Starting this thread for #WarPrizeJiSeason - but fair warning, I'm 1700 words in and LWJ hasn't appeared yet 😂😭
So: Wen Chao threw WWX into the Burial Mounds, and he wasn't seen again.
So: Wen Chao threw WWX into the Burial Mounds, and he wasn't seen again.
His family and LWJ searched for him for months, until they just couldn't spare the resources and had to focus on Sunshot, but to no avail. Mysteriously, though, a few months later WC's mutilated corpse was found near the base of the BM. Wen Xu followed soon after.
WRH is outraged, but given that the Wen themselves controlled Yiling, he can't solidly pin it on any other sect.
Soon after, the whispers start. Of a powerful immortal on the BM, a cultivator who must've been there for centuries but kept to himself until the Wen provoked his ire.
Soon after, the whispers start. Of a powerful immortal on the BM, a cultivator who must've been there for centuries but kept to himself until the Wen provoked his ire.
The gossip mills are undecided whether he simply disapproves of one sect trying to subjugate the others, or if WRH did something to personally offend him. Nobody has ever seen the YLLZ, but many have seen his fierce corpses.
Some have even heard his ghost flute and lived to tell the tale—its wrath is only ever directed at the Wen, leaving bystanders untouched.
As the allied sects take the fight further into Qishan, the YLLZ's reach expands, as well.
As the allied sects take the fight further into Qishan, the YLLZ's reach expands, as well.
Eventually he himself must leave the BM. But he stays shrouded in resentful energy well away from the battlefield, usually on a hillside or cliff overlooking the action. The few times someone goes up to try to get a look at him, he disappears long before they arrive.
He seems to protect the Jiang the most viciously, leading to rumors that he might have once belonged to the sect, centuries ago.
Some have noticed that he sometimes also seems to favor the Lan, but not always. Nobody has figured out the pattern as to when he pays special attention to the Lan and when he doesn't.
(Even he doesn't really realize he's doing it, tbh. He knows that when he catches sight of LWJ on the battlefield it's distracting. He doesn't consciously try to give him extra protection.
He just can't get him out of his head, and the resentful energy responds to that. It knows WWX's feelings better than he does, and it wants to please its master.)
Once the war is won, YLLZ seems to retreat back onto BM. But now that the sects know he's there, he makes them nervous. (Well, he makes JGS nervous.)
Most immortals don't really bother anyone, but he's already shown that he's willing to get involved in mortal sect affairs if you piss him off enough. The sect leaders start talking about paying tribute to make sure they stay in his favor.
The Jiang are well aware of the YLLZ's preferential treatment toward them, and JC knows full well that a) they can't afford to piss off this guy and
b) it'll make them look stronger (particularly to the Jin) if they establish a strong relationship with him early, so they're the first to actually send an envoy to the BM.
They're not offering people—partially because they can't spare any but mostly because JC doesn't, y'know, see people as playthings to be bartered with so it wouldn't even occur to him—instead offering what few resources they have in abundance: fish, lotus, lumber.
They bring a sampling of each, ready to tell the YLLZ that they will gladly bring more as often as he requests. They're not surprised that he refuses to come near enough for them to see through his shroud of resentful energy.
They *are* surprised when he berates them for bringing him these things when they should be using them to rebuild their own sect.
"What use do I have for lumber?" he scoffs. "I live in a cave!
"What use do I have for lumber?" he scoffs. "I live in a cave!
And if I need wood, I've got dead trees all over the place! Tell Jiang Ch—zongzhu to keep his lumber to rebuild all those houses the Wen destroyed."
He hesitates, hand hovering over the fish (his pale hand is all they can see, sticking out of the cloud of black smoke).
He hesitates, hand hovering over the fish (his pale hand is all they can see, sticking out of the cloud of black smoke).
"I guess I might as well eat these, since they'll go bad by the time you get back to Lotus Pier. I'll admit fresh meat is hard to come by here. So thanks for that, I guess—but you don't need to bring more! There are plenty of people in Yunmeng who need it more than I do."
He picks up a lotus root and turns it carefully. They can't see him, but he seems to be considering it. "I'll keep these too," he murmurs eventually. "I don't want you to bring more regularly, but maybe—can you bring me some seeds? Just once? I'd like to grow them for myself."
The Jiang cultivators fall over themselves promising to bring back lotus seeds, then, after they've watched the swirling smoke scoop up the fish and lotus roots and head back up the mountain, gather the lumber to haul it back home.
JC, of course, is relieved to find out that YLLZ doesn't actually want anything from them except lotus seeds good for planting, which he sends readily.
He tells the other sect leaders that the YLLZ seems to be a practical sort of guy; they should certainly offer him things out of gratitude, but he probably won't want the kinds of silks and jade the Jin, for example, were thinking of sending him.
The other sect leaders, however, hear something different. The YLLZ wants... to plant seeds? He wants beautiful flowers? Ah, obviously he wants them to send their most beautiful, virtuous virgins and Sect Leader Jiang is just too young and naive to understand!
(The Jiang cultivators, who by now have dropped off the delivery of lotus seeds, are pretty adamant that no, he actually seems very pleased with the literal seeds and actually just seems to want to grow some plants??? But they are ignored by men who hear what they want to hear.)
JGS, of course, is the first to get onboard the Send YLLZ Virgins train, thinking he's found a kindred spirit or something. He decides he needs to send someone who will bear YLLZ good, strong cultivating children, so he sends his best unmarried female cultivator—Mianmian.
MM is not a fan of this idea. In fact, she tries to walk out but JGS has Jin Zixun and lackeys tie her up and take her to the BM against her will.
(He's smart enough not to tell his son about this plan until it's been carried out, because he knows she's JZX's best friend and his weak, sentimental heir will put that above what is clearly the most important political move their sect can make post-war.)
When the YLLZ appears at the edge of his wards and finds JZ there with a still-fighting MM, he is, well... appalled would be a vast understatement.
"You're offering me... a person???"
"A beautiful virgin—"
"A BEAUTIFUL VIRGIN IS A PERSON!!!"
"You're offering me... a person???"
"A beautiful virgin—"
"A BEAUTIFUL VIRGIN IS A PERSON!!!"
JZ, dipshit asshole that he is, doesn't get the hint.
"Of course she is! And the Jin would like to humbly offer the YLLZ this beautiful virgin as a sign of our friendship and..."
"Of course she is! And the Jin would like to humbly offer the YLLZ this beautiful virgin as a sign of our friendship and..."
MM, on the other hand, has stopped struggling and is looking at the black cloud with sharp eyes. She doesn't know what's going to happen, but suddenly her odds of survival seem a lot better with the mysterious immortal than the dipshit.
As JZ keeps blathering on, she manages to edge away from him, and the black cloud edges towards her, until she's close enough that she can hear when YLLZ mutters, "Look, I don't know what's going on here, but do you really want to go back with this clown?"
"Not especially," she says without moving her lips.
"Gotcha."
Suddenly, she's swept into the miasma. She still can't see YLLZ, but she can't see anything else, either.
"Gotcha."
Suddenly, she's swept into the miasma. She still can't see YLLZ, but she can't see anything else, either.
He hasn't done anything to her as far as she can tell, she could walk away if she wanted, but she freezes, wanting to see what happens next.
"Okay!" He interrupts JZ's monologue. "Look, uh, thanks for the, uh... disciple?"
"Well that's not exactly what we—"
"DISCIPLE! Yes. Yeah.
"Okay!" He interrupts JZ's monologue. "Look, uh, thanks for the, uh... disciple?"
"Well that's not exactly what we—"
"DISCIPLE! Yes. Yeah.
Please go back and give the other sects a very simple message, okay? *Don't send me any more women.* Got it? I do not want you guys turning girls into offerings! That is not what I need or want at all!"
"Of—of course!" JZ is so confused, but he can manage this much. "No more women!"
Once he's gone, the smoke recedes back to just covering YLLZ, but keeps him hidden from MM.
Once he's gone, the smoke recedes back to just covering YLLZ, but keeps him hidden from MM.
"Look, I'm assuming you don't actually want to stick around here," he says, but MM interrupts him.
"I'm happy to stay as your disciple!" she blurts out. She has no interest in being a consort or concubine or whatever, but this has to be better than being a Jin right now.
"I'm happy to stay as your disciple!" she blurts out. She has no interest in being a consort or concubine or whatever, but this has to be better than being a Jin right now.
"It's not like I really have anywhere else to go."
He makes an exasperated noise. "*Mianmian*, don't be ridiculous, living here is awful, and you don't want to be MY disciple anyhow—you know the kind of cultivation I use!
He makes an exasperated noise. "*Mianmian*, don't be ridiculous, living here is awful, and you don't want to be MY disciple anyhow—you know the kind of cultivation I use!
You think I didn't hear everyone muttering about how dark and unorthodox it was behind my back while I saved their asses on the battlefield?"
"How did you know my—that's not even my name, how did you know my *nickname*?" she asks.
"How did you know my—that's not even my name, how did you know my *nickname*?" she asks.
"Uh... that douche must have said it?"
"He definitely didn't."
"Then I... I must have heard someone call you that during the war!"
"He definitely didn't."
"Then I... I must have heard someone call you that during the war!"
She squints at him. Or at the resentful energy swirling around him, whatever. "It's possible," she says slowly, "but not many people call me that, and I don't remember ever getting anywhere near you during the war."
She still can't see him, but that doesn't mean she can't tell when he turns in a huff. He starts retreating up the mountain, but she follows close behind.
"Don't make me sic my fierce corpses on you!" he shouts over his shoulder.
"You won't."
"Don't make me sic my fierce corpses on you!" he shouts over his shoulder.
"You won't."
"How do you know? I'm the YLLZ! Who knows what I'm capable of?"
She snorts. She's pretty sure she's getting a better idea every moment exactly what he's capable of, and she'd much rather find out more than run away.
She snorts. She's pretty sure she's getting a better idea every moment exactly what he's capable of, and she'd much rather find out more than run away.
Ok, that's all for tonight. I promise WarPrizeJi will actually get involved tomorrow 😭 Link to top:
https://twitter.com/PorcupineGirl8/status/1523538714747883520
Ok, I did a little adulting so I get to post some more of this! I promise we will get to LWJ. Eventually. LOL. I'm just having too much fun with MM.
So MM follows him to the top of the mountain, bickering the whole way. As soon as they get to the clearing in front of the cave, though, he turns on her, suddenly serious.
"Look at this place," he says. "Really. Take a good look. I don't have a sect here. I don't have disciples. All I have is a nasty cave and soil hardly anything will grow in and—and BONES everywhere! This is NOT a place of honor! *I* can barely survive here! You need to leave."
She does take a good look around. She sees that he is, in fact, trying to grow lotus in a "pond" that's really a glorified puddle. It's... endearing?
