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robininthelabyrinth · 2 years

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Discordant Rhapsody - ao3 - Chapter 11

“I should never have accepted your offer, Teacher Lan,” Wei Wuxian said.

“We all make mistakes,” Lan Qiren said evenly. “You asked for my help in refining this song and you shall get it, but you still need to demonstrate that the key variation ten more times before I accept your conclusion that it has a measurable effect on the spiritual energy of the song.”

“I wasn’t talking about the music and you know it,” Wei Wuxian grumbled. “Also, why does it matter if we lock down the specific effect of the key variation? It’s not transferable to other songs.”

“It is worth knowing for the sake of knowing. Do not –”

“Do not give up on learning, I know, I know.”

Lan Qiren ignored him. “Moreover, while it is not currently transferable to other songs, that does not mean that there may not be other songs in the future that would not benefit from our gathering the information in a systematic fashion,” he said. “If you do something, do it right. Do not leave matters half-done to be completed by future generations.”

“Teacher Lan, the song we’re refining is one I use in demonic cultivation, there won’t be any future generations,” Wei Wuxian said, rolling his eyes. “Why would anyone choose to walk a single-planked bridge when there’s a broad road beside it?”

“Mm. Why do you?”

Wei Wuxian opened his mouth, then closed it again, aggravated.

“In that case, the key variations, if you please, disciple,” Lan Qiren said. He was fairly sure by now that the whole demonic cultivation business had something to do with the still-absent Jiang Cheng, so he wasn’t actually going to press for an answer – that was the trouble of taking a personal disciple from another sect, really; there were always going to be split loyalties. “Now.”

Wei Wuxian resentfully raised Chenqing up to his lips, and Lan Qiren nodded in approval, listening with half an ear – the key variation they’d introduced really did have the effect of increasing the range and efficacy of the summoning song, he’d identified that by the third repetition, but if Wei Wuxian wanted to be accepted by the Lan sect’s alchemists, he needed to learn the importance of providing solid repeatable evidence – and allowing his gaze to go over to where little Wen Yuan was trying to entice A-Shen into playing with a toy. He wasn’t having any success, given that Lan Yueheng’s youngest son was, as newborns generally were, currently only interested in eating, crying, and sleeping, but that wasn’t deterring Wen Yuan in the slightest; he was a very patient little boy. If Lan Wangji ultimately did end up adopting him – which was Lan Qiren’s preference, given Wei Wuxian’s still-rotten reputation in the cultivation world – he would probably be an exemplary member of their family, bringing glory to the Lan sect.

Being the son of someone as respected as Lan Wangji would also help deter anyone who might want to discriminate against him due to his original surname and bloodline, since any suggestion of fault in the child would suggest an error of teaching by the parent. They would just need to make sure to keep an eye on him to help him throw off any classic Wen sect traits that might crop up: traditionally speaking, their arrogance, their self-involvement, their tendency towards doing things by themselves to the point of pointless isolationism…

Wen Qing’s unsuccessful attempt to continue to study and practice medicine on her own without interacting with the Lan sect doctors even for the purposes of getting ingredients came to mind – foolishly stubborn and pointless, of course. Though luckily both sides had finally managed to bridge the gap between them through a united grumbling and nagging campaign aimed at Lan Qiren.

(They’d been particularly peeved by his argument that it didn’t matter if he was excessively stressed since there was nothing he could do about it. At least they were talking?)

Anyway, it was nothing that couldn’t be compensated for with a rigorous education, especially one implemented from the very beginning.

“I wish you’d told me this type of punishment was a possibility when you offered to make me your disciple,” Wei Wuxian said, interrupting Lan Qiren’s absent-minded daydreams of a future classroom full of enthusiastic and obedient disciples, Lan sect or otherwise. “I wouldn’t have agreed.”

“It is indeed very obnoxious when people do things on your behalf without telling you about the consequences to themselves,” Lan Qiren agreed peaceably, and enjoyed watching Wei Wuxian flinch. Just because he didn’t know the exact details what had happened with Jiang Cheng didn’t mean he couldn’t guess some of the parts, and use them to his advantage – sometimes he could be a very petty person, and Wei Wuxian was just going to have to learn to deal with that. “I will admit I did not expect this degree of resistance or harshness from my sect, or perhaps that I would be able to mitigate it better. I therefore could not have told you, or Jiang Wanyin, what I myself did not expect.”

“Still, surely there must be something we can do to stop it,” Wei Wuxian insisted. He seemed genuinely distressed – he had seemed genuinely distressed from the start, and had only gotten more so as time went on. “We’re not just going to sit back and allow you to get beaten to death right before our eyes!”

“There’s nothing to be done,” Lan Qiren said, not for the first time. “The alternatives were all worse, or at least they were for me. It was my decision to accept the punishment. Anyway, surely this isn’t the first time you’ve witnessed sect discipline on a serious scale? The Jiang sect has a discipline whip as well.”

“I’ve seen it before, but the crimes involved were far worse – it was only used when the only other alternative would be to put someone to death or expel them from the sect. Not for helping other people.”

“I took on your crimes as my own,” Lan Qiren reminded him. “From the perspective of my sect, it is no different than if I were the one who went to the Qiongqi Path and slaughtered Jin sect guards using evil cultivation on behalf of people bearing the surname Wen, which has been the root of so much harm, of justified anger and even hatred.”

“But you didn’t. I did!”

“And I have already explained to you that there are other compounding circumstances involved here,” Lan Qiren said with a faint sigh. He was pretty sure someone – probably Lan Yueheng – had already aired out all of their sect’s dirty laundry in front of Wei Wuxian. That side of the family was as blunt as the Nie… “Circumstances that have nothing to do with you.”

“Circumstances,” Wei Wuxian fumed. “You mean a bunch of old farts with a grudge against you for having done too good a job leading the sect – don’t look at me like that, I’ve heard plenty about it! There’s no wall that doesn’t leak air!”

That didn’t sound too much like Lan Yueheng, actually. If anything, it sounded more like the things Lan Xichen muttered to himself when he thought his uncle couldn’t hear him – though what Lan Xichen thought he was doing complaining to Wei Wuxian, Lan Qiren had no idea.

“I have half a mind to do something about it,” Wei Wuxian added, and his eyes had started to turn red, resentful energy leaching in with a crackle of light. His hands were curled into fists, his knuckles white to the point that Lan Qiren felt mildly concerned for Chenqing. “I could, you know. No one could stop me. If I decided that those elders had gone too far…”

“But you won’t,” Lan Qiren said firmly. “Because you know attacking my sect would only hurt me more.”

He had been rather surprised the first time Wei Wuxian had threatened violence on his behalf – sure, he’d done him a favor, and at some considerable personal cost, but he hadn’t expected Wei Wuxian to take it so much to heart. He didn’t even like Lan Qiren – prior to the Burial Mounds, he had scarcely tolerated him…! Yet to hear it from Wei Wuxian now, it was as if a member of his family had been threatened – as if Lan Qiren were Jiang Cheng, or Jiang Yanli.

How strange.

Gratifying, but strange.

“…yes, you’re right,” Wei Wuxian said, deflating all at once. He still looked dissatisfied, as if he resented the fact that Lan Qiren was unwilling to let him swoop in with an army of the dead to carry him off to safety. “If I’ve learned anything by now, it’s that you are second to none when it comes to being stubborn…it’s not just me, you know.”

Lan Qiren looked at him in question.

“It isn’t.” Wei Wuxian crossed his arms. “From what I heard, every single person in the Cloud Recesses under the age of thirty is absolutely furious. Your entire sect. If it wasn’t for your rules about respecting elders, I think they’d riot at the idea of their teacher getting whipped – and they still might!”

It wasn’t going to happen, of course, but Lan Qiren did take no small amount of pleasure in hearing that. Even he hadn’t dreamt of there being such unified revulsion to the notion of his punishment among the younger generation.

He’d taken up teaching as a refuge from his duties as sect leader and found that he was good at it, or at least good enough to be appreciated, and so he’d kept doing it, taking on more and more of those duties over time. It hadn’t really occurred to him – or, he supposed, to the other elders – that his students might remain quite so attached to their stern and boring old teacher so long after the fact. The saying might go a teacher for a day, a father for a lifetime, but there were many teachers in the Cloud Recesses besides Lan Qiren. In all honesty, he’d imposed enough discipline on his students over the years that he’d almost thought they’d enjoy the idea of seeing some imposed on him in turn.

Apparently not.

“I mean, look at Lan Zhan! I’ve never seen him so upset. He’s just – he’s so viscerally angry…here I thought I’d seen him angry before, but it was nothing at all like this,” Wei Wuxian said, his voice suddenly distracted. He sounded almost dreamy. “You know, I think he’s gone feral.”

Lan Qiren frowned. “What?”

“I think he might have bitten Zewu-jun.”

“Not again,” Lan Qiren blurted out, then flushed crimson when Wei Wuxian turned to him with an expression of surprise and sudden delight. “Ah, it’s not – don’t misunderstand. He hasn’t bitten anyone since he was seven at least.”

Those few years in between Lan Wangji growing teeth and realizing how he could use them and then ultimately maturing out of doing so had been quite hard to deal with, though.

“…I have a sudden a desperate desire to pester you to tell me all of Lan Zhan’s baby stories,” Wei Wuxian said, then visibly struggled with himself. “No, that’s not the point. I’m not getting distracted.”

“You are getting distracted, but from the music, not the discussion, which is pointless,” Lan Qiren scolded. “I have already accepted the punishment. It will be implemented in a few days, at the end of the month, and no matter how upset you are or anyone else is, that is what will happen. It is better for us to focus on music for now, as I will not be able to provide hands-on instruction for some time –”

Wei Wuxian abruptly got up, face suddenly gone pale as if it had been drained of all blood, and walked away.

Lan Qiren sighed.

Such a temperamental student.

Out of lack of other options, he turned his attention back to his own music. He’d been reconstructing, to the best of his ability, the music he’d played for Wen Ning, since neither he nor Wei Wuxian knew whether it had anything to do with how gentle Wen Ning’s temper remained despite being a fierce corpse – Wei Wuxian had said that Wen Ning had been just like that when he’d been alive, but also that he’d been completely out of control on the Qiongqi Path and thereafter, white-eyed and full of rage whenever he wasn’t confined. Therefore something had managed to calm him and create the world’s first conscious fierce corpse, but whether it was Lan Qiren or Wei Wuxian remained yet to be seen.

