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Chapter Text

It wasn’t that Wei Wuxian wasn’t expecting it, he truly was.

 

After all, he’d watched as his beloved Shi-Jie was betrothed to the peacock.

 

He’d heard about the scandal of Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue promising to wed one another, with them both being Alphas, and then the second scandal that ensued when Lan Xichen brought the Omega bastard son of Jin Guangshan into the relationship, giving him just as many rights as Nie Mingjue.

 

Jin Guangshan had been especially annoyed about that one.

 

Especially because, as he refused to acknowledge Meng Yao as his own, he was unable to claim any sort of rewards for the marriage, nor was he able to state that the Jin family had any ties to the Gusu Lan Sect.

 

It was a bitter disappointment to him.

 

Back to the matter at hand though, he had also watched Jiang Cheng get betrothed to the Omega, second Young master of the Nie Sect, Nie Huaisang.

 

So, of course he was expecting an engagement of some sorts, but to a lowly sect… the third or fourth Alpha male of a lowly Sect maybe, as he was just the Head Disciple of the Sect. Not even an adopted son, not officially.

 

“Lan Wangji?” Wei Wuxian whispered, when his Uncle told him the news, “As in… the Second Childe of Lan?”

 

They’d met a year ago when Wei Ying went to study there, along with Jiang Cheng, Shi-Jie and numerous other Sect heirs.

 

Lan Wangji HATED him.

 

“It’s a solid partnership.” Jiang Fengmian seemed a little sympathetic, but battled on, none-the-less, “You are both strong cultivators, and with him being an Alpha and yourself an Omega, it seemed like the perfect idea.”

 

“But-but he hates me, and-and Lan Qiren hates me!” Wei Ying’s eyes widened, “I-I can’t! The rules! I can’t follow all those rules!”

 

“You’ll have to.” Madam Yu snapped, “I won’t have all this hard work ruined because you couldn’t control yourself!”

 

Wei Ying felt a little ill.

 

“When- “

 

“- All the official ceremonies are going to be held within the space of the spring months next year.” Jiang Fengmian sighed, “You have until then to get to know each other properly.”

 

Wei Ying didn’t hold much out hope there.

 

………………

 

Nothing.

 

Lan Zhan had avoided him successfully for well over three months now, only showing up for meals when he had to.

 

One by one, the other siblings had gotten married.

 

Shijie and the Peacock.

 

Lan Xichen, Nie Mingjue and Meng Yao (and hadn’t that been a fun one).

 

Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang.

 

And now it was his turn.

 

Underneath the red veil, Wei Ying tried not to bite at his lip, staring at the doors which would lead them into the ceremonial hall. His stomach twisted uncomfortably, and he felt like he was going to pass out at any second.

 

Could he run?

 

No…not when the honour of the Jiang Sect was on the line.

 

Still, it wasn’t as though he was an actual member of the family… why would they agree to this alliance?

 

Why would the Gusu Lan Sect agree to this?

 

He looked around, wondering if there was a way to get out of this still, only to hear a soft call of his name from the other direction, turning that way to see his Shi-jie heading towards him, Huaisang and Meng Yao following on behind her, the two male omegas looking a little concerned.

 

“You look beautiful.” Yanli whispered to him, “How do you feel?”

 

“Like I’m going to be sick.” He whispered, “He hates me!”

 

He never noticed how Huaisang and Meng Yao looked at each other, both looking a little exasperated. All he could focus on, was the soft smile on his Shi-Jie's face, “I know.” She whispered, “But we’re here for you.” He gestured behind her to Meng Yao, “A-Yao will always be here, even if we’re not, okay? He’s been through this before.”

 

“His Alphas love him though.”

 

“They do.” Meng Yao whispered, “But you need to trust us when we say that Lan Wangji isn’t unhappy with this pairing.”

 

He didn’t believe them, struggling to take in a deep breath as he felt Shi Jie place a steadying hand on his back.

 

“We’re right here.”

 

“Uncle Fengmian- “

 

“- Doesn’t deserve this honour.” He had never heard Yanli’s voice sounding so harsh, before she visibly took a breath, “Let me?”

 

“I- “

 

“A-Yao and A-Sang will be behind us.”

 

Wei Wuxian was starting to feel a little overwhelmed as Yanli continued.

 

“A-Cheng is distracting our parents though, so we have be quick.”

 

Taking a breath of his own, Wei Wuxian nodded, linking arms with his Shi-Jie, before the doors opened and he took his first steps. Through the red veil, he glanced at everyone gathered.

 

Madam Yu was glaring at him, even as Fengmian looked hurt by the sight of Yanli leading him down the aisle. Jiang Cheng was smiling though, as Nie Mingjue and Jin Zixuan practically gave heart eyes to their respective spouses.

 

Lan Xichen was standing up with Lan Wangji, who-

 

Why was his heart skipping a beat in the way that it was?

 

Why was his face heating up the way that it was?

 

As he neared the man, Wei Wuxian focused on his features, the details now a little sharper, even through the veil. The neatly pressed red robes, the golden eyes, the impassive look on his face… seriously not even a small smile.

 

With a jolt, Wei Wuxian remembered that Lan Wangji didn’t want to be here either, no matter what Meng Yao said.

