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Chapter Text

Jin Ling was surprised at the full length mirror in his room. It was extremely high quality, made of glass and a silver reflective material, framed with gold in an intricate style, Lotus Flowers molded into the frame.

"This must have cost a lot..." The 14 year old said nervously.

"I had it custom made for you A-Ling," Jin Guangyao replied. "Every copper I spent on this was worth it, I promise you."

"I- thank you," Jin Ling said with a faint smile. "Oh, and I have to leave soon to go visit Jiujiu, I'll be back in a week though."

"Touch the glass first, it does something... Special when you do," Jin Guangyao encouraged him.

Jin Ling nodded, pressing a hand to the glass. Instantly it started glowing, pulling Jin Ling into the mirror. He found himself in small a grey room, with nothing inside except a long window, and no way to open it.

Through the window, he could see his room, and Jin Guangyao, smiling, a cold gleam in his eyes.

Angry, Jin Ling pounded on the glass. "What are you doing?! Let me out!"

"What's that A-Ling? I can't quite hear you." Jin Guangyao chuckled to himself, before leaving.

"Hey! Let me out, come back!" Jin Ling yelled, hitting the glass desperately. He even infused qi into his hits, but nothing happened.

"Help, someone, anyone!!"

On the other side of the mirror, the reflection of a 14 year old boy wearing Jin Sect Robes and a sword strapped to his waist was pounding on the mirror, yelling. But there was nothing to reflect and no sound to be heard.

Chapter Text

Jin Ling sighed as he ate his food. Jin Guangyao (the boy had long stopped considering the man to be his uncle) at least kept him updated on what was happening, and pushed food through the mirror.

Apparently the sect leader claimed Jin Ling had left for Lotus Pier, but Jiang Cheng stated he never arrived.

(Probably because he never left.)

Jin Ling was declared missing on the day of his fourteenth birthday.

Jin Guangyao then attached four chains to the wall, keeping them pad locked in a X across the door, entering once a day to 'mourn' and claiming he did it out of grief and so that should Jin Ling return, his room would be untouched, but at least clean.

(And indeed, Jin Guangyao cleaned his room once a week, it looked exactly the same.)

But all Jin Ling could do was glare at the man and eat, bored out of his mind.

(He'd long ago learned that although he could hear Jin Guangyao, Jin Guangyao couldn't hear him. It made sense he supposed, if people could hear Jin Ling his prison wouldn't be effective.)

Jin Ling could hide from Jin Guangyao at least, although the room was small, it was wide enough Jin Ling could step to the side and hide from those outside the mirror.

(Of course there was only ever one person outside the mirror.)

Today was his 15th birthday. Jin Guangyao had included cake, which annoyed Jin Ling to no end. If he could, he wouldn't eat it, but watching it grow rotten would be gross, and it would start to smell. Also, Jin Ling wasn't going to waste completely good food, he only got it once a day, unless Jin Guangyao was out, then he didn't get it at all until the sect leader returned.

However, unknown to Jin Guangyao, there were rumors about this mirror.

People knew it was charmed, and exaggerated rumors flew about it, many saying it could grant you eternal beauty, others youth, some said it made you look like your reflection forever.

Whatever the case, people knew where this mirror resided.

And they wanted it.

This mysterious mirror that Jin Guangyao gave to his beloved nephew the night he vanished from the cultivation world without a trace.

That he refused to let anyone touch, or even look at.

(But the people knew it resided in the bedroom of the mission Jin Ling, that it was a full length mirror, and one of a kind.)

And so, plots started forming to steal this mysterious mirror.

Some wanted it for selfish reasons.

Others believed it was the cause of Jin Ling's disappearance, and should be safeguarded or studied.

(Little did they know they were right.)

And Jin Ling sat inside the mirror's secret room, trapped and locked away from everyone, eating his birthday cake.

Chapter Text

Jin Ling didn't bother moving when he heard someone enter his room, figuring it was just Jin Guangyao again. They hadn't seen each other for over a year, Jin Ling found out he could hide after just a month, and remained seated in that corner ever since, legs stiff and numb, moving only to grab the food Jin Guangyao pushed through on paper plates, which Jin Ling then burned.

That was another thing he discovered, only he showed up in the mirrors reflection, the ashes didn't.

It had been nearly 4 months since Jin Ling turned 15.

(Unknown to him, Jiang Cheng kept the gifts he was supposed to be given, had gotten him another for his 15th, hoping Jin Ling would return.)

(Although Jin Guangyao knew, he didn't tell him since he couldn't see or hear Jin Ling's inevitable heartbreak and fury about the matter.)

"So this is the mirror, huh?" A voice said.

Jin Ling froze up. He didn't recognize the voice, and this person definitely wasn't Jin Ling.

But were they friend or foe...?

Jin Ling couldn't be sure, and at least until he knew their name, deigned to remain hidden.

"It certainly looks nice, I can see why he keeps it hidden here. Very expensive..."

There were a few sounds and then movement. The sound of a cloth being draped over something, then someone picking a large object up and running.

Jin Ling waited with baited breath.

(Not that there was anything he could do but wait.)

Nervously, he peered around to the window, and saw only black. The mirror was covered with a thick black cloth.

His mirror was being stolen, and he was being kidnapped, only his kidnapper (his thief) didn't know he was there.

Which meant Jin Ling was likely to starve to death in this mirror.

Or he would if it weren't for other enchantments on the mirror. Although he grew older, likely taller, changed- his clothes changed to match his body, and he couldn't die. He was never given water after all, Jin Guangyao wasn't going to bother giving him a cup.

Yet he didn't grow parched, or pale, or gaunt.

He didn't sleep either. There was no need to, and he couldn't get tired. Jin Guangyao wanted him awake for every second of this torment.

(He was so bored.)

However, he could be affected in other ways.