Lan Qiren personally believed it was Wei Wuxian – if for no other reason than, putting everything else aside, Wei Wuxian was truly and undeniably a creative genius. As much as Lan Qiren disdained his utilization of resentful energy as unorthodox, the fundamentals of music that underlay most of what he was doing were equally applicable to regular spiritual energy, and that meant that Wei Wuxian’s demonic cultivation innovations could lead to innovations on the orthodox path as well. Comparing one against the other was actually quite interesting…

He would ask Lan Wangji to take his place in such experimentation during his convalescence, Lan Qiren decided. It would give his nephew a natural way to spend time together with the object of his affections – Wei Wuxian didn’t seem to mind Lan Wangji’s presence nearly as much as might have been expected given the rumors about their bad relationship, which meant that Nie Mingjue had been right about their fighting being misunderstood by most people – and it would provide them with an orthodox example to measure against Wei Wuxian’s unorthodox approach.

It would be easier if Wei Wuxian would practice both styles himself, of course, but Wei Wuxian’s unwillingness to resume orthodox practice bordered on the pathological. It had gotten to the point that Lan Qiren was forced to wonder if he were not merely unwilling but unable to do so, and therefore to speculate, if only to himself, as to why that might be. Perhaps there was something in the demonic path that barred entry back to normal cultivation, or perhaps something had happened during the war to affect his ability to cultivate normally…either way, Lan Qiren would ask Wei Wuxian to tell him the story once they’d had more time together and were more comfortable.

Demanding too much from a student too early was the surest way to destroy trust, and they were stuck together for good, now. He didn’t want to disturb the peace between them too soon - it wouldn’t matter if he waited, nothing would change.

Well, nothing that he could control, anyway.

Lan Qiren reflected grimly to himself that the trust between them was likely to be damaged regardless once the punishment was enacted. Wei Wuxian already felt betrayed by the Lan sect’s choice to punish Lan Qiren for trying to help him, and it was not something he would be able to turn aside and disregard – for severe punishments, other than those the sect agreed to keep confidential, it was necessary for those close to the transgressor to act as witnesses, reminding both themselves and the transgressor of the importance of obedience and to share in the punishment collectively. As Lan Qiren’s disciple, someone now as close to him as family, and as the true instigator of the events, Wei Wuxian would be naturally obligated to attend and watch.

Just as Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen would have to watch.

Ah, Qiren, Qiren, Lan Qiren thought. You were trying to do good, but look at how you’ve messed it all up!

The rules said do not act impulsively. He should have heeded them.

He had briefly considered trying to negotiate for privacy, as was his right, but Lan Xichen had overridden Lan Qiren on that point, insisting with fervor that the additional severity associated with private punishments was not acceptable in this instance, and Lan Qiren had given in. It was pointless, anyway – as Wei Wuxian said, there was no wall in which the wind couldn’t blow; he would only hear about it a thousand times over afterwards, anyway. The reduction in blows would therefore be worthwhile, even if only to reduce his nephews’ frenzy, which was due to their fear that any further severity would leave Lan Qiren dead or permanently crippled to the point where death would be a mercy, rather than merely convalescent for a long time.

After all, given his health, the number of strikes selected meant that he was likely to lose further mobility, perhaps permanently. If the strikes went awry, he could even suffer damage to his shoulders that would make playing music more difficult…

He would have to hope that the strikes did not go awry.

Still, Lan Qiren comforted himself that this was not like what had happened after the Wen attack on the Cloud Recesses. He would have access to treatment immediately, both medicine and surgical if required – Wen Qing had rather presumptuously threatened to cry at him if he refused her aid, appalling a statement as that was, and laughed in his face when he pointed out that it did not seem characteristic of her; apparently a good doctor did whatever it took to get a patient care. And unlike back then, it would be once and one, over in a single session – he wouldn’t be subjected repeatedly to vicious beatings and further torments, left without succor, tormented as much by the fear that it could and would happen again at any time without warning as by the pain itself. The punishment would be painful and damage his health further, but he would survive and it would be…

It wouldn’t be fine, but it would be over.

That was the way of their sect, harsh but fair. Their punishments were strict and liberally distributed, but once the punishment was complete, the mistake was forgiven whole-heartedly, that chapter of life closed, and a future unburdened by the past, unhindered by grudges, was possible.

His brother had voluntarily chosen seclusion, using what might have been a punishment as a weapon and escape all at once instead. He had therefore never been truly punished, and then he had died – there could be no moving on from that, and so the anger remained, looking for a different outlet.

Lan Qiren was different, though. He had no wish to escape from his punishment, no matter what certain others might wish. His life, as far as he was concerned, was his sect’s to do with as they pleased. If punishing him was what his sect elders needed to do to move on from his management of the sect, from the war and all its hatreds, then he would accept it without rancor or resentment.

He just…needed to convince Wei Wuxian of that.

Wei Wuxian, and also Lan Wangji.

Lan Qiren sighed and shook his head, leaning out to summon one of the nearby disciples – there were always some passing by his window these days, it seemed, each one of them with pinched-up features that suggested that they had not only heard about what was going on but also disapproved of the sect’s decision, as Wei Wuxian had observed – and bid them to return Wen Yuan and A-Shen to their respective families.

Lan Wangji…

Lan Qiren had not seen very much of his younger nephew for a while. He had heard rumors that Lan Wangji had taken to sweeping through the Cloud Recesses like a vengeful ghost, but whenever Lan Qiren was around, it was as if his nephew were the type of ghost that became insubstantial at will, disappearing into the morning dew. But today was the day that Lan Qiren had always reserved for tea with Lan Wangji alone, just the two of them; Lan Wangji wouldn’t miss that.

Lan Qiren had long ago implemented a requirement that each of his nephews have one afternoon with him alone, Lan Xichen towards the start of each half-month and Lan Wangji towards the end. It had been his attempt to ensure that each of his nephews had time with him alone so that they never felt overlooked – he had wanted to make sure they never felt as though they had an obligation to remain silent to let the other speak and never lacked an opportunity to tell him things that they didn’t want to say in front of a sibling, whether Lan Xichen’s mumbled red-faced questions about his first crush or Lan Wangji’s confused jealousy of Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue’s budding friendship, where he couldn’t decide which one he resented for taking away his time with the other. It had been Lan Qiren’s attempt to make up for his own childhood’s failings, where he’d never felt the freedom to share anything with the father he’d only seen only once a month at best, the absence and distance all the more stark in comparison to his brother’s every day visits.

Once his nephews had reached adulthood, he had indicated that they were excused from the duty, but each one of them had stubbornly refused, showing up at his door at the appointed time regardless of anything he said. They had faithfully maintained that practice right up until the Sunshot Campaign had started, and they had resumed it as soon as possible once the war was over, a welcome return to normality…

No, Lan Qiren was certain that Lan Wangji would not miss their appointment, no matter how much he was struggling with his feelings. He’d always been like that, even as a child, his feelings too large for his little frame; by now he had grown taller, but the feelings had grown as well, leaving him still floundering.

Lan Qiren put away his guqin and prepared the room, selecting a few of the teas Lan Wangji liked most and laying them out for Lan Wangji to choose between. He wondered idly if Lan Wangji knew that Lan Qiren prepared himself differently for their conversations depending on which tea was selected – the sweeter flavors for more serious conversations, Lan Wangji seeking comfort when he had a heavy subject on his mind; that particular smoked varietal for political matters causing anxiety, maybe due to Lan Qiren having long relied on its enervating properties when he had to stay up late to manage them; that one unusual flavor that Lan Wangji had developed a taste for in his adolescence that usually meant it was a personal issue…hmm, now that Lan Qiren thought of it, that one was one of the ones they imported from Yunmeng, wasn’t it? Perhaps the signs of love had been there for longer than he’d thought.

“Shufu,” Lan Wangji said, entering his door at precisely the right time.

“Wangji,” Lan Qiren said, and inclined his head towards the teas.

Lan Wangji hesitated over the selections briefly – perhaps he did know – and then chose…Lan Qiren’s personal favorite.

Usually Lan Qiren associated that one with Lan Wangji wanting to speak of old times, in need of familiarity and stability, but this time he thought it was probably a deliberate gesture.

Of what, he wasn’t entirely sure. Support, maybe.

When the tea was served, Lan Wangji did not take his seat as Lan Qiren indicated. Instead, he knelt down and would have pressed his head to the ground if Lan Qiren, startled by the sudden movement, had not caught his shoulder and prevented him.

“Shufu, forgive me,” Lan Wangji said, head bowed.

“What are you doing?” Lan Qiren asked. “You have done nothing that requires forgiveness.”

“Haven’t I?” Lan Wangji asked, looking up at Lan Qiren. His face was closed off, wooden the way it had been during the war, and Lan Qiren’s heart hurt.

“Unless there’s something you haven’t told me, no,” he said. He did not bother to pretend not to know why Lan Wangji was so distraught. “Wangji, my actions are my own, my decisions are my own. The sect’s decision is its own. The rules say maintain your own discipline. None of this is your fault.”

“The rules also say honor good people,” Lan Wangji argued. “Shufu is a good person. Wei Ying is a good person. Why does the sect not see this?”

“They are trying to do their best as they see it. Wangji…”

“Shufu did this for me,” Lan Wangji said, and lowered his head once more. “Because I – because of what I feel for Wei Ying.”

Do not tell lies.

“Yes,” Lan Qiren admitted. “Yes, I did. But it was not because I doubted you. It was because I know what a good child I raised.”

Lan Wangji looked up once again, his eyes wide.

“You are good, Wangji,” Lan Qiren told him, wishing to impress it into his mind. He hesitated momentarily, but then spoke further, wanting to be clear, to erase doubt. “You are my finest student, and I am proud of you. I have always been proud of you, and I will always be proud of you. You live your life by our sect rules, knowing good from evil. Even when you fell in love, you did not do wrong.”

Of that much, Lan Qiren was certain.

There’s someone I want to take back to Gusu, Lan Wangji had said. Take them back and hide them away. But they are unwilling.

Lan Qiren, mired in his own doubts and his own fears, the terrors of his past looming large before his eyes, had been horrified when he’d heard it, hearing in it everything he had ever been afraid of, but he had been wrong.

Wei Wuxian was unwilling, and Lan Wangji was in love – and Lan Wangji had done nothing.