 

A marriage was a marriage though.

 

He was under the protection of the Lans.

 

He would survive this.

 

--- 24 Years Later –

 

Wei Ying was dead.

 

He knew that he was dead.

 

Then why did it all hurt so much?

 

…

 

The Jin Disciples were scurrying through the woods, looking around nervously as the night made every sound ten times louder, and every uneasy feeling, ten times worse.

 

Over the past fifteen years, many hopeful disciples had made their way into this territory, and very few had been seen again. Those who did manage to make it back to Lanling, were never the same, ranting and raving uncontrollably before being shut away.

 

For their own good.

 

Their lanterns were held in front of them, but it did very little to break through the mist that surrounded these parts.

 

It wasn’t long before they stumbled across the burial ground, eyes widening in fear at the sight of decomposing corpses lying all around them, the vast majority wearing the golden robes of the Jin Sect. Red-eyed crows flew up away from the bodies, black feathers falling in their flurry to leave, revealing these corpses were in various states of decomposition.

 

Like someone had ransacked years upon years worth of graves and left the bodies out to be found.

 

The crows continued to caw, as the moon reflected off the red blood that stained the leaves and grass.

 

And then the sound of the flute echoed throughout the area, the crows all flying up, circling around a dark figure wearing a horned mask.

 

The eyes continued to glow though.

 

One by one, the corpses rose to their feet.

 

“THE YILING PATRIARCH! THE YILING PATRIARCH!”

 

Their warnings to the rest of the group did no good, as their screams echoed throughout the night.

 

The Yiling Patriarch died fifteen years ago, in an attack led by the Four Great Sects.

 

Those who were his family struck him down.

 

But he did not stay dead.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian could barely tear his eyes away from his new husband as the celebrations continued on all around them. Lan Wangji did not seem like the dancing type, so he didn’t dare ask.

 

He was a married omega.

 

Soon to be a mated one.

 

He didn’t dare speak, just in case he ran his mouth and ruined everything. There was no reason to make Lan Wangji hate him even more. Finally managing to look away from the Alpha, he looked for his family.

 

Jiang Cheng was having a hushed, angry looking conversation with his parents, Nie Huaisang standing beside him as a show of silent support.

 

Meng Yao was sitting in between Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen, avoiding his own fathers gaze from across the room.

 

His beloved Shi-Jie was dancing with the peacock, occasionally casting him a worried look, that he didn’t have the strength to return.

 

He didn’t notice Lan Wangji looking over at him.

 

….

 

Eventually, the night came to an end and the other omegas headed over to Wei Wuxian, Yanli being the first to offer her hand.

 

“Come on A-Xian.”

 

“Shi-Jie- “

 

“- It’s okay.” She lead him towards the small rooms that he and Lan Wangji would soon be sharing, “It’s all going to be okay.” She hummed, “That was a lovely ceremony, and I think I saw A-Cheng smile a couple of times.”

 

“When he wasn’t shouting at Uncle Fengmian.” Wei Wuxian muttered, feeling her grip on him tighten a little as they entered the small rooms. It was a fairly barren set of rooms, nothing like what he was used to at home.

 

Lan Wangji probably wouldn’t want his stuff to be spread all over the room…right?

 

He would have to try and be neat.

 

Would he even be allowed to continue with his talisman inventions?

 

He let himself be sat down in front of a mirror, trying not to flinch when his shi-jie and the two omegas gently helped him out of his red robes, giving him a plain white, set of nightclothes. Yanli then undid all the braids in his hair, gently brushing it out.

 

“Is it going to hurt?”

 

Damn it.

 

He never meant to ask that out-loud.

 

And not in front of Meng Yao, who he didn’t know all that well.

 

Yanli hummed lightly. “At first…but I believe Lan Wangji will be kind to you.”

 

“I have a tea that will induce your heat.” Meng Yao stated bluntly, as Huaisang let out a little squeak, “I don’t want to speak ill of the Lan Sect, but there are a lot of rules and a lot of restrictions.”

 

“A-Yao- “

 

“- And I have no doubt that Lan Wangji might get a bit…enthusiastic.”

 

Huaisang hid his face behind his fan, the tips of his ear turning red.

 

“I had Nie Mingjue to keep Lan Huan in line… a heat will help you.” Meng Yao looked Wei Wuxian in the eyes, and the younger omega found himself nodding.

 

“The tea. Please.”

 

“A-Xian- “ Yanli cut herself off, taking a deep breath, “- Some tea then.”

 

As Meng Yao went to do that, Yanli continued brushing his hair out. She didn’t point out that he was shaking, knowing that it wasn’t because he was cold or anything like that.

 

It was an omega’s duty to lie with his Alpha, to bear his children and his heirs. A good omega didn’t refuse those attentions.

 

When the hair brushing was over, Yanli moved away as Wei Wuxian spun around to make sure she wasn’t leaving just yet.

 

“You look gorgeous.” She whispered to him, gently cupping at his cheek, before pressing a kiss to his forehead, the pair of them hearing Meng Yao placing the tea down by Wei Wuxian, “We will see you tomorrow morning….Drink your tea.”

 

“Good night Shi Jie.” He quickly grabbed the cup, watching them leave, before downing the hot liquid, not caring about the unpleasant burn, just neededing this heat to sink in as quickly as possible.