The first week he exercised out of boredom, going through his sword forms, and what training exercises he could, even doing hand stands. He ended up straining his shoulder, and it was injured like normal, healing like it should.

He tried meditation until he drove himself into a qi deviation and wound up injured with no one to help him through it.

(It was only thanks to the mirrors enchantments that he didn't die.)

He'd forcibly sealed his meridans as a result, and had been blocked off from his qi for just over 14 months.

"That was way too easy," the voice of his unknowing kidnapper huffed, setting the mirror down with a thunk.

(Two days later Jin Guangyao returned to Lanling and discovered the missing mirror, demanding it's return and promising a reward. Jiang Cheng scoffed at him for making such a fuss over a mirror until he was reminded it was the most recent thing Jin Guangyao had of Jin Ling.)

(Little did anyone know it kept Jin Ling trapped, prisoner to Jin Guangyao.)

Chapter Text

Jin Ling heard a ruckus outside the mirror, including a lot of shrieking and voices. They were very loud, and Jin Ling tuned them out.

He snapped back to attention when he heard cries of "Senior Mo!" And someone telling Sizhui (Lan Sizhui? What was he doing here?) to keep an eye on the group and go outside.

"So," said the voice of his kidnapper. "You're the Yiling Patriarch."

"I am," said a voice. "It was rather kind of you to not them know."

Sarcasm.

"Well then, Wei Wuxian, I assume you know what I want."

"I don't, but I do know you aren't who you say you are."

"Oh, very good! You're just as smart as the stories say! But very well then, I need you to restore this soul."

"There's hardly anything left of this persons soul. I can't bring it back."

"You will, or you will die trying!"

There was a loud bang.

"I cannot."

"You've done it before."

"If you mean Wen Ning, that was different."

"Different how? Different because he was your friend?"

"Different because I has his body, his entire soul, and help."

"Fix. Him."

"I cannot."

Someone lunged at someone else, and there was a crash. Jin Ling peaked out of the window to see the mirror was partially uncovered, and leaned to the side, repeatedly banging on the glass in hopes someone would see the movement.

Wei Wuxian startled when the man lunged at him, jumping backwards and falling into an object with a crash, that was covered up with a cloth.

That's odd, he thought. Either this is important to him, or it was to someone who once lived here.

Whatever, it didn't matter right now, he could deal with it later.

...Or not. Why was someone banging on the glass?

(And why couldn't Wei Wuxian hear it? Was he going deaf?)

Lan Wangji chose that moment to interrupt, attacking with Bichen. Thankful for the distraction, Wei Wuxian called over two puppets and got them to take the object outside.

"Senior Mo, what is that?" Lan Sizhui asked once Wei Wuxian had joined them outside.

"I'm not sure," Wei Wuxian admitted, pulling aside the cloth.

Then they all sucked in a breath at the sight. It was a mirror, specifically the one Jin Guangyao demanded be returned. But inside, banging on the glass...

"Jin Ling!" Lan Sizhui cried.

The boy in the mirror nodded desperately, and Lan Sizhui reached out to touch the mirror. Jin Ling's eyes widened when he did, and he frantically shook his head.

Don't touch the mirror! Jin Ling yelled. Or tried to.

But no sound came out.

It didn't matter right now, they wouldn't be able to hear him if he could yell anyways.

"What's he saying?" Lan Jingyi asked as Lan Sizhui's hand hovered above the mirror.

"Don't touch the mirror," said a man next to them. Mo Xuanyu, but according to his kidnapper, it might actually be Wei Wuxian.

"Why not?" Lan Jingyi demanded.

"I don't know, but that's what he's saying. 'Don't touch the mirror.' Perhaps it would trap you inside with him?"

Jin Ling nodded frantically, palms pressed against the glass as he kneeled in front of it, legs splayed under him. He'd tried to stand, but they gave out, leaving him stuck in this position unless he were to drag himself across the floor with his hands.

"How do we get you out?" Mo Xuanyu? Wei Wuxian? Asked.

Jin Ling shrugged helplessly. How should he know? Jin Guangyao wouldn't tell him, that's for sure!

"Ugh, this isn't good," the man groaned. "But we need to return the mirror to Sect Leader Jin, perhaps he didn't know-"

Jin Ling's face soured and he firmly shook his head.

"Why not? He might not have known-"

Jin Ling shook his head again. He knew. He trapped me here on purpose!

"Slow down, I'm not that good at lip reading," the man sighed.

Jin Ling glared at him.

"I think he's trying to say Sect Leader Jin knew..." Lan Sizhui said.

Jin Ling pointed at him and nodded.

"Did he trap you in here intentionally?" Lan Jingyi asked.

Jin Ling nodded again.

"And we can't hear any sound making communication difficult..."

Jin Ling scowled again, it wasn't like he could speak anyways.

"Sorry, I don't mean to be offensive," Lan Jingyi sighed.

"We need to focus on getting out of here first," the man said. "I'm Mo Xuanyu by the way, if you didn't recognize me."

I did. Jin Ling mouthed. But who did he call Wei Wuxian?

"Wei Wuxian?" Lan Sizhui said confused. "That man called someone Wei Wuxian?"

Ah, that made sense now.

Jin Ling stared at Mo Xuanyu. You're Wei Wuxian... Aren't you?

Wei Wuxian swallowed nervously. "We can talk about this later. Right now we need to get out of here."

So that's a yes.

"...Yes. But it's not my fault I'm back, and I didn't ask Mo Xuanyu to kill himself, so please don't yell at me any of you! But like I said, we can talk about this later we need to get out of here, and we need to get you out of this mirror."

Jin Ling nodded.

Chapter Text

"Alright, answer me this," Wei Wuxian said. "Why did you steal this mirror?"

Xue Yang sighed. "Believe me or not if you want, but it's because I suspect it's why Jin Ling vanished. I think Jin Guangyao did something to it and was hoping it could help me find him. But Jin Guangyao..."