He had not taken his father’s path, the one Lan Qiren had spent his whole life trying to teach him to avoid. He had not forced Wei Wuxian to return with him; he had not pressured him, insidious and covert. He had not tried to achieve his aims by force physical or emotional. He articulated his wishes only to his brother, secretly, issuing it as a cry from the heart, an expression of pain.

Lan Qiren’s fears had been only the results of his own ancient wounds, those scars that never fully healed. That was his fault, his burden – he should not have doubted his nephew. His nephew, his Lan Wangji who was so much like him, who gave so much of himself away.

“It is because I know you and trust you to act righteously that I felt that I had to act,” Lan Qiren continued. These past few days of travel and of contemplation had allowed him time to think through his behavior and to achieve clarity for himself, clarity on his reasoning, his purpose and meaning. “You always remain true to yourself, choosing always to uphold the value of justice, just as our rules demand. You have never hesitated to shoulder the burden of morality, to have courtesy and integrity, to perform acts of chivalry…you have always done the right thing. In this case, you erred towards Wei Wuxian’s side because you did not doubt him. You did not doubt Wei Wuxian, because you trust him.”

Because you love him.

Lan Qiren had doubted because he was afraid of love.

But he had never, in his heart, truly lost faith in Lan Wangji. If he had, he would never had gone by himself, alone and unprotected, to try to solve the problem of Wei Wuxian’s break with the cultivation world.

“I did not know Wei Wuxian, nor trust him, as you do, but I trust you. Knowing what I did about how you felt, I had to go to the Burial Mounds myself to – to see what there was to see. To do what I could, if there was anything I could do.”

A few Jin guards, the stolen Wen sect members…everyone in the world would have agreed to let the matter rest if there’d been a suitable punishment. If Jiang Cheng had expelled Wei Wuxian from his sect, as they would have undoubtedly agreed between themselves to do, that would have been the end of it.

Only it wouldn’t have been the end of it, because Lan Wangji was in love.

Madly in love, the way it always was when a Lan fell in love. If Lan Qiren had done nothing, even if no one had ever come to make trouble for Wei Wuxian ever again, Lan Wangji would have eventually found his way to his beloved’s side. If someone did make trouble, and Wei Wuxian, his temperament unsteady and easily provoked due to his demonic cultivation, were to commit some horrible crime…Wei Wuxian had attacked Lan Qiren when he’d come to the Burial Mounds, thinking he was there to attack him, thinking that he was acting in self-defense. Lan Qiren had not held it against him, but someone else would have.

And once that happened, Lan Wangji would need to make another set of choices entirely.

“The only matter where I do not trust you is to know when to stop when defending those you love,” Lan Qiren said. “But that, too, is not your fault. It is mine.”

“Shufu –”

“Hush. It is true. I have not modeled appropriate behavior for you and Xichen. When the student, badly taught, goes awry, it is the fault of the teacher, not the student.”

If Wei Wuxian were ever truly threatened, Lan Wangji would act. He would have no choice but to act; his heart would not let him stand aside. He would act, of course, with every intention of behaving properly, but he wouldn’t know where to stop, wouldn’t know when to draw the line. Love confused everything. There would be a pit dug beneath his feet, and every choice he made would lead to tragedy. If he chose righteousness and the cultivation world, he would be betraying his beloved; if he chose to trust and stand by his beloved, he would be betraying his sect and family.

Lan Qiren did not know whether Lan Wangji would choose Wei Wuxian over the whole world, over his brother and his uncle and his sect, over the dictates of his own conscience – but he might.

Lan Wangji was not like his father, to let love curdle and turn into selfishness. But he was like his uncle –like Lan Qiren before him, when he loved, he did not hold anything back.

Lan Qiren would not let him have the chance to make that mistake, either.

“I am your teacher and your elder. It is only right for me to act in your place.” Lan Qiren lifted up his hand and smoothed Lan Wangji’s forehead ribbon, that precious item that only spouses, children, and parents could touch. Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen were his nephews, but Lan Qiren had always loved them as he would have sons of his own. “Do not apologize, Wangji. I will not accept it.”

He waited a long moment as Lan Wangji’s shoulders shuddered, his feelings too large for him as always.

“Now get up and drink your tea,” he added when the moment had passed. “Don’t you know it’s getting cold? And you should eat something as well.”

Lan Wangji jerked a short nod, and sat at the table.

They did not speak further on the matter of Lan Qiren’s upcoming punishment.

#mdzs #wei wuxian #lan qiren #lan wangji #my fic #my fics #discordant rhapsody #variations #I'm back!#have some feelings

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reileinaxiu · 2 years

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MDZS Fanfic pet peeve: Nighthunting as the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation

I'm noticing a pattern with nighthunting ideas in fanfics where WWX already learned to control resentment or mastered it. Post-canon or just post Burial Mounds in general.

Why is it their are fics out their the portray WWX as weak or vulnerable against resentful beings if he doesn't have his corpses? So not true!

If you argue that his only backup was WN at Qiongqi path then your not wrong he is vulnerable to orthodox cultivators if they set up an advantage but on a nighthunt with resentful beings everywhere then WWX is a loaded crossbow more than enough to handle anything with resentful energy.

He is the Grandmaster! Why would he not know how to instantly deal with imps, demons and monsters not just ghosts! Maybe not instantly, but with less difficulty compared to orthodox cultivators?! The only Nighthunt we see him in the book, that I can recall, post burial mounds is the Phoenix mountain hunt, and post resurrection with NMJ's murder case.

Again he played a third of the resentful beings into their nets, and NMJ's whole corpse into a coffin with just a song and some whistling like how you would play lullabies to babies to sleep.

No matter how unique the abilities or strength of the resentment, is there really a resentful being out there that can resist WWX or that WWX cannot subdue?

NMJ body parts were marinated in resentful energy for at leat 10 years not to mention his cultivation that made for an even potent ghoul! And WWX easily took control without Chenqing and with his flute he managed complete control despite the resistance. He subdued the spirits of an entire village and used them in puppets to fight against corpses in Yi City.

Am I being unreasonable? Nope. WWX was OP at the beginning and end of the book. He had the stats: intelligence, strength, power, he canonically levels f*cking armies with his own armies of the dead. What can a measely monster or ghost can do to him that the burial mounds already hasn't?

This plot device is getting old.

Unless fanfic creates there own iteration of another divine beast Xuanwu level then no, don't do angsty stuff about WWX or LWJ getting injured by some powerful resentful being on a nighthunt. Curses are still good because that apparently still works on them and WWX can still shrug it off like it's an everyday occurence. It probably was in burial mounds and again they're not so careless nor weak to get cursed themselves. WWX had to actively take a curse mark from JL to cleanse him then later himself.

Was WWX proven to be OP throughout his own book? Apparently not enough.

Is WWX invincible with LWJ? I might discuss that further in the future.

#mdzs #modaozushi #wei wuxian #the grandmaster of demonic cultivation #mdzs fanfic pet peeves #fanfic pet peeves #mdzs meta #wei wuxian is op when it comes to nighthunting

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trans-xianxian · 1 year

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sage! also orchid and mahonia. btw do you have a chenqing keychain charm or am I thinking of someone else?

sage ⇢ what ‘medium’ of art (poetry, music, fiction, paintings, statues etc.) is the most touching to you? why do you think that is?:

I think that music is the kind of art that touches my soul the most, tho visual art is probably what inspires my Own visual art the most and writing like poetry and stories in any form can have profound lasting affects myself as a person (like there's characters that I will just always take with me forever and who helped me through times in my life as silly as that sounds) and writing is one of the ways I am most easily able to get things out of me and express specific emotions and experiences but there's nothing that makes me feel quite like music does and there's nothing that connects me to other ppl like music does. music is one of the things that connects me most to one of my best friends and is such a special cornerstone of our relationship. there is nothing in the world like creating music w other ppl even if you are just singing in the kitchen with your best friend. there's that one quote abt humans always making music and how in the bad times we will be singing about the bad times and like yeah. Yeah. my mom always played a lot of music growing up and my dad used to play the guitar w me and my sister sang me to sleep when I was little so I just think it's always been a big part of my life and I think choir is one of the only reasons I got through middle school lmao. anyway there's just nothing like hearing a song and it filling your whole body hope this helps

orchid ⇢ what’s a song you consider to be perfect?:

CANDY BY THE BLASTING COMPANY it is such a beautiful song both lyrically, instrumentally, and melody wise. I still get chills every time I listen to it and everyone I've ever shown it to regardless of their usual music taste has thought it was beautiful. the ending especially makes me akshmcuakshyaijsj. its also really fun and lovely to sing! their other song old summer reckoning is very beautiful as well (it reminds me of wei wuxian and wen qing lmao). they're the band that did the music for over the garden wall if you ever watched it!

mahonia ⇢ what place, thing, activity inspires you most and how do you express yourself when it does?:

well obviously stories inspire me to make things.. I make my little drawings and I write my little posts about my favorite little guys. but one of the driving forces for me to make art Not related to media is just experiencing a strong emotion esp about a specific experience or person and I like to express it w poetry and visual art and combining those two things when I can. I made this piece after one of my rats died (I was having an already terrible week but I don't remember why lmao) and after coming to the vet with me my best friend came back to my apartment and helped me clean my disgusting room and washed all of my dishes for me and it was just such a profound act of love I had to get it out of my body. I have another poem I wrote that I haven't made art for yet after my dad took care of me after top surgery. I guess rlly what inspires me most is love for other ppl and things as cheesy as that sounds

also yes I do have a chenqing keychain!! it's a tiny replica of the flute and then I got a Different keychain that was the little charm on it and put them together hehe

#LONG ANSWERS TONIGHT I SUPPOSE you just can't ask me abt art without me exploding sorry #ask #mewts

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phagechildon · 1 year

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Song of Our Soul - Part 2

Another very short update for this fic~ Thanks to life and health I haven’t been able to write much x.x I’m used to writing 10,000 words per chapter, but decided to try to take it easy with the hope of actually finishing this. I’m uploading this to Twitter too even though I hate the format (what format??) Updates go up there first! --- Modern Wangxian reincarnation soulmate au where both hear a song in their dreams, a song so familiar yet so foreign. They catch glimpses of each other in their dreams, and hear their voices, but when they wake up, all they remember is the melody and the other’s faint emotions. Angst with a happy ending. TW: mentions of violence, child abuse, abandonment, suicidal thoughts, etc. Will add more ----

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 |

---- For the first time in his life, Lan Zhan barely paid attention in class. At least, not to the teacher. His focus remained on his whispering classmates. At one point, the Professor even called on him as he often did to answer a question. Much to his bewilderment, he received no answer from the school’s best student and quickly moved on, stunning the entire classroom.