 

The room was cast in a soft light that seemed cold, making him shiver.

 

He refused to look at the bed.

 

It wasn’t long before there was a soft knock and the door opened. He turned just as Lan Wangji entered, dressing in simple white robes of his own. This was the first time that they were along since Wei Wuxian’s punishment lines in the library that Lan Wangji had been forced to supervise.

 

He swallowed thickly.

 

Lan Wangji took a seat on the bed, eyeing the cup of tea with a soft frown.

 

Wei Wuxian didn’t move, feeling a low heat settling into the pit of his stomach.

 

He wanted soft touches, gentle words that were meant to reassure him, perhaps some compliments on how he looked on the day... but he sensed none of that was coming.

 

The path to the bed seemed endless, his legs shaking a little as he moved to sit next to Lan Wangji.

 

He knew what to expect, thanks to Huaisang’s useful books.

 

Suddenly, the prank that he’d played on Lan Wangji all those months ago didn’t seem so funny. He is far more nervous than he thought he would be as he removed his robe with shaking fingers. Lan Wangji seemed just as hesitant, which made him feel a little bit better, but not much.

 

“I-I’m going to- “He cut himself off, lying down as Lan Wangji moved over on top of him.

 

Everything seemed to be closing in on them.

 

He tried not to pull his legs up and in, relaxing as best he could to let the heat take over.

 

Lan Wangji looked a little uncertain, prompting Wei Wuxian to look away from him, practically feeling his cheeks and the tips of his ears to turn pink in utter embarrassment. The alpha shuffled around on the mattress to settle in between Wei Wuxian’s legs. He put his hand on the omega’s knee, taking in the undershirt that was still in the way, before pushing it up and away, baring Wei Wuxian completely.

 

He seemed to freeze for a moment, before leaning back and covering himself back up, making Wei Wuxian panic just a little.

 

“Lan Wangji.” He hated his voice was shaking, skin already feeling too hot for comfort, “What-what are you doing?”

 

“No.”

 

“No? No to…me? Because if you wanted to say no, it’s too late now!”

 

Lan Wangji shook his head. “Yes to Wei Ying.”

 

“…You wanted to get married to me, but… you don’t want this?” It was getting hard to concentrate now.

 

“No. Wei Ying not happy.”

 

It was like someone had gripped his heart hard, eyes widening as Lan Wangji turned and faced away from him.

 

“We-we have to consummate.” He whispered, pushing himself to a seated position, “I-I- they need proof! Otherwise… they’ll blame me. Say that I’mnot a good enough omega or-or- Lan Wangji! Look at me!”

 

Slowly, Lan Wangji did that. “No.” He stated firmly, “Not until Wei Ying happy.” And then he looked back away, and Wei Ying knew that that was the end of the conversation.

 

Shivering, feeling like his body was spiralling out of control, he fought not to cry.

 

How could they keep this secret?

 

How could he lie to everyone about what happened here tonight?

 

***24 Years Later**

 

“All the stories are starting up again.” Jin Rulan snapped, looking over at the gossiping storytellers, “They say that Wei Wuxian has returned from the dead and is terrorising the cultivation world.”

 

“The Yiling Patriarch has been active since five years after the war. The Wei Wuxian we know wouldn’t have been able to keep quiet for this long.”

 

The others at the table all hummed in agreement with Jiang Sangcheng, but not before glancing over at Lan Wuji, who simply sipped at her tea quietly.

 

“…Wuji?”

 

“The Mo family have asked for our help.” She stated, placing her cup back on the table, “It would not be wise to be late.”

 

“I thought we were- “

 

“- We are. But there are rumours that Mo Xuanyu went running to the Yiling Patriarch after being kicked out of Lanling.” She rose gracefully to her feet, “I wish to know if there are truths to the rumour.”

 

…

 

“W-where am I?” Wei Wuxian looked up wearily, seeing two children nearby, both shouting drunkard at him.

 

The sudden blast of cold water woke up right up.

 

“Lazy drunk!” Snapped a young man, “We let you stay here for free, and you act like this?!”

 

When there was no reply, the man grabbed him by the hair and threw him over to the water trough, where Wei Wuxian saw his face for the first time….except, this wasn’t the face that he remembered.

 

He looked at the blood on the ground.

 

Vaguely, he recognised the symbols for offering one’s body through self-mutilation, but there was something else there.

 

Something unfamiliar.

 

Pulling up his sleeve, he wondered how bad this man whose body he now occupied had it, to do this to himself… no marks….no revenge?

 

Just…here, have my body?

 

What was going on?!

 

“Stop playing dead and get to work!”

 

…Playing dead?

 

Who was playing dead?

 

Slowly, he rose to shaky feet, staring at the retreating back of the fancy young master, unable to stop himself from laughing at his own joke. He charged forwards as the larger man turned around, kicking him in the face and sending him crashing to the ground, much to the shock of the large man and the whiny little follower.

 

A few more hits had them on the run, leaving him free to steal the donkey and get out of here.

 

At least, that was the plan.

 

….

 

“I’ve heard remarkable things about the young heirs of the prominent clans.” Madam Mo gushed, “Now that I’ve met you all, I can see that the stories do very little to highlight just how impressive a picture you all paint together.”