"Have you tried crushing the bones for fertilizer?" she asks.
"Have I what?"
"Have you tried crushing the bones for fertilizer?" she asks.
"Have I what?"
"Bone meal. Some plants thrive on it. You could probably get radishes growing here. Onions, potatoes. They don't need much light, either."
YLLZ goes still. Even the resentful energy around him swirls less. "How do you know all that?"
YLLZ goes still. Even the resentful energy around him swirls less. "How do you know all that?"
She raises an eyebrow. "You think the Jin would try to give you someone who was born to the gentry? My family are farmers. I learned a few things before I started my cultivation training."
"Huh."
"Huh."
She takes a few steps closer, squinting, trying to see through the smoke. "How long have you lived here without knowing that?"
He takes a step back. "Long enough."
"...Are you really an immortal?"
He takes a step back. "Long enough."
"...Are you really an immortal?"
The smoke starts swirling again, angrily. "I never claimed to be! People assume what they want to assume. Like assuming that I would want... *offerings* of—of *virgins*, like who does that? What the fuck?"
"I could help you," she says. "We could turn this place into something almost livable."
"I'm not here to start a sect!" he snaps.
MM raises her hands in surrender. "I didn't say we had to! One disciple doesn't make it a sect, does it?"
"I'm not here to start a sect!" he snaps.
MM raises her hands in surrender. "I didn't say we had to! One disciple doesn't make it a sect, does it?"
The ghost flute emerges from the smoke, but it's not poised to play—he's just using it to point at her and gesticulate. "I don't need a disciple, either! I'm not here to teach people demonic cultivation! I helped get rid of the Wen, now I just want to be left alone."
"To rot in your cave with no real food?" MM asks, unimpressed. "Inedia will only get you so far. Do you even have anything to trade with, to buy supplies?" He's quiet.
"Look, I don't know you—all I know is that you're powerful, you were on our side in the war, you don't approve of JGS using me as an offering, and you can clearly barely take care of yourself. I don't have a sect anymore.
You don't have to teach me demonic cultivation, but you can't tell me you couldn't use some help around here. Just until I figure out what I want to do next?"
He finally slumps, sighing. "If you're serious about this, I'm going to have to curse you so you can't reveal any of my secrets to anyone else."
"What exactly does the curse entail?" she asks, already knowing that if he's willing to warn her first, even give her the option to leave without being cursed, she'll probably agree to it.
"I don't know, I've never had to do it before," he says grumpily.
"I don't know, I've never had to do it before," he says grumpily.
"I guess... you won't be able to tell anyone my real name, or where I'm from or how I got here, or—or anything else you might find out about me. Just. You won't be able to say anything to anyone about me except that I'm the YLLZ, I live on the BM,
and I guess you can claim to be my disciple because it's easier than explaining the whole human-sacrifice-turned-farmhand thing. And you can't say anything about the wards I've put up here, obviously. Nothing that would help anyone attack me. ...I think that's it?"
"But I could come and go as I please?" she asks, just to be sure. "Stay here forever if I want, leave forever if I want?"
"Of course!" He sounds offended that she would even suggest otherwise. "Do what you want, all I care about is that you don't tell anyone anything about me!"
"Of course!" He sounds offended that she would even suggest otherwise. "Do what you want, all I care about is that you don't tell anyone anything about me!"
"Okay," she says with a shrug. "Curse me, then."
"Just like that?" he retorts. "You're just gonna let the YLLZ curse you and trust that he won't make it go any farther than he says?"
"Just like that?" he retorts. "You're just gonna let the YLLZ curse you and trust that he won't make it go any farther than he says?"
"Look, a half an hour ago I thought I was going to be conscripted as your sex slave or something," she says. "Chained to the cave, I don't know. As long as that's not the plan, go for it."
"Wow, that is SO not the plan," YLLZ mutters to himself.
"Wow, that is SO not the plan," YLLZ mutters to himself.
"Okay. Okay, fine. You'll probably want to leave within a week—you'll probably want to leave as soon as you see the real me—but as long as you can't say anything to anyone, it's no skin off my nose. Give me a minute to get the talisman right."
He dashes off into the cave, leaving MM to start inspecting the ground, wondering what they might need beyond bone meal.
Five minutes later, he comes back out. "Okay. You're sure about this?"
"It can't be worse than going back to a sect that tried to give me away like cattle."
Five minutes later, he comes back out. "Okay. You're sure about this?"
"It can't be worse than going back to a sect that tried to give me away like cattle."
"Fair enough," he says. He comes close and sketches an intricate talisman into the air in front of her, then pushes it into her. She feels a soft glow as it settles into her skin, then... nothing. It doesn't hurt or anything.
"I guess there's no way to test it right now, since obviously you can tell ME about me. But I'm pretty confident in my abilities."
"You don't say," she says drily.
"You don't say," she says drily.
He sighs, then waves his hand and the resentful energy surrounding him dissipates. "I hate having to go around like that anyhow. Using the resentful energy is bad enough; being wrapped in it all the time is..." He shudders.
"Wei-gongzi?" She gapes at him. And that's definitely who it is—pale and gaunt, thin enough she can't believe he's still standing, robes dirty and torn, hair matted, but unmistakably the first disciple of Jiang who was supposedly killed by the Wen nearly two years ago now.
"Yeah. Hi." There's no cheer in the wave he gives her before he turns and starts to retreat into the cave. "I told you you wouldn't want to hang around once you saw who I really am.
No all-powerful immortals here! Just a cheeky asshole who did what he had to to survive and is too broken to rejoin polite society now. Thanks for the tip about the bone meal, though."
"Well, like hell am I leaving you alone now!" She marches into the cave after him. "I'd say you look like death warmed over, but you don't even look warmed over. What *have* you been eating?"
WWX shrugs listlessly. "The Jiang brought me some fish and lotus roots a few weeks ago. That's been good."
"And before that?"
He looks away.
"And before that?"
He looks away.
"When WC first threw me in here, I could barely move. For a long time I just ate whatever I could find here—you can see for yourself what those options are. Eventually I managed to get down to Yiling, scavenge a bit.
You know I was on the streets for like a year when I was a kid, right? I know how to find food. During the war I'd sneak into camps and steal a little here and there."
"And the whole resentful energy thing? It was useful during the war, but why keep it up? Why all this mystery? Why don't you go back to the Jiang?"
His eyes are so cold and dead when he turns his gaze back to her that for a moment, she wonders whether he really is still alive. Could he be a fierce corpse kept upright by his own mastery of resentful energy?
"I guess there's no point in keeping it from you, if you can't tell anyone," he says, and holds out his wrist. She stares at it blankly for a moment, confused, until he sighs and takes her hand to lay two of her fingers against his pulse.
She can only think of one thing he means for her to do, so she reaches in... "What happened?" she gasps in horror. "Where's your golden core?"
He shrugs. "Does it matter where it is?" Which is a weird response. "It's not here, that's all that matters. You know what Wen Zhuliu can do. They captured me and threw me in here. What do you think happened?"
MEANWHILE...
JZ makes his way back to Lanling and delivers the YLLZ's message. Exactly as YLLZ said it.
The sects, of course, completely misinterpret it.
"He doesn't want women?" The sect leaders ask incredulously. "He must be a cutsleeve! We must send him our handsomest virgin men!"
The sects, of course, completely misinterpret it.
"He doesn't want women?" The sect leaders ask incredulously. "He must be a cutsleeve! We must send him our handsomest virgin men!"
Does this completely contradict the entire reason they decided to send him virgins in the first place, all the seed and flower talk? Yes. Do a bunch of old men who can't conceive of someone not wanting a concubine notice or care? No.
Most sects are, though, more reticent about sending their male disciples, because misogyny.
Then there's LWJ.
Then there's LWJ.
LXC has no plans to try to send any of his disciples as an offering. Yes, the YLLZ helped them, but he isn't convinced that Sect Leader Jiang was wrong in his assessment. He convinces NMJ of the same, and they start trying to figure out what *would* make an appropriate offering.
But.
You see.
The only man LWJ has ever or will ever love is dead.
You see.
The only man LWJ has ever or will ever love is dead.
The Wen killed him, and the YLLZ helped them defeat the Wen—is probably the only reason they defeated the Wen. Plus YLLZ disposed of WC and WX himself, and LWJ certainly suspects one or both were involved in WWX's death.
He feels he owes YLLZ personally, and it's not like he'll ever want to marry anyone else. So why not offer himself?
LXC tries to dissuade him, but he's adamant.
LXC tries to dissuade him, but he's adamant.
Most of the elders are appalled, but a few think JGS has some good points. They certainly don't want to take the risk of not currying YLLZ's favor. Surely offering *Hanguang-Jun* as a plaything will top anything and anyone the other sects could come up with.
LWJ is very determined, so eventually LXC gives him permission.
Stopping for the moment. I should do a little more adulting, then write more. I promise I'll have more up by tonight!
Link to top:
Link to top:
https://twitter.com/PorcupineGirl8/status/1523538714747883520?s=20&t=TuQF86kIN9_dH_dIj50eoA
First I want to apologize for teasing you with LWJ and then... not having any LWJ in this update 😅 I promise this is the last LWJ-less chunk.
MEANWHILE
MM has been in the BM for a couple of weeks. JGS wasn't totally convinced that YLLZ wouldn't be impressed by expensive offerings, so she had a good bit of jade and silk tucked into the qiankun pouch at her waist, which they quickly sold in town for supplies.
(She only berated WWX a little for refusing the Jiangs' offering of wood. It was pre-cut! The trees are not!)
They're nearly done building her a hut so she doesn't have to sleep in the weird, smelly cave with him anymore, and they've got some radishes and potatoes planted. Plus she was able to buy them enough real food to last for a few weeks, at least.
When they do run out of money, MM can do some night hunts as a rogue cultivator to earn more. She thinks they'll be okay, for now at least.
There's a tug at the wards one day. WWX rolls his eyes. "Ugh. More offerings? Can you go see what it is? And send them away?"
"If it's useful, I'm not turning it away," she warns as she starts down the hill. "I'll tell them not to come back, but I am NOT turning down another bag of rice!"
(One minor sect showed up last week with rice. WWX sent them away. MM gave him an earful.)
(One minor sect showed up last week with rice. WWX sent them away. MM gave him an earful.)
Instead, she finds someone about her own size, maybe even shorter—she can't quite tell because they're hunched over in a large hooded cloak. They don't obviously have anything to offer with them, which makes her immediately suspicious.
Another sect hasn't tried to send a human offering, have they? After WWX warned them not to?
"Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for the YLLZ," the hooded figure says as they look up.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for the YLLZ," the hooded figure says as they look up.
They seem startled by her voice—they probably weren't expecting anyone other than YLLZ himself. Then the hood falls away so they can see each other properly and MM stares, just as startled.
