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Part 1 of Wangxian Week 2020!
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2020-04-14
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A Pledge to You

Summary:

"Let go of him." Lan Wangji didn't hesitate to bring his husband to his side again, glaring at Jiang Cheng like he was a pestilence.

To Jiang Cheng, this scene was all too-familiar.

With an emotionally compromised Jiang Cheng breaking down in front of his brother and directing his rage towards the couple. It ended with his tears, Wei Wuxian's blood, and a fury he's never seen from Lan Wangji or Wen Ning before.

By the time he caught up to his thoughts, he was alone in the conference hall.

Notes:

To make this hurt more rewatch the Untamed ep. 46/Golden Core Scene (audio drama ver.)

The songs Lan Zhan plays are "Xianyun" and "Qing Xin Yin" and are further discussed in the end notes so give them a listen!

Update 4/15/20: woww I just got a very mean and very vulgar comment about this work on my tumblr. Obviously don't like don't read, but please be mature and leave constructive criticism instead of cheap insults like 'cuck-sucking ass?' like if you're offended in any way, please tell me why at least and be professional about it.
And to my fellow writers out there, I hope you aren't discouraged by such things either because you can't please everybody.
Anyway enough about that. Enjoy!
Update 8/28/20: This story just got added to a fave fics collection ahh thank you! ・゜・(ノД`)

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Lotus Pier, annual discussion conference - Spring

"And how are affairs managing the Jin Sect? I assume things have improved since you've taken over?" Sect Leader Ouyang inquired to the young man across from him. 

All but a few missed the worried glance Jin Ling and a few other juniors spared Wei Wuxian before he chirped his reply. "Yes! Yes, things are going well. We recruited a good amount of new disciples this year..."

The rest was an incessant buzzing in the background.

Dressed in his Gusu Lan Sect robes, Wei Wuxian was situated next to his husband. Representing the Lan Sect at a conference required the attention and poise expected of any model disciple.

So sitting in the front, he decided against falling asleep on the spot and instead chose a place across the room to stare at blankly. His face was uncharacteristically expressionless as he pulled his feet closer to him, not liking the chill that seemed to stick to his spine. 

A roar of laughter waved throughout the hall, some joke that Sect Leader Yao made in which everyone felt it polite to respond accordingly to. 

Other than a few tired blinks, Wei Wuxian didn't...react.

He really couldn’t help it, though.

He had taken the juniors on their routine night hunt yesterday, this time stopping on the way to investigate a few spiritual traps that had been problematic for the locals lately. Back then; he really must've looked like he was on the brink of death because Jingyi was on the verge of tears. Even a trembling Sizhui had refused to let go of his hand until Lan Zhan arrived.

Turns out, the disarming spell had backfired because some wild boar chose the perfect moment to run into their incantation circle. And despite being the creator of demonic cultivation, the shock of the explosion that followed couldn't prepare him for the whiplash of raw, hostile energy directed back at him. Following the blow was the sensation of something eating away at his chest with the intensity of a curse mark. Lan Zhan had managed to reduce the effects, but they would need to devote a day to remove it completely.

Along with lots of rest.

Which he would get later.

...He could've exorcised it himself, really, if he weren't so damn dizzy. 

"Young Master Wei? Young Master Wei!" he heard Sect leader Yao's voice directed at him. Ugh.

Thankfully, his spouse chose to help, a steadying arm on his elbow he didn't know he needed. "Sect Leader Yao wanted your opinion on the cursed circles around Moling."

Right. He was the Yiling Patriarch, resource for all things demonic and Hanguang-Jun's wayward cultivation partner. He would have stood and paced while speaking his musings to the room like he usually would. But if it weren't for Lan Zhan's slight grip on his elbow he would've swayed and shamelessly toppled into his lap.

Maybe he could fall asleep then.

That would be nice.

But he couldn't.

And so, he reigned it in.

"When undisturbed, cursed circles are harmless. Su She," he ignored the grimaces throughout the room, "used similar wards to hide his schemings. It is the attempt to break their formation that make them dangerous. If such attempts are unsuccessful, they will backfire or kill the caster to prevent them from finding whatever was hidden."

That part was true as hell, if his poor wheezing lungs earlier had anything to say about it.