 

Lan Wuji inclined her head, taking the tea that was being offered, “Madam Mo.” She began, “You say that the hills behind Mo Village were not troubled by zombies until recently?”

 

“Yes! Some even encroached on the village! Several Master cultivators have come by talking about…night hunts?”

 

“Cultivators travel far and wide, banishing evil. These demonic being often come at night, hence the phrase, ‘night hunt.’”

 

Behind her, she just knew that Lan Ximing and Nie Mingyao were glancing over at each other, trying not to roll their eyes. Explaining this over and over again could get a little tricky, which is why it was usually left to her or Lan Xiyao to do the explaining.

 

“I see.”

 

As the woman started gushing about her son, said son burst into the room, shouting about a drunk, raving servant. This was then followed by said servant, and a braying donkey. As the servant raced in, they tripped over their own feet, falling to the ground as Lan Xiyao quickly leant over his table to catch them.

 

His eyes locked with that of the drunk mans, and there was silence.

 

….

 

Forehead ribbon with a flowing cloud pattern.

 

A Lan?

 

Slowly, Wei Wuxian looked at the other.

 

Two more Lans.

 

A Nie.

 

A Jin.

 

And a Jiang.

 

No.

 

It couldn’t be.

Chapter Text

The elders were pressuring him for an heir.

 

Forget the fact that his older brother had adopted a distant cousin who was barely a few days old, and Meng Yao was showing the signs of early pregnancy, that just wasn’t good enough for them.

 

Lan Wangji sighed, looking over at Wei Wuxian who was frantically scribbling something on a scrap of parchment, the tip of his tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth.

 

He was beautiful.

 

So beautiful that Lan Wangji didn’t know how to deal with it, and so, he ignored the feelings and pushed them to the back of his mind, ignoring the disapproving looks he got from his older brother, his brother-in-law and Wei Wuxian’s siblings.

 

He didn’t find it as easy as they did.

 

Couldn’t they understand that?

 

“I had an interesting conversation with your uncle today.” Wei Wuxian broke the silence between them, looking over at Lan Wangji, who glanced at him out of the corner of his eyes, “Um… can we talk about the whole bedding thing? Because they want a kid, and there’s really only one way to do that.” He then paused, “Unless you have another little cousin that we can adopt?”

 

“No.”

 

“Oh…”

 

At the silence, Lan Wangji looked fully at him, seeing the uncertain look on the omega’s face. The other man wanted to say something, clearly, but Lan Wangji wasn’t willing to discuss this just yet. He got to his feet and left, missing the way Wei Wuxian reached out for him, hurt written all over his face.

 

**

 

Wei Wuxian drifted through the forests that sat behind Gusu, lying back on the grass and staring up at the blue sky.

 

He hated this.

 

Lan Wangji was being a perfect gentleman, one that was going to get Wei Wuxian kicked out in disgrace because he wasn’t being a perfect omega. He wasn’t doing his duty and providing the clan with an heir.

 

Hard to do when your Alpha wouldn’t even touch you.

 

He had to ask to be cuddled at night, and even then, it was awkward and stiff, only lasting a couple of seconds before Lan Wangji pulled away from him.

 

No more.

 

He couldn’t do this for any longer.

 

**

 

The next night, he made his way into Lan Wangji’s bed, snuggling into his arms, feeling the man tense up just a little, before slowly relaxing.

 

“Wei Ying?”

 

“Hm?”

 

There was silence for a moment, before Lan Wangji relaxed fully into the hold. In his arms, Wei Wuxian felt a silent thrill of victory, as he closed his eyes and allowed himself to fall asleep.

 

….

 

Step one, have Lan Wangji get used to sleeping next to him and having him in his arms was a success, Wei Wuxian mused several nights later, tracing lazy patterns on Lan Wangji’s chest, wondering what the next step should be.

 

What would Lan Wangji like?

 

“Can I braid your hair?”

 

That...wasn’t meant to come out like that.

 

Lan Wangji seemed surprised by the simple request, looking down at Wei Wuxian, before nodding sharply, sitting up to give Wei Wuxian access to said hair. Taking deep breaths, Wei Wuxian tried to remember everything his older sister had ever taught him. He gently took a handful of the soft hair, leaning over to his own bed to grab a barely used comb and running the teeth through it.

 

When he hit a snag, he quickly pulled away, not wanting to accidentally make Lan Wangji mad. When the Alpha turned and peered at him curiously, Wei Wuxian gave him his best apologetic smile (one that he had had plenty of practice with). “Sorry. I’ll be more careful.”

 

“Hm.”

 

It was a little easier from there, and soon, Wei Wuxian was tying the ends off a stunning braid. He then cleared his throat, “So…I think we need to talk about something, and I know you’re not the biggest talker in the first place, but this is kind of important and- “

 

“- We need to sleep together.”

 

Wei Wuxian froze at the matter-of-fact sentence that just came out of Lan Wangji’s mouth, hands freezing for a moment before he pulled away a little. “We haven’t kissed outside of our wedding though.”

 

He watched as Lan Wangji turned to face him, an odd look on the Alpha’s face, before he was reaching up, his fingertips lightly tracing the underside of Wei Wuxian’s jaw.