As soon as class was released, he approached each and every student who mentioned the song before and during class, nearly scaring them off. Lan Zhan wasn’t known to approach others, let alone speak so much.

“I’m sorry… all I know is that they’re on Spotify,” the fifth student quietly mumbled, watching the very slight fall of his shoulders. While the others started spreading more rumors, now wondering if Chenqing stole the song from Lan Zhan, the last girl, Luo Qingyang felt a pang of something in her chest. To her, Lan Zhan looked worried, not angry, which only confused her more. It also made her want to help.

“I've been listening to him before Untitled,” she quickly said just as he went to thank her. “They - he used to have twenty six songs, but right before uploading Untitled, he deleted most of them, even my favorite. There’s only thirteen now.”

Lan Zhan’s eyes widened a fraction, the news catching him off guard. Why would he delete almost everything before releasing the new song? Somehow the Lan knew it wasn’t out of embarrassment of his older works. It was something much darker than that.

“Do you have the downloads?” He asked, hoping beyond hope she archived them. Luckily she nodded, though seemed a little reluctant.

“Lan Wangji… what will you do if I send them?” She asked, obviously wishing to respect Chenqing’s wishes. It was touching how protective she was, but it also stirred a different emotion he didn’t quite understand.

“I want to listen to them,” he honestly said. Despite never really talking to anyone, everyone knew the Lans never lied, especially Lan Zhan. It was rare when he spoke, and when he did, everyone turned to listen. Which is why Luo Qingyang pulled her phone out, knowing this must be important.

“Okay, how would you like me to send them?”

The rest of the day was long and tiring. Not because of classes, but due to talking to so many people. It’s something he’s never really done before, and something he didn’t really want to do again. The only helpful information he received was from Luo Qingyang, everyone else just seemed to know Chenqing because of the new song.

Turning on his laptop, he downloaded all the songs and started listening to them. They were unique and different, each played with a flute accompanied by a soft, pleasant hum. While not exactly masterpieces, they were cleverly crafted and well put together. Lan Zhan found himself closing his eyes, allowing the music to take him on a journey.

The first song made him picture a little boy playing in a park, giggling and playing happily with other children there. Towards the end, the vibrant energy slowly started to fade. He could see the child losing their mirth, the sky darkening, and everyone else slowly fade. That playful tune slowly ebbed into something more tame and slow, low notes punctuating loneliness, maybe something even more.

Then it stopped.

The next song started before he could fully process the previous one. It made him envision a teenage rascal going through town and looking through shops, unable to help himself as he caused a little “quiet” mayhem. The song would swell then abruptly stop, as if they managed to stop themselves from causing too much chaos, no matter how much they wanted to.

Somehow that seemed wrong and out of character for the artist, but how would he even know?

The next few sounded similar, giving him a sense of a repressed, playful spirit. It wasn’t until he got to the seventh deleted song that Lan Zhan felt the hair on the back of his neck fully stand on end.

This was Luo Qingyang’s favorite song, and it was the most chaotic so far. Like a whirlwind, its fast paced notes seemed to make the energy in the room rise, as if it could awaken the dead and convince them to rise. It was shrill and piercing, commanding and authoritative. Unlike the other song, this one was heavily weighted, and Lan Zhan could imagine shackles weighing Chenqing’s arms down. Not like it would stop him from playing this song. Like a war cry, it paved the way for something he seemed desperate for: control.

Despite being the first time he’s heard it, it sounded bone-chillingly familiar. The tone completely shifted in the songs that played after. Somber and quiet, discontent and anger. He no longer hummed, though Lan Zhan could see parts where he could practically picture lips growling against the flute’s mouthpiece.

Listening to the rest was difficult; it was like listening to a man slowly lose his mind. The last one, the one right before Untitled hardly felt like a song, but a long breath that matched his broken heart beat. Lan Zhan hated how it sounded, but felt enchanted.

‘This is what I’ve become,’ is what it said. ‘Just a breath in the wind, ready to be swept away.’

As it ended, Lan Zhan realized his cheeks were cold and reached up, feeling tears trailing down them.

Why… why did this have such a tight grip on him? Why couldn’t he just close his laptop and ignore this? His heart deeply ached, anxiety and adrenaline trying to spur him into taking to the streets until he found the music that played in his soul.

Chenqing was in danger. He needed Lan Zhan now more than ever. But what could he do? He didn’t even know who he was!

Hand moving before his body, he shakingly clicked on Suibian’s Tumblr page, only to feel his heart completely freeze at the image uploaded an hour ago. There was no text, just a picture of the full moon taken from a bridge. One that looked very high up.

No-

He stood as if to run out the door and hunt this bridge down even if it took all night. Deep down though, he knew it was useless. All the cities he suspected Chenqing lived were large with vast countrysides to boot. No matter how determined he was, he’d never make it in time.

He might already be too late.

Mind reeling, he did the only thing he could do.

Closing his laptop, he went to his recording room and spoke with his music. Using the guqin, his instrument of choice, he played his version of the melody that played within his soul, practically weeping “I’m here.”

All he could do was pray and hope his other half would hear it, because who else could this be but his soulmate?

A few cities over, bathing under the full moon’s light with legs dangling over the railing of a worn down bridge was another who had music in his soul. His gaze was towards the moon as he gripped the railing, almost too numb to feel his phone vibrate.

What did it matter if someone tried messaging him? Then, he realized, who would be messaging him?

Numbly he turned the phone over, staring at it with deep bags under his eyes. It took a few moments for them to register what they saw, and when they did, they focused and widened a bit.

A notification from Tumblr: Hanguanjun sent you a message.

#wangxian #mdzs #phage writes

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rosethornewrites · 1 year

Text

10/27-11/7 NR, E, & M reading

The usual

Finished

Not Rated:

a little wiser, by LadyKG

He nodded absently, it seemed some things they just couldn’t change.

Feeling fingers lacing through his own he caught Lan Zhan’s gaze. Yes, some things they couldn’t change… but was that so bad?

even wildflowers wilt., by cop_ulate

Wei Wuxian was tired. And when a person is pushed past their human abilities, they snap. It just so happens that Wei Wuxian snaps at the Guanyin Temple.

My Boy Builds Coffins, by enbysaurus_rex (19 chapters)

Lan Zhan, Lan Xichen, Lan Qiren, and their mother flee to Yiling when the boys are children. Lan Zhan discovers a penchant for coffin making.

Based on the lyrics to the song "My Boy Builds Coffins" by Florence and the Machine

For You Anything, by Preludian_Staves

They make an agreement.

the place farthest from goodbye, by LadyKG

It was a stupid idea. And that was precisely why he did it.

defending gravity, by LadyKG (2nd in a series, 6 chapters)

The hairpin was warm under her hand.

She half expected it to be cold. But it lay heated in her palm, the deep green of jade reflecting with the light of the lanterns and candles in the room. With care she ran her hand over the repairs made. Yu ZiYuan was not one for poetic symbolism or metaphors. Never had been. But this… this felt like something significant.

Explicit:

Cool as Jade, Warm as Amber, by halfdemonvash

In his partial defense, Wei Wuxian didn’t set out to buy something scandalous when he headed into town.

Birthday, by MajiLovePrincess

Wei Wuxian enjoys a day with his family, but while his husband prepares dinner, his lap is the most comfortable place to wait.

Such as Fire, by edgarallanrose

“How old are you?”

The girl turned her lamplike gaze on him, seeming to fully see him for the first time. She screwed her mouth to the side, sizing him up.

“How old are you?” she countered.

“I’m—” Wei Wuxian paused. “Well, I’m going to be…”

She grinned slowly, widely, revealing broken and missing teeth.

“Wei Wuxian,” she croaked, “how old are you?”

A cold autumn sky. A cabin in the woods. A ghost in the lake. Wei Wuxian celebrates his first birthday post-resurrection, and all the horror that comes with it.

Mature:

give me the burden, give me the blame, by halfdemonvash

After a slew of intense nightmares, Wei Wuxian tries to make a talisman that'll give him a night of dreamless sleep.

It doesn't go as planned.

Accidental Confessions, by Dixielis

Jiang Cheng has the worst day of his life when he realizes that Lan Wangji has a thing for his brother. Chaos ensues.

I'm Still Here, by halfdemonvash

Wei Wuxian would not say he was a vain man. Prideful, certainly, but he’d never considered himself vain—after all, he’d willingly gotten himself branded in order to save a young woman from being scarred forever.

But he still can’t help but compare.

Or: Wei Wuxian has time to reflect on his new body.

Start Again, by halfdemonvash (2nd in a series)

He restrains himself from reaching for something that isn’t there. The aching, cold center of him, the black hole punched through his body where his golden core used to reside. But then Lan Zhan touches him and whispers to him, tells him to reach, and Wei Wuxian resists until he can’t anymore and then—it’s there.

Not his golden core, but a golden core. Or rather, the bright seed of one.

Or: Wei Wuxian chooses Suibian over Chenqing. It does not go as planned.

YEYE NONCONNED A TWINK?!?!?! (How Lan Wangji's Vent Account Became Twitter Famous), by Pancho

When Wei Wuxian activated his array, what he least expected was to end up thousands of years in the future. And yet, there he was, buffeted by strangely-dressed pedestrians who glared disapprovingly at him as they passed.

Or: Wei Wuxian accidentally travels into the future and finds his happy ending.

Unfinished

Not Rated:

Second Summer, by Anonymous

“So, this is awkward,” says Wei Ying, with a little laugh. It sounds fake. “But I think you have mistaken me for someone else.”

A year after the mysterious death of the Jin heir, Lan Wangji runs across the secret, long-lost, amnesiac love of his life while on a night-hunt.

When Heroes Fall, by Srihaan

When Wei Wuxian fell to his death at cliffs of the Nightless City, coming back was the last thing he had in mind.

Guide Me Home, by geethr75

When Wen Qing realises that being in the Burial Mounds is killing Wei Wuxian, she decides to approach Jiang Wanyin for help. Little does she expect the result of that decision.

