi had always had more heart than he had sense but the voice that spoke up was unknown to him. "He's mine."

"Wen Chire, get out of my way!" He heard Wen Chao grit his teeth and strike the sword again. "I'm going to teach this little shit a lesson."

"I said he's mine, ChaoChao. Surely you wouldn't dare raise your hand against my fiance now, would you?" Fiance? Wangji was pretty sure he would have known if he had managed to engaged at some point in his life! He did get drunk that one time but… no, it couldn't be that. And his brother would have told him if the clan had arranged something for him already, so what was this stranger talking about!? Was he mistaking him for someone? Would he stop defending him when he realized Wangji wasn't who he thought he was? He did suppose he was pretty unrecognisable in his current state. "We wouldn't want to have to duel over it, that would be just bad manners as hosts of this esteemed program. You and your brother are lucky I don't take offense to the condition you drove him to as it is!"

To the Heavens and the Earth begins in a world where there are … differences.

Wen Rouhan has only recently declared himself Chief Cultivator. The Sects are invited to send junior disciples to attend Guest Lectures in Nightless City. The Lan elders decide to accede to the request, while the Lan juniors object and fight. A 35 year old Lan Wangji joins the fight, as his son, Lan Jingyi, will be affected. Lan Wangji's leg is broken during the battle, and he is "asked" to join the Lan juniors. The first day in Nightless City is not going well. Wen Chao decides it's time to use the discipline whip. And then … there is an extremely impromptu wedding ceremony.

Immediately following we have Wen Qing healing Wangji, a hot bath in a large porcelain tub and the beginning of a journey that will unite the world of the sects under the banner of an Emperor.

The culture and laws of the Wen may be strict, but they are fair. There are no street children in Nightless City. Young children attend a sort of preschool, both clan and commoner. Lan Wangji spends a lot of time before the war attending them.

During a discussion about birth control (male and female may become pregnant in this world), Wangji learns that Wen Chire obtains a rare flower from the base of the Burial Mounds. It is here that we learn that the Burial Mounds had engulfed Yiling and its peoples over 30 years ago, the barrier broken, when Wangji was four years old.

There is an interesting anecdote about the Xuanwu of Slaughter.

And there is the war. And near death experiences. And unplanned pregnancy. And an end to war. With surprises. And consequences.

I enjoy author IsilmeLasgalen's works. They contain what I consider to be a blend of daily life and grand epic woven into a story that is ultimately satisfying. The journey is as engaging as the destination.

#mdzs fic recs #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #wen ying #lan zhan #lan wangji #lan jingyi #lan xichen #nie huaisang #wen qionglin #wen xu #wen qing #assorted sect elders #the untamed #young masters

[mdzs-fics]

The Wild Geese's Tomb by The Feels Whale (miscellea)

Teen and Up Time Travel AU 7 Chapters 66K words

He let himself lean back against the guest house, wondering if he could find some way to engineer an opportunity for them to play together, when ‘Wild Geese’ ended and Wei Ying began to play a song he shouldn’t, could not have known.

The longing notes of ‘Wangxian’ struck Lan Zhan like an open handed slap.

He’d composed ‘Wangxian’ during his initial convalescence after the burning of Cloud Recesses, but never played it before another living soul until he found himself facing the likelihood of a slow death in the Xuanwu’s cave.

Lan Zhan had bits and snatches of it in his head before then, but had not given into himself enough to actually write the song and polish it into something he wouldn’t be ashamed of playing in front of one particular person before then.

He landed on the rooftop behind Wei Ying in utter silence, muffling his sound and presence as he could not have at his apparent physical age. Wei Ying, meanwhile, was deep into his playing and did not notice as he played ‘Wangxian’ with a care and reverence that Lan Zhan thought might yank the beating heart out of his chest.

The Wild Geese's Tomb begins 11 years after the death of the Yiling Laozu. Lan Zhan dies during a Night Hunt that goes badly. And awakens shortly thereafter to the sight of Wei Ying, asleep at a student desk in the Library back in the days of the Gusu lectures.

What follows is a different path. Wei Ying behaves more and is punished less as a result. Meng Yao attends the lectures, and, as part of his 'punishment', Wei Ying is teaching him to better develop his core. Lan Zhan expects it is an eternal dream in the afterlife. It is a nice dream for Lan Zhan, at least until he hears a song from long ago.

The dizi Wei Ying uses is still green. As Lan Zhan undertakes to replace it with a spiritual tool, an exquisite red jade dizi is gifted by someone unknown, with a note that reads 'Little Dawn'. It is most certainly a spiritual tool.

Wei Ying is diagnosed with spiritual malaise by Wen Qing, who has also returned to the past. And a friendly brother proposes to speak on Lan Zhan's behalf to Jiang Yanli.

Familiar story beats appear in much different context and outcome, led by a Waterborne Abyss. Amidst misunderstandings on the part of a certain female Jin disciple with regard to discussions with Jiang Yanli, a confrontation with the Jin at the Cold Springs leads to the Yin Iron again making its appearance.

Negotiations for marriage are held, a small wedding occurs, and the quest for the Yin Iron continues.

There are changes. QishanWen appears to have problems: landslides, failed crops and more. The journey takes a different turn. There are flowers, and Xuanwu, and an invitation to an "educational event" in Nightless City.

There is a more formal wedding that takes place in Yunmeng, followed the next day by news of an attack on PinyangYao, followed days later by news from QishanWen.

And then there is the final chapter, in which, well … by this time you've read enough here to begin to form ideas.

I fully enjoyed this tale, and I hope you will as well.

#mdzs fic recs #lan wangji #wei wuxian #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #jiang yanli #jiang wanyin #the untamed #untamed fanfiction #multiple mdzs characters mentioned