 

Wei Wuxian had always seen himself as being confident (not overly confident, not like A-Cheng said he was), but now… not so much.

 

In fact, with Lan Wangji, he rarely felt as confident as he did before this marriage.

 

He watched as Lan Wangji leant in closer, their lips inches apart.

 

Wei Wuxian knew that ultimately, this might not be what they both wanted, but it was something they had to do at this time. He just had to get over his nerves, feeling the Alpha’s breath hot on his cheek.

 

“Can I?”

 

“…Please.”

 

He leaned in, their lips meeting in the lightest touch and Wei Wuxian felt like maybe, just maybe, they could get past this.

 

**24 Years Later**

There was something about this young man, possibly only in his early thirties, sobbing and hiding behind Jiang Sangcheng, who was hiding a vicious smirk behind his fan.

 

Lan Wuji couldn’t put her finger on it though.

 

When the young master Mo tried to grab the man, Jiang Sangcheng’s steel-lined fan easily batted him away as Lan Wuji cleared her throat.

 

“Perhaps, we can settle this in a more civilised way. This poor man clearly has some… issues that require kindness, not harshness.”

 

“Of course! Of course!” Madam Mo rushed to save face, “The man didn’t start getting drunk until my sister’s son ran away. I-I thought it was just a case of… heart-broken melancholy.”

 

The drunk man was an omega as was Mo Xuanyu if she remembered correctly…but then, who was she to judge with how convoluted her family tree was.

 

“That would explain a lot.”

 

“Heartbreak!” The drunk man cried out, “Just broken! They beat me and beat me, but I swear…” His voice turned hard, “…the next person to lay a hand on me will have that hand removed!”

 

The argument continued, before Nie Mingyao spoke up. “We don’t want to interfere in…all your business and your household, but it’s getting close to sunset and luring and purging the zombies is more urgent.”

 

“My cousin is right.” Lan Wuji rose to her feet, “Please inform your household, that after dark, they should shut all doors and windows. Avoid the back yard and anything within the Spirit Lure Array.”

 

…..

 

His little Yi-Zhan, so proud and graceful like her Alpha parent.

 

Jiang Fei-Shuang, with a soft smile like Huaisang but with the snappiness of A-Cheng.

 

Jin Ling, with the familiar scowl of Jiang Cheng, but the bearing of his father and those kind eyes that were so much like beloved Shi-Jie’s.

 

Lan Pie-Qi, looking every inch the perfect Lan, but with a knowing twinkle in his eyes that reminded him of Meng Yao.

 

Lan Jingyi beside his brothers, nimbly going through the motions of setting up the Spirit Lure Array. Adopted, but still a part of the family.

 

Nie Rusong, strong and tall like his father, an impressive figure standing beside the others.

 

There was one missing though and didn’t that thought just make his heart ache something chronic. Was it that he was dead…. or simply cast out from the clan when he was found.

 

Shaking his head, Wei Wuxian tried not to think about it too much, instead, turning his attention to the symbols on the flags that they were setting up.

 

The clans were all too happy to hunt him down, and yet, happy to use his inventions as well.

 

….Or was it just these six?

 

The Spirit Lure Flags were designed to use living humans as bait though, which meant that these young masters, those he had once seen as children…were in danger.

 

….

 

Night fell and all was quiet.

 

Until the piercing scream rattled through the night.

 

“MURDERER! MURDERER!”

 

Lan Wuiji took a deep breath, before they all turned to the courtyard, seeing that a crowd had gathered there already…and a mother’s desperate cries echoed through the night.

 

“Come.” She softly ordered, “I think our ghost chose a different target.”

 

“Or the drunk killed someone.”

 

“Hm.”

 

“BASTARD! MURDERER!”

 

Xiyao managed to grab Madam Mo before her claw-like nails could dig into the drunkard’s neck.

 

“I didn’t kill him!” The drunk protested, sounding a lot more sober now, “Look at him!”

 

“What did you just- “

 

“- He’s right.” Mingyao grunted, “Your son’s flesh and energy were sucked dry, he was obviously killed by demons.”

 

“This bastard is the murderer! You all heard him in the hall! He wanted to chop A-Yuan’s arm off! I-I want a life for a life! Pay with your life!”

 

Really, it was no surprise that the man panicked…but the way he tripped over the Young Master’s drained corpse seemed a little too coincidental for Wuji’s liking, especially when Xiyao gasped sharply, moving closer to the corpse. “A Spirit Lure Flag.” He glanced back at Wuji who slowly came to the same conclusion in her mind.

 

What a young idiot.

 

“Why-why did he have it on him?” Madam Mo whispered.

 

There was a beat of silence, before Sangcheng spoke up, hiding a soft smile behind his fan, “Well, at least we know the cause behind your son’s death.” His tone was sympathetic, but anyone who knew him would see that sympathy was the furthest thing from his mind, “You see, Spirit Lure Flags summons spirits, elicit demons… your son carried this with him, making him the live target of any spirits nearby. Evil spirits caused his demise.”

 

“Bullshit!” Madame Mo snatched the flag from Xiyao’s grasp, “He only got this flag from you, how could it have- “ Her words cut off as she devolved into heartbroken sobs.