EXTREMELY JIANG CHENG FRIENDLY.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Explicit:

The Communication Effect, by draechaeli

If only there was more communication, or the right kind then everything would be all right. Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi might be bad when it comes to talking to each other about the important things, but they are still leagues better then the older generation that use communication like swords: concealing, revealing, and striking as they please for their own gain. From apologies, to misunderstandings, to sieges, to rumours and gossip, to cold wars, to lies, to civil wars, Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi navigate the world together once their brothers make sure they’re engaged before the classes at Cloud Recesses are finished.

This fic is finished at 186k in 37 chapters + 3 extras

Heart of the Beast, by WaitForTheSnitch

“Wei Ying?” Nie Mingjue prompted him gently. “Where are your parents?”

“They went on a night hunt,” Wei Ying said, a bit evasively.

“Your parents are cultivators?” Da-ge asked in surprise. “Did they leave you here while they hunted? When did they go on their night hunt?”

“Four summers ago,” Wei Ying said a bit uncomfortable.

“Four summers ago,” Nie Mingjue repeated. “What are your parents’ names?”

“My mama is Cangse Sanren and my baba is Wei Changze,” Wei Ying told him, and recognition registered in Nie Mingjue’s eyes.

“Wei Ying,” Nie Mingjue said, sounding a bit regretful, “Your parents aren’t coming back.”

Or, Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang run into Wei Ying while in Yiling and decide to bring him home. And it changes everything.

Because of Wen Qing, by QteCuttlfish

What if Jiang Cheng had chosen to support Wen Qing, the Wen clan remnants, and most importantly, Wei Wuxian? Follows CQL/Untamed canon. Canon Divergence from Episode 20.

blur the gracious moon, by FullmetalChords

He’d once thought that Lan Wangji was his zhiji, someone who fully and completely understood the depths of his heart, who could love every crack and dent in it…

And look where that mistake had left Wei Wuxian. Bound, drained, and abandoned in a part of Jinlintai that has never seen the sun.

——

Wei Wuxian is taken prisoner after liberating the Wen labor camp. Brought to the Cloud Recesses to serve his penance, is it possible for him to find his way back to the light?

(“Come back to Gusu with me,” but messier.)

Contains trans!WWX and eventual mpreg.

Safely hidden in Gusu, by Aleaneah

Lan Wangji had just finished his three years of seclusion.

However, that doesn't mean he had finished his mourning and grieving.

How could it be otherwise, when his heart is dead ?

Then...

One day, a friend(?) come to him, scheming behind his fan.

And his world regain a little of its colors.

Mature:

Bloodsport, by SkullFeather3063

Before Jiang Fengmian could find him an orphaned Wei Wuxian was rescued by Baoshan Sanren. He was raised up in the celestial mountains by people who loved and adored him, looking forward to the day he got to descend and follow in his mother's footsteps.

Confident in his abilities but lost in his knowledge of this new world, Wei Wuxian decided to attend the educational event at Cloud Recesses to integrate himself into the Cultivation World.

Here was where his story began, where love first blossomed, and a new world was forged for the two youths.

This is a story about love and what people will do to get a taste of it...

travelers through the empty gate, by stiltonbasket

Ten years after eliminating the Jiang and Nie clans, Emperor Wen Ruohan is dethroned by a young demonic cultivator from the outlands of Yiling, who surpasses him in both talent and cruelty. Where Wen Ruohan burned his enemies, Emperor Yiling raises his from the dead, and sends them through the imperial city to hunt down every last remnant of the Wen clan that tries to evade his clutches.

The last thing Lan Wangji wants to do with the Yiling huangdi is marry him.

Unfortunately, his family's fall from grace leaves him with no other choice.

With You, For All Our Lives, by Starlight143

In an attempt to secure a good future for her daughter Cangse Sanren betrothes Wei Ying to Lan Zhan. When they die this one action changes everything.

Keep Holding On, by abCEE

As they reached an inn and Wei Wuxian got them a room with three beds, the world seemed to have frozen for Jiang Yanli when her brother suddenly fainted and Jiang Wanyin was just fast enough to catch him before his body could hit the floor.

"A-Xian!"

"Wei Wuxian!"

In which after the Lotus Pier Massacre: Wei Wuxian was greatly injured by Zidian, Jiang Yanli left the inn to buy the medicines and food, and Jiang Wanyin distracted the Wens.

(With a bonus of Wei Wuxian knowing the title of the song and more things ensued inside the Xuanwu Cave that may or may have not involved Lan Wangji's forehead ribbon)

Canon diverged from there.

#the untamed #mo dao zu shi #cql #mdzs #chen qing ling #untamed fanfiction

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wangxianficfinder · 1 year

Text

Fics Still Missing part 4

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These fics are still missing suggestions!

Feat. WangxianFicFinder blog

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1. This is a bit old fic. I remember in it Wangxian are living in a cottage now, and one day WWX finds LWJ vehemently chopping wood. Turns out LWJ is punishing himself because he missed few days of “everyday” therefore he thinks he failed WWX. Do you remember what that fic was? Heh #3 on post

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2. Could you please help me find a fic? The main point was that Lan Wangji was injured in the Gusu massacre and during the turtle cave scene Wuxian gives Wangji his core. The story is canon compliant otherwise, but after Wuxian’s death Wangji learns to play the dizi and he always keeps Chenqing in his belt. I think it was a long fic (50,000+ words) and could have sworn I read it on ao3… but I can’t find it again! Help!! #12 on post

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3. Looking for a fic. Wei Wuxian goes on tour or something similar, and the tabloids post something about him cheating even though he didn’t. He’s dating Lan Wangji and even tho he knows he didn’t cheat he can’t handle the stress of having a boyfriend on tour/ far away. I think it ends with WWX coming back to LWJ and canceling his tour or something similar. Please, any help would be great!!! @/withoutwingsx #17 on post

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4. i have given up searching for a fic on my own and turn to you. it was a modern au w/cultivation, lz and wwx were working together but wwx was not sect/family affiliated. it’s revealed at some point that wwx was manipulated by madam yu into donating his core and then basically tossed out, but no one knew the details. he’s on some kind of probation while he recovers from the core donation surgery. please help, it’s been days. @/plotwitch #4 on post

not FOUND All Old Things are New Again series by The Feels Whale (@/miscellea)

not FOUND Wei Wuxian’s Guide to Hacking for Fun and Profit by ArgentInferno

not FOUND the soft animal of your body by sysrae

not FOUND this river runs to you by sundiscus

NOT FOUND! Where You Say My Name by trippednfell

NOT FOUND! Hear a song this deeply by so_shhy

NOT FOUND! 🧡 but his smile never dimmed by Stratisphyre

FOUND? Truth Will Out (when caught on video) by KizuKatana (E, 117k, WIP, wangxian, WN & WWX & WQ, modern cultivation, YZY abuses WWX, caught in camera, partial core removal, WWX expelled from Jiang sect, live streamer WWX, meet-ugly, dual cultivation)

For #27 of missing fic, it sounds vague familiar. Does the fic have wwx working freelance to catalogue/prep-clear out a seized warehouse full of dark artifacts and lz is searching for a missing dragons scale? Or is it one where they're investigating a series if grisly murders where people are used to make arrays and he works as a professor and is briefly a suspect? Or where there's sect cultivators, but also 'city cultivators' like wwx that deal with simple/animal control type & he lied for job

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5. Hello, I’m searching a MDZS fic that is a Empress Ki AU. It’s in AO3, but I cannot find it. @/annarielwen #7 on post

FOUND? Оплачено сполна (Paid in Full) by Rubiya_Sinner (E, 49k, WangXian, ChengXian, Drama, Romance, Slavery, Character Death, Angst with a Happy Ending, Inspired by K-Drama | Korean Drama, Loyalty, Intrigue, Ancient China, Love/Hate, Revenge, Unhealthy Relationships, Doomed Relationship, Betrayal) there is one empress ki tagged fic however it's in Russian

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6. Hi. You all do great work. I’m hoping you can help me find a fic. It’s a sweet little post cannon, birthday fic for WWX. He and LWJ go into town for food with the juniors to celebrate. All the juniors give him really nice gifts. I think JL gives him something really special and LSZ is worried that his gift isn’t as good as JL…or something along those lines. I wish I could remember more. I hope this is enough to go on. Thanks again! #10 on post

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7. Hi! I was wondering g if you could help me find a fix, I actually first knew about because of you I belive, it’s a time travel fix it fic in which both Wei Wuxian and Lan Wanji got send back before the sun campain, they had a meeting with the clans and basically stopped it from happening, great part of the fic is actually after all is well, like they adopt a yuan, and stuff, nobody dies. I remember Wei Ying having a panic attack and people believing they are from the future because they are inmediatly lovydovy with each other. I believe it was long, like 30 or 50 chapters? Thank ahead! #19 on post

FOUND? We Can See a New Start by preciousbunnynoiz (M, 127k, WangXian, XiCheng, XuanLi, Soulmates, Time Travel Fix-It, Biting, Implied Sexual Content, Implied/Referenced Underage Sex, but mentally they are adults, Making Out, Fluff and Angst, Humor, Happy Ending, PTSD, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Supportive LWJ, Communication, Soul Bond, Blood, Found Family, Parent-Child Relationship, aromantic JC, Lesbian WQ, Queerplatonic Relationships, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Verbal Abuse, Disassociate episodes, disassociating, Suicidal Thoughts, Self-Harm, Self-Hatred, Depression, Delusions, Mental Health Issues, Mental Breakdown, Attempted Sexual Assault, Therapy, Supportive JC, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Family Feels, Implied/Referenced Torture, Revenge, Self-Sacrifice, Accidental Bonding, Brotherly Bonding)

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8. Hello! I am looking for the wangxian fic where Jin Ling wants to formally court Lan Sizhui. He asks wei wuxian and then asks for his help to talk to lan zhan. I know I’m the fic wei wuxian wears gusu robes during a conference and acts like the best version of a lan wife. Thank you in advance!! #15 of post

NOT FOUND! A Civil Combpaign by Ariaste

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9. hello! i can’t stop thinking about these (a bit vague) scenes from wangxian fics. could you help me find a fic where A) wei ying falls asleep as he waits for lan zhan outside the jingshi. i think it specified that he fell asleep on the porch? #16A of post