WQ's eyes dart around, looking for a less obvious exit than down the path she came up.
"I won't hurt you," MM says quickly. "I'm not with the Jin anymore. But you don't have a sect anymore, either—why would you be making offerings to YLLZ?"
WQ's eyes narrow. "Offerings?"
"I won't hurt you," MM says quickly. "I'm not with the Jin anymore. But you don't have a sect anymore, either—why would you be making offerings to YLLZ?"
WQ's eyes narrow. "Offerings?"
"I guess you probably don't even know about that," MM mutters. "It's... a whole thing... the sects are trying to win his favor, it's silly, he doesn't like it. So why *are* you looking for him?"
"I need his help," WQ says. Her fear has melted away, leaving only a steely determination in her eyes.
MM considers her for a second. "You know he helped destroy your sect, right? No one hates the Wen more. Why would he help you?"
WQ's mouth twists. "He owes me."
MM considers her for a second. "You know he helped destroy your sect, right? No one hates the Wen more. Why would he help you?"
WQ's mouth twists. "He owes me."
MM straightens, taken aback. "You think he *owes you*? Because he destroyed your sect after they destroyed so many others? Look, I'm sorry—"
"No!" WQ snaps. "Look—YLLZ—he's WWX, isn't he?" MM's mouth snaps shut. "I'm right, aren't I?"
"No!" WQ snaps. "Look—YLLZ—he's WWX, isn't he?" MM's mouth snaps shut. "I'm right, aren't I?"
"I can't answer that question," MM says honestly.
WQ lets out a frustrated huff. "Oh, come on, I've clearly guessed, and I haven't told anyone! I didn't even tell WRH, and you know that would have been useful information!"
WQ lets out a frustrated huff. "Oh, come on, I've clearly guessed, and I haven't told anyone! I didn't even tell WRH, and you know that would have been useful information!"
"No, I *literally can't answer that question*," MM insists. "He's cursed me so that I can't divulge any personal information about him. To anyone."
"He *cursed* you?" WQ asks, looking mildly horrified.
"He *cursed* you?" WQ asks, looking mildly horrified.
MM rushes to clarify. "No, it's fine! I let him! I'm here of my own free will, I swear. I don't mind keeping his secrets. But I can't tell you anything about him except that he is the YLLZ, he lives on the BM, and I am his disciple."
"Fine," WQ says, the fight draining out of her. She's left just looking defeated. "Can you bring me to him? Or tell him I'm here? If he's WWX, he knows why he owes me, and it's from before... all this." She waves a hand around at the general BM.
"If he's not... well, he's basically my only hope, so I guess if he kills me, it'll probably be quicker than being caught by the Jin."
MM studies her for a moment. She never knew WQ well, not even when they were at CR, but she'd always seemed proud, without being an asshole like the other Wen. She doesn't know how close WQ was to WRH or whether she deserves to live or die, but seeing her like this is sobering.
"Come with me," she finally says.
When they reach the clearing, she calls out, "YLLZ! You have a visitor!" so that WWX has time to disguise himself if he wants. Sure enough, he emerges from the cave a moment later in his black smoke cloud.
When they reach the clearing, she calls out, "YLLZ! You have a visitor!" so that WWX has time to disguise himself if he wants. Sure enough, he emerges from the cave a moment later in his black smoke cloud.
"A visitor??" he asks incredulously. "Who the hell—"
When WQ emerges from the trees behind MM, he stops short. The black cloud drops instantly, and he rushes over.
"WQ! You're alive! What are you doing here? Come here, sit down!"
When WQ emerges from the trees behind MM, he stops short. The black cloud drops instantly, and he rushes over.
"WQ! You're alive! What are you doing here? Come here, sit down!"
He leads her to a stump and she sits down gratefully. She tells them that her brother has just been captured by the Jin and put in a prison that includes some of her other family—non-cultivators, including her grandmother and a small child.
She managed to sneak around enough to find out that they're all scheduled to be transferred to the work camp at Qiongqi Path in a week, just ahead of the Jin's Phoenix Mountain night hunt. She worries they're to be used as bait. MM can't exactly reassure her that they won't be.
"We have to get them out," WWX says immediately. He looks to MM. "What do you know that might be helpful?"
"Not that I disagree," she says slowly. "Especially with saving harmless family members. But WN is a cultivator. He must have been in WRH's army. Why would we rescue him?"
"Not that I disagree," she says slowly. "Especially with saving harmless family members. But WN is a cultivator. He must have been in WRH's army. Why would we rescue him?"
WWX and WQ talk over each other trying to explain, but she eventually works out that WQ and WN saved the Jiang siblings at great personal risk, and that WN never saw combat—despite his skill as an archer, he was more valuable to WRH as a pawn to keep WQ in line than as a soldier.
"So that's why you say he owes you," she says to WQ. "Because you harbored him and his siblings."
"That and..." WQ eyes WWX. "Don't tell me she doesn't know."
"She knows I don't have a golden core!" he says quickly.
"That and..." WQ eyes WWX. "Don't tell me she doesn't know."
"She knows I don't have a golden core!" he says quickly.
MM frowns. "How does *she* know that? Didn't that happen when WC threw you into the BM?"
WWX looks slightly panicked, but WQ just raises an eyebrow at him. "She says she's cursed so she can't tell anyone anything about you. I assume that would include things like that? Or like what really happened?"
"What really happened?" MM demands. Part of her is livid that WWX lied to her about anything, but she reminds herself to get the whole story before doing anything rash.
So she learns that WQ transplanted his golden core into JC. She's still annoyed (she can't tell anyone! why wouldn't he tell her!), but isn't going to leave or anything over it. She agrees to help rescue WN and the others.
She knows what prison the non-combatants were taken to; she doesn't know a *lot* about the layout or security, but enough to give them a bit of an edge.
WWX wants to run in with metaphorical guns blazing (more like flute blazing), but MM points out that they have money left from selling her jade and silks. They can get supplies, plan this out. Maybe not get themselves or anyone else killed in the process?
WQ buys a set of acupuncture needles. It's almost laughable, how easy it is for her to put the guards to sleep. WWX has talismans that take care of the locks. In under half an hour, they're on their way back to Yiling with WN, Popo, A-Yuan, & a handful of other Dafan Wen in tow.
(Not as many as in canon. Like I said, they're doing this before Phoenix Mountain and before WN or any of the others are taken to Qiongqi Path—she doesn't have to wait for a chance encounter in Lanling when she's pretty sure she knows exactly where WWX is & it's not with a sect.
I know they were *probably* all sent straight there, but there's enough wiggle room to suppose that they *might* have been held somewhere else for a while. So they don't get everyone they would have gotten at Qiongqi BUT WN isn't a fierce corpse so at least there's that.)
Ok, pausing again. I've got another couple of updates written. I'm hoping to finish writing tonight, post at least one more update tonight, and finish posting tomorrow. Link to top:
https://twitter.com/PorcupineGirl8/status/1523538714747883520
Last update for tonight!
MEANWHILE...
MEANWHILE...
LWJ wants to do this right. He doesn't know if YLLZ would want to formally marry him as a concubine or just keep him there as some sort of courtesan, so he doesn't dress for a wedding but insists on bringing a red robe and gold hairpiece just in case.
He also insists on a proper dowry—it would be better, after all, if YLLZ *does* marry him so they should make that option as attractive as possible. If JZ was right and YLLZ doesn't like women, he probably didn't marry LQY, so maybe LWJ won't even be a concubine.
Maybe he can be the first spouse to an immortal—surely that would help his sect more than any other loveless marriage they could arrange for him.
Since that's all he has to look forward to, with Wei Ying dead. A loveless arranged marriage, chosen for its political usefulness. If he has no other choice but that, at least he's taking control of the process now and doing it on his own terms.
So he leaves for the BM with one pouch full of items for his dowry—jewels, silks, a delicate vase carefully packed, bedclothes for their marriage bed. He tried to add chickens, but the elders wouldn't hear of them making a mess of the other gifts.
His second pouch carries his wedding finery, along with his usual clothing—but also some robes quite unlike anything he's used to wearing. Robes made of lacy or sheer fabrics, robes that his uncle and brother wouldn't talk about...
... but a couple of the elders were perhaps happier than necessary to inform him are for "enticing his new husband" in order to "perform his marital duties." LWJ stopped asking after that.
It's not like he's *never* looked at the kind of book WY snuck into his reading in the library that afternoon—he knows what they're referring to, and he doesn't need to discuss it with them.
He tries not to think about those robes as he treks to the BM. Thinking about them leads to thinking about "marital duties" which leads to thinking about that afternoon in the library which leads to thinking about WY which leads to wishing he could perform said duties with WY...
Which does not lead his mind in any productive direction at all. If he can't have WY, he will have YLLZ and be glad of it. YLLZ is an immortal, so he likely still has the appearance (and physique, energy... stamina?) of youth, even if he's centuries old.
Perhaps he's even attractive. LWJ has found men other than WY attractive, if in an abstract sort of way. And based on the descriptions by the Jiang cultivators who spoke to him, he doesn't seem like an unreasonable person. He may even be tolerable to be around.
By the time he makes it to Yiling, he's very nearly convinced himself that there's a good chance that he won't hate sleeping with YLLZ, or at least that he doesn't *have* to hate it. If he can just keep WY out of his head.
He reminds himself again that he'd wind up in an arranged marriage no matter what, and with his luck the elders would see him married off to a *woman*. At the very least, anyone who's spoken to YLLZ seems quite convinced he's a man.
He starts up the BM hill. Halfway there, he changes out of his usual robes into... well, certainly not into any of the boudoir outfits, but into something a little less formal and a bit more designed for visual appeal.
The blue is a little richer, the collar a little looser, the fabric a little softer. So far, he hasn't heard of any other sects actually sending a young man to YLLZ, so hopefully he's the first, but he needs to make sure he's accepted either way.
Some time later, he's stopped by what are clearly YLLZ's wards. He assumes they're set to inform him of anyone's approach, so he waits.
He tries not to be annoyed when it's LQY who comes to greet him, not YLLZ himself.
He tries not to be annoyed when it's LQY who comes to greet him, not YLLZ himself.
After all, JZ did imply that YLLZ was keeping her as a... disciple, apparently. Not as a wife or concubine. Hopefully. So she's not necessarily his competition in any way.
Her eyes widen when she sees who it is.
"HGJ!" She bows to him. "What are you doing here?"
He bows low. "I am here on behalf of the Gusu Lan Sect to offer myself in marriage to YLLZ."
"HGJ!" She bows to him. "What are you doing here?"
He bows low. "I am here on behalf of the Gusu Lan Sect to offer myself in marriage to YLLZ."