 

Wuji tried not to sigh, glancing over to her right to see that the drunk had stopped crying and was now watching quite intently.

 

Very odd.

Chapter Text

It took a long time.

 

Longer than Wei Wuxian anticipated, but eventually, Lan Wangji was sat on the same bedroll as him, one hand on Wei Wuxian’s cheek as he searched for any signs that he was unwilling.

 

Wei Wuxian was a master liar.

 

The Lan wouldn’t find anything.

 

“Wei Ying is sure?” Lan Wangji then asked, breaking the silence as he lightly caressed the omega’s cheek.

 

“Lan Wangji, yes!” Wei Wuxian whined, “I-I want this! I want to be with you!” He leant into the touch, hoping that Lan Wangji would focus on that, and not the way his words stuttered a little.

 

Thankfully, it seemed to work as Lan Wangji closed his eyes and leant in close, Wei Wuxian’s eyes fluttering shut when their lips pressed together. He tried not to gasp as he was gently encouraged to lie back on the bedroll, the Alpha looming over him as his white robes were pulled away from him. He had prepared himself accordingly so that he didn’t have to worry about Lan Zhan not doing the job right…he still wasn’t expecting the Alpha to just push his way inside.

 

Wei Ying couldn’t help the way that he tensed up at the overwhelming ache that swept over his entire body, tears already swelling in his eyes as he fought not to let them fall, feeling Lan Zhan setting a rough pace right from the beginning.

 

This wasn’t how a first time was supposed to go.

 

It wasn’t meant to be like this.

 

Lan Zhan was clearly lost in the feeling, his knot forming as Wei Wuxian moaned.

 

He was going to be filled…soon he was going to be carrying Lan Zhan’s child, and that was a terrifying thought.

 

He said nothing though.

 

This needed to happen.

 

He needed to prove that he was the best suited omega for Lan Zhan.

 

Lan Zhan came with a low growl, as Wei Wuxian’s legs clamped around his waist, as he yelped, trying not to cry at the feeling of the knot going inside, locking them both together.

 

Lan Zhan was asleep in seconds, lying on top of Wei Wuxian who stared up at the sleepest

 

***24 years later***

 

“You useless things! To hell with your cultivation and exorcism!” Madame Mo was mad with grief, “You can’t even protect a child! What was the point of inviting you, when it was your ragged flag that killed my little boy!”

 

She tried to grab Mingyao by the front of his robes, only to find her wrists restrained, words cutting off as the young man looked coldly down at her.

 

“Mingyao.” Xiyao gently admonished his half-brother, “Deep breaths.”

 

**

Wei Wuxian watched on with no small amount of annoyance.

 

He remembered the tempers that Rusong and Ling had when they were growing up, always the first to leap into arguments, usually with Jingyi and-and his own son. It was clear that it was the Lan influence at play for their odd silence in this case.

 

It seemed he would have to get himself back involved in all this.

 

“Child?” He hopped down from the wall that he was on, “How old was your son?! Already seventeen and still lacking in any sort of manners and common sense! They repeatedly warned you, don’t touch anything in the array! Your son snuck out at midnight, is that our fault or his fault?!”

 

“How-how did he have the Spirit Lure Flag on him!” She spat out at him, “Unless-unless YOU planted it on him! Yes! You put the flag into my son’s clothing!” She wrenched her wrists free from Mingyao’s grasp, shooting over to him instead and grabbing him by the front of his robes, “Give him back! Give me back my A-Yuan!”

 

Something was wrong.

 

Something was very, very wrong.

 

“Shut up.” He ordered lowly, which only furthered her anger.

 

And then he saw the figure darting from side to side behind the servants, the figure leaping up into the air and diving down at them. Thinking quickly, he pushed Madame Mo away, as the figure missed them both.

 

Limbs twisting, cracking and making sickening noises with every movement, it slowly rose back up, as the other servants made a run for it. As one of the arms reached out for him, Wei Wuxian smirked and fell back into his drunk role, running and screaming for help.

 

The first hit came from Fei-Shuang, a sword knocking the arm off course as he jumped into the air, swinging his fan out in front of him as several, mean-looking darts shot out at the being, combined with arrows that Jin Ling was firing at it. Distracted just a little, Jingyi leapt into action, slicing at the now-corpse with his sword, remaining light on his feet as he nimbly moved around it. He got in close enough to put a talisman on its forehead, freezing it in place for a moment, before it opened its’ mouth and a dark cloud of black smoke burst out.

 

…

 

“That was close.” Wuji sighed, making her way over to the corpse, “Both the flesh and the energy have been drained, the same as Young Master Mo.”

 

And then all the lanterns went dark.

 

As the courtyard grew dark, Mingyao looked over at the two vulnerable people who were still hanging around. One in shock and the other… well, why the drunk was hanging around, he didn’t know, but he needed to keep them safe.

 

“Stay there!” He ordered the Madame, who was starting to gibber on about ghosts, “Don’t move!”

 

He ignored the looks he was getting from Xiyao and Wuji.

 

There was a time to be polite and courteous, and this wasn’t it.

 

They all sent talismans flying off in different directions, creating a Spirit Expulsion Array.