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10. Hiii i need help in finding a fanfic So i remeber that the fic starts with the author telling us that wei ying and lan zhan are happy after everything that happened and wei ying is trying to cultivate his golden core but wei yings core is not strong enough so that he can cultivate to imortality. Lan zhan decides that he does not want to live eternaly and he ages with wei ying. Lan zhan is sharing his spiritual energy with wei ying and this way he ie sustaining the both of them until he finally runs out of it and one day they lay in bed and they die together in the jingshi. Next thing you know they wake up in the past and i think this fic is a time travel fix it or just a time travel one i cant remeber anything else. I know i read it on AO3. Please help. @/dacika98 #18 of post

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11. Hey, I’m looking for a post-canon fic where there’s an assassination attempt on WWX with poison and LWJ is super protective and has to find the culprit. Thanks so much! #3 of post

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12. For your next fic finder… I’ve suddenly remembered this elusive fic. I’m pretty sure it was a canon era BDSM AU (in that people have inherent dom/sub dynamics), and WWX was a sub that had been raised/socialized as a dom by the Jiang sect. The fic was set during the CR study arc, and IIRC something happened in the library that caused WWX to drop hard, revealing the truth to everybody. It’s not The Hilt Lies Well In Hand by HeavenlySkyfarer, or A Gesture of Companionship by Khashana. Help? #13 of post

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13. Hi, for the next fic finder I need help finding 2 fics that I read on AO3. A) During the first siege Wei Ying uses the Soul Summoning Ritual to bring back Jiang Yanli’s soul in his body and the Yanli runs to Jiang Cheng and says something like “A-Cheng it’s me.”. B) During the Wen Settlement days one morning Wen Qing walks into Wei Ying’s cave and finds him dead on his bed. I think he died due to an illness and Wen Qing wasn’t suprised to find him dead. Thank you for your help. @/bluekittenfire #16 of post

13A)

FOUND! A Final Sacrifice by FrozenHawFlakes (T, <1k, major character death, Angst, Protective Siblings, Family Feels, family love, everything is worse off for everyone, except maybe JL, but he has another set of problems, What-If, Canon Divergence)

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14. I can’t find a fic where Wei Ying died at canon and woke up from coma in modern world where everyone is alive and good. And they think Wei Ying is dreaming. Wei Ying is also confused. Everyone is good even madam yu and fengmin. And he’s also lan zhans husband there. Thank u #18 of post

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15. hii!!!! im looking for a fic in which wwx is badly hurt, and the lan doctor tells him that the only way he can survive is through dual cultivation. lwj immediately goes to do the deed because he can’t stand wwx in pain. they get together in the end! but it has a little of angst! their first time is a little sad because wwx is very hurt but they love each other a lot and get quicly together! thank you #20 of post

FOUND? as amber of ember glows by occultings (microcomets) (E, 11k, WangXian, Sex Pollen, Marathon Sex, Multiple Orgasms, Mutual Pining, First Time, Miscommunication, Aphrodisiacs, pining for the person you're fucking, Getting Together, mostly) sounds like one of occulting's fics, maybe 'as amber of ember glows' but there are several along this line so I can't be certain?

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16. Posted on instagram. LWJ and WWX were both models, WWX were kidnapped and tortured at one point because of jealous Jin Zixun @/hid9884 2B of post

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17. Hi can you help me find a fanfic?? um wei wuxian works at a sex shop and lan wangji comes in to close it down bc his parents own it but end up falling in love where as jiang cheng works at a bar where lan xichen fall inlove w/ him and wei wuxian crazy ex (jenny I think) tries to kill him?? #3 of post

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18. Hello, can you help find this fic? The back story in this fic is yzy is cheating with wcz and wwx is yzy'son with wcz. After wwx born he was cast aside and yzy pregnant with soon after with jfm as the fathet. Wcz become a rogue cultivator while raising wwx and he meet csr. In the first chapter i think wwx is kinda kicked out by bssr to make him meet with his sibling in cloud recesses and make a peace with them. I think he introduce himself as a-xian (or it is a-ying? But i think it was a-xian). I think that’s all i can remember. Thank you! #18 of post

FOUND! The Undesirable Son by FragranceLotion97 (G, 34k, WangXian, CQL but WWX is Madam Yu's Bastard Son, It goes differently from the beginning, WWX becomes sworn brother with lxc then becomes his in law, LWJ is still whipped, There is Yin Iron, Heavily CQL with a little mix from the novel, Adding donghua into the fandom because i decide to use a lot of things from there)

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19. For the next fic finder: can you help me find a fic where wwx falls in the lake when they’re fighting the abyss, and everyone believes he dies. Weeks (or maybe months) pass, and then he washes up on the shore of the lake, somehow still alive. I think it might have been Lan Xichen pov, and he was blaming himself for losing wwx since he was in charge of the hunt. #19 of post

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20. Hello! Looking for this fic: Just before he dies, Wei Ying sees Lan Zhan being severely injured (really bad wound through the chest). When he resurrects later on, he’s certain that Lan Zhan is dead, and he’s pissed about it. But Lan Zhan isnt dead, and they find each other. Its a darkish fic with wangxian being quite in love but kind of a murder couple. Lan Xichen is kinda bad here. Meng Yao gets his head chopped off. I cant find it anywhere, it might’ve been deleted… Help? 😳 @/dreammaiden21 #3A of post

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21. Hello, I’m looking for a fic where Lan Wangji raises the Lan disciples to express their emotions healthily. I remember it ends after WWX’s resurrection with Lan Wangji crying really hard. #4 of post

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22. I watched wangxian toxic lover FF video in YouTube I want read this ff please can you search the ff story I’m try find this story but never find it’s request please can you find #9 of post

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23. Hi ! Can u find me a fic? The summary is basically future wy transports to the past where everyone is basically stuck in this cafe and they solve their emotional trauma and after that is solved both wys go back to their own timeline and everyone lives and no one dies #9 of post

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24. It’s been a while! It’s boyfriend! (Hello again! - Mod C)

There’s a fic that I have been trying to find for a while now and I forgot what it is about. All I remember is this:

- Madam Yu good so is the rest of the Jiang

- I think it’s something about time travel fix it

-The Jiang Family + Wei Wuxian talking about Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling’s weird naming of dogs and then they said something about Sect Leader Jiang naming the Sword suibian. Someone in the group said it runs in the family to which Jiang Cheng refuted it by saying his name and Yanli’s name were good names. Madam Yu just laughed and said that it was her who named them and not Jiang Fengmian.

I’m sorry that’s all I remember but anyway thank you in advance!! #13 of post

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25. Hey! There is a fic set in canon where the following scenes happen, and jiang fengmian divorces madam yu at the end.

Wei ying frequently leaves lotus pier at nights, once his room flooded while he was away. One such night, Wei ying overhears jfm n yzy arguing in a pavilion near the lake.

That day jfm had bought a comb for madame yu as a gift but couldn’t give it to her because she stormed out after blaming wwx and jfm.

Help me find this pls🙏Hi! I’m the anon who asked for a fic set in canon era where jfm divorce madam yu at the end. I remembered a few more details, here are they:

• wei ying frequently sneaks out of lotus pier to practice since he has to pretend he is lacking in front of madam yu to appease both her and jc.

• Once when he went out his room floods and yzy blames him• One night wy overhear jfm and madame yu fighting. We later learn that, that day jfm bought a comb for yzy as a gift but couldn’t give it due to her pushing him further away from having any sort of companionship.

• Jyl is an enabler in this fic and unconsciously defends jc’s actions while asking a-xian to forgive and forget. She never asks jc to apologize to wy and wy calls her out on that later in the fic when he and wens settle with the lans. #1 of post

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26. Hello, me again! 😊 Sorry to bother you, but I literally just thought of a wangxian fic I was searching for a few months ago and never found. The problem is I only recall one scene: Lan Zhan is somehow at Qiongqi Path with Wei Ying & Wen Ning when the ambush happens. I think LZ is telling WY to concentrate and not lose control as they fight… When WN is made to attack Jin Zixuan, LZ steps in between and WN’s fist goes through “him” instead. Does anyone know which fic has that scene? 🤔 @/dreammaiden21

Hello! I was #2 in the latest fic finder, and I just wanted to let you know that it was, sadly, not those two. Great fics though! 👍 But in the one I’m looking for Lan Zhan is definitely hurt in that altercation, seriously enough that Wen Qing (who treats him) fears for his life at first. Wei Ying is beside himself (duh!) and Xichen is there at some point, being worried and angry at WY for endangering his brother. I know I read it somewhere… 🤔🤔🤔 #2 of post

NOT FOUND! and so it goes by doyeorem (pomellogranate)

NOT FOUND! Home and the Heartland by Witch_Nova221

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27. Hi! Im looking for a wangxian socmed au fic wherein they are celebrities. I think LWJ is a singer and WWX is an actor who won golden globe awards three times. I remember that there are scenes that they don disguise in public and some of their fans recognize them but posted their picture in twitter hours after the fans encountered them. There’s also a scene where wwx went to an orphanage and gives red packets to the kids for new years day. Wangxian also went to Jiang Yanli’s restaurant. A scene wherein the Jiang Family took a family photo wearing family sweater. At the end of the fic, wwx win a best actor award and Yu Ziyuan was the one who presented it. I cant find it in ao3, so it might have been deleted by the author. But maybe someone downloaded it? I really love that fic. Thank you! @/ynariaalejo #5 of post

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28. Hi! I was wondering if you guys knew this one fic on ao3 that’s a Divergent au? I couldn’t find it around and I suspect it’s been deleted :( #12 of post

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29. I don’t remember anything else about the fic so I’m sorry in advance! I just remember that Wen Qing lived and it was her who performed the sacrifice summon instead of Mo Xuanyu so Wei Wuxian was in her body. #13 of post

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30. Hello. I read a fic where wwx was a first responder and he was also in college and lwj was his classmate and misunderstood him as a bad student because wwx was always sleeping in class. Pls help find the fic. @/rosesstarsandhim #17 of post

FOUND? Scribbled Hearts by Caelum_the_Slytherin (Not Rated, 2k, WangXian, College/University, Misunderstandings, Crushes, goth wwx, felon wwx, Mentions of Death, Realizations, the slightest of angst)

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31. For fic finder, I remember one scene from an arranged marriage/marriage of convenience that may have involved marrying to save the Wen Remnants, wherein they’re opening their wedding gifts and are puzzled by Sect Leader Yao’s gift, a bunch of unlabeled bottles. Wei Wuxian opens one and dips a finger in to taste it and they eventually realize it’s lube and are mortified. @/rosethornewrites #1 of post

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32. Hey! I’m looking for 3 fics, @/imstillthinkingaboutithmm

A) Alternate canon setting where wei ying has an arranged marriage with a dead lan wangji. They have never met before, Lan zhan is a ghost, his dead body may or may not be present in the room. Come night wei ying can feel the cold ghostly touch of his dead husband. They eventually fall in love.