"What?" She sounds slightly panicked, and it triggers his own nerves. Maybe YLLZ *did* take her as wife—and maybe *she* doesn't want competition. "He specifically told JZ to tell people not to do that! Did he not tell you all?"
"JZ's message was that YLLZ had no interest in women," LWJ says slowly. "JZ implied that men would likely be accepted as an offering."
MM gapes at him. Then blinks, as if a thought just came to her. "Oh, wait, wow. He did say that, didn't he. Oh, boy." She frowns at him.
MM gapes at him. Then blinks, as if a thought just came to her. "Oh, wait, wow. He did say that, didn't he. Oh, boy." She frowns at him.
"And so you...? HGJ, I have to admit, I'm not surprised JGS tried to sell me off like a pig at market, but I never thought the Lan would stoop so low. How could LXC send his own brother off—"
"It was my choice," he says, trying not to sound impatient. "I will never marry for love, so I may as well serve my sect with my marriage."
"How do you know you won't marry for love?" MM asks. "If your clan didn't arrange a marriage for you as a child, there's always the chance—"
"How do you know you won't marry for love?" MM asks. "If your clan didn't arrange a marriage for you as a child, there's always the chance—"
"The only man I will ever love is dead," he says bluntly. Her eyes widen. "If I marry, it will be a political match only, and if not now, I may get no say in it at all. This will serve both my sect and myself better than a marriage to the daughter of some minor sect leader.
I don't know the nature of your relationship with him, but I would appreciate it if you would at least let *him* decide whether to accept me or not rather than rejecting me out of hand in his place. I have brought a dowry that may be of interest to him, as well."
"Okay, first off, the nature of my relationship with him is... not... that," MM says, and LWJ relaxes a little. "I thought he made it pretty clear when JZ left me here that I was staying as his disciple, not his concubine. Second..."
She chews her lip for a second, then shakes her head. "I'm sorry, I'll have to go ask him about this. I don't know if he'll want to come talk to you himself or not. He's not...
I mean, I don't *think* he's looking for any sort of spouse or consort or concubine, but... well... we sure weren't expecting *you* to show up, let's put it that way."
LWJ doesn't know what she could mean by that, but when she bows politely and takes her leave, he bows in return and waits quietly.
Probably 4-5 more updates, hopefully I can get them all up tomorrow! Link to top:
https://twitter.com/PorcupineGirl8/status/1523538714747883520
LWJ hears someone coming back down the path, and draws in a startled breath when it's not MM, nor the YLLZ, but WQ.
She smiles pleasantly and bows. "HGJ."
She smiles pleasantly and bows. "HGJ."
He bows back automatically. "Wen-guniang." He stares at her, and judging from the amused look on her face, he isn't managing to conceal his shock. "I... I did not realize the YLLZ had anyone here with him besides LQY."
His brain is scrambling for an explanation—perhaps the YLLZ didn't want MM (or him) because he is already married to WQ? But why would he marry a Wen? Did he capture her during the war? Claim her as his spoils?
"There are nearly a dozen of us living here now," she says mildly. "Though, since I can see the gears turning in your head, let me make it clear that I am no more YLLZ's consort, or concubine, or whatever, than LQY is."
LWJ is relieved, but even more confused. Then why... "Nearly a dozen?" he says as his brain catches up to everything she's said. "Have so many sects already offered their members to him?"
She laughs. "No, no. We get offerings regularly, but besides the Jin, so far you're the only one who's tried... this. Though I'm sure there will be others, if JZ was that bad at communicating what was intended. I came here by myself less than two weeks ago, to beg YLLZ for help."
A few pieces slot into place in LWJ's mind. "The Jin prison break," he murmurs. "That was YLLZ's doing? Why would he help the Wen?"
"Hmmm, I'm afraid I can't tell you that," WQ says. "I can't even find a way to talk around it that the curse doesn't stop me from saying.
"Hmmm, I'm afraid I can't tell you that," WQ says. "I can't even find a way to talk around it that the curse doesn't stop me from saying.
Sorry—no one who lives here is able to give anyone personal information about YLLZ. We all agreed to a curse. I'll just say... he wasn't helping the Wen. He was helping specific people, who never harmed the Jiang or the Lan, or any other sect."
LWJ frowns. "The Jin said several powerful Wen cultivators escaped."
WQ snorts. "Of course they did.
WQ snorts. "Of course they did.
The only cultivator we got out was my brother, and you know how powerful he is. I wonder if their story will change if they ever find out YLLZ was behind it. Would they rather demonize us, or kiss his ass?"
"You don't expect me to tell them?" he notices. "Does that mean the YLLZ is accepting me? Or do you simply not think I will tell anyone after I leave?"
"Not sure yet," WQ says. "Who is he?"
"Who is who?"
"Not sure yet," WQ says. "Who is he?"
"Who is who?"
"MM said the only man you'll ever love is dead," WQ says, looking right into his eyes. "Who is he?"
He is the one to look away first. He realizes he's trembling. "Does the YLLZ require this information?"
"He's curious," she says noncommittally.
He is the one to look away first. He realizes he's trembling. "Does the YLLZ require this information?"
"He's curious," she says noncommittally.
LWJ closes his eyes and grits his teeth. He'd nearly, nearly managed to get him out of his head. The last thing he needs is the man he's trying to marry bringing him up. "I am not here to discuss Wei Ying."
"Ah," is all she says. "Well, then."
"Ah," is all she says. "Well, then."
When LWJ hears her moving away, his eyes spring open. "Wait!" She pauses. "I'm sorry. YLLZ is the only reason we were able to defeat those who killed WY, I know that. If he needs information from me—"
"Don't worry," she says with a smirk. "He'll be down to talk to you himself soon, I can promise you that."
Ok, I sorta lied, the next update won't technically have LWJ in it but they sure will be talking about him a lot, so he'll totally be there in spirit. Link to top:
https://twitter.com/PorcupineGirl8/status/1523538714747883520
Yes, both of WWX's new adopted jiejies are vetting his suitor lol
JYL would absolutely join them if she, like... knew he was alive. 😭
JYL would absolutely join them if she, like... knew he was alive. 😭
TWENTY MINUTES EARLIER, AT THE TOP OF THE BURIAL MOUNDS....
"What?" WWX sounds downright panicky. "What do you mean, HGJ? Why is Lan Zhan here? You didn't send him away?? He has to go. I don't care what he's offering, we don't need it."
"What?" WWX sounds downright panicky. "What do you mean, HGJ? Why is Lan Zhan here? You didn't send him away?? He has to go. I don't care what he's offering, we don't need it."
He doesn't like the thoughtful (sneaky) way MM is looking at him when she says, "He's offering himself." WWX's mouth drops open. He must be misinterpreting that, because surely the Lan wouldn't—
"You see," she continues, throwing a smirk toward WQ that he also doesn't like, "apparently the only man he'll ever love is *dead*, so since he's destined for a political arranged marriage anyhow, he thought he'd take charge of the situation...
...and offer himself to the YLLZ before his sect can marry him off to some woman to establish a minor alliance that surely can't be as valuable as the YLLZ."
WWX takes a moment to process that. He knows his heart is breaking, but he tells himself it's only breaking for LZ. "Oh," he says, subdued. "That's terrible. That... that the man he loves... died. But—but obviously he can't marry *me* instead!
He thinks he's here to marry some powerful immortal, not the kid who got him drunk when we were teenagers."
"WWX," WQ says slowly, "who, exactly, do you think he was talking about? When he says the man he loves is dead?"
"WWX," WQ says slowly, "who, exactly, do you think he was talking about? When he says the man he loves is dead?"
WWX runs through the cultivators their age he knows in his mind, but doesn't come up with any obvious options he knows are dead—but he barely even knows any Lans besides LZ and LXC, does he? "I don't know," he says, "a lot of men died in the war, it could be anyone."
He's unprepared when WQ smacks the back of his head. "Ow! What the fuck?"
"A-Ning," she says, not taking her eyes off WWX, "who do *you* think HGJ would be talking about when he says he's in love with a man who died?" WWX looks at WN, perplexed.
"A-Ning," she says, not taking her eyes off WWX, "who do *you* think HGJ would be talking about when he says he's in love with a man who died?" WWX looks at WN, perplexed.
"I... I would assume Wei-gongzi?" WN says apologetically.
"What??" WWX laughs, but when he sees the looks on WQ and MM's faces, his laughter catches in this throat.
"What??" WWX laughs, but when he sees the looks on WQ and MM's faces, his laughter catches in this throat.
"No. You guys. No. LZ... LZ can't be in love with *me*. You're crazy. The last time I saw him..." His mouth clicks shut, & he clenches his jaw against the tears that are suddenly threatening.
"I mean, he doesn't hate me anymore, okay, not like when we were kids, I know that, but he can't..." He remembers how upset LZ was that he was flirting with MM, and how affronted he looked when WWX suggested he had a crush on her. "He can't," he repeats weakly.
"Why not?" MM asks. "For one thing, he didn't hate you when we were kids, you know that. Everyone knows that."
It takes WWX a couple of tries to get actual words to come out of his mouth in response to that absurd suggestion.
It takes WWX a couple of tries to get actual words to come out of his mouth in response to that absurd suggestion.
"Nobody knows that!" he insists, and this isn't even him being in denial about anything (NOT that he's in denial about anything!), this is just facts. "He spent all of his time glaring at me, or overseeing my punishments in the library, or—"
"Or catching you breaking the rules so you had to get punished again?" WQ finishes for him. "Or going on little overnight adventures with you?"
Her tone softens. "WWX. Really. I've spent a lot of time living with people who hated me. People who hate you don't go out of their way to make sure they wind up spending nearly all of their free time with you."
He swallows. "Okay, but that doesn't mean he was in *love* with me. Look—just go ask him, okay? Tell him the YLLZ wants to know who it was or something, I don't know. YLLZ is a mysterious immortal, he asks weird questions."
"Even if that's not what he meant—and it is, but we'll pretend it might not be so you'll stop freaking out for a second," MM says condescendingly, "he might want to stay anyhow. You *are* YLLZ, even if you're not immortal; it would still make the Lan look good to the other sects.
And more importantly, having HGJ here would definitely raise *our* standing with the other sects, which is something we need to think about in case the whole YLLZ mystique thing starts wearing off."
"Other sects?" WWX asks, alarmed. "No, no there's no 'other' sects, because 'other' implies that this IS a sect, and I told you when you came here, I'm not trying to start a sect! It can raise our standing with *the sects* but not with OTHER sects, because we're NOT one!"
"Who said anything about you starting a sect?" MM asks. "Maybe I want to start my own sect."
"When they're making crazy offerings to you, you can decide whether you're a sect leader or not," WWX counters.
"When they're making crazy offerings to you, you can decide whether you're a sect leader or not," WWX counters.