 

“We set one of these up earlier and yet there’s no damage.” Ximing frowned, looking around, “Could it be that this isn’t a vicious ghost?”

 

“Remember my Mama’s teachings?” Wuji sighed, “If it kills every seven days, then it can be ranked as a vicious ghost. But this has killed twice in succession, making it much worse than a vicious ghost.”

 

“Wonderful.” Xiyao sighed, “What do we do then?”

 

“As much as I hate to admit it, we need to send for help.”

 

“There are no masters around.” Rulan snapped, “Remember, we went off on this mission without notifying any of them. Unless one of them stalked us or- “ He paused, before rolling his eyes and snarling, “- of course we’ve been stalked. What am I saying?!”

 

“We cannot disregard human lives, even if it costs us our own. We will defend until help does arrive.”

 

Sangcheng sent the flair up into the air, the bright light shifting through the Sect symbols with the Lan being the final one.

 

….

 

Wei Wuxian wasn’t going to be that unlucky, right?

 

He knew a lot of people in the cultivation world, and there was one that he definitely didn’t want to show up right now.

 

Well…two actually if he counted Jiang Cheng.

 

“Ximing.” He heard Rusong sigh, “Let’s look around.”

 

As they all split up, Wei Wuxian took a deep breath, turning to look over at Madame Mo, only to see that her face was grey and her skin shallow, outlining every bump of her skull.

 

She was already dead.

 

But what was possessing her?

 

He looked over to his left, seeing that Fei-Shuang and Pie-Qi were examining the most recent body, Fei-Shuang lazily waving his fan, “His arm…the left.” He whispered, “It’s missing! Just like with Young Master Mo!”

 

“Hm.” Pie-Qi hummed, “And he was primarily attacking with his left hand as well.”

 

“Xiyao! Sangcheng!”

 

They both turned and watched as Madame Mo rose to her feet, excess moisture dripping from her jaws, a cloud of black resentful energy around her left hand.

 

“Quick!”

 

“Restrain her!”

 

Wei Wuxian watched them all leap into action, unable to stop the pride from bubbling up inside of him.

 

That was his little family.

 

All grown up.

 

As Madame Mo struggled against their grips, the left hand twisting around grotesquely to manage this, Wei Wuxian watched as that arm aimed straight at his daughter.

 

“Wuji!”

 

Kicking Jingyi towards Yi-Zhan, he watched as the young man stumbled into his cousin, as the clawed hand landed right on the white robes, the golden words lighting up, stretching out and creating a small, walled off zone around them. The possessed Madame Mo reared back, crying out in pain as blue flames spread up her left hand.

 

Unfortunately, Jingyi’s outer robe was similarly inflicted.

 

“Damn drunk!” He spun around to face Wei Wuxian, who ran to hide, “Why did you just kick me?! I almost got burnt!”

 

“The incantations on the robe proved that they worked though.” Ling smirked, “Which means that we have a way to subdue her!”

 

Wei Wuxian watched as they all leapt into action, some going high, some staying low as they removed their robes and threw them onto the possessed Madame, the flames spreading further across the body.

 

“Into formation!”

 

They all formed a circle around her then, pulling out their swords, igniting them with a similar blue flame, before stabbing them into the ground. The flames all connected, trapping the body in a circle of the flames. The flames on her body grew darker in colour, making it seem like she was nothing but a shadow now.

 

Still, she struggled, and the kickback was enough to force them all to grip onto their swords with both hands.

 

Black smoke escaped her mouth but before they could say or do anything, the golden formation above them disappeared.

 

“It’s been broken!” Ling snapped, “What do we do now?!”

 

Wei Wuxian hummed, glancing over at the two other corpses as the small group of barely-adults fought against Madame Mo.

 

“Time to wake up.” He hummed, “I have a little job for you.”

Chapter Text

Once upon a time, he was happy.

 

He had his parents and whilst he was an only child and they didn’t exactly live the high life, he was happy and they ensured that he had a happy life.

 

And then they were killed.

 

As Wei Wuxian cupped at the soft swell of his stomach, looking out of the window, he vowed that his child would have the best life that he could possibly provide. And if that meant staying here, with all these rules, then so be it.

 

He let out a breath of air.

 

He was late for the evening meal...again.

 

He hadn’t meant to make it a habit, but he was exhausted all of the time and the continuous lectures from the elders didn’t help with that. He was lectured if he was late, he was lectured if he arrived looking less than perfectly put together.

 

He was lectured when he didn’t show up at all.

 

...Was this really the best life for his child?

 

Would it be easy if they grew up with this?

 

He didn’t know how they hadn’t run out of insults for him yet, seeming to obtain new ones every day.

 

He didn’t walk right.

 

He didn’t wear his hair right.

 

He spoke up too often for an omega, too smart for his own good...that one made him laugh, especially as Meng Yao was usually right there, sipping his own tea and looking like he had never conspired to do anything in his life.

 

To his credit, Lan Xichen looked amused by this comment as well, so Wei Ying was willing to let that one pass.

 

Still, it was all getting to be a bit much for him.

 

Everyone shattered at some point in their life.

 

He just had to hold on.

 

***24 years later***

 

Wuji felt like she was going to pass out, as the two other corpses attacked Madame Mo’s.