Conjuring a map made from whatever resentful energy he felt like mustering, he showed the occupants in the room a map of the wards. He described each as they appeared, marked by small red balls of smoke.

"The juniors and I disarmed most of these traps yesterday in Moling," the marked locations in question disappeared in succession as he said this. "And the ones deployed around Gusu I destroyed myself last year. Yunmeng and Qinghe are the areas prone to the most traps remaining. So I urge everyone here to memorize the locations still marked and exercise caution."

Judging from the nods in the room, he figured they understood enough, and resigned to lean slightly into his husband's side. He ignored the look Jiang Cheng was giving him across the room—he didn't have the energy to decipher it—as well as Lan Qiren's cough at the instinctual hand Lan Zhan held around his waist.

He somehow made it through the next quarter shichen (1) without collapsing in a heap like he wanted to. 

Lan Zhan understood that Wei Ying wasn't going to fully sit upright anytime soon. As such, the Second Jade's steadying hand remained along with his calming presence. But every few minutes or so Wei Ying would feel a plume of the spell's foreign energy fight and claw its way in his chest...just the sensation alone threatened to choke him. He retaliated the best way he knew how; underneath small coughs disguised as clearing his throat and lots of tea.

It wasn't until Jiang Cheng called for a break that Wei Wuxian noticed the throbbing behind his eyelids and the heat encompassing his face. What the hell, was this a fever now?

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan prompted, helping him stand slowly from their table.

Patting his arm, Wei Ying offered him a small but reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Lan Zhan. There's just a bit of residue lingering in my chest. Nothing some notes of Cleansing can't fix, hm?"

That short burst of enthusiasm seemed to cost him, as he unwillingly listed to the side, only for a different pair of arms to steady him. "Jiang Cheng?" he tilted his head to acknowledge the figure now next to him.

"I've been here the whole time, idiot. What's wrong with you? What do you need Cleansing for?"

The demonic cultivator's discomfort and slight coughs might've been overlooked by everyone else, but they weren't missed by Jiang Wanyin. Having called off the meeting for a short break, he realized his brother might need more time to really recover from whatever ailment he had. As per usual, Wei Wuxian was convinced he was doing "fine", but in giving the demonic cultivator a once-over, what Jiang Cheng saw was just death warmed over. Wei Wuxian's eyes looked bruised underneath. Reminiscent of someone who had been up for too many nights or strained himself for a long time. His face was slack and expressionless, as it had been since he looked like he wanted to fall asleep during Sect Leader Yao's speech earlier. The sickly pallor wasn't helping his case, either.

The Sect leader grabs his brother's arm, ignoring the irking look Lan Wangji shoots him at the action.

"Wei Wuxian! What's wrong with you?" he shook him slightly, hoping to get some sort of answer from his brother. The demonic cultivator was looking right at him, but seemed to be staring through him without focus at the same time.

"Let go of him." Lan Wangji didn't hesitate to bring his husband to his side again, glaring at Jiang Cheng like he was a pestilence.

To Jiang Cheng, this scene was all too-familiar.

With an emotionally compromised Jiang Cheng breaking down in front of his brother and directing his rage towards the couple. It ended with his tears, Wei Wuxian's blood, and a fury he's never seen from Lan Wangji or Wen Ning before.

By the time he caught up to his thoughts, he was alone in the conference hall.

He caught a flash of white across the shadowed pavilion. Lan Wangji was carrying a now-unconscious Wei Wuxian in his arms back to their room.

"Stop!" he made his way over to them, only to be met with the death glare he hadn't seen since that last horrible encounter. He hated it. He hated how much of a villain he felt like whenever Lan Wangji gave him a look like that.

Not stopping the Lan's path but not leaving him to walk away either, the Jiang Sect leader settled for angrily striding next to them instead. "You! I'm not some…some monster out to hurt him! I just don't know what this idiot is thinking because he always keeps things to himself and never tells me anything!" In exclaiming this to the prestigious Hanguang-Jun, he felt like a petulant child, whining to an adult who looked less than patient to deal with him right now.

And he was met with no response.