"WWX, we've got four cultivators living here now," WQ says. "Even if you don't want to call it a sect, even if none of us do, that's not going to stop other people. And I think you're well aware that reality doesn't always matter in the face of other people's assumptions."
WWX groans. "Can we discuss the status of our... our *cultivation commune* later?"
"There's a word for that," WN murmurs. WWX shoots him a glare.
"There's a word for that," WN murmurs. WWX shoots him a glare.
"Fine," WQ says, standing up. "I'm going to go find out HGJ's intentions toward you, and if by some strange chance those intentions are totally pure, I'll talk to him about living here even without technically marrying YLLZ."
"What do you mean, if they're pure?" WWX calls as she leaves. "Of course they're pure!" He does not like the look she gives him. Not at all.
"You would marry him if he wanted, though, wouldn't you, Wei-gongzi?" WN asks earnestly. "I mean, if he wants to marry you, not YLLZ."
WWX opens his mouth. Then closes it. "Let's cross that bridge when we come to it," he finally says. His voice sounds strange and rough, even to his own ears. MM pats his shoulder before going back to working on one of the huts.
What a nice place to leave you hanging. Top of the thread:
https://twitter.com/PorcupineGirl8/status/1523538714747883520
LWJ can't do anything after WQ leaves but wait. He hopes he didn't offend YLLZ somehow—but why would his being in love with WY offend YLLZ if the mere fact of him being in love with someone didn't? Does YLLZ even know who WY was?
LQY and WQ do, certainly, but why would they have spoken of him to YLLZ? Or is WQ going to pass her own judgment of WY on to YLLZ? He doesn't think WQ and WY had any particular animosity toward each other.
When they were in Qishan for indoctrination, she even seemed to help WY covertly when she could. So surely his loving WY wouldn't be a bad thing in her eyes, would it? And WY had saved LQY from WC's branding iron, so she must understand, maybe even sympathize with, his feelings.
Then there was LQY's assertion that YLLZ isn't looking for any sort of consort, despite the fact that he has at least two beautiful women living there, apparently platonically. So perhaps he is here on a fool's errand from the start.
Yet WQ had come down anyhow to ask him her questions. Or question, maybe—now that he thinks back over their conversation, it seems that perhaps her entire purpose in coming down was to ask him who he'd been in love with.
Clearly YLLZ hadn't decided to reject him outright just yet, if he sent WQ down. So he must be considering LWJ's offer?
Or... perhaps, if LQY and WQ are living here as his disciples, he's considering accepting LWJ as a disciple as well? He would accept, of course, for his sect's sake, even if he has no desire to learn demonic cultivation.
The only reason anyone puts up with it, let alone would consider letting a sect member marry someone who practices it, is because nobody can afford to turn a powerful immortal against them. He would be willing to tolerate and ignore it as YLLZ's husband or concubine.
That does not mean he wants or intends to practice it himself. Perhaps he can view learning it as a purely academic exercise. Surely, if they go on an actual night hunt, YLLZ wouldn't begrudge him using the techniques he's most familiar and comfortable with...
His thoughts are interrupted by rustling up the path as someone else approaches.
He can't quite see them through the trees, but although they seem much taller than WQ or LQY, they are not shrouded in YLLZ's customary black smoke. Perhaps that's a good sign—perhaps if he's decided to accept LWJ, he no longer sees the need to stay hidden.
Just to be on the safe side, LWJ demurely averts his eyes, bowing his head submissively as whoever it is approaches.
They stop about ten feet away from him. He resists the urge to look up until he's addressed. He is good at being still. He can wait.
They stop about ten feet away from him. He resists the urge to look up until he's addressed. He is good at being still. He can wait.
"Lan Zhan." The voice LWJ would know anywhere cracks slightly. "You shouldn't be here, you know."
His head whips up. "Wei Ying?"
His head whips up. "Wei Ying?"
He takes in the vision before him with wide eyes—WY is too pale, too thin, but he's there, he's solid, and he's alive and he's beautiful, the most beautiful thing LWJ has seen in his life.
(LWJ doesn't know how much better this pale-and-thin WY looks compared to the WY MM found a month ago. He's pale, but his skin is no longer waxy; dangerously thin, but no longer skeletal.
His hair doesn't shine like it used to, but at least MM and WQ bully him into washing it occasionally and combing it regularly. He would find WY beautiful in any state—any living state—but thankfully, he won't ever have to know how much worse things could have been.)
WY's half-smile is timid, almost afraid. It looks wrong on his face. "Yeah. Turns out it's just me, I'm..." He waves a hand and black resentful energy surges up from the ground around them and wraps around him, hiding him entirely. LWJ stiffens as he waves the cloud away again.
"YLLZ," he says tightly, averting his eyes once again. He doesn't want to look at this parody of WY, anyhow. "I assure you, such illusions are not necessary. I do not require you to pretend to be him; in fact, I would prefer to see your own face if—"
"No, no!" WY runs forward to put a hand on LWJ's arm. "Lan Zhan, it's me! Like, really me! It's always been me. I mean, YLLZ has always been me. I've always been YLLZ, whichever."
LWJ slowly, hesitantly, looks back up.
LWJ slowly, hesitantly, looks back up.
"I didn't even come up with that name," WY continues nervously, "and I sure as hell never claimed to be an immortal. The Wen captured me, and they threw me in here, and...
Well... I did what I had to do to survive. But I knew..." He winces as he sucks in a sharp breath, a hiss, as though even the thought stings physically. "I knew it changed me, and not for the better. I knew nobody would accept my new cultivation techniques.
So I couldn't just come back, you know? Appear out of nowhere, half-dead, barely functional enough to carry on a conversation, using demonic cultivation?
I wouldn't have been the hero of the war—I'd be lucky if anyone would even have let me fight instead of just tossing me in some cell to sit it out."
"So you let everyone who cares about you believe you were dead?" LWJ asks hoarsely. He regrets it immediately, because it makes WY take his hand back in order to wrap his arms around himself as he looks away. And because of the haunted look it puts in WY's eyes.
"For a long time, I wasn't totally sure that I wasn't," WY says quietly. "The only reason I had to think otherwise was that ghosts don't get hungry. It's... I can't really explain it in a few minutes, LZ.
Things were bad. Really, really bad. In a lot of different ways, for a long time. I'm sure you heard what I did to WC and WX." He looks directly at LWJ again, a pale and unconvincing attempt at a smile on his lips. "Does that sound like the work of someone in their right mind?"
"Sect Leader Jiang and I were the ones who found WC," is all he can think to say. No, it did not look like the work of someone who was in his right mind, but he doesn't need to say that to WY.
WY blanches. "Oh no. Fuck. I'm so sorry. Shit, that—I wasn't exactly thinking about the, uh, mental wellbeing of whoever found him. I'm sorry, LZ, you shouldn't have had to—ugh, I wish I could apologize to JC..."
"There is no need to apologize," he says quickly. "It was disturbing, but... neither of us could say it wasn't what he deserved."
"Um, so anyhow..." WY rocks back on his heels, chewing his lip. "Yeah. I know you came here because you wanted to marry some powerful immortal cultivator to curry favor for your sect, but uh. There aren't any of those here. Just me!
I mean, I guess I won't pretend I'm not as powerful as everyone says YLLZ is, because I really did everything everyone saw me do on the battlefield, but... I'm definitely not immortal.
The only things you'll find if you stay here are a traumatized and poorly-socialized demonic cultivator, a rogue cultivator whose sect tried to sell her, a couple of medical cultivators the Jin want dead, and a handful of elderly farmers. And one preschooler.
You're welcome to stay anyhow, if you want, but it's... not exactly what you were looking for."
Never mind, this is an even better place to leave you hanging! I promise I'll post one more update tonight, though.
https://twitter.com/PorcupineGirl8/status/1523538714747883520
"That's not why I came here," LWJ says. When WY looks at him questioningly, he reaches out and takes WY's hand. Because WY knows what he told WQ, and he came down here to talk to him anyhow, and that has to mean something.
"I came here because I thought I would never see you again. I came here to settle for what I thought was the best I could hope for."
WY swallows, looking unsure, but he clings to LWJ's hand.
WY swallows, looking unsure, but he clings to LWJ's hand.
"I'm not okay, LZ," he says. His voice is raspy, like his throat is tight. "I'm not the same as I was. What if you don't like me like this? And the demonic cultivation—I knew you'd hate that the most out of all my friends.
I figured you wouldn't even want to be friends with me anymore if you knew. I mean, even before, I wasn't so sure you *wanted* to be friends with me so much as my badgering wore you down until you just went along with it, so now, well.
And—and LZ, back then—ah, LZ, the idea of anything else, I didn't even let myself think about that, I never even wondered—"
WY's nervous chatter has sped up as he goes along, and LWJ finds himself interrupting simply because he's worried he'll stop following it altogether if WY keeps going.
"Never?" he asks. The idea stings, but he's also not sure he believes it. "You never thought about it?"
"Never?" he asks. The idea stings, but he's also not sure he believes it. "You never thought about it?"
WY stops, looking startled, then laughs—a small, shy laugh, but genuine.
"I didn't say that," he says. The light blush that rises to his cheeks is more noticeable for how pale his skin has become. "I didn't let myself, but all that means is that I was thinking about it and I kept having to make myself stop."
"Why?" LWJ asks, then clarifies, "Why did you make yourself stop?"
WY's smile turns sad, but he reaches up with the hand that's not clutched in LWJ's and fusses with LWJ's hair—tucks a strand behind his ear, straightens the bit hanging down over his shoulder.
WY's smile turns sad, but he reaches up with the hand that's not clutched in LWJ's and fusses with LWJ's hair—tucks a strand behind his ear, straightens the bit hanging down over his shoulder.
"Ah, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan," he says as he does this, "I learned when I was very young, how dangerous it is to let myself keep wanting things I can never have. It's better to get the disappointment over with early. It only hurts more, the longer you hold onto it."
"Wei Ying," LWJ says softly. "You can have me." WY's hand stills where it's playing with a strand of hair on his chest, and LWJ puts his own hand over it. WY stares at the spot.
"I know you've been hurt," he says, so quietly, like he might scare WY away if he speaks any louder. "I don't know everything you've been through. I want to know. But it cannot change my love for you." WY's eyes fly up to meet his, expression so fragile LWJ can hardly bear it.
"But... the demonic cultivation," WY says in a small voice.
"I hope you'll let me help you heal the damage it has done," LWJ says, "but I cannot fault you for doing what you had to to survive."
"I can't stop using it, though," WY says. "You can't tell me you'd approve of that."
"I hope you'll let me help you heal the damage it has done," LWJ says, "but I cannot fault you for doing what you had to to survive."
"I can't stop using it, though," WY says. "You can't tell me you'd approve of that."