 

“Am I seeing this?” Sangcheng whispered, “Are they…fighting on our side?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“Do you think it’s- “ Here, her cousin looked over at the drunk servant, who was cowering behind a nearby column. There were no red eyes…the man didn’t even look anything like her Mama…certainly wasn’t acting like him. And for a man with such an obviously weak golden core to cultivate like this?

 

Impossible.

 

“No.” She shook her head, “It can’t be.”

 

She turned her attention back to the fight, frowning when it became obvious that not even the two zombies would be enough to stop her. If reinforcements didn’t arrive soon, they would all be killed, right here.

 

Without knowing the truth.

 

Her grip tightened on the sword as the corpse moved to charge them again, straightening up.

 

She needed to know.

 

She wasn’t dying here today.

 

When the sound of guqin strings being strummed echoed throughout the courtyard, prompting her to look up to see a figure all in white standing on a sword above them, sighing in relief.

 

“Father.” She whispered, as the others all let a similar exclamation of relief.

 

…..

 

No.

 

Anyone but him.

 

Wei Ying made a graceful retreat.

 

...

 

“Something is happening.”

 

The masked figure hummed, looking over at his student, “Oh?”

 

“I have a bad feeling.”

 

“…Fierce corpse bad feeling or- “

 

“- As in, war bad feeling.”

 

Carefully, the masked figure moved the brush away from the scroll. “Ah…that kind of bad feeling. Send out some of the quieter villagers, let’s see if they can find out anything.”

 

“Yes Master.”

 

“I think I’m going to go for a wander myself….maybe there’s a Jin disciple who’s willing to talk.”

 

“Alone.”

 

“Of course not. A-Ning needs to stretch his legs.”

 

….

 

“Good boy!” Wei Ying sighed in relief as they rushed through the dark woods, “We’ve got to get some distance between us and them.”

 

Them.

 

His daughter, nephews and…him.

 

His husband.

 

Actually, were they even still technically married?

 

It seemed like fuzzy ground now that he was in this new body.

 

Best not to tempt fate.

 

“You are the Little Apple amongst donkeys.” He sighed, wriggling the apple on the end of the stick, trying to encourage them to move just a bit faster. It wasn’t long before the path started to narrow in front of them.

 

“What the- “

 

He saw the glimmer of a string in front of him.

 

“- DAMN!”

 

He tried to pull Little Apple to a halt, but it was too late. The front leg of the donkey made the string snap, and a glowing talisman appeared on the ground beneath them. Wei Wuxian jumped to freedom, just as a net snapped up, catching Little Apple only as the donkey brayed in displeasure.

 

“A deity-binding net?” He hummed, “Out here in the wilderness?” he looked around, seeing no other signs of life anywhere. He wasn’t about to relax though. There were only a few clans that were rich enough to use something like this for simple night hunts.

 

And he didn’t particularly want to run into any more of them today.

 

He got lucky before.

 

That wouldn’t happen again.

 

He scrambled to his feet, picking the apple off the ground and biting into it as the donkey’s cries got louder. “I know you’re mad at me, but that’s a deity-binding net! I’ve not got a spiritual weapon on me! I can’t help!”

 

Something moved nearby.

 

Darting behind a tree, peeking out as much as he dared, he spotted two figures in gold land on a branch nearby.

 

“Damn it!” A girl snapped, “A donkey?! We were only able to get a hundred nets and not one of them has caught anything good!”

 

Another voice spoke up, a little more gentle than the girls. “I did say that- “

 

“- First those rogue cultivators.” The girl continued, not even seeming to hear her male companion, “And now a donkey?!”

 

The Lanling Jin Clan.

 

Why wasn’t he surprised?

 

Of course they had the money to buy something like this.

 

Were they here with Jin Ling?

 

Or was someone else supervising?

 

“Who’s there?!”

 

Shit.

 

He managed to evade the girl (the boy just seemed exasperated by it all) for a few moments, before an arrow suddenly pinned his apple to the nearest tree.

 

He sighed.

 

Time to play the fool again.

 

...

 

He didn’t want to say that he had bad memories of the Jin, especially not as his beloved Shi-Jie had married into the sect, and their families were all intertwined…but the Jins played a large part in the attack on the Burial Grounds, all down to Jin Guangshan and his campaign of hate.

 

The boy was relatively easy to pin down, clearly not one for fighting as his friend...sister...companion cursed and spat at him in her anger.

 

She had not liked the comment about her being unladylike.

 

It reminded him of someone, but he just couldn’t place it right now.

 

As the girl hissed threats at him, about what her Dad and Uncle would do to him once they caught him, what her older brother would do, he looked around the area.

 

Why would a couple of young teens be all the way out here to Night Hunt?

 

Alone?

 

...No, of course they weren’t alone.

 

He himself swore that that he would watch over his own twins when the time came for them to Night Hunt alone, and whilst that-that never happened, there was every chance that these kids had the same protective parents hanging around.

 

“Who are these big and bad Dad and Uncle anyway.” He interrupted her mid-rant, freeing Little Apple with the boy’s sword, “They can’t be that big and bad if they’ve left you two out here?”

 

There was a crackle of purple lightning and his heart sunk to his stomach.

 

Oh.

 

That made sense.