"Killed your family," Wei Wuxian finished.

Xue Yang looked up in surprise.

"Empathy with your daughters ghost. And..." Wei Wuxian hesitated. "I can't bring back Xiao Xingchen but Song Lan is like Wen Ning now."

"Conscious?" Xue Yang guessed.

"I'd probably use the word aware, but yes, that works too," Wei Wuxian confirmed. "But I'm afraid A-Qing - forgive me, but I don't know her family name - has now passed."

Xue Yang looked devastated. "I see... At least- at least I still have Song Lan."

"Mn," Lan Wangji agreed from where he was sitting before looking at Wei Wuxian with a slight tilt to his head.

"Yeah, right. We need to get Jin Ling out of the mirror."

Xue Yang looked up sharply. "He's in the mirror?!"

Wei Wuxian nodded. "We can't hear him, but I think he was trying to say Jin Guangyao trapped him in the mirror."

Lan Wangji scowled, and huffed crossing his arms.

"I know, I'm upset about it too, but we'll help him," Wei Wuxian promised.

Lan Wangji nodded, uncrossing his arms before walking over to Xue Yang and releasing his restraints. Sorry, he wrote, tracing qi in the air. The character glowed there for a moment before vanishing into the air.

Xue Yang shrugged. "It's okay. I'm sorry for attacking, I was pretty upset. But I can help you guys free Jin Ling."

Wei Wuxian nodded. "Your help will be appreciated."

"Shit, shit, it's sucking me!" Xue Yang yelped in pain.

Wei Wuxian swore and pulled him away, managing to free his arm from the mirror. "Okay, so spiritual energy slows down the process, but not fully, and makes it hurt. We could try that again and pulling Jin Ling out, but that could go wrong..."

"Let's try this- you and Hanguang-Jun try what we just did earlier and infuse spiritual energy into the back of the mirror. I'll let it start to suck me in, then you and me start infusing the mirror with demonic energy when I grab Jin Ling and hopefully it will reverse the process and let us pull him out," Xue Yang suggested.

It's worth a try, Lan Wangji wrote, holding up the paper for them to see.

"That could work... We can try it," Wei Wuxian agreed.

"But first, food, water, and rest," Xue Yang said. "Our qi reserves are drained, we've been at this for hours... We can't risk this going wrong."

He's right, Lan Wangji wrote when Wei Wuxian started to protest. I can't even use spiritual energy to write in the air because I'm too drained. We can't try it now anyways.

"Fine..." Wei Wuxian said reluctantly. "Don't worry Jin Ling, we'll definitely get you out of there!"

Jin Ling nodded from where he sat, hands resting against the glass.

A few hours earlier:

Xue Yang barely touched the mirror by mistake, and it started glowing, pulling him in before any of them could react.

Are you okay? Jin Ling mouthed when he stumbled back in shock and fell over.

"Okay so- ...nevermind, I was going to say sound doesn't exist here, but it clearly does," Xue Yang pulled himself into a sitting position.

Jin Ling smiled wryly, and tried to speak. All that came out were breathy sounds of faint frustration and sadness when it failed.

"You can't speak... But I don't remember you being mute."

I wasn't, Jin Ling mouthed. But not speaking for over a year destroys your vocal cords.

Xue Yang winced. "I- I'm really sorry..."

Not your fault. Help me stand?

"You can't stand?"

Jin Ling wirelessly shook his head. My legs are paralyzed. I could barely haul myself in front of the glass to get Wei Wuxian's attention.

"You are lucky I'm good at reading lips... Wait. You said your legs are paralyzed?"

Jin Ling nodded, and Xue Yang turned white. "Oh fuck... Jin Guangyao made me get him this drug- It causes paralysis in the legs. He must have given it to you."

Please, just help me sit comfortably, Jin Ling begged.

Xue Yang nodded, and helped him sit more comfortably.

"I'm going to try..." Xue Yang mumbled, and grabbed Jin Ling's wrist, infusing demonic energy into the glass. It started glowing again, and Xue Yang was no longer in the mirror, however Jin Ling still was. "Fuck!"

It's okay, Jin Ling told him.

"Did you guys succeed?" Lan Jingyi asked when he saw the trio head downstairs.

Wei Wuxian shook his head with a sigh. "No, but our qi is depleted. We're just taking a break to eat and recover, then we'll try again."

"His legs are paralyzed though," Xue Yang informed him. "There's no way to recover the mobility, Jin Guangyao made sure of that."

The others looked at him curiously. "How so you know that?" Lan Jingyi asked.

"Jingyi," Lan Sizhui chided.

"Because I gave Jin Guangyao the drug that caused it," Xue Yang said.

"So then it wasn't Jin Guangyao that made sure of that, but you," Lan Jingyi accused.

"Jingyi!" Lan Sizhui cried out.

"Yes," Xue Yang said. "But Jin Guangyao requested that be the case. I- He told me it was for someone else. The person who took my finger." He held up his hand for emphasis. "He didn't exactly lie, as I saw the person and he was confined to a wheelchair. But Jin Ling has the same exact problem, and yet no wheelchair."

"Well shit," Lan Jingyi muttered.

"Jingyi," Lan Sizhui chided again.

"That motherfucker," Wei Wuxian sighed, talking about Jin Guangyao.

"S-senior Wei!" Lan Sizhui protested, turning to Lan Wangji, who shrugged.

One of the disciples with them scoffed. "Of course it's the head disciple of Gusu Lan who has to keep the disciples in line, since the esteemed Hanguang-Jun is too good to speak with us."

Lan Wangji frowned, and Wei Wuxian opened his mouth to speak up, but Lan Sizhui (surprisingly) was faster, grabbing the disciple by the front of his robes and punched him so hard a tooth was knocked out of his mouth.

"Speak that way about my father again, I dare you," Lan Sizhui said coldly.