LWJ considers this. The last thing he wants is to brush aside WY's concerns.
"I don't know why you feel it is necessary," he says. "I hope you will tell me. But I trust that you believe you have no choice. Perhaps we will discuss it and disagree on that. I will not stop loving you."
He doesn't know how he can possibly tell WY just how little anything else means to him—WY is alive, WY is here, warm under his hands. Nothing, *nothing* matters more than that.
WY sways a little closer, and LWJ dares to release his hands and instead wrap his arms around WY's waist. WY lets him. He looks nervous, even frightened, but he lets LWJ pull him close.
He reaches up and touches LWJ's face. LWJ leans into it. "Being with me won't benefit your sect any," he whispers.
"My sect has agreed that my marrying the YLLZ would be to their advantage," LWJ says, leaning in until their noses brush. "Are you not the YLLZ?"
"My sect has agreed that my marrying the YLLZ would be to their advantage," LWJ says, leaning in until their noses brush. "Are you not the YLLZ?"
The corners of WY's mouth twitch. "You know that's not what I mean."
LWJ could respond. He could say all sorts of things, about how benefitting his sect was always his second choice, how he doesn't care about it if he can have WY, or about how...
LWJ could respond. He could say all sorts of things, about how benefitting his sect was always his second choice, how he doesn't care about it if he can have WY, or about how...
...until the rest of the world finds out WY is YLLZ (if that ever happens), the result is the same in the eyes of anyone the Lan try to impress.
But WY's body is warm against his, and their lips are scant inches apart, and instead of saying anything he gives in and kisses WY.
But WY's body is warm against his, and their lips are scant inches apart, and instead of saying anything he gives in and kisses WY.
WY gasps in surprise, but presses into the kiss eagerly. LWJ pulls back just enough to see WY's face—his eyes are closed, and he looks so relaxed and beautiful, and LWJ is helpless to do anything but kiss him again, and again.
WY's fingers tangle in LWJ's hair as their kisses deepen. Nothing will ever matter to LWJ again except this: the feel of WY against his skin, the taste of him, the sounds he makes.
"Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan," WY breathes into his mouth, and LWJ swallows it.
"Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan," WY breathes into his mouth, and LWJ swallows it.
A moment or two later, WY tries again, and shakes his head when LWJ tries to recapture his mouth. He only pulls back enough to speak, though, not enough to stop their noses or foreheads from touching, and he groans as he does so.
"LZ, this is terrible!" he whines. But he's smiling—not the small, shaky ones he's tried on now and then since coming down the mountain, but a real one, bursting with happiness.
"Because you can't kiss me like that and then leave! It's not allowed! You've doomed yourself, HGJ, you've tied yourself irrevocably to the terrible YLLZ because he can't possibly go on without being kissed like that again."
"I will accept my fate," LWJ murmurs somberly, and WY laughs.
When his laugh fades, though, he bites his lip, and LWJ wants to kiss away the sadness that shadows his eyes.
When his laugh fades, though, he bites his lip, and LWJ wants to kiss away the sadness that shadows his eyes.
"But seriously," WY whispers. "I hope you don't regret this. I don't know if I could take it if you stay and then regret it and leave. I've survived a lot, but that might break me."
"I will never regret WY," LWJ insists, but he knows that no promise will ease WY's fears, only time.
WY searches his eyes, then nods. "Well," he says, dropping his hands from LWJ's hair down to his arms. "We should get you settled in, then."
WY searches his eyes, then nods. "Well," he says, dropping his hands from LWJ's hair down to his arms. "We should get you settled in, then."
He reaches back and disengages LWJ's hands from where they're holding him, but doesn't drop them. Instead, he holds onto them as he starts walking backwards up the hill, and LWJ is quick to follow.
"Now that you know what's really here," WY says, "I hope you don't have very high expectations for the accommodations. I live in a cave that smells funny and we're trying to grow radishes and potatoes but MM says none of them will be ready to harvest for another month. Oh!"
He drops one of LWJ's hands, but only so that he can walk next to him, swinging their other hands between them, so LWJ allows it. "If MM starts in about this being a sect, don't listen to her, okay? Or the rest of them."
WY keeps chattering away as he leads LWJ up the hill, and LWJ happily soaks in every word.
Finally! 🥰
We're not quite done yet, even though tbh this would make a perfectly good ending point. But I think I am getting sick and the next update isn't finished yet so I'm making no promises about when it will go up! Top of the thread:
We're not quite done yet, even though tbh this would make a perfectly good ending point. But I think I am getting sick and the next update isn't finished yet so I'm making no promises about when it will go up! Top of the thread:
https://twitter.com/PorcupineGirl8/status/1523538714747883520
I'm still sick 🙃 Have a mini-update:
This is not how this was supposed to go.
WWX is not supposed to be holding LZ's hand right now, leading him back up the mountain! He was supposed to come down and point out to LZ that this isn't at all what he was expecting.
This is not how this was supposed to go.
WWX is not supposed to be holding LZ's hand right now, leading him back up the mountain! He was supposed to come down and point out to LZ that this isn't at all what he was expecting.
Which, okay, he did do that. But LZ wasn't supposed to say the things he said! Or if he did, WWX wasn't supposed to be swayed by them.
But WWX is weak. So, so weak. And LZ kissed him, and how can anyone be expected to resist that?
LZ kissed him.
The nerve! WWX could never have prepared for that!
LZ kissed him.
The nerve! WWX could never have prepared for that!
LZ kissed him! !!!
So here he is, babbling on in order to distract himself from the fact that this all went exactly the opposite of how it was supposed to go and also from the fact that as soon as they get to the top of the mountain all his friends are going to make his life a living hell
(because okay maybe he was the only one who didn't think this was exactly how it was going to go).
Every time he looks at LZ he has to look away again immediately, because LZ is always staring at him with that look on his face, yes THAT one right there, the one that WWX entirely blames for his own weakness. The one that makes WWX feel like he can't possibly survive it.
Also, he has to look away because LZ truly is just staring at him and he thinks if he doesn't watch where they're going possibly nobody will.
Then they reach the top, and step out into the clearing.
Predictably, MM and WQ are waiting for them, shit-eating grins plastered across both their faces. WN is there, too, but he has the decency to hover behind them with only a small and earnest smile.
Predictably, MM and WQ are waiting for them, shit-eating grins plastered across both their faces. WN is there, too, but he has the decency to hover behind them with only a small and earnest smile.
MM gasps loudly. "Who could ever have predicted!" she cries, one hand fluttering to her heart. "WWX, you do you mean to tell us that HGJ wasn't swayed by your excellent arguments?"
"The ones that mostly consisted of, 'no really, when I tell the man who's in love with me that he'd have to marry *me* instead of the guy he thought he'd be settling for, surely he'll leave immediately'?" WQ says, more snarkily than necessary, in WWX's opinion.
"Wow, yeah, can't imagine why that wouldn't send him running."
WWX isn't sure he's ever blushed so hard in his life. His cheeks burn, his ears burn, he feels the flush crawling all the way down his neck.
WWX isn't sure he's ever blushed so hard in his life. His cheeks burn, his ears burn, he feels the flush crawling all the way down his neck.
When he looks at LZ, that same soft look is in his eyes—but when WY meets his gaze, he raises one eyebrow just the tiniest bit.
"Augh!" WWX throws his hands in the air, letting LZ's go. "Not you, too!"
"Augh!" WWX throws his hands in the air, letting LZ's go. "Not you, too!"
And then. LZ looks down at his suddenly-empty hand. And back up at WWX. And his eyes widen ever, ever so slightly. And his mouth twitches the tiniest bit.
WWX's jaw drops. He snatches LZ's hand up again immediately, because he clearly has no choice.
WWX's jaw drops. He snatches LZ's hand up again immediately, because he clearly has no choice.
"Who? Who taught you that? Who taught HGJ how to *pout*? First you—you kiss me, knowing full well I'll be powerless to resist your... *kissing*, and now you have the audacity to turn those eyes on me? LZ! It's like I don't even know you!"
"Okay, no, we literally have no idea what you're talking about now," MM interrupts. "He didn't pout. His face didn't change. Don't look at me like that, it's true!"
"It's true," WN echoes.
"It's true," WN echoes.
WWX can't decide where to direct his outrage first. "Oh, right," he says, pointing at LZ while looking at the others. "And now you're going to tell me he doesn't look all smug because he knows the kind of power he has over me?"
The three of them stare back and forth between WWX and LZ. WQ's mouth is hanging slightly open. LZ, the traitor, doesn't even bother to stop looking smug.
"Maybe we made a mistake," MM says thoughtfully. "Maybe we shouldn't have encouraged this."
WQ scoffs. "Can you even imagine the amount of moping he'd be doing right now if HGJ had gone home?"
WQ scoffs. "Can you even imagine the amount of moping he'd be doing right now if HGJ had gone home?"
"But he'd probably only mope for like a week or so," MM says. "Now they're just gonna be like this. Like, forever."
"I think it's sweet," WN says. "A little weird, but sweet."
"I think it's sweet," WN says. "A little weird, but sweet."
WWX makes the most indignant noise he can muster. "Has everyone here forgotten that I'm the YLLZ?"
"Of course you are," WQ says in a tone that clearly says she is politely holding herself back from ending the sentence with "dear, now quiet while the grownups talk."
"Of course you are," WQ says in a tone that clearly says she is politely holding herself back from ending the sentence with "dear, now quiet while the grownups talk."
"Letting any of you live here was a mistake!" WWX announces. "Except you, LZ, come on, let me show you our cave."
"But if you hadn't let us stay, where would you get your sect from?" MM calls after him as he pulls LZ along.
"I already warned LZ not to listen to your propaganda!" WWX shouts over his shoulder.
"I already warned LZ not to listen to your propaganda!" WWX shouts over his shoulder.
Unfortunately, that's everything I got written before I got sick. Maybe later tonight I will muster the energy to type some more.
Surprise WWX: LWJ learned the power of 🥺 a long time ago as the baby of the Lan family, and now he will turn all of that energy on you to keep the great and powerful YLLZ wrapped around his little finger. And you’ll like it!
I'm finally feeling a bit better! Yay!
WWX shows LZ the temple, the blood pool, his "workshop" (a flat-ish rock he's been using as a table for talisman work for the past year). Then, finally, they make their way to the chamber he uses as a bedroom.
WWX shows LZ the temple, the blood pool, his "workshop" (a flat-ish rock he's been using as a table for talisman work for the past year). Then, finally, they make their way to the chamber he uses as a bedroom.
"And that's my bed!" He motions to the little cot. LZ gives it an assessing look. "I, uh, guess we'll need to make you one, too, that one's pretty small..." He trails off as LZ's eyes drag slowly up and down his body, making his skin flush warm.
"Unnecessary," LZ murmurs.