“lovers be lost (but love shall not)” looks interesting but it is not the fic i was looking for. Thanks for the rec though. This fic is set in 1910s while the fic I’m looking for was set in ancient china

C) A modern AU based on the British dating game show “Naked attraction”

Wei ying goes as a contestant and lan wangji is one of the hidden naked men. #10AC of post

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33. Hello Mods! It’s me again! Please help me find this Spy vs Spy AU with WWX vs LWJ. I can’t exactly remember, but i think it was based on that thread about how if you only slash 3 tires of your ex, the insurance won’t pay? My Dumbass forgot to save it, soooo…. I think it was them being Enemies (like from opposing spyclans maybe?) but it could have been colleagues who hate each other too… in any case it was enemies to lovers ish. Thank you soooo much! @/desperation-is-my-middle-name #11 of post

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34. Hi! I sent a query on Mar16 but I’d like to rewrite my FicFinder request Could you help me find a Wangxian fic where either Lan Zhan or Wei Ying was trained to be a feral attack dog owned by evil forces?They put a collar on him and remove it when he’s to attack their enemies. He’s able to break away from them & is welcomed into a warm & loving home. It’s not a new fic, think I read it last year. Similar to the plot of “Across the street to another life” Maybe it’s also an Unleashed AU. Thx a lot! #13 of post

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35. Hi can you help me find a wangxian fic. Is about wei ying want a place to work on his experiments and lab.. and wangji said he be safe with him in his arm sleeve.. and they make it safe for wei ying to be inside of wangji arm sleeves. @/sadritsuka12 #14 of post

FOUND? My heart in my sleeve by exmanhater (G, 2k, WangXian, Crack, Qiankun Sleeves, Sleeve Husband, Post-Canon)

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36. Does anybody know the name or have a copy of this fanfic where I believe lwj is a Lord and he has 5 wives. I believe wwx was the 2nd wife and lwj didn’t really notice him until one day he saw him playing with the other wives children. And I think one of the wives either the 1st or 3rd tried to kill him for favor. @/teamironman98 #1 of post

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37. Hello, for fic finder I want to find a short story set post canon where Wei Wuxian is transformed into a cat and keeps Jin Ling company, I vaguely remember a scene where Wei Wuxian in cat form bapped Fairy on the nose with his paw and stared in wonder at his paws possibly realising he had claws or in wonder that he touched a dog without running away screaming. I think he later figured out how to transform into his cat form at will to nap in sunbeams. Finding this story has been driving me nuts any help is greatly appreciated. @/sorathemasterofmasters #16 of post

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38. Hello, I recently remember this fic that ive read months ago and im not sure if i remember it correctly, i cant find it anymore so i hope u guys can help me with this.

- its a modern fic. wei ying is sick then he lives with the lans. i remember him going to the same school(?) with lan zhan. i think lqr told lz to take care of him smth like that. then there’s a girl that is also sick(?) there’s a scene where wy asked lz to stay with him but then lz left and chose the other girl (lz didnt know that wx is sick and he was like the girl needs me more than u) there’s a confession on a radio station(?) then when lz found out that wy is sick he ran back to him. there’s also jiang-wen family connections. wy is cousins to the jiangs and has a connection with wens, im not sure if rouhan is his grandfather or uncle or smth. then they found out there’s a scene where madam yu slapped the girl because of what she did (hurt wy) and they cut off ties (business/job) with their family

im not sure if im talking about one story or two. #17 of post

For #17 I’m sure I’ve read the fic but it was when I was early into fandom and new to AO3. Also the girl is engaged to LWJ or something. WWX already is in love with LWJ, but he’s sick and gonna die in a year

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39. Hi there, I’m looking for a Jiang Cheng time travel story. I don’t remember the how or why but it was during the Sunshot campaighn and he remembered that Wei Wuxian didn’t seem to suffer any symptom to Demonic Cultivation after his marriage to Lan Wangji, contributing it to his healing songs, and planned to have Lan Wangji marry into Lotus Pier this time… @/krysaniar #1 of post

NOT FOUND! Brother-In-Law’s by ILikeReading101

FOUND? Lynchpin by ShanaStoryteller (Not Rated, 103k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Time Travel, Fix-It, Lynchpin [PODFIC] by Opalsong, [PODFIC] Lynchpin by Gwogobo)

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40. Hello! Can you please help find this fic? I don’t remember much. I thing wq make a deal with sushoot soldier that she will give yiling to them in exchange of her famaly and her safety. Wwx fights with a bow and killed wzl using a bow in battle at yiling. I think that jc knows about golden core transfer because he awakened at close at the end of procedure. Thats all that i can remember. Thank you!! #3 of post

FOUND! Justified in Knowledge by Comfect (G, 50k, JC & WWX, JC/WQ, wangxian, WWX & WQ, WQ & WN, Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Fix-It, Golden Core Reveal, Golden Core Transfer, Everyone Lives AU, except like WRH and WC, And probably a cast of thousands because its a war)

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41. Hi!!! I’m looking for a fic where alpha Lwj thinks ômega Wwx is a fuckboy. He decides to have one night with Wwx to see if his feelings might disappear. Wwx, who is not a fuckboy at all, thinks Lwj is in love with him too, and confesses to him some time after their one night, but Lwj turns him down rather cruelly, even insinuating he is promiscuous. He regrets it once Wwx starts crying. I also remember Wc/Wx said something about Wwx, and Lwj got into a physical fight with him before going to apologize to Wwx.

Hi, it’s number 6 from the lqst foc finder. It’s not the threadfic by Kizukatana. It was not a threadfic, it was on ao3. #6 of post

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42. Hello! I’m looking for a fic I read ages ago and only remember very little of. I think it was either a war prize or arranged marriage fic? But that could be wrong. What I do remember is that when wwx kills the big bad, everyone expects him to take the crown and be evil or something, but he immediately turns and offers the throne/crown/sword/whatever it was to lwj. Help? Thank you so much for all the wonderful work you do!! @/deathdefyinglifeleaps #11 of post

#11 Oooh, that’s a good one, but not the one I’m looking for. Thank you for reminding me that this one exists, though! (Also, sorry I’m wicked late to this? Not sure how I missed it… my bad.)

Not FOUND pitiful destiny, point your finger at me by sassybluee

FOUND? to porcelain, to ivory, to steel by sunsandships (E, 27k, WangXian, Vaguely Game of Thrones Inspired, Arranged Marriage, top!WWX, top!LWJ, Dubious Consent, Intercrural Sex, Oral Sex, Breathplay)

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43. In this fic wen ruohan will send all the sect heirs into the burial mount. Some sect heirs died and others learned demonic cultivation and came out. Jiang sect send wei wuxian to the burial mount instead of jiang cheng. #1A of post

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44. I hope you can help me with this one. Lan xichen can hear the Jiang wanyin clarity bell ringing. He eventually learn that the clarity bell rings differently according to the emotions of Jiang wanyin. Thank you very much #3C of post

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45. Hello i’m for a fic where wwx dies and everyone mourns for him (including wens in burial mounds) and everyone tried to revive him. @aycee0806 #13 of post

Is 13 the one where WWX died right at the cusp of immortality right around when the first seige was supposed to happen, and because of that even though he was dead his body didn’t decay? So a type os glass casket/shrine was set up for him up in the Burial Mounds I think? Or is it some other fic? I know I’ve read at least one other fic with this vague premise, but either way I absolutely CANNOT remember the fic name either

FOUND? could be the deleted "When I'm gone" by qiankun_pouch. I have a copy of it. ~bluekittenfire

FOUND? If One for you, then One for us by KusakabeNAyako (T, 85k, wangxian, WIP, Canon Divergence, WN is precious Cinnamon roll, WWX is precious cinnamon roll, Rape/Non-con Elements, YLLZ WWX)

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46. HII!!, I was wondering if you have the fanfic where wei wuxian is going through a hard time bc of his gf jenny and lan wangji the son of a ceo who is working a sex shop to close it down also jiang cheng works at the bar- #15 of post

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47. Similar in vibes, also complete: WWX travels to an alternative universe, where JC died and WWX is somehow the Jiang Sect Leader. He meets LWJ at a conference. The new universes’ WWX was not friends with LWJ. LWJ’s leg was still broken after the Wen Indoctrination and never healed, so LWJ is wheelchair bound (pushed by Jingyi). WWX builds up a friendship with LWJ but I think in the end he goes back to his own universe. This one sounds like that one fic where the theme was something like ‘be careful what you wish for’, iirc WWX wanted to see either his parents or JYL alive 🤔 ~Mod L

Any help would be much appreciated! As well as any other dimension travel recs anyone has. Thanks again for this wonderful blog! @/vasterthanempires #4B of post

4BI have read but also cannot recall! Additional details, it was an alternate dimension talisman WWX created, and when he leaves any changes he might have cause are erased but somehow wheelchair!LZ starts an actual friendship with local!WWX? not sure if it was a bonus chapter or an endnote but I recall I was happy that it was a hair ending for both sets…

FOUND? empty as the sky by incendir (T, 23k, wangxian, JYL & WWX, CSSR & WWX, be careful what you wish for)

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48. I need help on finding a fic. It’s about how wei wuxian created his own sect from a past syndicate movements, he transformed it into a merchant/shops/silk road or something similar. He never went with the jiangs or any sects. When he was still on the streets he got betrayed by an “esteemed” cultivator because of false accusations (vendor told the cultivator that he caught wei wuxian stealing from him, but in actuality wei wuxian was at the wrong place at the wrong time), it was another kid that stole a toy from a merchant, if I’m not wrong. He was also a part of an illegal underground fights where he “won the bet” against the strongest fighter. He’s also claimed by wen qing to be the killer of a murder because the only one who knows around needles is herself, and she met wei wuxian and taught him the arts of needles. There’s also a wei wuxian - xue yang connection by said syndicate because the chang sect was a part of it. #9 of post

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49. hi! i’m looking for a fic where there was quarantine and wangxian went to stay at the family house (it was so big like a mansion or an apartment i don’t really remember).

remember a scene where jingyi was having a panic attack (?) and wei ying came to calm him down. they were at the balcony. i think they were adopting jingyi.

i don’t know if it is finished or deleted. #12 of post

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50. Hi I want to ask is there a wangxian fanfiction where lan zhan is a prince and wei wuxian is a huli jing and becomes his consort by forced marriage but instead wei ying is against this loveless marriage and so everytime they sleep it’s always hate s£× until he gets preg and gives birth to a yuan and tries his best to give him love until he dies protecting a yuan from a wen attack and that day he realises wangji actually loved him dies and gets reincarnated and tries to fix things @/random-online-reader #15 of post

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#wangxian #mdzs #wangxian fic finder #wangxian fic search #the untamed #wangxianficfinder #Wangxian Fic Rec #wangxianficfinder compilation post #missing fics #long post #The Untamed #MDZS

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mvsicinthedvrk · 5 months

Text

spotify meme starter for pj & junyi // @mcrcki

"I heard someone say once that the lure of their name written down in history can't compare to a cup of good wine, and I never entirely thought that was true," Junyi admits. If she could do a great thing, then why not? Maybe not for the sake of fame alone, but-- it surely couldn't hurt, to do something so wonderful that everyone remembers you. She takes another sip of her glass, a smile playing on her lips as she adds lightheartedly, "But this wine might make me change my mind about that."