Said Lan cultivator left him behind gaping, continuing his careful stride to his destination; the couple's guest room. Jiang Cheng followed again, silently, not wanting to provoke the tense air anymore like he had done before. Instead, he leaned purposelessly in the doorway, watching like a sentry as Lan Wangji gently lays his husband down with a careful hand under his head. He watched as Wei Wuxian was stripped down to his white inner robes. Lan Wangji gently manipulated the man's limbs out of the two other layers of his Lan uniform. He stopped occasionally and shushed his love softly when the movement seemed to irritate Wei Wuxian's chest. Jiang Cheng tried to ignore the horribly-smitten look the Lan gave to the man lying on the bed. He only turned his head back when the faint shuffling sounds of fabric ceased.

Summoning Wangji, the Second Jade positioned himself elegantly at the table next to the bed to begin playing. Seeming to remember the third party in their room, he offered a slight nod to Jiang Cheng and turned back to his instrument.

Well then.

The Jiang Sect Leader couldn't help but feel dumb for having to be invited to enter a room in his own home. Regardless, he took the cue and sat at the side opposite him. The air around them wasn't hostile for once, he noticed. If anything, he sensed an ease from their détente, and closed his eyes as the elder began to play again.

The first few stanzas of the song Jiang Cheng could recognize. He remembers Lan Wangji visiting his brother following Wen Ruohan's defeat to play this tune almost daily until he awoke. Back then, Jie was raving nonstop about the Second Jade. Not only for his thoughtfulness, but for how well he played 'one of the best songs she's ever heard.' 

"It really does calm the mind, A-Cheng! I'm a healer too and this is impressive! Xianxian will wake up in no time at this rate, you'll see."  she praised. 

And if Jiang Cheng had his doubts before, they were extinguished now. He felt a warmth in his chest that was tumultuous before. The ease was soft, like a breeze picking up and carrying any worries he might've harbored away from him. This song felt hopeful, the notes short and light that seemed to dance through the air without a care. 

Just like his brother used to.

He would give anything to see his carefree brother return to them again, if not for a sense of normalcy in all of them. He's had enough of the sadness he's been roiling in the past two decades. 

And if it meant making nice with Lan Wangji, then so be it. 

As if sensing his resolve, the Second Jade switched tunes once again. This time he sang, his voice melding into the song perfectly. Jiang Cheng's never heard this one, but the slow tempo would make you think it was meant to be a lullaby. The Sect Leader welcomed the new tune just like he had the last, that feeling of a lift in his chest still enduring. So this song was one of healing, too.

They sat companionably for what seemed like hours as Lan Wangji finished the two songs. He glanced over to where his spouse lay, satisfied at his even breathing and peaceful expression in sleep. Golden eyes then drifted to look at Jiang Cheng across from him. The Sect leader's eyes were now open, mirroring his stare. The both of them dared to revel in the silence for just a moment longer. 

There was so much to say, but what?

Lan Wangji took the initiative. "Wei Ying," he sighed, "intends to rebuild his golden core."

Jiang Cheng huffed, "Of course. He's dueled Jin Ling before with Suibian."

The Lan's stare leveled with his. "He will also continue practicing demonic cultivation."

That made Jiang Cheng stop.

The unspoken truth the both of them knew was how Wei Wuxian was brilliant in wielding a golden core or demonic cultivation in either of his vessels, sure. As he had done in the past. But wielding both in one body? The effects could be chaotic. The yang energy from cultivating with a core and the yin energy brought from resentful energy would cause some internal conflict, surely.

Of course, it's never been done. 

But since when has Wei Ying let that stop him?

Attempt the impossible, was the motto. It was like it was made for Wei Wuxian.

Jiang Cheng sighed, finally resolved in his thinking. "I know," he started, "that once he sets his mind towards something he can't be stopped. He will go to any length just for the sake of curiosity. Hell, I bet he'd give you a leg if you told him it could unlock the next key to a puzzle." He finished, smiling ruefully. He suddenly felt his age as he looked at his sleeping brother.

So many things have happened...

"But I'm glad you can be there for him when I can't. I know I said this at your wedding last year, but I really meant it. You two make a good and powerful couple. The cultivation world needs you both."

"Jiang-"

"No. I have to say this."