"Unnecessary," LZ murmurs.
WWX swallows. "You're, uh, you're lucky MM beat you here," he babbles nervously. "I was just sleeping on a pile of fabric scraps before, but she insisted on making one of these for herself.
When she heard how my back creaked after I got up in the morning she smacked me until I made one for myself, too. But it is, um, pretty narrow, so um..."
He takes a breath and wills his voice not to squeak as he says, "Maybe we can rebuild it so its... a little wider? For us both to fit?
"If you wish," LZ says. "I will sleep here with you, regardless. If the bed is too narrow for us to sleep side-by-side, I'm sure we can make do." When WWX dares to meet his eyes, they're dark and intent, and it makes WWX's breathing go a little funny.
Before he can respond, though, a shout from the mouth of the cave makes him jump.
"Are you done giving him the Grand Cave Tour?" MM's voice carries, echoing off the stone walls. "Where did you two wind up?" WQ mutters something, but the same stone that makes a shout reverberate makes anything quieter dissolve in the echoes.
"Well, if WQ is right," MM continues, "then you two better be decent by the time we make it back there."
WWX yelps. "We're decent!" He grabs LZ's arm and hauls him back out of the bedroom to meet the others. "See? Super decent! Nothing indecent at all!"
WWX yelps. "We're decent!" He grabs LZ's arm and hauls him back out of the bedroom to meet the others. "See? Super decent! Nothing indecent at all!"
He can't interpret the strange looks on MM and WQ's faces, so he ignores them.
"Good to know," WQ says. "Anyhow, we need to discuss some logistics. LWJ, I assume you brought a dowry of some kind?"
"What?" WWX straightens indignantly. "LZ doesn't need a dowry—"
"Good to know," WQ says. "Anyhow, we need to discuss some logistics. LWJ, I assume you brought a dowry of some kind?"
"What?" WWX straightens indignantly. "LZ doesn't need a dowry—"
"Of course," LZ cuts him off, pulling one of the qiankun pouches off his belt as WWX stares incredulously.
"LZ, you don't need a *dowry*—"
"LZ, you don't need a *dowry*—"
"Of course he does," MM says. "I mean, *you* don't care if he has one, but his sect was trying to get YLLZ to marry him, of course they'd supply a good dowry. I mean, the Jin weren't even trying to get you to marry me, and they sent me with all that crap just to impress you."
LWJ pauses while opening the pouch and frowns. "They weren't?"
"Pfft, no," MM says. "They didn't give a shit what YLLZ did with me, they were just handing me over for him to do with as he pleased." LZ's expression darkens, but he lets it go.
"Pfft, no," MM says. "They didn't give a shit what YLLZ did with me, they were just handing me over for him to do with as he pleased." LZ's expression darkens, but he lets it go.
"Now, did the Lan actually send you with anything useful, or just stuff for us to sell off? Not that that's not useful, mind you—I'm glad we rescued the Wen, but we do have a lot of mouths to feed and huts to build."
"Not much of use, no," LZ says. "I tried for chickens but was overruled." WQ makes a disappointed sound. For the next few minutes, WWX mostly watches as LZ pulls out various treasures and MM and WQ debate how much money they'll be able to fetch in the market.
"A vase?" MM exclaims as LZ pulls one item out. "What did they think you were going to do with a *vase* on the BM??"
LZ shrugs and hands it to her. "I do not believe practicality was a consideration." He pulls out a final item—a bundle of soft red and gold fabric—and, to WWX's surprise, hands it to him. "For our marriage bed," he says simply.
"For our—" WWX blinks down at the fabric he's been handed and realizes there are silk sheets and pillowcases, and a delicately embroidered comforter. It's beautiful.
"Oh. You... don't want to sell it?" He pulls his eyes away from where he's unconsciously tracing the gold embroidery with a finger and blinks up at LZ.
"We can if you'd prefer," LZ says carefully.
"We can if you'd prefer," LZ says carefully.
WWX's fingers tighten in the smooth cloth. "Well. I mean. Not if. If you really wanted to..."
This suddenly feels like a conversation WWX doesn't want to have in front of their entire not-sect.
This suddenly feels like a conversation WWX doesn't want to have in front of their entire not-sect.
WQ clears her throat, and WWX tenses for the worst, but all she says is, "Why don't you keep that for now. And, ah, any... wedding robes you might have brought, HGJ?"
LZ nods. "Mm."
"You brought wedding robes?" WWX squeaks. LZ nods again, and WWX manfully does not demand to see them—on LZ, preferably—right this moment. "Neat."
"You brought wedding robes?" WWX squeaks. LZ nods again, and WWX manfully does not demand to see them—on LZ, preferably—right this moment. "Neat."
WQ sighs loudly, but it's MM who speaks next. "Okay, well, we shouldn't try to sell all this at once, we'll probably just get robbed or something. So here, HGJ, why don't you put back this stuff and we can take this jewelry into town this afternoon to sell?"
LZ nods & starts putting things back in the pouch. "Oh," MM adds, "also—hm, yep, just checking. WWX—"
Her voice takes on a singsong cadence that WWX is starting to associate with being told he forgot to do something. "—there are things I can't say to him, & there probably shouldn't be..."
"So you haven't told him yet?" WQ asks sharply as LZ gives him a quizzical look.
"So you haven't told him yet?" WQ asks sharply as LZ gives him a quizzical look.
"Not because I'm trying to hide anything!" WWX insists, glaring at WQ and MM in turn. "It just hadn't come up yet!"
"Well, no time like the present," WQ says briskly as she helps LZ wrangle the vase back into the pouch.
"Well, no time like the present," WQ says briskly as she helps LZ wrangle the vase back into the pouch.
WWX's stomach twists. It shouldn't be a big deal. LZ has already said he loves him no matter what, that using demonic cultivation won't change that—in fact, this will probably just make it clearer to him that WWX really has no choice, which should be a good thing, right?
He just... he can't get that first night out of his head. The way they met, on a moonlit rooftop where they fought their way to a draw. A draw, a rarity for either of them, marking them as equals.
They're not equals anymore. And sure, maybe most of the world sees WWX—or rather, YLLZ—as the more powerful one, but LZ is the one who can still do everything he could do that night. WWX couldn't swordfight him to a draw anymore.
"You can curse me," LZ says, startling him out of his thoughts.
"What?" WWX blinks at him. "Oh! Oh, no, LZ, I trust you—"
"What?" WWX blinks at him. "Oh! Oh, no, LZ, I trust you—"
"Curse me anyhow," LZ says, taking his hand. "I would never tell anyone your secrets voluntarily, but if the sects ever turn on YLLZ, they could capture me. Make sure they cannot force me to betray you. Please, WY."
"We'll leave you to it," WQ says in a sudden fit of not being a terrible friend, and she and MM wander back out, discussing which merchants to take the jewelry to.
Hopefully now that I'm feeling better I'll be able to finish this #WarPrizeJiseason fic in the next couple of days!
Here is a link to the top:
Here is a link to the top:
https://twitter.com/PorcupineGirl8/status/1523538714747883520
Once they're alone again, WWX quickly sketches the curse talisman, which he has long since memorized, and presses it into LZ's skin.
"There," he says. "The only things you can tell people about YLLZ are that he lives on the BM and you're his disciple. And anything they already know about me, otherwise you wouldn't be able to talk about me to anyone here, heh."
"You will need to change the curse once we are married," LZ says calmly, because he can just SAY things like that without stuttering or squeaking or turning red. Okay, maybe now that WWX is looking, the tips of his ears are a tiny bit pink.
"Uh." WWX drags his eyes away from LZ's ears and tries to focus. "Why?"
"I may still be YLLZ's disciple," LZ says, "but others may find it odd if I identify myself only as that, and not as your husband."
"I may still be YLLZ's disciple," LZ says, "but others may find it odd if I identify myself only as that, and not as your husband."
"Oh, right," WWX manages. "Because you... you really do want to... to marry me? Still? You're sure?"
LZ looks the tiniest bit unsure of himself—just for a second before he wipes his face blank, but it's enough that WWX regrets even asking. "Only if Wei Ying—"
LZ looks the tiniest bit unsure of himself—just for a second before he wipes his face blank, but it's enough that WWX regrets even asking. "Only if Wei Ying—"
"Of course Wei Ying!" WWX exclaims before LZ can get any further. "I mean. Of course *I* want to marry YOU. You're HGJ! You're beautiful and perfect and—and you're YOU, LZ! Anyone would want to marry you! I'm just—"
"Beautiful and perfect and you," LZ counters.
"Beautiful and perfect and you," LZ counters.
"I don't have a golden core!" WWX blurts out. He tries to ignore the sharp breath LZ sucks in. "And as much as I want to lie and say it was WZL, WQ already made me tell MM the truth so there's no use not telling you."
LZ has been holding one of his hands since asking WWX to curse him, and WWX's racing heart slows a fraction when he takes the other.
It should be intimidating, the way LZ focuses on him completely, intensely, like WWX is about to say the most important words ever uttered, but it's not. It's comforting.
"After the Wen destroyed LP, they captured JC. WZL destroyed his core. And I—I had WQ transfer mine into him. So when the Wen captured me next and threw me in here, I didn't have one. That's why I can't give up demonic cultivation. It's all I've got, LZ."
LZ's eyes narrow, and for a moment WWX thinks LZ is angry at him, but then he says, "Sect Leader Jiang accepted your core, and then did not even bother to keep you safe?"
"No!" WWX yelps. "JC doesn't know! I... I made up some story. He thinks BSSR magically restored his core. He doesn't know it's mine. He hadn't even returned from the surgery when WC caught me."
Sadness pushes a bit of the murderousness out of LZ's expression. "WY, do you really think he would rather believe you dead than know the truth?"
"Honestly?" WWX asks. "Yes. I mean, I don't think he'd say that. He might not even think it's true. He's not a terrible person, I know he loves me and he probably misses me at least as much as I miss him.
But he can live without me. I don't know if he could live knowing that the only reason he can be sect leader is because he has my core."
One of LZ's hands comes up to cup WWX's face. His gaze is soft but no less intense. "Whatever happens," LZ says, "please know that I would rather be with WY, no matter the consequences, than live without him for any reason.
I can do it, have done it, but please don't ever make me do it again, no matter what you believe I would prefer."
WWX swallows.
WWX swallows.
How did he not know? How did he have no idea LZ felt this way? He didn't even really know HE felt like this; he hadn't been kidding when he said he didn't let himself think about it; when he did it rarely got much further than wondering what it would be like to make out with LZ.
He never bothered to poke at the feelings swarming below that, too big and deep and terrifying.
He smiles shakily. "Well, we're getting married, right?" he says, and even as impossible as that still seems, his heart can't help swelling in his chest at the thought. "What kind of husband do you take me for, LZ?"
