Thread by @lianziyun

#xicheng AU to my AU of jc’s retirement where things aren’t going quite as badly for lxc

The mountainside is steep and rocky, but lxc leaps from ledge to ledge deftly. There’s supposed to be a rare flower that grows in the cracks of the rocky cliff that could be boiled as a restorative tonic, and lxc will not take any with lqr’s ailing health.

He pauses when he hears the sound of water, and a closer look reveals a steaming spring, the fog thick and dense in the cold air.

There’s a distant song carried in the wind. lxc cannot imagine any normal person making their way to the cliff of this mountain, so it must be a

ghoul or a restless spirit. Either way, lxc will purge it before continuing his search.

The heat of the hot spring surrounds the entire area in thick steam, and the singing is clearer now, soft and lazy. There’s a break in the song before it continues again, and the faint sound

of splashing water has lxc on high alert.

His steps are silent as he approaches the spring, and he can see a figure in the fog. He has a hand on the hilt of Shuoyue, and the song ends with a sigh.

A breeze dissipates the steam just enough for him to catch sight of a naked back,

long hair pulled over one shoulder.

lxc’s mouth goes completely dry.

The man (it’s definitely a man, though slim and with a tiny curved waist that would fit ever so well in lxc’s large palm) is at the edge of the spring, carefully pouring wine from a jug into a porcelain jar.

Next to him is a floating wooden tray, laden with small dishes of snacks.

lxc is frozen in place, unsure of what to do. He’s obviously intruded on a private moment, and he knows he should apologise but then he’d have to make himself known, which just makes it seem even more like

he was deliberately peeking at the man bathing.

He takes a step back, but his foot slides on the damp rocks, and he can see the split second the man stiffens, grabs a nut off a dish, and shoots it at lxc with a blast of qi that would be deadly to any non-cultivator.

lxc blocks it with Shuoyue, falling back a few steps from the force of it.

He’s facing lxc now, and lxc lowers his arms to see the shocked face of sdss.

“zwj?!”

“SLJ,” lxc replies sheepishly. The steam is covering most of jwy’s body from sight, but jwy still grabs for a robe,

wrapping it around himself as he steps out of the spring. The white inner robe clings to the planes of jwy’s wet body, and lxc fights to keep his eyes on jwy’s face.

“What are you doing here? How did you find me?” he demands.

“I’m looking for a flower. Shufu is unwell.”

“Lan-laoshi?” jwy’s defensive stance softens. “He’s taken ill?”

“From stress and overwork. The flower can be made into a tonic that can relax him and aid with recovery of his qi.”

“I see. Please pass on my well-wishes to Lan-laoshi.”

“Of course.” lxc clears his throat.

“So, uh, you’re now living in this area?”

“Perhaps.” jwy turns back to the spring. “Join me if you wish, zwj, though I imagine you must be in a hurry to be on your way.”

lxc swallows hard as jwy peels the robe away from his body, the steam only encouraging his imagination as

jwy slides back into the spring. “I, uh. I can take a break.”

jwy is busy pouring himself a cup of wine. “Of course. I don’t have tea, but have some snacks.”

“Thanks,” lxc forces out, eyes fixed on jwy as he strips hastily and enters the spring. “Oh. This is really nice.”

“Mm. Yeah.” jwy pushes the floating tray towards him. “Have some snacks.”

They sit in comfortable silence for a while, jwy eating and drinking leisurely.

“Do you come here often?” lxc asks, heart thudding quickly and heavily as it had since he caught sight of jwy.

“Often enough,” jwy answers. “You’re welcome to visit, though I’d prefer if you didn’t tell anyone I was here.”

“Of course not,” lxc says quickly. “I respect your decision. Thank you SLJ for allowing me to intrude on your seclusion.”

jwy laughs, and lxc is mesmerised.

“There’s no more need for such formalities with me, zwj. I’m just a regular person now, no title or position to my name.”

“Then…thank you, jwy.” lxc says his name carefully and hesitantly.

The smile that jwy gives him takes his breath away. But then the smile turns into a

frown, and lxc is already panicking at what he might have said or did to offend before-

“zwj, your face is really red. Perhaps the heat is getting to you.”

“Is it?” lxc does feel a little faint, though he’s also pretty sure it has nothing to do with the heat.

He feels despondent as jwy tells him to get out, but jwy gets out with him.

“No, let yourself cool down a bit first,” he says, gently taking lxc’s robes from him, leaving him in an inner robe, the same as jwy. “Sit and rest.” He leads lxc to a large rock away from the steam.

“I’m fine,” lxc says, utterly embarrassed.

“You’re probably not used to the heat.” jwy holds his face in both hands for inspection. lxc’s face heats up even more as jwy fusses over him.

For years, lxc had talked himself out of approaching jwy, content to admire him from a distance. At first it was just the wrong timing post-sunshot. jwy was struggling with rebuilding and jl, and lxc was busy with his own sworn brothers. Then when things calmed down, and lxc

began to see hope, wwx returned. lxc then spent the next few years in seclusion, blaming himself each day. Then, when lxc finally gained enough confidence, jwy announced his sudden retirement, and all hope was lost.

“Are you feeling alright?”

lxc smiles at jwy, soft and gentle.

“Yes. Much better, thank you. I should be getting on my way, but I hope we can meet again.”

jwy looks conflicted.

“I’m sorry,” lxc says quickly. “I know I overstepped. You’re in seclusion, and I certainly did not welcome any visitors during my own.”

But after a pause, jwy smiles. “I’m usually here for a couple days on full moons.”

Later, lxc leaves with a pouch of snacks (for energy, jwy says stubbornly) and a blossoming new hope. He knows this is his final chance and he will not squander it.

——

(end??? tbc??? idk I’m sorry😭😭)