"He's your father?" The disciple sneered. "It's a wonder you learned how to speak then considering you don't have a mother."

Lan Sizhui punched the disciple again, who spat out blood and two more teeth.

"Actually," Lan Sizhui said cheerfully. "I'm adopted. I could already speak by the time I was taken in."

"So your am orphan?" The disciple sneered. "In that case it's a wonder you aren't a stuck up spoiled brat always getting others to fight his fights for him the way Jin Ling was!"

The punch the disciple received this time, with qi infused into it, was powerful enough to cause the disciple's robes to tear, knocking him out of Lan Sizhui's grip and halfway across the room, where he remained unmoving, having been knocked out.

"Damn Sizhui, I didn't know you had it in you," Lan Jingyi remarked after a moment, stunned.

"I usually fight in private so I don't get in trouble," Lan Sizhui said, smiling. "After all, who would you believe? The person who bullied the esteemed Hanguang-Jun publicly and is now declaring he was beat up by the example setting, rule following head disciple, or the example setting, rule following head disciple who claims that they didn't do anything?"

"Oh damn," Lan Jingyi said. "You're fucking crazy."

Lan Sizhui just smiled.

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian stood behind the mirror, infusing it with spiritual energy. "Let us know when you need me to start with the demonic energy," Wei Wuxian instructed.

Xue Yang took a deep breath and placed his hands on either side of Jin Ling's. The mirror started glowing, slowly pulling him into the mirror, and Jin Ling and Xue Yang grasped each others wrists.

"Ready!" Xue Yang said.

He and Wei Wuxian began to infuse demonic energy into the mirror, and it stopped pulling Xue Yang in. However when he tried to move backwards, Xue Yang found he couldn't move backwards or forwards.

"I'm stuck, stop infusing spiritual energy!" Xue Yang called.

As soon as they stopped, Xue Yang was able to move backwards, and yanked both himself and Jin Ling free from the mirror, causing them to fall over.

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji emerged from behind the mirror when they heard the crash, and both were relieved to see Jin Ling was freed.

"Ugh, help," Xue Yang groaned.

Lan Wangji quickly scooped up Jin Ling, who made a startled sound, and Wei Wuxian helped Xue Yang stand up.

"Okay, first thing tomorrow afternoon, we're taking Jin Ling to a doctor," Wei Wuxian stated.

Jin Ling made an indignant noise, glaring at Wei Wuxian.

"What? You need a wheelchair and we're all exhausted."

Jin Ling huffed and folded his arms.

"I think he means the afternoon part," Xue Yang said.

Jin Ling pointed at him and nodded, still glaring at Wei Wuxian.

"It's the middle of the night. We're all exhausted. We're likely going to sleep until afternoon. Heck, who knows how long you'll sleep, you seem even more tired than we are."

Couldn't sleep in the mirror, Jin Ling mouthed slowly. Some stupid curse.

"Did the curse make you mute?" Wei Wuxian asked.

Jin Ling shrugged. Maybe over time? I wasn't at first, and Xue Yang isn't mute, so I don't know. I also haven't spoken in over a year.

"Fun!" Wei Wuxian said. "We can go down that rabbit hole later. Right now: sleep."

And with that he collapsed on the bed and was asleep within seconds.

"Jin Ling can share my room, it has two beds. I think they originally intended it for the two of you but..." Xue Yang shrugged.

Jin Ling tilted his head curiously.

"Ah, you didn't know? Wei Wuxian and Hanguang-Jun have been together since... I don't know how long actually."

Lan Wangji set Jin Ling down on the bed, and wrote burial mounds in the air.

Jin Ling and Xue Yang stared at him. "What's that supposed to mean?" Xue Yang asked finally.

Lan Wangji thought for a moment, before writing again. Wei Ying lived with the Wen remnants in burial mounds before he died. We adopted Lan Sizhui there. He's a Wen remnant.

"Oh," Xue Yang said lamely.

Lan Wangji left and Xue Yang blinked after him, shrugged, and went to bed.

"He's been fed the drug you said, yes," the doctor informed Wei Wuxian. "He'll need a wheelchair, and I'm afraid there's no way to give him his mobility back. Tuǐ suǒ was a drug made to keep even the strongest cultivator paralyzed for life, though fortunately it's just leg paralysis."

"What can we do then?" Wei Wuxian asked.

"There isn't much we can do," the doctor sighed. "I can give him a wheelchair, but I recommend that he be accompanied by someone at all times since he won't be able to defend himself as easily. I must say, there's no point in him keeping his sword, he'll be unable to use it properly."

Jin Ling glared at the doctor, hand resting on his sword the one comfort he'd had when trapped. The sword his father once used.

"Absolutely not," Wei Wuxian snapped. "The wheelchair and other stuff is fine, but the sword is all he has left of his dad, he keeps it."

Jin Ling smiled greatfully at Wei Wuxian.

"I didn't know, sorry," the doctor said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll get a wheelchair. It does cost money though..."

"How much?" Wei Wuxian asked impatiently.

"Around 717 yuan," the doctor said. "But I'll give you a discount- just 500 yuan!"

"Fine, here," Wei Wuxian huffed, shoving his money pouch at the doctor.

The doctor took what he needed, and left, returning with a foldable wheelchair. Together the two helped Jin Ling into it, and then Wei Wuxian left, pushing Jin Ling and joining the others back at the Inn.

Chapter Text

Jiang Cheng missed his nephew. Jin Ling was everything to him and all he had left. So naturally he assumed he was seeing things when he saw Jin Ling in a wheelchair, reaching for something Lan Jingyi was holding out of reach, teasing him.

"Lan Jingyi!" Mo Xuanyu chided. "I bought that for Jin Ling, give it back to him!"

"Sorry Senior Wei," Lan Jingyi apologized, handing whatever it was (oh, it was food) to the boy in the wheelchair.

Wait- Senior Wei?