He looked the Lan in the eye, "I know you hate me. Wei Wuxian and I…we've hurt each other in the past. We really have." he shook his head and his expression was borderline mournful. "—but if we knew what the hell we were really doing; if we just fucking spoke and listened like brothers actually should...Then maybe, maybe back then..." he shook his head again as if the heavy thoughts would fall out of it.

But no. No, that was years ago.

He successfully rebuilt Lotus Pier to its former glory. He eliminated threats in their steps before they even dared approach Yunmeng's homefront.

Jin Ling is a Sect Leader. Yanli and Jin Zixuan would be proud at their son's progress.

And Wei Wuxian was married. He was a respected Senior at Gusu. He even had a son now.

"Whatever," he continued. "He said it's in the past, and it is. But you, Lan Wangji," he pointed a very accusing finger. "You are responsible for my brother's safety now. He and I are fixing things between us, but at the end of the day he lives with you. He married into your sect, and I don't get to see him as much. But whenever I hear about him being just as careless as before..." he sighed. "I don't know what to do. I don't know what I can do, if he doesn't let me in anymore. So yes. I remember how much you hate me, but the time I do have to see Wei Ying…you have to let me try."

His azure eyes met gold, both men trying to decipher each other's faces.

"I don't." Lan Wangji looked at his in-law with the same intensity.

"What?" Jiang Cheng was offended at the brusque answer. So he matched it with his own. "You don't want me to try?"

"—Ngh, no," Wei Wuxian stirred. Looking like the drunkard he never was, he (attempted to) raise himself with his elbows.

"Stay down, you idiot."

"Noo," Wei Wuxian whined, interrupted by a short but intense coughing fit. The rawness of the sound had the two men wincing in sympathy. "He meant, 'I don't hate you'. Isn't that right, Lan Zhan?" he gleamed deliriously at his partner's general direction, his eyes still slightly out of focus.

"Mn." the latter nodded.

Jiang Cheng managed to look at Lan Wangji with a renewed curiosity. And even with Wei Wuxian sitting between them, he just had to pry. "You really don't resent me? Not for hurting him? Not for how useless I was during the whole Jin Guangyao fiasco?"

And there was that word again.

Useless.

Useless was an understatement for him.

Second to Wei Wuxian his entire life, he really felt like shit realizing how blind he was during those years his brother was gone. So much was going on behind the scenes in the cultivation world even before his brother left the land of the living. And Jiang Cheng? He hadn't done a damn thing but get in the way.

But what was his excuse? He was even alive that whole time! And the literal day his brother was resurrected, he teamed up with his would-be spouse and solved all the world's crimes no one else could. But what had Jiang Cheng done to help during those few months?

Shame his brother for the things he didn't do?

Blame him for deaths he couldn't control?

Threaten and whip him with Zidian, just like his mother had?

Useless.

"—don't resent you." the baritone cut through his thoughts like a blade.

He looked up with renewed shock at the white-clad cultivator.

"I don't resent Jiang Wanyin," Lan Wangji repeated. "He was only confused because of Wei Ying." you didn't know the truth and I was only trying to protect him, was what he got from that. Jiang Cheng nodded, albeit dumbly at the acknowledgement. He didn’t really know what to do with this.

Not knowing what else to do either, Lan Wangji grasped his husband's hand. Wei Wuxian mirrored the action with his remaining hand, taking his brother's with a weakened but meaningful grip. Lan Wangji was filled with renewed vigor, though his face wouldn't show it. But when he continued his ears turned pink, "I know that Jiang Wanyin and I will try. For Wei Ying. And…for family." His expression was resolute as he looked at the Jiang Sect leader.

The two brothers in the room blinked, not expecting the Jade to continue. And that had to be the most Lan Wangji has said to Jiang Cheng in the past decade!

Wei Ying coughed himself into a genuine smile, pinching his husband's cheek lovingly, then pinching Jiang Cheng's as well before his hand was gently smacked away. "Aww, Lan Zhan look at your ears! So cute! And didi, are you blushing? Have my Hanguang Jun's words affected you so thoroughly?"