"One who is too concerned with saving those he loves pain to consider that his pain hurts them as well, or how losing him may affect them," LZ replies, because he's a traitor.
Rather than deal with that statement, or have to keep looking into LZ's terribly earnest eyes, WWX kisses him, because that's a thing he's allowed to do now. Whenever he wants!
LZ immediately wraps his arms around him and pulls him close, and WWX lets himself get lost in it.
LZ immediately wraps his arms around him and pulls him close, and WWX lets himself get lost in it.
He's had very few good things in the past two years. The satisfaction of killing WC and WX, then seeing WRH killed. Brief moments of a painful sort of happiness when he saw JC on the battlefield or, once, glimpsed shijie tending to wounded soldiers as a medic.
The past month has been better than he thought he'd ever get again, the lonely space of the BM filled with actual friends.
This, though, is more than he'd imagined even before losing his core—so much that he's a little worried he's hallucinating it. That maybe it means he's been hallucinating everything since MM got here—maybe more than that. It doesn't feel like a hallucination, though.
He did hallucinate, in those early days when he wasn't sure if he was alive or dead. Even since then, sometimes when he doesn't get enough to eat. But they've only ever been sights and sounds.
He's never had a hallucination that was so tactile, that could fool him into thinking LZ's tongue is sliding against his own, or that LZ's hands are spread across his back.
He decides that if it is a hallucination, then he's just going assume his brain has decided to take mercy on him and give him the best hallucinations it has to offer and that he will enjoy it to the greatest extent possible.
And if it's not... if it's not, he won't take it for granted for one moment.
Ahahahaha I was trying to cut this down to get the next sentence to fit in the tweet and in doing so I replaced some words with a semicolon - not realizing that sentence already had a semicolon 😂😂😂
OK guys, final update! Basically an epilogue.
Xiongzhang,
I am pleased to be able to write to you so soon after my departure with good news. YLLZ has accepted my proposal and we will be married within the week.
I am pleased to be able to write to you so soon after my departure with good news. YLLZ has accepted my proposal and we will be married within the week.
He would like it to be known that he will not be taking any further spouses and does not wish to receive further human offerings of any sort.
Offerings in general are unnecessary, but should sects wish to make them, it would be best to send items of practical use such as rice, tools, and farming equipment.
YLLZ would also like it to be widely disseminated that he is responsible for freeing the Wen prisoners, and they, too, are living here under YLLZ's protection. Contrary to JGS's claims, only one of the former prisoners is a cultivator...
..., and none are guilty of anything worse than being born into WRH's family. YLLZ has no plans to free further prisoners, but should word reach him that they are being mistreated—particularly mundane noncombatants—that could change.
Please do not waste time or energy worrying about my wellbeing. YLLZ is a kind man, and not at all what I was expecting.
I had assumed that my life with him would be tolerable, that I would be content in the knowledge I was doing my duty for the Lan, and that perhaps someday I would learn to be happy here.
Instead, I have every reason to believe that our marriage will be a source of true joy, and I cherish the opportunity to spend my life with him.
Please let our uncle know that I plan to visit Cloud Recesses for the New Year's celebration in a few months. If you wish to write back, letters addressed to my name in care of the owner of the Quiet Lotus Inn, Yiling, will find their way to me.
Sincerely,
Lan Wangji
Lan Wangji
Jin Zixuan,
The only reason I'm bothering to write this is because LWJ is under the impression that you had no idea about your pig of a father's plans for me. If he heard wrong and you were a part of this, don't bother replying to this letter.
The only reason I'm bothering to write this is because LWJ is under the impression that you had no idea about your pig of a father's plans for me. If he heard wrong and you were a part of this, don't bother replying to this letter.
If he's right, I thought you might appreciate an update. BM are as shitty a place to live as you'd imagine, but there are enough of us here now that we're making some progress toward making them livable. I'm free to leave if I want, but for the moment I'm happy enough here.
I'm even dating someone. NOT YLLZ; I'm sure you've heard that he's married LWJ and doesn't intend to take any more spouses. If you know what is good for you, you will never suggest in front of either of them that either of them should ever so much look at another person.
(Don't tell your dad that, though—I really want to see what shape LWJ twists his balls into when he suggests YLLZ should want a harem of concubines.) I can't say who it is I'm dating right now, but you've met her.
She is also without a sect; I'm not quite ready to say I'm going to marry her, but I do have fond fantasies of our wandering around together living the rogue cultivator life.
I say we're both without a sect because YLLZ is under some kind of delusion that this somehow ISN'T a sect we've got here. I keep telling him he should just own it but I think he's allergic to that level of responsibility.
Not allergic enough to not take in a dozen strays and commit to figuring out how to feed us all in a barren wasteland, but, y'know. He's too nice to not take on every burden he can find but too immature to let us call him sect leader.
If it weren't for the fact that it would probably attract too much attention from your father, we'd probably be the Yiling Luo sect by now.
We're paying the owner of the Quiet Lotus Inn in Yiling to hold our mail for us, so if you haven't utterly betrayed me you can write to me there.
If I hear from you and then find out later that you knew about the plan to "offer" me, please be aware that I will be not just watching what LWJ does to your dad's balls but taking detailed notes to apply it to you afterward.
Your friend,
Mianmian
Mianmian
Wangji,
I'm so glad you were able to make it for New Year; it was wonderful to see you again.
I'm so glad you were able to make it for New Year; it was wonderful to see you again.
I will admit that I had my concerns, even after we started corresponding—you claimed to be so happy, and I didn't think you would outright lie about it, but I did worry that you might be exaggerating for my benefit.
I even entertained the idea that YLLZ might have been controlling your mind somehow, making you believe that you were happy with your new situation. Even if that had been the case, it would likely have been a mercy, since you were married to him either way.
After seeing you for myself, I am confident that your joy is genuine—either that, or YLLZ has done his job so thoroughly that even your brother cannot tell the difference.
I don't think that's the case, though, because I have never in our lives seen you glow with contentment the way you do now. You clearly love your husband very much; more than that, you love the life you've built with him.
I hope that I will get to meet my brother-in-law face-to-face someday. Be sure to let him know, as we discussed, that I am fully willing to take on the same curse the others in your sect (which is not a sect) have taken to protect his identify.
I can't help but remember how certain you were before you left that you could never find a love match without Wei Wuxian. I'm so incredibly glad that hasn't proven to be a problem.
I would ask if your husband knows you felt that way, but I am guessing that he does, and that he doesn't mind.
Just two days after you left, a messenger arrived from The Unclean Realm inviting us to a hunt the Nie sect will be hosting in two months.
Mingjue included a personal note asking me to invite you and any other cultivators there—he wasn't entirely sure the protocol for inviting a not-quite-sect to such an event, and so thought it might be less likely to offend YLLZ if I extended a personal invitation to my brother.
I told him I didn't think YLLZ was the type to be easily offended by such things, but agreed to pass the message on to ease his mind. The next page contains the full details; when you write back let me know how many cultivators to tell the Nie to expect.
Yours,
Xichen
Xichen
(You see, LXC had to sit down for a moment after reading LWJ's first letter and realizing that either a) YLLZ was controlling his brother's mind somehow or b) Wei-gongzi did not die and instead somehow became YLLZ.
He couldn't exactly ask which it was, so he reminded himself that LWJ would be there no matter what & at least if the YLLZ is working some sort of mind-control mojo, it's mojo that ensures LWJ's happiness. After talking to his brother in person, he's pretty sure which it is.)
He does eventually visit BM and allow YLLZ to curse him and does not pretend to be shocked when he sees who it really is.
WWX: OMG babe you had such a big crush on me your brother decided it was more likely that I'd come back from the dead than that you'd moved on? How embarrassing.
LWJ: Wei Ying. We are married.
WWX: Still.
LWJ: Wei Ying. We are married.
WWX: Still.
Eventually they run into SL and XXC—separately, of course, but talk both of them into joining them on the BM and making up. At that point, WWX is like WAY outvoted on the question of Sect Or Not Sect.
They put it to a vote and MM does, in fact, wind up as sect leader, though they decide that it's not a lifetime position; she'll be replaced in ten years.
This does, however, leave them with the question of what to call their sect since it can't really be Yiling Luo if in a decade it won't *be* Luo anymore. They finally let A-Yuan pick the name, and thus they become the Yiling Butterfly Sect.
WWX, WQ, and SL try to claim that this isn't a good name for a sect but everyone else loves it. Since this includes all three of their spouses, whom none of them are capable of denying anything, it's decided.
Lest JGS get the idea that this name is any sign of weakness, at the first night hunt they attend as a sect WWX makes sure to show off a bit. Was it really *necessary* for him to raise fierce corpses and have them kill a few yaoguai? Nah. But it had flair.
The BM, by this point, is flourishing. It's not exactly a verdant paradise but they have decent crops growing, everyone has a sturdy, if small, hut (other than wx who still live in the cave), & their little village makes a decent income selling veggies & crafts & night hunting.
WN marries a nice mundane girl from town. Wangxian and SongXiao father children with WQ/MM—whether this is via WQ understanding how artificial insemination works, or some very bisexual orgies, is up to you.
They kind of winding up raising the kids, along with A-Yuan, in a communal wow-you-have-a-lot-of-parents situation.
At some point they do let JC and JYL know that WWX is alive and YLLZ. JC is pretty pissed but gets over it eventually. Jin Ling (and his younger siblings) grow up with lots of cousins and friends in Yiling Butterfly Sect.
Most importantly, LWJ never gets rid of those sheer, lacy robes he came to BM with, and every now and then (like once a month tbh) the great and terrible red-eyed YLLZ ravishes the pure and virtuous virgin who was sent to sacrifice himself for the good of his sect.
Then later that night the mighty warrior HGJ subdues the great and terrible YLLZ and brings his reign of terror to an end.
And they live happily ever after!
And that's that about that!
Thank you all for sticking with me through my first real Twitter threadfic. If I had known it was gonna be 15K I probably would have just put it on AO3 LOL
Link to the top of the thread for your RT convenience (hint hint):
Thank you all for sticking with me through my first real Twitter threadfic. If I had known it was gonna be 15K I probably would have just put it on AO3 LOL
Link to the top of the thread for your RT convenience (hint hint):
https://twitter.com/PorcupineGirl8/status/1523538714747883520
Oh FFS - I started doing a find-and-replace on the initials (to clean it up for AO3), but I forgot to uncheck "ignore case". So now it's full of things like "iMianmianediately" and "I am NOT turning doWen Ning another bag of rice!" 🤦🏻♀️ ctrl-z ctrl-z ctrl-z
Ok, those issues have been fixed, as have various tagging issues, so this fic is now on AO3 (with a very lazy title) for those who aren't into threadfics: archiveofourown.org/works/39132414
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