The boy in yellow noticed him just then, and beamed, waving. Jiang Cheng walked over.

"Hello," he said.

"Chengcheng! You look so different now," Mo Xuanyu squealed, tackling him with a hug.

"Gah, what the-?!" Jiang Cheng yelped.

Wei Ying, leave him alone. Lan Wangji's familiar qi calligraphy appeared in the air, and Mo Xuanyu (no, Wei Wuxian) let go of Jiang Cheng with a sigh.

"I haven't seen my brother in 13 years and you tell me to leave him alone?" Wei Wuxian sighed dramatically. "Lan Zhan, ah Lan Zhan, you're so mean!"

Jin Ling rolled his eyes with a huff.

"Jin Ling, you're siding with him?" Wei Wuxian cried. "I feel betrayed, you side with him over your Da-jiu."

Shut up, Jin Ling signed, one of the few signs he knew.

"Rude," Wei Wuxian grumbled.

"Jin Ling...?" Jiang Cheng asked uncertainly, reaching out a shaky hand.

Jin Ling smiled and reached out, brushing his hand against Jiang Cheng's.

"It's you, it's really you," Jiang Cheng breathed, wrapping Jin Ling in a hug the best he could despite the wheelchair. "What happened to you?"

"Ah, yeah, we're going to need to have a long talk..." Wei Wuxian said. "Though me and Xue Yang will probably do most of the talking."

"Xue Yang?" Jiang Cheng asked darkly.

"Hey, I helped rescue your nephew, surely I get some points for that right?" Xue Yang asked, raising his hands defensively.

"You're a fucking murderer," Jiang Cheng snapped.

"I was framed for most of those, thank you very much," Xue Yang said. "Jin Guangyao is a bitch."

Jin Ling, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji all nodded in agreement.

"Jin Ling," Jiang Cheng chided. "Don't speak so lowly about your uncle!"

"Why shouldn't he when his uncle literally kidnapped him?" Wei Wuxian grumbled, receiving another nod of agreement from Jin Ling.

"Excuse me?" Jiang Cheng said.

"Like we said; long talk."

"Oh my gods," Jiang Cheng mumbled, his face in his hands.

"Yeah," Wei Wuxian agreed.

"So Jin Guangyao...?"

"Yep."

"And then...?"

"Yeah."

"So he...?"

"Correct."

"That fucking liar!" Jiang Cheng said bemused.

"You can say that again," Wei Wuxian muttered.

"The fuck do we do now?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"Arrest him," Xue Yang said. "Nie Huaisang's already on it."

"You contacted the worst possible person for the job," Jiang Cheng snorted.

"Actually, I contacted the best," Xue Yang said. "He gave Mo Xuanyu the papers for the sacrificial ritual that brought back Wei Wuxian. He convinced Mo Xuanyu to at least bring him back if he was going to kill himself. He released the arm on the Mo family. He found a list and proof a bunch of other crimes Jin Guangyao committed to get him arrested faster. He convinced me to steal the mirror. He led you all to me. You still wanna say he's the worst person for the job? Trust me, Jin Guangyao's trial will be tomorrow."

"Oh my gods, Jin Guangyao's trial is tomorrow," Jiang Cheng said staring at the letter.

"You were right," Wei Wuxian said stunned.

"I usually am," Xue Yang said smirking.

"After the crimes you've committed, I sentence you to death," Nie Huaisang said coldly.

"You can't do that!" Jin Guangyao protested.

"I think you'll find that I can. You abused your power as sect leader, killed a fellow sect leader-"

"Wen Rouhan-!" Jin Guangyao started.

"I'm not talked about Wen Rouhan!" Nie Huaisang yelled, startling Jin Guangyao into silence. "I'm talking about your sworn brother, Nie Mingjue! You've murdered your fellow disciples, your sworn brother, your father, and your son, married your half sister while aware of that fact and hid it from her, framed Mo Xuanyu and kicked him out which is an abuse of power, you destroyed my brothers body and his soul which is disrespect towards the dead, you kidnapped your own nephew, and permanently paralyzed his legs, stealing his future as a cultivator, granting you a quick death would be mercy!"

The entire room stared at Nie Huaisang stunned.

"A-Sang..." Jin Guangyao said softly.

"Enough. I don't want to see you anymore Jin Guangyao. You'll be executed in an hour." Nie Huaisang turned and left. "I want him beheaded. Qin Su shall be the next Jin sect leader. It's not that I think you incapable Jin Ling, but you should focus more on recovering."

Jin Ling nodded in understanding. Jin Guangyao looked broken, and Lan Xichen betrayed. Qin Su was disgusted and refused to even look at him. Jin Guangyao was dragged out of the room, and executed an hour later.

Chapter Text

3 months after the execution:

Jin Ling had been spending most of his time in Lotus Pier with Jiang Cheng. Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi were there too, taking care of him since his uncle did still have a sect to run, and Lan Wangji was teaching him both sign language and the air writing he tended to use. He was slowly getting his voice back, but it was quiet, strained, and he could only really say up to three words at a time every 5 sichen.

However he missed his aunt, so they finally decided to visit.

"A-Ling!" Qin Su greeted him with a hug when he was deposited into her arms.

"I hope you don't mind the short notice visit Sect Leader," Lan Sizhui apologized as Lan Jingyi attempted to unfold the wheelchair.

"Of course not, Lanling always has a place for you three and your friends or family," Qin Su said with a smile. "If you ever need a shoulder to cry into or a break, just stop by, I'll make some time for you."

"Thank you Sect Leader," Lan Sizhui smiled.

"Just Qin Su, please," she said laughing. "And maybe help your friend there."

Lan Sizhui sighed and helped Lan Jingyi unfold the chair, then the two carefully took Jin Ling from Qin Su and sat him in the chair.

"Come, I'll show you too your rooms. A-Ling, do you want your old room or would you be more comfortable in a new one?" Qin Su turned to look at him.