Jiang Cheng prayed the pink dusting his cheeks was from his brother's fussing or he'd be real embarrassed! He stammered out, "No! Just...shut up and sleep!" Flushing even further, he stood and strode over to the door, "I don't want any noise complaints from the disciples tonight and I want you to be alive by morning." he pointed a finger at his Shixiong.

"What about the rest of the conference?"

"Adjourned until tomorrow," he dismissed simply. "Now sleep."

He ignored Wei Wuxian's stupid, cheeky smile, and Lan Wangji's content smirk as he slammed the door as respectfully as was allowed a Sect Leader.

Turning back to his spouse, Wei Wuxian gently beckoned his beloved to lie next to him. Once settled under the light sheets, Wei Wuxian guided his love's slender hands to where his diaphragm lay. "Lan Zhan," he murmured.

"Wei Ying."

With a darling pout, "Rub for me here? All that coughing has made it sore."

"Mn." He would spoil Wei Ying.

The melodies played earlier helped ease the irritation that seemed to constantly itch at his throat before. The urge to cough still lingered, but it was less overbearing now. He couldn't help but feel thankful for the repose. 

Wei Wuxian hummed contentedly as he laid his head down once more. Dutifully, his husband rubbed the spot under his ribs with just the right amount of pressure. The night was calm like this, with only the night creatures exchanging their songs outside. Inside, the only sounds were the soft rubbing of his belly and his soft breathing. The relief from the massaging and the stillness of the room was slowly lulling Wei Wuxian back to sleep once again.

And somehow, the night had been reborn with the welcomed peace they didn't know they needed. 

"You played our song in front of Jiang Cheng." It was more of a statement than a question.

"I did. You heard."

Wei Wuxian hummed, snuggling up to his partner to hug his strong waist like the sticky man he was. "I did hear. You're opening up to each other."

There was no answer, the acknowledgement he did get was long fingers lifting to pet his hair away from his face.

Tucking his face into his love's neck, he sighed contentedly. "You're so good to your husband, Hanguang-Jun~ " A singsong tone.

"Wei Ying is good too." And the demonic cultivator smiled as he felt the man's baritone rumble through his chest.

"You surprised me, you know. I look forward to you and Jiang Cheng having civil conversations from now on. Hm?" he looked up.

"Mn."

And no other answer could make him more content in that moment.

Now surrendering to the drowsiness that was clouding his vision, he closed his eyes, entrusting himself fully to the other man. He mumbled into Lan Zhan's chest, snuggling closer. "Mmph...my perfect husband."

Lan Wangji glanced down to the head laying against his shoulder. He watched as his love's eyes drooped, languid blinks becoming slower and longer, like the lull of sea waves swaying as they reached and left the shore. Watching those eyes finally close for the night, the Second Jade pulled the blanket over to cocoon them together. With a wave of his hand, he put out the candles with a gust of qi. Then he held his heart close and kissed his forehead lightly.

Goodnight, Wei Ying. Your brother and I will be here when you awake tomorrow.

 

⊱❀⊰

.

.

.

 

Notes:

(1) - Shichen is a way to divide the day by two hour intervals. Here WWX sits for about 30-45 minutes more.
❀ I got DM'd asking why LWJ would let WWX attend the conference if he knew he wasn't feeling well; my idea was that WWX would be WWX: trying to brush it off as nothing and LWJ only agreed because he wanted his husband within sight.
❀ What WWX has is inspired from my personal experiences with pneumonia; It freakin' sucksss. (successive fevers, whooping cough, whistling lungs...!)
If you've had it before, you'd understand the pains of coughing for waaay too long. Your diaphragm literally just gives up because coughing is all it's doing! 

❀ Quick song discussion: I get 'song of clarity' and 'cleansing' mixed up all the time. I think they're the same thing? 

I almost used Rest, since it's described to calm resentful energy. But listening to the ver. from the Untamed/Donghua/audio drama, none of them sounded right for a sick WWX in bed.
I thought more appropriate songs to use for a sick hubby were either:
the donghua ver. of Wangxian (called "Xianyun" ) because it sounds like a lullaby OR
"Qing Xin Yin" from the Untamed (I think it's the Untamed's ver. Of 'Cleansing' since the rough translation is 'Clear Heart Sound'.

Please tell me how I did in the comments!

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