( song #1, song ends with chenqing by xiao zhan )

#;; ljy ;;#;; lu junyi speaks to pj halliwell ;;#alcohol tw #drinking tw #hw: spotify

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mdzs-owns-my-ass-i-guess · 9 months

Text

Family portrait

Warnings: very heavy angst, major character death, explicit descriptions of injuries, mental breakdowns

This has to be one of the most terrible - if not the most terrible - thing I've ever written, so heed the warnings.

Special thanks to @yuzanrath for inspiring this terrible ficlet and feeding into my masochistic enjoyment of angst <3

Enjoy <3!

It’s sobering - when Wei Wuxian feels it, the haze of wrath, resentful energy and pain clears away, like fog lifted off the surface of a warming lake.

A-Yuan’s little hand, grasping tightly at Wei Wuxian’s tattered lapels, lets go.

The tension in the fiber disappears, all at once, and the little hand falls limply at the side of the boy’s little body.

The world goes quiet.

Resentment stops howling as it floats around Wei Wuxian’s kneeling form, unmoving, a sheer curtain of smoke. Corpses no longer moan, their hunger for flesh paused as they stare, empty-eyed, motionless, at the scene of a man holding the small, emaciated body of a child whose life is bleeding out of him in winding, red rivulets. The gaping wound in his stomach weeps still, no matter how hard Wei Wuxian tries - has tried - to stop it, the boy’s robes and his own, stained, his long, deft fingertips bloody, lukewarm.

The horde of cultivators has quieted down too. They stand, like statues, swords drawn, eyes wide with fury and bloodlust, spectators to a tragedy that they’ve created. It feels almost as if they’re both basking in it and disbelieving of it, a whirlwind of contradictions.

Tears slide over Wei Wuxian’s cheeks, clear, glistening, cutting a straight, clean path through the blood stains and dirt on his face. The droplets fall over the little boy’s face, his complexion pale, eyes halfway open. If sunlight were to hit just right - if sunlight existed in the Burial Mounds like it does on the outside - it would make his irises shine as if he were still…

Wei Wuxian brings a gentle hand over the boy’s face, ignores the way his fingertips leave bloody marks their way, and leans down to leave a trembling, tearful kiss over A-Yuan’s forehead.

He whispers something into it, something that only he knows, and then, with features contorted in pain, slides a hand over his eyes, eyelids covering the lifelessness behind them.

Carefully, he lifts the boy to his chest, cradles him as much as he is able, his own injuries limiting, and begins humming a song.

There is a gasp in the crowd, a gasp that ends in a wounded sound - but it goes unheard.

Wei Wuxian closes his eyes. He feels the body in his arms slowly losing more and more heat, muscles and joints soon to become rigid. He misses the warmth of the little breath against his chest, the hold of little fingers on the ends of his hair, the seams of his clothes…

“Xian-gege, I wanna be just like you when I grow up!” He declares, a steely expression on his face as he lifts a discarded Chenqing over his head with determination - and both of his tiny arms.

They’re both hanging out in Wei Wuxian’s cave, one working on inventions, the other drawing on paper as if to imitate him. A-Yuan usually sleeps in his granny’s shack, but his nightmares have become worse, resentful energy having taken a twisted liking to him - and Wei Wuxian is the only one that can help him through it.

Wei Wuxian can’t help a laugh, taking the flute from the boy’s hand before he drops it.

“You shouldn’t be like me, A-Yuan.”

“But I want to!”

Wei Wuxian tries to suppress the flurry of emotions ready to spill from his eyes. He puts his brush and talisman paper away, and opens his arms for the little boy to crawl there.

His eyes light up, and he jumps into his favorite spot, nuzzling into Wei Wuxian’s robes like a kitten.

Wei Wuxian ignores the way his badly healed fractures ache with protest at the sudden impact, and instead holds A-Yuan close, carding a hand through his hair.

“A-Yuan, you shouldn’t be like me. You should just be like you.”

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know.” And he kisses the top of the boy’s head. “But you have a whole lifetime to figure it out.”

“Will you help me too?”

“As long as I’m able, little radish…”

He had imagined he would die before A-Yuan did - just like all parents do. They all imagine their children will outlive them, as it is natural for them to. They’ll grow up while their parents grow old…

But Wei Wuxian isn’t like everybody else. A-Yuan isn’t either.

That’s what the rest of the world has decided, that’s why the order of things has been reversed. That’s why Wei Wuxian is holding the dead body of a child, that’s why he’s had to helplessly watch life drain out of his innocent eyes.

What good is he, if he couldn’t even protect a child?

The Yiling Patriarch? Who’s that? Who could be so afraid of somebody so useless? What’s the point - the point of everything - if none of it could save the one untainted thing living in these cursed, wretched lands?

“Such is the fate the wretched Wens deserve!” a voice in the crowd declares, disgust and satisfaction dripping into every syllable, “Their young must be slaughtered like cattle-”

The voice dies into a gargle, a spike of resentful energy having torn through its inhabiting body, materialized from deep within the ground. The body flails, in the air, before resentful energy rushes to rip at it until nothing is left - everybody watching in fascinated terror as it happens.

Silence befalls the cultivators again. The static smoke of resentful energy has begun moving again, slowly, circling the crowd, then increasingly faster, tearing through the groups with unbridled rage.

But it is silent.

Only the screams of its victims echo through the Burial Mounds now.

Wei Wuxian doesn’t hear them.

He’s rocking the body of his child, singing to it, apologizing to it as if it would ever respond, as if it would ever matter.

“Wei Ying…”

A step, unstable, unsure.

“Wei Ying…!”

Another step, even heavier than the last.

When he’s about to take the third step, red, tearful eyes fixate him from under long, dark strands of hair. He doubts they’re seeing him.

“Wei Ying, I…”

Resentful energy howls, deafeningly, in his ears, as it circles him.

Go away! Go die! What have you done?! Look what you’ve done! Monsters! Monsters! You will die! You deserve to die!

“Wei Ying!”

He doesn’t know whether he’s screaming in pain, resentful energy tearing at his already marred skin, or to snap Wei Wuxian out of his trance, but it escapes him before he thinks about it, loud and desperate - and resentment leaves him, whispering threats and protests.

Wei Wuxian stares, afraid, confused, shocked, at the man in front of him.

“Lan… Zhan…”

Lan Wangji feels relief hearing his name out of the others’ mouth, but it’s short lived. His eyes fall onto the little body in Wei Wuxian’s arms, and anguish crosses his features as his vision blurs with tears.

“Wei Ying…”

It’s only a short distance away, but Lan Wangji can’t stand up anymore, his body weak and hurting, so he crawls towards the two, ignoring the protests of his back against the effort.

He sees, from up close, how hard Wei Wuxian is shaking, his veins swollen dark with resentful energy, crying soundlessly as he holds A-Yuan.

Lan Wangji looks at the boy, a peaceful expression on his face, as if he was sleeping. The boy he gifted toys to, the boy that, lost in the markets, called him father. The boy that bore sins that were not his own and that paid dues he had not even be alive for.

“They killed him, Lan Zhan…” Wei Wuxian whispers, tightening his hold on the cold body. “He was on his own...crying… I didn’t know…”

“It’s not your fault, Wei Ying…” and he reaches to touch A-Yuan’s cold cheek, wet with Wei Wuxian’s tears. “It’s not your fault…”

“I watched him die, Lan Zhan… That’s all I could do…”

Lan Wangji tentatively reaches to wrap an arm around Wei Wuxian’s shoulders, worries it might scare him away - but Wei Wuxian leans into the touch, into him, his eyes never leaving A-Yuan. He's shaking even more now, resentment crawling up his body, but never touching A-Yuan's corpse.

“I want to kill them all, Lan Zhan…”

Lan Wangji holds him, tightly, lips against his temple, “Kill them, Wei Ying." The weight of Bichen on his hip feels unbearable, and he discards of it, resentful energy wrapping around it curiously, as if taken aback by the lack of resistance. "All of them.”

Wei Wuxian wishes he still had it in him to question this - Lan Wangji, of all people… he would never agree to this, he would never encourage it…

Has he rescinded Bichen? Or is the sword spirit... does it accept this? Does it want to be used for such a purpose...?

But none of this matters anymore. Neither Wei Wuxian, nor Lan Wangji are the same people now. No parents are the same after their child dies. Empty, meaningless.

Resentful energy dances into the air as if rejoicing.

Wei Wuxian’s eyes glow red, and he lifts one of his hands in the air, holding the stygian tiger amulet like bait.

Wisps of resentment gather to it quickly, knocking into each other, weaving around it, around themselves. Expectant.

“Feast.”

The Burial Mounds rattle, a formidable earthquake splitting the earth open, ancient corpses rising to the order.

In the cacophony of anguished screams and moaning corpses, storming resentment and blood rivers, a family stays, united, broken, untouched by it all as they hold one another.

Hold one another and sing.

–

Nobody comes out alive out of the Burial Mounds.

The siege is never spoken of again.

The boundary has never been crossed since.

#mdzs #mo dao zu shi #wangxian #writing attempts

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