Jin Ling shrugged. Old room? Maybe? I don't know...

Qin Su nodded, and led them to Jin Ling's old room, which had been freshly cleaned and smelled faintly of citrus. Hanging from a hook on the wall by Jin Ling's bed were his bow and a quiver of arrows.

The walls were painted dark blue with overlapping Lotus' and Carnations in various places on them, and the curtains were dark purple, two silver curtain holders in the wall keeping them open, a lotus flower on the end of the right one, a carnation on the left.

On a round, small bedside table was a small hold able oil lamp and a framed miniature portrait of two people, a man in yellow, a girl in purple, holding a baby. Jin Ling's parents holding him. Nie Huaisang had painted it for Jin Ling's 5th birthday when he heard how Jin Chan kept bullying Jin Ling, and took back every gift he'd ever given Jin Chan.

There was a desk against one wall, with a chair at it, and a mirror hung on the wall in front of it, a jewelry box which Jin Ling knew held his hair pins and sticks, and a comb resting off to the side on the desk.

From the ceiling hung several folded lotus flowers, birds and butterflies, another gift from Nie Huaisang.

The closet was opened, and empty, but before anyone could ask about it a servant entered, and handed a basket of clothes to Qin Su.

"I hope you don't mind the wardrobe change," Qin Su apologized. "But that fool didn't bother to take care of your clothes, they're far too small for you now aside from the clothes you..." were wearing when you disappeared, went unsaid, though they knew what she meant. The clothes he'd been wearing had, after all, grown with Jin Ling instead of becoming too small.

It's fine, thank you, Jin Ling signed.

"Of course," Qin Su said hugging him again. "Now are you good to stay here?"

Jin Ling nodded. I don't think my chair is though.

They all laughed and Qin Su took the chair out of the room with her. Lan Jingyi promptly made himself at home, flopping on the bed which had red blankets.

"Jingyi," Lan Sizhui scolded. "This isn't your room, be more polite."

Jin Ling rolled his eyes, then, making eye contact with Lan Jingyi, grinned and shoved Sizhui forward onto the bed, where he collapsed with a startle yelp.

"It would seem the young mistress has decreed that stiffy politeness is unnecessary," Lan Jingyi said snickering.

Lan Sizhui hit him with a pillow.

"Oh, hey, it's the orphan brat," a familiar voice sneered.

Jin Ling glared. Go away Jin Chan!

"Oh, and he's deaf too," Jin Chan snickered. "Wonder why he bothered coming back then, the disgrace."

Mute, not deaf, Jin Ling signed. Now fuck off!

"Sorry, I don't speak deaf person," Jin Chan mocked, causing his friends to laugh.

Jin Ling was completely unimpressed. Not deaf. He wrote in the air.

"Oh? In that case, where are your little Lan dogs cripple? I thought they were supposed to cater to you since you can't do anything yourself." Jin Chan and his friends started laughing again.

Jin Ling clenched his fists angrily. Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi were inside sleeping, Jin Ling had just come outside because he couldn't fall asleep so early. There was originally someone with him, to help him out of his wheelchair and into bed, but she was thirsty, and had left just seconds ago to get some relaxing tea for them both.

"I guess if you're alone, that means you don't really need this, right?" Jin Chan asked, signaling something to his friends.

Two of them stepped forward, grabbing Jin Ling's arms and dragging him out of his wheelchair.

"Nh!" Jin Ling cried out, surprised.

"No need to keep this," Jin Chan said, kicking it down the stairs, where it tumbled, breaking at the bottom. "Why don't we take him to the woods? Have a little night hunt. He still has his sword after all."

Jin Ling's eyes widened, and he struggled, but his arms were immobilized and his legs useless, there was nothing he could do except let himself be dragged off to who knows where.

He was eventually hauled into a clearing with lots of trees, somewhere near the edge of Lanling. However as they arrived, they saw several fierce corpses. Terrified, Jin Chan ran, his friends following him, leaving Jin Ling behind.

Jin Ling's eyes widened in fear as the fierce corpses began slowly moving towards him. They weren't even a type of fast fierce corpse! Desperate, Jin Ling began to drag himself away from them, legs dragging uselessly behind him.

But despite their slowness, the fierce corpses were still faster, and soon enough were almost on top of him. Before they could touch him however, they were suddenly torn apart.

"Y-young master Jin..." A voice said.

Jin Ling blinked at the fierce corpse in front of him. It was Wen Ning.

"Le-let me help you..."

Jin Ling nodded, and Wen Ning carefully picked him up, and started walking in a seemingly random direction.

"Ah, Wen Ning, there you are!" A familiar voice called, one that made Jin Ling sag in relief. Where there was Wei Wuxian, there was Lan Wangji. And where there was Lan Wangji, there was no Jin Chan, or any of his friends.

"Huh?" Wei Wuxian seemed confused, as he came into Jin Ling's view. "Why are you here?"

Jin Chan, Jin Ling signed, a bit awkwardly from being held.

Lan Wangji's face darkened. Jin Chan, like the idiot he was, had tried to subject Lan Wangji to his bullying. Instead he ended up on the receiving end of a Lan silence spell, and now avoided Lan Wangji like the plague. Lan Wangji didn't fail to notice this, or how Jin Ling once stuck to Lan Wangji like glue whenever he was in Lanling before his kidnapping.

"Who?" Wei Wuxian asked.

Bully, Lan Wangji signed. What happened?

Jin Ling frowned slightly, he couldn't remember all the signs needed to explain.

Broke wheelchair. Take me here. Leave me with fierce corpses. Wen Ning saved my life.

Will tell sect leader Jin, Lan Wangji signed. And then he promptly turned and started walking in the direction of the Jin estate.

Wen Ning and Wei Wuxian followed, Jin Ling still being carried.

"I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have left!" The servant girl, and Jin Ling's assigned hand maiden was extremely apologetic. He should have had a male servant, but none of them were particularly happy with Qin Su being in charge, and the few that stayed behind had different roles, such as guards. Jin Ling tried to say he didn't need anyone, but Qin Su took one pointed look at the sleeping Lan disciples and Jin Ling's empty bed, and Jin Ling stopped arguing.

It's okay, Jin Ling wrote. Not your fault.

He and the girl were sitting outside the sect leaders office with Jin Ling writing in a notebook. Inside, Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian, and Wen Ning were talking with Qin Su.

Finally, she emerged, looking furious, and terrifying the poor girl. "I-I'm sorry Lady Qin, I shouldn't have left, it's all my fault I'm so sor-"

"Enough," Qin Su snapped. "It isn't your fault. Jin Chan on the other hand... I'm going to whip that boy!"

"Don't forget his friends," Wei Wuxian reminded her.

"Right, now if you'll excuse me, I need to go scream at him before I take my anger out on anyone else." And with that, Qin Su stormed off.

"Alright, bed, both of you," Wei Wuxian said. "It's been a long night."

He picked up Jin Ling, and effortlessly carried the boy to bed, where Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi were still curled up with each other on the couch, a new addition to Jin Ling's room for Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi.

They can sleep with me on the bed, Jin Ling signed sleepily, nodding to the two Lans.

Wei Wuxian blinked, then smiled slyly, before moving them into bed with Jin Ling, tucking the three in, and kissing them each on the forehead. Jin Ling was out within seconds, having been more exhausted then he thought.

Chapter Text

Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi woke up before Jin Ling, surprised to find themselves in his bed. Normally, they'd probably wake him up, or just get up and wait, but he looked so cute while sleeping in between them that neither wanted to.

When Jin Ling turned his head to the side, Lan Jingyi couldn't resist carefully pulling his hair out from under him and playing with it. "Sizhui," he whispered. "Get me a comb and a ribbon please?"

He gave the older boy a pleading look, and Lan Sizhui reluctantly got out of bed, grabbing Jin Ling's comb and the red ribbon he always wore in his hair, handing both to Lan Jingyi and climbing back into bed.

Lan Jingyi whispered a "thank you" and began combing Jin Ling's hair the best he could without waking the younger boy, before braiding it in one long braid and tying it off with the ribbon.

Jin Ling stirred slightly after a few minutes, slowly waking up, and jolting with surprise when he saw Lan Sizhui's face right in front of him. Lan Sizhui laughed, sitting up.

"You okay?" He asked teasingly.

How long have you been awake? Jin Ling signed, a little awkwardly since he was still lying dowm.

"A little while," Lan Sizhui said. "We didn't want to wake you up."

Jin Ling groaned, and pushed himself into a sitting position. You're both assholes, he signed.

"And you're adorable," Lan Jingyi teased, leaning in close, his breath tickling Jin Ling as he spoke.

Jin Ling leaned away slightly, but didn't say anything. It took a minute for his sleepy brain to catch up, and he turned bright red. Fuck off.

"Rude," Lan Jingyi mumbled, wrapping his arms around Jin Ling, and burying his face into the younger boys neck.

Jin Ling looked at Lan Sizhui helplessly, but he just giggled. "Sorry, you're kinda stuck with him. He's always cuddly in the morning with whoever's closest. Not usually flirty though."

"Jin Ling's special," Lan Jingyi declared, voice slightly muffled.

"I can tell," Lan Sizhui said with a laugh. "And I certainly agree."

Jin Ling huffed slightly, but didn't try to push Lan Jingyi off, just turned away, face red.

"Aw, are you embarrassed?" Lan Sizhui teased.

Jin Ling glared.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Jin Ling and Lan Sizhui looked towards the door, where Wei Wuxian was leaning in the door frame. "Not at all," Lan Sizhui said. "We're just teasing Jin Ling."

"Well I'm gonna need to borrow him," Wei Wuxian said. "Jin Chan kinda wrecked his wheelchair."

Lan Jingyi and Lan Sizhui exchanged dark looks and got out of bed.

"Alright kiddo, let's go get you some fresh air and a new wheelchair," Wei Wuxian said, picking the boy up.

"I still need to get dressed you know," Jin Ling said.

"You'll be fine," Wei Wuxian said, before carrying him off.

"So," Lan Sizhui said. "Beat up Jin Chan?"

"Beat up Jin Chan," Lan Jingyi agreed.

"Jin Ling, you're back!" Lan Sizhui called excitedly.

"Young mistress Jin, hello!" Lan Jingyi greeted.

Fuck off both of you, Jin Ling signed, but he was smiling.

"Aw, you love us, don't deny it," Lan Jingyi teased.

I do, Jin Ling admitted, forgetting Wei Wuxian was there. The man raised his eyebrows at Lan Sizhui, who rolled his eyes.

"I know you do," Lan Sizhui said. "We wouldn't be friends otherwise."

Jin Ling didn't reply, but did look down, refusing to look at them. Because he'd wanted to be more than friends since he was 13, but due to his time in the mirror...

He wasn't sure how they'd react, how different they were. Yes, they helped him, yes they hadn't been back home since the incident, but he hadn't seen them for over a year, and it made things awkward, as much as they tried to pretend it didn't.

And now he was in a wheelchair and would be for life. Who would want to date a cripple?

Sometimes he wished he'd just died in the mirror, that he could have died.

"Jin Ling?" Lan Sizhui asked. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Jin Ling turned away from him, refusing to reply.

"I'm just gonna go," Wei Wuxian said, leaving.

Lan Jingyi nodded, and the three silently went to Jin Ling's room.

"Jin Ling, what's the matter?" Lan Sizhui asked.

It's nothing, it's stupid, Jin Ling replied.

"Nothing's stupid when it comes to you Jin Ling," Lan Sizhui murmured. "You aren't stupid and nothing about you is stupid."

I hate this! Jin Ling signed rapidly, and before he could stop himself tears were falling. I hate being in a wheelchair, I hate having missed out on life and our friendship for over a year, I hate that I can't do anything on my own, I hate that I can't talk, I hate myself! I wish I'd just died in that mirror!

Lan Jingyi gasped, and Lan Sizhui was trying not to cry.

There's two people I love, but why would they ever want to be with me? Who would ever want to be with a cripple like me?

"We would, " Lan Sizhui said softly hugging him. "You don't have to say yes, but Jingyi and I would. Why do you think we volunteered to take care of you? Haven't left your side since all this? When you disappeared, we never stopped looking for you. I stopped eating and sleeping while looking for you until I qi deviated and had to be locked up in Gusu until I recovered. Lan Jingyi didn't deviate, but he barely slept, barely ate, and you know how he is about food."

"Rude but yes," Lan Jingyi said. "Sizhui's telling the truth. We- we were gonna confess, on your 14th birthday, but then you disappeared. We were devastated, and only didn't confess until now, because we thought it would be insensitive, I mean, you spent over a year trapped in a mirror, you couldn't speak, couldn't walk, you were a wreck. So we offered to take care of you instead. I- we- you shouldn't feel this way, and this shouldn't have happened, and there's no way to fix it, but I'm sorry."

Jin Ling let out a choked sob and hugged Lan Sizhui back. Lan Jingyi joined the hug, and Jin Ling just cried until he couldn't anymore.

I'm sorry, he signed when he finally pulled away. I'm sorry for thinking you guys wouldn't want me, and I'm sorry for talking that way about myself.

"You mean-?" Lan Jingyi asked.

Jin Ling blushed slightly. I love you guys as well. For a while now. Even when I was trapped in there. Even now.

Lan Sizhui smiled. "We love you too," he said, gently kissing Jin Ling. When he pulled in, Lan Jingyi gave Jin Ling a kiss of his own.

"Is there anything we can do for you?" He asked.

Get rid of the mirror, Jin Ling said. I can't look at them anymore.

Lan Jingyi nodded. "Of course."

Chapter Text

"Oh hey, it's the crippled cutsleeve and his bastards!" A voice called.

"Fuck off Jin Chan!" Lan Jingyi yelled.

"Control your bitch cutsleeve!" Jin Chan yelled at Jin Ling.

"The fuck did you just call me!" Lan Jingyi tried to lung at Jin Chan but Lan Sizhui grabbed his robes and held him back.

"Don't," Lan Sizhui said. "Fighting won't help."

"At least one of you knows his place," Jin Chan sneered. "Though you'd be better off serving me on your knees like the dogs you are."

Lan Sizhui went very still. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me! Me and my friends, we've been wanting a dog to cater to our needs, it's unfair of that cutsleeve bastard to hog you two all to himself, he doesn't need two-"

Lan Sizhui punched Jin Chan and he went flying. "What' th' 'ell!" He yelled, clutching his face. His cheek was already bruised, mouth swollen.

"I suppose you aren't wrong," Lan Sizhui said. "I am a dog. After all, that's what the Wens were called was dogs. But Lan Jingyi isn't one, and we certainly won't serve the likes of you, on our knees or not."

"W-wens?!" One of Jin Chan's friends stammered.

"Oh, did you not know?" Lan Sizhui said, smiling innocently, though his eyes were cold and angry. "I'm a Wen remnant. The last living one. Sure, Wen Ning exists, but he's a fierce corpse after all."

"G-get away from us you Wen dog!" Jin Chan and his friends began backing away.

"Oh I won't be doing that," Lan Sizhui said. "See, you not only insulted me, you insulted my boyfriends. And my father is the Yiling Patriarch. If there's one thing he taught me, it's that no matter what anyone else says about you, or how far through the mud your reputation is dragged, it's that you always defend those you care about."

Resentful energy began to rise around Lan Sizhui, the tendrils grabbing Jin Chan and his friends. "No matter what, and through any means necessary."

Across Lanling, shrill screams could be heard.

"What's the problem exactly?" Qin Su asked blandly.

"Wh-what's the problem?!" Jin Chan cried out. "He used demonic cultivation, and is a Wen dog! He beat us up!"

"You insulted my boyfriends," Lan Sizhui reminded him.

"Ah, I see the problem now. What exactly did he say?" Qin Su asked.

"He insulted Jin Ling for being a cutsleeve and called him a cripple, when Jingyi yelled at him he told Jin Ling to 'control his bitch' and when I prevented Jingyi from attacking him he said 'at least one of you knows your place'. He then called me and Jingyi dogs, saying we'd be better off serving him and his friends while on their knees and that it was unfair Jin Ling got to hog us both to himself, that he didn't need two... Well, I'm not sure what exactly, as that's when I punched him." Lan Sizhui seemed rather unbothered by this.

Xue Yang and Song Lan on the other hand were struggling to restrain Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, Jiang Cheng, and Wen Ning. Even Nie Huaisang was looking particularly murderous, though when he noticed the two struggling he reluctantly asked Nie Mingjue to help hold them back.

"Jin Chan," Qin Su said darkly. "I tried to give you a second chance. But clearly that was a mistake. You're to be locked up in solitary confinement for 20 years in the Qin sect, not to return here afterwards. Even if you've changed."

Jin Chan was escorted out of the room and Qin Su hurried over to her nephew and his boyfriends. "Are you guys alright? And Sizhui, are you uninjured?"

Lan Sizhui nodded. "I'm fine auntie."

"Same," Lan Jingyi added.

Jin Ling nodded, and hugged Qin Su. "Thank you..." He murmured.

Qin Su teared up at hearing him speak. "Of course... Jin Guangyao should have done it long ago and I shouldn't have let it get this bad. I'm sorry."

Aunt and nephew embraced each other, crying, Jin Ling from relief, and Qin Su from guilt.